Current Gk Final

For the week August 29 to September 4, 2010

1

Weekly Current Affairs update

August 29 to September 4, 2010

List of contents

Section A: INDIA Section B: WORLD Section C: ECONOMY & CORPORATE Section D: SPORTS

Major news of the week

Section A: INDIA

Sonia Gandhi re-elected Congress President for fourth consecutive term

Vineet Jain elected Chairman of Press Trust of India Narahari Rao elected President of Federation of Film

Societies of India Stamp on Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy released Bengali actor Dilip Roy is no more Vodafone Crossword Book Award 2009 announced Pallava Bagla wins David Perlman Award for

Excellence in Science Journalism Govt to release more foodgrains at BPL rates to

comply with SC order Both houses of Parliament pass 24 bills during

Monsoon Session Pranob Sen committee estimates slum population in

2011 at 93.06 mn „NDM-1‟ scientists served notice by Drug Controller

General of India Health Ministry sets up task force for evolving a

policy on use of antibiotics Government approves Gandhi Heritage Sites Mission National Council for Tribal Welfare constituted with

PM as Chairman CII–Indicus Analytics unveil India Health Report 2010 Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill receives President‟s

assent

Information and Broadcasting Ministry committee on piracy submits report

Government withdraws Enemy Property (Amendment & Validation) Bill

India, South Korea sign MoUs to boost defence cooperation

Parliament passes Bill granting voting rights to NRIs Supreme Court lifts stay on new district in Amethi U.P. govt. scraps Aligarh hi-tech township plan Parliament passes MPs salary bill India, Switzerland sign revised taxation treaty Supreme Court decides to re-examine judgement in

Bhopal gas leak case Army sets up “Khuda Ke Bande Human Rights cell”,

SAATHI helpline in J&K India announces $25 million aid for Pakistan BJP to launch labour union for unorganised sector World Congress for Religious Freedom organized in

Kochi BJP launches Rs 1-lakh Lifetime Commitment Plan Chandrayaan-II to have seven indigenous payloads National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) project

launched in Bangalore India signs agreement to buy US Harpoon missiles World Coconut Day observed on September 2, 2010

Section B: WORLD

“God did not create the universe” – Stephen Hawking University of Alberta to confer honorary doctorate on

M S Swaminathan South Korean PM nominee Kim Tae-ho resigns

Inter-Academy Council submits report on UN Climate Change Panel functioning

US ends combat mission in Iraq


2

China donates Rs. 53.6 lakh for “Rabindranath and China” gallery

Russia starts building new space centre at Vostochny Number of Indians on Interpol list on the rise Mount Sinabung volcano erupts in Indonesia Sri Lankan Cabinet lifts bar on third term for

President

International Anti-Corruption Academy launched in Vienna

Pakistan to impose flood tax on imports and incomes Israel, Palestine start direct talks in Washington Russia and China sign agreement to protect Siberian

tigers Africa's first refugee phone network launched in

Uganda

Section C: ECONOMY & CORPORATE

Piyush Pandey wins AAAI Lifetime Achievement award

R Ramchandran appointed CMD of Andhra Bank S Raman assumes charge as Canara Bank CMD Uday Kumar Varma appointed MSME Secretary Mukul Joshi takes over as Secretary, Department of

Pharmaceuticals Sutanu Behuria takes over as Secretary, Department

Of Fertilisers Srivats Ram appointed President of Automotive

Component Manufacturers' Association Shipping Corporation of India CMD Sabyasachi

Hajara gets extension NHAI chairman Brajeshwar Singh gets 3-month

extension Arup Roy Choudhury takes over as CMD, NTPC Ltd. Azim Premji‟s son Rishad appointed Chief Strategy

Officer at Wipro Direct Taxes Code Bill introduced in Parliament Government allots 3G spectrum to successful bidders

BlackBerry avoids govt. ban, to set up server in India, offer full access

India is largest recipient of World Bank loans in 2009-10

India‟s outbound FDI at $10.75 billion in 2009-10 ASI protected monuments earn Rs.76.49 crore revenue

in 2009-10 NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards presented Infosys is the only Indian company in Fortune‟s “100

Fastest-Growing Companies” list FDI in India at $10.77 billion for the Jan-June 2010 India‟s forex reserves at $282.842 bn on August 27,

2010 Vedanta gets show-cause notice for Lanjigarh refinery

expansion CIBIL launches Mortgage Check to identify

fraudulent home loan seekers Entity IDs introduced for organisations Maruti Suzuki tops J. D. Power customer satisfaction

survey

Section D: SPORTS

Magnus Carlsen wins Arctic Securities chess A.R. Rahman unveils Commonwealth Games song McLaren's Lewis Hamilton wins Belgian Grand Prix Sachin Tendulkar conferred honorary rank of Group

Captain by IAF Pakistan cricketers at the centre of match-fixing scam

China wins all titles at stake in Paris World Badminton Championships

Guru Nanak Dev University wins Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy

Mumbai win Buchi Babu Cricket tournament Sri Lanka win Micromax ODI tri-nation series


3

Section A: INDIA

Newsmakers

Sonia Gandhi re-elected Congress President: Twelve years after she was elected Congress president in 1998, Sonia Gandhi started her fourth consecutive term in office after her unanimous re-election on September 3, 2010. Since 1998, when she replaced Sitaram Kesri as Congress president, Sonia has been elected unopposed except in 2000 when senior leader Jitendra Prasada contested but failed miserably.

Vineet Jain elected Chairman of Press Trust of India: Vineet Jain, Managing Director of the Times of India Group, was on August 30, 2010 elected Chairman of the board of directors of the Press Trust of India (PTI). M.P. Veerendrakumar, Chairman and Managing Director of the Mathrubhumi Group, was elected Vice-Chairman at the 62

nd annual general meeting of the PTI's shareholders.

Narahari Rao elected president of Federation of Film Societies of India: H.N. Narahari Rao, founder secretary of Suchitra Film Society, Bangalore, was on September 1, 2010 elected president of the Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI). Rao will take over from renowned film-maker Shyam Benegal. R. Mani, senior film society activist from Hyderabad Film Club, will assume charge as the general secretary of the federation. Siddharth Pillai of Bangalore Film Society is the treasurer.

Stamp on Y.S. R. Reddy released: A commemorative Rs. 5 stamp on former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was released on September 2, 2010. This is the first time in the country that a commemorative stamp has been released on the first death anniversary of a person. Normally, it takes 18 months to issue a stamp.

Bengali actor Dilip Roy is no more: Well-known Bengali actor and director Dilip Roy passed away at the age of 79 on September 2, 2010. His first break came in ‗Parivar‘, and he appeared in 44 films in a career spanning over two decades. In his later years, Roy acted in a popular genre of Bengali theatre known as ‗Jatra.'

Winners of the Vodafone Crossword Book Award 2009 announced: The winners of the Vodafone Crossword Book Award 2009 were announced on August 20, 2010. This year the award in the Fiction category was won by Kalpana Swaminathan for the book ―Venus Crossing: Twelve Stories‖. ―Looking East To Look West - Lee Kuan Yew's Mission India‖ by author Sunanda K. Datta- Ray and ―Bazaars, Conversations and Freedom‖ by author Rajni Bakshi have jointly won in the Non-Fiction category. Siddhartha Sarma won in the Children's category for the book ―The Grasshopper's Run‖. ―Othappu‖ by author Sarah Joseph (translated by Valson Thampu) has bagged Translation award.

Pallava Bagla wins David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Journalism: India's Pallava Bagla on September 1, 2010 won the American Geophysical Union (AGU) David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Journalism for his articles on the impact of climate change on Himalayan glaciers. One of his articles ―No Sign of Himalayan Melt Down, Indian Report Finds‖, published in the journal Science, explores dissent among glaciologists regarding the claim by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that Himalayan glaciers would imminently disappear.

News round up Govt to release more foodgrains at BPL rates to comply with SC orders

The Union government on September 2, 2010 decided to release an additional 2.5 million tonnes of rice and wheat to the States for distribution to the poor under the Targeted Public Distribution System. The grain will be sold at Below the Poverty Line (BPL) rates in the next six months. The decision comes in wake of the concern expressed by the Supreme Court at foodgrains rotting in government godowns.


4

Chronology

August 12, 2010: Apex court says that the government should ensure free distribution of foodgrains to poor instead of letting them rot. The court in its written order said – "The government shall supply foodgrains to poor at low cost or no cost." Soon after, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said that the court‘s observation was just a suggestion. He added that it was not possible to implement the court's suggestion because the government was already providing subsidy.

August 31, 2010: "It was not a suggestion. It is there in our order. It is part of our order. You tell the Minister about it," a Bench of Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma told the government counsel Additional Solicitor General Mohan, reacting to Pawar's remarks that it was a suggestion.

September 2, 2010: Pawar announces release of an extra 2.5 million tonnes of wheat and rice at a BPL price to states for distribution for next six months

Mounting storage losses

The Food Corporation of India, which is responsible for warehousing foodgrains, in a response to a Right to Information query admitted to wastage of over 1.3 million tonnes of foodgrains in various warehouses over the past decade. Earlier, a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for 2009 faulted Punjab for losing a high quantity of foodgrains in storage.

No. of BPL beneficiaries set to rise

Meanwhile, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said that the government was considering an overhaul of PDS (public distribution system) including upgrading the number of eligible BPL families. This is expected to increase the number of BPL families eligible for assistance and corresponding increase in allocation by central government. Currently, there are 6.52 crore families registered under the BPL category who are each eligible for 35 kg of food grains a month. Rice is distributed to BPL families at Rs 5.65 a kg, while wheat is allotted at Rs 4.15 a kg. After the proposed overhaul, the number of BPL families is expected to increase to 8.1 crore.

Both houses of Parliament pass 24 bills during Monsoon Session

The Monsoon Session, 2010 of Parliament which commenced on July 26, 2010, concluded on August 31, 2010. The Session provided 26 sittings of both the Houses of Parliament spread over a period of 37 days. During the Session, 26 Bills (18 in the Lok Sabha and 08 in the Rajya Sabha) were introduced. The Lok Sabha passed 21 Bills and the Rajya Sabha passed 24 Bills during the session. Total number of Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament during the Session is 24. Major Bills passed by both houses of the Parliament include:

Major Bills passed by both houses of the Parliament The Clinical Establishment (Registration & Regulation) Bill, 2010

The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2010

The Securities and Insurance Laws (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2010

The Industrial Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2010

The Trade Marks (Amendment) Bill, 2009 The State Bank of India (Amendment) Bill, 2010

The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2010

The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2010

The Land Ports Authority of India Bill, 2010 The Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bills, 2010

The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2010

The Nalanda University Bill, 2010 The Indian Medical Council ( Amendment) Bill,2010

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill, 2010 The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2010

The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill,2010 The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010

The Indian Medicine Central Council Bill, 2010 The Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2010


5

Pranob Sen committee estimates slum population in 2011 at 93.06 mn

A Committee appointed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation to look into various aspects of slum statistics and guide conduct of slum census 2011 submitted its report on August 30, 2011. The committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. Pranob Sen, Principal Adviser, Planning Commission (former Secretary, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation) was given the task of studying the slum definition and to estimate the urban slum population for the whole country on the basis of available data. Major features of the Report submitted by the committee are as follows: Estimates

The Committee has estimated Slum Population in the country in 2001 at 75.26 million and the projected slum population in the country for the year 2011 at 93.06 million.

The slum population constituted 26.31 % of the urban population of the country in 2001.

For the slum Census 2011, the Committee has recommended counting of slum population even in cities having less than 20000 as population.

Definition of slums

The Committee has suggested a different definition for slum than the current definition adopted by the Census of India and the States. The Committee recommends a normative definition based on appropriate indicators/checklists for the purpose of identification of slum areas and enumeration of population of area. It recommends contiguous area with 20-25 households having slum like characteristics as a slum area. The following characteristics have been identified as slum characteristics: i) Predominant roof material: any material other than concrete (RBC/ RCC) ii) Availability of drinking water source: not within premises of the census house iii) Availability of latrine: not within premises of the census house iv) Drainage facility: no drainage or open drainage

RGI (Registrar General of India) figures

Estimated by Committee on Slums (CoS)

Slum Population in the Country (in 2001)

52.4 million* * These figures are for 1743 towns having population 20,000 and above reporting slum

75.26 million* * These figures are for all 5161 cities/towns in the country

% of Slum Population in total urban population of cities/towns enumerated in 2001

23.50% 26.31%

Projected Slum Population in the Country (in 2011)

NA 93.06 million

„NDM-1‟ scientists served notice by Drug Controller General of India

Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), the government‘s licensing authority for medical drugs, has served notices on the Indian scientists involved in the ‗superbug‘ study published in August 2010, asking them to explain how they collected samples for the research and transported them abroad.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases Journal published the study on a new ‗superbug‘ identified in several patients who had travelled to India for medical treatment. An international team of researchers, including eight scientists working in Indian institutions, isolated a gene called ‗New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase‘, or NDM-1, which they said makes bacteria resistant to even the most powerful class of antibiotics called ‗carbapenems‘.

The study was criticized by the government and members of Parliament, who took offence to the name ‗New Delhi‘, and suggested the study was an attempt by vested interests to hurt medical tourism in India.


6

Now, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has sent letters to the Indian scientists in the research team, asking for details about the ―form and manner adopted in collecting human and biological material from various sites within the country and transferring them or exporting them to another country‖.

The scientists have been given 15 days to list the rules, regulations and guidelines they followed while carrying out the study. The health Ministry says the Indian scientists did not seek the mandatory government permission before collaborating with international scientists.

Scientists based in five Indian cities were involved in the study: University of Madras and Apollo Hospital in Chennai; Pandit B D Sharma P-G Institute of Medical Sciences in Rohtak, Haryana; Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala; Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Kolkata, and BHU, Varanasi.

Meanwhile, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has set up a task force for evolving a policy on use of antibiotics. The 13-member task force, chaired by the Director General of Health Services, is expected to submit a report within two months. The decision follows the controversy over the origin of the new antibiotic-resistant bacteria, named New Delhi Metallo-beta lactamase-1 (NDM-1), as reported in a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. The NDM-1 bacterium is resistant to all antibiotics, including Carbapenems – the strongest antibiotic in the world. The task force report will help in formulating a policy that will check indiscriminate use of antibiotics.

Govt approves Gandhi Heritage Sites Mission

The government on September 2, 2010 decided to constitute a Gandhi Heritage Sites Mission with the mandate to develop, conserve and preserve places and locations associated with Mahatma Gandhi.

Sites: The Mission will work on the 39 sites identified by the panel to be closely related with Gandhi‘s life and integral to his philosophy. These include Rajkot and Porbandar in Gujarat, Tilak Ghat in Chennai, Mani Bhavan in Mumbai, Beliaghat in Kolkata, Yervada jail in Pune and the place in Madurai where Gandhi adopted loin-cloth as his only clothing. It would also include some foreign locations in South Africa, United Kingdom, Mauritius, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The government has decided to make an allocation of Rs 42 crore to the Mission for this purpose over the next five years.

Website: The government has earmarked another Rs 8 for the creation and maintenance of the website that is envisaged to become the single biggest electronic library on Gandhi‘s life and works. The Sabarmati Ashram, which has one of the largest collections of manuscripts related to Gandhi, will be tasked with preparing a comprehensive online archive of all intangible heritage.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi panel recommendations: The decision is an outcome of the recommendation of a panel that the government had set up in 2006 to suggest measures to preserve the legacy of the Mahatma. The panel, that was headed by Gandhi‘s grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi and included people like Nirmala Deshpande, B R Nanda, Narain Desai and Ramachandra Guha, had submitted its report in 2008. Among its major recommendations were the establishment of Gandhi Heritage Sites Mission and the development of a website, containing a catalogue of Gandhi‘s heritage, to be run and maintained by the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.

National Council for Tribal Welfare constituted with PM as Chairman

The government on September 2, 2010 constituted the ‗National Council for Tribal Welfare‘ (NCTW) with the Prime Minister as its Chairman.

The proposed Apex level body has 18 members viz. Ministers of Tribal Affairs; Finance; Agriculture; Home Affairs; Health & Family Welfare; Environment & Forests; HRD; Rural Development; Woman and Child Development; Culture; Mines; Coal and Power; Deputy Chairperson, Planning Commission; Chief Minister of Schedule V and Schedule VI States; two experts to be nominated by the Prime Minister for a period of 2 years and Secretary, M/o Tribal Affairs, as Member Secretary.


7

The Council would provide broad policy guidelines to bring about improvement in the lives of the ST community in the country. It would also review the implementation of the Forest Rights Act and monitor the implementation of programmes aimed at protecting vulnerable tribal groups. Meetings of the Council would be linked with the meetings of the National Development Council (NDC) to ensure that they are held regularly and the Chief Ministers are able to attend during NDC meeting.

CII–Indicus Analytics unveil India Health Report 2010

Life expectancy in India has in creased by nearly 50 per cent since 1960, says India Health Report 2010 by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Indicus Analytics. ―This increase is substantially better than sub-Saharan Africa. However, India's much poorer neighbour, Bangladesh, has clearly made substantially more impressive gains than India in the past two decades,‖ notes the report, released by Minister of State for Health Dinesh Trivedi on September 12, 2010.

As for Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), it is seen that ―India has made great strides in improving its IMR over the last decade (reaching about 54 per 1,000 live births in 2007)‖. However, India's performance is not only substantially inferior to countries such as China, but it has also been outperformed by Bangladesh‖.

Figures reveal an increase in Life Expectancy at Birth (LEB) in all Indian states from 1970 to 2006.‖ However, data also reveal that all-India averages hide significant inter-state variations in LEB. In general, states in south India (especially Kerala),and Maharashtra, Haryana and Punjab have a much higher life expectancy while Orissa, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh – the OBIMARU states -fall below the all-India average,‖ says the report.

There are critical gaps in infrastructure, especially with respect to the presence of healthcare centres and well-trained staff, states the report. However, the contribution of the private sector in terms of availability of hospital beds has gradually increased from about 28 per cent in 1973 to about 61 per cent in 1996. It is estimated to have reached about 78 per cent in 2009.

Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill receives President‟s assent

President Pratibha Patil on September 1, 2010 gave assent to the Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, which aims at bringing about gender equality in guardianship under the Guardian and Wards Act and in the matter of adoption under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act.

Amendment in Guardians and Wards Act: Till now courts could appoint someone as a guardian for a minor if the father is unfit to be a guardian, even if the mother is fit to take the role. The amendment changes this. Now the mother will also be able to be the guardian, if the father is unfit.

Amendment in Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act: Till now, only a man can adopt a child or give a child in adoption, with the consent of his wife. The amendment allows a woman also to adopt a child or give a child in adoption with the consent of her husband. The amendment would be of benefit particularly to those women, who are separated from their husbands or are in the midst of a lengthy battle for divorce to adopt a child.

I&B Ministry committee on piracy submits report

The Committee on Piracy constituted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting submitted its report to I&B Minister Ambika Soni on September 1, 2010. The idea to set up a committee to suggest measures to combat various forms of piracy, namely, films, video, cable and music piracy emerged during the 27

th State Information Ministers‘

Conference held in New Delhi on December 5, 2009. The Committee was set up on December 18, 2010 with the mandate to recommend measures to combat film, video, cable and music piracy.

The recommendations made by the committee are as follows:

Cable Television Networks Act should be amended in order to replace the existing system of registration of cable operators with the licensing system.


8

Multiplex and theatre operators should be made responsible for preventing camcorders being carried inside theatres during the screening of films.

The Internet Service Providers should be roped in to check Internet piracy by asking them to initiate action against errant subscribers.

States should enact legislation for preventive detention of audio and video pirates as done in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

Video pirates may also be brought under the definition of ‗Goondas‘ under the Goonda Act.

Prices of genuine DVDs should be brought down to make them affordable

Genuine DVDs should be released simultaneously with theatrical release in order to make piracy unviable.

Traditional 35 mm screens should be converted into digital ones so as to facilitate simultaneous release of films across the country and reduce distribution costs

The option of allowing copyright owners to register with the Copyright Office online should be explored. Alternatively, ―censor‖ certificate granted by CBFC should be treated as evidence of copyright.

Composition of the committee

Uday Kumar Varma, Special Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, was the Chairperson of the committee. Film producer Yash Chopra, Manmohan Shetty (President, Film & Television Producers‘ Guild of India), G. Adisheshagiri Rao (former President, Film Federation of India), Jawahar Goel (President, Indian Broadcasting Federation), Prashant Pandey (member of Association of Radio Operators‘ of India), and Director (Broadcasting), Ministry of I&B were the Members. Director (Films), Ministry of I&B was the Member Secretary.

Govt withdraws Enemy Property (Amendment & Validation) Bill

The government on August 31, 2010 withdrew the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill in Lok Sabha following lack of consensus between major political parties. The Enemy Property (Amendment & Validation) Bill, 2010 sought to ensure protection of interests of Muslim inheritors of ―enemy‖ property, who stayed back in India while their relatives went to Pakistan. Under current laws, property left behind by those who migrated to Pakistan is classified as enemy property even if the legal heirs remained in India.

The amended Bill would have ensured that a Muslim citizen of India, who is a legal inheritor of an enemy property, is able to retain ownership after the death of the original owner even if the deceased had gone to Pakistan. Moreover, in case the legal heir resides in a country other than Pakistan, which is an enemy country under the Act, he would have been entitled to claim the property if he proves his inheritance. The inability to pass the Bill means that the Ordinance promulgated by the government on July 2 on the subject will lapse with the end of the Monsoon session of Parliament.

India, South Korea sign MoUs to boost defence cooperation: India and South Korea on September 03, 2010 signed two landmark MoUs to boost defence cooperation between the two countries during the visit of Defence Minister A. K. Antony to Seoul. The first MoU envisages exchange of defence related experience and information, mutual exchange of visits by military personnel and experts including civilian staff associated with defence services, military education and training and conduct of military exercises and exchange of visits of ships and aircraft. The second MoU signed between India‘s DRDO and South Korea‘s Defence Acquisition and Procurement Agency (DAPA) aims at identifying futuristic defence technology areas of mutual interest and pursuing R&D works in both the countries. It also envisages co- development and co-production of defence products with Indian industry through DRDO.

Parliament passes Bill granting voting rights to NRIs: Parliament has approved voting rights for non-resident Indians in elections with the Lok Sabha adopting the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2010 on September 1, 2010. The Rajya Sabha had passed the Bill earlier. The current Bill aimed at providing rights to Indians who had gone abroad for employment or education, but had not obtained citizenship of the country where they were residing now, to get registered in the electoral rolls and vote in elections to legislatures and Parliament. Internet voting


9

was one option the government would consider. Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily said NRIs would be allowed to register as voters in the constituency from where they obtained their passports.

SC lifts stay on new district in Amethi: The Supreme Court on September 1, 2010 set aside a judicial stay on the formation of a district carved out of Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, a Congress stronghold represented by Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha. A Bench of Justices R V Raveendran and H M Gokhale questioned the ―judicial propriety‖ of an interim order passed by the Allahabad High Court on August 18, 2010, which had restrained the state government from forming the new district renamed after Dalit icon Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj. The proposed ‗Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Nagar‘ district has within its boundaries five tehsils of Sultanpur and Rae Bareli districts which form part of the Amethi constituency. Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, appearing for the Registrar General, Census, failed to impress the court with his argument that Uttar Pradesh has ―acted inconsistently‖ by creating the district.

U.P. govt. scraps Aligarh hi-tech township plan: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on September 24, 2010 scrapped plans for the development of a hi-tech township in the Yamuna Expressway project in Aligarh. Approximately 500 hectares was to be acquired for the development of a modern township along the 165-km Yamuna Expressway, but the scheme hit a roadblock with the Aligarh and Agra farmers demanding compensation equivalent to the amount given in Noida.

Parliament passes MPs salary bill: The Rajya Sabha on August 31, 2010 passed the Bill raising the salaries of its members to Rs.50,000 a month from Rs.16,000 and doubling the constituency and office expenses allowance to Rs.40,000 a month. With this, Parliament gave its approval to the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2010, passed by the Lok Sabha earlier.

India, Switzerland sign revised taxation treaty: India and Switzerland on August 30, 2010 signed a treaty that will enable exchange of information on Indian tax evaders who have unaccounted funds stashed away in Swiss banks. The treaty is a revised version of the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between India and Switzerland and was signed by visiting Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The Swiss Federal Department of Finance (FDF) said that the exchange of information would be based on OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) norms. The Paris-based OECD sets international tax standards. OECD's Model Tax Convention facilitates the bilateral exchange of information related to the bank accounts of tax evaders

Supreme Court decides to re-examine judgement in Bhopal gas leak case: The Supreme Court on August 31, 2010 decided to re-examine its own judgement in the Bhopal gas leak case that led to lighter punishment of two years imprisonment for the accused including former Union Carbide India Chairman Keshub Mahindra. The court sought response from the seven accused on the CBI plea seeking restoration of the stringent charge of culpable homicide, which attracts a maximum punishment of 10 years' jail term, against them for the world's worst industrial disaster that left over 15,000 people dead and thousands maimed. A bench comprising Chief Justice S H Kapadia and Justices Altamas Kabir and R V Raveendran, issued notices on the curative petition filed by CBI seeking recall of the apex court's 1996 judgement that had diluted the offence. The CBI has sought reconsideration of the September 13, 1996 apex court judgement which had whittled down the charge to 'causing death due to rash and negligent act' against Mahindra and six others.

Army sets up SAATHI helpline in J&K: The Army on August 31, 2010 established human rights cells and launched a helpline in Jammu and Kashmir. A unit of Rashtriya Rifles (RR) in Gundna belt of Doda has established a SAATHI helpline, where people can call regarding violations of human rights, RTI related issues, guidance regarding education and scholarship schemes, pensionary and old age related government schemes, medical benefits to people, career counselling for youth and guidance for recruitment in armed forces, para-military and police. At the battalion level, a ―Khuda Ke Bande Human Rights cell‖ was setup by the Army in Doda.

India announces $20m more aid for Pakistan: India on September 1, 2010 announced an additional monetary assistance of $20 million to Pakistan to help it tackle the worst-ever floods witnessed in recent past. External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said the decision followed Pakistan's willingness to accept India's initial offer of $5 million, to be routed through the United Nations. Of the total money, $20 million would go to the ‗Pakistan Initial Floods


10

Emergency Response Plan' through the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Efforts. The rest would be contributed to the U.N. World Food Programme.

BJP to launch labour union for unorganised sector: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on September 1, 2010 unveiled plans to launch a ‗Bharatiya Janata Asanghatith Kamgarh Union‘ that would take up issues of people living on daily wages.

World Congress for Religious Freedom organized in Kochi: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama inaugurated the 33

rd World Congress of International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) on September 4, 2010 at Kochi.

About 600 delegates from across the world converged for the four-day conference which had three Plenary themes: (a.) role of religion in promoting human rights; (b.) Science and Religion: can they co-operate for the progress of humanity? & (c.) Hindus, Muslims and Christians: How can they live together in India? Women as agents for social change and cohesion, peace action through Gandhism, role of NGOs to implement UN declarations were among the other subjects which would be discussed at the workshops.

BJP launches Rs 1-lakh Lifetime Commitment Plan: The BJP on September 04, 2010 launched a nationwide

―Lifetime Committment‖ scheme under which donors are encouraged to make a one-time contribution of Rs 1 lakh. The amount will be deposited as a bank fixed deposit whose interest will be considered an annual contribution and used to meet the day-to-day expenses of the party. The party already has an Aajiwan Sahayog Nidhi, which envisages an annual contribution of Rs 1,000, Rs 5,000 or Rs 10,000. The then national president L K Advani had introduced the ‗Aajiwan Sahayog Nidhi Sadasyata Abhiyan‘ in 1997.

Chandrayaan-II to have seven indigenous payloads: India's second moon mission, Chandrayaan-II, will carry seven indigenous payloads, an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) press release said on August 30, 2010. Two of these scientific instruments will be carried by a rover, which will detach itself from the satellite and make a soft-landing. A Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (LASS) from the ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) and Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM) from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, will map the major elements on the lunar surface. Chandrayaan-2, with a lift-off weight of 2,650 kg, will be launched by a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Of the five payloads in the orbiter (main satellite), three are new and the rest ―improved versions‖ of payloads flown on Chandrayaan–I. The Rs. 425-crore mission is scheduled to be launched in 2013.

National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) project launched in Bangalore: The process for National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) project, the world's largest solar telescope in Ladakh on the foothills of the Himalayas, has begun with the floating of a global tender floated for technical and financial bidding by the Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) on August 27, 2010. The solar telescope will help study the microscopic structure of the sun. Though the 10-metre optical telescope at Mauna Kea in Hawaii is the largest, the Indian instrument will be the largest among solar telescopes. Currently, the world's largest solar telescope is the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope, with a diameter of 1.6 metres in Kitt Peak National Observatory at Arizona in the US.

India signs agreement to buy US Harpoon missiles: India has signed an agreement with the U.S. government to buy advanced anti-ship missiles to improve coastal aerial combat capability, media reported on September 3, 2010. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will acquire 24 U. S-made Harpoon Block II air-to-surface missiles.

World Coconut Day observed on September 2, 2010: The World Coconut Day was observed on September 2, 2010, according to the decision taken by the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community in which India is a member.


11

Section B: WORLD

Newsmakers “God did not create the universe” – Stephen Hawking

God did not create the universe and the ―Big Bang‖ was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics, the eminent British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking has argued in a new book titled The Grand Design co-authored with US physicist Leonard Mlodinow, released on September 2, 2010.

Hawking, 68, who won global recognition with his 1988 book A Brief History of Time, an account of the origins of the universe, is renowned for his work on black holes, cosmology and quantum gravity. Since 1974, the scientist has worked on unifying the two cornerstones of modern physics – Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity, which concerns gravity and large-scale phenomena, and quantum theory, which covers subatomic particles.

Hawking, who is only able to speak through a computer-generated voice synthesiser, has a neuro muscular dystrophy that has progressed over the years and left him almost completely paralysed. He began suffering the disease in his early 20s but went on to establish himself as one of the world's leading scientific authorities, and has also made guest appearances in ―Star Trek‖ and the cartoons ―Futurama‖ and ―The Simpsons‖.

University of Alberta to confer honorary doctorate on M S Swaminathan: Eminent agriculture scientist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan (85) will be bestowed with an honorary doctorate of science degree by the Edmonton-based University of Alberta October 7, 2010.

South Korea's PM Kim Tae-ho announces resignation: South Korean Prime Minister nominee Kim Tae-ho on August 29, 2010 announced his resignation amid a mounting scandal over alleged misconduct while he was a provincial governor. Kim faces charges of under-reporting income, illegally taking bank loans for election campaigns and making government employees do his household chores while he was governor of South Gyeongsang province. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has accepted Kim's resignation.

News round up Inter-Academy Council submits report on Climate Change Panel

The United Nations' top institution for climate change policy, the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), has come in for sharp criticism from an independent review, which has recommended ―fundamental reform of IPCC management structure.‖ The Inter-Academy Council (IAC), a group of scientists who provide independent advice to international organizations, says that IPCC must undertake fundamental reforms to its management structure and procedures in order to retain its credibility

The IAC was appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and Rajendra K. Pachauri, chair of the IPCC, in March 2010 to provide an assessment of the panel's processes and procedures in the wake of the emergence of a number of embarrassing errors in IPCC‘s fourth assessment report on climate change that came out in 2007. These errors included a blunder on the state of Himalayan glaciers, which one of the statements in the report claimed would disappear by 2035.

IAC‟s Prescription for IPCC

IPCC must thoroughly check the authenticity of content it uses in preparing its reports

IPCC should evolve ‗formal qualifications‘ for the appointment of its chairperson

Selection of chairperson should also be subjected to ‗rigorous conflict of interest policy‘

Present provision of two six-year terms for a chairperson was ―too long‖ and should be limited to one term only


12

The errors had led to calls of resignation of Pachauri, who, many argued, was not suitably qualified to lead a climate panel. Pachauri is into his second term and has in the past been accused of having a conflict of interest since he also runs the Delhi-based TERI, which provides climate solutions and consultancy. However, a London newspaper which made wild allegations against Pachauri earlier this year recently apologised saying its report was ‗erroneous.‘

IAC Report

The IAC's report criticised the leadership of the IPCC and its procedures and operational guidelines for research and areas such as governance and management, review process & transparency. Its major recommendations are:

IPCC should encourage review editors to ―fully exercise their authority to ensure reviewers' comments are adequately considered by the authors‖ and that ―genuine controversies‖ are adequately reflected in the report.

The current limit of two six-year term for the IPCC chairman was too long. The terms for the IPCC top leadership should be limited to one assessment in order to maintain a variety of perspectives and fresh approach to each assessment. Meanwhile, IAC Chairperson Harold Shapiro said that the suggestion was "not in anyway connected to Pachauri or any other leader of the IPCC."

The IPCC develop and enforce clearer guidelines on the use of non peer-reviewed literature. The findings on Himalayan glaciers used by the IPCC report were not subjected to peer-review.

Stronger enforcement of existing IPCC review procedures were required to minimise the number of errors.

The IPCC ―needs to be as transparent as possible in detailing its processes, particularly its criteria for selecting participants and the type of scientific and technical information to be assessed.‖

Road ahead

IPCC Chairman Pachauri said that the 194 national governments that are members of the IPCC will formally discuss the findings of the IAC evaluation in October during the IPCC plenary session in South Korea. These governments will then decide how to proceed. While acknowledging that the IPCC had errors, Pachauri underlined that some of criticism against the IPCC had been driven by climate skeptics with ideological motivations.

US ends combat mission in Iraq

The US military formally ended combat operations in Iraq on August 31, 2010. US troop numbers were cut to 50,000 in advance of the August 31 milestone as President Barack Obama seeks to fulfil a promise to end the war launched by his predecessor George W Bush. The six remaining US military brigades will turn their focus to training and advising Iraqi police and troops rather than leading the fight against a Sunni Islamist insurgency and Shia militia. ―With the execution of the troop pullout, our relations with the US have entered a new stage between two equal, sovereign countries‖ said Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Obama had promised war-weary US voters he would extricate the US from the war, launched by Bush with the stated aim of destroying Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons were found. Almost a trillion dollars have been spent and more than 4,400 US soldiers and over 1,00,000 Iraqi civilians killed since the 2003 invasion.

Obama‘s Democratic Party is battling to retain control of Congress in polls in November and his administration faces other challenges such as a worsening war in Afghanistan. The deadline was to some extent a symbolic one. The 50,000 US soldiers staying on in Iraq for another 16 months are a formidable and heavily-armed force.

China donates Rs. 53.6 lakh for “Rabindranath and China” gallery: The Chinese government has decided to donate Rs. 53.6 lakh for the establishment of a gallery on ―Rabindranath and China‖ at Tagore's ancestral house in Kolkata. An agreement towards this was entered into between the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Rabindra Bharati University and was signed on September 3, 2010. The gallery will be inaugurated in May 2011, coinciding with Rabindranath Tagore's 150

th-Birth Anniversary celebrations.


13

Russia starts building new space centre at Vostochny: Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on August 28, 2010 launched the construction of a new space centre (cosmodrome) in the Russian Far East that is to become operational in 2016 and by 2020 it will host all Russian manned space missions. The site of the cosmodrome is at the former missile defence base of Vostochny near the town of Uglegorsk, nearly 6000 km east of Moscow. Russia currently launches its manned spacecraft and commercial missions from the Soviet-era Baikonur space centre, which it has leased from Kazakhstan for $115 million a year till 2050. Military satellites are launched from the small space centre in Plisetsk in northern Russia.

Number of Indians on Interpol list on the rise: The number of Indians, or people of Indian origin, on Interpol's „wanted' list is on the rise with as many as 656 having got red alert notices in a little over five years. The notices have been issued by the global crime-monitoring organisation between January 2005 and May 2010, generally for crimes committed in countries other than India. The information was revealed by the CBI, which acts as a nodal agency for international policing in India, in reply to an RTI query in August 2010.

Mount Sinabung volcano erupts in Indonesia: Mount Sinabung, a volcano in Indonesia‘s North Sumatra province which was dormant for four centuries, erupted on August 29, 2010, shooting clouds of hot ash more than a mile into the air and forcing 30,000 people to flee. Some airplanes had to be diverted because of poor visibility.

Sri Lankan Cabinet lifts bar on third term for President: The Sri Lankan Cabinet on August 30, 2010 approved changes to the 1978 Constitution, including an amendment that clears the path for President Mahinda Rajapaksa to seek a third term in office. The alliance led by President Rajapaksa has the two-thirds majority required for a constitutional amendment in the 225-member Parliament.

International Anti-Corruption Academy launched in Vienna: A United nations backed anti-corruption academy was launched in Vienna on September 2, 2010. The International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) will help academic research in this field and provide reference standards for global anti-corruption campaign. The academy, located in Laxenburg near Vienna, is the first of its kind in the world. It's a joint initiative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Austrian government, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and other stakeholders aimed at overcoming current shortcomings in knowledge and practice in the field of anti-corruption.

Pakistan to impose flood tax on imports and incomes: The Pakistani government on September 1, 2010 decided in principle to impose a 2 percent flood tax on all imports and a 5-10 percent flood surcharge on all incomes for undertaking reconstruction and rehabilitation projects after the country was hit by worst-ever floods.

Israel, Palestine start direct talks in Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on September 2, 2010 began talks aimed at establishing an independent Palestinian state under the mediation of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington. Netanyahu said Israel was ready to go a long way in a short time to reach a peaceful solution to the decades-long conflict. Abbas called on Israel to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip and stop settlement activity — a potential roadblock to any deal. About half a million Jewish settlers live in communities scattered all over the West Bank that have the protection of Israeli armed forces

Russia and China agree to protect Siberian tigers: China and Russia on August 30, 2010 agreed to set up the first cross-border protection zone for rare Siberian tigers. The zone will straddle the border along China's Jilin province and Russia's Primorsky Krai area, where both sides will enforce anti-poaching measures. Hunting for skins and body parts, to be used in Chinese traditional medicines, is partly responsible for the decline in tiger numbers.

Africa's first refugee phone network launched in Uganda: Africa's first ever refugee social network was launched in Uganda on September 3, 2010 on a pilot basis where refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) will be able to trace their family or friends through a mobile phone. Refugees United, an international non-governmental organisation will manage the project supported by Ericsson and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). According to Refugees United, if the pilot project is successful it will be rolled out in other countries on the continent. Africa hosts approximately 2.1 million refugees and over six million IDPs, according to UNHCR statistics.


14


Newsmakers

Piyush Pandey wins AAAI Lifetime Achievement award: Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman and Creative Director of Ogilvy & Mather, South Asia was on August 13, 2010 conferred the Lifetime Achievement award by the Advertising Agencies Association of India. Pandey began his career in 1982 in Ogilvy and rose to become the national creative director in 1994 and was inducted to Ogilvy's worldwide board in 2006. In 2004, Pandey was the first Asian to be a jury president at the Cannes Lions. He is famous for campaigns such as ‗Kuch Khaas Hai Zindagi Mein‘ for Cadbury's Dairy Milk and ‗Chal Meri Luna‘, among many others.

R Ramchandran appointed CMD of Andhra Bank: The Union government on September 02, 2010 appointed R Ramchandran as Chairman and Managing Director of Andhra Bank. Prior to joining Andhra Bank, he was Executive Director of Syndicate Bank.

Azim Premji‟s son Rishad appointed CSO at Wipro: Bangalore-headquartered Wipro on September 2, 2010 announced the elevation of Chairman Azim Premji‘s elder son Rishad as the chief strategy officer (CSO) of its information technology (IT) business from January 1, 2011.

S Raman assumes charge as Canara Bank CMD: S Raman assumed charge Chairman & Managing Director of Canara Bank on September 01, 2010. Meanwhile, Ramnath Pradeep assumed charge as the new CMD of Mangalore-headquartered Corporation Bank from September 1, 2010.

Uday Kumar Varma appointed MSME Secretary: Uday Kumar Varma was on September 01, 2010 appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME).

Arup Roy Choudhury takes over as CMD, NTPC Ltd.: Arup Roy Choudhury on September 01, 2010 took over as Chairman & Managing Director of NTPC Ltd. A Civil Engineer from BITS with a Post Graduation in Management from IIT, Shri Roy Choudhury started his career in 1979 and worked in prominent Public and Private Sector companies such as RITES, IRCON and DLF etc.

Mukul Joshi takes over as Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals: Mukul Joshi on September 01, 2010 took over as the Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.

Sutanu Behuria takes over as Secretary, Department Of Fertilisers: Sutanu Behuria took over as the new Secretary, Department of Fertilisers in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers on 01, September 01, 2010.

Srivats Ram appointed President of Automotive Component Manufacturers' Association: The Automotive Component Manufacturers' Association (ACMA) announced August 31, 2010 the appointment of Srivats Ram, Managing Director, Wheels India Ltd, as the President of the industry association for the 2010-11. Arvind Kapur, Managing Director, Rico Auto, will also take over as the Vice-President.

Shipping Corporation of India CMD Sabyasachi Hajara gets extension: Sabyasachi Hajara, Chairman and Managing Director, Shipping Corporation of India, was on September 1, 2010 given extension till December 2012. His five-year term expired on August 31. The extension comes in the wake of government plans to sell 10 per cent of its stake in the company and the company planning to go in for a 10 per cent follow-on public offer.

NHAI chairman Brajeshwar Singh gets 3-month extension: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Chairman Brajeshwar Singh on September 01, 2010 got a three-month extension after the government failed to find a successor to the post.


15

News round up

Direct Taxes Code Bill introduced in Parliament

The Direct Taxes Code (DTC) Bill was introduced in Parliament on August 31, 2010. The DTC, which seeks to replace the Income-Tax Act, 1961, is slated to come into force from April 2012 as against the original schedule to shift to DTC from April 2011. The Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, proposes to mainly rationalise the income slabs so as to reduce the overall tax burden. The lower end of the taxpayers, who account for 90 per cent of the income-tax payers, will benefit the most. Major features of the DTC are as follows:

FOR INDIVIDUALS

The Bill proposes to increase the exemption limit for individuals from Rs 1.6 lakhs to Rs 2 lakhs. Those with a taxable income of Rs 2-5 lakhs will be taxed at 10 per cent; those in the Rs 5-10 lakhs bracket will have to pay 20 per cent; while taxable income of over Rs 10 lakhs will attract a 30 per cent tax.

PERSONAL INCOME-TAX RATES

Rate Slab Now Slab Proposed in DTC

10% Rs 1.6 lakhs to 2 lakhs Rs 2 lakhs to 5 lakhs

20% Rs 5 lakhs to 8 lakhs Rs 5 lakhs to 10 lakhs

30% Above Rs 8 lakhs Above Rs 10 lakhs

Tax exemption limit for senior citizens above 65 years to be marginally raised to 2.5 lakh per annum from Rs 2.4 lakh at present

A further exemption of Rs 50,000 will be available for health and life insurance premiums and tuition fees.

Medical reimbursements of up to Rs 50,000 a year will be exempt from tax, as against the ceiling of Rs 15,000 at present.

Leave travel allowance (LTA) will continue to get the same tax treatment that is available at present. The norm is that an employee can claim two LTAs in a block of four years.

Individual tax-payers will also get Rs 1.5 lakh of interest paid on home loans as deduction.

The additional exemption limit so far available to women taxpayers will be withdrawn once DTC comes into effect.

In case of bank fixed deposits, with a maturity of five years or more, the present deduction allowed under section 80C of the Income Tax Act will be dispensed with. At present, it is part of the overall investment ceiling of Rs 1 lakh where individuals can claim tax breaks.

New Pension Scheme: The government has proposed EEE (exempt-exempt-exempt) method of taxation for New Pension Scheme -- exemption at all the three stages of deposit, appreciation and withdrawal. Earlier, Investments of up to '1 lakh in provident fund, public provident fund, and pension schemes will be exempt. Also there will be no tax when an individual withdraws his savings from provident funds, pension fund commutation and post retirement schemes.

Impact on Dividend income

The DTC proposes to impose a five per cent dividend distribution tax (DDT) on mutual fund houses and life insurers on income distributed by them. This norm is applicable to mutual fund scheme and insurance policy that invest over 65 per cent of the total proceeds in equity shares, or equity-oriented mutual funds.

Currently, there is no DDT applicable to equity fund schemes or insurers on income distribution to unit/policy holders. Debt-oriented mutual fund schemes pay 14.16 per cent for individuals on dividend distribution.


16

FOR COMPANIES

Under DTC, companies will pay 30 per cent corporation tax, including cess and surcharge, instead of the present combined levy of 33.2 per cent. Besides, the tax rate for foreign companies will now be the same as domestic companies.

Minimum Alternate Tax: The rate of Minimum Alternate Tax (applicable on companies that do not pay any tax despite making profits by availing of several exemptions available under the law) on book profits is being increased to 20 per cent from 19.93 per cent, including cess and surcharge.

Tax incentives for R&D

Companies with research and development (R&D) facilities in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology will continue to enjoy major tax incentives. The DTC Bill allows a tax deduction of up to 200 per cent of expenditure incurred on creating and maintaining an in-house R&D facility.

The DTC Bill has also given a 175 per cent tax deduction to contributions or donations made to research institutions, national laboratory or universities. For donations to institutions engaged in statistical research or research in social science, the amount of deduction is 150 per cent.

The government has also approved 100 per cent depreciation on all assets other than land used for scientific research. The rate of depreciation for life saving medical equipment is 40 per cent.

The R&D expenses include salary paid to an employee or purchase of material used in research within a period of three years immediately preceding the commencement of the research operations.

Government allots 3G spectrum

The government on September 2, 2010 allotted third generation (3G) spectrum to successful bidders, including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications and Vodafone Essar, among others. The launch of third generation (3G) services would enable mobile phone subscribers to access the internet and download videos at a much faster pace than the 2G services currently available.

The 3G auction (held in April-May) had yielded Rs 67,700 crore from the winning players, which includes BSNL and MTNL payments. None could bag pan-India 3G spectrum.

Among private sector companies, Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications and Aircel had bagged spectrum in 13 circles each, followed by Idea Cellular in 11 and Vodafone Essar and Tata Teleservices in nine each and STel in three circles.

In case of public sector companies, BSNL will offer services in 20 out of the 22 circles while MTNL will operate in the remaining two circles of Delhi and Mumbai.

The operators would be able to use the 3G spectrum for 20 years starting from September 1, 2010. The commercial launch of 3G mobile services is expected to happen by the end of this year or early next year.

The operators have been awarded 5 Mhz of spectrum in each winning circle. Three slots were auctioned in 17 circles, while four slots were on block in five circles.

The government has also imposed a roll-out obligation, under which the service providers would have to cover at least 90 per cent of the service areas in the metros within the next five years.

BlackBerry avoids ban, to set up server in India, offer full access

Research in Motion (RIM), the maker of the BlackBerry smart phone, on August 30, 2010 agreed to set up a server in the country and immediately offer full data access to security agencies. The offer came just a day before the home ministry‘s deadline for RIM to either give full access to its enterprise emails and messenger services or face a ban.


17

RIM has to implement its commitments within two months. Once installed, this will be only the third server outside RIM‘s home country, Canada. Home ministry believes that RIM has servers in China and the US, but the company has so far denied these suspicions. RIM has a total subscriber base of 41 million worldwide.

RIM uses codes to encrypt email messages as they travel between a BlackBerry device and a computer known as a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which is designed to secure these emails. The home ministry has made it clear that any communication through telecom networks in the country should be accessible to law enforcement agencies.

Blackberry‘s rival Nokia said it would set up servers and other infrastructure in the country to help Indian law enforcement agencies properly monitor email and messenger services being provided by it. Nokia provides push email service to its smartphone customers, delivering emails on a real-time basis.

Meanwhile the government has decided ‗in principle‘ to bring in other Internet-based services like Google, Skype, virtual private network under the scrutiny of the intelligence agencies. ―Any communication through the telecom networks should be accessible to the law enforcement agencies and all telecom service providers, including third parties, have to comply with this,‖ the ministry said in its statement. One option being considered is that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) study the feasibility of ―all such services‖ being provided through a server located only in India so that their traffic passes through it.

India is largest recipient of World Bank loans in 2009-10

India was the largest recipient of World Bank‘s financial aid in the form of loans, both among developing countries and the world‘s poorest nations in 2009-10. The World Bank, through its lending arms IBRD and IDA, committed $9.3 billion in financial assistance to India in 2009-10.

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) committed $6.7 billion, or 15.1 per cent of its total lending in the financial year, to India, according to government figures. In comparison, the second highest recipient, Mexico, got $6.4 billion followed by South Africa ($3.8 billion), Brazil ($3.7 billion) and Turkey ($3.0 billion). IBRD serves middle-income countries with investment and advisory services.

The World Bank‘s concessionary lending arm, the International Development Association (IDA), which helps the world‘s poorest countries, committed 17.7 per cent of its total aid, amounting to $2.6 billion, to India in 2009-10. In contrast, the IDA committed $1.4 billion to Vietnam and $0.9 billion each to Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria. IDA aims to reduce poverty by providing interest-free credit and grants for programmes that boost economic growth, reduce inequalities and improve people‘s living conditions.

Even in terms of actual disbursement, India was the largest recipient of World Bank financial assistance in 2009-10, with a total of $4.7 billion — IBRD (3.4 billion) and IDA (1.3 billion) — being released.

The country was also the largest recipient of assistance from other external funding agencies like the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the UK‘s Department for International Development.

India‟s outbound FDI at $10.75 b in 2009-10

Corporate India's overseas foreign direct investment in 2009-10 was $10.75 billion, substantially lower than $16.23 billion recorded in 2008-09, according to the data released by Finance Ministry on August 29, 2010. India remains a net FDI recipient even though the gap between outflows and inflows has been narrowing in the recent years running up to 2008-09. However, the drop in overseas direct investment has slightly increased the gap for 2009-10. Indian outward FDI has predominantly been a private sector activity.

India‟s outbound FDI ($ million)

Equity Loan Total

2007-08 15296 3019 18315

2008-09 13149 3082 16231

2009-10 6927 3818 10745


18

ASI protected monuments earn Rs.76.49 crore revenue in 2009-10: Rs.76.49 crore was earned as revenue through sale of tickets at protected monuments in 2009-10 according to information given in Parliament on September 1, 2010. There are 116 ticketed monuments, archaeological sites and remains under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The revenue earned through the sale of tickets during the last three years (financial year) and from April to June, 2010, is as under:

Year Revenue earned through the sale of tickets Amount spent on renovation & maintenance

2007-08 Rs. 71.46 crore Rs. 29.20

2008-09 Rs. 66.68 crore Rs. 31.78

2009-10 Rs. 76.49 crore Rs. 34.10

2010-11(upto June, 2010) Rs. 10.87 crore Rs. 08.08

NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards presented

The NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards 2010 were on September 1, 2010 presented to the winners in Mumbai by Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee. The awards instituted in 2006, recognise corporate and entrepreneurial excellence in India and are given in 18 verticals represented by the high growth industries that form a significant part of country's Gross Domestic Product. Following is the list of winners:

Winners of the NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards

CATEGORY WINNERS Automobile (Four Wheelers) Mahindra & Mahindra

Automobile (Two Wheelers) Bajaj Auto Ltd

Aviation IndiGo

Banking (Private) HDFC Bank

Banking (Public) State Bank of India

Consumer Durables Samsung India Ltd

Consumer Product Goods Godrej Consumer Products Ltd

CSR Award Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited

Engineering Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd

Hospitality Indian Hotels Ltd

Inclusion and Diversity Award Mphasis

Insurance Life SBI Life Insurance

Insurance Non-Life United India Insurance

Infrastructure Larsen & Toubro Ltd

IT – Software Tata Consultancy Services Ltd

Most Trusted Service Brand of the Year Life Insurance of India

Oil and Gas Reliance Industries Ltd

Pharmaceuticals Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd

Power JSW Energy Ltd

Telecom Bharti Airtel Ltd SPECIAL AWARDS WINNERS

Business Leader of The Year Mukesh Ambani

Most Inspiring Business Leader Deepak Parekh

Global Indian of The Year Anshu Jain, Deutsche Bank

Lifetime Achievement N R Narayana Murthy

Creative Entrepreneur of The Year Aamir Khan

Young Business Leaders Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh

Business Leader of the Year: Building India AM Naik

Excellence in International Governance Farah Pandith and Vivek Kundra

Global Business Leader of The Year Vikram Pandit

Business innovator of the year Sunil Bharti Mittal


19

Infosys is the only Indian company in Fortune‟s “100 Fastest-Growing Companies” list: Canada‘s Research in

Motion (RIM) is the top ranked company in Fortune magazine‘s list of 100 Fastest-Growing Companies in 2009 unveiled on August 25, 2010. Infosys Technologies is the only Indian company in the list that was open to businesses around the world if they trade on a U.S. exchange and file quarterly reports. To compile the list, Fortune ranked companies based on three years of revenue and profit growth and total return on investment.

FDI in India at $10.77 billion for the Jan-June 2010: The unstable economic situation in the US and Europe has had a bearing on foreign direct investments (FDI) which has registered a 18.33 per cent drop to $10.77 billion for the January-June 2010 period as against $13.19 billion in the corresponding period a year ago, according to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion data released on September 1, 2010. Services sector attracted maximum investments. Other sectors include telecommunication, construction activities, housing and real estate, power and automobile. FDI for 2009-10 at $25.88 billion was lower by five per cent from $27.33 billion in 2008-09. Mauritius continues to be the highest investor into India followed by the US, the UK, Singapore, the Netherlands and Japan.

India‟s forex reserves at $282.842 bn on August 27, 2010: India‘s foreign exchange reserves increased by $293 million to end at $282.842 billion in the week ended August 27, 2010 according to the latest figures from the Reserve Bank of India released on September 3, 2010. The foreign currency assets increased by $279 million to $256.648 billion. Gold was unchanged at $19.278 billion. SDRs increased by $10 million to $4.981 billion. The reserve position in the IMF increased by $4 million to $1.935 billion

Vedanta gets Environment Ministry‟s show-cause notice for Lanjigarh refinery expansion: Vedanta Aluminium, which had its application to mine bauxite in the Niyamgiri Hills of Orissa rejected recently, has now been served a show-cause notice by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for allegedly going ahead with a six-fold expansion of its refinery in Lanjigarh without the Ministry‘s clearance. The Ministry also pointed out that the clearance was granted on the condition that the refinery would source bauxite only from mines which had already been given clearances as well. However, the N.C. Saxena Committee, set up to investigate the project, found that at least 11 of the source mines did not have a valid clearance.

CIBIL launches Mortgage Check: CIBIL Mortgage Check, country's first electronic centralised database of mortgage information, was launched on September 02, 2010 jointly by CIBIL (Credit Information Bureau of India Ltd.) and TransUnion (a global leader in credit and information management services) in consultation with property market regulator National Housing Bank (NHB). The objective is to identify fraudulent home loan seekers and habitual defaulters. CIBIL Mortgage Check would help banks and financial institutions share and access mortgage information, exercise better due diligence, and thus help reduce fraudulent property transactions. This will also bring in more transparent and a factual mine of information about loan seekers, and more importantly about the property being sought to be mortgaged.

India 2nd

in Forbes Asia‟s 'Best Under A Billion' list: As many as 39 Indian companies find place in Forbes Asia‘s ―Best Under A Billion‖ list unveiled on September 2, 2010. China is at the top of the list with 71 companies. South Korea is in third position with 20 companies, followed by Taiwan with 19, and Australia with 13. The annual ―Best Under A Billion‖ list picks the top-performing 200 firms from close to 13,000 publicly listed Asia-Pacific companies with actively traded shares and sales between five million dollars and one billion dollars. The selection is based on earnings growth, sales growth, and shareholders' return on equity in the past 12 months and over three years.

Entity IDs introduced for organisations: After individuals, now even institutions like government departments, schools and companies would get unique identification numbers (UIDs) to enroll the country‘s residents for the UID system. These institutions or service delivery organisations would get a UID-like identifier, called Entity ID, which would help enrol people and deliver services.

Maruti Suzuki tops J. D. Power customer satisfaction survey: Maruti Suzuki on August 31, 2010 emerged on the top in the J. D. Power customer satisfaction survey for carmakers. Of the 11 brands ranked in the study, Maruti was ranked the best with an overall sales satisfaction index (SSI) score of 819 on a 1,000-point scale. Next in line were Honda (816) and Skoda (812). Maruti did particularly well in five of the seven factors: delivery process, salesperson, sales initiation, dealer facility and paperwork.


20

Section D: SPORTS

Newsmakers

Norway's Magnus Carlsen wins Arctic Securities chess: Norway's Magnus Carlsen won the four-player Arctic Securities chess stars rapid chess tournament defeating India‘s Viswanathan Anand in the final at Kristiansund in Norway on August 30, 2010. Another Norwegian Jon Ludvig Hammer took the third spot by beating the world's strongest woman player Judit Polgar.

A.R. Rahman unveils Commonwealth Games song: Music composer A.R. Rahman on August 28, 2010 unveiled the Commonwealth Games 2010 theme song, titled ―Swagatham‖ (―Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto‖ of ―Live, Rise, Ascend, Win‖), music in a ceremony at Gurgaon. The song was recently cleared by the Group of Ministers headed by urban development minister S. Jaipal Reddy.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton wins Belgian Grand Prix: McLaren's Lewis Hamilton on August 29, 2010 won the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix followed by Mark Webber (Red Bull) and Robert Kubica (Renault) in second and third positions respectively. Force India driver Vitantonio Liuzzi finished tenth.

Sachin Tendulkar conferred honorary rank of Group Captain by IAF: Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was on September 3, 2010 conferred the honorary rank of group captain by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal P. V. Naik in New Delhi. The IAF has, till date, conferred honorary rank on 17 personalities, including industrialists J.R.D. Tata and Maharaja of Jamnagar S.D. Jadeja.

News round up

China wins all titles at the Paris World Badminton Championships

China won all five titles at stake at the World Badminton Championships organized in Paris, France, from August 23 to August 29, 2010. Chen Jin defeated Indonesia‘s Taufik Hidayat 21-13, 21-15 in the final to win the Men‘s Singles title while the women‘s singles title was won by Lin Wang who defeated her compatriot Wang Xin in the final. India‘s Saina Nehwal lost to Wang Shixian of China 21-8, 21-14 in the quarter-final. Following are the complete results:

Event Gold Silver Bronze

Men's singles Chen Jin (China) Taufik Hidayat (Indonesia) Park Sung-hwan (South Korea)

Peter Gade (Denmark)

Women's singles Wang Lin (China) Wang Xin (China) Tine Rasmussen (Denmark)

Wang Shixian (China)

Men's doubles Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng (China) Koo Kien Keat/ Tan Boon Heong (Malaysia) Guo Zhendong/ Xu Chen (China)

Markis Kido/ Hendra Setiawan (Indonesia)

Women's doubles Du Jing/Yu Yang (China) Ma Jin/ Wang Xiaoli (China) Cheng Shu/ Zhao Yunlei (China)

Cheng Wen-hsing/ Chien Yu-chin (Chinese Taipei)

Mixed doubles Zheng Bo/ Ma Jin (China) He Hanbin/ Yu Yang (China) Ko Sung-hyun/ Ha Jung-eun (South Korea)

Lee Sheng-mu/ Chien Yu-chin (Chinese Taipei)

Pakistan cricketers at the centre of match-fixing scam

The visiting Pakistan cricket team was on August 29, 2010 at the centre of a police investigation into allegations of match-fixing as a London-based Pakistani property developer was arrested after being secretly filmed accepting £150,000 from an undercover reporter. The journalist posed himself as a middleman for a betting syndicate ahead of


21

the Pakistan-England Test match at the Lord's on August 26, 2010. Pakistan lost the match by an innings and 225 runs on August 29 and with that the four-match series 3-1.

Footage from the film shows Mazhar Majeed (35) counting the money while telling the reporter of the News of the World that Pakistani bowlers would bowl three no-balls on the first day of the match on August 26. Next day, three no-balls were bowled by Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif exactly at the times he predicted.

The Scotland Yard, UK‘s premier investigation agency, confirmed Majeed's arrest on suspicion of ―conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.'' Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed said four players, including captain Salman Butt, were interviewed by Scotland Yard officers. He said that Scotland Yard detectives visited the team hotel where they took statements from Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal.

Meanwhile the accused players accepted that they took money from Majeed, who was their agent, as fees for sponsorships. They denied any involvement in match fixing.

Guru Nanak Dev University wins Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy: The President Pratibha Devisingh Patil gave

away Sports and Adventure Awards at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29, 2010. Two universities were selected for Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy (MAKA). For the year 2008-09, Punjabi University, Patiala has been awarded Trophy while Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar has been awarded for the year 2009-10. Both the universities received a cash prize of Rs.10 lakh each and Rolling Trophy along with a small replica of the MAKA Trophy for retention by the Universities. While Punjabi University will keep the trophy for the first six months, Guru Nanak Dev University will keep the trophy for next six months.

Mumbai win Buchi Babu Cricket tournament: Mumbai beat Punjab by 87 runs in the final to win the Buchi Babu all-India invitation cricket tournament at Chennai on August 30, 2010. Mumbai 284 in 90 overs bt Punjab 197 in 70.2 overs (Vishwas Bhalla 42, Taruwar Kohli 65, Vikrant Yeligeti five for 46

Sri Lanka win Micromax ODI tri-nation series: Hosts Sri Lanka lifted the Micromax trophy for the tri-nation one day international (ODI) tournament defeating India by 74 runs in the final at Dambulla on August 28, 2010. Tillakaratne Dilshan, who scored his 8

th ODI century, was announced Man of the Match. Needing 300 to win, India was dismissed

for 225. Virender Sehwag was named Man-of-the-Series.

Recent Books

Book Author The Grand Design Stephen Hawking & Leonard Mlodinow Foreign Aid to NGOs: Problem or Solution? Pushpa Sundar ―Awakening: The Story of the Bengal Renaissance‖ Subrata Dasgupta ―When a Billion Chinese Jump: How China Will Save Mankind – Or Destroy It‖ Jonathan Watts Crisis Economics: A Crash Course in the Future of Finance Nouriel Roubini and Stephen Mihm On the Brink: Inside the Race to Stop the Collapse of the Global Financial System Hank Paulson Inside Central Asia: A Political And Cultural History Dilip Hiro Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata Devdutt Pattanaik Caste in a Different Mould: Understanding the Discrimination Rajesh Shukla, Sunil Jain and Preeti Kakkar The East Moves West: India, China, and Asia's Growing Presence in the Middle East Geoffrey Kemp McDonaldisation, Masala McGospel and Om Economics: Televangelism in Contemporary India

Jonathan D. James

Churchill‘s Secret War Madhusree Mukerjee Governing Business and Relationships Swami Parthasarathy India on the Growth Turnpike Sameer Kochhar Water Governance in Motion — Towards Socially and Environmentally Sustainable Water Law

P. Cullet, A. Gowlland-Gualtieri, R. Madhaw, U. Ramanathan

Which Way Latin America? - Hemispheric Politics Meets Globalization Andrew F. Cooper and Jorge Heine Pathway to India's Partition - The Foundations of Muslim Nationalism, A Nation Within A Nation & The March to Pakistan

Bimal Prasad

Understanding Ethnic Media Matthew D. Matsaganis, Vikki S. Katz, and Sandra J. Ball-Rokeach

Googled: The End of the World As We Knew It Ken Auletta


22

Voices of the Week

―The state has for sure withered away in the Naxal-affected districts in the country.‖ – Mani Shankar Aiyar, Congress leader

―I think the people of India understand—even if the critics do not—that the conflict will be a long drawn one, that patience is the key, that mistakes will be made.‖ – P. Chidambaram, Union home

minister, on the Maoist menace

―The temple of democracy should be treated with utmost reverence.‖ – Meera Kumar, Lok Sabha Speaker, on

the ruckus created by some members in Parliament

―I'm used to delivering on promise. I'm used to working with civilised people. Unfortunately, in public life in India, these are not the attributes that you see.‖

— N.R. Narayana Murthy, Chief Mentor,

Infosys, on not accepting any public office

―The Centre has abandoned the farmer. It is not even spending what was spent earlier in the form of subsidies‖ – Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, West

Bengal Chief Minister

―If you want to improve the country's political culture, you need to completely free the process of appointment of judges from influences from all quarters, including from politicians‖.

– Ram Jethmalani, MP and former Union

Law Minister

―Like the IAF, he has single minded devotion to duty, dedication and perseverance and courage under adversity.‖

– Air Chief Marshal P. V. Naik on Sachin

Tendulkar who was conferred the honorary rank of group captain by IAF

"Even if I become prime minister, how could I do anything if I do not have people's trust?"

–Kim Tae-ho, South Korea's Prime

Minister nominee, announcing his withdrawal amid a mounting scandal over alleged misconduct while he was a provincial governor.

―"Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing." – Stephen Hawking, Theoretical physicist,

in his new book ‗The Grand Design‖ saying that God did not create the universe

"I did not want to wait to respond to the numerous questions about my childhood, adolescence and youth and how I became a revolutionary and armed combatant" – Cuban leader Fidel Castro during the

release of his book ‗The Strategic Victory‘

―This episode has made us hang our heads in shame‖ – Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan Prime

Minister on match fixing allegations surrounding Pak Cricket team

"He should be educated, rehabilitated and held up as an example of what can be achieved. The brilliant young bowler is not the cause of the problem but the most tragic consequence of it"

– Michael Atherton, former England

captain on young fast bowler Mohammad Amir (fastest to reach 50 test wickets), one of the three Pakistani cricketers named in a spot-fixing scandal

General Awareness Test-August 29 to September 4, 2010 1

General Awareness Test For the week August 29 to September 4, 2010

No of questions: 100 Answers marked by * Explanatory answer after each question 1. Which large public sector company was in news recently for incurring its first ever annual loss in ten years in 2009-10? a) HPCL b) Coal India Ltd c) BSNL* d) IOC e) ONGC Answer 1: State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) posted a loss of Rs 1,823 crore in 2009-10 – its first annual loss since inception ten years ago, according to figures unveiled on August 1, 2010. A decline in revenue from landline services along with a higher payout to employees because of the award of the Sixth Pay Commission for government employees pushed the company into the red. The company had recorded a profit of Rs 575 crore in 2008-09. BSNL reported a 10.4 per cent decline in revenues at Rs 32,045.41 crore for 2009-10 as against Rs 35,812 crore in 2008-09. 2. S. Y. Quraishi was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner of India recently. Which of the following statements is/are correct? I. Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners have tenure of six years, or up to the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier II. CEC and ECs enjoy the same status and receive salary and perks as available to Chief Justices of the High Courts of India III. CEC can be removed from office only through impeachment by Parliament a) I only b) I and III only c) III only* d) II and III only e) I, II and III Answer 2: The President appoints Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. They have tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. They enjoy the same status and receive salary and perks as available to Judges of the Supreme Court of India. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only through impeachment by Parliament. The President on July 27, 2010 appointed the senior-most Election Commissioner, Shahabuddin Yaqoob Quraishi as the Chief Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India. Quraishi assumed the charge of the post of Chief Election Commissioner with effect from July, 30, 2010 following the retirement of the incumbent CEC Navin B. Chawla on attaining the age of sixty- five years. 3. Why was former Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran in news recently? a) He was impeached by the Parliament b) He resigned from the judiciary c) He was appointed Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission d) He was appointed new Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court* e) Both (a) and (b) Answer 3: Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran, who is facing impeachment in Parliament following allegations of corruption, was on July 30, 2010 transferred to the Sikkim HC. His place in Karnataka HC will be taken by Uttarakhand Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Kheher.


4. Which organisation is India‘s Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah going to join after his term ends in September 2010? a) Transparency International b) World Bank* c) Central Vigilance Commission d) UNICEF e) International Court of Justice Answer 4: Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Wajahat Habibullah, whose term ends in September, on July 31, 2010 informed the government about his new assignment as member of the Independent Access to Information Appeal Board recently set up by the World Bank. The Bank‘s new information disclosure policy is said to borrow heavily from India‘s Right to Information Act — whose implementation Habibullah has been monitoring — and the US Freedom Of Information Act. 5. Which of the following are the objectives of the Project for computerization of State Treasuries launched by the Government of India recently? a) Making budgeting processes more efficient b) Improving cash flow management c) Promoting real-time reconciliation of accounts d) Strengthening Management Information Systems (MIS) e) All the above* Answer 5: The Government of India on August 03, 2010 approved the Mission Mode Project for computerization of State Treasuries in the country. The overall cost of the scheme is Rs. 626 crore at Rs. 1 crore per district in existence on 1 April, 2010. The project is expected to make budgeting processes more efficient, improve cash flow management, promote real-time reconciliation of accounts, strengthen Management Information Systems (MIS), improve accuracy and timeless in accounts preparation, bring about transparency and efficiency in public delivery systems, better financial management along with improved quality of governance in States and Unions Territories. 6. Which of the following has won the bid for Hyderabad Metro Rail Project recently? a) ABB-Siemens b) Maytas Infra c) Transtroy-BEML d) Reliance Infrastructure-Reliance Infocomm e) Larsen & Toubro* Answer 6: The Andhra Pradesh government on August 5, 2010 announced the award of Hyderabad Metro Rail Project (estimated cost Rs 12,132 crore) to Larsen & Toubro Ltd. The state government had in July 2010 cancelled the contract awarded to Maytas Infra promoted by Satyam founder Ramalinga Raju after the company failed to achieve financial closure in the stipulated time. L&T had emerged as the lowest bidder after fresh bids were called for early this year. Ground works for the project were scheduled to commence in January 2011. The project would be completed in five years, covering three high-density traffic corridors over a 70-km route. 7. Bureaucrat Raminder Singh was in news recently for his appointment as _______ Secretary to the Government of India. a) Steel b) Finance c) Revenue d) Chemicals & Fertilsers e) Road Transport and Highways*


Answer 7: Raminder Singh Gujral, Director General, Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, took over as Road Transport and Highways Secretary on August 1, with the superannuation of Brahm Dutt, who retired on July 31, 2010. 8. Gujarat Minister Amit Shah, who was in news recently for his resignation after being chargesheeted by the CBI, held which of the following portfolios in Narendra Modi cabinet? a) Education b) Finance c) Industry d) Home* e) None of the above Answer 8: Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah — chargesheeted by the CBI as one of the prime accused in the case of Sohrabuddin fake encounter and murder of his wife Kausarbi — resigned from the Narendra Modi Cabinet on July 31, 2010. 9. Who was conferred with the ―National Amity Award‖ for the year 2010 recently? a) Ram Jethmalani b) Fali S. Nariman c) Salman Khurshid d) Khushwant Singh e) None of the above* Answer 9: ―National Amity Award‖ conferred posthumously on Sunil Dutt: The Vice President of India, M. Hamid Ansari conferred the ―National Amity Award‖ posthumously for the year 2010 to late actor and parliamentarian Sunil Dutt on July 30, 2010. The award was received by his daughter Priya Dutt, Member of Parliament and it comprises of a Citation and a cash award of Rs 1 lakh. 10. Rajesh Burbure was in news recently for creating a Guinness world record in _______. a) Dancing b) Writing c) Reading d) Singing* e) Sculpting Answer 10: Rajesh Burbure on July 25, 2010 set a new singing record of 80 hours of singing in Nagpur. Burbure, 34, who started singing on July 22 ended his feat on July 25, is all set to make to the new world record in Guinness Book of records surpassing the previous record of 76.7 hours singing by South Korean singer Kim Sen Oke. 11. Kolkata students Anish Mukherjee and Debarghya Sarkar were in news recently for having minor _____ named after them. a) Asteroids b) Comets c) Planets* d) Moons e) Galaxies Answer 11: Two students of South Point High School in Kolkata will now have minor planets named after them. The Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Lincoln Laboratory, USA, on July 10 bestowed the honour on Anish Mukherjee and Debarghya Sarkar. The naming is in recognition of their winning the second Grand award in Electrical & Mechanical Engineering category at the Nevada Fair. Minor planet 2000 AH52 and minor planet 2000 AT53 will, henceforth, be known as ‗Mukherjee' and ‗Sarkar', respectively.


12. India became the largest contributor to profits of which multinational bank in the six month period (Jan-June 2010) recently? a) ING Bank b) Citibank c) HSBC d) Standard Chartered Bank* e) Barclays Bank Answer 12: India has emerged as the biggest contributor to the UK headquartered Standard Chartered bank‘s global profits for the first time in its history, edging out Hong Kong from the top position in the six months to (Jan-June 2010) June 30. About 20% of the UK-headquartered bank‘s operating profit of $3.12 billion came from India. India reported profit before tax of $624 million while the share of StanChart‘s Hong Kong operations dropped 11 per cent to $511 million. In June, the bank became the first multinational company to list on an Indian stock exchange, when it raised $531 million through an Indian Depository Receipt (IDR) issue. 13. Ravi Baswani, who passed away recently, was known for achievements in which field? a) Journalism b) Classical Music c) Fashion designing d) Movies* e) Photography Answer 13: Actor Ravi Baswani, known for his comic roles in films like 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron' and 'Chashme Buddoor', passed away on July 27, 2010 at the age of 64. 14. ‗Maharashtra Desha‘, is a recently released book authored by whom among the following politicians? a) Manohar Joshi b) Ashok Chavan c) Uddhav Thackeray* d) Gopinath Munde e) Sharad Pawar Answer 14: Uddhav Thackeray‘s ‗Maharashtra Desha‘ unveiled: ‗Maharashtra Desha‘, a book authored by Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray was unveiled on July 28, 2010. 15. Which of the following statements about agreements reached during the visit of British Prime Minister David Cameron to India recently is/are correct? I. Britain will supply Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets for the Indian Air Force II. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) signed deals with BAE Systems, the UK-based defence security and aerospace company, and Rolls-Royce Group III. India and the U.K. decided to constitute a joint CEOs Forum to be co-chaired by Marc Bolland and Adi Godrej a) I only b) I and III only c) II only* d) II and III only e) I, II and III Answer 15: Following agreements were reached during the visit of British Prime Minister David Cameron to India on July 29, 2010:


BAE Systems, the UK-based defence security and aerospace company, and Rolls-Royce Group, the engine manufacturing company signed contracts worth £700 million with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) to supply 57 Hawk advanced jet trainer (AJT) aircraft and their engines to India. The Hawk AJT enables the Air Force or Navy to train pilots for modern fighter aircraft like the Eurofighter Typhoon or Sukhoi SU-30. India and the U.K. decided to constitute a joint CEOs Forum to be co-chaired by Peter Sands and Ratan Tata. A 45 million pound partnership between India‘s Department of Bio-Technology (DBT) and Wellcome Trust, UK was announced to support the development of innovative healthcare products at affordable costs. 16. Which of the following was derecognised as a National Party by the Election Commission recently? a) CPI (M) b) Rashtriya Janata Dal* c) Samajwadi Party d) Shiv Sena e) Trinamul Congress Answer 16: The Election Commission on July 29, 2010 issued orders derecognising the Rashtriya Janata Dal as a national party as it failed to fulfil the criteria for such recognition. The EC also withdrew recognition to several parties in some States for failing to meet the Commission‘s criteria on poll performance.

Derecognised as National Party Derecognised as State Party

Rashtriya Janata Dal

Arunachal Congress in Arunachal Pradesh, MDMK in Tamil Nadu, PMK in Puducherry, JD (U) in Jharkhand, SP in Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Trinamool Congress in Meghalaya, JMM in Orissa.

The derecognised parties would lose facilities and concessions hitherto enjoyed by them in those States where their recognition was withdrawn. They could not participate in official meetings of the recognised parties convened by the EC or the State Election Department, and could not seek votes through the state-owned Doordarshan or All India Radio during elections. 17. The United Kingdom recently told India that it does not propose to investigate the ______ for alleged corruption vis-à-vis the grants provided by the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID). a) Shaleya Poshan Aahar Yojana b) Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana c) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan* d) Ambedkar Gram Vikas Yojana e) Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana Answer 17: The United Kingdom on July 28, 2010 told India that it does not propose to investigate the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme for alleged corruption vis-à-vis the grants provided by the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID). The controversy started following an article, published in the News of the World in June that levelled serious charges against the SSA and in respect of utilisation of U.K. assistance. The DFID provides only two per cent of the total expenditure on the SSA. 18. Which of the following statements about the revised the financial allocation for the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) is/are correct in light of recent developments? I. The Union government approved an allocation of Rs. 2, 31,000 crore over the next five years II. The Union government‘s share has been increased to 68 per cent while that of state governments has been lowered to 32 per cent for implementing the Act III. The Right to Education Act makes elementary education compulsory for children in the age groups of six to 14 years. a) I only b) I and III only c) II only


d) II and III only e) I, II and III* Answer 18:

The Union government on July 31, 2010 revised the financial allocation under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) over the next five years. As against the Rs.1, 71,000 crore suggested earlier, the Finance Ministry has now approved an allocation for Rs. 2, 31,000 crore. The Right to Education Act makes elementary education compulsory for children in the age groups of six to 14 years.

The Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) under the Finance Ministry has also agreed to increase the Union government‘s share effectively to 68 per cent and reduce the State share to 32 per cent for implementing the Act.

The RTE Act requires primary classes to have a pupil-teacher ratio of 1:30 and upper primary classes a ratio of 1:35, against the SSA ratio of 1:40.

19. Which of the following combinations of recent books and their authors is not matched correctly? a) The Politics of Prevention: A Global Crisis in AIDS and Education – Tania Boler, David Archer b) A Place in the Shade – Fali S. Nariman* c) Counter-terrorism, Aid and Civil Society: Before and After the War on Terror – Jude Howell and Jeremy Lind d) The Flaws in the Jewel: Challenging the Myths of British India – Roderick Matthews e) None of the above Answer 19: The Politics of Prevention: A Global Crisis in AIDS and Education – Tania Boler, David Archer Counter-terrorism, Aid and Civil Society: Before and After the War on Terror – Jude Howell and Jeremy Lind The Flaws in the Jewel: Challenging the Myths of British India – Roderick Matthews A Place in the Shade – Charles Correa 20. The Election Commission derecognised several political parties as State Parties recently. According to the Election Commission, all of the following are sufficient conditions for recognition of a political party as a State Party in a state except: a) At the last general election to the Legislative Assembly, the party has secured at least six percent of the total valid

votes polled in the State; and, in addition, the party has won at least two seats b) At the last general election to the Legislative Assembly, the party has won at five percent of the total number of seats

or at least five seats, whichever is more* c) At the last general election to the Lok Sabha from that State, the party has secured not less than six percent of the

total valid votes polled in the State; and, in addition, the party won at least one seat d) At the last general election to the Legislative Assembly of the State, the party has won at least three percent of the

total number of seats or at least three seats, whichever is more e) At the last general election to the Lok Sabha from the State, the party has won at least one seat for every 25 seats

allotted to that state Answer 20: A political party is eligible for recognition as a State Party in a state, if, and only if, any of the following conditions is fulfilled:

At the last general election to the Legislative Assembly of the State, the candidates set up by the party have secured not less than six percent of the total valid votes polled in the State; and, in addition, the party has returned at least two members to the Legislative Assembly of that state at such general election

At the last general election to the Lok Sabha from that State, the candidates set up by the party should have secured not less than six percent of the total valid votes polled in the State; and, in addition, the party should have returned at least one member to the Lok Sabha from that State at such general election


At the last general election to the Legislative Assembly of the State, the party has won at least three percent of the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly, (any fraction exceeding half being counted as one), or at least three seats in the Assembly, whichever is more

At the last general election to the Lok Sabha from the State, the party has returned at least one member to the Lok Sabha for every 25 members or any fraction thereof allotted to that state

21. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) that was launched recently? a) It aims at integrated development of villages, where a majority of the population belongs to the Scheduled Castes* b) It aims at integrated development of villages, where a majority of the population belongs to the Scheduled Tribes c) It aims at integrated development of villages, where a majority of the population belongs to the Minorities d) It was launched in Andhra Pradesh e) Both (a) and (b) Answer 21:

The Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) was launched in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district on July 23, 2010. The scheme ―aims at integrated development of 1,000 villages, where a majority of the population belongs to the Scheduled Castes.‖

The PMAGY envisages integrated development of 1,000 villages in the country, each with more than 50 per cent SC population. The pilot scheme has been taken up for implementation in five States of which four are Bihar, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu (225 villages in each state) and Assam (100 villages). The number of villages to be covered in UP is yet to be mentioned.

PMAGY aims to achieve all-round, integrated development of selected villages primarily, through convergent implementation of all relevant Central and State schemes in them, and by meeting needs through provision of ―gap-filling‖ funds for which central assistance will be provided at Rs. 10 lakh per village, with State Government also expected to make a suitable, preferably matching, contribution.

22. The Election Commission derecognised a leading political party as a National Party recently. According to the Election Commission, all of the following are sufficient conditions for recognition of a political party as a National Party except: a) The Party has polled not less than six per cent of the votes polled in the last general elections to the Lok Sabha or

the Legislative Assembly and has won at least four seats in the Lok Sabha b) The Party has won at least three percent of the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha and the Party has won seats

in at least four States* c) The Party has won at least two percent of the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha and the Party has won seats in

at least three States d) The party is recognized as State party in at least four States e) Both (c) and (d) Answer 22:

According to the Election Commission, all of the following are sufficient conditions for recognition of a political party as a National Party:

The candidates set up by the party, in any four or more States, at the last general election to the House of the People, or to the Legislative Assembly of the State concerned, have secured not less than six percent of the total valid votes polled in each of those states at that general election; and, in addition, it has returned at least four members to the House of the People at the aforesaid last general election from any State or States

The Party has won at least two percent of the total number of seats in the Lok Sabha and the Party has won seats in not less than three States


The party is recognized as State party in at least four States 23. The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers recently filed an affidavit for making _____ (present owner of Union Carbide) pay for the entire cost of detoxifying the gas leak affected areas around Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL) in Bhopal. a) Monsanto b) Owens Corning c) LyondellBasell d) Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co e) Dow Chemicals* Answer 24:

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers on July 22, 2010 filed an affidavit in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur for making Dow Chemicals (present owner of Union Carbide) pay for the entire cost of detoxifying the areas around Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL) in Bhopal.

This follows the estimate put out by the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in its final report on assessment and remediation of contaminated areas in and around UCIL. The study has estimated the cost of soil remediation through secured landfill technology in the range of Rs 78 crore to Rs 117 crore.

The ministry has already sought tenders from private parties including international firms to undertake the detoxification, decommissioning and dismantling of UCIL. The government has decided to put an outer limit of 2012 for completion of this exercise.

25. General Than Shwe, who came on an official visit to India recently, is the military ruler of_____ a) Uzbekistan b) Laos c) Myanmar* d) Vietnam e) Cambodia Answer 25: India and Myanmar on July 28, 2010 agreed on "close cooperation" between the security forces of the two countries in tackling the problem of terrorism. The two countries signed five pacts after PM Manmohan Singh held talks with visiting Myanmar military ruler General Than Shwe over a range of issues, like counter-terror cooperation, enhanced energy ties and collaboration in a string of developmental projects. 26. The Union government is planning to extend the benefits of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to all domestic workers in the country. The RSBY provides an annual health insurance cover of _____ per family for an annual premium of _____ for BPL families. a) Rs 10,000, Rs 10 b) Rs 15,000, Rs 15 c) Rs 20,000, Rs 20 d) Rs 25,000, Rs 25 e) Rs 30,000, Rs 30* Answer 26: The government is considering extending the benefits of the Centrally-sponsored health insurance scheme Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to all domestic workers in the country. Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge on July 27, 2010 said the recommendations were being considered by the ministry. RSBY, which provides a health insurance cover of Rs 30,000 at an annual premium of Rs 30, would be the first welfare scheme to be extended to the domestic workers. 27. The government is planning to reintroduce the cheetah, which had become extinct in the country, at which of the following sanctuaries? I. Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary II. Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary


III. Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary a) I and II only* b) II only c) II and III only d) III only e) I, II and III Answer 27: The Cheetah, eradicated by hunting nearly a century ago, will run again in the country, as three sites have been earmarked for its reintroduction. Wildlife Institute of India and the Wildlife Trust of India on July 28, 2010, in its feasibility report on ‗Assessing the Potential for Reintroducing the Cheetah in India‘, recommended three sites to introduce cheetah in India. The government has approved two sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh and an area in Rajasthan as potential homes. The cheetahs will be settled at three locations — Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh and Shahgarh region of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The plan is to import the cheetahs from Africa, Iran and the Middle East. 28. The Parliament approved the imposition of President‘s rule in which state recently? a) Meghalaya b) Jharkhand* c) Mizoram d) Tripura e) Both (b) and (d) Answer 28: Parliament has approved the imposition of President's Rule in Jharkhand on July 29, 2010. A statutory resolution approving the central rule was put to vote and adopted by voice vote in both Houses. Jharkhand came under Central rule on June 1 this year after Congress and BJP gave up efforts to form an alternative government following resignation of Chief Minister Shibu Soren. The assembly had been kept in suspended animation. Congress and BJP had both indicated their inability to form an alternative government in the state after the Soren government was reduced to a minority on May 24. Jharkhand has seen seven Chief Ministers since its creation on November 15, 2000. 29. Which of the following Indian sites was included in UNESCO‘s World Heritage List recently? a) Mahabodhi Temple Complex, Bodh Gaya b) Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka c) Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai d) Red Fort Complex e) Jantar Mantar, Jaipur* Answer 29: The 34

th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Brasilia, on July 31, 2010 inscribed Jantar Mantar in the United

Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (UNESCO) World Heritage List. India now has 28 sites in the list.

World Heritage Sites in India (28)

Agra Fort Great Living Chola Temples 12

Ajanta Caves Group of Monuments at Pattadakal

Ellora Caves Sundarbans National Park

Taj Mahal Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks

Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi

Sun Temple, Konârak Humayun's Tomb, Delhi

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi

Kaziranga National Park Mountain Railways of India

Keoladeo National Park Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya


Churches and Convents of Goa Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Fatehpur Sikri Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park

Group of Monuments at Hampi Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)

Khajuraho Group of Monuments Red Fort Complex

Elephanta Caves The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

About Jantar Mantar: The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur was chosen since ‗it is the most significant and the best preserved of India's historic observatories.' Located outside the city palace, this large stone observatory with its many instruments was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the 18

th century. It is one of the one of the four existing astronomical observatories

in India. The others are located in Varanasi, Delhi and Ujjain. The fifth one built in Mathura is not extant. The Samrat Yantra in Jaipur is one of the largest sundials in the world, with its gnomon (blade in this sundial) raising about 73 feet above its base. 30. Which state‘s Governor has reserved the ‗Anti-Cattle Slaughter Bill passed by the Legislative Assembly‘ for consideration by the President recently? a) Gujarat b) West Bengal c) Karnataka* d) Himachal Pradesh e) Tamil Nadu Answer 30: The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2010, passed by the state Legislative Assembly, has been reserved by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj for consideration of the President. A communication from the Governor's secretariat in July 2010 said that the Bill was being reserved ―after due consideration of the provisions of the Bill with reference to Constitutional provisions relating to the Fundamental Rights, the rulings of the Supreme Court and adverse effect on the lives of large sections of people in the State and lack of legislative competence.‖ 30. Which state legislative assembly enacted a legislation recently that makes it mandatory for private hospitals and nursing homes to admit a patient without waiting for the patient's party to pay? a) Gujarat b) West Bengal* c) Karnataka d) Himachal Pradesh e) Madhya Pradesh Answer 30: A Bill was passed in the West Bengal Assembly on July 22, 2010 to prevent unethical practices in clinical establishments and ensure a patient's right to treatment. The West Bengal Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Bill 2010 makes it mandatory for private hospitals and nursing homes to admit a patient without waiting for the patient's party to pay. If the patient dies, the hospital or nursing home authorities must release the body to the patient's party even if they are not in a position to pay the hospitalisation costs. The State Government will, in such cases, pay the legitimate costs for hospitalisation and treatment. 31. Which division of the Railways was in news recently for reviving the world's oldest steam locomotive that was used for moving troops to quash the uprisings in the 1857 mutiny? a) Central Railway b) Eastern Railway c) Western Railway d) Northern Railway e) Southern Railway*


Answer 31: Trial run of the world's oldest steam locomotive ‗Express Loco‘ was successful at the Perambur Loco Works in Chennai on July 29, 2010. The 155-year-old ‗Express Loco' built by Kitson Thomson and Hewitson Leeds, United Kingdom, was used in the erstwhile East Indian Railway till 1909. Thereafter, it remained parked in Jamalpur and Howrah as a piece of exhibit for over 100 years. The locomotive has the history of hauling trains of troops from Howrah to Raneegunge to quash the uprisings in the 1857 mutiny. A Heritage Run is planned between Royapuram (Chennai), the oldest railway station building in Southern Railway, and Avadi. 32. Which state assembly recently passed a legislation that seeks to punish government officials for failure or delay in providing public services? a) Gujarat b) West Bengal c) Karnataka d) Himachal Pradesh e) Madhya Pradesh* Answer 32: Madhya Pradesh Assembly on July 31, 2010 passed a historic legislation that seeks to punish government officials for failure or delay in providing public services. The Public Services Guarantee Bill, 2010, empowers the state to fine an official Rs 500 to Rs 5,000 fine for failure to provide services like drinking water connections or caste certificates. The money will go to the complainant as compensation. 33. Where is the National Investigation Agency (NIA) setting up its first branch outside Delhi? a) Bangalore b) Mumbai c) Chennai d) Hyderabad* e) Thiruvananthapuram Answer 33: The National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Central counter terrorism law enforcement agency in the country, on July 29, 2010 announced the setting up of a unit at Hyderabad. This will be the first branch of the NIA outside Delhi. The decision to establish a unit office was taken to probe terrorism-related cases in the four Southern States, along with Maharashtra and Goa. 34. Which state government was in news recently for launching a scheme of acquiring land at market prices and distributing it free to landless families? a) Gujarat b) West Bengal* c) Karnataka d) Himachal Pradesh e) Madhya Pradesh Answer 34: The West Bengal Government has distributed 291 acres of free land to 2,495 families for agriculture and dwelling purposes till May 2010. The land allotment has been made under the scheme ‗Chash-o-Basobaser Bhumidan Prakalpa‘. The beneficiaries under the scheme include agricultural workers, rural artisans and fishermen, according to a press statement issued by the State Information and Cultural Affairs Department on July 29, 2010. The State Government has taken an in-principle decision to purchase land for such beneficiaries at a price 25 per cent higher than the market value. 35. Which of the following became the country's first building to receive the ISO Certification by Bureau Veritas for having emerged as urban habitat with excellent environmental management systems recently? a) Tamil Nadu Legislature Building b) Prime Minister‘s Residence c) Parliament House d) Rashtrapati Bhavan*


e) Bombay House, Tata Group‘s Headquarter Answer 35: Rashtrapati Bhavan was on July 25, 2010 presented with an International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 14001:2004 Certificate by Bureau Veritas for having emerged as the country's first urban habitat with excellent environmental management systems. President Patil had initiated a project, ―Roshni Programme,‖ which was aimed at making the President's Estate a plastic-free zone and pushed for introduction of energy-efficient practices. 36. The Pakistan government has extended the term of the Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani by _____ recently. a) 1 year b) Two years c) Three years* d) Four years e) Five years Answer 36: The term of Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan was on July 24, 2010 extended to 2013. Kayani is the former Director General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, and Director General of Military Operations. He replaced Pervez Musharraf as the leader of the army on November 29, 2007. The extension makes him the first Pakistani four star general to receive a term extension from a democratic government. 37. Who among the following is the only Indian among the Forbes magazine‘s ‗30 Utterly Inspiring Role Models‘ list recently? a) Ila Bhatt b) Arundhati Roy* c) Saina Nehwal d) Brinda Karat e) Sonia Gandhi Answer 37: India-born head of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi and writer and activist Arundhati Roy were on July 25, 29010 named by Forbes among the world's 30 most inspiring women. The list which also features Mother Teresa, media mogul Oprah Winfrey and United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The ‗30 Utterly Inspiring Role Models' list has been compiled by ForbesWoman. Others named in the list include First lady Michelle Obama and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. 38. Which leader was in news recently for his autobiography ‗The Strategic Victory‘? a) Fidel Castro* b) Tony Blair c) George W. Bush d) John Howard e) Kofi Annan Answer 38: Cuba's former President Fidel Castro on August 2, 2010 released his book ―The Strategic Victory‖, a memoir of the victory of his rebel forces against the country's dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959. Castro said He said he would continue working on a second volume of memoirs, to be called ‗The Final Strategic Counteroffensive‘. 39. Which of the following was in news recently for uploading thousands of classified military documents of the US government on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan without permission? a) Reporters Without Borders b) Facebook c) Amnesty International d) WikiLeaks* e) CNN


Answer 39: Pakistan's ISI continues to support Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, even as the United States provided billions as aid to its key ally in the war against terror, reveal the leaked intelligence documents uploaded on web whistle-blower site WikiLeaks recently. Julian Assange, WikiLeaks founder, has declined to say where his whistle-blower website got 91,000 US documents about the war. About 76,000 of them were posted on the site on July 25, 2010. 40. Which of the following was recently handed over the probe into the three-year-old Samjhauta Express blast case by the Union government recently? a) National Investigation Agency* b) Enforcement Directorate c) Narcotics Control Bureau d) Intelligence Bureau e) Research & Analysis Wing Answer 40: The Union government on July 28, 2010 decided to hand over the probe into the three-year-old Samjhauta Express blast case to the National Investigation Agency to unravel the conspiracy. The 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings were a terrorist on the Samjhauta Express, a twice-weekly train service connecting Delhi, India, and Lahore, Pakistan on February 18, 2007 that caused 68 deaths. 41. India had the _____ highest military expenditure in the world in 2009, according to the annual report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released recently. a) Seventh b) Eighth c) Ninth* d) Tenth e) Eleventh Answer 41:

United States had the highest military expenditure of $661 billion in 2009, according to the annual report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released recently. The US military expenditure in 2009 was 75.8 percent higher than in 2000. Worldwide military expenditure in 2009 was estimated at $1531 billion. Top ten are as follows:

The 10 countries with the highest military expenditure in 2009 (Spending figures are in US$, at current prices and exchange rates)

Rank Country Spending in $ billion

Change 2000-2009 (%)

Spending per capita ($)

*Share of GDP** (2008) in %

World share (%)

1 USA 661 75.8 2100 4.3 43

2 China 100 217 74.6 2.0 6.6

3 France 63.9 7.4 1026 2.3 4.2

4 UK 58.3 28.1 946 2.5 3.8

5 Russia 53.3 105 378 3.5 3.5

6 Japan 51.0 -1.3 401 0.9 3.3

7 Germany 45.6 -6.7 555 1.3 3.0

8 Saudi Arabia 41.2 66.9 1603 8.2 2.7

9 India 36.3 67.3 30.4 2.6 2.4

10 Italy 35.8 -13.3 598 1.7 2.3

WORLD 1531 49.2 224 2.7 100

* National military expenditure as a share of GDP in 2008 **The figures for national military expenditure as a share of GDP are for 2008, the most recent year for which GDP data is available (Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2010)


42. Why was the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project in news recently? I. It accomplished the goal of controlled nuclear fusion for the first time II. Its member countries agreed to increase its budget III. It appointed a new Director General a) I and II only b) II only c) II and III only* d) III only e) I, II and III Answer 42:

The European Union and six member countries including India on July 29, 2010 reached a deal on the financing and timetable for an experimental nuclear fusion reactor (ITER). The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, which is to be based in Cadarache in southern France, aims to achieve nuclear fusion under controlled conditions. The overall costs of the project will be almost US $21bn, (16 bn euros), some three times the original price.

The member countries also agreed a timeline that would see the first plasma experiments in 2019, with a fusion reactor generating significantly more power than it consumed by 2026/27.

The ITER also appointed a new director general, Professor Osamu Motojima, who said that he believed the new timeline and budget agreed in Cadarache would make fusion a reality. Nuclear fusion is being seen as a cheap and non-polluting source of abundant energy.

43. Which of the following was removed from the World Heritage List of Sites in Danger by UNESCO recently? a) Bagrati Cathedral & Gelati Monastery (Georgia) b) Rainforests of Atsinanana (Madagascar) c) Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)* d) Tombs of Buganda Kings (Uganda) e) Everglades National Park (USA) Answer 43: The 34

th session of the World Heritage Committee was organised in Brasilia, on July 31, 2010. 21 new sites were included

in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (UNESCO) World Heritage List. The Committee also added four sites to the List of World Heritage in Danger and removed the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) from this List. After the revision, the World Heritage List includes 911 properties (sites). These include 704 cultural, 180 natural and 27 mixed properties in 151 countries.

New sites on World Heritage List of Sites in Danger

Bagrati Cathedral & Gelati Monastery (Georgia)

Rainforests of Atsinanana (Madagascar)

Tombs of Buganda Kings (Uganda)

Everglades National Park (USA)

Site removed from World Heritage List of Sites in Danger

Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)

44. Which of the following statements about broadband connectivity around the globe in 2009, according to data revealed by internet research firm Akamai recently is/are correct? I. Oslo in Norway is world‘s fastest broadband city in 2009 II. Russia is the origin of maximum number of phishing and spam attacks III. More than half of the top 100 fastest broadband cities are in Asia a) I and II only b) II only c) II and III only* d) III only e) I, II and III


Answer 44:

A report based on analysis of huge amounts of net traffic has revealed the state of the internet around the globe. The data revealed by internet research firm Akamai on July 28, 2010 shows that the average global net speed is 1.7Mbps (megabits per second).

The fastest broadband city in the world is Masan in South Korea. Asia dominates the list of fastest wired cities with more than half of the top 100 cities.

The report also looked at where so-called attack traffic, such as phishing and spam, originated. Russia topped this league table with 12% of such traffic followed by USA (10%) and China (9.1%).

45. Which region in Spain was in news for outlawing bullfighting recently? a) Andalusia b) Asturias c) Basque Country d) Catalonia* e) Galicia Answer 45: Legislators in Catalonia outlawed bullfighting on July 28, 2010 making it Spain‘s first major region to do so after an impassioned debate that pitted the rights of animals against preserving a pillar of traditional culture. The ban in the northeastern coastal region whose capital is Barcelona will take effect in 2012. Catalonia is a powerful, wealthy region with its own language and culture and a large degree of self-rule. Many in Spain have seen the pressure here for a bullfighting ban as a further bid by Catalonia to stand out from the rest of the country. 46. Which of the following was declared as ‗a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights‘ by the United Nations General Assembly recently? a) Access to primary and secondary education b) Access to food and shelter c) Access to clean water and sanitation* d) Access to communication and mobility e) Access to natural resources Answer 46: Safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is ‗a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights‘, the General Assembly declared on July 28, 2010. Almost 900 million people worldwide do not have access to clean water. The 192-member Assembly also called on United Nations Member States and international organizations to offer funding, technology and other resources to help poorer countries scale up their efforts to provide clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for everyone. The Assembly resolution received 122 votes in favour and zero votes against, while 41 countries abstained from voting. 47. Who among the following industrialists is among the seven convicted recently for the Bhopal gas disaster that killed over 15,000 people in December 1984? a) R. P. Goenka b) Keshub Mahindra* c) B. K. Birla d) Nusli Wadia e) Shashi Ruia Answer 47: 86 year old Keshub Mahindra was reappointed Chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra at the 64

th annual general meeting

(AGM) on July 29, 2010. Mahindra is one of the seven convicted in July 2010 for the Bhopal gas disaster that killed over 15,000 people in December 1984. He was then the non-executive director and non-executive chairman of Union Carbide India (UCIL), the company responsible for the tragedy. Mahindra had earlier resigned from the Prime Minister‘s Council on Trade and Industry.


In his appeal, Mahindra has argued that he was not involved in day-to-day management or operational activities of UCIL but only chaired the meetings of the board of directors. The court has fixed September 28 as the date for hearing the appeal filed by Mahindra. 48. Robert Dudley was in news recently for his appointment as the first non-British CEO of which of the following? a) East India Company b) Bank of England c) British Petroleum* d) Barclays Bank e) Johnson & Johnson Answer 48: British oil giant BP on July 27, 2010 announced the appointment of 54-year-old New York born Robert Dudley as its first non-British chief executive officer. Dudley takes over from Tony Hayward who resigned recently. BP had earlier announced quarterly losses of $17 billion after booking $32 billion to cover clean up and other related costs for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. 49. Which of the following statements about the three-year plan for moving to a goods and services tax (GST) regime unveiled by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee recently is/are correct? I. The GST will have Central GST as well as State GST II. The first year of GST will have three rates III. GST will have only a single rate for goods as well as services from third year onwards a) I and II only b) II only c) II and III only d) III only e) I, II and III* Answer 49:

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on July 22, 2010 unveiled a three-year plan for moving to a single-rate goods and services tax (GST) regime of 16 per cent for the Centre as well as the states.

All central and state taxes like excise, value added tax and service tax will be rolled into GST, once the new regime comes into effect.

While the first year (2011-12) of GST will have 3 rates, there will be a single rate for goods as well as services from the third year (2013-14) onwards.

The Rates

Proposed GST Rates (%)

Central GST State GST Total liability

2011-12

Goods (lower rate) 6 6 12

Goods (standard rate) 10 10 20

Services 8 8 16

2012-13

Goods (lower rate) 6 6 12


Services 8 8 16

2013-14 onwards


Services 8 8 16

50. Which of the following statements about the recommendations of the C. Achuthan Committee report on Takeover Code is/are correct? I. The open offer trigger limit should be increased from 15 to 25 per cent II. The mandatory open offer size should increased from 20 to 100 per cent III. Takeovers should not be financed by foreign debt


a) I and II only* b) II only c) II and III only d) III only e) I, II and III Answer 50: Major changes in regulatory rules concerning mergers and acquisitions (M&As) have been proposed by an expert committee set up by market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). C. Achuthan, Chairman of the Takeover Regulations Advisory Committee (TRAC), submitted its 139-page report to C. B. Bhave, Chairman, SEBI, in Mumbai on July 21, 2010. Other members of the committee include Tata Steel Chief Financial Officer Koushik Chatterjee and L&T Chief Financial Officer Y. M. Deosthalee. The Committee has proposed sweeping changes in a number of crucial issues including the open offer size and open offer trigger limit: Some of the major ones are: The open offer trigger limit should be increased from 15 to 25 per cent The mandatory open offer size should increased from 20 to 100 per cent Acquirers cannot be represented on the board of the target company Independent directors of the target company to give mandatory opinion on offer Non-compete fee/control premium if paid to promoters need to be added to offer 51. How much were the non-performing assets (NPAs) in Indian Banking system (public sector as well as private sector banks) as on March 31, 2010, according to information given in Parliament recently? a) Rs 74,685 crore* b) Rs 57,301 crore c) Rs 44,039 crore d) Rs 39,749 crore e) Rs 17,384 crore Answer 51: Bank loan defaults rose to Rs 74,685 crore at the end of March 2010, with non-performing assets (NPAs) of public sector banks (PSBs) reaching Rs 57,301 crore, parliament was informed on July 27, 2010. NPAs of Private sector banks were Rs 17,384 crore.

Loan Defaults

Public sector banks

Gross advances (loans) NPAs NPAs to loans ratio

2009-10 Rs 25.19 lakh crore Rs 57,301 crore 2.27



Source: Union Finance Ministry

Loan Defaults

Private sector banks

Gross advances (loans) NPAs NPAs to loans ratio




Source: Union Finance Ministry


52. Which of the following combinations of recent books and their authors is incorrectly matched? a) Three Thousand Miles to Freedom – Brig M.M. Pillai b) Escape from Singapore Brig – Jasbir Singh c) Ballistic Missile Defence: Frontier of the 21

st Century – Anand Sharma

d) The Tacit Dimension – Michael Polanyi e) None of the above* Answer 52: Three Thousand Miles to Freedom – Brig M.M. Pillai Escape from Singapore Brig – Jasbir Singh Ballistic Missile Defence: Frontier of the 21

st Century – Anand Sharma

The Tacit Dimension – Michael Polanyi 53. Which of the following had the highest share of revenues in Indian Media & Entertainment industry in 2009, according to a report by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers unveiled recently? a) Television industry* b) Film industry c) Print media d) Radio e) Out of Home (OOH) Answer 53: The Indian media and entertainment industry is slated to grow to Rs 1,04,080 crore in 2014 from Rs 58,080 crore in 2009, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report unveiled on July 28, 2010.

Media & Entertainment industry in India

Segment Size in 2009 Size in 2014

Television industry Rs 26,550 crore Rs 48,800 crore

Film industry Rs 9,500 crore Rs 17,050 crore

Print media Rs 16,150 crore Rs 23,050 crore

Radio Rs 900 crore Rs 1,600 crore

Out of Home (OOH) Rs 1250 crore Rs 2100 crore

Internet Rs 600 crore Rs 1,500 crore

Animation, Gaming & VFX Rs 2,380 crore Rs 7,340 crore

Total Rs 58,080 crore Rs 1,04,080 crore

Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers, July 2010

54. How much were India‘s apparel exports in 2009-10 according to information given in Parliament recently? a) $ 8,128 million b) $ 10046 million* c) $ 14383 million d) $ 17891 million e) $ 19263 million Answer 54: India‘s exports of apparel during 2009-10 were US$ 10046.89 million as against US$ 10383.26 million in the preceding financial year 2008-09. In terms of rupee, exports of apparel in 2009-10 were Rs. 47524.78 crore as against Rs. 47112.77 crore in 2008-09. The decline can be attributed to the general economic slowdown in EU and US markets leading to lower demand for apparel and other textiles products. This information was given by the Minister of State for Textiles, Panabaaka Lakshmi in Parliament on July 28, 2010.


India‘s apparel exports In $ terms In Rupee terms

2009-10 $ 10046.89 million Rs. 47524.78 crore

2008-09 $ 10383.26 million Rs. 47112.77 crore

Source: Ministry of Textiles

55. What were the Personal Computer (desktops & notebooks) sales in India in 2009-10 according to the recent Industry Performance Review by Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology (MAIT)? a) 2,500,500 b) 3,150,000 c) 6,200,500 d) 8,035,000* e) 9,350,000 Answer 55: India's PC sales – desktop computers and notebooks combined - grew 18.22 per cent to 80.3 lakh units in 2009-10, driven by demand revival across consumer and office segments, particularly during second half of the year. For 2010-11, the growth rate is expected to be lower at 16 per cent, with PC sales projected at 93.5 lakh units, according to the Industry Performance Review by hardware association Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology (MAIT). In the desktop market, the share of informal or assembled players shrunk to 27 per cent in 2009-10 (against 31 per cent share in 2008-09). The share of MNC brands increased marginally to 52 per cent (51 per cent in 2008-09) and that of Indian brands rose to 21 per cent (18 per cent in 2008-09).

Sales in Units

2008-09 2009-10 Growth %) Projections for 2010-11 Projected Growth (%) over 2009-10

Desktops 5,279,648 5,525,992 9.96 6,200,000 12.19

Notebooks 1,516,459 2,508,564 65.4 3,150,000 25.5

Total PC 6,796,107 8,034,556 18.22 9,350,000 16.37

Source: Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology (MAIT) Industry Performance Review

56. The Reserve Bank of India raised the Repo Rate to ____ and the Reverse Repo Rate to _____ in its first quarter review of the monetary policy recently. a) 4.50 per cent, 3.75 per cent b) 5.25 per cent, 4.00 per cent c) 5.75 per cent, 4.50 per cent* d) 6.00 per cent, 4.75 per cent e) 6.25 per cent, 5.00 per cent Answer 56:

The Reserve Bank of India on July 27, 2010 raised short-term interest rates in its first quarter review of the monetary policy. The repo and reverse repo rates have been increased by 25 and 50 basis points respectively to soften persistent inflationary pressures in the economy.

The repo rate (the RBI's short-term lending rate to banks) and the reverse repo rate (the RBI's short-term borrowing rate) are now at 5.75 per cent and 4.50 per cent, respectively.

The cash reserve ratio (the deposits that banks have to maintain with the RBI) has been left unchanged at 6 per cent.

The RBI has projected credit and deposit growth of 20 per cent and 18 per cent respectively in 2010-11. The central bank has also raised the GDP growth projection for 2010-11 upwards to 8.5 per cent.

57. The government has decided to enhance the allocation of foodgrains sold to the Above Poverty Line (APL) population to _____ per family per month recently. a) 10 kg b) 15 kg* c) 20 kg


d) 25 kg e) 30 kg Answer 57: The Union government on July 26, 2010 decided to enhance the allocation of foodgrains sold to the Above Poverty Line (APL) population to 15 kg per family per month for six months with immediate effect. The Below Poverty Line (BPL) beneficiaries will continue to get 35 kg of foodgrains per family per month. Currently, every APL household is provided between 10 kg and 12 kg per month. APL families get wheat at Rs. 6.10 a kg and rice at Rs.8.30 a kg. 58. Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) awarded contracts to consortiums led by ___________, Mahindra Satyam–Morpho and L1 Identity Solutions to implement the core biometric identification system for the ―Aadhaar‖ programme recently. a) Ernst & Young b) Wipro c) KPMG d) Accenture* e) IBM Answer 58:

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on July 29, 2010 awarded contracts to consortiums led by Accenture, Mahindra Satyam – Morpho and L1 Identity Solutions to implement the core biometric identification system for the ―Aadhaar‖ programme.

The three agencies would design, supply, install, commission, maintenance and support the multi-modal Automatic Biometric Identification Subsystem (ABIS). They will also be involved in development of multi-modal Software Development Kit (SDK) for client enrolment station, verification server, manual adjudication and monitoring function of the UID application.

The goal of Aadhaar is to provide each Indian resident with a unique identification number – Aadhaar, and enable easier, more efficient and secure access to welfare schemes. The programme is designed to confirm the identity of the 1.2 billion residents of India, making it the largest identity management programme in the world.

59. What price has been fixed by the government for procurement of ethanol by oil marketing companies, IOC, HPCL and BPCL from sugar companies recently? a) Rs 21.50/litre b) Rs 24/litre c) Rs 25.50/litre d) Rs 27/litre* e) Rs 29/litre Answer 59: The group of ministers (GoM) on the ethanol-petrol blending programme on July 26, 2010 fixed an interim price of Rs 27 per litre for ethanol to be used. The GoM also decided that a committee headed by Planning Commission member Saumitra Chaudhuri would propose a pricing formula and recommend a price to be finally approved by the Cabinet. The interim price of Rs 27 will then be adjusted. Ethanol blending with petrol at five per cent continued for about two years before coming to a halt in October 2009 due to low supply. During this period, the oil marketing companies — Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum — bought ethanol from sugar companies at a price of Rs 21.50 per litre. 60. India became a member of which of the following international organisations recently? a) Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development b) Nuclear Suppliers Group c) Financial Action Task Force* d) International Telecommunication Union e) Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation


Answer 60: India in June 2010 became a member of elite global body Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a standard setting body to combat money laundering and terror financing. This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Namo Narain Meena in Parliament on July 27, 2010. Membership of FATF will help India to build the capacity to fight terrorism and trace terrorist money and to successfully investigate and prosecute money laundering and terrorist financing offences. Presently, 34 countries and two regional organisations, namely, European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council are the members of FATF. 61. Which state government was in news for banning iron-ore exports recently? a) Orissa b) Jharkhand c) Karnataka* d) Chhattisgarh e) Andhra Pradesh Answer 61: Karnataka has banned export of iron ore from the 10 ports in the State from July 26, 2010. Karnataka is the second largest producer of iron ore in the country. The state exports between 25 million tonnes and 30 million tonnes of iron ore every year. It produces about 45 mt out of a total of 225 mt of iron ore mined in the country. The decision to ban iron ore exports follows rampant illegal mining and tax evasion in the State. The State Government has already asked the Lok Ayukta to investigate and submit a report on illegal mining in Karnataka. 62. The government recently approved interest subsidy for banks to enable them to provide short term crop loans to farmers at _____ per annum during 2010-11. a) 3% b) 5% c) 7%* d) 9% e) 11% Answer 62: The Union Cabinet on July 30, 2010 approved the release of Rs 4,868 crore as interest subvention to public sector banks (PSBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and cooperative banks. This interest subvention will enable farmers to receive short-term crop loans at interest rate of 7 per cent per annum during 2010-11. The maximum loan amount that can be got under the concessional rate of 7 per cent is Rs 3 lakh. Also, farmers who are prompt in their payments will get an additional subvention of two per cent in 2010-11, implying that they will get short-term crop loan at an interest of 5 per cent an year. 63. Which is world's most valuable brand according to the list compiled by Forbes magazine recently? a) Apple* b) Coca Cola c) IBM d) Google e) McDonald's Answer 63: Apple Computers on July 30, 2010 emerged as the world's most valuable brand in the 50 Top valuable brand list of the Forbes magazine. Apple was followed by software major Microsoft with a brand value of USD 56.6 billion. Beverages firm, Coca Cola was third at USD 55.4 billion, followed by technology giant IBM, now worth USD 43 billion. Search engine Google was fifth in the ranking with USD 39.7 billion. McDonald's, General Electric, Marlboro, Intel and Finnish handset maker Nokia featured in the top 10 list. Tech brands occupied four of the first five places in the rankings. 64. Yuvraj 215 is the country's first 15 horse-power (hp) tractor for the small and marginal farmer introduced by _____ recently


a) Eicher b) M&M* c) Sonalika d) HMT e) TAFE Answer 64: Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) on July 28, 2010 launched the Yuvraj 215, the country's first 15 horse-power (hp) tractor targeting the small and marginal farmer with an average landholding of two to five acres of land. Nearly, 82 per cent of the farmer population in the country comprises small and marginal farmers. 65. Who won the Tour de France cycle race recently? a) Alberto Contador* b) Andy Schleck c) Denis Menchov d) Lance Armstrong e) Alessandro Petacchi Answer 65: The 2010 Tour de France was the 97

th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The 3,642

km race started on July 3 in Netherlands and passed through Belgium before ending on July 25, 2010 at the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France. Alberto Contador of Spain (team Astana) won the race and the yellow jersey for the third time followed by Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) of Luxembourg and Denis Menchov (team Rabobank) of Russia in second and third positions respectively. Italian Alessandro Petacchi won the green jersey for winning the highest number of points in the 20 stage race. 66. Who among the following is not among the six brand ambassadors chosen for Commonwealth Games by the Organising Committee (OC) recently? a) Samaresh Jung b) Vijender Singh c) Sushil Kumar d) M.C. Mary Kom e) Tejaswani Sawant* Answer 66: The Organising Committee (OC) of the Commonwealth Games on July 27, 2010 named six sportspersons as brand ambassadors for the Games. They are: Olympic gold medal winning shooter Abhinav Bindra, World No. 2 badminton player Saina Nehwal, the best athlete of the 2006 Commonwealth Games Samaresh Jung, Olympic bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh, Olympic bronze medal winning wrestler Sushil Kumar and four-time World boxing champion M.C. Mary Kom. 67. Who among the following created the record for most number of centuries at a single venue in Tests Cricket recently? a) Ricky Ponting b) Jacques Kallis c) Sachin Tendulkar d) Mahela Jayawardene* e) Chris Gayle Answer 67: Mahela Jayawardene now has the most Test hundreds at a single venue. On July 27, 2010, he overtook the legendary Sir Don Bradman's nine centuries in Melbourne, when he reached the three-figure mark and notched up his 10

th century at

the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo. 68. Which of the following combinations of recent books and their authors is incorrectly matched? a) State and Foreign Policy in South Asia – Jivanta Schottli and Siegfried O. Wolf b) The Honest Always Stand Alone – C. G. Somiah


c) Concise Encyclopedia of Indian Polity & Governance – Subhash C. Kashyap d) What Makes Islamic Turkey Different from Islamist Saudi Arabia – M. P. Prabhakaran e) Comprehensive Security for an Emerging India – Jasjit Singh* Answer 68: State and Foreign Policy in South Asia – Jivanta Schottli and Siegfried O. Wolf The Honest Always Stand Alone – C. G. Somiah Concise Encyclopedia of Indian Polity & Governance – Subhash C. Kashyap What Makes Islamic Turkey Different from Islamist Saudi Arabia – M. P. Prabhakaran Comprehensive Security for an Emerging India – Kapil Kak 69. Which Indian company was in news recently for acquiring a 60% stake in a shale gas joint venture with Carrizo Oil & Gas of the US? a) Reliance Industries Ltd* b) Essar Oil c) ONGC Videsh Ltd d) Vedanta Resources e) Cairn India Ltd Answer 69: Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) on August 5, 2010, announced that it will pay $392 million to take a 60 per cent interest in a joint venture with Carrizo Oil & Gas, its third shale gas acquisition in the United States. The JV will develop gas assets in the Marcellus Shale region. This is RIL‘s third such deal this year. In June 2010, RIL announced it will invest $1.36 billion in the US shale gas assets of Pioneer Natural Resources, and in April 2010, the company said it will pay $1.7 billion to form a joint venture at the Marcellus Shale region with Atlas Energy. 70. What is India‘s first web browser, launched by Bangalore based Hidden Reflex recently, named? a) Bhuvan b) Shikhar c) Epic* d) Sanchar e) Mega Answer 70: Epic, the country's first browser, was launched in Bangalore by Hidden Reflex on July 16, 2010. Epic has a range of features that may attract the Indian web-users. The developers claim that it is the world's only free browser with anti-virus built in. 71. Which of the following has decided to discontinue Wave, a product that combined e-mail, instant messaging and allowed people to collaborate on documents in real-time recently? a) Microsoft b) Google* c) Yahoo d) Facebook e) Orkut Answer 71: Google on August 5, 2010 decided to discontinue Wave, a product that combined e-mail, instant messaging and features that allowed people to collaborate on documents in real-time. The product launched one year ago was created by two brothers Jens and Lars Rasmussen, who were also behind Google Maps. 72. Who among the following is the highest paid actress in Hollywood according to a Forbes magazine report recently? a) Julia Roberts b) Sandra Bullock* c) Reese Witherspoon d) Cameron Diaz


e) Sarah Jessica Parker Answer 72: Sandra Bullock, who won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in ‗The Blind Side‘, was the best-paid actress over the past year, according to Forbes magazine on August 4, 2010. The 46-year-old earned $56m between June 2009 and June 2010. Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz both ranked second on the list, each raking in $32 million. Jennifer Aniston ranked fourth on the list with $27 milion in earnings while ‗Sex and the City‘ actress Sarah Jessica Parker was fifth with $25 million. 73. Which of the following has introduced a new apparel brand World Player in India recently? a) Van Heusen b) S Kumars Ltd* c) Grasim Ltd. d) Raymond Ltd. e) Arvind Mills Ltd.

Answer 73: S Kumars Nationwide Limited introduced a new apparel brand World Player in India on August 1, 2010. 74. Which of the following Indian consumer goods companies acquired Hobi Kozmetik Group, a leading personal care products company in Turkey, recently? a) Godrej Consumer Products b) Dabur India* c) Nirma Consumer Care d) Marico Industries e) Hindustan Unilever

Answer 74: Dabur India announced its first overseas acquisition on July 27, 2010 buying Hobi Kozmetik Group, a leading personal care products company in Turkey, for Rs 324 crore ($69 million). 75. Who among the following set a record of the highest number of career titles in men‘s Doubles Tennis recently? a) Leander Paes & Mahesh Bhupati b) Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan* c) Eric Butorac & Jean-Julien Rojer d) Todd Woodbridge & Mark Woodforde e) Michaël Llodra & Fabrice Santoro Answer 75: American twin brothers, Bob and Mike Bryan set an ATP record with their 62

nd career doubles title on August 1, 2010 by

capturing their sixth title at the Los Angeles Open. In their 100th career ATP doubles final, the US siblings defeated

American Eric Butorac and Jean-Julien Rojer of Netherlands Antilles 6-7(6), 6-2, 10-7. The Bryans surpassed the old mark of 61 they shared with Australian stars Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde. 76. Ashwani Kumar got an extension to continue as Director of which of the following espionage agencies recently? a) Director-General of Military Intelligence (DGMI) b) National Investigation Agency (NIA) c) Intelligence Bureau (IB) d) Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)* e) Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) Answer 76: CBI director Ashwani Kumar, whose term as CBI director ended on August 2, 2010, has been given an extension for four months. The 1973-batch IPS officer will continue in the post till his retirement on November 30 this year.


77. R.H. Khwaja was appointed as _______ Secretary to the Government of India recently. a) Finance b) Revenue c) Mining d) Home e) Tourism* Answer 77: R.H. Khwaja, , a 1976 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh Cadre, on August 01, 2010 took over as Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

78. Which of the following combinations of Outstanding Parliamentarian award winners and the years for which they won is/are correctly matched? I. L. K. Advani – 2007 II. Murli Manohar Joshi – 2008 III. Mohan Singh – 2009 a) I only b) I and II only c) II and III only* d) III and I only e) I, II and III Answer 78: Former Union minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi (2007), senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi (2008) and senior SP leader Mohan Singh (2009) were conferred the Outstanding Parliamentarian award by President Pratibha Patil on August 18, 2010. 79. Well known journalist K.M. Mathew, who passed away recently, was the Chief Editor of which of the following newspapers? a) Daily Thanthi b) Eenadu c) Malayala Manorama* d) Deccan Chronicle e) Mathrubhumi Answer 79: K.M. Mathew, Chief Editor of the Malayalam newspaper Malayala Manorama, passed away at the age of 93 in Kottayam on August 1, 2010. He was the founder-trustee and chairman of the Press Institute of India and Research Institute for Newspaper Development. He became the Chief Editor of the newspaper, founded in 1888, on the death of his elder brother K.M. Cherian in 1973. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1998. ‗Ettamathe Mothiram‘ (‗The Eighth Ring‘) is his autobiography 80. How many Swarozgaries (those seeking self employment) were assisted under the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (recently renamed National Rural Livelihood Mission) in 2009-10? a) 16.92 lakh b) 16.99 lakh c) 18.62 lakh d) 20.85 lakh* e) 23.16 lakh Answer 80: The 11

th Five Year Plan envisages generation of 58 million new work opportunities. The figures of performance of various

employment generation and entrepreneurship schemes being run by the government in rural and urban areas was given by Minister of State for Labour and Employment Harish Rawat in the Parliament on July 28, 2010.


SWARNJAYANTI GRAM SWAROZGAR YOJANA (SGSY) – Recently renamed NATIONAL RURAL LIVELIHOOD MISSION

Year Swarozgaries assisted (in lakh)

2006-07 16.92

2007-08 16.99

2008-09 18.62

2009-10 20.85

81. Sidney Harman was in news recently for buying which magazine from The Washington Post recently? a) Readers Digest b) BusinessWeek c) Newsweek* d) Time e) The Economist Answer 81: The Washington Post is to sell Newsweek magazine to Sidney Harman, 91-year-old founder of audio equipment firm Harman International Industries. He won Newsweek in an auction on August 2, 2010. Newsweek was launched in 1933 and was bought by the Post in 1961.

82. Which of the following is the world‘s biggest transnational company according to the World Investment Report of UNCTAD (UN Conference on Trade and Development) unveiled recently? a) Vodafone Group Plc b) BP Plc c) Toyota Motor Corp d) General Electric* e) Royal/Dutch Shell Group

Answer 82: According to the World Investment Report from the UN Conference on Trade and Development, unveiled on July 27, 2010, General Electric holds foreign assets worth $401 billion, more than any non-financial firm. The American conglomerate has half of its assets abroad. Following is the list of the world‘s ten biggest transnational companies.

World’s Biggest Non-Financial Transnational Corporations (TNCs), ranked by Foreign Assets 2008 (Millions of dollars and number of employees)

Assets Sales Employment

Ranking by Foreign Assets

Corporation Home economy

Industry Foreign Total Foreign assets as % of total

Foreign Total Foreign Total

1 General Electric

United States

Electrical & electronic equipment

401290 797769 50.3 97214 182515 171000 323000

2 Royal/Dutch Shell Group

United Kingdom

Petroleum exploration/refining/distribution

222324 282401 78.7 261393 458361 85000 102000

3 Vodafone Group Plc

United Kingdom

Telecommunications 201570 218955 92 60197 69250 68747 79097

4 BP Plc United Kingdom


188969 228238 82.7 283876 365700 76100 92000

5 Toyota Motor Corp

Japan Motor vehicles 169569 296249 57.2 129724 203955 121755 320808

6 Exxon Mobile Corp

United States


161245 228052 70.7 321964 459579 50337 79900

7 Total SA France Petroleum exploration/refining/distribution

141442 164662 85.8 177726 234574 59 858 96959

8 E. On Germany Utilities (Electricity, gas and water)

141168 218573 64.8 53020 126925 57134 93538

9 Electricite De France

France Utilities (Electricity, gas and water)

133698 278759 47.96 43914 94044 51385 160913

10 Arcelor Mittal

Luxembourg Metal and metal products 127127 133088 95.5 112689 124936 239455 315867

Source: UN Conference on Trade and Development report, July 27, 2010


83. Who among the following Chief Ministers was conferred with the Lokamanya Tilak award recently? a) Mayawati b) Digambar Kamat c) S. Yeddyurappa d) Sheila Dikshit* e) Raman Singh Answer 83: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was awarded this year's Lokmanya Tilak award in Pune on the 90

th death anniversary

of Bal Gangadhar Lokmanya Tilak on August 1, 2010. 84. The Leelavathi Award won by Simon Lehna Singh recently, is given for achievements in which of the following? a) Life Sciences b) Chemistry c) Statistics d) Mathematics* e) Economics Answer 84: Well-known physicist-turned author, journalist and television producer of Indian origin Simon Lehna Singh was on August 7, 2010 selected by the International Mathematical Union for the Leelavathi Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to public outreach in mathematics. Named after the immortal mathematical treatise of the great Indian mathematician Bhaskaracharya, the award carries a cash prize of Rs.10 lakh and a citation. It was presented at the closing ceremony of the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), held in Hyderabad from August 19 to 27. 85. Which of the following statements about the agreement on reprocessing of nuclear fuel that was signed between India and the US recently, is/are correct? I. US fuel used in Indian nuclear power plants can be reprocessed in the US only II. The reprocessed fuel can be used in IAEA designated plants only III. The reprocessed fuel can be exported to NPT signatory countries only a) I only b) I and II only c) II only* d) III and I only e) III only Answer 85:

India and the United States have formalised an understanding that will allow New Delhi to reprocess American nuclear fuel after having used it in its nuclear power plants. The reprocessing agreement was signed by India‘s ambassador in Washington Meera Shankar and United States Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Bill Burns on August 6, 2010. This removes one of the last hurdles in the operationalisation of the landmark civil nuclear cooperation agreement between the two countries.

Reprocessing involves the separation of plutonium from the spent fuel, to be re-used in other reactors. Since plutonium can also be used as the fissile core in a nuclear weapon, access to reprocessing technology or the right to do so is generally not forthcoming. So far, the US has granted such reprocessing right only to the European Union and Japan.

The reprocessing facilities as well as the reprocessed fuel will be have to be designated to be used only for civilian purposes and kept open for international scrutiny according to the provisions of the safeguards agreement India signed with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

India has already designated two sites, one each in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, to be developed as nuclear parks in collaboration with the United States.


86. The Government has approved the proposal for introduction of a Civil Services _______Test in place of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination recently. a) Competency b) Screening c) Proficiency d) Aptitude* e) Optionals

Answer 86: The Government on August 04, 2010 approved the proposal for introduction of Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) in place of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. The CSAT is expected to come into effect from Civil Services Examination, 2011. The objective is to enable screening of candidates having a right aptitude for Civil Services In CSAT, one of optional subjects, which a candidate could have chosen out of 23 optionals, is being replaced with a common paper on aptitude test. The CSAT is aimed at providing a greater degree of level - playing field to candidates of different backgrounds.

87. Which of the following is installing nuclear power plants at Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu? a) Areva of France b) Korea Power Engineering Company c) Siemens of Germany d) GE-Westinghouse of the US e) Atomstroyexport of Russia* Answer 87: Russia‘s Atomstroyexport is to supply Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) with four additional 1,000 MWe reactors at Koodankulam (Unit 3-6). 88. Who among the following was presented with the Jnanpith Award 2006 recently? a) D. Jayakanthan b) Vinda Karandikar c) Ravindra Kelekar* d) Rahman Rahi e) Kunwar Narayan

Answer 88: Konkani writer Ravindra Kelekar received the Jnanpith award from Lok Sabha Speaker Meera Kumar and chairman of the Jnanpith Selection Board Sitakant Mahapatra in Panaji on July 31, 2010. The 42

nd Jnanpith Award for 2006 carried a

citation, shawl, srifal, a bronze idol of Vagdevi Saraswati and a cash prize of Rs. 7 lakh. 89. Which of the following was damaged in the flash floods in Leh recently? a) Centre for Environmental Science & Engineering b) Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses c) Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences d) Defence Institute of High Altitude Research* e) Indian Institute of Advanced Studies

Answer 89: The Defence Institute of High Altitude Research of DRDO at Leh was damaged during the cloudburst and flash floods on August 6, 210. Centre for Environmental Science & Engineering is in Mumbai, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences is in Dehradun, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies is in Shimla and Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses is in Delhi. 90. Gopa Sabharwal was in news recently for his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of which of the following? a) Jamia Millia Islamia b) Nalanda University* c) South Asian University d) Jawaharlal Nehru University e) Banaras Hindu University


Answer 90: The Nalanda Mentor Group headed by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen met on August 3, 2010 in New Delhi to draw up a detailed plan for the revival of the ancient Nalanda University in Bihar. Gopa Sabharwal, Head of Department of Sociology at Delhi University‘s Lady Shri Ram College for Women, will be the inaugural Vice-Chancellor of the varsity while the President of India will be Visitor. 91. Which of the following will take over the operation of the Bhopal Memorial Hospital for gas victims according to a MoU signed recently? a) Department of Atomic Energy* b) National Institute of Health & Family Welfare c) Department of Science and Technology d) Tata Memorial Hospital e) All India Institute of Medical Sciences Answer 91:

The Union government has drawn up plans to turn the Bhopal Memorial Hospital (BMH) into a premier clinical research facility and a vital component of the cancer grid being developed across the country.

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) will sign a MoU to assume control of BMH which was set up as a charitable trust on orders of Supreme court to treat victims of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. The DAE would bring in its expertise in treatment and research on cancer, while DBT would bring in its experience in the area of clinical research on cancer as well as other diseases.

The Bhopal hospital would be part of the DAE programme to set up a cancer grid for the benefit of cancer patients across the country, who found it difficult to visit the Tata Memorial Hospital run by it in Mumbai for regular check up and follow up treatments, informed Srikumar Banerjee, Secretary DAE on August 1, 2010.

92. Which University was in news for winning the National Youth Parliament Competition recently? a) Madurai Kamaraj University* b) University of Mumbai c) Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology d) Jadhavpur University e) Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth Answer 92:

The Running Parliamentary Shield and Trophy for standing first in the National Youth Parliament Competition was won by Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu on August 05, 2010.

Merit trophies were also given to University of Mumbai, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Jadhavpur University, Kolkata and Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Udaipur for standing first in their respective Groups.

Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs have been organising Youth Parliament Competitions in Universities/Colleges since 1997-98. The 9

th National Youth Parliament Competition was organised among 36 Institutions spread all over India.

93. Which of the following will be kept out of the purview of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, according to a clarification issued by Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal recently? a) Schools run by charitable trusts b) Schools runs by minorities* c) Schools not receiving government aid d) Both (a) and (c) e) (a), (b), (c) Answer 93: Madrasas will be kept out of Right to Education (RTE) Act: Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal on August 5, 2010 gave an assurance that madrasas would be kept out of the purview of the Right to Education (RTE)


Act. Sibal, who was addressing a large congregation of Muslim Ulema and educationists in New Delhi, said the exemption to madrasas and other minority educational institutions would be specified in a set of guidelines to be incorporated soon in the RTE Act. 94. Why was the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in news recently? a) It has decided to allow private sector funding in R&D for the first time b) It has decided to open campuses abroad c) It has introduced an award for the ‗Most Outstanding Young Scientist‘ named after Sir C. V. Raman d) It has decided to start undergraduate courses* e) Both (b) and (d) Answer 94: The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore on August 6, 2010 formally announced its decision to open admissions to undergraduate students in 2011. The students will have to appear for competitive national-level entrance examinations such as Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana, IIT-JEE, AIEEE and AIPMT. Students who have cleared 12

th standard or

equivalent, with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as main subjects are eligible, and applications will be accepted between January 1 and March 31, 2011. 95. Where was the new South Asian University inaugurated recently? a) Bangalore b) Kolkata c) New Delhi* d) Chennai e) Mumbai Answer 95: The New Delhi based South Asian University started functioning with the commencement of its first academic session in the last week of August 2010. The University invited applications for admission to the initial two courses that were offered for 2010-11, namely, Master of Arts in Development Economics and Master of Computer Applications. This information was given by the Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Kapil Sibal, in the Rajya Sabha on August 06, 2010. 96. The government announced the setting up of four new Indian Institutes of Mass Communication (IIMC) from the next academic year recently. Where are the two existing IIMCs based? a) Delhi and Tamil Nadu b) Delhi and Maharashtra c) Delhi and Orissa* d) Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra e) Delhi and West Bengal Answer 96: The country will get four new Indian Institutes of Mass Communication from the next academic year. The new institutes will come up in Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Vidarbha in Maharashtra and Aizwal in Mizoram. This was announced by Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni on August 6, 2010. Apart from this, the existing PG diploma course at the IIMCs in Delhi and Dhenkanal, Orissa is also being made into a two-year one and the institute has approached the UGC to recognise it as a degree course.

97. All India Bar Association has called for increasing the retirement ages for Supreme Court judges recently. Which of the following courts and the retirement ages of their judges are correctly matched? a) Supreme Court Judges – 68 years b) High Court judges – 65 years* c) Lower Court judges – 62 years d) Both (b) and (c) e) (a), (b), (c) Answer 97:


The All India Bar Association (AIBA) on August 4, 2010 urged the Union government to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court Judges too from 65 to 68 years and that of the judicial officers in lower courts (below the High Courts) from 60 to 62 years. It welcomed the recent govt. decision to increase the retirement age of High Court judges from 62 to 65 years. 98. Why was the Gujarat government in news recently? a) It has made recital of Vande Mataram compulsory in all schools in the state b) It has decided to involve private sector in the conduct of mid-day meal programme c) It has decided to ban the use of mobile phones inside school premises* d) It has decided to withdraw govt. aid to minority run educational institutions e) It has decided to levy service tax on fees earned by private schools in the state Answer 98: Gujarat Government on August 2, 2010 announced a ban on the use of mobile phones in schools and colleges, saying it was affecting educational activities in the institutes. According to the resolution, students up to class 12 will not be allowed to take mobile phones inside the school premises, while college students are allowed to carry their instruments along with them but not permitted to use them. 99. Which state assembly passed a bill granting suo motu powers to the Lokayukta recently? a) Tamil Nadu b) Karnataka* c) Maharashtra d) Rajasthan e) Orissa Answer 99: Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj on August 2, 2010 gave his assent to the Karnataka Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill 2010, which, among other things, provides suo motu powers to the Lokayukta. The Bill was recently passed by the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. 100. Why was the late Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader Syed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal in news recently? a) Kerala government has instituted a communal harmony award in his name b) India Post has released a commemorative postage stamp on him* c) His birth centenary was celebrated recently d) Both a) and (c) e) Both (a) and (b) Answer 100: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh released a commemorative stamp on former Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader Syed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal on his first death anniversary on August 2, 2010

For the Week: September 5 to 11, 2010 1


September 5 to 11, 2010

List of contents

Section A: INDIA Section B: WORLD Section C: ECONOMY & CORPORATE Section D: SPORTS

Major news of the week Section A: INDIA

D. Ramanaidu wins Dada Saheb Phalke Award for the Year 2009

Nuclear scientist and former AEC Chairman Homi Sethna is no more

P.J. Thomas sworn in as Central Vigilance Commissioner

M. S. Ahluwalia to head Advisory Committee on Bundelkhand

Professor Mizanur Rahman wins Madhava Menon award

Nandan Nilekani conferred with Visvesvaraya Award Srikumar, Garg appointed CVC Commissioners Rajya Sabha committee recommends impeachment of

Justice Soumitra Sen Classical singer Appa Deshpande is no more Union Cabinet approves caste census EC announces 6- phase poll for Bihar Assembly

elections IITs get council approval for medical courses, foreign

faculty 12 Chairs to commemorate First War of Independence Debate on Armed Forces Special Powers Act

inconclusive New Delhi, Warsaw agree to strengthen ties during

Polish PM‟s visit India commits wide-ranging assistance to Laos during

President Patil‟s visit Gujarat govt. reintroduces compulsory voting bill

without any changes Right to Education Act referred to Constitution Bench India, Russia form JV for Multirole Transport Aircraft SC calls for separate pay panel for armed forces

President gives away National Awards to teachers Railways to Run „Bharat Tirth‟ trains “Visiting Fellows in Art, Culture & Heritage” scheme

renamed after Tagore SC dismisses petitions challenging Yamuna

Expressway NACO signs MoU with Global Trust Fund on

HIV/AIDS prevention Andhra Pradesh gets its first biosphere reserve Shivalik Hills to be notified as inter-State biosphere

reserve AP govt. announces projects in memory of

Krishnadevaraya The Hindu, Saregama institute M.S. Subbulakshmi

Award World Bank allocates credit for “Bihar Kosi Flood

Recovery Project‟ Railways declines sponsorship funds for CWG

Organising Committee Award announced for German Bakery blast case team Tamil Nadu govt. launches „Project eMpower‟ Book on first ASI Director General launched UGC committee on hazardous waste disposal submits

report Delhi produces highest number of PhDs – NIAS

Section B: WORLD

Julia Gillard to lead government in Australia Paul Kagame starts 2nd term as President of Rwanda Joan E. Donoghue elected to the International Court of

Justice HSBC Chairman to become minister in Cameron

Cabinet


Austan Goolsbee appointed as top White House economist

Stockholm Water Prize conferred on US scientist Rita R. Colwell

Controversial Danish cartoonist Westergaard wins Media Award

Gemma Arterton named Woman of the Year by GQ magazine

Paul McCartney to get Kennedy Center honour Gandhiji‟s statue unveiled at Australian university Civil rights leader Jefferson Thomas is no more Piers Morgan to replace Larry King as CNN host Soros announces grant for Human Rights Watch Nepal Parliament fails to elect PM for the 7th time Ohio bans outsourcing of govt. funded IT projects UN reveals global disparity in broadband access India ranks 51st in WEF competitiveness rankings Two-term limit on Sri Lankan President lifted European Parliament asks France to halt expulsion of

Romas Germany to extend nuclear plant life span NASA to launch „Solar Probe Plus” Basque separatists end armed campaign in Spain UNESCO International Literacy Prizes awarded „University of Cambridge is world‟s best‟ – QS World

University Rankings „BP Spillcam‟ is the Top TeleWord of 2010 – Global

Language Monitor


Rajiv Dube appointed new Chairman of Advertising Standards Council of India

Uday Shankar appointed President of Indian Broadcasting Foundation

Parliamentary committee recommends overall limit on CEO salaries

Parliamentary committee recommends compulsory 2% net profit spend on CSR activities

Oil products demand expected to go up 5.7% in 2010-11

„India‟s External Debt - A Status Report 2009-10‟ unveiled

„Islamic banking not feasible for Indian banks‟ – government

PSBs need to focus on skill replacement: BCG report Vodafone loses Rs 12,297-crore tax challenge ASCI to frame guidelines for advertising in education

sector

Saffron Brand Consultants to rebuild brand Bengal‟s image

Israeli SC ruling boosts Sun Pharma‟s battle for Taro India Carbon Market Conclave 2010 organised India‟s forex reserves at $285.328 billion on Sept 3 Industrial output doubles in July Food inflation at 11.47% for the week ended August

28 India‟s Tele-Density at 58.17 on July 31, 2010 CERC liberalises grid access to green projects National Innovation Council proposes Rs. 5,000 crore

fund for promoting innovation Govt plans Rs 5,000-cr Electronic Product

Development Fund Department of Information Technology to be renamed SpiceJet to fly abroad from October 2010 Asian Development Bank to exit Petronet LNG Ltd Reliance Infratel ends tower deal with GTL

Infrastructure Renuka sugars, HPCL plan ethanol unit RNRL-RPower merger approved ONGC to restore relics in Assam‟s Sivasagar district Hyundai unveils its first electric car BlueOn Bank of India launches “Star Kisan Sathi” ICICI wins World Finance Awards 2010 in 3

categories Coca-Cola launches new logo for Commonwealth

Games Nokia is the Most Trusted Brand in Brand Equity

Rankings India voted 7th best holiday destination by Conde

Nast Sheraton Hotel gets Energy Management Award Google Instant promises live search results

Section D: SPORTS

Bopanna, Qureshi lose in US Open Men‟s Doubles Vidya Pillai wins Women‟s National Snooker Title M. S. Dhoni nominated as Uttarakhand‟s first wildlife

warden Sahara Group Chairman joins as Commonwealth

Games volunteer V. Anand receives Rotary Lifetime Achievement

Award Cash prizes for Indian medal winners at CG & Asian

Games doubled FIA announces first ever Indian Grand Prix IOC wins Airtel Rajsingh Dungarpur Corporate

Trophy


Section A: INDIA

Newsmakers

D.Ramanaidu wins Dada Saheb Phalke Award for the Year 2009

Veteran Telugu film producer Dr. Daggubati Ramanaidu, who holds the Guinness Record for making the most number of films, was on September 8, 2010 selected for the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award for the year 2009. Ramanaidu, who is also an actor and a politician, had made 135 films in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Oriya, Assamese, Bhojpuri, Malayalam, Marathi and Bengali, several of them runaway commercial hits.

The Dada Saheb Phalke Award is conferred by the Government of India for outstanding contribution in the field of Indian Cinema. The award consists of a Swarn Kamal, a cash prize of Rs.10 lakhs and a shawl. The award will be presented at the National Films Awards Function scheduled to be held in October this year.

Born in Karamchedu in Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh in 1936, Dr. Ramanaidu entered the film world in 1963 with his first film ‗Anuragam‘. He followed that up the very next year with the super hit film ―Ramadu-Beemudu,‖ starring the Telugu film legend and later politician, N.T. Rama Rao.

Dr. Ramanaidu has won various laurels for his films. ‗Asukh‘, a Bengali film won the National Award for the Best Film in 1999. Telugu film ‗Hope‘ in which Ramanaidu acted in the lead role won the national award in the Best Feature Film on Social Issues category in 2008.

He entered politics by joining the Telugu Desam and became an MP from the Bapatla in 1999. He contested from the same constituency in 2004 but lost to D. Purandeswari. Vasiraju Prakasham has authored his biography titled ‗Chalana Chitra Chakravarthi (‗The Emperor of Movies‘).

The producer is the fifth personality from the Telugu film industry to win the Phalke award. Veteran director B. Narasimha Reddy won the award in 1974, film-maker L.V. Prasad in 1982, producer B. Nagi Reddy in 1986 and actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao in 1990.

Nuclear scientist Homi Sethna is no more

An era in India‘s nuclear history has come to a close with the passing away of Homi Nusserwanji Sethna in Mumbai at the age of 87 on September 7, 2010.

Educated in Mumbai and the US, Sethna started his career at Imperial Chemical Industries in the U.K. He returned to India, inspired by Dr. Bhabha's call for Indian scientists to return.

In 1959 he joined the Atomic Energy Establishment at Trombay, now the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), as Chief Scientific Officer. Sethna was in charge of a crucial building block of India‘s nuclear programme – the Canada India Reactor (CIRUS), built during the late 1950s. CIRUS provided the technological basis for the first stage of India‘s nuclear power programme based on natural uranium reactors.

Sethna later became the Director of BARC, a position he occupied from 1966 to 1972 and went on to become Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).

Dr. Sethna pioneered reprocessing technology in India and played a crucial role in the designing and setting up of the first plutonium separation plant at BARC. This plutonium went into the making of the nuclear device that was tested in on May 18, 1974 at Pokhran when Dr. Sethna was AEC Chairman, a position he served from 1972 to 1983.

Along with the Director of the BARC, Raja Ramanna and B. D. Nagchaudhury, who then headed the Defence Research and Development Organization, Sethna received the Padma Vibhushan for organising Pokharan-I Test that India demonstrated its nuclear capability in May 1974.

P.J. Thomas sworn in as CVC

President Pratibha Patil administered the oath of office to the former Telecom Secretary, P.J. Thomas, as the 14

th Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) at a

function held in the Rashtrapati Bhavan on September 7, 2010.

A 1973-batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, Thomas has held important assignments in Kerala as Secretary in Finance, Industry, Agriculture, Law and Justice and Human Resource Development Departments. He was the founder director of the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode.

He became the Kerala Chief Secretary in 2007 and moved to the Central government as Secretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in January, 2009. Later he went on to become the Telecom Secretary. Thomas succeeded Pratyush Sinha, a 1969-batch


IAS officer of Bihar cadre, who demitted office recently after a four-year tenure as the CVC.

M. S. Ahluwalia to head Advisory Committee on Bundelkhand

Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia was on September 4, 2010 appointed Chairperson of a high-profile, representative Advisory Committee for overseeing the implementation of drought mitigation strategies in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The government has approved a Rs. 766 crore-special package for drought mitigation in the region over a period of three years from 2009-10. The region

comprises seven districts of Uttar Pradesh (Banda, Chitrakut, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur and Mahoba) and six districts of Madhya Pradesh (Chhatarpur, Damoh, Datia, Panna, Sagar and Tikamgarh).

Members of the committee include Ministers of State for Planning V. Narayanasamy and Union Minister of State for Rural Development Pradeep Kumar Jain ‗Aditya,‘ as also Planning Commission Members Abhijit Sen, Mihir Shah, B.K. Chaturvedi and, Member-Secretary Sudha Pillai. MPs from the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are the other members.

Prof. Rahman wins Madhava Menon award

Professor Mizanur Rahman, Faculty of Law, Dhaka University and Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh, was conferred the ―Professor N.R. Madhava Menon Best Law Teacher Award-2010‖ award in New Delhi on September 5, 2010.

The awards given by the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) honours eminent law teachers from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region.

September 5 is also celebrated as Law Teachers‘ Day. Following is the complete list of winners:

Award Winner

Professor N.R. Madhava Menon Best Law Teacher Award Prof. Mizanur Rahman, Faculty of Law, Dhaka University & Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh

Distinguished Law Teacher Award (posthumous) Prof. S.P. Sathe, Director, ILS Law College, Pune

Distinguished Law Teacher Award (posthumous) Prof. P.K. Tripathi, Dean, Faculty of Law, Delhi University

Nandan Nilekani conferred with Visvesvaraya Award: The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) conferring the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Memorial Award 2010 to Nandan Nilakeni, Chairman, Unique Identification Authority of India on September 15, 2010. September 15 is the birthday of FKCCI founder Sir M. Visvesvaraya.

Srikumar, Garg appointed CVC Commissioners: The former Karnataka police chief, R. Srikumar, and Chairman of Corporation Bank J.M. Garg were on September 8, 2010 appointed Commissioners in the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). The Central Vigilance Commission was set up by the Government in February, 1964 on the recommendations of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption, headed by K. Santhanam, to advise and guide Central Government agencies in the field of vigilance. The CVC Bill was passed by both the houses of Parliament in 2003 and the Central Vigilance Commission Act 2003 came into effect from September 11, 2003. The Commission consists of a Central Vigilance Commissioner

(Chairperson) and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners (Members).

Rajya Sabha committee recommends impeachment of Justice Soumitra Sen: The three-member committee constituted by Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairperson Hamid Ansari to probe charges against Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court is learnt to have recommended Sen‘s impeachment. The committee comprising Supreme Court Justice B Sudershan Reddy, Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and jurist Fali S Nariman submitted its report to Ansari on September 11, 2010. The committee had been constituted on March 20, 2009 to investigate the grounds on which the removal of Sen had been sought by members of the Rajya Sabha. Sen has not been performing judicial work for over two years. The charges of financial regularities against Sen had been found to be true and merited his removal from judgeship. The committee is said to have refused to buy his argument that he should not be impeached as the irregularities committed by him dated back to the


time when was just a lawyer and had not been elevated to the Bench.

Classical singer Appa Deshpande is no more: Veteran classical singer Vinayak alias Appa Deshpande passed away at the age of 86 in Kolhapur on September 10, 2010. He trained in Indian classical

music under Shankarao Painter at Sankeshwar and Umamaheswar Kundgolkar of the Kirana gharana. Later, he came to Kolhapur to learn Gayaki of the Jaipur gharana from Bhurji Khan and Nivritibuva Sarnaik. He got the title of ‗Nutan Gandharv‘ from the Shankaracharya of Sankeshwar Peetha in 1958.

News round up Union Cabinet approves caste census

The Union government on September 9, 2010 decided to hold caste census next year under an exercise to be carried out separately from the enumeration of population.

After biometric capture and headcount: A separate house-to-house caste enumeration will be conducted as a separate exercise from the month of June 2011 and completed in a phased manner by September 2011 after the Population Enumeration phase (to be conducted in February-March 2011), which will include biometric capture and headcount, of the Census 2011 is over.

Demand for caste census: This is the first time after independence that the Centre will incorporate a detailed caste-based census. The last census when caste-wise data was published was carried out in 1931. Initially, the government had no plan for a caste-based census. But, various parties, cutting across political lines, pressed it for incorporating caste data, besides Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the census. A Group of Ministers (GoM), constituted under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, had deliberated on the matter in three meetings and given its recommendations to the Union Cabinet.

Process: The office of the Registrar-General and Census Commissioner will conduct the field operations for caste enumeration. The Union government will constitute an expert group to classify the caste/tribe returns after the enumeration has been completed. The office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner will hand over the details of the castes/tribes returned in the enumeration to the proposed expert group.

EC announces 6- phase poll for Bihar Assembly

The Election Commission on September 07, 2010 rolled out an unprecedented six-phase polling schedule for the upcoming assembly election of Bihar. Starting October 21, the polling will continue till November 20.

The dates for the six phases are: October 21, 24, 28 and November 1, 9 and 20. Polling will take place in 56,943 polling stations spread across the state, which has 5,50,88,402 voters.

The results will be declared on November 24. The 243-member assembly‘s five-year term ends on November 27.

The Commission also announced the date for the by-election in the Banka Lok Sabha constituency. The vacancy was caused following the death of the former Union Minister, Digvijay Singh, (Independent) on June 24. The poll will be held on November 1 when the six Assembly constituencies in the Lok Sabha segment go to polls in the fourth phase.

The election is expected to witness a three-cornered, contest with the Congress deciding to go alone and the RJD-LJP teaming against the ruling JD (U) and BJP combination.

While the JD(U)-BJP is yet to announce its poll pact, the RJD and LJP has announced their seat sharing formula, contesting 168 and 75 seats, respectively. The Congress plans to field candidates in all 243 seats.

IITs get council approval for medical courses, foreign faculty

The 41st meeting of the Council of Indian Institutes of

Technology (IITs) organised on September 11, 2010 in New Delhi announced a number of new initiatives including introduction of courses in medicine and appointment of foreigners as faculty

Courses in Medicine: The Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), the country‘s premier institution for technical education, will now offer courses in medicine as well. The Council approved a proposal to amend the Institutes of Technology Act to enable the IITs to offer courses in medicine with the approval of the Medical


Council of India. The IIT Council on September 11, 2010 gave the go-ahead to its institutes to venture into medical education.

No consensus on IIT admission process: The Council however, failed to arrive at a consensus on the revamp of the IIT-JEE admission process. The human resource development (HRD) ministry wants the IITs to select students just on the basis of Class 12 exam marks and an aptitude test. But that view did not find support in the report submitted at the meeting by a HRD ministry appointed committee chaired by IIT Kharagpur Director D. Acharya, which favours having the additional test along with an aptitude test and weightage to the class XII exam. In the end, the Council agreed to set up a committee, headed by Science and Technology Secretary T. Ramasami, to take a re-look at the issue and come out with its recommendations in three months. The decision came at the end of a discussion on the interim report of the committee headed by IIT Kharagpur Director D. Acharya.

Foreigners on faculty: The Council also gave in-principle approval for appointment of foreigners to permanent faculty positions up to 10 per cent, and to admit foreign students, up to 25 per cent, to postgraduate courses on a supernumerary basis, without affecting the present admission norms for Indians.

Collaboration for research: It was decided to set up a permanent standing committee, under the former Director-General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, R.A. Mashelkar, to foster collaboration among the IITs and between the IITs and other institutions in inter-disciplinary research.

New inclusions in IIT Council: The meeting gave the

green signal for inclusion of the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, and the Presidents of the Indian National Science Academy and the Indian National Academy of Engineering as members of the Council of IITs.

12 Chairs to commemorate First War of Independence: The Union government on September 7, 2010 announced its decision to establish 12 Chairs in different universities in memory of freedom fighters as part of commemoration of the 150

th anniversary of

India‘s First War of Independence. The Chairs will be established in memory of: Shaheed Bhagat Singh at the Jawaharlal Nehru University; Bahadur Shah Zafar, General Shah Nawaz and Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU); Saifuddin Kitchlew, A.M. Khwaja, M.A. Ansari and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai at the Jamia Millia Islamia University; Aruna Asaf Ali and Tatia Tope at the Delhi University; Chandra Shekhar Azad at the Vikram University at Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The Veer Kunwar Singh University at Arrah in Bihar is expected to come up with a similar proposal. The Ministry of Culture has set aside a corpus of Rs. 2 crore for each university. The mandate of these Chairs is related to research in and broader areas of the freedom struggle.

Debate on Armed Forces Special Powers Act inconclusive: The Congress Core Group, which met on September 11, 2010, remained divided on the withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the Kashmir valley. The meeting took cognisance of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's repeated requests that the AFSPA be either amended or partially withdrawn. Defence Minister A.K.

Antony and the Armed forces are strongly opposed to its withdrawal.

New Delhi, Warsaw agree to strengthen ties during Polish PM‘s visit: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relationship, especially in defence, trade and investment, during delegation-level talks in New Delhi on September 7, 2010. Poland is India‘s largest trading partner and export destination in the Central-European region and will assume the Presidency of EU in the second half of 2011. Malgorzata Tusk, wife of Prime Minister of Poland handed over the sculptural Bust of ―Fryderyk Chopin‖ to National Gallery of Modern Art as a gift from Poland to India. The Polish Parliament had unanimously passed a vote to make the year 2010 a year of Fryderyk Chopin (1810–1849). This year marks the 200

th birthday of this extraordinary composer and

pianist.

India commits wide-ranging assistance to Laos during President Patil‘s visit: President Pratibha Patil and her counterpart, Choummaly Sayasone, signed several agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation in Vientiane, Laos, on September 10, 2011. India will provide Laos $72.55 million for power projects as part of a package of monetary and technical assistance in various fields. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will assist in the restoration of the 6

th century temple

complex of Vat Phou in the province of Champassak. This pre-Ankorian site, established by the Khmer


rulers, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

Gujarat govt. reintroduces compulsory voting bill: The Gujarat government on September 7, 2010 reintroduced the ‗Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2009 that seeks to make voting compulsory in the local self-government elections. The Bill does not have the changes recommended by the Governor. The government plans to take up the discussion on the bill during the next session. Governor Kamla Beniwal, while returning the bill, passed by the House in December 2009, to the government for re-consideration noted that the Bill violated Article 19(1)(A) of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression that also included the right not to vote. She also recommended that the clause of 50 per cent reservation for women be split from the bill for separate legislation. The government, however, preferred to reintroduce the bill in its original form with all the provisions intact, including 50 per cent reservation for women.

Right to Education Act referred to Constitution Bench: A five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court will look into a law providing free and compulsory education to children. The decision as announced by Chief Justice of India S H Kapadia on September 7, 2010.The Constitution Bench will look into a batch of petitions filed by private educational institutions alleging that the Right to Education Act violated their rights under Article 19(1) (g) which provided maximum autonomy to private managements without governmental interference. The Act, which made free and compulsory education a fundamental right for children between 6-14 years, also mandated that private educational institutions reserve 25 per cent seats for children from poor families.

India, Russia form JV for Multirole Transport Aircraft: India and Russia have decided to jointly design and develop a Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) with both sides signing a shareholders agreement for setting up a joint venture company. The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Russian partners — the United Aircraft Corporation & the Rosoboronexport — will form the company to co-develop and co-produce the 15 to 20 tonne payload capacity MTA, which would meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force and the Russian Air Force, the Defence Ministry announced on September 11, 2010. The total development cost is estimated at $ 600.70 million (approximately Rs.2,900 crore), which will be shared equally by both sides. The company will have its headquarters in Bangalore.

SC calls for separate pay panel for armed forces: The Supreme Court, on September 9, 2010, asked the government to examine the idea of setting up a separate Pay Commission for both serving and retired personnel of the Armed Forces that could be headed by a retired CJI or a judge of the Supreme Court. The apex court made the remarks while dealing with a petition filed by certain serving and retired Army officers challenging the reported refusal of the government to accord them enhanced ―rank pay‖ as recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission.

President gives away National Awards to teachers: The President, Pratibha Devisingh Patil gave away the National Awards to Teachers for the year 2009 on September 5, 2010 in New Delhi. 374 teachers were given the award by the President, from across the states and Union Territories in the country. Each award consists of a Certificate of Merit, a Silver Medal and a Cash Prize of Rs. 25,000.

Railways to Run ‗Bharat Tirth‘ trains: The Indian Railways on September 10, 2010 announced the launch of 16 different circuits of ‗Bharat Tirth‘ touching all the important destinations across the country from October. In her speech, while presenting the Railway Budget 2010-11, the Minister of Railways, Mamata Banerjee has stated that Railways would launch special tourist trains called ‗Bharat Tirth‘ connecting popular tourist sites in different parts of the country – from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari, from Dwarka to Vindhya Parbat, from Ajmer Sharief to Gangasagar and from Madurai to Patna Sahib.

―Visiting Fellows in Art, Culture & Heritage‖ scheme renamed after Tagore: The Ministry of Culture has decided to rename the ―Visiting Fellows in Art, Culture & Heritage‖ scheme, approved in November 2009, as the ―Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research‖ scheme. This coincides with the 150

th birth anniversary celebrations of Rabindranath

Tagore.

SC dismisses petitions challenging Yamuna Expressway: The Supreme Court on September 8, 2010 cleared the decks for the ambitious multi-crore six-way Yamuna Expressway Project linking Greater Noida to Agra in Uttar Pradesh by upholding Mayawati government‘s decision to acquire 1,604 hecatres of private land. A Bench of Justices V S Sirpurkar and Cyriac Joseph dismissed a bunch of petitions filed by aggrieved land owners who challenged the acquistion as a ―colourable exercise of power‖ to benefit a private company J.P. Infratech Ltd (owned by Jaiprakash Associates) and that there was no public purpose involved. The apex court concurred


with the findings of the Allahabad High Court that the project would benefit millions of people, which was more paramount than the interest of a few aggrieved individuals whose shops, business establishments and houses would have to be demolished to make way for the project.

NACO signs MoU with Global Trust Fund on HIV/AIDS prevention: India and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) on September 8, 2010 signed a three-year grant agreement for $128.4 million or Rs.609.9 crore to support the continuation of flagship programmes of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). The overall goal of the grant is to reach and diagnose an estimated 65 per cent of the HIV-infected people in India and link them to care, support and treatment services.

Andhra Pradesh gets its first biosphere reserve: The government on September 9, 2010 decided to designate the Seshachalam hill ranges of Andhra Pradesh as a biosphere reserve, making over 8,000 square km of Eastern Ghats in the southern part of the state a protected area devoted to conservation of rich biodiversity of the area. Seshachalam will thus become the 16

th biosphere reserve in the country and the first

one in the state. Biosphere reserves are large contiguous landscapes, having rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems. Tirupati temple would become part of this biosphere reserve.

Shivalik Hills to be notified as inter-State biosphere reserve: Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on September 6, 2010 said that Shivalik Hills would be notified as the country‘s first inter-State biosphere reserve with the setting up of a bio-diversity corridor there to protect its natural habitat, flora and fauna. The Minister was addressing the sixth edition of a three-day national meeting of State Bio-diversity Boards in Chandigarh. The corridor would pass through Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand. The Shivalik Hills had a cultural and geological importance and that the area had been damaged by unregulated mining of sand and stone.

AP govt. announces projects in memory of Krishnadevaraya: Following up the 500

th anniversary

celebrations of Sri Krishnadevaraya‘s coronation, the Andhra Pradesh government on September 9, 2010 announced the construction of a national museum ―Bhuvana Vijayam National Museum‖ at a cost of Rs. 12 crore at Penukonda in Anantapur district, which was the last capital of Vijayanagara kings. Another project envisages setting up of a peetham (chair) in the name of Sri Krishnadevaraya in Nagarjuna University.

The Hindu, Saregama institute M.S. Subbulakshmi Award: ‗The Hindu‘ and ‗Saregama India‘ have instituted ‗The Hindu Saregama M.S. Subbulakshmi Award‘ at a function titled ‗Remembering MS Amma‘ in Chennai on September 15. The award, in the name of the legendary musician, will be presented annually to a promising Carnatic vocalist.

World Bank credit for ―Bihar Kosi Flood Recovery Project‘: The World Bank on September 10, 2010 approved a $220-million credit for Bihar to support its rebuilding efforts in areas affected by the 2008 Kosi floods. The ―Bihar Kosi Flood Recovery Project‘‘ will finance flood recovery efforts through reconstruction of about one lakh houses, 90 bridges and 290 km of rural roads.

Railways declines sponsorship funds for CWG Organising Committee: With the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee being mired in charges of corruption, the Railways have decided against giving it sponsorship worth Rs. 100 crore; instead it will allocate the sum to the Sports Ministry.

Award for German Bakery blast case team: Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on September 8, 2010 announced an award of Rs. 5 lakh for the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad team which cracked the German Bakery blast case by arresting Mirza Himayat Baig (29) from Pune and Sheikh Lalbaba Mohammad Hussain Farid alias Bilal in Nashik.

Tamil Nadu govt. launches ‗Project eMpower‘: Project eMpower, aimed at networking all the employment exchanges in Tamil Nadu, was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on September 15, 2010 on the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai.

Book on first ASI Director General launched: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on September 8, 2010 launched ‗The Marshall Albums Photography and Archaeology‘ – an illustrative book on its first Director General, John Marshall. Marshall, who died in 1958, was the longest serving ASI Director-General from 1902 to 1928. A British archaeologist of repute, his initial excavations led to the unearthing of the Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa civilisations.

UGC committee on hazardous waste disposal submits report: A UGC expert committee on September 7, 2010 suggested the setting up of university committees to review safety in handling radioactive and other hazardous materials used by the


institutions. The proposed University Safety Committees (USC) will ensure that the AERB Regulations and Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules are strictly implemented. The committee was constituted following the mishandling of Cobalt-60 isotope by Delhi University in April this year that led to the death of one person and injuries to 10 others. Chaired by Professor G.K. Rath, head of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, the committee inspected the laboratories using radioactive and other hazardous materials at several universities.

Delhi produces highest number of PhDs – NIAS: Delhi, which has just 19 universities, has emerged as

the PhD capital of the country. In the last decade, from 1998 to 2007, Delhi has produced over 17% of the total doctoral theses in India. West Bengal is a distant second at 11.9%, followed by Maharashtra, which despite having the largest number of varsities in the country (96), contributed just 8% to the PhD pool. The report titled ―Trend in Higher Education — Creation and Analysis of a Database of PhDs in India‖ has been prepared by Anitha Kurup, an associate professor at Bangalore based National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) and Jagdish Arora, Director at Ahmedabad based Information and Library Network Centre.

Recent Books

Book Author

Celebrating Delhi Mala Dayal

Reflections on the Revolution in Europe: Immigration, Islam, and the West Christopher Caldwell

Religion, Caste and Politics in India Dr Christophe Jaffrelot

Akriti to Sanskriti: The Journey of Indian Forms Harsha V. Dehejia

The Plundered Planet: How to Reconcile Prosperity With Nature Paul Collier

Finding a Purpose in Life: Pilgrimage to the Soul RM Lala

Mother Pious Lady Santosh Desai

Relations of NDA and UPA with Neighbours Rajkumar Singh

Lost People - An Analysis of Indian Poverty Krupakar Wasnik

Agricultural Risk and Insurance in India S. S. Raju, Ramesh Chand

Fault Lines Raghuram G Rajan

The Security Umbrella Seema Johri

Varieties of Activist Experience — Civil society in South Asia David N. Gellner

From Shipbreaking to Sustainable Ship Recycling Tony George Puthucherril

Beyond the Invisible Hand: A Dissent on Contemporary Economics Kaushik Basu

Broom & Groom Kiran Bedi & Pavan Choudary

Agricultural Risk and Insurance in India S. S. Raju, Ramesh Chand

Fault Lines Raghuram G Rajan

A Requiem For A Brand: Targeting The New-Age Consumer Pradip Chanda

How They Blew It: The CEOs And Entrepreneurs Behind Some Of The Most Catastrophic Business Failures

Jamie Oliver & Tony Goodwin

The March of Mobile Money: The Future of Lifestyle Management Sam Pitroda & Mehul Desai

Corporate Chanakya: Successful Management the Chanakya Way Radhakrishnan Pillai


Section B: WORLD

Newsmakers

Julia Gillard to lead government in Australia: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on September 7, 2010 won support from three Independents and a first-ever Greens member in the House of Representatives to lead a minority government in a hung parliament. Both the Labour Party and the opposition National/Liberal coalition had won 72 seats each in the general elections on August 21. Gillard had called the election after she deposed her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, in a political coup within the ruling Australian Labour Party. The Labour would now govern with 76 seats in a House of 150 members.

Paul Kagame starts 2nd

term as President of Rwanda: Paul Kagame started his second term as President of Rwanda on September 6, 2010 with the swearing in ceremony at capital Kigali. The 52-year-old former rebel vowed to achieve food security and build infrastructure for his resource-rich but impoverished country. Kagame swept the August 9 election with 93 per cent of the vote.

Joan E. Donoghue elected to the International

Court of Justice: The UN Security Council and the General Assembly on September 9, 2010 voted to elect Joan E. Donoghue of the United States as the next judge for the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Established in 1945 under the UN Charter, the ICJ settles legal disputes between States and gives advisory opinions on legal questions that have been referred to it by authorized UN organs or specialized agencies. It is sometimes referred to as the World Court. The ICJ is composed of fifteen judges elected to nine year terms by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council. No two judges can be from the same country. They cannot engage in any other occupation during their term of office.

HSBC Chairman to become minister in Cameron Cabinet: HSBC Chairman Stephen Green on September 08, 2010 announced his decision to step down from Europe‘s biggest bank to become Trade Minister in Britain‘s coalition government.

Austan Goolsbee appointed as top White House economist: President Barack Obama on September 10, 2010 appointed Austan Goolsbee as the Chairperson of the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) replacing Christina Romer who

resigned recently. The CEA analyzes economic data and makes policy recommendations to the president.

Stockholm Water Prize conferred on US scientist Rita R. Colwell: Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf on September 9, 2010 conferred the Stockholm Water Prize on US scientist Rita R. Colwell for her pioneering research on prevention of waterborne diseases, the second most common cause of death among children under five. Colwell, a scientist with the University of Maryland and John Hopkins University in Stockholm, has made outstanding contributions to control the spread of cholera which affects some five million people worldwide and causes deaths to an estimated 120,000 people annually. The ceremony also marked the 20

th anniversary of the Stockholm Water Prize. The

World Water Week concluded on September 10, 2010.

Danish cartoonist Westergaard wins Media Award: Danish cartoonist Westergaard was on September 8, 2010 awarded the M100 Media Award (M100-Medienpreis) by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Potsdam, Germany for his contributions to freedom of opinion. Westergaard had provoked outrage in the Muslim world in 2005 by drawing controversial cartoons of Propet Muhammad. The controversial cartoon had appeared in the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten on September 30, 2005. It unleashed violent protests across the Muslim world. Denmark was forced to close several embassies around the world as a result of the protests.

Gemma Arterton named Woman of the Year by GQ magazine: Actress Gemma Arterton, famous for role in the James Bond movie ‗Quantum of Solace‘, was voted Woman of the Year by readers of GQ magazine on September 7, 2010. Other winners at the ‗GQ Men of the Year‘ Awards included Dizzee Rascal for Solo Artist, James Corden for Comedian and Giorgio Armani for Designer. ‗Gossip Girl‘ star Ed Westwick was named Breakthrough Talent and Aaron Johnson picked up the Most Stylish prize. ‗Doctor Who‘ star Matt Smith won the award for TV Personality.

Paul McCartney to get Kennedy Center honour: Sir Paul McCartney is to be presented with a Kennedy Center honour at the White House in Washington in December. He will be honoured alongside chat show host Oprah Winfrey, choreographer Bill T Jones, composer Jerry Herman and country star Merle


Haggard. This was announced by the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, which annually honours arts figures for their contribution to US culture, on September 8, 2010.

Gandhiji‘s statue unveiled at Australian university: A bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi, gifted to the institution by the Government of India, has been unveiled at the University Of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney.

Civil rights leader Jefferson Thomas is no more: Jefferson Thomas, a key figure in the anti-segregation civil rights movement in the U.S., passed away at the age of 67. Thomas was most known for being a

member of the so-called ―Little Rock Nine‖ group of students, who continued their studies at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, despite racial opposition in 1957.

Piers Morgan to replace Larry King as CNN host:

Piers Morgan of ―America‘s Got Talent‖ will replace Larry King on CNN‘s primetime line-up in January 2011.

Soros announces grant for Human Rights Watch: Billionaire George Soros on September 8, 2010 announced a $ 100-million grant to Human Rights Watch in a bid to transform it into a global organisation.

News round up Nepal Parliament fails to elect PM for the 7

th time:

Nepal's Parliament failed to elect Prime Minister for the seventh time on September 7, 2010. Both candidates, Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‗Prachanda' and Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel, were unable to obtain a simple majority in the house of 601. Prachanda got 252 votes in his favour. While 110 MPs voted against him, 159 remained neutral with 521 MPs registering their presence. Poudel polled 119 votes while 245 MPs opposed his candidature and 151 stayed neutral; 515 Parliamentarians attended the proceedings.

Ohio bans outsourcing of govt. funded IT projects: The US state Ohio has banned outsourcing of government-funded IT projects to other countries including India. However, analysts said this would not affect Indian companies much as they largely rely on private firms for the bulk of their business. The US private sector market is huge and will continue to demand Indian services. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry on September 10, 2010 decided to register its protest against the ban. However India is not in a position to lodge a complaint against the United States in the World Trade Organisation‘s (WTO) dispute settlement body as New Delhi is not a signatory to the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).

UN reveals global disparity in broadband access: The global disparity in fixed broadband access and cost has been revealed by UN agency – the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) on September 2, 2010. The Central African Republic is the most expensive place to get a fixed broadband connection, costing nearly 40 times the average

monthly income there. Macao in China is the cheapest, costing 0.3% of the average monthly income. African country Niger is the most expensive place to access communication technologies, when landlines and mobiles are also taken into account.

India ranks 51st

in WEF competitiveness rankings: The developed economies of Switzerland, Sweden, Singapore, the US and Germany continue to occupy the top five global competitiveness rankings in the Global Competitiveness Report 2010 released by the World Economic Forum (WEF), on September 9, 2010. The African nation of Chad figures at the bottom of the list of 139 countries. India has been pushed down to 51

st position from 49

th last year due to its poor

performance in a range of social sector areas such as education, health and infrastructure.

Two-term limit on Sri Lankan President lifted: The

Sri Lankan Parliament on September 8, 2010 approved the amendments to the 1978 Constitution proposed by the Mahinda Rajapaksa government, including lifting the two-term limit on the post of President, with more than the required two-thirds majority. Rajapaksa can now run for office of President for a third time when elections are held in November 2016. Besides removal of the term limit, the amendments require the President to attend Parliament once in at least three months. Also, the Constitutional Council to appoint persons to high offices would be replaced with a Parliamentary Council. The amendments have been denounced as dictatorial by the opposition.

European Parliament asks France to halt expulsion of Romas: The European Parliament (EP) in a strongly worded resolution on September 9, 2010 called on


France to immediately suspend the expulsion of members of the Roma community to Romania and Bulgaria and urged the French government to integrate rather than stigmatise these European citizens. Discrimination against any ethnic group or nationality is banned under EU law. France responded, with its Minister for Immigration, Integration and National Identity Eric Besson declaring ―there was no question‖ of France taking its orders from the European Parliament. Often referred to as gypsies, the Roma belong to nomadic tribes that are said to have migrated to central and Eastern Europe from India some 1,000 years ago.

Germany to extend nuclear plant life span: The government of Germany on September 6, 2010 decided to extend the life span of nuclear power plants by an average of 12 years. Some plants will now remain in production until the 2030s. The plan reverses a decision by the previous government - a coalition of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens - to shut down Germany‘s nuclear power stations by 2021. Chancellor Angela Merkel argued that renewable

sources are not developed enough to abandon nuclear power.

NASA to launch ‗Solar Probe Plus‖: US space agency NASA has unveiled plans to plunge a car-sized unmanned spacecraft named ‗Solar Probe Plus‘ (SPP) into the star‘s outer atmosphere sometime before 2018. Before it is destroyed by the sizzling temperatures exceeding 1,400 degrees C, the craft will have to obtain valuable data about the Sun. To withstand the temperatures and the radiation, the instruments will be protected by a huge carbon-composite heat shield.

Basque separatists end armed campaign in Spain:

Basque separatist group ETA declared a ceasefire on September 5, 2010 in its bloody 42-year campaign for a homeland independent of Spain, vowing to give up guns and bombs for a democratic solution. ETA ―will not carry out armed offensive actions‖, said a masked woman flanked by two other masked members in a video announcement sent to the BBC and pro-independence Basque daily Gara.

UNESCO International Literacy Prizes awarded

The U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on September 8, 2010 awarded prizes to six international education programs for their efforts in eliminating illiteracy.

Four innovative literacy projects in Cape Verde, Egypt, Germany and Nepal have won the awards of the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes this year. A programme in Colombia and a project in Malawi both received an Honourable Mention. The award ceremony took place at UNESCO in Paris on the occasion of the

celebration of International Literacy Day, 8 September 2010. The theme for this year‘s Prizes is ―Literacy and Women‘s Empowerment‖.

Each prize is worth US $20,000, a medal and a diploma. UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prizes are supported by the South Korean government while the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, is supported by the People‘s Republic of China. Following is the complete list of winners:

UNESCO International Literacy Prizes

UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize

General Directorate of Adult Training in Cape Verde for its Adult Education and Training Programme (EdFoA).

State Institute for Teacher Training and School Development in Hamburg, Germany for its Family Literacy Project (FLY)

UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy

Non-Formal Education Centre in Nepal for its National Literacy Campaign

Governorate of Ismailia in Egypt for its programme Females for Families

Honorable Mention of the King Sejong Literacy Prize

North Catholic University Foundation in Antioquia, Colombia for its Virtual Assisted Literacy Programme

Coalition of Women Farmers (COWFA) in Malawi for the Women Land Rights Project (WOLAR)


University of Cambridge is world‘s best – QS World University Rankings

The University of Cambridge has replaced Harvard as the world‘s best university in the prestigious QS World University Rankings, 2010, published in London on September 10, 2010.

Six of the top 10 universities in the world are American while the remaining four are in the UK. The QS rankings, earlier published in collaboration with Times Higher Education, are an annual ranking of the top 500 universities in the world, based on an academic

reputation index, employer reputation index, institution inclusion, and research among other criteria.

Among Asian countries, Japan has 10 universities in the top 200; China and Korea have six and five respectively. India has just one — IIT Bombay at No. 187. Other Indian universities in the top 500 list include IIT Delhi (202), IIT Kanpur (249), IIT Kharagpur (335), University of Delhi (371), IIT Roorkee (401-450 bracket) and University of Mumbai (450-500 bracket).

QS World University Rankings, 2010

1 University of Cambridge, UK 6 University of Oxford, UK

2 Harvard University, USA 7 Imperial College London, UK

3 Yale University, USA 8 University of Chicago, USA

4 UCL (University College London), UK 9 California Institute of Technology (Caltech), USA

5 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA 10 Princeton University, USA

‗BP Spillcam‘ is the Top TeleWord of 2010: The Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the success of the TV show Jersey Shore made words like ‗BP Spillcam‘ and ‗Guido‘ among the most used words of the 2009-2010 TV season, according to a global language survey released on September 9, 2010. The Global Language Monitor uses a math formula to track the frequency of words and phrases in print and electronic media. The 2010 list is the seventh annual analysis by the Global Language Monitor. Last year‘s Top Teleword was Obamavision.

Top TeleWords of 2010

1 BP Spillcam 6 Rude

2 Dysfunctional 7 Drama at 10:00

3 Guido 8 Chicago-style politics

4 Reality 9 Cross-over

5 Nice 10 Ambush Marketing

Source: Global Language Monitor



Newsmakers

Rajiv Dube appointed new Chairman of ASCI: Rajiv Dube, director-group corporate services, Aditya Birla Management Corporation Pvt. Ltd., was on September 13, 2010 elected Chairman of the Board of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). Dhananjay Keskar, director – IBS, is the outgoing chairman of ASCI. During the year 2009-10, the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) of the ASCI deliberated on complaints against 159 advertisements. Of these, 87 complaints were upheld, while 72 were not upheld. In 71 cases, the ads have been withdrawn or modified appropriately as per the CCC‘s decisions resulting in an 82% compliance rate.

Uday Shankar appointed President of Indian Broadcasting Foundation: Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) elected its new office bearers on September 6, 2010. Uday Shankar, chief executive officer, STAR India has been elected as president, IBF; while G Krishnan, executive director and chief executive officer, TV Today Network has been elected vice-president; Sunil Lulla, managing director and chief

executive officer, Times Global Broadcasting will be the treasurer of IBF. Earlier, Jawahar Goel, managing director, DishTV was president, IBF and had held the post for the last six years.

Stephen Elop appointed new CEO of Nokia: Nokia, the world‘s largest cellphone maker, said Stephen Elop, the head of Microsoft‘s Business Division, was to be its new chief executive. Elop will take over from Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo on September 21, 2010. "His (Elop‘s) strong software background and proven record in change management will be valuable assets as we press harder to complete the transformation of the company," Nokia chairman Jorma Ollila said.

Ex-HP CEO Hurd is Oracle co-president: Oracle CEO Larry Ellison on September 6, 2010 appointed former Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd as its co-president. Oracle is the No. 1 seller of database software, but is trying to carve out territory in other areas. Hurd had resigned from HP in August 2010 following a sexual harassment investigation.

News round up Parliamentary committee recommends limit on CEO salaries

The Parliamentary standing committee on the new Companies Bill has recommended that the government should fix an overall limit on the salaries of the chief executives.

According to current norms, remuneration paid to managerial personnel and directors cannot be more than 11 per cent of the net profit of the company. The corporate affairs ministry in its response to the committee has agreed to put an upper limit for profit making companies. The committee is headed by former finance minister Yashwant Sinha.

The committee was of the view that an overall outer ceiling on managerial remuneration should be prescribed in the new Companies Bill. The remuneration payable within this overall ceiling should be also be approved by the shareholders.

If the company is making losses, the committee has recommended that the current practice of getting the salaries of the CEOs and directors approved by the government should be continued.

The committee has further suggested that in the event of established fraud or fudging of profits by the company, remuneration paid to the key managerial personnel may be recovered.

Meanwhile, the committee has also suggested that companies with a net worth of Rs 500 crore or more, or those that have an annual turnover of at least Rs 1,000 crore, or companies with a net profit of Rs 5 crore or more, shall be required to spend every year, at least 2% of its average net profits during the three immediately preceding financial years on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities (as may be approved and specified by the company).


Oil products demand expected to go up 5.7% in 2010-11

India‘s demand for petroleum products may grow by 5.7 per cent in the current financial year (2010-11) against the last fiscal (2009-10), according to estimates of the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) released on September 8, 2010.

The consumption of petroleum products (petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel, LPG, lubricants, naphtha, furnace oil, etc.) in the current financial year will be at 146.08 million tonne up from 138.2 million tonne in the last fiscal. This growth is the highest after 2007-08 when demand grew by 6.8 per cent.

However, the subsequent years saw a slight decline due to a global financial crisis. The demand growth was 3.4 per cent in 2009-10 compared with a year earlier (2008-09).

The estimates show that diesel consumption in the current fiscal may see an increase of 8.8 per cent at 61.26 million tonnes compared with 56.3 million tonnes in the last fiscal, while petrol sales were expected to go up by 12.8 per cent to 14.45 million tonne from 12.8 million tonne.

Demand For Petroleum Products in India * estimate Demand in million tonnes Growth (%)

2010-11* 146.08 5.7

2009-10 138.2 3.4

2008-09 133.65 6.8 Source: Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell

India‘s External Debt - A Status Report 2009-10 unveiled

The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance on September 09, 2010 unveiled the sixteenth edition of the annual publication titled ‗India‘s External Debt: A Status Report 2009-10‘. The report analyses India‘s latest external debt position (at end-March 2010) based on the data released by the Reserve Bank of India. India‘s external debt position during the years 2006-07 to 2009-10 is given below in the Table.

Table: India‘s Key External Debt Indicators

At end March External Debt (US$

billion)

Ratio of External Debt to

GDP (Per cent)

Debt Service Ratio

(Per cent)

Ratio of Foreign

Exchange Reserves to Total Debt (Per cent)

Ratio of Concessional Debt to Total

Debt (Per cent)

Ratio of Short-Term Debt to

Foreign Exchange Reserves (Per cent)

Ratio of Short- term

Debt to Total Debt (Per cent)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

2006-07 172.4 17.5 4.7 115.6 23.0 14.1 16.3

2007-08 224.4 18.1 4.8 138.0 19.7 14.8 20.4

2008-09 PR 224.5 20.5 4.4 112.2 18.7 17.2 19.3

2009-10 QE 261.5 18.9 5.5 106.7 16.8 18.8 20.1

PR: Partially Revised; QE: Quick Estimates. Source: Reserve Bank of India

The salient features of the Report are summarized as under:

Though the India‘s external debt has increased in absolute terms during 2009-10, key debt sustainability indicators suggest that India‘s external debt remains at a comfortable level.

The maturity structure of India‘s external debt is favorable with long-term debt at US$ 208.9 billion at end-March 2010, accounting for 79.9 per cent of the total external debt.

Short-term debt is at US$ 52.1 billion at end-March 2010, accounting for 20.1 per cent of the total external debt.

The share of short-term debt in total external debt has increased to 20.1 per cent at end-March 2010 from 19.3 per cent at end-March 2009.

‗Islamic banking not feasible for Indian banks‘ – government


The Union Government on September 9, 2010 informed the Kerala High Court that it was not legally feasible for banks in India or its branches abroad to undertake Islamic banking activities.

In a counter affidavit, the Ministry of Finance informed the court that this had been the stand of the Union Government even while giving replies to questions in Parliament. The counter was filed on a petition challenging the establishment of the financial institution to be run on the model of Islamic banks with the support of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC).

The High court had in April this year directed the state government and its institutions not to participate financially or otherwise in the financial company modelled on the lines of Islamic bank.

Islamic banking refers to a system of banking or banking activity that is consistent with the principles of Islamic law (Sharia) and its practical application through the development of Islamic economics. Sharia prohibits the payment or acceptance of interest fees for the lending and accepting of money respectively, for specific terms, as well as investing in businesses that provide goods or services considered contrary to its principles.

PSBs need to focus on skill replacement: BCG report

A report by The Boston Consulting Group unveiled on September 7, 2010, notes the human resource challenge for public sector banks (PSBs) due to large-scale retirement.

Mass retirement: Manpower in PSBs grew by 0.5 per cent in 2009-10, while balance sheet growth was 22 per cent. As a result, government banks‘ revenue per employee doubled in the past three years. Almost 80 per cent of middle management and 50 per cent of junior officers at PSBs are due for retirement within the next 10 years. The PSBs are face ―twin challenges – the need to induct talent in large numbers and the need to contain staff costs‖.

SBI largest employer: The BCG report shows private sector HDFC Bank is the third largest employer in the sector, with close to 52,000 staff, only behind PSBs – State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank.

PSBs incur higher staff costs: The cost per employee for government banks was higher than its private sector counterparts in 2009-10, a reversal of the norm in recent years, says the report. The average employee cost for government banks was Rs 5.6 lakh per year and Rs 5.3 lakh for private sector banks. About 62 per cent of the costs of public sector banks are on employees; in private banks, it was 37 per cent. Globally, the ratio is about 50 per cent for most banks.

Vodafone loses Rs 12,297-crore tax challenge:

The Bombay High Court on September 8, 2010 dismissed the petition filed by Vodafone challenging the jurisdiction of the Income Tax (IT) Department to levy tax on its 2007 acquisition of the majority stake in the mobile operator Hutchison Essar Ltd. (HEL).

The IT department had argued that the Vodafone deal was liable to be taxed for capital gains, as the deal involved the transfer of an Indian asset (HEL).

The Netherlands-based Vodafone International Holdings had acquired the stake in HEL for $11.2 billion (Rs 55,000 crore) from the Hong-Kong based Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd. (HTIL) in 2007.

The I-T Department held Vodafone liable for not deducting tax from payments made to HTIL and sent a notice for Rs 12,297 crore to the company.

Trial Trail

Through a Cayman Islands-based holding company, the Vodafone Group acquired 67% stake in Hutchison Essar from Hong Kong based Hutchison Telecommunications International for $ 11.1 billion in 2007

The Indian IT Department contended that the ownership of the Indian company, Hutch Essar, had changed hands by the deal and hence it has to pay a capital gains tax on profit made from the Indian investment

Vodafone can contest Bombay HC ruling in Supreme Court within eight weeks

ASCI to frame guidelines for advertising in education sector


The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), the apex self-regulatory body for advertising content of the Indian advertising industry, in August 2010 proposed a new set of guidelines for the educational sector. The new guidelines will apply to ads of all educational institutions, coaching classes and educational programmes.

ASCI has been receiving several intra-industry complaints against claims being made in ads of various educational institutions and many students and parents too have complained against claims made in advertisements by educational institutions.

The proposed guidelines prohibit institutions and programmes from claiming recognition, authorisation, accreditation, or affiliations without having proper evidence.

Based on the feedback received from the public and

concerned stakeholders, the ASCI Committee will finalise the guidelines and put it up for the ASCI Board's approval. Once the Board approves the final draft, the guidelines will become a part of the ASCI's Code for Self Regulation in Advertising.

India‘s forex reserves at $285.328 billion on September 3: Foreign exchange reserves were up by $2.486 billion to $285.328 billion for the week ending September 3, on account of an increase in the foreign currency assets and gold reserves, according to figures released in the Reserve Bank of India‘s weekly statistical supplement. Foreign currency assets were up by $1.736 billion to $258.384 billion. Gold reserves were up by $730 million at $20 billion. SDRs were up by $14 million to $4.995 billion. The Reserve Position in the IMF was up by $6 million to $1.941 billion.

Industrial output doubles in July: The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) data for July, released on September 11, 2010 showed that the Industrial output nearly doubled to 13.8 per cent in July 2010 compared to the figure in July 2009. The output of capital goods, used by the manufacturing industry, soared to 63 per cent from 1.7 per cent a year ago. The manufacturing sector output grew 15 per cent in the month against 7.4 per cent a year ago.

Food inflation at 11.47% for the week ended August 28: Costlier cereals, fruits and food items pushed food inflation 11.47 per cent for the week ended August 28, 2010. Experts said the rise in food prices was expected to prompt the RBI to tighten money supply in the system to curb food inflation.

India‘s Tele-Density at 58.17 on July 31, 2010: The number of telephone subscribers in India increased to 688.38 million at the end of July 2010. Wireless (GSM, CDMA & FWP) subscriber base increased to 652.42 Million while Wireline subscription declined to 35.96 million at the end of July-2010 registering a growth of 2.66%. Wireless Tele-density stands at 55.14. Overall Tele-density in the country has reached 58.17.

CERC liberalises grid access to green projects: The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) on September 07, 2010 reduced the threshold capacity for connecting to inter-state grid for the hydro electric generating stations and other generating stations using renewable sources of energy to 50 MW while for thermal power stations (based on coal, gas) it will be 250 MW. The objective is to make available easier grid connectivity to renewable sources of energy. The lower threshold will allow more number of renewable energy station to sell their power to the inter-state grid.

Rs. 5,000 crore fund proposed for promoting innovation: The recently set up National Innovation Council (NIC) on officially began its work on September 9, 2010 when its members unanimously decided to work for establishing a Rs. 5,000 crore fund to promote innovations. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovation, Sam Pitroda, is the Chairman of NIC.

Govt plans Rs 5,000-cr fund to boost electronic manufacturing: The Department of Information Technology (DIT) on September 11, 2010 unveiled plans to set up a dedicated fund with an initial corpus of Rs 5,000 crore. The Electronic Product Development Fund is expected to boost innovation, research and development (R&D) activities in the domestic hardware manufacturing industry. India‘s electronics hardware production increased from Rs 84,410 crore in 2007-08 to touch Rs 94,690 crore in 2008-09, representing 12.1 per cent growth. According to a government estimate, the exports from IT and ITeS sector is expected to touch $82 billion by 2014 and $175 billion by 2020. The demand for electronics hardware in the country has been projected to increase from $5 billion in 2009 to $125 billion by 2014 and $400 billion by 2020.

Department of Information Technology to be renamed: The government is planning to rename the


Department of Information Technology (DIT) as the Department of Information Technology and Electronics (DITE). This is based on the proposals given by a task force set by the government a year before to suggest measures to stimulate the growth of IT, IT-enabled services (ITeS) and the electronics hardware manufacturing industry. Electronics hardware production rose from Rs 84,410 crore in 2007-08 to Rs 94,690 crore in 2008-09, a growth of 12.1 per cent. The task force was headed by Ajai Chowdhry, Chairman and CEO, HCL Infosystems and had NASSCOM President Som Mittal as members.

SpiceJet to fly abroad from October: Low-cost carrier SpiceJet on September 8, 2010 announced that it will fly to international destinations from October 7, with the first flight from New Delhi to Kathmandu. With this, SpiceJet will become the third private sector airline to fly abroad besides Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines. SpiceJet, owned by media baron Kalanithi Maran, completed five years of domestic operations this month — a mandatory requirement to launch international flights.

ADB to exit Petronet: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on September 7, 2010 said it wants to exit Petronet LNG Ltd, the country‘s largest liquefied natural gas importer, and has offered to sell its 5.2 per cent stake in to oil firms IOC, ONGC, GAIL India and Bharat Petroleum. State-owned IOC, ONGC, GAIL and BPCL each have 12.5 per cent stake in Petronet and each has pre-emption or right of first refusal in case ADB is to exit the company.

Reliance Infratel ends tower deal with GTL Infrastructure: Reliance Infratel, the tower subsidiary of Reliance Communication, and GTL Infrastructure on September 6, 2010 decided to call off their non-binding merger agreement signed on June 27 without assigning any reasons. The two companies had agreed to combine their tower operations into a company that would have had an enterprise value of over $11 billion and owned 80,000 towers.

KEC International acquires SAE Towers Holdings: KEC International Ltd, an RPG group company, on September 7, 2010 acquired Texas-based power transmission infrastructure company SAE Towers Holdings for an enterprise value of $95 million. The acquisition will help KEC reach the expanding markets of North and South America. In the US market, SAE Towers has a 40 per cent market share.

Renuka sugars, HPCL plan ethanol unit: Shree Renuka Sugars on September 7, 2010 unveiled plans

to set up an integrated sugar-cum-ethanol plant with oil marketing company Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) in Maharashtra. This would be the first such tie-up between a sugar and a petroleum company. In the JV, Renuka will hold 76 per cent in the joint venture (JV), while state-owned HPCL will have the rest. It will be a flexible unit, where up to 50 per cent of the produce will be ethanol and the rest sugar.

RNRL-RPower merger approved: Anil Ambani group companies, Reliance Power and Reliance Natural Resources Ltd (RNRL), on September 6, 2010 said their respective shareholders have approved merger between the two entities, estimated to create a Rs 50,000-crore entity.

ONGC to restore relics in Assam‘s Sivasagar district: Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGCL) on August 3, 2010 signed an MoU with the Archaeological Survey of India to restore ancient monuments scattered around its oil and gas fields in Sivasagar district in upper Assam. The four monuments are Rang-ghar, Talatal Ghar, Kareng Ghar, Charaideo maidams — all constructed during the 800-year-long Ahom rule.

Saffron Brand Consultants to rebuilding brand Bengal image: The Left Front government on September 7, 2010 appointed UK-based Saffron Brand Consultants, headed by image artist Wally Olins, to rebuild the image of brand Bengal. The image of Bengal as an investment destination has hit rock-bottom after the Nandigram fiasco, when an unspecified number of people were killed in police firing following violent protests against a special economic zone (SEZ) project. Even as the public memory of Nandigram started fading, came Singur, the original site for the Tata Nano project. After a violent agitation against land acquisition, Tata Motors pulled out of the state in 2008. In the ensuing years, the ruling party has fared poorly in all elections.

Israeli SC ruling boosts Sun Pharma‘s battle for Taro: India‘s Sun Pharmaceutical on September 9, 2010 won a significant victory in its three-year-old battle to acquire Israeli company Taro Pharmaceuticals. The Supreme Court of Israel has supported the Indian company‘s bid to acquire the outstanding shares of the Israeli company. Following the verdict, Sun can go ahead with its tender offer, which is similar to open offers in India, to acquire ordinary shares, including those held by Taro promoters. Sun's tender offer was triggered in June 2008 under a merger plan finalised by the two companies in 2007.


India Carbon Market Conclave 2010 organised: The India Carbon Market Conclave 2010 was organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Environment Ministry in New Delhi on September 8, 2010. The Conclave is an annual event that provides Indian carbon market stakeholders to interact with global companies in the business and share knowledge on the current trends. Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said that the Kyoto Protocol will continue to exist beyond 2012 as it does not have a sunset clause. The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol that seeks to reduce emissions by developed nations comes to an end in 2012.

Hyundai unveils its first electric car: Hyundai

Motor, South Korea‘s No.1 carmaker, unveiled its first pure electric car named ―BlueOn‖, on September 9, 2010. The BlueOn can run 140 kilometres on a single charge and features a maximum speed of 130 kilometres per hour. Japan‘s Mitsubishi Motors Corp was the first major carmaker to roll out pure electric cars. Its i-MiEV electric car was introduced in Japan in August.

Bank of India launches ―Star Kisan Sathi‖: Bank of India on September 7, 2010, launched its ―Star Kisan Sathi‖ scheme for landless labourers and marginal farmers on the occasion of its 105

th

foundation day.

ICICI wins World Finance Awards 2010 in 3 categories: India‘s largest private sector commercial bank, ICICI Bank, was on September 9, 2010 awarded the World Finance Awards 2010 given by the World Finance Magazine, a leading financial publication from the UK. The three categories are Excellence in NRI services-Worldwide, Excellence in Remittance Business-Worldwide and Excellence in Private Banking Business.

Coca-Cola launches new logo for Commonwealth Games: The official beverage partner of 2010 Commonwealth Games, Coca-Cola India, on September 9, 2010 announced the launch of its new Visual Identity System (VIS) and logo for the Games.

The VIS has been conceptualised on the platform of ―Go Dilli, Let Sports Win.‖

Nokia is the Most Trusted Brand in Brand Equity Rankings: Economic Times Brand Equity released the findings of the Most Trusted Brands Survey 2010 in August 2010. Nokia emerged as India's Most Trusted Brand for the third year in a row, topping a field of 300 product and service brands. Nokia is followed by Colgate, Lux, Dettol, Britannia, Lifebouy, Clinic Plus, Pond‘s, Fair & Lovely and Pepsodent in top ten list.

India voted 7th

best holiday destination by Conde Nast: India was on September 7, 2010 ranked as the seventh-best destination in the world in the recent Conde Nast Readers ‗ Travel Awards 2010. Turkey was adjudged the favourite holiday destination followed by Egypt in second position. Australia was third followed by Italy, New Zealand and Spain. Among hotels, Taj West End, Bangalore, Leela Palace Kempinski, Bangalore and The Oberoi, New Delhi, were ranked second, fifth and tenth respectively in the best ‗Overseas Business Hotel‘ category list.

Sheraton Hotel gets Energy Management Award: Sheraton Hotel, New Delhi has received the CII National Award for Excellence in Energy Management 2010 (Energy Efficient Unit). The ITC-Welcomgroup Hotel was given the award on completion of a national competition held on September 1-2, 2010 at Chennai.

Google Instant promises live search results: Google has sped up its internet search engine on September 8, 2010 by launching a new product called Instant that displays results as soon as users type in queries. The service predicts a user's query and modifies the displayed results as more letters are typed into the search box. The company described it as "search at the speed of thought".


Section D: SPORTS

Newsmakers

Bopanna, Qureshi lose in US Open Men‘s Doubles: The team of Pakistan‘s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and India‘s Rohan Bopanna were beaten by US top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan 7-6(5), 7-6(4) in the US Open men‘s doubles final on September 10, 2011.

M. S. Dhoni nominated as Uttarakhand‘s first wildlife warden: India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on September 5, 2010 nominated as Uttarakhand‘s first honorary wildlife warden as part of the hill state‘s tiger conservation campaign by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. Nishank also declared Dhoni as the brand ambassador of the Save Tiger Campaign in the state which houses two major national parks -- Jim Corbett and Rajaji, which are natural habitats for tigers.

Sahara Chairman is CG volunteer: Subrata Roy, Chairman of Sahara Group, on September 7, 2010 joined as one of the volunteers for the next month‘s Commonwealth Games. The CWG volunteer programme has been christened as ‗Delhi United‘.

V. Anand receives Rotary Award: World chess

champion Viswanathan Anand was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Rotary Club of Madras at a function in Chennai on September 7, 2010.

Vidya Pillai wins Women‘s National Snooker Title:

Vidya Pillai has regained the national snooker title after scoring a victory over defending champion Meenal Thakur in Pune on September 7, 2010.

News round up Cash prizes for Indian medal winners at CG & Asian Games doubled: The 3

rd Conference of State Ministers for

Youth Affairs and Sports was organised in New Delhi on September 7, 2010 under the Chairpersonship of the Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. M.S. Gill. The Minister announced doubling of cash awards for the coming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games to Rs.20 lakhs (from Rs.10 lakhs) for gold medalist, Rs.10 lakhs (from Rs.5 lakhs) for silver medalist, and Rs.6 lakhs (from Rs.3 lakhs) for bronze medalist.

FIA announces first ever Indian Grand Prix: Formula One‘s ruling body FIA on September 8, 2010 confirmed the introduction of the Indian Grand Prix for the first time next year. The Indian Grand Prix will be the 18

th race of the FIA

Formula One World Championship racing season in 2011. It is scheduled to take place at the Jaypee Group Circuit on October 30, 2011 in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

IOC wins Airtel Rajsingh Dungarpur Corporate Trophy: Indian Oil Corporation pulled off an exciting three-run win over India Cements in the final of the Airtel Rajsingh Dungarpur Corporate Trophy at the ACA-VDCA stadium in Visakhapatnam on September 8, 2010. IOC made 268 for six in 50 overs and bowled out India Cements for 265.


Voices of the Week

―Maybe, they will try to kill me and maybe, they will have success, but they cannot kill the cartoon‖ – Kurt Westergaard, Danish cartoonist

who received death threats for a caricature of Prophet Muhammad in 2005, and was honoured in Germany recently

―As a cartoonist, he has the freedom to draw such cartoons‖ – German Chancellor Angela Merkel

defending Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard

―The executive compensation in the public sector, as is well known, is lower than that in the private sector… there is perhaps a good reason to revisit this… There is also the risk that if the public sector bank compensation is not improved, the public sector may lose talent to the private sector‖

– RBI Governor, Dr. Duvvuri Subbarao

―The day the soldiers are forced to fight for their salaries, it would be a sad day for the country‖ – Supreme Court Justice Markandeya Katju on a petition filed by serving and

ex-Army officers

―The only way out for the government of India is to be held accountable for proper running of the public distribution system. The present situation where neither the government of India nor the states are bothered about benefits reaching the poor is not acceptable.‖ - N.C. Saxena, member, National

Advisory Council

―There would be 20% people in India even today who would be honest, regardless of the temptations, because this is how they are. They have a conscience, they would not be corrupt. There would be around 30% who would be utterly corrupt. But the rest are the people who are on the borderline.‖

– Pratyush Sinha, who retired as India's

central vigilance commissioner recently

―Make thematic movies that carry a message and commercial success will soon follow.‖ – D. Ramanaidu, Dadasaheb Phalke

Award winner when asked what tips he had for new producers

―When you're young all you need is a pat on the back and the feeling that people are behind you‖

– Viswanathan Anand while awarding

Chess Scholarship in Tamil Nadu

―Africans are capable of forging their own destiny; we don‘t need the lessons that we‘re always being given‖ – Paul Kagame, who started his second

term as President of Rwanda

―For years, our tax code has actually given billions of dollars in tax breaks that encourage companies to create jobs and profits in other countries. I want to change that.‖ – Barack Obama, US President

―People might get suspended or banished from the team, but within a few months the regime changes, and they are back again, as if nothing happened‖

– Geoffrey Boycott, former England

cricket captain on ICC response to match fixing scandals

―Money is important, I am not saying it is not. The youngsters should play for the pride...cricket should not become WWE (the TV wrestling series running as a soap opera)‖ – Kapil Dev, India's World Cup winning

former captain

General Awareness Test-September 5 to 11, 2010

1

General Awareness Test For the week: September 5 to 11, 2010

No of questions: 100 Answers marked by * Explanatory answer after each question 1. Harishankar Brahma was in news for his appointment to which of the following positions recently? a) Central Vigilance Commissioner b) Solicitor General c) Surveyor General of India d) Election Commissioner e) Comptroller and Auditor General* Answer 1: 60 year-old Harishankar Brahma, a retired IAS officer of 1975 batch from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, assumed charge as Election Commissioner at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi on August 25, 2010. Brahma, who retired as the Union Power Secretary in April this year, will hold office till April 18, 2015. The vacancy for the third Election Commissioner arose after the elevation of S.Y. Quraishi as Chief Election Commissioner. V.S. Sampath is the other Election Commissioner. Brahma is the second person from the North-East to become an Election Commissioner, after J.M. Lyngdoh. 2. Punjabi scholar Gurudev Singh and Telugu researcher-critic Korlapati Sriramamurthy were in news recently for winning which of the following awards? a) Jnanpith Award b) Bhasha Samman* c) Vyas Samman d) Saraswati Samman e) Kalidas Samman Answer 2: A noted Punjabi scholar and a Telugu veteran were on August 25, 2010 chosen for Bhasha Samman by the Sahitya Akademi for their contributions in the field of classical and medieval literature. Punjabi scholar Gurudev Singh has been chosen for the honour from the Northern region while Telugu researcher-critic Korlapati Sriramamurthy has been selected from the Southern region. The Bhasha Samman carries a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh besides a plaque and citation. Bhasha Sammans have also been announced for eight scholars and writers in languages like Avadhi, Garhwali and Kachchhi which are not recognised by the Akademi. The writers selected for the honour are Madhav Joshi ‗Ashq' and Tejpal Darshi ‗Tej' for Kachchhi, Vishwanath Pathak for Avadhi, Ram Narayan Sharma and Kailash Nehari Dwivedi for Bundeli, Niranjan Chakma for Chakma language, and Sudama Prasad Premi and Prem Lal Bhatt for Garhwali. 3. Ravindra R. Kelekar, who passed away recently, was known for achievements in which field? a) Literature* b) Agriculture c) Education d) Sports administration e) Architecture Answer 3: Konkani litterateur and Jnanpith Award winner Ravindra R. Kelekar passed away at the age of 85 on August 27, 2010. He bagged numerous awards and honours, including the Padma Bhushan and the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship. His book, ‗Himalayan‘, a travelogue written in 1975, won him the Sahitya Akademi Award. He was the only writer of Goa and of Konkani to win the Jnanpith Award as well as the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship. 4. To which political party did P. Jeevanandham, on whom a commemorative stamp was released recently, belong to? a) Congress b) Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam c) Communist Party*


2

d) Bharatiya Jan Sangh e) Janata Dal Answer 4: A commemorative stamp featuring freedom fighter and communist leader P. Jeevanandham, known as Jeeva, was released in Chennai on August 28, 2010. He was also the founder of Tamil literary magazine ―Thamarai‖ and the communist newspaper ―Janasakthi‖. 5. The Lok Sabha passed the Bill increasing the salary and other allowances of Members of Parliament (MPs) recently. Which of the following are correctly matched?

SALARY AND ALLOWANCES OF PARLIAMENTARIANS

In Rs.

(I) Monthly salary 50,000

(II) Daily allowance (when Parliament is in session) 2,000

(III) Constituency allowance per month 45,000

(IV) Office expenses per month 45,000

a) I & II only b) II & III only c) II, III & I only d) II, II & IV only e) I, II, III & IV* Answer 5: The Lok Sabha on August 27, 2010 passed the Bill increasing three-fold the salary of the MPs from Rs. 16,000 to Rs. 50,000 a month, and doubling the daily, constituency and office expense allowances. The Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2010 will be implemented with retrospective effect from May 18, 2009, when the 15

th Lok Sabha was constituted. The Bill amending the Salaries and

Allowances of Members of Parliament Act, 1954, will now have to be cleared by the Rajya Sabha before the hike is implemented.

The Bill raises salary of members of Parliament from Rs. 16,000 to Rs. 50,000. The daily allowance paid to MPs when they attend parliament has been raised to Rs. 2,000 from Rs.1,000. Constituency and office expense have risen from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 45,000 each. The bill also enhances pension for former MPs from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 20,000.

SALARY AND ALLOWANCES OF PARLIAMENTARIANS

SALARY AND ALLOWANCES OLD NEW #

Monthly salary 16,000 50,000

Daily allowance (to attend Parliament or committee meetings) 1,000 2,000

Constituency allowance per month 20,000 45,000

Office expenses per month 20,000 45,000

PERKS

Limit for interest-free loan for MPs for buying a personal vehicle increased to Rs 1 lakh from the present Rs 1 lakh. Road mileage rate for vehicles used by MPs increased from Rs 13 per km to Rs 16 per km. The spouse of a parliamentarian can travel any number of times in first class or executive class.

PENSION

OLD NEW #

Monthly pension 8,000 20,000

Pension for every additional year 500 1,500

# As per the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2010 passed by the Lok Sabha on August 27, 2010


3

6. The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Bill 2010, which aims to facilitate global entry into the business of setting up nuclear power generation units in India, was passed by both houses of the Parliament recently. Which of the following statements is/are correct? I. The liability of operators of nuclear power plants for damages resulting from an accident is capped at Rs 1500 crore II. The operator can claim damages from the supplier of power plants only when there is a written agreement to this effect III. Only companies with over 74% government ownership will be subject to the liability cap a) I only* b) I & II only c) II only d) II & III only e) I, II & III only Answer 6: The Lok Sabha on August 25, 2010 passed the landmark Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Bill 2010, which aims to facilitate global entry into the business of setting up nuclear power generation units in India. The Bill was necessary for the entry of big companies such as France's nuclear giant Areva and America's General Electric and Westinghouse, which were unwilling to do business with India without clarity over accident compensation. Passage of the Bill facilitates the opening up of the country's $150 billion nuclear market after the government agreed to tougher provisions. Important clauses and their implications are as follows: Section 6(2): Nuclear operators to be strictly liable for damages resulting from an accident but their liability is capped at Rs 1500 crore, unless a higher amount is notified by the government. In earlier draft the cap was Rs 500 crore. Beyond this cap, government assumes responsibility for damages. Bill also specified ―maximum liability‖ of 300 million SDRs, approximately Rs 2,100 crore. Section 17(b): If accident ―has resulted as a consequence of an act of supplier or his employee, which includes supply of equipment or material with patent or latent defects or sub-standard services, ―the operator shall have a right of recourse, i. e., can sue the supplier for recovery of any damages paid. There is no need for the supplier to agree to this in a contract or to have intentionally caused an accident, as earlier drafts proposed. Section 1(3A): Only government or ―government company‖ can benefit from the liability cap but the latter is defined as on where the Central government has ―not less than 51%‖ ownership. This paves the way for the liability burden of any private sector partner to be subsidised by the tax payer. Section 18(b): Increases the time period for filing claims in case of personal injury from 10 to 20 years Section 16(1): Claims for damages must be disposed of within three months of application. Section 35: Victims can approach the High Court and the Supreme Court for review of compensation amounts. 7. Which European country was in news recently for controversial deportations of Roma (Gypsies) people to Romania? a) Hungary b) Austria c) Poland d) Germany e) France* Answer 7: UN urges France to avoid Roma deportations: The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on August 27, 2010 urged France to avoid collective deportations of Roma (Gypsies) to Romania. France has recently sent hundreds of Roma back to Romania and Bulgaria and dismantled more than 100 illegal camps. The policy of deportations has drawn fierce criticism from human rights and anti-racism groups. But the French government, which says it expelled


4

thousands of Roma this year and in 2009, says it is acting in accordance with EU law by repatriating Roma who have been in France for more than three months without work. It also says most of the repatriations are voluntary. 8. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2010 that was in news recently? I. The Bill was passed by both houses of the Parliament II. The Bill makes it compulsory for the police to record the reasons for making or not making an arrest for a cognisable offence that carries the maximum punishment of up to seven years III. Under the amended Bill, if a person is not arrested for a non-cognizable offence, the police will have to serve him notice thereby asking him to join the investigation a) I only b) I & II only c) II only d) II & III only e) I, II & III only* Answer 8: The Rajya Sabha on August 27, 2010 passed the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2010 which will make it compulsory for the police to record the reasons for making or not making an arrest for a cognisable offence that carries the maximum punishment of up to seven years. The Lok Sabha has already approved the Bill. Before Section 41 of the Criminal Procedure Act was amended, the law stated that a police officer ‗may' record the reasons for arrest or non-arrest of a person. Under the amended Bill, if a person is not arrested for a non-cognizable offence, the police will have to serve him notice, asking him to join the investigation. The amendment will ensure that the person does not delay the probe by not cooperating. Defending the amendment, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said a person arrested could go to court and say that the reason for his arrest was absurd and get bail. If a person failed to comply with the notice (of the investigating agency) or was unwilling to identify himself and give his name and address, he would be arrested on the spot. 9. The Defence Ministry recently unveiled plans to procure third generation ‗Javelin‘ _________ for the Army from the US under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route. a) aircraft tracking radar b) anti-mine vehicle c) air to air missile d) anti-aircraft gun e) anti-tank missile* Answer 9: The Defence Ministry on August 16, 2010 said it plans to approach the United States to procure third generation ‗Javelin' anti-tank guided missile for the Army under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route. Javelin is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and has automatic self-guidance besides other features. 10. Which of the following statements about the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill, 2010, that was passed by both Houses of Parliament in news recently is/are correct? I. Banks will have to inform the government if any organisation received foreign funds over Rs. 1 crore or more in an instance II. Organisations receiving foreign donations will have to file their accounts annually III. Organisations receiving foreign donations will have renew their registration once every 5 years a) I only b) I & II only c) II only d) II & III only* e) I, II & III only


5

Answer 10: Parliament has given its approval to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill, 2010, already passed by the Rajya Sabha and adopted by the Lok Sabha on August 27, 2010. The Bill seeks to regulate the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality by certain individuals or associations or companies. It will prohibit acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality for activities detrimental to the national interest or national security. Over 40,000 organisations in the country receive foreign contributions and of them, only 18,000, report the funds transfer and submit accounts. The Bill will ensure that every five years the organisations renew their registration. If those receiving foreign contribution do not file accounts the government will have the power to cancel their registration. There was a provision in the Bill where if any organisation received funds over Rs.10 lakh in an instance, the bank concerned would immediately inform the government so that government agencies would track the source of such funds. Those organisations engaged in production or broadcast of audio news, audio-visual news or current affairs through any electronic mode will be brought under the purview of the legislation. 11. Who among the following film personalities is a member of the National Innovation Council constituted by the Government of India recently? a) Boman Irani b) Shyam Benegal c) Karan Johar d) Shekhar Kapur* e) Yash Chopra Answer 11: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on August 16, 2010 gave the green signal for the setting up of a National Innovation Council headed by Sam Pitroda, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations, to give shape to the Government's decision to observe the current decade (2010-2020) as the Decade of Innovation. The Council‘s objective will be to evolve an Indian model of innovation that focuses on inclusive growth and creating an appropriate eco-system conducive to fostering inclusive innovation. The 17-member panel would include Planning Commission members K. Kasturirangan and Arun Maira, former Director General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) R.A. Mashelkar, former President of the National Association of Software and Services Companies Kiran Karnik, Executive Director of Tata Sons R. Gopalakrishnan, and Biocon Chairman Kiran Mazumdar Shaw. The present CSIR Director General Samir Brahmachari, Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry Chandrajit Banerjee, Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Amit Mitra, IIT Kanpur Director Sanjay Dhande, would also be members. Further, the Council would have Devi Prasad Shetty of Narayana Hrudalaya, film director Shekhar Kapur, Chairman of C.A. Technologies Saurabh Srivastava, Anil K. Gupta of IIM Ahmedabad, and Sujatha Ramadorai of The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, as members. R. Gopalakrishnan, Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, would be the Member Secretary. 12. Which of the following statements about the ―Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosures Bill, 2010‘ commonly known as the Whistleblower Bill that was in news recently, is/are correct? I. The Bill has been passed by both Houses of Parliament II. The Bill provides for severe punishment for those who expose the identity of whistleblowers III. Both public sector and private sector employees come under the purview of the Bill a) I only b) I & II only c) II only*


6

d) II & III only e) I, II & III only Answer 12: A bill proposing to protect whistleblowers, who report corruption in the government establishment, was on August 26, 2010 introduced in the Lok Sabha. The minister of state for personnel, Prithviraj Chavan, introduced the Bill, which intends to bring under its ambit employees of Central and state governments, public sector firms, local authorities and societies among others. The proposed legislation provides for severe punishment to those who expose the identity of whistleblowers or try to victimise them for exposing misdeeds in their organisation. The legislation, which is called ―the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosures Bill, 2010‖, also provides for setting up a regular mechanism to encourage persons to disclose information on corruption or wilful misuse of power by public servants to cause ―demonstrable losses‖ to the government. According to the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, it seeks to provide ―adequate protection to persons reporting corruption or wilful misuse of discretion, which causes demonstrable loss to the government or commission of a criminal offence by a public servant‖. 13. What is ‗Sowa-Rigpa‘ that was in news recently? a) A new district created in Meghalaya b) A fruit grown in Barak Valley of Assam that was granted Geographical Indication (GI) status c) A form of medicine that was included in the Indian Medical System* d) A site in Tripura included in UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites e) A new Buddhist shrine inaugurated in Sikkim Answer 13: The Rajya Sabha on August 25, 2010 passed a Bill to include Sowa-Rigpa within the ambit of the Indian medical system. It is practised in the sub-Himalayan region and other parts of the country, besides Tibet, Mongolia, Japan and some other countries. The Bill seeks to include registered practitioners of Sowa-Rigpa in the Indian Medical Council. The Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2010, seeks to include Sowa-Rigpa along with Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicine in the system, set minimum standards for education, and maintain a register of all practitioners in these fields. The Bill would ensure protection and preservation of the Sowa-Rigpa system and help in its development. It would lead to the setting up of a regulatory mechanism in the education and practice of Sowa-Rigpa. It was being done as recommended by the National Medicinal Plant Board, which is working on Indian herbs and plants used in various traditional systems. 14. Which of the following statements about the Indian Medical Council Amendment Bill 2010, passed by both houses of Parliament recently, is/are correct? I. The Bill provides for reconstitution of the Medical Council of India (MCI) II. A board of governors nominated by the government will exercise the powers and perform the MCI's functions till it is reconstituted III. Former President of the Council will be a member of the governing board a) I only b) I & II only* c) II only d) II & III only e) I, II & III only


7

Answer 14: The Parliament on August 26, 2010 approved the legislation empowering the Union government to supersede the Medical Council of India (MCI) and constitute a board of governors, with the Rajya Sabha passing the bill amending the Indian Medical Council Act. The Indian Medical Council Amendment Bill 2010, passed by the Lok Sabha earlier, entails reconstitution of the council within one year from the date of its replacement. Until then, a board of governors will exercise the powers and perform the MCI's functions. The bill deems that the MCI shall stand superseded and the president, vice-president and other members shall vacate their offices without any claim for compensation. The MCI was dissolved on May 15, 2010 through an ordinance that established a board of governors to handle the affairs of the council for one year. Among its functions, the MCI registers medical practitioners, monitors and gives recognition to medical colleges and degrees to doctors. 15. Which of the following statements about the expert committee report on enhancing the stature, scope and scale of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) submitted to the government recently is/are correct? I. Shyam Benegal was the Chairperson of the committee II. The committee has recommended introduction of two new awards — Best Actor and Best Actress III. The committee has suggested that the final entries in the ‗International Competition‘ section be increased a) I only b) I & II only c) II only d) II & III only* e) I, II & III only Answer 15: An expert committee instituted by the Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry to give suggestions for enhancing the stature, scope and scale of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) submitted its report to I&B minister Ambika Soni on August 25, 2010. The committee, which had Pritish Nandy as its Chairman, has recommended that the competition section be enhanced from being a specialised competition to an international one, which is open to all. The committee recommended that two new awards — Best Actor and Best Actress — be introduced and include prize money of Rs 10 lakh each, besides a certificate and a silver peacock. With these new awards, the total cash award under IFFI would amount to Rs 90 lakh. The committee further suggested that the final entries in the ‗International Competition‘ section be increased from the present 15 to 18. Moreover, in the ‗Indian Panorama‘ section, the jury should be allowed to select fewer than the stipulated five films from the 20 recommended by the Film Federation of India (FFI), if standards are not met. 16. Ashoke Ghosh, who passed away, recently, was known for his achievements in administration of which of the following sports? a) Tennis b) Football* c) Squash d) Cricket e) Athletics Answer 16: The former secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Ashoke Ghosh, passed away on August 19, 2010. Ghosh was the AIFF secretary from 1980 to 1988 and was instrumental in organising the Nehru Gold Cup international tournament that saw top national sides from across the globe, including Argentina, Uruguay, Hungary, Russia, erstwhile Yugoslavia, Poland and Romania.


8

17. Which of the following statements about the Nalanda University Bill, 2010 that was passed by both houses of Parliament recently, is/are correct? I. The Bill seeks to set up an International University at Nalanda in Bihar II. Establishment of the University is an international effort by the East Asian Summit comprising 15 countries III. The constitution of the University is based on the recommendations of the Nalanda Mentor Group chaired by economist Amartya Sen a) I only b) I & II only c) II only d) II & III only e) I, II & III only* Answer 17: The Lok Sabha on August 26, 2010 approved the Nalanda University Bill, 2010, which has already been approved by the Rajya Sabha, to set up a Rs.1005-crore international university at Nalanda in Bihar. The Bill was earlier passed by the Rajya Sabha on August 21, 2010 and seeks to re-establish the historic Nalanda University in Bihar as an international institute of learning. The Singapore government has committed to give assistance of 5 million dollars for this purpose. The University of Nalanda is proposed to be re-established under the aegis of the East Asia Summit (EAS), as a regional initiative. The Union government constituted a Nalanda Mentor Group (NMG) in 2007, under the chairmanship of noted economist Amartya Sen, to examine the framework of international cooperation and proposed structure of partnership which would govern the re-establishment of this University. The NMG also has representatives from Singapore, China, Japan and Thailand. The re-built university will focus on Buddhist studies, philosophy and comparative religions, historical studies, international relations and peace studies, business Management in relation to public policy and development studies, languages and literature and ecology and environmental studies. 18. The government has recently decided to replace the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination with ________. a) Civil Services Screening Test b) Civil Services Proficiency Test c) Civil Services Capability Test d) Civil Services Aptitude Test* e) Civil Services General Test Answer 18: The government on August 26, 2010 said it will introduce Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) to replace Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. In CSAT, one of the optional subjects which a candidate could have chosen out of 23 optionals has been replaced with a common paper on aptitude test. The government will shortly notify the new scheme of examination giving details of the syllabus. 19. Parliament of which European country was in news for holding a special session to commemorate the birth centenary of Mother Teresa recently? a) Hungary b) Romania c) Greece d) Moldova e) Macedonia* Answer 19: People worldwide commemorated the birth centenary of Mother Teresa, who was of Albanian origin, on August 26, 2010. In Skopje — the capital of Macedonia, where Mother Teresa was born — Parliament held a special session to pay tribute to the city‘s most famous daughter. Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910, she arrived in India in 1929 and took her religious vows as a nun.


9

20. Defence Minister A.K. Antony laid the foundation stone for Rs. 600-crore expansion programme of MIDHANI (Mishra Dhatu Nigam Ltd) recently. Where is MIDHANI based? a) Chennai b) Mysore c) Bangalore d) Hyderabad* e) Nagpur Answer 20: Defence Minister A.K. Antony on August 27, 2010 laid the foundation stone for Rs. 600-crore expansion programme of MIDHANI (Mishra Dhatu Nigam Ltd) in Hyderabad. MIDHANI is designed to manufacture a wide range of special metals and alloys used in space, defense, aeronautics and nuclear power industries.

21. Who was crowned as the Miss Universe 2010 in Las Vegas recently? a) Miss Thailand Fonthip Watcharatrakul b) Miss Mexico Ximena Navarrete* c) Miss India Ushoshi Sengupta d) Miss Jamaica Yendi Philipps e) Miss Australia Jenista Campbell Answer 21: Miss Mexico Ximena Navarrete (22) was crowned Miss Universe 2010 on August 24, 2010 in Las Vegas. She was followed by Miss Jamaica Yendi Philipps while Miss Australia Jenista Campbell was the second runner-up at the 59

th

annual pageant. Miss India Ushoshi Sengupta (21) from Kolkata did not make it to the top 15. Navarrete replaces Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela who won the title in 2009. For her win, Navarrete will get a luxury New York apartment with living expenses, a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy, jewellery, clothes, shoes and an undisclosed sum of money. 21. Who among the following Indian industrialists was recently elected a member of the Foundation Board of World Economic Forum (WEF), an independent international grouping of business leaders from across the world? a) Narayana Murthy b) Ratan Tata c) Kumar Mangalam Birla d) Mukesh Ambani* e) Azim Premji Answer 21: Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani, was on August 27, 2010 elected a member of the Foundation Board of World Economic Forum (WEF), an independent international grouping of business leaders from across the world. Others elected to the board are Alcatel-Lucent‘s CEO, Ben J Verwaayen and Zhu Min, Special Adviser, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a former Deputy Governor, People‘s Bank of China. 22. Which of the following statements about the Miss Universe 2010 contest organised in Las Vegas recently is/are correct? I. Miss Universe pageant is organised by a joined venture between Donald J Trump and NBC Universal II. Winner of Miss Photogenic Universe title is chosen by contestants III. Winner of Miss Congeniality Universe title is chosen by online voters a) I only* b) I & II only c) II only d) I & III only e) I, II & III only Answer 22: Miss Mexico Ximena Navarrete (22) was crowned Miss Universe 2010 on August 24, 2010 in Las Vegas.


10

Miss Congeniality Universe was Australia‘s Jesinta Campbell. Miss Photogenic Universe was Thailand‘s Fonthip Watcharatrakul who also won the award for Best National Costume Miss Photogenic Universe and the National Costume Award are chosen by online voters. Miss Congeniality Universe is chosen by contestants. Miss Universe pageant is organised by Miss Universe Organisation – a joined venture between Donald J Trump and NBC Universal. 23. Which of the following statements about annual list of young innovators published by the Technological Review magazine recently is/are correct? I. The list selects young innovators under the age of 35 II. K. C. Sreedharan Pillai, Ajay Bhatt and Sarvadaman Chowla are the three people of Indian origin in the list III. The Technological Review magazine is published by the Harvard University a) I only* b) I & II only c) II only d) I & III only e) I, II & III only Answer 23: Rikin Gandhi, 29, CEO of Delhi-based Digital Green, is one of the three of Indian-origin people who made it to the annual list of young innovators published by the Technological Review magazine on August 28, 2010. He was chosen for ‗educating farmers through locally produced video‘. The magazine is published by an independent company owned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The list, called TR35, is a collection of the top 35 innovators under the age of 35 in a particular year. Ranveer Chandra, 34, of Microsoft Research was chosen for ‗delivering high-speed wireless Internet connections over longer distances‘ Indrani Medhi, 32, of Microsoft Research India was chosen for ‗building interfaces for the illiterate‘ that could help them find jobs, get medical information, and use cell-phone-based banking services 24. Which of the following export promotion schemes have been extended under the Annual Supplement to Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14 announced recently? a) Duty Entitlement Passbook scheme (DEPB) b) Export Promotion Capital Goods scheme (EPCG) c) Status Holder Incentive Scheme (SHIS) d) Market-Linked Focused Products Scrips (MLFPS) scheme e) All the above* Answer 24: Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on August 24, 2010 unveiled Annual Supplement to the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14. While no new schemes were announced, the minister has provided an extension to a host of schemes, to make Indian exports competitive in the world market. DEPB extended: The Duty Entitlement Passbook scheme (DEPB) has been extended for six months and is now valid up to June 2011. EPCG extended: In case of the zero-duty Export Promotion Capital Goods scheme (EPCG), the validity has been extended by a year to March 2012. The EPCG will also cover certain chemicals, rubber, marine products, sports goods, toys and certain engineering products would also be covered now. The scheme, announced in August 2009, focuses on aiding technological upgrade. SHIS extended: The Status Holder Incentive Scheme (SHIS), which was to end in March 2011, will now be operational for another 12 months.


11

MLFPS extended: Benefits for export of readymade garments to the European Union, under the Market-Linked Focused Products Scrips (MLFPS) scheme, will be available for another six months up to March 2011. 25. Who among the following will be awarded a lifetime achievement Oscar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in November 2010? a) John Schlesinger b) Martin Scorsese c) James Cameron d) Francis Ford Coppola* e) Frank Capra Answer 25: Francis Ford Coppola, director of cult classic films such as the ‗Godfather series‘, will be awarded a lifetime achievement Oscar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on November 13, 2010. The Academy said the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award would be presented to him on November 13. Awards will also be presented to historian and preservationist Kevin Brownlow, director Jean-Luc Godard and actor Eli Wallach. 26. Joan Clos of Spain was appointed as the new executive director of which of the following UN agencies? a) United Nations Human Settlements Program* b) International Law Commission c) United Nations Population Fund d) United Nations Environment Programme e) World Food Programme Answer 26: The UN General Assembly on August 25, 2010 voted unanimously to elect Joan Clos of Spain, as the new executive director of the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) for a term of four years. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN–HABITAT) is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It was established in 1978 and has its headquarters at the UN office in Nairobi, Kenya. It is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. Its regional centres are called 'United Nations Centre for Human Settlements' (Habitat)/ (UNCHS) and are situated at Nairobi, Rio de Janeiro, and Fukuoka. 27. Who was sworn in as the new President of African country Burundi recently? a) Martin Nduwimana b) Yves Sahinguvu c) Pierre Nkurunziza* d) Gabriel Ntisezerana e) Domitien Ndayizeye Answer 27: Pierre Nkurunziza was on August 26, 2010 sworn in as the President of Burundi in capital Bujumbura. Burundi, which became independent from Belgium in 1962, is one of the poorest countries in the world with a rank of 174 on the Human Development Index (HDI). 28. Which of the following statements about the election results organised in Australia recently, is/are correct? I. The Liberal/National Coalition and the Australian Labor Party won equal number of seats II. The results saw a hung Parliament for the first time since Second World War III. There are 150 seats in Australia‘s lower house – House of Representatives a) I only b) I & II only c) II only


12

d) I & III only e) I, II & III only* Answer 28: A federal election was held on August 21, 2010 for members of the 43

rd Parliament of Australia. Voting is compulsory and

14 million Australians are eligible. The opposition centre-right Liberal/National Coalition (Liberal Party of Australia & National Party of Australia) led by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and the incumbent centre-left Australian Labor Party led by Prime Minister Julia Gillard each won 72 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, four short of the requirement for majority government, resulting in the first hung parliament since the 1940 election.

Australian House of Representatives: Seat tally

Party Vote share (%) Seats Change

Liberal/National Coalition 43.4 72 +7

Australian Labor Party 38.3 72 −11

Australian Greens 11.4 1 +1

Nationals WA 0.4 1 +1

Independents 2.5 4 +2

Other 4.0 0 0

Total 150

29. Which of the following countries was in news for disallowing government funding of human embryonic stem cell (ESC) research recently? a) UK b) France c) USA* d) Japan e) Germany Answer 29: A court in the US on August 23, 2010 barred federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. President Barack Obama had, through an executive order, allowed federal funding of human embryonic stem cell (ESC) research last year. The court ruling said that Obama‘s executive order violated the US legislation called the Dickey-Wicker Amendment that bans federal funding of all such research. The judgement that could result in the government-run National Institutes of Health (NIH) being barred from issuing funding grants for ESC research. Chief Judge Royce Lamberth of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia said the will of the Congress, as expressed in the 1996 Dickey-Wicker Amendment, was to prohibit federal funding of research in which human embryos were destroyed. Supporters of human embryonic stem cell research say it is vital to carry it out alongside other types of stem cell research to understand how to transform cells into desired tissue types and treat diseases ranging from juvenile diabetes to blindness. Opponents say it is wrong to destroy human embryos, even days-old embryos to be discarded from fertility clinics. 30. Danny Philip was elected as Prime Minister of which Pacific Ocean island nation recently? a) Papua New Guinea b) Solomon Islands* c) Tonga d) Tuvalu e) Vanuatu


13

Answer 30: Danny Philip was on August 25, 2010 elected Prime Minister of Solomon Islands at the special parliament session in capital Honiara. 31. The Korean Alpine Federation (KAF) recently raised doubts on the record of the South Korean climber, Oh Eun-Sun, who was hailed in April as the first woman to climb the world's 14 highest peaks. Which of the following are the top five mountain peaks? a) Everest, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Nanga Parbat, Annapurna b) Everest, K2 or Godwin Austen, Gasherbrum, Broad Peak, Shisha Pangma c) Everest, K2 or Godwin Austen, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu* d) Everest, Kangchenjunga, Manaslu, Nanga Parbat, Annapurna e) Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Nanga Parbat, Annapurna Answer 31: Oh Eun-sun ―probably failed‖ to reach the top of the world's third-highest peak, Kangchenjunga, the Korean Alpine Federation (KAF) judged on August 26, 2010. Himalayan record keeper Elizabeth Hawley is investigating the KAF ruling. If Hawley decides to list the 2009 ascent as ―unrecognised‖, the record will pass to Spanish climber Edurne Pasaban. Oh climbed Annapurna, the last of her 14 mountains above 8,000m, on April 27, 2010. Pasaban completed the list by scaling Shisha Pangma just under three weeks later, on May 17, 2010. Everest (8,850m), K2 or Godwin Austen (8,611m), Kangchenjunga (8,586m), Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,463m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,163 m), Nanga Parbat (8,125m), Annapurna (8,091m), Gasherbrum I (8,068m), Broad Peak (8,047m), Gasherbrum II (8,035m) and Shisha Pangma (8,013m) are the 14 tallest peaks in the world. 32. Ram Chandra Poudel, who lost the election for the post of Prime Minister in Nepal‘s Parliament recently, is the leader of which of the following political parties? a) Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) b) Nepali Congress* c) Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) d) Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum e) Tarai-Madhesh Loktantrik Party Answer 32: Nepal's Parliament failed to elect a Prime Minister for the fifth time on August 23, 2010. Both candidates — Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‗Prachanda' and Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel — were unable to secure a simple majority in the house of 601. The house business advisory committee later decided to hold a sixth round on September 5. 33. Which African nation was in news recently for promulgation of a new Constitution that drastically reduces the powers of the presidency and gives the Parliament a greater say in the governance of the country? a) Libya b) Nigeria c) South Africa d) Egypt e) Kenya* Answer 33: Kenya‘s President Mwai Kibaki signed a new Constitution into law on August 27, 2010 that formally marks the end of a decades-long struggle to cut down the massive powers of the presidency. The country will still be ruled by an executive President, but he will be constrained by checks and balances and the Senate will vet key appointments made by the President.


14

34. Penn Plaza, a building whose construction was approved recently, will be the largest skyscraper in ________ a) China b) USA* c) France d) Singapore e) UK Answer 34: The New York City council on August 26, 2010 approved plans for a skyscraper that will be taller than the neighbouring Empire State Building, currently the tallest building in the US. The council dismissed objections from Malkin Holdings, the owners of the 102-story Empire State Building, and gave the approval for the construction of 15 Penn Plaza, a 67-story building proposed by Vornado Realty Trust. The 1,250-foot Empire State Building is currently New York‘s tallest building after the 2001 terrorist attacks destroyed the World Trade Center‘s twin towers. 35. Which country was in news recently for its annual ‗Ulchi Freedom Guardian‘ war games? a) Japan b) China c) North Korea d) South Korea* e) Malaysia Answer 35: South Korea and the United States on August 26, 2010 concluded their 11-day annual joint military drills dubbed the ―Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG)‖. The war games were the latest in a series of show of force aimed at preventing the Democratic People‘s Republic of Korea (DPRK) from further provocation, following its alleged involvement in the sinking of a South Korean warship in March which left 46 sailors dead. 36. Chinese denial of a visa for Lt. Gen. B.S. Jaswal has led to the suspension of defence exchanges by India recently. Which command of the Indian Army is headed by Lt. Gen. Jaswal? a) Northern* b) Eastern c) South Western d) Central e) Southern Answer 36: India on August 27, 2010 decided to suspend defence exchanges with China following Beijing‘s refusal to allow the Army‘s Northern Command General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Lt. Gen. B.S. Jaswal to join a military delegation for a high-level visit. Indian Lt Gen Jaswal is responsible for Indian army operations in the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir. 37. Iran was in news recently for unveiling its first domestically built unmanned aerial vehicle named ______ a) Salaam b) Karrar* c) Buland d) Fateh e) Basil Answer 37: Iran on August 24, 2010 unveiled its first domestically built unmanned aerial vehicle or drone named ―Karrar‖. Iran has test fired its home—built surface—to—surface Fateh 110 missile, state television reported on August 25, 2010. 38. The theft of a $50 million painting know as ‗Poppy Flowers‘ from Cairo's Mohammed Mahmoud Khalil Museum was in news recently. Who painted ‗Poppy Flowers‘? Pablo Picasso Henri Matisse


15

Pierre-Auguste Renoir Rembrandt Vincent van Gogh* Answer 38: The Egyptian government‘s head of fine arts was remanded in custody pending an investigation into the theft of a 1887 Van Gogh painting on August 22, 2010. The theft of the $50m painting known as both ‗Poppy Flowers‘ and ‗Vase And Flowers‘ from the Cairo's Mohammed Mahmoud Khalil Museum has been blamed on poor security. 39. The ―Ya Salam‖ scheme of the Israel government introduced recently, refers to which of the following? a) Improving security in Palestinian territory b) Reducing Jewish settlements in Palestinian majority areas c) Making study of Arabic compulsory in all schools in Israel* d) Providing scholarships to Palestinians for study of Hebrew language e) Allowing religious institutions to run schools in Palestinian territory Answer 39: Israel government on August 24, 2010 said it planned to introduce a new scheme to make Arabic-language classes compulsory in state schools. Education officials hope the scheme, called ―Ya Salam‖, will turn language into a cultural bridge and promote tolerance between Jews and Arabs. Arab students currently are required to learn Hebrew while Jewish children can take Arabic as an additional language. 40. Middle East Quartet recently called for direct talks between Israel and Palestine to resolve all final status issues. Which of the following is not a member of the Quartet? a) United Nations b) European Union c) China* d) Russian Federation e) United States Answer 40: The Middle East peace mediators, the Quartet, on August 20, 2010 called upon the Israelis and the Palestinians to resume direct negotiations to resolve all final status issues. The Middle East Quartet is diplomatic group, which consists of the United Nations, the European Union, the Russian Federation and the United States and aims to mediate the peace process. 41. Haseeb Drabu resigns as the Chairman of which of the following public sector banks recently? a) Jammu & Kashmir Bank* b) State Bank of Hyderabad c) Allahabad Bank d) Indian Bank e) Indian Overseas Bank Answer 41: Haseeb Drabu on August 27, 2010 resigned as chairman of Jammu & Kashmir Bank. An economist by vocation, Drabu took over as chairman of the Srinagar–based bank in June 2005 and his tenure was to end in September 2011. 42. Exporters of which of the following have been granted a 2 per cent subsidy to improve their competitiveness in the international market, according to the Annual Supplement to Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14 unveiled recently? a) Gems & jewellery b) Seeds & fertilsers c) Leather & jute products* d) Steel & iron ore e) All the above


16

Answer 42: Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on August 24, 2010 unveiled Annual Supplement to the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14. The Minister announced a number of measures to make Indian exports competitive in the world market. Textiles, leather manufactures and jute products will get 2 per cent interest subsidy during the current financial year to make these more competitive in the global market. So far, the facility had been meant for exporters of handicrafts, handlooms, carpets and small and medium enterprises. 43. Paul Allen was in news for filing lawsuits alleging violations of patents held by him by Apple, Yahoo, Facebook, Google and eBay recently. Which well known IT company was co-founded by Allen? a) IBM b) Microsoft* c) Oracle d) Intel e) Cisco Answer 43: The co-founder of Microsoft, Paul Allen, on August 26, 2010 announced suing several high-tech giants for infringing patents held by a firm he founded in the 1990s. The legal action against Apple, Yahoo, Facebook, Google and eBay, as well as six other firms (AOL, YouTube, Netflix, Office Depot, OfficeMax and Staples), asserts that web technologies first developed by Allen‘s Interval Licensing have been infringed. The patents concerned essentially involve using web browsers to find information; letting users know when items of interest appear; and enabling adverts, stock quotes, news update or video images to pop up on a computer screen while the user is engaged in another activity. 44. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was in news recently for rejecting the use of forex reserves for: a) Funding of Infrastructure development projects * b) Recapitalisation of public sector banks c) Financing of export credit d) Pre-payment of external debt e) Checking the appreciation in the value of the Rupee Answer 44: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has rejected a Planning Commission proposal to use $2 billion out of India‘s foreign exchange reserves as one of the resources for the proposed $11 billion (Rs 50,000 crore) India Infrastructure Debt Fund (IIDF). The RBI believes using forex for expenditure in India is against the basic idea of building reserves. India‘s forex reserves stood at $282.79 billion as on August 13, according to RBI data. ―The way these reserves are managed is by absorbing the supply of the forex. Now, if the same reserves are again used for domestic expenditure, then the forex again comes back to the market. It really doesn‘t meet any purpose,‖ RBI deputy governor Shyamala Gopinath said when asked whether the central bank will consider investing a portion of forex in IIDF. A committee appointed by Planning Commission in May suggested creation of IIDF for financing infrastructure projects in India. Senior policy advisers have repeatedly suggested using forex resources for infrastructure creation in India, especially since these reserves earn low returns abroad. Returns earned by RBI— the custodian of India‘s forex reserves—on its foreign currency assets and gold more than halved to Rs 25,102 crore in 2009-10 from Rs 50,796 crore in 2008-09, due to near zero interest rates in foreign countries where these are invested. 45. Which of the following are the three new inclusions in the list of ‗Towns of Export Excellence‘, according to the Annual Supplement to Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14 announced recently? a) Tirupur, Ludhiana, Panipat b) Kekhra, Dewas, Alleppey c) Ambur, Jaipur, Srinagar d) Alleppey, Kollam, Indore e) Agra, Barmer, Bhiwandi*


17

Answer 45: Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on August 24, 2010 unveiled Annual Supplement to the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14. Three new towns have been included under the ―Towns of Export Excellence‖ scheme. These are: Agra (for leather goods), Barmer in Rajasthan (handicrafts) and Bhiwandi in Maharashtra (textiles). Under the ‗Towns of Export Excellence‘ policy, towns producing goods of Rs. 750 crore are notified as Towns of Export Excellence based on potential for growth in exports. For Towns of Export Excellence in Handloom, Handicraft, Agriculture and Fisheries sector, the minimum export requirements is Rs.150 crore. This status entitles them to certain tax and credit benefits. Following is the list of existing ‗Town of Export Excellence‘

46. Mining company Vedanta had its bauxite mining license cancelled for violating environmental norms at which of the following locations in Orissa recently? a) Niyamgiri Hills* b) Sathyamangalam Hills c) Palni Hills d) Yelagiri Hills e) Chamundi Hills Answer 46: Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh on August 25, 2010 rejected the environment clearance accorded to government owned Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) to mine bauxite in Niyamgiri Hills on December 11, 2008 for supply to Anil Agarwal promoted Vedanta Aluminium Ltd's refinery in Lanjigarh. Niyamgiri is home to tribal groups Dongaria and Kuntia Kondhs. The order, signed by Ramesh, not only suspended the initial approval for a six-fold expansion of the refinery, it also issued a show-cause notice asking why the Ministry should not cancel the environmental clearance for the existing 1 million tonne plant. The action was based on the recommendations of the NC Saxena committee and Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) reports, which had concluded that OMC and Vedanta had violated three central laws: Forest Rights Act, Forest Conservation Act and Environment Protection Act while implementing the in-principle approval granted in December 2008. The FAC said that Vedanta Aluminium ―illegally enclosed 26.13 hectares of gram sabha‘s forestland‖ within its premises and claimed that there was no forestland within 10 square kms of the refinery. The FAC also said the company violated the Environment Protection Act by initiating the six-fold expansion without securing environment clearance.

S. No Town of Export Excellence State Product Category

1 Tirupur Tamil Nadu Hosiery

2. Ludhiana Punjab Woolen Knitwear

3. Panipat Haryana Woolen Blanket

4. Kanoor Kerala Handlooms

5. Karur Tamil Nadu Handlooms

6. Madurai Tamil Nadu Handlooms

7. AEKK Kerala Seafood

8. Jodhpur Rajasthan Handicraft

9. Kekhra Uttar Pradesh Handlooms

10 Dewas Madhya Pradesh Pharmaceuticals, Leather products

11. Alleppey Kerala Coir Products

12. Kollam (Quillon) Kerala Cashew Products

13. Indore Madhya Pradesh Soya Meal and Soya Products

14. Bhilwara Rajasthan Textiles

15. Surat Gujarat Gems and Jewellery

16. Malihabad Uttar Pradesh Horticulture Products

17. Kanpur Uttar Pradesh Leather Products

18. Ambur Tamil Nadu Leather Products

19. Jaipur Rajasthan Handicrafts

20. Srinagar Jammu & Kashmir Handicrafts

21. Anantnag Jammu & Kashmir Handicrafts


18

The refinery‘s capacity was increased from 1 million tonnes a year to 6 million tonnes without requisite clearances. Moreover, it currently sources bauxite from 14 mines, of which 11 do not have environmental clearance and have been deemed illegal by the government. 47. How much is the estimated loss of revenue in 2009-10 due to subsidies and exemptions given in various export promotion schemes, according to Union Commerce and Industry Ministry? a) Rs 21,000 crore b) Rs 34,000 crore c) Rs 43,000 crore* d) Rs 52,000 crore e) Rs 78,000 crore Answer 47: Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on August 24, 2010 unveiled Annual Supplement to the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14. While no new schemes were announced, the minister has provided an extension to a host of schemes, to make Indian exports competitive in the world market. In 2009-10, estimated revenue loss on account of various export promotion schemes was Rs 43,622 crore, compared with Rs 49,053 crore in 2008-09. 48. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) was in news recently for: a) Allowing share trading using mobile phones* b) Allowing foreign companies to list on Indian stock exchanges c) Allowing companies to list at regional stock exchanges d) Allowing bank financing of share trading e) All the above Answer 48: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on August 28, 2010 permitted mobile trading. Permission for mobile trading means that stock market investors will no longer have to call up a broker or log on to a computer to buy or sell shares. All they need is an Internet-enabled mobile phone to access a trading terminal from their broker to buy or sell shares or transfer funds from their bank accounts for the purpose. Brokers believe SEBI‘s move will help increase volumes manifold. According to July 2010 figures of the Cellular Operators' Association of India, there were over 470 million mobile connections in the country. However, there are only 10.6 million demat account holders that invest in equities. Both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and NSE have already put in place technology required for mobile trading. 49. How many complaints regarding malpractices and unfair trade activities of banks were received by the 15 offices of Banking Ombudsmen (BO) located across the country in 2009-10? a) 500 b) 2500 c) 4500 d) 6500* e) 9500 Answer 49: Banking Ombudsmen receives over 6,500 complaints in 2009-10: The 15 offices of Banking Ombudsmen (BO) located across the country received 6,612 complaints regarding malpractices and unfair trade activities of banks in 2009-10, an increase of around 25 per cent from 5,297 in the previous financial year, the Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena informed Lok Sabha on August 22, 2010. The BO offices had received 843 complaints in 2007-08. 50. Which of the following statements about the shares of electronic and paper transactions in banking transactions in 2009-10, is/are correct? I. The share of Paper transactions in total banking transactions seen a continuous decline from 2007-08 to 2009-10 II. Electronic transactions comprised over 80% of banking transactions by volume III. Electronic transactions comprised over 35% of banking transactions by value a) I only*


19

b) I & II only c) III only d) I & III only e) I, II & III only Answer 50: India has finally begun to catch up with the developed world. The use of electronic means, as opposed to using paper, for making payments has gone up sharply in the last three years, according to the latest annual report of the Reserve Bank of India unveiled on August 24, 2010.

Share of paper based versus electronic transactions in Banking

By Volume (share in %)

2009-10 2009-10 2007-08

Paper 64.7 67.2 72.9

Electronic 35.3 32.8 27.1

By Value (share in %)

2009-10 2009-10 2007-08

Paper 11.7 16.1 19.6

Electronic 88.3 83.9 80.4

Source: RBI annual report: 2009-10

In value terms, the share of electronic transactions has gone up from 80.4 per cent in 2007-08 to 88.3 per cent in 2009-10. In volume terms, the share remains low at 35.3 per cent in 2009-10. In 2007-08, it stood at 27.1 per cent. Electronic transactions have received a boost due to the advances in information technology that have brought about significant changes in payment channels. While card-based payments have been in use for quite some time, more recently, Internet/mobile phone-based products and the use of these channels for transactions have been gaining momentum and popularity. 51. Where was the World Space Biz 2010 organised recently? a) Bangalore* b) Hyderabad c) Delhi d) Chennai e) Mumbai Answer 51: World Space Biz 2010, the second international conference on space business, was organised by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) from August 25-27, 2010 at Bangalore. Growth of private sector participation in the global space business, which was hitherto the sole preserve of government run organisations worldwide, was the major issue discussed at the conference. Private participation in what was until now largely government monopoly is the major change happening in the global space business. The global space satellite business alone is a US$ 120 billion industry and is growing rapidly. There are approx 3,000 man-made satellites circling this planet. As plans mature for reusable launch vehicles, with development of more space based land enabled applications, the space sector's $ 120 bn could easily mushroom to $1.2 trillion or more in the coming years. 52. According to a new rule introduced by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Media Houses ____ a) have been disallowed from buying shares of companies they report about b) have been allowed to list on stock exchanges c) have been allowed to sell their equity to foreign investors d) have been asked to disclose their purchase of shares of companies they report about* e) have been asked to sell off their holdings in shares of companies they report about


20

Answer 52: Media houses will now have to disclose any holdings they have in a company they report about, according to a statement issued by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) statement issued on August 28, 2010. The Press Council of India has asked its members to make disclosures in the news (report/ article/ editorial) items relating to the company in which the media group holds such stake. Private treaties, in general, entail a company giving stake in it (shares, warrants, bonds etc) in return for media coverage through advertisements, news reports, advertorials etc in the print or electronic media. Bennett, Coleman & Company Ltd, one of the largest media houses in the country, already discloses the private treaties it has with companies on its website. It has private treaties across 19 industry segments, with 135 companies. Other media groups like HT Media, NDTV, Dainik Bhaskar, Dainik Jagran and Mid-Day also have private treaties with companies. 53. What is the share of auto component industry in India‘s GDP according to industry body Automotive Component Manufacturers' Association (ACMA)? a) 0.2% b) 0.9% c) 1.4% d) 2.1%* e) 3.3% Answer 53: According to information given by industry body Automotive Component Manufacturers' Association (ACMA) on August 28, 2010, the component making industry‘s share to total GDP is expected to rise to 3.6 per cent from the present 2.1 per cent. 55. India became the largest exporter of which of the following commodities in Asia recently? a) Steel b) Cement c) Petroleum products* d) Non-ferrous metals e) Automobiles Answer 55: India is now the largest petroleum products exporter in Asia, surpassing South Korea, according to the data unveiled by oil and metal information provider – Platts – on August 26, 2010. India‘s gross exports currently average 1 million barrels a day, ahead of South Korea which exports 0.9 million barrels a day. The commissioning of a new refinery by Reliance Industries at Jamnagar and Essar Oil increasing refinery output at Vadinar has helped India reach the No 1 position.

India‘s refining capacity at 3.69 million barrels a day is the third largest in Asia after China and Japan, which have a refining capacity of 9.6 million bpd and 4.64 bpd respectively. Platts‘ compilation is based on the data from individual countries.

Petroleum products exports from India holds great potential as both RIL and Essar have high complexity refineries which make products that meet Euro IV and Euro V standards. Europe, the US and Africa are identified major markets for Indian refiners.

Million barrels per day

Gross export Refining capacity

India 1 3.69

South Korea 0.9 2.86

China 0.6 9.6

Japan 0.5 4.64

Source: Platts


21

56. Which is India‘s first of the following automobile recycling plant scheduled for launch in 2011? a) Bangalore b) Hyderabad c) Delhi d) Chennai* e) Mumbai Answer 56: The country‘s first automobile recycling plant coming up on Chennai‘s outskirts is likely to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2011, according to the President of Metal Recycling Association of India (MRAI) on August 26, 2010. 57. The Copyright Board has reduced the royalty paid by radio industry to music companies to _______ of their advertising revenues recently. a) 1% b) 2%* c) 3% d) 4% e) 5% Answer 57: The royalty radio industry pays to music companies was substantially reduced by the Copyright Board on August 26, 2010. The Board directed that radio companies would have to pay two per cent of their net advertising revenues to music providers. Till now, radio companies were paying royalties on an hourly rate which was around Rs 850 per hour of broadcast. 58. Which multinational company launched the construction of the ―World Glass Complex‖, India‘s largest glass manufacturing plant, in Alwar district of Rajasthan recently? a) Owens Corning b) Pilkington c) Baccarat d) Saint-Gobain* e) Guardian Industries Answer 58: ‗World Glass Complex‘ coming up in Alwar: The foundation for a new ―World Glass Complex‖, a world-class manufacturing facility in flat glass from the French giant Saint-Gobain, was laid at Kaharani Industrial Area in Rajasthan‘s Alwar district on August 25, 2010. The complex will have a capacity to manufacture 3 lakh tonnes of glass per annum and would cover an area of more than 10 lakh sq feet. This will make it one of the world‘s largest float glass plants. It is planned to be operational by the end of 2011. 59. What was India‘s No. 1 ranked badminton player Saina Nehwal‘s performance in the World badminton championship organised in Paris recently? a) Lost in first round b) Lost in third round c) Lost in quarter final* d) Lost in semi-final e) Lost in final Answer 59: India‘s Saina Nehwal lost 8-21, 14-21 to China‘s Shixian Wang in the women‘s singles quarterfinals at the World Badminton Championship in Paris on August 28, 2010. 60. Who among the following former captains of the Australia Test Cricket team was named the country‘s first full-time selector recently? a) Bob Simpson b) Kim Hughes


22

c) Allan Border d) Mark Taylor e) Greg Chappell* Answer 60: Former Australian Test captain Greg Chappell was on August 23, 2010 appointed as the country‘s first full-time selector by Cricket Australia. Chappell, 62, will take up the official role of National Talent Manager. Chappell was the coach of the India national team for two years until he resigned in April 2007. Chappell played 87 Tests for Australia, 48 as captain, and also played in 74 One-Day Internationals. 61. Who among the following became the first Indian golfer to win a PGA (Professional Golf Association) tournament recently? a) Arjun Atwal* b) Gaurav Ghei c) Jyoti Randhawa d) Jeev Milkha Singh e) Rahil Gangjee Answer 61: Arjun Atwal became the first Indian and only the sixth Asian to win a PGA (Professional Golf Association) tournament when he won the Wyndham Championship at Greensboro, North Carolina, US on August 22, 2010.

62. Who won the 2010 IBSF World Billiards Point Format Trophy at the tournament organised in Pune recently? a) Efren Reyes b) Stephen Hendry c) Pankaj Advani d) Mike Russell* e) Geet Sethi Answer 62: Mike Russell lifted the 2010 IBSF World Billiards Point Format Trophy with an authoritative 6-0 victory over defending champion Pankaj Advani in Pune on August 23, 2010. 63. Who among the following won the Men‘s title at the Cincinnati Masters tennis tournament recently? a) Novak Jokovic b) Rafael Nadal c) Andy Roddick d) Roger Federer* e) Mardy Fish Answer 63: World No. 2 Roger Federer of Switzerland won his second ATP Cincinnati Masters crown in a row on August 22, 2010, defeating American Mardy Fish 6-7(5), 7-6 (1), 6-4 for his 63

rd career title.

64. National Sports Federation (NSF) in which sport was given Rs 1.75 crore by the Organising Committee (OC) of the Commonwealth Games recently to pay for the fine imposed on it when its players failed doping tests recently? a) Swimming b) Wrestling c) Weightlifting* d) Shooting e) Judo Answer 64: CWG OC releases Rs 1.75 cr to IWF to pay fine: The Organising Committee (OC) of the Commonwealth Games on August 26, 2010 released Rs 1.75 crore to the Indian Weightlifting Federation to pay the doping fine to the international parent body. The Sports Ministry had directed the OC to release the amount to the IWLF so that it can pay the doping fine


23

to International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) before the August 31 deadline thereby removing hurdles to Indian weightlifters‘ participation in the Games. 65. Who among the following former Comptroller and Auditor Generals of India was in news recently for his new book – ―The Honest Always Stand Alone‖? a) S. Ranganathan b) Gian Prakash c) T. N. Chaturvedi d) C. G. Somiah* e) V. K. Shunglu Answer 65: List of Comptrollers and Auditors General of India No. Comptroller and Auditor General of India Year tenure began Year tenure ended

1 V. Narahari Rao 1948 1954

2 A. K. Chanda 1954 1960

3 A. K. Roy 1960 1966

4 S. Ranganathan 1966 1972

5 A. Bakshi 1972 1978

6 Gian Prakash 1978 1984

7 T. N. Chaturvedi 1984 1990

8 C. G. Somiah 1990 1996

9 V. K. Shunglu 1996 2002

10 V. N. Kaul 2002 2008

11 Vinod Rai 2008 present

66. How much was India‘s contribution to the UN Regular budget and the UN Peacekeeping budget during 2009-10, according to information given by Ministry of External Affairs recently? a) Rs 30.02 crore b) Rs 36.55 crore c) Rs 61.76 crore d) Rs 53.74 crore e) Rs 89.34 crore* Answer 66: According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the contributions paid by India to the UN Regular budget and the UN Peacekeeping budget during 2008-09 and 2009-10 are as follows: Figures in Indian Rupees (crores)

2008-09 2009-10

i. UN Regular Budget 53.74 52.79

ii. UN Peacekeeping Budget 30.02 36.55

TOTAL 83.76 89.34

India‘s rate of assessment for the UN regular budget for 2009-2012 remained at 0.534 %. Each member state‘s contribution to the UN budget is determined by standard criteria. It is mandatory for every UN member state to contribute its share to the budget. As such, there is no proposal to reduce India‘s contribution below the scale of assessment determined by the UN. 67. Which public sector bank offers the Vidyalakshyapurti - scholarship loans to assist financially weak meritorious students recently? a) State Bank of India b) Bank of India


24

c) Indian Overseas Bank d) Punjab National Bank* e) Bank of Baroda 68. Who among the following economists will take over as the CEO at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) from December 2010? a) Isher Judge Ahluwalia b) Parthasarathi Shome* c) Rakesh Mohan d) Bimal Jalan e) Shankar Acharya Answer 68: Economist Parthasarathi Shome will be appointed as CEO at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), from December 2010. Shome will replace Rajiv Kumar, who is moving to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Contemporary Studies (RGICS), part of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. Isher Judge Ahluwalia is the Chairperson of the board of governors at ICRIER During his previous assignment in Delhi, as advisor to P Chidambaram, the then finance minister, Shome was the instrumental in the introduction of the Fringe Benefit Tax and the Banking Cash Transaction Tax, besides working on the Direct Taxes Code and the Goods & Services Tax. 69. Who among the following economists was in news for his book ―How India Earns, Spends and Saves: Unmasking the Real India‖ that provides insights into spending habits of Indian families of all income groups recently? a) Rakesh Mohan b) Rupa Kudwa c) Rajesh Shukla* d) Mahesh Vyas e) S. A. Dave Answer 69: Rajesh Shukla‘s ―How India Earns Spends And Saves: Unmasking The Real India‖ maps the earning, spending and saving profiles of Indians in the post-liberalisation era. It studies how socio-economic, religious, and individual characteristics lead to inequality in the incomes of households. Among other aspects, it reveals that while a household's income is primarily dependent on socio-economic factors (occupation, education and the age of its chief earner), its economic prosperity is affected by factors such as its spending and saving levels, sectors of employment of members, state of residence, etc. The book is based on the results of the National Survey of Household Income and Expenditure (NSHIE) 2004-05, conducted under the aegis of the National Council for Applied Economics Research (NCAER). The book offers valuable insights for economic analysts, policy makers, development professionals, and academics. 70. The committee chaired by Prof. J.A.K. Tareen submitted its report on which of the following issues? a) Research and development in Central Universities b) Teacher to Student Ratio in Central Universities* c) Salaries and perks of faculties at Central Universities d) Procedure for appointment of vice chancellors at Central Universities e) All the above Answer 70: The University Grants Commission (UGC) had constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. J.A.K. Tareen on the norms for teacher to student ratio for various disciplines/programmes and teaching to non-teaching ratio in Central Universities. This information was given by the HRD Ministry in Parliament on August 11, 2010. The recommendations of the Committee are as under:


25

PG Programme Teacher to Student Ratio

Science 1:10

Humanities/Social Science 1:15

Commerce & Management 1:15

Media & Mass Communication 1:10

UG Programme Teacher to Student Ratio

Social Sciences 1:30

Sciences 1:25

71. The Research Designs and Standards Organisation and IIT Kanpur are jointly developing the navigation system ‗SIMRAN‘ for which of the following? a) Ministry of Civil Aviation b) Ministry of Railways* c) Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways d) Ministry of Science and Technology e) All the above Answer 71: Satellite Imaging for Rail Navigation (SIMRAN) is a system developed jointly by Research Designs and Standards Organisation and IIT Kanpur for monitoring train location and movement in real time. 72. Who among the following Nobel Prize winning authors was in news for his new book ―The Masque of Africa: Glimpses of African Belief‖ recently? a) Elfriede Jelinek b) Günter Grass c) J. M. Coetzee d) V. S. Naipaul* e) Orhan Pamuk 73. Who among the following former Olympic gold medalists is the Chairman of the London Organising Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games? a) Sebastian Coe* b) Isaac Bentham c) Steve Ovett d) Steve Cram e) Percy Hodge Answer 73: Sebastian Coe is a former athlete and politician from the United Kingdom. A middle distance runner, Coe won four Olympic medals, including the 1500 m gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1980 and 1984. Following his retirement from athletics he served as a Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party from 1992–97. He was the head of the London bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics, and, after the International Olympic Committee awarded the games to London, became the chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games. 74. Which of the following combinations of recently released books and their authors is incorrectly matched? a) Unwanted Daughters: Gender Discrimination in Modern India – T. V. Sekher, Neelambar Hatti b) Science and Sustainable Food Security: Selected Papers – Jayati Ghosh* c) India, Pakistan and the Bomb: Debating Nuclear Stability in South Asia – Sumit Ganguly and S. Paul Kapur d) Captive Imagination – Varavara Rao e) None of the above Answer 74: Unwanted Daughters: Gender Discrimination in Modern India – T. V. Sekher, Neelambar Hatti Science and Sustainable Food Security: Selected Papers – M. S. Swaminathan


26

India, Pakistan and the Bomb: Debating Nuclear Stability in South Asia – Sumit Ganguly and S. Paul Kapur Captive Imagination – Varavara Rao 75. Swarna Subba Rao was in news was in news for his appointment to which of the following positions recently? a) Central Vigilance Commissioner b) Solicitor General c) Surveyor General of India* d) Election Commissioner e) Comptroller and Auditor General Answer 75: Swarna Subba Rao took over as the new Surveyor General of India on August 26, 2010. The Dehradun based Survey of India is the country‘s central engineering agency in charge of mapping and surveying. Set up in 1767 to help consolidate the territories of the British East India Company, it is one of the oldest Engineering Departments of the Government of India. 76. Gegong Apang, who was arrested as the prime accused in the Rs 1,000 crore public distribution system (PDS) scandal recently, is a former Chief Minister of which state? a) Mizoram b) Meghalaya c) Sikkim d) Arunachal Pradesh* e) Tripura Answer 76: Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang, prime accused in the Rs 1,000 crore public distribution system (PDS) scandal that came to light in 2004, was arrested on August 25, 2010 and remanded in a week‘s police custody. The cases pertain to huge anomalies including forgery and fraud that took place in the PDS in Arunachal between 1995 and 2004. 77. Scientist R.A. Mashelkar is the Chairperson of the Golden Jubilee Development Council of which state that was set up to formulate a vision for the state for the next 25 years, recently? a) Kerala b) Maharashtra c) Gujarat d) Haryana e) Goa* Answer 77: Goa government's Golden Jubilee Development Council is headed by scientist R.A. Mashelkar. The council, formed by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in Goa's golden jubilee year of liberation, is mandated to formulate a vision for Goa for the next 25 years. 78. ‗Maa Ni Mildi' is the first colour movie released in which of the following languages recently? a) Bhojpuri b) Malwi c) Dogri* d) Tulu e) Konkani Answer 78: ‗Maa Ni Mildi', the first Dogri movie in colour, was released in Jammu in August 2010. It is the second Dogri movie to hit the theatres after three decades. The first movie in Dogri language, ‗Gala Hoyian Beetiyan', was released way back in 1980.


27

79. Which of the following former colonies of the United Kingdom is a republic? a) United States of America* b) New Zealand c) Canada d) Australia e) All the above Answer 79: Queen Elizabeth II is the ceremonial head of state of New Zealand, Canada and Australia while USA is a Republic. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in August 2010 said the Queen's death would be an ―appropriate point‖ for Australia to move away from having a British monarch as head of state. Australians voted against becoming a republic in a 1999 referendum. 80. The government has been making efforts to make Hindi one of the official languages of the United Nations. Which of the following is not among the six official languages at the UN? a) Spanish b) Portuguese* c) Arabic d) Both (b) & (c) e) (a), (b) & (c) Answer 80: The UN has six official Languages, which are English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic. The Government has been taking active measures to make Hindi one of the official languages of the United Nations. The World Hindi Secretariat in Mauritius has started functioning with effect from February 2008. The main objective of the Secretariat is to promote Hindi as an international language and further its cause for recognition at the United Nations as an Official Language. This information was given by S.M. Krishna, Minister of External Affairs, in the Lok Sabha on August 18, 2010 81. What was the turnover of the Indian automobile industry in 2009-10 according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM)? a) Rs 76,320 crore b) Rs 103,400 crore c) Rs 215,319 crore d) Rs 215,266 crore e) Rs 262,097 crore* Answer 81: The Department of Heavy Industry is setting up the National Automotive Design Institute (NADI) at Ahmedabad. With growing automotive market in India, the customers are always looking for newer models and better vehicle styling. Presently designing capabilities within the country are highly limited and most of the automobile manufacturers are currently outsourcing this from international design centres. NADI would go a long way to fill this gap. As informed by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the estimated average growth of the Automobile Sector in the last three years is 14% and the estimated turnover of Indian Automotive industry during the last three years is as under: (Amount Rs. in crore)

Year 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

Turnover 215,319 215,266 262,097

Further, the Automotive Components Manufacturers’ Association (ACMA) has informed that turnover and growth of auto component industry during the same period as under: (Amount Rs. in crore)

Year 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

Turnover 72,000 76,320 103,400

% growth 11.6 6.0 35.0


28

This information was given by Arun Yadav, Minister of State for the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on August 19, 2010 82. Which of the following statements about Mother Teresa whose birth centenary was commemorated recently, is/are correct? I. She is a winner of both the Nobel Peace Prize and the Bharat Ratna II. She was canonised as Saint Teresa by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 III. Former Chief Election Commissioner Naveen Chawla has authored the biography of Mother Teresa a) I only b) I & II only c) II only d) I & III only* e) I, II & III only Answer 82: People worldwide commemorated the birth centenary of Mother Teresa, who was of Albanian origin, on August 26, 2010. In Skopje — the capital of Macedonia, where Mother Teresa was born — Parliament held a special session to pay tribute to the city‘s most famous daughter.

Meanwhile, in India, President Pratibha Patil unveiled an updated edition of Mother Teresa‘s biography on the occasion of her 100

th birth anniversary. The book, which was first published in 1992, has been updated by its original author Naveen

Chawla, who also served as Chief Election Commissioner.

She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1980 for her humanitarian work. Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910, she arrived in India in 1929 and took her religious vows as a nun. She adopted the name Teresa, under which she would achieve worldwide recognition.

Mother Teresa was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2003, but her canonisation as Saint is still awaiting proof of a medical miracle. 83. Which state is building its first film city named ‗Purple Movie Town‘ in its capital city? a) Punjab b) Goa c) Madhya Pradesh d) Haryana e) West Bengal* Answer 83: Purple Movie Town, the first film city in eastern India, will be opened on the outskirts of Kolkata in the latter half of 2010. The Film City will accommodate four state-of-the-art studios and ready-to-shoot sets, of an airport, railway station, hospital, college, temple, courthouse and several other locations staple to most films. 84. Which state has the highest estimated resources of Uranium in India, according to information given in Parliament recently? a) Andhra Pradesh* b) Chhattisgarh c) Jharkhand d) Karnataka e) Meghalaya Answer 84: The uranium resource in the country is currently estimated to be 1,47,898 tonnes. This Information was tabled by Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State for Science & Technology & Earth Sciences, in Rajya Sabha on August 9, 2010. The State-wise details are as follows:


29

Estimated resources (tonnes U3O8): Andhra Pradesh (66,205), Chhattisgarh (3,986), Himachal Pradesh (784), Jharkhand (48,074), Karnataka (4,682), Maharashtra (355), Meghalaya (17,252), Rajasthan (5,675), Uttar Pradesh (885): Total = 1,47,898. (1 tonne of U3O8 = 0.848 tonnes of uranium metal) Nine reactors (2620 MW) are fuelled by domestic natural uranium and operate at upto 70% Plant Load Factor due to non-availability of uranium in the required quantity. a) 85. Which of the following institutions of defence education and their locations is/are incorrectly matched? National

Defence College (NDC) – New Delhi b) College of Defence Management (CDM) – Secunderabad c) National Defence Academy (NDA) – Khadakwasla d) Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) – Wellington e) None of the above* Answer 85: National Defence College (NDC), New Delhi; College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad; National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla; and Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington are proposed to be brought under the ambit of the proposed Indian National Defence University (INDU) without diluting their individual powers or autonomy. 86. How much is the share of agriculture in ground water usage according to information given by Central Ground Water Board recently? a) 54% b) 68% c) 74% d) 86% e) 92%* Answer 86: The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) on August 11, 2010 reported that decline in ground water levels in an area is the cumulative effect of ground water withdrawal for all purposes including domestic, industrial as well as agricultural sectors. As per assessment carried out by CGWB in association with the State Ground Water Departments, the share of agriculture in total ground water used in the country is 92%. Remaining 8% is used in domestic and industrial sectors. 87. Which Indian corporate group has signed a $1.65 billion deal for a port and rail project in Indonesia‘s Tanjung Enim region recently? a) Essar b) Reliance Industries c) Tata d) A V Birla e) Adani* Answer 87: Adani Enterprises on August 26, 2010 signed an overseas deal involving an investment of $1.65 billion for a port and rail project in Tanjung Enim in Indonesia. Gautam Adani-promoted Adani Enterprises entered into a binding tripartite agreement with the regional government of Sumatra, Indonesia, and PT Bukit Asam, an Indonesian government-owned coal mining company, to set up a dedicated port and rail project. 88. Which district in Haryana has the site for the upcoming Indian National Defence University (INDU)? a) Rohtak b) Gurgaon* c) Faridabad d) Ambala e) Panipat


30

Answer 88: The Union Cabinet, in its meeting held on May 13, 2010, accorded ‗in-principle‘ approval to setting up the Indian National Defence University (INDU) at Binola in District Gurgaon (Haryana). One of the basic objectives for establishing INDU is to assist national security leaders in assessing strategic security challenges holistically and to formulate policies based on researched and informed inputs. INDU would educate national security leaders on all aspects of national security and create synergy between the academic community and Government functionaries. It would also encourage awareness of national security issues by reaching out to scholars and an audience beyond the official machinery. This information was given by Defence Minister AK Antony in Rajya Sabha on August 20, 2010. 89. Which of the following was in news recently for announcing the re-introduction of two-wheelers under the ‗Vespa‘ trademark in India? a) TVS Motors b) Kinetic Engineering c) Mahindra2Wheelers d) Bajaj Auto e) Piaggio* Answer 89: Italian automaker Piaggio is set to invest €30 million to set up a scooter factory and re-introduce the iconic Vespa brand in 2012. The company on August 26, 2010 announced that it will set up the scooter facility in Baramati, Maharashtra. The Vespa brand was earlier sold as LML Vespa in partnership with the Kanpur-based Lohia Machinery Ltd (LML). Piaggio is also set to launch a 0.5-tonne mini-truck, the ApeMini. 90. Which Asian automobile company is being acquired by India‘s Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M)? a) Daihatsu b) Kia Motors c) Ssangyong* d) Subaru e) Hino Motors Answer 90: Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) on August 24, 2010 signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in South Korean automobile company Ssangyong Motor Company (SYMC). 91. Which hotels company announced the expansion of its range of hotels under the trademarks – ‗St. Regis‘, ‗The Luxury Collection‘, ‗Westin‘, ‗Le Meridien‘, ‗Sheraton‘, ‗Four Points‘, ‗Aloft‘ and ‗Element‘ – in India recently? a) Starwood Hotels* b) Marriott Corporation c) Ramada International d) Intercontinental Hotels e) Hilton Worldwide Answer 91: Starwood Hotels and Resorts, a US-based international hotel chain, on August 28, 2010 unveiled plans to invest around Rs 300 crore in India for the expansion of its range of hotels under the trademarks – ‗St. Regis‘, ‗The Luxury Collection‘, ‗Westin‘, ‗Le Meridien‘, ‗Sheraton‘, ‗Four Points‘, ‗Aloft‘ and ‗Element‘ 92. Which of the following was in news for acquiring media software provider ExtendMedia recently? a) IBM b) Dell c) Oracle d) Intel e) Cisco*


31

Answer 92: Networking giant Cisco Systems Inc on August 27, 2010 said it will acquire media software provider ExtendMedia which is a leading provider of software-based Content Management Systems (CMS) that allows media companies to send video to computers and mobile devices. 93. Which mobile phone maker was in news recently for launching India‘s first mobile phone with a Hindi QWERTY keypad? a) Karbonn b) Micromax c) Lava d) Spice e) Wynncom* Answer 93: Wynncom on August 27, 2010 announced the launch of India‘s first Hindi QWERTY keypad phone – Y-45 94. Which of the following was in news for announcing the acquisition of global storage solutions provider 3Par recently? a) IBM b) Dell* c) Oracle d) Intel e) Cisco Answer 94: Computer maker Dell on August 26, 2010 said its higher acquisition offer of $24.30 per share has been accepted by 3PAR, surpassing the competing bid from rival HP. The battle for 3PAR, a global storage solutions provider, erupted after Dell‘s initial takeover bid of $18 per share was met with a higher offer of $24 per piece by HP. 95. Which of the following has been named as the No.1 social networking site in India by global research firm comScore, Inc. recently? a) Twitter b) Facebook* c) MySpace d) Orkut e) BharatStudent.com Answer 95: Facebook has overtaken Google-owned Orkut as No.1 social networking site in India said global research firm comScore, Inc. on August 25, 2010. Facebook.com captured the top spot in the category with 2.09 crore visitors while Orkut ranked second with 1.99 crore visitors. These two sites were followed by BharatStudent.com with 44 lakh visitors. India is the seventh largest market for social networking, after the U.S., China, Germany, Russian Federation, Brazil and the United Kingdom. 96. Which computer maker was in news for launching its first mobile phone under the ‗Aero‘ brand recently? a) Hewlett Packard b) Acer c) BenQ d) Wipro e) Dell* Answer 96: Dell Inc on August 26, 2010 released its first US smartphone, a 3.5-inch Android device called the Aero that costs about $100 on AT&T‘s network. Dell entered the smartphone market in 2009 with the release of its Mini 3 in China. The company also released a 5-inch tablet PC called the Streak recently.


32

97. Which of the following combinations of recently released books and their authors is incorrectly matched? a) Atlas of Unknowns – Tania James b) Home Boy – H. M. Naqvi c) Quarantine – Rahul Mehta d) The Crimson Throne – Sudhir Kakar e) None of the above* 98. October 8 is observed as which of the following by the Defence forces in India? a) Army Day b) Air Force Day* c) Coast Guard Day d) Vijay Diwas e) Navy Day 99. Jack Lang of France was appointed as the special adviser to the UN secretary-general on legal issues related to which of the following issues recently? a) Delivery of aid to flood-affected in Pakistan b) Trial of those arrested for piracy off the coast of Somalia* c) Compensation for those affected by oil spill in Gulf of Alaska d) Prosecution of former dictators charged with humans rights violations e) Demarcation of maritime boundaries in the Indian Ocean Answer 99: Jack Lang of France was on August 26, 2010 appointed as the special adviser to the UN secretary-general on legal issues related to the piracy off the coast of Somalia. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon chose Lang to serve a representative in helping states decide how to deal with captured Somali pirates who have been terrorizing the ships in the waters around East Africa, hijacking vessels, stealing cargo and holding crew for ransom. 100. Who has authored the book – ―India and the Global Financial Crisis‖? a) Y. V. Reddy* b) Shankar Acharya c) Rakesh Mohan d) Anil Virmani e) C. Rangarajan

For the Week: September 12 to 19, 2010

1



List of contents

Section A: INDIA Section B: WORLD Section C: AWARDS Section D: ECONOMY & CORPORATE Section E: SPORTS Section F: VOICES


Arjun Munda wins vote of confidence in Jharkhand Assembly

N. A. Kakru is new Chief Justice of J&K High Court 100th birth anniversary of DMK founder Annadurai

celebrated Playback singer Swarnalatha is no more Musician Pandit Puttaraja Kavi Gavai passes away Karnataka minister R. Gowda quits over recruitment

scam President Patil returns from state visit to Laos,

Cambodia Wildlife Conservation Society praises India for tiger

conservation WAN-IFRA India 2010 organised in Jaipur New regulations to protect coastline notified Government to establish tribunal to resolve Mandovi

river dispute Planning Commission rejects demand for increase in

MPLAD Govt approves naval ship building yard in Kozhikode Mysore to have India‟s 1st intelligent transport system BJP, JD(S) win Assembly byelections in Karnataka Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrated IBSAMAR exercise launched in Indian Ocean region Defence minister launches AFNET World Bamboo Day celebrated Hyderabadi haleem gets GI status South Asian Film Festival organised in Goa Visvesaraya anniversary observed as Engineers' Day

World Oral Health Day observed

Section B: WORLD

Joseph Deiss appointed New President of UN General Assembly

Michelle Bachelet appointed Executive Director of UN Women

Julia Gillard sworn in as Australia‟s prime minister Naoto Kan reconfirmed as Japanese PM Jose Chang appointed new prime minister of Peru Court martial recommends 3-year jail for former

Lankan Army Chief Fonseka Veteran character actor Harold Gould is no more French director Claude Chabrol passes away UNICEF unveils „Levels and Trends in Child

Mortality' Referendum approves constitutional amendment in

Turkey Russia, Norway sign Arctic border pact French parliament passes law banning burqa US House of Representatives passes 'Made in

America' bill India hands over $20 mn for Pak flood relief United Nations Mission in Nepal extended S Korea is the 1st Asian country to sign FTA with EU Bicentenary of Mexico‟s independence celebrated Sydney named world's best event city „Number of hungry people at 925 mn in 2010‟ – FAO World Energy Congress organised in Montreal World Space Week from October 4 to 10


2

Section C: AWARDS

57th National Film Awards for the Year 2009 announced

Ministry of Environment & Forests confers Awards on International Ozone Day

Irom Sharmila wins Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize Ministry of Tourism wins PATA Grand Award MSME Ministry wins Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha

Award Sanjeev Rajput wins 'Services Best Sportsman' award „Somewhere‟ wins Golden Lion for Best Film at

Venice Film Festival Hyderabad‟s Chowmahalla Palace wins UNESCO

Asia-Pacific Heritage Award Indians win top prizes in UN Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs) Photography Awards Lady Gaga wins eight awards MTV Video Music

Awards Patna‟s Super 30 among Newsweek‟s 4 most

innovative schools Hanif Kureishi wins Pinter literary prize Former British PM Tony Blair awarded Liberty Medal Burundian president receives “Rising Star of Africa”

Award in India Julia Roberts wins lifetime achievement at San

Sebastian Dicky Rutnagur honoured by Indian Journalists

Association

Section D: ECONOMY & CORPORATE

„Mukesh Ambani to be world's richest in 2014‟ – Forbes

Sandeep Nair elected President of Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology

Vijay Darda elected Chairman of Audit Bureau of Circulations

V. N. Tripathi takes over as Member Staff, Railway Board

R. V. Verma is new CMD of National Housing Bank Shah Rukh Khan is the highest taxpayer among film

stars Sanjeev Kapoor, to launch “Indii” restaurants Kishore Biyani joins New York Fashion Advisory

Board Katrina Kaif appointed Yardley brand ambassador Karisma Kapoor is new brand ambassador for

Kellogg's Chocos New wholesale price index (WPI) series introduced

Draft mining Bill proposes 26% profit sharing with locals

Basel III deal on prudential banking norms signed KPMG Report on „Corporate Governance in Public

Sector‟ unveiled UNCTAD releases „Trade & Development Report

2010‟ Vodafone challenges tax verdict in Supreme Court Bharti Airtel gets RBI approval to start mobile

payment services SBI ties up with Oxigen for „kiosk banking‟ RBI raises Repo and Reverse Repo rates Private insurers included in modified crop insurance

scheme Employee Provident Fund rate increased by 1% Platinum jubilee of Bank of Maharashtra celebrated India ranked fifth best real estate investment

destination Forex reserves at $284.500 billion on September 11 Farmers in drought hit districts to get diesel subsidy „India 7th largest vehicle producing country globally‟ –

Govt „RITES‟ signs JV with „SAIL‟ for wagon factory at

Kulti RBI authorises ItzCash to issue Mobile Wallet India‟s largest bus depot inaugurated in Delhi Mobile Number Portability from November 1 Ban on futures trading in sugar to be lifted „India second-most challenging place for expatriate

managers‟ – Economist Microsoft unveils Internet Explorer 9 16 Indian companies in Forbes Asia's Fab 50 list Coke is No. 1 brand in Interbrand Annual Ranking

2010 Murugappa Group reveals new brand identity Sahara India bids for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. Shriram Group, TPG group to buy Vishal Retail Reliance Brands sets up JV with Ermenegildo Zegna EU bans import of branded Indian honey ICICI Bank, Kingfisher Airlines launch co-branded

credit card Karnataka Soaps & Detergents launches Mysore

Sandal Dhoop Philips to expand retail presence with Light Shoppes

& Light Lounges Escorts launches inverter tractor Farmtrac 45 Russia-India Biotech Network to be set up NIIT unveils Google-certified programme for

advertising professionals Airtel introduces temple packs Tata Indicom launches “doctor on call” emergency

service


3

Gadget World Mobile Expo 2010 in Chennai HP to buy ArcSight for $1.5 bn US airlines United and Continental merge to create

world‟s largest airline Nielsen, McKinsey launch „NM Incite‟ for tapping

social media Wieden+Kennedy launches „Motherland‟ magazine Acer launches Ferrari smartphone LG Electronics replaces CEO LG Electronics launches Optimus One Godrej Security launches Eaglei Berger Paints launches Breathe Easy Bank of Baroda to take over Memon Cooperative

Bank United Breweries to merge Millennium Alcobev with

itself United Spirits to buy Pioneer Distilleries

Section E: SPORTS

Nadal, Clijsters win singles titles at US Open Tennis Sushil Kumar wins Gold in World Wrestling

Championship Rashid Latif resigns as Pak National Cricket Academy

coach Dhoni, Tendulkar in ESPNcricinfo's „all-time greats'

list Andrew Flintoff retires from international cricket Bangladesh names Ian Pont as bowling coach Fernando Alonso wins Italian Grand Prix Pankaj Advani wins National Snooker title Argentina wins Women‟s Hockey World Cup India at 160th position in FIFA rankings

Recent Books Book Author Adoor Gopalakrishnan: A Life in Cinema Gautaman Bhaskaran

Ballistic Missile Defence Frontier of the 21st Century Anand Sharma (Wing Commander)

Role of Media in Kashmir Crisis Deepa Viswam

Managing Water in River Basins M Dinesh Kumar

Parallel Pathways - Essays on Hindu-Muslim Relations 1707- 1857 Meenakshi Jain

Sardar Patel and Partition of India Prabha Chopra

India, Pakistan and the Bomb - Debating Nuclear Stability in South Asia Sumit Ganguly, S Paul Kapur

Imperial Andamans - Colonial Encounter and Island History Aparna Vaidik

Inside Central Asia: A Political and Cultural History of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Iran

Dilip Hiro

Contemporary India - Critical Perspectives Achin Vanaik, Rajeev Bhargava

Economic Growth In India — History & Prospect Pulapre Balakrishnan

Riding The Tiger: Leading Through Learning In Turbulent Times Priscilla Nelson and Ed Cohen Cengage

Outlaw: India‘s Bandit Queen And Me Roy Moxham

Looking For America Avirook Sen

Regional Disparities, Smaller States And Statehood For Telangana CH Hanumantha Rao

Telangana: The State of Affairs M Bharath Bhushan & N. Venugopal

Left Politics In Bengal: Time Travels Among Bhadralok Marxists Monobina Gupta

Peace Psychology N.V.S. Suryanarayana

The Long View From Delhi: To Define The Indian Grand Strategy For Foreign Policy Raja Menon And Rajiv Kumar

Political Economy Of Communications In India: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Pradip Ninan Thomas

The Emissary Anirudhha Bahal

Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming the Obstacles Between Vision and Reality Scott Belsky

Rethinking The MBA: Business Education At A Crossroads Srikant Datar, David Garvin & Patrick G Culle

The Leadership Secrets Of Genghis Khan John Man

Corporate Chanakya Successful Management the Chanakya Way Radhakrishna Pillai

How Starbucks Changed the World Marie Bussing-Burks

The Big Lie: spying, scandal, and ethical collapse at Hewlett-Packard Anthony Bianco

Marketing of Distance Education Anand Pawar

The Other Side Of Innovation: Solving The Execution Challenge Vijay Govindarajan and Chris Trimble

When The Penny Drops: Learning What‘s Not Taught R. Gopalakrishnan


4

Section A: INDIA

Newsmakers

Arjun Munda wins vote of confidence in Jharkhand Assembly: Chief Minister Arjun Munda of BJP, who formed a coalition government with the support from the BJP, JMM, AJSU and JD(U) on September 11, 2010, won a vote of confidence in the Jharkhand Assembly on September 15, 2010. As many as 45 MLAs voted in favour, 30 MLAs voted against the trust vote while five were absent in the 82-member Assembly. The BJP, JMM, AJSU, JD(U) and Independents have 18, 18, 5, 2, 2 MLAs respectively.

N. A. Kakru is new Chief Justice of J&K High Court: The Supreme Court collegium on September 14, 2010 recommended that Nisar Ahmad Kakru be posted as Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Aftab Hussain Saikia will be the new Chief Justice at Gauhati High Court. Madan Lokur will be the new Chief Justice the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

100th

birth anniversary of Annadurai celebrated: The 100th birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

C.N. Annadurai was celebrated on September 15, 2010. Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai (15 September 1909 – 3 February 1969), was the first non-Congress leader to form a majority government in independent India. He was also an acclaimed writer in the Tamil and scripted and acted in several plays. Starting his political career with Dravidar Kazhagam, Annadurai parted ways to launch his own party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1949 following differences with his mentor Periyar. A splinter party launched by M. G. Ramachandran in 1972 years after the death of Annadurai was named after him as ADMK (Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam).

Playback singer Swarnalatha is no more: Playback singer Swarnalatha passed away at the age of 37 in Chennai on September 12, 2010. She had sung over 7,000 songs in a career spanning more than a decade, which included some of the biggest hits of the eighties and the nineties. The singer, who was born in Kerala, had sung numbers like ―Mukkala Mukabla‖ from ‗Kadhalan‘ (Tamil), ―Kuchi Kuchi Rakkamma‖ from ‗Bombay‘ (Hindi) and ―Maya Machinda‖ in ‗Indian‘ (Hindi).

Musician Pandit Puttaraja Kavi Gavai passes away: Pandit Puttaraja Kavi Gavai, musician and reformer who successfully used the power of Hindustani classical music to bring about economic empowerment and social transformation, passed away on September 17, 2010 at the age of 97 in Hubli, Karnataka. He was the winner of several honours like Padma Bhushan, Kalidas Samman by the Madhya Pradesh Government in 2007, the Rajyotsava Award (1970) and an honorary doctorate by Karnatak University (1975).

Karnataka minister Gowda quits over recruitment scam: Karnataka Medical Education Minister Ramachandra Gowda, who is at the centre of a controversy over his alleged involvement in irregularities in recruitment of staff in two state-run medical colleges, resigned from the ministry on September 11, 2010 after he was asked by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to do so.

President Patil returns from state visit to Laos, Cambodia

President Pratibha Patil returned from an official visit to Laos & Cambodia on September 12, 2010. She was accompanied by a 45-member business delegation with representatives from the CII, ASSOCHAM and FICCI.

Laos: In Laos, a Cultural Exchange Agreement for 2011-13 was signed during her visit. An agreement for a new Government of India credit line of $72.55 million to finance two power projects was also signed. The National Assembly of Laos has already approved the India-ASEAN Agreement on Trade in Goods.

Cambodia: In Cambodia, the President signed two agreements, the first between the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and the National Audit Authority of Cambodia, and the second for a $15-million credit line between EXIM Bank and the Cambodian government for Phase II of the Stung Tassal Water Development Project. President Patil also announced a financial grant of $246,000 for the upgradation of the Cambodia India Friendship School. King Norodom Sihamoni accepted the President's invitation to visit India. Cambodia is currently the country


5

coordinator for India on ASEAN and will hold the ASEAN chair in 2012, when India will host the Commemorative India-ASEAN summit in Delhi.

Wildlife Conservation Society praises India for tiger conservation

The Washington-based Wildlife Conservation Society has identified India as the most important country for tigers with 18 source sites dedicated solely to their conservation in its report unveiled on September 15, 2010.

The report has identified 42 tiger source sites, which were defined as sites that contain breeding populations of tigers and have the potential to seed the recovery of tigers across wider landscapes. India was identified as the most important country for the species with 18 source sites. Sumatra contains eight source sites, and the Russian Far East contains six.

The authors of the study calculate the total required annual cost of effectively managing source sites to be 82 million dollars, which includes the cost of law enforcement, wildlife monitoring, community involvement, and other factors. Inspite of decades of effort by conservationists, tigers continue to be threatened by overhunting of both tigers and their prey, and by loss and fragmentation of habitat. Much of the decline is being driven by the demand for tiger body parts used in traditional medicines.

WAN-IFRA India 2010 organised: The two-day WAN-IFRA India 2010 annual conference was organised on September 15-16, 2010 in Jaipur. WAN-IFRA, based in Paris, France, and Darmstadt, Germany, with subsidiaries in Singapore, India, Spain, France and Sweden, is the global organisation of the world's newspapers and news publishers. It represents more than 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries. The organisation was created by the merger of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and IFRA, the research and service organisation for the news publishing industry.

New regulations to protect coastline notified: Government on September 14, 2010 notified regulations imposing fresh restrictions on development activity within 500 metres of the 7,500-km long coastline with an aim to protect livelihood of the fishing community and save the region from climate change hazards. All the turtle nesting sites in Goa, islands in the backwaters of Kerala and the entire Sunderbans bio-sphere and other identified ecologically important areas have also been brought under the ambit of notification.

Tribunal to be set up over Mandovi river dispute: The Union government on September 13, 2010 informed the Supreme Court that a decision had been taken to constitute a tribunal to hear the water dispute between the States of Goa and Karnataka relating to the construction of the Kalasa Banduri project across the Mandovi River. In its suit, Goa contended that the project contemplated by Karnataka in the inter-State river of Mandovi involved diversion of water outside the basin which was not permissible.

Planning Commission rejects demand for increase in MPLAD: The Planning Commission on September 13, 2010 rejected demands for an increase in the corpus allocated to MPs for development of their constituencies to Rs 5 crore. Under the MPLAD scheme, the government provides all Members of Parliament Rs 2 crore annually to develop their constituencies. Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia recently conveyed to a parliamentary panel on MPLADS that extra resources cannot be made available. The Plan panel had earlier rejected a proposal by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), which administers MPLADS, to increase the corpus to Rs 5 crore each.

Govt approves naval ship building yard in Kozhikode: The Union government on September 13, 2010 approved the setting up of a naval ship-building yard at Chaliyam, near Kozhikode, Kerala. As part of the project, an advanced warship designing centre will be set up under the guidance of the Mazagon Dock ship-building company of Mumbai.

Mysore to have India‟s 1st

intelligent transport system: Mysore will be the first city in the country to have a World Bank funded intelligent transport system (ITS) for public transport which allows commuters access to real time bus travel information and also facilitates effective monitoring of their movement. An initiative of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), the project announced on September 13, 2010 will be funded by World Bank's global environment Fund (GEF), the Union government and State government and the rest through internal accruals.

BJP, JD(S) win Assembly byelections in Karnataka: The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (S) on September 17, 2010 shared equal honours by bagging a seat each in the Assembly byelections from Gulbarga South


6

and Kadur constituencies. Y.C. Vishwanath of the BJP won in Kadur while Aruna Chandrashekhar Patil Revoor of the JD(S) emerged victorious in Gulbarga South.

Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrated: The Hyderabad Liberation Day was celebrated on September 17, 2010, signifying merger of Hyderabad State into Indian Union. It was on this day in 1948 that the then Hyderabad state acceded to the Indian Union as the last Nizam of the princely state surrendered before the Indian Army. Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh and last Nizam of Hyderabad, had refused to accede to India after the country attained independence. He wanted to merge Hyderabad with Pakistan or remain as an independent state. His forces were accused of brutally suppressing the movement for Hyderabad‘s merger with India.

IBSAMAR exercise launched: The Indian Ocean region off Durban is abuzz with activity as 11 ships of the navies of India, Brazil and South Africa engage in nautical exercises as part of the ongoing IBSAMAR, India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime (Exercise). The second edition of IBSAMAR scheduled from 13 – 27 Sep 2010, is multi-dimensional exercise conducted with the aim of sharing best practices in various facets of naval operations.

Defence minister launches AFNET: Defence Minister AK Antony launched the IAF‘s gigabyte digital information grid – the AFNET (Air Force Network) on September 14, 2010. The launch is a significant milestone in the IAF‘s quest towards achieving a capability for Network Centric (NCW) operations.

World Bamboo Day celebrated: The ―World Bamboo Day‖ was celebrated on September 18, 2010. The Vice President of India M. Hamid Ansari addressed the ―World Bamboo Day function‖ held at Kohima Naga Heritage Village (Kisama), Nagaland on the occasion. Unlike steel and plastic, it is eco friendly, being not only biodegradable but also having enormous capacity to sequester carbon. Furthermore, as the fastest growing plant on earth, it is a renewable resource with short gestation.

Hyderabadi haleem gets GI status: Hyderabadi haleem was on September 4, 2010 granted the GI (geographical indication) status along the lines of the famous Tirupati laddu, Darjeeling tea, Goan feni and Banarasi silk. The GI tag implies that hence forth shops that prepare haleem outside Hyderabad will not be able to sell their product as Hyderabadi haleem and even those within the city can only claim the GI tag if they meet the quality standards — right from procuring the ingredients to the 12-hour cooking process. The GI certificate also helps market the product better, for Hyderabad Haleem is exported internationally during Ramzan.

South Asian Film Festival organised in Goa: The 5th edition of the four-day South Asian Film Festival (SAFF) Goa

2010 was organised at Panaji from September 17-20, 2010. It is a joint initiative of the South Asian Foundation (SAF) and the Goa Government. Over 50 films will be screened at the festival from the South Asian countries. The country in focus at SAFF Goa-2010 is Afghanistan.

Visvesaraya anniversary observed as Engineers' Day: Rich tributes were paid to Sir Mokshagundam Visvesaraya on the occasion of his 150

th Birth Anniversary, which was celebrated as Engineers' Day on September 15, 2010.

World Oral Health Day observed: Listerine set a new Guinness World Record for 'Most People Using Mouthwash Simultaneously' on September 14, 2010 when as many as 361 people participated in the activity in Mumbai on the occasion of World Oral Health Day on September 12, 2010.


7

Section B: WORLD

Newsmakers

Joseph Deiss appointed New President of UN General Assembly: The UN General Assembly opened its 65th

session at UN headquarters in New York on September 14, 2010, with Joseph Deiss, former minister for foreign affairs of Switzerland, serving at the helm. Deiss will serve as president of the 192-member assembly for a year-long term, taking over the position from Libyan diplomat Ali Abdussalam Treki. The achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight international development goals due to be completed worldwide by 2015, will be a focus of the 65

th session. Outgoing President Treki applauded members for the work initiated during the 64

th

session of the GA, including: the mandated review of the Human Rights Council, a high-level meeting on combating piracy off the coast of Somalia, the launch of the UN Global Plan of Action against Trafficking Persons, and the historic establishment of UN Women.

Michelle Bachelet appointed Executive Director of UN Women: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on September 14, 2010 announced the appointment of former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet as the Executive Director the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Established on July 2010 by the UN General Assembly, UN Women merged and built upon four previously separate entities focused one gender equality and women's empowerment. These include: the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI), and the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

Julia Gillard sworn in as Australian prime minister: Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard was on September 14, 2010 sworn into office, making her the first woman elected to the post in the nation's history. She called an election after ousting former PM Kevin Rudd in an internal Labor party revolt in June. The July 2010 poll produced a hung parliament, forcing Gillard to seek the backing of independents and Greens to form a government. Rudd has been sworn in as foreign minister. Wayne Swan is the Treasurer (Finance Minister in India) while Stephen Smith is the new Defence Minister. Analysts say her majority of one in the 150-seat lower house of parliament will force Gillard to negotiate issue-by-issue with the opposition Liberal/National coalition. Gillard has promised a 30% tax on iron ore and coal mining companies' profits, a tax on major polluters to help cut carbon emissions by 5% in 10 years and a broadband network for rural areas.

Naoto Kan reconfirmed as Japanese PM: Naoto Kan was on September 14, 2010 reconfirmed as Japanese Prime Minister in a straight contest in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) at its extraordinary convention in Tokyo. Kan (63) defeated Ichiro Ozawa. Votes of the DPJ members of Diet (Parliament) were shared by the two leaders in almost an equal proportion. But local legislators and party members supported Kan decisively, giving him an overall tally of 721 points against his challenger's 491. Kan had taken over as Prime Minister from Yukio Hatoyama in June 2010 amid a rising tide of protest over the prolonged U.S. military presence in Japan.

Jose Chang appointed new prime minister of Peru: Peruvian President Alan Garcia on September 14, 2010 named Education Minister Jose Chang, a Peruvian of Chinese origin, as new prime minister in a cabinet reshuffle. Chang will replace Javier Velasquez Quesquen, who quit to compete for the presidential nomination for the ruling Aprista Party of Peru in the general election scheduled for April 2011.

Court martial recommends 3-year jail for Fonseka: A court martial in Sri Lanka on September 17, 2010 held the former Army Chief, Sarath Fonseka, guilty in a case related to procurement of arms in violation of the tender procedures and recommended a jail term of three years. Earlier, Fonseka, now under military detention after two separate court martial proceedings against him, was stripped of all his ranks and pension by the first court martial that convicted him of the charge of dabbling in politics while being in uniform. Gen. Fonseka successfully led the Sri Lankan military in the war against the LTTE, which ended in May 2009.

Veteran character actor Harold Gould dies at 86: Veteran character actor Harold Gould, who played Valerie Harper's father on television's "Rhoda" and the conman Kid Twist in the 1973 movie "The Sting," passed away at the age of 86 on September 14, 2010.


8

French director Claude Chabrol passes away: French filmmaker Claude Chabrol, who helped start the ‗New Wave‘ movement in the 1950s, passed away at the age of 80 on September 12, 2010 in Paris. Chabrol authored dozens of films, from his first work, Le Beau Serge, made in 1958 and considered the first film of the ‗New Wave‘, to his last film, Bellamy, released in 2009.

News round up

UNICEF unveils „Levels and Trends in Child Mortality'

The number of deaths among children under the age of five globally has fallen from 12.4 million in 1990 to 8.1 million in 2009, according to the latest report titled ‗Levels and Trends in Child Mortality,' launched by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The global under-five mortality rate has dropped by a third over that period, from 89 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 60 in 2009.

India holds the unenviable record of being home to the highest number of children who die before reaching their fifth birthday. India accounts for 21 per cent of such deaths. The country recorded 17.26 lakh under-five deaths with a mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) of 66 in 2009. The statistic was much worse in 1990. In 1990, India had recorded 31 lakh under-five deaths, with a mortality rate of 118. India's under-five mortality rate is projected to decline to 39 in 2015

Under-five mortality is increasingly concentrated in a few countries. About half of global under-five deaths occurred in just five countries in 2009 — India, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan and China. Region-wise, the highest rates of child mortality continue to be found in sub-Saharan Africa while Southern Asia has the second highest rates, with about one in 14 children dying before the age of five.

Referendum approves constitutional amendment in Turkey

As many as 58 percent of voters voted in favour of a government sponsored constitutional amendment package in the referendum organised on September 12, 2010. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had staked its political future on the referendum.

The current constitution of Turkey came into effect following a military coup in 1980. The European Union (EU), which Ankara seeks to join, has urged the Turkish government to update it to expand civil rights and curb military power.

The AKP says Turkey needs to change its current constitution to improve democracy and human rights to EU standards, while accusing the judiciary of blocking many of its bills. Erdogan claims the amendments will bring accountability to the unchecked power of the military. The generals involved in the 1980 coup will now be liable for their actions.

The amendment package has been strongly criticized by opposition parties and the judiciary as an attempt by the AKP to seize more control over the judiciary and other state institutions.

The opposition alleges that the proposed changes to the constitutional court, a traditional bulwark of the country‘s secularism, allows for the entrenchment of the PM‘s power — and that the increase in the number of judges from 11 to 17 and the Turkish assembly‘s (thus the PM‘s) authority to choose three members to the court influences the freedoms of the Turkish judiciary and high courts.

Experts say that the changes proposed match the practices of most European countries where the executive branch selects candidates from a list proposed by the judiciary. In that sense, the vote is seen as a struggle within Turkey not about Islam and secularism, but rather between a military lobby and a democratically-elected government.

Russia, Norway sign Arctic border pact

Russia and Norway have signed an Arctic border pact, ending a 40-year dispute over an energy-rich area in the Barents Sea. The Treaty on Maritime Delimitation and Cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean was signed on September 15, 2010 in the Russian northern seaport of Murmansk by the Russian and Norwegian Foreign Ministers in the presence of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

Under the treaty Russia and Norway will equally divide the long-contested 176,000 sq. km. zone that lies off their Arctic coastlines and is believed to be rich in oil and gas. The establishment of a maritime boundary culminated 40


9

years of border talks between the two countries and ended a 30-year moratorium on tapping oil and gas deposits in the area.

Medvedev said the ―historic‖ treaty opened the way to joint energy projects between the two countries. The Barents Sea contains 7.6 billion so-called ―tonnes of equivalent fuel‖, according to Russia's Natural Resources Ministry.

French parliament passes law banning burqa

French parliament passed a law prohibiting wearing a full-face veil in public on September 14, 2010. This means a ban will come into force in early 2011 if it is not overturned by senior judges. The Senate passed the bill by 246 votes to one. The Bill was earlier passed by the lower house, the National Assembly, in July 2010. It will now be reviewed by the Constitutional Council, which has a month to confirm its legality.

The text of the law makes no mention of Islam, but the President, Nicolas Sarkozy‘s government promoted the law as a means to protect women from being forced to wear Muslim full-face veils such as the burqa or the niqab.

Once in force, the law provides for a six-month period of ―education‖ to explain to women already wearing a face veil that they face arrest and a fine if they continue to do so in any public space. A woman who chooses to defy the ban will receive a fine of 150 euros or a course of citizenship lessons. A man who forces a woman to go veiled will be fined 30,000 euros and serve a jail term.

US House passes 'Made in America' bill: The US House of Representatives on September 15, 2010 passed two different bills that direct the Congress and the Department of Homeland Security to purchase only US-made goods. The Congressional Made in America Act requires the Congress to buy goods and services made in America. Similarly, the Berry Amendment Extension Act directs the Department of Homeland Security to buy clothing, tents, and other products made in America. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, said that the two bills will help in creating American jobs, and expand America's manufacturing sector.

India hands over $20 mn for Pak flood relief: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon handed over to Pakistan Ambassador to the U.N. Abdullah Hussain Haroon a cheque for $20 million, given by India for flood relief in Pakistan, at the U.N. Headquarters on September 17, 2010 in the presence of India's Ambassador to the U.N. Hardeep Singh Puri. Islamabad had insisted that the aid be routed through the UN.

UN mission in Nepal extended: Nepali government and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (UCPN-M) on September 14, 2010 agreed to extend the tenure of United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) and its mandate in Nepal for four months. The caretaker government of PM Madhav Nepal requested the United Nations Security Council to extend the term of UNMIN by four more months with a mandate to focus on monitoring of UCPN-M combatants, cantonments and arms. The government and UCPN-M agreed on to bring the UCPN-M combatants under the Special Committee without delay and share all details about the UCPN-M combatants with the Committee.

S Korea is the 1st

Asian country to sign FTA with EU: The European Union (EU) on September 16, 2010 approved the proposal for a Free Trade Area with South Korea, its first with an Asian country. The EU is also currently negotiating a FTA with India. The EU-South Korea FTA will remove 99 per cent of all tariffs between the two economies within five years, as well as many non-tariff barriers. The EU-Korea FTA is the second-biggest free-trade pact ever after the 1994 $1-trillion North American FTA among the US, Canada and Mexico.

Bicentenary of Mexico‟s independence celebrated: The 200th anniversary of Mexico‘s independence was

celebrated on September 16, 2010. President Felipe Calderon concluded the celebration by ringing Mexico's original independence bell in the Zocalo square in capital Mexico City and delivering "El Grito," patterned on founding father Miguel Hidalgo‘s 1810 call to arms against Spain: "Long live independence. Long live the bicentennial ... Long live Mexico!"

Sydney named world's best event city: Sydney has been acknowledged as one of the world's best cities for events and festivals at a ceremony in the United States. The Australia's harbor city was named best city in the ‗over 1 million population‘ category at the inaugural International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) awards in Saint Louis, Mauritius on September 16, 2010.


10

„Number of hungry people at 925 mn in 2010‟ – FAO: A total of 925 million people are undernourished in 2010 compared with 1.023 billion in 2009, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said in its Hunger Report unveiled on September 14, 2010, at its headquarters in Rome. Income growth in developing countries and decline in cereal prices from their 2008 peaks has helped in the decline in numbers of undernourished people. UN‘s Millennium Development Goal has a target of halving the proportion of undernourished people in developing countries from 20 percent in 1990-92 to 10 per cent in 2015.

World Energy Congress organised: Sushil Kumar Shinde, Union Minister of Power, lead a delegation of senior officials of power sector and representatives of Industry to Canada at the World Energy Congress organised in Montreal from September 15-18, 2010.

World Space Week from October 4 to 10: World Space Week is an annual observance held from October 4 to October 10 established by the United Nations General Assembly to be an international celebration of science and technology and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. World Space Week is coordinated by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs with the support of World Space Week Association, a non-government organization. The start and end dates of World Space Week recognize the launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, on October 4, 1957; and the signing of the Outer Space Treaty on October 10, 1967.


11

Section C: AWARDS

INDIA

57th National Film Awards for the Year 2009 announced

The Directorate of Film Festivals on September 15, 2010 announced 57th National Film Awards for the Year – 2009.

The awards were announced in three categories Best Feature Film Category under the Chairpersonship of Ramesh Sippy, Non Feature Film Category under the Chairpersonship of Mike Pandey, and Best Writing on Cinema under the Chairpersonship of Samik Bandhopadhyay.

Under the Feature Film Category, 136 eligible entries were distributed between five Regional Juries. The selection process returned to a Two Tier System of Selection. The Chairperson for the Northern Region was Sushma Seth, for the Western Region, M.S. Sathyu, for South –I Region, T.S. Nagabharna, for the Eastern Region, B. Lenin and for South- II Region, Pinaki Choudhry.

In the Feature Film Category the following were the major awards announced Name of Award Name of Film Awardee Medal

& Cash Prize Best Feature Film Kutty Srank (Malayalam) Producer: Reliance Big Pictures

Director : Shaji N. Karun Swarna Kamal Rs 2,50,000/- Each

Indira Gandhi Award For Best Debut Film Of A Director

Lahore (Hindi) Producer: Vivek Khatkar Director : Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan

Swarna Kamal Rs 1,25,000/- Each

Award For Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment

3 Idiots (Hindi) Producer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra Director : Raj Kumar Hirani

Swarna Kamal Rs 2,00,000/- Each

Nargis Dutt Award For Best Feature Film On National Integration

Delhi 6 (Hindi) Producer: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Director : Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Rajat Kamal Rs 1,50,000/- Each

Best Film On Social Issues Well Done Abba (Hindi) Producer: Reliance Big Pictures Director : Shyam Benegal


Best Children‟s Film Putaani Party (Kannada) & Keshu (Malayalam)

Producer: Children‘s Film Society, India (For Both Films) Director : Ramchandra P.N. (Putaani Party) & Sivan (Keshu)

Swarna Kamal Rs 1,50,000/-

Best Direction Abohoman (Bengali) Rituparno Ghosh Swarna Kamal Rs 2,50,000/-

Best Actor Paa (Hindi) Amitabh Bachchan Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000/-

Best Actress Abohoman (Bengali) Ananya Chatterjee Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000/-

Best Supporting Actor Lahore (Hindi) Farooque Sheikh Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000/-

Best Supporting Actress Paa (Hindi) Arundhati Naag Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000/-

Best Child Artist Pasanga (Tamil) Film Characters Jeeva & Anba Karasu Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000/-

Best Male Playback Singer Mahanager @ Kolkata (Bengali)

Rupam Islam Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000/-

Best Female Playback Singer Houseful (Bengali) Neelanjana Sarkar Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000/-

Best Cinematography Kutty Srank (Malayalam) Cameraman : Anjuli Shukla Laboratory Processing : Adlabs Films Ltd.

Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000/- Each

Best Screenplay Kutty Srank (Malayalam) Kanasemba

Screenplay Writer (Original) : P.F. Mathews & Harikrishna



12

Kudureyaneri (Kannada) Pasanga (Tamil)

Screenplay Writer (Adapted) : Dialogues : Pandiraj

Best Music Direction Dev D (Hindi) Kerala Verma Pazasi Raja

Music Director (Songs) : Amit Trivedi Music Director (Background Score) : Ilayaraja


Best Lyrics 3 Idiots (Hindi) Swanand Kirkire ― Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh……………‖

Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000/-

Special Jury Award Kaminey (Hindi) & Kutty Srank (Malayalam) & Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (Malayalam)

Sreekar Prasad

Rajat Kamal Rs 2,00,000/-

Best Special Effects Magadheera (Telugu) R. Kamal Kannan Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000/-

Best Choreography Magadheera (Telugu)

K.Siva Shankar Rajat Kamal Rs 50,000/-

Best Feature Film In Each Of The Language Specified In The Schedule Viii Of The Constitution Name of Award Name of Film Awardee Medal

& Cash Prize Best Assamese Film Basundhara Producer: Hiren Bora

Director : Hiren Bora Rajat Kamal Rs 1,00,000/- Each

Best Bengali Film Abohomaan Producer: Reliance Big Pictures Director : Rituparno Ghosh


Best Hindi Film Paa Producer: AB Corp Limited Director : R. Balakrishnan


Best Kannada film Kanasemba Kudureyaneri

Producer: Basanta Kumar Patil Director : Girish Kasaravalli


Best Konkani film Palatadcho Munis Producer: National Film Development Corporation Director : Laxmikant Shetgaonkar


Best Malayalam Film Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja

Producer: A.M. Gopalan Director : T. Hariharan


Best Marathi Film Natarang Producer: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. Director : Ravindra Harishchandra Jadhav


Best Tamil Film Pasanga Producer: M. Sasikumar Director : Pandiraj


Special Mention ---- Padmapriya Certificate Only

In the Non- Feature Film Category the following are the major awards announced Name of Award Name of Film Awardee Medal

& Cash Prize

Best Non-Feature Film (Sharing)

The Postman

Producer: K. Hariharan Director : B. Manohar

Swarna Kamal Rs 75,000/- (Sharing) each Bilal Producer: Sourav Sarangi

Director : Sourav Sarangi

Best Debut Non-Feature Film Of A Director (Sharing)

Vaishnav Jan Toh Producer: FTII Director : Kaushal Oza

Rajat Kamal Rs.37500/- (sharing) EACH

Ekti Kaktaliyo Golpo

Producer: FTII Director: Tathagata Singha

In the Best Writing on Cinema Category following awards were announced Name of Award Name of Film Awardee Medal

& Cash Prize Best Book On Cinema Cinemaa Yaana Publisher : Hasiru Prakashana Swarna Kamal


13

(Kannada) Author: Dr. K. Puttaswamy Rs 75,000

Special Mention Eka Studioche Atmavrutta (Marathi) Prabhakar Pendharkar Certificate

Best Film Critic C.S. Venkiteswaran (Malayalam) Swarna Kamal Rs 75,000

Awards conferred on International Ozone Day

International Ozone Day was observed worldwide on September 16, 2010. The Montreal Protocol on ‗Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer‘ was signed on September 16, 1987 to protect the Ozone Layer. Since 1995, 16

th September

is celebrated every year as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer and commemorates the date of signing of the Montreal Protocol. In India, the following awards were given by the Ministry of Environment & Forests on the occasion of the International Ozone Day.

Awards given by Ministry of Environment & Forests

Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology for the year 2008-2009 M/s Reliance Infrastructure Limited, Dahanu Thermal Power Station, Dahanu, Maharashtra

National Awards for Prevention of Pollution for the year 2008-2009

M/s Indian Rayon, Veraval, Gujarat (Caustic Soda) M/s Binani Cement Limited, Sirohi, Rajasthan (Cement)

M/s Indina Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd. (IFFCO),Phulpur Unit (Fertilisers)

M/s Indian Oil Corporation Limited (Bongaigaon Refinery), Assam (Oil Refinery)

M/s Reliance Industries Ltd., Dahej, Bharuch, Gujarat (Petrochemical)

/s BILT Graphic Paper Products Ltd., Pune, Maharashtra (Pulp & Paper)

M/s Binani Zinc Ltd., Karala (Zinc Smelting)

Medini Puraskar Yojana

Naveen Kumar Gupta was awarded first prize for his book ‗Global Warmingka Samadhan Gandhigiri‘ and won Rs. 31,000/- and citation

The second prize was awarded to two persons, Dr. Gaytari Parshad and Dr. Rajesh Nautiyal for their title ‗Paryavaran Bhoogol‘. They won Rs. 25,000/- and citation.

Rajendar Joshi won the third prize for his book ‗Prakriti, Paryavaran aur Bajarvad‘ and got Rs. 20,000/- and a citation

A consolation prize was given to Dr C L Garg for his book ‗Swachcha Paryavaran, Swastha Jivan‘ and received Rs. 15000/- and a citation

Irom Sharmila wins Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize: Manipur activist Irom Sharmila was on September 13, 2010 conferred with the Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize by the Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM). The award carries a cash prize of Rs 51 lakh, a gold medal, a citation and a shawl. Sharmila has been protesting against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state.

Ministry of Tourism Wins PATA Grand Award: Ministry of Tourism, Government of India won a PATA Grand Award and two PATA Gold Awards during the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart 2010 which concluded in Macau on September 17, 2010. The PATA Grand Award was given under the Heritage category for the Rural Tourism Project at Hodka village in Kutch District of Gujarat. The two PATA Gold Awards were bestowed on the Ministry under the Marketing Media – Travel Advertisement Print Media and Marketing – Primary Government Destination categories. The PATA Travel Mart 2011 will be held in Delhi in September 2011.

MSME Ministry wins Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Award: The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises bagged the First Prize in the Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Award function held in New Delhi on the occasion of ―Hindi Diwas - 2010‖ on September 14, 2010.

Sanjeev Rajput wins 'Services Best Sportsman' award: Sanjeev Rajput, Master Chief Petty Officer – II of Indian Navy received the 'Services Best Sportsman' award for 2009-10 from the Chairman COSC Air Marshall PV Naik, on September 14, 2010 at New Delhi. ―The Best Services Sportsman of the Year‖ is selected from amongst a large


14

number of sportsmen of the three Services. This award comprises a trophy and cash award. This year the cash award has been enhanced from Rs 20,000 to Rs One Lakh.

WORLD „Somewhere‟ is Best Film at Venice Film Festival

The 67th Venice Film Festival came to a close on September 11, 2010 with the awards ceremony taking place at the

Palazzo del Cinema in Venice. The jury, headed by director Quentin Tarantino, chose Sofia Coppola's ‗Somewhere‘, the tale of an actor who sees the emptiness of his existence through the eyes of his child, as the Best Film for the top Golden Lion prize. Following is the list of winners:

67th Venice Film Festival: Major Awards Award Winner Country

Golden Lion for Best Film ‗Somewhere‘ by Sofia Coppola USA

Silver Lion for Best Director Álex de la Iglesia for the film ‗Balada triste de trompeta‘ (‗The Last Circus‘)

Spain, France

Special Jury Prize ‗Essential Killing‘ by Jerzy Skolimowski Poland, Norway, Hungary, Ireland

Coppa Volpi for Best Actor Vincent Gallo in the film ‗Essential Killing‘ Poland, Norway, Hungary, Ireland

Coppa Volpi for Best Actress Ariane Labed in the film ‗Attenberg‘ Greece

Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress

Mila Kunis in the film ‗Black Swan‘ USA

Osella for Best Cinematography Mikhail Krichman for the film ‗Ovsyanki‘ (Silent Souls)

Russia

Osella for Best Screenplay Álex de la Iglesia for the film ‗Balada triste de trompeta‘ (‗The Last Circus‘)

Spain, France

Jaeger-Lecoultre Glory To The Filmmaker Award 2010

Mani Ratnam India

Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement John Woo China

Hyderabad‟s Chowmahalla palace wins UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award

Hyderabad‘s Chowmahalla palace, the royal seat of the Asaf Jahi rulers, has bagged the coveted UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Merit award for cultural heritage conservation for 2010. The restoration of the Chowmahalla palace has come in for appreciation by UNESCO for rescuing ‗an extraordinary complex from years of abandonment‘. Following is the complete list of winners at the 2010 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award announced on September 3, 2010:

2010 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards

Award of Excellence

Hong San See Temple, Singapore

Award of Distinction Red Brick Warehouses, Yokohama, Japan

Gulabpur Khanqah, Shigar, Skardu, Pakistan Award of Merit Fu‘long Taoist Temple, Du‘jiang‘yan World Heritage

Property, Sichuan Province, China

Chowmahalla Palace, Hyderabad, India

Old Houses in the World Heritage Fort of Galle, Sri Lanka

Honourable Mention North Xinjiao Street, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China

Ballaarat Mechanics‘ Institute, Victoria, Australia

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Prince of Wales Museum), Mumbai, India

Indians win top prizes in UN photography contest


15

Five Indians were on September 15, 2010 announced as winners of top prizes in various categories of an international photography contest organised by the UN to spotlight the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Prakash Hatvalne from Bhopal was awarded the first prize under the "education" goal for his photograph showing a young boy climbing up the stairs of his school in Bhopal. Piyal Adhikary won the award for her photograph called "Vaccination Mission". The image was chosen for depicting the goal of reducing child mortality.

The eight MDGs include eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases and ensuring environmental sustainability.

The award ceremony was presided over by UN Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro and Helen Clark, head of the United Nations Development Programme. The winning photographs were selected under the different goals and divided between professional and amateur photographers. The winning photographs were picked from 3,000 photos submitted by more than 1,400 contestants. The full list of winners for the different MDGs is as follows:

UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Photography Awards Goal Objective Winner in Amateur Category Winner in Professional Category Goal 1 Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Tran Vinh Nghia, Viet Nam Victor Diaz Kintanar, The Philippines

Goal 2 Achieve universal primary education Partha Pratim Saha, India Prakash Hatvalne, India

Goal 3 Promote gender equality and empower women Joydeep Mukherjee, India Fatima Elkadi, Norway

Goal 4 Reduce child mortality Oliver Belarga, The Philippines Piyal Adhikary, India

Goal 5 Improve maternal health Maria Cierna, Slovak Republic Allan Gichigi, Kenya

Goal 6 Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Joydeep Mukherjee, India Victor Diaz Kintanar, The Philippines

Goal 7 Ensure environmental sustainability Rudolf Kozsak, Hungary Marielle van Uitert, The Netherlands

Goal 8 Develop a Global Partnership for Development Saikat Mukherjee, India Pablo la Rosa, Uruguay

Tran Vinh Nghia was also the 1st place winner overall in Amateur category while India‘s Prakash Hatvalne was the 1

st place winner overall in

Professional category

Lady Gaga wins eight awards MTV Video Music Awards

Lady Gaga dominated the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles on September 19, 2010 winning in eight of the 14 categories including video of the year. ‗Bad Romance‘ won Lady Gaga the Video of the year, Best Pop video, Best Female video, Best Dance Music video, Best Choreography, Best Direction and Best Editing awards. She also won the Best collaboration award for ‗Telephone‘ featuring Beyonce. Other winners include:

Best Male video and Best Hip-Hop video won by Eminem for

‗Not Afraid‘

Best Rock video won by 30 Seconds to Mars for ‗the Kings and

Queens‘

Gong for Best Special Effects won by Muse for ‗Uprising‘ Best Art Direction won by Florence n the Machine for ‗Dog

Days Are Over‘

Best Cinematography award won by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys for

‗Empire State of Mind‘

Best New Artist award won by Justin Bieber

Patna‟s Super30 among Newsweek‟s 4 most innovative schools

Mathematician Anand Kumar's Patna-based coaching institute ‗Super 30‘ was on September 18, 2010 included by US magazine Newsweek in its list of four most innovative schools in the world in its latest edition. According to Newsweek, the effort of Anand Kumar for the underprivileged students is "incredible" as his help of educational and moral support has facilitated the poor students study almost 16 hours every day and qualify the entrance test of IIT, known as toughest test in India. Time magazine had earlier this year selected Super 30 in its list of best school of Asia 2010. Other three inclusions in the Newsweek list are:

Activity-based learning introduced in 40,000 government schools in Tamil Nadu due to efforts by bureaucrat M. P. Vijayakumar.

China‟s Ministry of Education for providing migrant children (age 6 to 15) schools in the towns where their parents worked

Norman Gall and Catalina Pagés for starting a reading revolution in poor and crime-infested localities of Sao Paulo, Brazil.


16

Hanif Kureishi wins Pinter literary prize: Novelist Hanif Kureishi, known for his book ‗Buddha of Suburbia‘, was on September 17, 2010 selected for the Pen/Pinter prize, a literary prize set up in honour of playwright Harold Pinter. Mexican journalist Lydia Cacho was selected for the international writer of courage prize, which is awarded to writers persecuted for their beliefs.

Former British PM Tony Blair awarded Liberty Medal: Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair on September 14, 2010 received the Liberty Medal for his global human rights work and commitment to international conflict resolution. The medal is given annually by the Philadelphia-based National Constitution Center to individuals or organizations whose actions strive to bring liberty to people worldwide. Blair was honoured for his work with the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, which promotes religious tolerance; for his initiative to improve governance in Africa; and for advancing peace in Northern Ireland and the Middle East, among other efforts. Former President Bill Clinton presented the award at an outdoor ceremony on Independence Mall in Philadelphia.

Burundian president receives “Rising Star of Africa” Award in India: Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza was on September 14, 2010 conferred Rising Star of Africa in New Delhi for his efforts to bring peace and stability to the country affected by protracted ethnic wars. The award was set up by the Unity International Foundation, an NGO strengthening India's ties with other countries.

Julia Roberts wins lifetime achievement at San Sebastian: Actress Julia Roberts was on September 14, 2010 conferred with a lifetime achievement award at the San Sebastian Film Festival, honouring her "successful two decade long career." The 42-year-old Roberts collected the honorary 'Donostia' award at the film festival where her latest film 'Eat Pray Love' was screened. She has won the Oscar for Best Actress in 2001 for her role in ‗Erin Brokovich‘.

Dicky Rutnagur honoured by Indian Journalists Association: Veteran sportswriter and commentator Dicky Rutnagur was on September 16, 2010 honoured with a ―Lifetime Achievement Award,‖ by the Indian Journalists Association in London for his contribution to sports journalism. ‗Dicky' as he was known to journalists in India and aboard in the Sixties, reported cricket for several national newspapers like the Hindustan Times, The Mail (Chennai), The Hindu and its sister publication, Sport & Pastime.


17


Newsmakers

„Mukesh Ambani to be world's richest in 2014‟ – Forbes: With a net worth of $62 billion, Mukesh Ambani

would be the richest man on earth in 2014, according to a forecast issued by Forbes magazine in September 2010. ―One of the predictions is that Reliance Industries‘ CEO Ambani, who currently has a net worth of $ 29 billion and ranks fourth on Forbes' list of the world's billionaires, pips the world's richest man, Mexican businessman Carlos Slim to top Forbes' rich list in 2014‖, said Forbes in its special 2020 report titled ―What happens next-our look ahead‖. Other forecasts include:

Sandeep Nair elected MAIT President: The Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology (MAIT) on September 17, 2010 said it had appointed Sandeep Nair as its President for 2010-11, while Canon India Senior Vice-President Alok Bharadwaj would be the new Vice-President. Nair takes over from HP India President (IPG) Ravi Aggarwal.

Darda appointed ABC chairman for 2010-2011: Vijay Jawaharlal Darda, Rajya Sabha MP and chairman and managing director of the Lokmat group of newspapers, was on September 17, 2010 unanimously elected as the chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for 2010-2011. Sam Balsara, the CMD of Madison Communications, was unanimously elected as the deputy chairman of ABC. The members of the ABC‘s council of management include Mr T. Venkattram Reddy, the chairman of Deccan Chronicle Holdings, among others.

V. N. Tripathi takes over as Member Staff, Railway Board: V. N. Tripathi on September 17, 2010 took over as new Member Staff, Railway Board and ex-officio Secretary to Government of India.

R. V. Verma is new CMD of NHB: R. V. Verma was appointed as the new Chairman and Managing Director of National Housing Bank (NHB) on September 15, 2010. NHB is currently a subsidiary with Reserve Bank of India.

Shah Rukh Khan is the highest taxpayer among film stars: Shah Rukh Khan on September 18, 2010, emerged as the No.1 tax payer for the second quarter (July-Sept) of 2010-11. The actor paid Rs. 5 crores to the Income Tax (IT) Department as compared to Rs. 3.5 crore that he paid during the same quarter last year. Other leading taxpayers among film stars include Akshay Kumar (Rs. 4.5 crore), Aamir Khan (Rs. 4 crore), Saif Ali Khan (Rs. 2.5 crore) and Ranbir Kapoor (Rs. 2.5 crore). Among actresses, Katrina Kaif was the top taxpayer having paid Rs. 1.3 crore as Income Tax for the second quarter of 2010-11 followed by Kareena Kapoor who paid taxes to the extent of Rs. 1 crore.

Sanjeev Kapoor, to launch “Indii” restaurants: Better Value Brands (BVB) in September 2010 joined hands with Master Chef and gourmet food expert, Sanjeev Kapoor, to launch the country's first global chain of Indian restaurants, called ―Indii.‖ The Rs. 100-crore joint venture plans to set up 70 Indii outlets across the country, and also aims to reach out to the Indian diaspora in different continents in the next 12 months.

Kishore Biyani joins New York Fashion Advisory Board: The Managing Director and CEO of Pantaloon Retail, Biyani was on September 19, 2010 appointed a member of the New York Fashion Advisory Board, after being invited by New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).

Katrina Kaif appointed Yardley brand ambassador: Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting (WCCL) on September 16, 2010 appointed actress Katrina Kaif as brand ambassador for its Yardley range of products.

Karisma Kapoor is new brand ambassador for Kellogg's Chocos: Kellogg India, the Indian subsidiary of Kellogg Company, in September 2010, signed actor Karisma Kapoor as the new brand ambassador for Kellogg's Chocos Rs 10 pack.


18

News round up

Basel III deal signed

Global regulators and central bank governors on September 12, 2010 reached a deal on Basel III, a sweeping reform that will force banks to hold more capital to withstand financial shocks. The Basel III norms are a significant improvement over Basel II norms that were agreed earlier. Agreement was reached at a meeting of central bank governors and top supervisors from 27 countries chaired by European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet. Following are the highlights:

BASEL III BASEL II

Tier 1 Capital Tier 1 Capital Ratio = 6%

Core Tier 1 Capital Ratio (Common Equity after deductions) = 4.5%

Core Tier 1 Capital Ratio (Common Equity after deductions) before 2013 = 2%, 1st January 2013 = 3.5%, 1st January 2014 = 4%, 1st January 2015 = 4.5%

The difference between the total capital requirement of 8.0% and the Tier 1 requirement can be met with Tier 2 capital.

Tier 1 capital ratio = 4%

Core Tier 1 capital ratio = 2% The difference between the total capital requirement of 8.0% and the Tier 1 requirement can be met with Tier 2 capital.

Capital Conservation Buffer

Banks will be required to hold a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% to withstand future periods of stress bringing the total common equity requirements to 7%.

Capital Conservation Buffer of 2.5 percent, on top of Tier 1 capital, will be met with common equity, after the application of deductions.

Capital Conservation Buffer before 2016 = 0%, 1st January 2016 = 0.625%, 1st January 2017 = 1.25%, 1st January 2018 = 1.875%, 1st January 2019 = 2.5%

The purpose of the conservation buffer is to ensure that banks maintain a buffer of capital that can be used to absorb losses during periods of financial and economic stress. While banks are allowed to draw on the buffer during such periods of stress, the closer their regulatory capital ratios approach the minimum requirement, the greater the constraints on earnings distributions.

There is no capital conservation buffer

Countercyclical Capital Buffer

A countercyclical buffer within a range of 0% – 2.5% of common equity or other fully loss absorbing capital will be implemented according to national circumstances.

Banks that have a capital ratio that is less than 2.5%, will face restrictions on payouts of dividends, share buybacks and bonuses.

The buffer will be phased in from January 2016 and will be fully effective in January 2019.

Countercyclical Capital Buffer before 2016 = 0%, 1st January 2016 = 0.625%, 1st January 2017 = 1.25%, 1st January 2018 = 1.875%, 1st January 2019 = 2.5%

There is no Countercyclical Capital Buffer

Total Regulatory Capital Ratio = [Tier 1 Capital Ratio] + [Capital Conservation Buffer] + [Countercyclical Capital Buffer] + [Capital for Systemically Important Banks].

New Wholesale Price Index series introduced

The base year has been shifted from „93-94 to „04-05, new products have been included and weights have been revised

The government on September 15, 2010 released a new series of the wholesale price index (WPI) that has 2004-05 as the base year instead of 1993-94. The new series will have 676 items compared to the 435 commodities earlier, while the number of quotations or sources for collating the price data would be 5,482 from 1,918 previously. Some products have been dropped while some new ones have been introduced. Weights assigned to different product groups have also undergone a change.

Dropped: Some of the dropped items are mica, imported petroleum crude, indigenous petroleum crude, Khadi, handloom cloth, broad gauge open wagons and wrist watches.


19

Included: The new index includes many of the more commonly used items such as refrigerators, washing machines, microwave ovens, computers and television sets. Many items that are now regularly consumed by the middle class such as ice cream, mineral water, readymade and instant food products, canned meat, leather products, dish antenna and even precious metals like gold and silver have also been included in the new index.

Different weights: The new series would also have a different weight, in line with the changes in the economy. The weight of the primary articles category in the WPI would now be 20.11 per cent compared to 22.02 per cent earlier, fuel and power would be 14.91 per cent from 14.22 per cent, while that of manufactured products would be 64.97 per cent against 63.74 per cent.

Wholesale price Index

No. of commodities No. of price quotations Weights assigned to product groups

Base Year 1993-94 2004-05 1993-04 2004-005 1993-04 2004-005

ALL COMMODITIES 435 676 1,918 5,482 100.00 100.00

Primary Articles 98 102 455 579 22.02 20.01

Food articles 54 55 340 431 15.402 14.337

Non-food articles 25 29 96 108 6.138 4.258

Minerals 19 18 19 40 0.485 1.521

Fuel and power 19 19 72 72 14.22 14.91

Manufactured products 318 555 1,391 4,381 63.74 64.97

Source: Ministry of Power & Industry

New CPI in the offing: The new index is unlikely to reflect the rise in prices for the ordinary consumer. This is primarily because the index reflects wholesale prices of items (not the prices at the consumer level) and because it does not include services. However, the department is working on a new consumer price index (CPI) — it is expected to be released by end of January 2011 — which will better reflect the consumption patterns of the middle class. The CPI, as it stands at the moment, is based on the consumption patterns of agricultural labourers and industrial workers, which is very different from what the middle class in the country is consuming. The revision is based on a working group set up by the government under the chairmanship of S.R. Hashim, the then member of the Planning Commission.

GoM reaches consensus on draft mining Bill

The bill seeks to balance the rights of indigenous people against the need for development, and proposes that 26 per cent of profits from mines be shared with locals.

The Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on September 18, 2010 approved the draft mining Bill, which seeks to make mining companies share 26 per cent of their profits with local people who get affected by their projects. Companies like Posco, Vedanta and ArcelorMittal have been facing protests against land acquisition in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa. The 10-member GoM was constituted in June to discuss the provisions in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Bill. The government is expected to introduce the Bill in the winter session of Parliament.

Profit sharing: The neglect of tribals, who are displaced for development of mines by the industry, has been seen as one of the reason for the Naxals gaining sympathy in these areas. Therefore, it has been felt that the local people should also be made stakeholders in such mines. Union minister for mining B K Handique clarified that the proposal of 26 per cent profit sharing by miners with tribals whose land is acquired by mining companies, was unlikely to be diluted. As per the new bill a District Mineral Foundation will be created and the locals will be paid out of it. Also in case a mining firm is not profitable, it will have to pay to this fund an amount equal to the royalty paid to the government.

Regulator: Apart from profit sharing with tribals whose land is acquired by mining companies, the new mining legislation also has provisions for setting up a central regulator to check the rampant illegal mining across the country. The Bill also proposes allowing states to set up special courts for prosecution of mining-related offences.


20

Mining companies oppose: Private sector mining companies are already opposing the 26 per cent profit-sharing provision. In a recent letter to the finance minister, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Secretary General Amit Mitra cautioned against mining projects becoming unviable in case the proposal was implemented, as it would put ―very heavy financial burden on mining companies‖. FICCI argues that if profits of mining companies can be shared with tribals, then even losses should be shared. The chamber has also said the proposal would lead to tribals misusing compensation money.

KPMG Report on „Corporate Governance in Public Sector‟ unveiled:

Global consultancy KPMG on September 13, 2010 said that not only senior personnel of public sector units (PSUs), but non-executive directors, too, should be paid salaries on par with their private sector counterparts. The report comes on the heels of the RBI making out a case for better pay packages for PSU bankers.

In its report, 'Corporate Governance in the Public Sector - The Road Ahead', KPMG said the non-executive directors of PSU boards are "under-compensated" and "this poses challenges in getting the right composition".

KPMG also suggested the government should limit its say to policy matters and matters of national interest, as well as minimise its involvement in the functioning of PSUs, besides ensuring there is more accountability in the sector, especially when disinvestment is gaining momentum. "As the government's disinvestment strategy gathers momentum, there is a genuine need to improve the levels of transparency and accountability within PSUs... Autonomy of PSUs, functioning of boards, failure on the part of many listed PSUs... are some issues that need to be tackled on a war-footing," the report noted.

At present, there are about 250 central PSUs in the country, with around 70 per cent of them being profitable. According to the KPMG report, the PSU disinvestment story has been a successful one, with 44 listed CPSEs (Central Public Sector Undertakings) contributing about 25 per cent to the BSE's total market capitalisation.

KPMG Report on „Corporate Governance in Public Sector‟: Major recommendations

Top management in PSUs should be paid salaries on par with their private sector counterparts To maximise their input, non-executive directors on PSUs should be drawn from the private sector and adequately

compensated on par with their private sector counterparts. Also, PSUs should be given the freedom to decide the salaries of their senior personnel. On aspects such as executive/senior level hires; executive compensation; performance management systems –

PSU management and boards should have complete autonomy.

UNCTAD releases „Trade & Development Report 2010‟

The United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD), which aims to promote trade and development in equal measure, has said that ―not all countries can rely on exports to boost growth and employment‖ today as the world economic recovery is still brittle.

In its flagship annual publication, Trade & Development Report 2010 released worldwide on September 14, 2010, the Geneva-based UN body states that ―a sustainable growth strategy requires a greater reliance on domestic demand than has been the case in many countries over the past 30 years‖.

UNCTAD releases „Trade & Development Report 2010‟: Highlights Unemployment is the most pressing social and economic problem of our time Employment creation must be a priority in economic policy Premature withdrawal of macroeconomic stimulus measures should be avoided Not all countries can rely on exports to boost growth and employment Strengthening domestic demand is indispensable

Vodafone challenges tax verdict in SC


21

British telecom major Vodafone on September 15, 2010 petitioned the Supreme Court against the recent Bombay High Court verdict on its dispute with the Income Tax (I-T) Department. Earlier, in September, the Bombay HC dismissed this plea and said the department had jurisdiction.

The I-T Department had sent a notice to Vodafone claiming capital gains tax for its purchase in 2007 of Hutchison Telecom International (HTIL)‘s 67 per cent stake in Hutch Essar for $11.2 billion (Rs 55,000 crore). The department put Vodafone‘s liability at Rs 12,000 crore.

The telecom company contended that the deal could not come under the tax department‘s jurisdiction. Vodafone argues the deal was done by two foreign entities: Hutchison Telecom International, based in the Cayman Islands, and Vodafone International Holdings BV, situated in Netherlands. Since the stake sale and purchase were done in foreign lands, it is not liable to be taxed in India.

Bharti Airtel gets RBI approval to start mobile payment services

Bharti Airtel on September 15, 2010 became the first mobile operator in the country to get a licence from the Reserve Bank of India to start mobile payment services. This service will allow Airtel subscribers to exchange physical cash for virtual money which can be stored on mobile phones to pay for goods and services for transaction value less than Rs 5,000. Once the user loads up his phone with prepaid cash he can walk into specified merchant locations and purchase goods and services.

Mobile cash Customers can exchange physical cash for virtual money, which can be stored on mobile phone The virtual money can be used to pay for goods and services for transaction value of less than Rs 5000 The service can be used to shopping at retail points identified by the mobile service provider just like in case of debit

cards. Instruments do not permit users to withdraw cash or reconvert the virtual money into hard cash

SBI ties up with Oxigen for kiosk banking

State Bank of India on September 15, 2010 has entered into an agreement with technology company Oxigen Services to offer kiosk banking in Mumbai and Maharashtra. Under the arrangement, Oxigen will provide the technology support, while Sahyog Microfinance Foundation, an Oxigen-sponsored company which is registered as a Banking Correspondent (BC) with SBI, will deal with the commercial aspects of the transactions.

Customers will have to open a no-frills SBI account through Oxigen Web Retailers that already offer services such as online bill payment and ticketing. The kiosks would be linked to SBI's Core Banking System to offer banking services such as account opening, cash deposit and withdrawals and products such as remittance, mortgages, loans, insurance and mutual funds.

The accounts will use fingerprints for identification. The bank will pay a fee to Oxigen for every account opened and every transaction – withdrawal and deposit. Oxigen has a total of 70,000 outlets of which 60 per cent are in urban areas, 25-30 per cent in semi-urban areas and about 10 per cent in rural areas.

RBI raises repo and reverse repo rates

The Reserve Bank of India increased the repo and reverse repo rates by 25 basis points and 50 basis points respectively in its mid-term quarterly review of monetary policy on September 16, 2010. The rate hike takes immediate effect and are aimed at containing inflation without hurting growth

After the rise, the repo rate (the interest that banks pay the RBI for getting funds) and the reverse repo rate (the interest that banks earn by parking surplus liquidity with the central bank) are at 6 per cent (0.25% increase) and 5 per cent (0.5% increase) respectively.

Cash Reserve Ratio has been retained at 6 per cent. Bank rate is unchanged at 6 per cent while Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) remains 25 per cent.

Private insurers included in modified crop insurance scheme


22

The government will allow select private sector insurance companies to participate in the Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS) that will be implemented in 50 districts from the Rabi season of 2010-11. A budgetary provision of Rs. 358 crore has been made for implementation of the scheme on a pilot basis for 2010-11 and 2011-12. The crops covered are food crops, cereals, millets and pulses, oilseeds, annual commercial horticultural crops. The Cabinet Committee for Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved the proposal of the Union Agriculture Ministry on September 16, 2010.

The scheme will cover farmers from failure of crop from ―non-preventable‖ risks including natural fire and lighting, storm, hail storm, cyclone, typhoon, tempest, hurricane, tornado, flood, inundation, landslides, drought, dry spells, pests and diseases. It will, however, not cover crop losses arising from ―war and nuclear risks, malicious damage and other preventable risks.''

Employee Provident Fund rate increased by 1%: The nearly six crore subscribers of the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) can expect higher returns in 2010-11. The EPFO (Employee Provident Fund Organisation) Board has decided on a one percentage point increase in the subscribers' interest rate to 9.5 per cent for 2010-11. The decision was announced on September 15, 2010 after a meeting of the 40-member Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the EPFO. Since 2005-06, the EPFO has been giving 8.5 per cent interest to the subscribers. The CBT has also decided not to invest in the stock market. At present, EPFO invests in Central and State Government securities, state development bonds, besides PSU and some private sector bonds. The CBT has decided not to pay further interest on accounts lying inoperative for more than three years.

Platinum jubilee of Bank of Maharashtra celebrated: Platinum jubilee of the Bank of Maharashtra was celebrated on September 16, 2010. Allen C.A. Pereira is the Chairman and Managing Director of the Bank founded by Prof. V. G. Kale and the late D. K. Sathe on September 16, 1935 at Pune. The bank was listed on Bombay Stock Exchange in 1958 and nationalised in 1969.

India ranked fifth as investment destination: India has been placed fifth in a FICCI and Ernst & Young ranking of select countries for future real estate investment unveiled on September 16, 2010. China has clinched the top slot followed by the US, UK and Singapore. Germany, Brazil, UAE and Russia took up the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth positions, respectively. The ranking is based on scores across various parameters such as country economy development index, real estate market index, real estate industry index and regulatory index. India scored well on two parameters (country economy development index and real estate market index) but slipped on the regulatory index due to factors such as unclear titles, absence of real estate investment trusts and a real estate regulator. This, in turn, pulled down its overall score in the index.

Forex reserves at $284.500 billion on September 11: India‘s foreign exchange reserves were at $284.500 billion for the week ending September 10, 2010, according to figures released in the Reserve Bank of India's weekly statistical supplement. Foreign currency assets were $257.569 billion. Gold reserves were at $20 billion while SDRs were at $4.986 billion. The Reserve Position in the IMF was $1.937 billion.

Farmers in drought hit districts to get diesel subsidy: Farmers in drought hit districts will get a diesel subsidy of Rs 500 per hectare, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar announced on September 17, 2010 at the two day National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign 2010 in New Delhi. A bumper harvest is expected for most key Kharif crops including paddy, pulses, coarse cereals and sugarcane. Oilseeds are the only crop where acreage is lower than normal and production is expected to be less than normal.

„India 7th

largest vehicle producing country globally‟ – Govt: The government on September 13, 2010 claimed that India has become the seventh largest vehicle producing nation in the world. The claim was made by Secretary for Ministry of Heavy Industry, B S Meena who added that by 2020 the country will be among the top five vehicle producers. Currently, China is the largest vehicle producer of the world followed by the US. The Auto Mission Plan (AMP) had projected India to become the seventh largest vehicle producing country in the world by 2016. According to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the country vehicle production increased to 1,40,49,830 units in 2009-10, a rise of over 25 per cent from 11,172,275 units in the previous fiscal.


23

„RITES‟ signs JV with „SAIL‟ for wagon factory at Kulti: RITES Ltd., the PSU of Ministry of Railways and Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL), the PSU of Ministry of Steel, on September 14, 2010 signed a joint venture agreement to set up a wagon manufacturing factory at Kulti near Asansol in Bardhman district of West Bengal.

RBI authorises ItzCash to issue Mobile Wallet: Essel Group's Itz Cash Card Ltd on September 17, 2010 received the requisite RBI clearance for issuing Mobile Wallet under The Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007. Itz Cash Card is the country's first-ever multi service pre-paid card company. With this license, the company can offer Mobile Wallet facilities to its cell-phone subscribers.

India‟s largest bus depot inaugurated: The Millennium Park Bus Depot, the country's largest public transport bus depot that would provide parking space for about 1,000 buses during the Commonwealth Games, was commissioned by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on September 17, 2010.

Number portability from November 1: Mobile Number Portability (MNP) — which allows mobile subscribers to retain their existing number while changing operators — is on schedule to be rolled out across the country on November 1, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman J.S. Sarma said on September 17, 2010.

Ban on futures trading in sugar to be lifted: The ban on futures trading in sugar will be lifted on October 1, 2010, informed Chairman of Forward Markets Commission (FMC), B.C. Khatua on September 15, 2010. The ban imposed in May 2009 following a steep rise in the price of sugar, when the country had to import huge quantities to meet a supply-side shortfall.

„India second-most challenging place for expatriate managers‟ – Economist: India is the second-most

difficult posting for expatriate managers to work in, according to a report released by the Economist Intelligence Unit on September 18, 2010. The survey conducted in July this year covered 418 executives who had collectively worked in 77 different countries. It showed that 34 per cent believed working in India would qualify them for a special ‗hardship‘ living allowance, next only to Nigeria (37 per cent). The hardship estimate is based on factors such as political stability, crime levels and quality of housing, health and education, according to the authors of the survey-based report.

Microsoft unveils Internet Explorer 9: Microsoft on September 15, 2010 released test version of its latest web browser, Internet Explorer 9 (IE9), which it hopes will help revive its fortunes in an increasingly competitive market. Since 2003, the company has seen a 97% share in web-browser market dwindle to 60%. Google Chrome now commands more than 7.5% of the market, despite only being first released in December 2008. Mozilla, which has recently launched a test version of Firefox 4, has nearly 25% of the market and in some countries is the dominant web browser.

16 Indian companies in Forbes Asia's Fab 50 list: India and China have tied for top place on the 2010 Forbes Asia's Fab 50 List with 16 firms each in the annual raking unveiled in September 2010. Indian companies, which are featured on the list for the first time this year, are Dr Reddy's Labs, HCL Technologies, Hindalco, ITC, JSW Steel, Kotak Mahindra and Sterlite Industries. The firms were picked from a shortlist of 936 that had revenues or market capitalisation of at least $3 billion as of September 1, and a five-year record for revenue, operating earnings and return on capital. Other criteria included recent financial results, share price movement and outlook.

Coke is No. 1 brand in Interbrand Annual Ranking 2010: Coca-Cola has retained its position as the number one ranked brand on the Interbrand Annual Ranking 2010 of the Best Global Brands for the 11

th year in succession. The

list unveiled in September 2010 values the Coca-Cola brand at $70.45 billion in 2010. Coca-Cola is followed by IBM, Microsoft, Google, GE, McDonald‘s, Intel, Nokia, Disney and HP in the top 10 list. Interbrand ranks companies by the amount of their revenue attributable to their brands. It uses a formula that combines the brand's future strength and its role in creating demand.

Murugappa Group reveals new brand identity: Chennai-based business conglomerate Murugappa Group on September 9, 2010 unveiled a new brand identity: the refreshed logo takes the form of the Murugappa peacock in a vibrant shade of red. ‗Energy Unbound‘ is the theme of the group whose major companies include Carborundum Universal Ltd., Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Ltd., Cholamandalam MS General Insurance


24

Company Ltd, Coromandel International Ltd, Coromandel Engineering Company Ltd, EID Parry (India) Ltd, Parry Agro Industries Ltd, Tube Investments of India Ltd and Wendt (India) Ltd.

Sahara India bids for MGM: Sahara India Pariwar, an Indian conglomerate with real estate and media holdings, on September 16, 2010 announced a $2-billion bid to buy the debt-ridden Hollywood studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

Shriram Group, TPG group to buy Vishal Retail: The Board of debt-ridden retailer Vishal Retail on September 13, 2010 approved the sale of its retail business to the Shriram Group and its wholesale business to the Indian unit of TPG (formerly know as Texas Pacific Group) for a total consideration of Rs 100 crore. The sale does not include the New Delhi-based firm's properties in Hubli, Kolkata, Dehradun and Jabalpur cities. The company runs stores under brands such as Vishal Megamart and Vishal Retail.

Reliance Brands sets up JV with Ermenegildo Zegna: Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Brands on September 16, 2010 said it has set up a joint venture with Italy's Ermenegildo Zegna Group to explore opportunities in the domestic market. For this purpose, Zegna South Asia Private Ltd that is operational since 2006 will be reorganised as the joint venture with the Ermenegildo Zegna Group holding 51 per cent and Reliance Brands holding 49 per cent.

Reckitt sues 'copycat' Bharti, Wal-Mart JV: Reckitt Benckiser India, the maker of Dettol antiseptic soap and Cherry Blossom shoe polish, in September 2010, served a legal notice to Bharti Walmart demanding that the cash-and-carry joint company withdraw its Great Value toilet cleaner, as it infringes upon the ‗bottle design and cap‘ of Reckitt‘s Harpic brand, the domestic market leader in this category.

EU bans import of branded Indian honey: The European Union has banned the import of branded honey from India after laboratory tests showed a high level of lead and antibiotics in the samples, informed Asit Tripathy, chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, on September 17, 2010.

ICICI Bank, Kingfisher Airlines launch credit card: ICICI Bank and Kingfisher Airlines on September 15, 2010 announced the launch of ICICI Bank Kingfisher Airlines MasterCard Credit Card. The card is available in 3 variants — World, Platinum and Titanium.

KSDL launches Mysore Sandal Dhoop: Mysore Sandal Dhoop is the latest offering from the State-run Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd. (KSDL), the manufacturers of the famed Mysore Sandal Soap, a Geographical Indication (GI) product. Mysore Sandal Dhoop was launched on September 16, 2010 mark the 150

th birth anniversary of Sir M.V.

Visvesvaraya, the founder of the company.

Philips to expand retail presence: Philips Electronics India Ltd on September 13, 2010 announced plans to expand its retail presence throughout the country. The company aims to have 450 exclusive touch points – 400 Light Shoppes and 50 Light Lounges – by the end of 2010.

Escorts launches inverter tractor: Escorts Ltd on September 13, 2010 announced the launch of the country's first-ever inverter tractor. The technology will be introduced in the Farmtrac 45 and will provide instant power to farmers. The technology offers farmers a vehicle that can be used as a tractor for agri-operations and with the help of an in-built battery system, can generate electricity to help farmers light up their homes at night. Farmers do not have to dismantle the system to charge the battery as the system enables the battery to charge automatically when the tractor is in use.

Russia-India Biotech Network to be set up: An agreement to set up a Russia-India Biotech Network (RIBN) was signed in Hyderabad on September 14, 2010. The RIBN would serve as a dedicated platform to help facilitate collaboration between Russian and Indian biotech companies. The agreement was signed and exchanged in the presence of the Chief Minister, K. Rosaiah by Prof. Raif Vasilov, President, Russian Biotechnology Society and CEO of Russian Biotechnology Association, and Dr. B.S. Bajaj, Convenor of Bio-Asia 2011 and Secretary of Federation of Biotech Associations (FABA).

NIIT unveils Google-certified programme: IT training company NIIT Ltd on September 14, 2010 announced the launch of an ‗Advanced Online Advertising' programme for advertising and marketing professionals, in association with Google India. Under this, NIIT Imperia will offer a Google certified training programme in online advertising that is designed to equip the Indian advertising and marketing professionals with better understanding of Google's global advertising programme ‗AdWords'.


25

Airtel introduces temple packs: Bharti Airtel on September 14, 2010 introduced ‗temple packs‘, which allows users to get information on their favourite temples every day through text messages. To begin with, the cellular service provider would provide updates on nine popular temples in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The list included temples in Tirupati, Srisailam, Meenakshi, Rameshwaram, Sabarimala and Guruvayoor.

Tata Indicom launches “doctor on call” emergency service: Tata Indicom on September 15, 2010 launched an emergency service called ―doctor on call‖ in partnership with Rx Healthcare Magic Private. The service is based on an interactive voice response system. The doctors would ask the medical history of the caller, including details like age, sex, marital status and location. The doctor will then determine if the case falls under three categories – acute, chronic or emergency and advise accordingly.

Gadget World Mobile Expo 2010 in Chennai: A three-day Gadget World Mobile Expo 2010 will be held from October 1 and 3 at Raja Muthiah Hall in Chennai. Gadget World has been made as tech property to bring the whole mobile gadget market to one platform. The show will integrate the manufacturer, retailer, buyer, service provider, B2B segment and distributor.

HP to buy ArcSight for $1.5 bn: Hewlett-Packard Co, the world‘s biggest personal-computer maker, on September 14, 2010 agreed to buy ArcSight Inc for about $1.5 billion in cash to gain security software. ArcSight, a maker of software used to identify suspicious activity on a corporate network, may help HP better incorporate security features into other products.

US airlines United and Continental create global leader: United Airlines and Continental Airlines have been cleared to merge, creating the world's largest carrier. Shareholders in the two airlines overwhelmingly voted to approve the deal on September 17, 2010. The merged airline will be known as United Airlines, with Continental's chief executive Jeff Smisek taking on the same role at the new carrier.

Nielsen, McKinsey launch NM Incite: Research firms, The Nielsen Company and McKinsey on September 14, 2010 announced the launch of their global joint venture (JV), named NM Incite, in India. The JV will offer social media monitoring and consultancy services to advertisers.

Wieden+Kennedy unveils „Motherland‟: Advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy on September 17, 2010 launched ‗Motherland‘, a magazine on contemporary Indian subculture.

Acer launches Ferrari smartphone: Acer, on September 17, 2010, launched its smartphone ‗Liquid E Ferrari‘ in India.

LG Electronics replaces CEO: LG Electronics, the world's third-biggest mobile phone maker, on September 17, 2010 replaced its chief executive after record losses at its handset business. Nam Yong will be replaced by Koo Bon-joon, the brother of the chairman of parent company LG Group.

LG Electronics launches Optimus One: LG Electronics, in September 2010, unveiled its first smartphone, Optimus One, in the global market including India.

Godrej Security launches Eaglei: Godrej Security Solutions, in September 2010, launched a new range of wireless burglar and fire alarm system under the brand name Eaglei.

Berger Paints launches Breathe Easy: Kolkata-based Berger Paints launched an ecofriendly paint Breathe Easy. The brand is looking to tie up with various builders and hospitals to promote the new product.

BoB to take over Memon Cooperative Bank: The Bank of Baroda (BoB) on September 14, 2010 said it has received approvals from the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for taking over the assets and liabilities of Memon Cooperative Bank. Operations of the Co-operative Bank, which has 15 branches in Maharashtra and three in Gujarat, have been suspended since May 2009 due to its precarious financial condition.

United Breweries to merge Millennium Alcobev with itself: Vijay Mallya-promoted United Breweries on September 15, 2010 said that it would merge its group firm Millennium Alcobev and its subsidiaries with itself. Millennium Alcobev, a joint venture between UBL and Heineken, has three operating companies with breweries located in Haryana, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

United Spirits to buy Pioneer Distilleries: United Breweries Group‘s flagship company United Spirits on September 15, 2010 said it had inked a deal to acquire a 54.69 per cent stake in Pioneer Distilleries Ltd (PDL) for Rs 73.95 crore.


26

Section E: SPORTS

Newsmakers

Nadal, Clijsters win singles titles at US Open Tennis

The 2010 US Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts, held from August 30 to September 13, 2010 in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York City, United States. Following is the complete list of winners:

Men's singles title was won by Rafael Nadal (Spain) who beat Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in the final.

Women‟s singles title was won by Belgium‘s Kim Clijsters for the second straight year beating Russia‘s Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-1 in the final.

Men's doubles title was won by Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan of the US who beat Rohan Bopanna (India) & Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi (Pakistan) 7–6(5), 7–6(4) in the final.

Women's doubles title was won by Vania King (USA) & Yaroslava Shvedova (Kazakhstan) who beat Liezel Huber (USA) & Nadia Petrova (Russia) 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) in the final

Mixed doubles title was won by Liezel Huber (USA) & Bob Bryan (USA) who beat Kveta Peschke (Czech Republic) & Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi (Pakistan) 6–4, 6–4 in the final.

Junior girls‟ title was won by Daria Gavrilova (Russia) who beat Yulia Putintseva (Russia) 6-3, 6-2 in the final.

Junior boys‟ title was won by Jack Sock (USA) who beat Denis Kudla (USA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the final.

US Open 2010: Prize money

Men's and Women's Singles Men's and Women's Doubles Mixed Doubles

Winners $1,700,000 $420,000 $150,000

Runners-up $850,000 $210,000 $70,000

Sushil Kumar wins Gold in World Wrestling Championship: Sushil Kumar on September 12, 2010 became the first Indian to win a Gold Medal in World Wrestling Championships when he defeated Russia‘s Alan Gogaev to win the 66 kg freestyle title in Moscow. Sushil had earlier won a bronze medal at Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. Sushil Kumar was awarded by Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2009, the highest award for any sportsperson. Former Asian Games gold medallist Satpal is his coach. Sushil Kumar is posted as an Assistant Commercial Manager with the Northern Railway.

Latif resigns as Pak National Cricket Academy coach: Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif on September 14, 2010 resigned as a coach at the national cricket academy after authorities handed him a notice over a statement he had made about spot-fixing. Pakistani cricket has been rocked by an investigation against three of its top cricketers in Britain over the latest spot-fixing scandal. Scotland Yard, London's police headquarters, is investigating the claims in Britain's News of the World newspaper, and asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the ICC not to give statements about them until the inquiry is finished.

Dhoni, Tendulkar in ESPNcricinfo's „all-time greats' list: Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, opener Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar are the four current players who have made it to ESPNcricinfo's India all-time XI unveiled on September 15, 2010. The XI: Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Vijay Hazare, Vinoo Mankad, Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Erapalli Prasanna.

Flintoff retires from international cricket: Former England captain Andrew Flintoff, regarded as one of the finest all-rounders of the game, on September 16, 2010 announced his retirement from international cricket. The 32-year-old Flintoff played 79 Tests, scoring 3845 runs (ave 31.77) and taking 226 wickets in a career spanning 12 years. In one-day internationals (ODIs), Flintoff scored 3394 runs (ave 32.01) and took 169 wickets in 141 matches.


27

Bangladesh names Ian Pont as bowling coach: Bangladesh on September 15, 2010 appointed English former county cricketer Ian Pont as national team bowling coach. Earlier, another Englishman, Julien Fountain, was appointed as its fielding coach.

Alonso wins Italian Grand Prix: Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain on September 12, 2010 won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza followed by Jenson Button (McLaren) and Felipe Massa (Ferrari) in second and third positions respectively. Force India drivers Vitantonio Liuzzi and Adrian Sutil finished 12

th and 16

th respectively.

Pankaj Advani wins National snooker title: Pankaj Advani beat Lucky Vatnani 6-5 in the final to win his fifth National snooker title at the PYC Hindu Gymkhana in Pune on September 13, 2010.

News round up

Argentina wins women‟s hockey World Cup: Hosts Argentina beat reigning World, Olympic and European champions The Netherlands 3-1 in the final played in Rosario on September 11, 2010 to win the Women‘s Hockey World Cup. Earlier, England beat Germany 2-0 to take bronze.

India at 160th

position in FIFA rankings: India, coached by Bob Houghton, was at the 160th spot in the latest FIFA

rankings issued on September 15, 2010. In the overall list, world champions Spain continued their reign at the top, followed by the Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, England, Uruguay, Portugal, Egypt and Chile.

East Bengal gets new sponsor: East Bengal football club on September 17, 2010 roped in Saradha Group as an associate sponsor to fund its activities in the new season. The club already has Kingfisher as its principal sponsor.

Voices of the Week

"I am the first wrestler from India to win the World Championship. It is great for the sport because all wrestlers will now think if Sushil can, why cannot I? This gold will motivate youngsters to take up wrestling as a professional sport."

– Sushil Kumar, wrestler

―Vera just keep it going, it will happen.‖

– Belgium‘s Kim Clijsters, US Open women‘s title winner, consoling losing finalist Russian Vera Zvonareva after her loss 6-2 6-1

―As a former captain, people look up to me and expect me to speak honestly and without bias, and that I have done without meaning anything personal against anyone.‖

– Rashid Latif, former Pakistan captain, who resigned as coach at the National Cricket Academy after the Pakistan Cricket Board handed him a notice over a statement he had made about spot-fixing


28

Voices of the Week (contd.)

―A soldier to perform his duty deserves all the legal protection that he can get. I am sure the government is sensitised to this problem and whatever decision they will take I am sure it will be the correct one.‖ – Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, Chairman

Chiefs of Staff Committee, on demands for withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)

―My suggestion to those wise men and women seeking to dilute or revoke AFSPA: If you cannot stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them.‖ – Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP and

industrialist, on the proposed changes in AFPSA

―We allowed the separatists to gather. But look at what they call a peaceful protest. They burnt down government buildings, destroyed whatever came in their way on the roads and attacked our posts.‖ – Kuldeep Khoda, J&K Director General

of Police (DGP)

―No compromise now. The ongoing agitation is for complete Azaadi. We did not lose 69 teenagers for a few petty concessions.‖

– Yasin Malik, Kashmiri separatist

leader, saying they will not just settle for partial withdrawal of the AFPSA or release of those detained during the protests

―It appears that without knowing the details of the terror attack, the actor made such statements and I shall say these are childish remarks. They (terrorists) don't make any distinction between rich and poor. ―

– Ujjwal Nikam, noted lawyer, on Salman

Khan‘s comments on 26/11 attacks

"There is no reason for us to harbour anger against Salman. His family is nationalist and patriotic in true sense." – Bal Thackeray, Shiv Sena Chief, in an

editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'

―It is high time the international community matched the hospitality shown by Pakistan and provides adequate financial support to Pakistan.‖

– Antonio Guterres, United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees, on Pakistan's decision to continue providing refuge to the 1.7 million Afghan refugees living here despite the devastating floods

"Natural disasters do not respect national boundaries." – Hardeep Singh Puri, India's Envoy to

the UN, after handing over the cheque to Ban in the presence of Pakistan's envoy to the UN Abdullah Hussain Haroon

―It was not a religion that attacked us that September day — it was al-Qaeda, a sorry band of men which perverts religion.‖ – Barack Obama, US President, on the

anniversary of September 11 attacks saying the US was not at war with Islam.

―This is not about security or religion, but respecting our republican principles.‖ – Michele Alliot-Marie, French Justice

Minister, justifying the law banning burqa passed by Parliament

"The CVC has become a tame, docile entity. It consists of bureaucrats who have lost their spines and are in awe of the politicians."

– Prashant Bhushan, noted lawyer, on

the controversy surrounding the appointment of new CVC

―Every relationship has to be built by taking each other‘s sensitivities into account. It cannot be a one-way street.‖ – Nirupama Rao, Foreign Secretary,

commenting on recent Chinese provocations

General Awareness Test-September 12 to 18, 2010 1


No of questions: 100

Answers marked by * Explanatory answer after each question 1. Who among the following was in news recently for appointment as Chairperson of Sangeet Natak Akademi? a) Yamini Krishamurthy b) Sonal Mansingh c) Sanjukta Panigrahi d) Leela Samson* e) Mallika Sarabhai Answer 1: The President of India on August 10, 2010 appointed Leela Samson as the Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi for a term of 5 years with immediate effect. Samson is presently Director of the Chennai based Kalakshetra Foundation, which is the famed institute of classical arts founded by Late Rukmini Devi Arundale. She has choreographed a number of compositions in Bharat Natyam and has authored the book ‗Rhythm in Joy‘. Samson has received many honours including the Padmashri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. 2. The government issued a notification amending the Securities Contracts (Regulation) (Amendment) Rules, 2010 for listing on stock exchanges recently. Which of the following statements is/are correct? I. Public sector enterprises (PSEs) must have a minimum public shareholding of 10% for remaining listed II. Private sector companies must have a minimum public shareholding of 25% for remaining listed III. Companies can raise their public shareholding level within three years of the issue of notification a) I and II only b) II only c) I and III only d) III only e) I, II and III* Answer 2: The government on August 9, 2010 issued a notification amending the Securities Contracts (Regulation) (Amendment) Rules, 2010 which had been notified on June 4, 2010. This notification allows for a lower public shareholding for public sector enterprises (PSEs). Following are the highlights:

Public sector enterprises (PSEs) must have a minimum public shareholding of 10% for remaining listed

Private sector companies must have a minimum public shareholding of 25% for remaining listed

Companies can raise their public shareholding level within three years of the issue of notification 3. Which of the following is not a private sector bank? a) HDFC Bank b) ICICI Bank c) Axis Bank d) Corporation Bank* e) None of the above 4. Which of the following statements about India‘s Services Exports is/are correct, according to information given in Parliament recently? I. India‘s Services Exports were at $ 93,791 million in 2009-10 II. India ranked at 9

th position in world trade in commercial services in 2009

III. India‘s Merchandise Exports in 2009-10 were greater than Services Exports


a) I and II only b) II only c) I and III only* d) III only e) I, II and III Answer 4: India‘s services exports were at 93791 million in 2009-10. As per WTO 2010 press release, India ranked at 12

th position in world trade in commercial services in 2009. This information was given by Jyotiraditya

M Scindia, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry in the Lok Sabha on August 09, 2010. India‘s Services exports vis-à-vis total exports (in $ million)

Year 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

Services Exports 90342 101678 (PR) 93791(P)

Merchandise Exports 166162 189001(PR) 182163(P)

Total Exports 256504 290679 275954

P- Preliminary; PR-Partially Revised (Source: RBI data on India‘s Overall Balance of Trade)

5. Who among the following journalists was in news recently for appointment as member of the National Commission for Minorities as a representative of the majority community? a) Balraj Puri b) Rajdeep Sardesai c) Barkha Dutt d) Inder Malhotra e) Vinod Sharma* Answer 5: Vinod Sharma, political editor of Hindustan Times, was on August 6, 2010, appointed member of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) as a representative of the majority community. He succeeds veteran journalist Dileep Padgaonkar. The NCM consists of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and five Members nominated by the Central Government. Five Members including the Chairperson must be from amongst the minority communities. 6. Who among the following film personalities was appointed UNICEF National Ambassador for promoting child rights and adolescence recently? a) Preity Zinta b) Boman Irani c) Priyanka Chopra* d) Anupam Kher e) Shabana Azmi Answer 6: Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra was on August 10, 2010 appointed UNICEF National Ambassador for promoting child rights and adolescence. 7. Delhi students, Amanjot Singh and Sahil Wadhwa, were news recently for the naming of which of the following after them by the International Astronomical Search Collaboration? a) Galaxy b) Meteor c) Asteroid* d) Comet e) Planet Answer 7: Delhi students, Amanjot Singh and Sahil Wadhwa discover asteroid: Amanjot Singh and Sahil Wadhwa, students of Ryan International in New Delhi, created a history of sorts on August 6, 2010 by discovering the main belt asteroid named 2010 PO24. This is the first time an asteroid has been spotted by any


school in the country. The two students found it while participating in the ―All-India Asteroid Search Campaign,‖ conducted by the Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE) in collaboration with the International Astronomical Search Collaboration. 8. Dr. Anil Kakodkar was conferred the Degree of Doctor of Science by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi recently, for his achievements in which of the following fields? a) Higher Education b) Labour relations c) Biotechnology d) Missile technology e) Atomic energy* Answer 8: Dr. Anil Kakodkar conferred Doctor of Science at IIT, Delhi: Former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr. Anil Kakodkar was conferred the Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi on August 7, 2010 for his outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of nuclear science and engineering. 9. Which of the following best describes the ‗Swavalamban‘ scheme introduced by the government recently? a) Debt waiver for farmers in drought hit areas b) Pension scheme for workers in the unorganised sector* c) Subsidised bank credit for entrepreneurs in rural areas d) Health insurance at subsidised rates for below poverty line families e) All the above Answer 9: The Union Cabinet on August 9, 2010 approved implementation of the ‗Swavalamban‘ scheme to cover workers in the unorganised sector under the New Pension System

Under the scheme, the government is to provide an assistance of Rs. 1,000 a year as co-contribution to every NPS (New Pension System) account of 10 lakh unorganised sector workers, starting this fiscal (2009-10) for four years, till 2013-14 to cover 40 lakh subscribers.

The beneficiary (unorganised sector worker) will have to contribute any amount from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 12,000 a year to his NPS account.

The scheme is to be managed by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), and the government would release its contribution to it. Towards this end, the government will also provide Rs. 100 crore to the PFRDA for creation of public awareness of NPS and enlistment of subscribers. 10. The V.V. Giri Memorial Award 2009 conferred on Dr. Ravi Srivastava recently, is given for achievements in which of the following fields? a) Higher Education b) Labour relations* c) Geology d) Missile technology e) Atomic energy Answer 10: The V.V. Giri Memorial Award 2009 was conferred on Dr. Ravi Srivastava, Professor of Economics and Chairman of the Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University by Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister of Labour and Employment on August 10, 2010. The Award which includes Rs. 1 lakh and a citation recognizes excellence in labour research. The theme for the V.V. Giri Memorial Award 2009 was research on labour migration. 11. Which of the following categories of Indian Telecom Industry showed in decline in revenues in 2009-


10, according to the Voice & Data survey of Indian Telecom Industry 2010 unveiled recently? a) Fixedline* b) Cellular c) National Long Distance d) International Long Distance e) Broadband Answer 11: According to the Voice & Data survey of Indian Telecom Industry 2010 released in July 2010, following is an account of category-wise revenues of different segments:-

Indian Telecom Services Industry-Category-wise revenue (in Rs crore)

Category 2008-09 2009-10 % Change

Fixedline 24,649 18,900 -23.3

Cellular 93,522 96,860 3.6

National Long Distance 14,432 16,400 13.6

International Long Distance 15,000 17,600 17.3

Broadband 7,500 9,000 20.0

VSAT 540 702 30.0

Radio Trunking 40 48 20.0

Total 155,683 159,510 2.5

Source: Voice & Data survey of Indian Telecom Industry 2010-July 2010

12. The Prem Bhatia Awards, conferred on Raj Kumar Keswani and Ritu Sarin recently, are given for achievements in which of the following fields? a) Science & Technology b) Journalism* c) Education d) Banking e) Films Answer 12: ‗The Indian Express‘ journalist Ritu Sarin was presented the Prem Bhatia Award for excellence in political reporting and analysis. Former ‗Dainik Bhaskar‘ employee Raj Kumar Keswani, who currently runs a website called ‗The Bhopal Post‘, and whose work on the Bhopal gas tragedy is highly acclaimed, was given the award for environmental journalism at a ceremony organised by the Prem Bhatia Memorial Trust on August 12, 2010. 13. The ‗NDM-1‘ bacteria, which was in news recently, is named after which of the following? a) An Indian city* b) An Indian hospital c) An Indian state d) An Indian scientist e) An Indian patient Answer 13: Indian hospitals are said to be the origin of anti-biotic resistant NDM-1 bacteria, according to a study published in a reputed British medical journal on August 11, 2010. NDM-1 stands for New Delhi metallo-betalactamase-1. 14. Who among the following was appointed as the Co-Chairperson of the 21-member United Nations High-level Panel on Global Sustainability recently? a) Tarja Halonen* b) Paula Lehtomäki c) Mauri Pekkarinen


d) Anneli Jäätteenmäki e) Mari Kiviniemi Answer 14: The UN Secretary-General on August 9, 2010 launched a 21-member High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP) that brings together leading global policymakers, private sector and civil society experts in order to formulate a new blueprint for sustainable growth and low-carbon prosperity for all on a planet under increasing strain from climate change.

Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland, was appointed Co-Chairperson of the Panel. President Jacob Zuma of South Africa is the other Co-Chairperson at the Panel established by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon.

The Panel will address sustainable development by focusing especially on climate change and is expected to deliver its final report at the end of 2011. The recommendations of the Panel are likely to be used in the preparations for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012 in Rio de Janeiro. 15. The 13

th ‗Gollapudi Srinivas National Award‘ awarded in Chennai recently, is given for achievements

in which field? a) Science & Technology b) Journalism c) Education d) Banking e) Films* Answer 15: Director Amit Rai was presented with the 13

th ‗Gollapudi Srinivas National Award‘ in Chennai on August

12, 2010. The award, instituted by the Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Foundation, is given to a debutant director annually in memory of Gollapudi Srinivas. This year, Amit Rai‘s film ‗Road to Sangam‘ (Hindi) emerged winner among several nominations. 16. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled a discussion paper on entry of new banks in the private sector on August 11, 2010. Under the current RBI norms, promoter stake in new private sector banks should be a minimum of ____ (of the paid-up capital of the bank) at the time of licensing of banks with a lock-in period of____. a) 40 percent, 5 years* b) 35 percent, 5 years c) 25 percent, 3 years d) 25 percent, 5 years e) 20 percent, 3 years Answer 16: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled a discussion paper on entry of new banks in the private sector on August 11, 2010. Under the current RBI norms, promoter stake in new private sector banks should be a minimum of 40 percent (of the paid-up capital of the bank) at the time of licensing of banks with a lock-in period of 5 years. 17. Which multinational pharmaceutical company sponsored the research on NDM-1 bacteria that was in news for its publication in a leading British medical journal recently? a) GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals b) Pfizer* c) Merck d) Eli Lilly e) Johnson & Johnson Answer 17: Indian hospitals are said to be the origin of anti-biotic resistant NDM-1 bacteria, according to a study


published in a reputed British medical journal on August 11, 2010, warning that the bacteria could spread worldwide. The study was funded by the European Union; Wellcome Trust, a charity that sponsors medical research, and Wyeth, a pharma company now part of Pfizer. 18. Which of the following statements about India‘s Banking Sector is/are correct, according to a RBI discussion paper unveiled in August 2010? I. There are 27 public sector banks, 7 new private sector banks, 15 old private sector banks, 31 foreign banks and 86 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) as on March 31, 2009 II. The average population coverage by a commercial bank branch in urban areas improved is at 12,300 as on June 30, 2010 III. The average population coverage by a commercial bank branch in rural and semi urban areas is at 17,200 as on June 30, 2010 a) I and II only b) II only c) II and III only d) III only e) I, II and III* Answer 18: As of March 31, 2009, the Indian banking system comprised 27 public sector banks, 7 new private sector banks, 15 old private sector banks, 31 foreign banks, 86 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), 4 Local Area Banks (LABs), 1,721 urban cooperative banks, 31 state co-operative banks and 371 district central co-operative banks.

The average population coverage by a commercial bank branch in urban areas is at 12,300 as on June 30, 2010

The average population coverage by a commercial bank branch in rural and semi urban areas is at 17,200 as on June 30, 2010

The all India population coverage by a commercial bank branch is at 13,400 as on June 30, 2010. 19. Which of the following statements about a study on NDM-1 bacteria that was in news recently is/are correct? I. The NDM-1 bacteria is not resistant to most antibiotics II. The study on NDM-1 bacteria was published in British medical journal Lancet III. Some Indian hospitals were involved in the study a) I and II only b) II only c) II and III only* d) III and I only e) I, II and III Answer 19: Indian hospitals are said to be the origin of anti-biotic resistant NDM-1 bacteria, according to a study published in the reputed British medical journal Lancet on August 11, 2010, warning that the bacteria could spread worldwide.

The NDM-1 bacteria are resistant even to carbapenems, a group of antibiotics often reserved as a last resort for emergency treatment for multi-drug resistant bugs. Researchers said the bugs had been brought into Britain by patients who travelled to India or Pakistan for cosmetic surgery.

Several Indian institutions were involved in its research and compilation of the study. Six Indian institutes, including the Department of Microbiology at Banaras Hindu University‘s Institute of Medical Sciences, P D Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Mumbai and the Microbiology Department at the University of Madras in Chennai, participated in the study in collaboration with Cardiff University, UK, and Stockholm‘s prestigious Karolinska University Hospital. 20. T. S. Darbari, was suspended from which of the following high profile positions on charges of


corruption recently? a) Directorate General of Hydrocarbons b) Director General of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee* c) Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research d) Director General of the National Council of Applied Economic Research e) Director General of Foreign Trade Answer 20: T S Darbari, the Director General of the Director General of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CWOC), was on August 9, 2010 suspended by the Sports Ministry after allegations of corruption surfaced against him in several cases. After his dismissal, the charge will be now taken over by Additional Director General V K Saxena. Darbari has been charged with involvement in irregularities of payments to AM Cars and Vans Hire and AM Films — the UK based service providers for the launch of the Queen‘s Baton Relay functions in London in October 2009. 21. Who among the following former Governors of the RBI was appointed Chairperson of a committee of experts set up by the Minister to formulate a jobs plan for the youth of Jammu & Kashmir recently? a) S. Venkitaramanan b) S.S. Tarapore c) Bimal Jalan d) Dr. Y. V. Reddy e) Dr. C. Rangarajan* Answer 21: The key to the resolution of the Kashmir problem is ―a political solution that addresses the alienation and emotional needs of the people,‖ Prime Minister Manmohan Singh acknowledged on August 10, 2010 at a meeting of political parties from the trouble-torn State in New Delhi.

The PM announced the setting up of an experts committee to formulate a jobs plan for the youth of the state. The committee, chaired by Dr. C. Rangarajan, would be tasked with not only creating employment in the public and private sectors, but also increasing employability through the National Skill Development Mission.

Other members of the committee include N.R. Narayana Murthy, Tarun Das, P. Nanda Kumar, Shaqueel Qalander and an official representative of the State government. 22. The _____________ Yuva Puraskars of the Sangeet Natak Akademi for the year 2009 were presented to 33 young artists who have made a mark in their respective fields of performing arts on August 10, 2010. a) Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan b) Pandit Bhimsen Joshi c) Ustad Bismillah Khan* d) Pandit Ravi Shankar e) Ustad Ali Akbar Khan Answer 22: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskars of the Sangeet Natak Akademi for the year 2009 were presented to 33 young artists who have made a mark in their respective fields of performing arts on August 10, 2010. The ‗Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar‘ was instituted in the year 2006 by Sangeet Natak Akademi, the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, an autonomous body of Ministry of Culture and is given to performing artists below the age of 35 years as on 1st April of the year of the Puraskar, and covers music, dance, theatre, puppetry and other traditional, folk and tribal forms of performing arts.


Winners in different categories are as follows:

MUSIC: Nine winners including two joint winners

Omkar Shrikant Dadarkar for Hindustani Vocal Murad Ali (Sarangi) for Hindustani Instrumental

Sanjeev Shankar and Ashwani Shankar (Joint Award in Shehnai) for Hindustani Instrumental

C.S. Sajeev for Carnatic Vocal

Mysore A Chandan Kumar (Flute) for Carnatic Instrumental

Trivandrum V Balaji (Mridangam) for Carnatic Instrumental

Anil Srinivasan for Creative & Experimental Music Moirangthem Meina Singh for Other Major Traditions of Music – Nata Sankirtana of Manipur

DANCE: Eight winners

Ragini Chander Shekar for Bharatanatyam Monisa Nayak for Kathak

Hanglem Indu Devi for Manipuri Chinta Ravi Balakrishna for Kuchipudi

Lingaraj Pradhan for Odissi Menaka P. P. Bora for Sattriya

Manjula B Murthy for Mohiniattam Swamimalai K Suresh, Music for Dance (Bharatanatyam Nattuvangam & Vocal)

THEATRE: Eight winners

Abanti Chakraborty and Sukracharjya Rabha for Direction

Mukta Vasant Barve, Palani Murugan and Teekam Chandra Joshi for Acting

Milind Srivastava (Lighting) for Allied Theatre Arts Juhi Babbar (Costumes) for Allied Theatre Arts

S. Gobi (Bhagavata Mela of Tamil Nadu) for Major Traditions of Theatre

Other Traditional/Folk/Tribal Dance/Music/Theatre and Puppetry: Eight winners

Reshma Musale, Lavani & Tamasha (Maharastra) K Nellai Manikandan, Folk Dance (Tamil Nadu)

Hmar Zohmingliana, Tribal Dance & Music (Mizoram) Takhellambam Shyamkanhai Singh, Wari Leeba (Manipur)

T.R. Sooraj Nambiar, Kutiyattam (Kerala) Shah-e-Jahan Ahmad Bhagat, Bhand Pather (J&K)

Nazia Sayeed, Odissi Music (Orissa) Lala Bhata, Kathputli (Rajasthan)

23. Who among the following was conferred with Ashok Chakra by the President of India on August 14, 2010? a) Captain Davinder Singh Jass, (posthumous) b) Vinod Kumar Choubey (posthumous) c) Major Laishram Jyotin Singh, (posthumous)* d) Major Thongam Joten Singh e) Major Ajay Singh Answer 23: The President on August 14, 2010 approved 114 gallantry awards to Armed Forces, Paramilitary and police personnel. This includes one Ashok Chakra, two Kirti Chakras, two Bar to Shaurya Chakras, nineteen Shaurya Chakras, two Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), eighty Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and five Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). Ashoka Chakra Major Laishram Jyotin Singh, Army Medical Corps / Embassy of India, Kabul (posthumous) Kirti Chakra Captain Davinder Singh Jass, 1

st Battalion the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) (posthumous)

Vinod Kumar Choubey, Superintendent of Police, Rajnandgaon Chhattisgarh Police (posthumous) Bar to Shaurya Chakra Major Thongam Joten Singh, Shaurya Chakra, 21

st Battalion, Parachute Regiment (Special Forces)

Major Ajay Singh, Shaurya Chakra, 11th Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry.

Shaurya Chakra – Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry) Lieutenant Colonel Thangjam Tikendra Singh, Sena Medal, Grenadiers / 16 Assam Rifles Captain Basant Sewada, Sena Medal Armoured Corps / 8 Rashtriya Rifles Sena Medal (Gallantry)


Eighty awardees Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) Commander Gangupomu Murali, Lieutenant Commander, Ajay Kanwar and Rajan Singh, Sea Cadet Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) Wing Commander Sagar Singh Rawat, flying (pilot) Squadron Leader Ashok Kumar, flying (pilot) Squadron Leader Amit Sharma, flying (pilot) Squadron Leader Vishal Mohan, flying (pilot) Flight Lieutenant Rohit Rai, flying (pilot) 24. Which of the following was India‘s largest BPO Exporter in 2009-10 (in revenue terms), according to figures released by NASSCOM in its annual survey recently? a) Genpact Ltd* b) Tata Consultancy Services BPO c) WNS Global Services (P) Ltd d) Wipro BPO e) Aegis Ltd Answer 24: National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) unveiled its annual survey on August 12, 2010.

NASSCOM Top BPO Exporters 2009-10

1 Genpact Ltd 6 Firstsource Solutions Ltd

2 Tata Consultancy Services BPO 7 Infosys BPO

3 WNS Global Services (P) Ltd 8 Aditya Birla Minacs Worldwide Ltd

4 Wipro BPO 9 CSC India Private Ltd

5 Aegis Ltd 10 exl Service.com (India) Pvt Ltd

25. Who among the following was conferred with the Shram Ratna Award for the year 2008 by the Government of India recently? a) Samarendra Kumar Singh, Tata Steel Ltd., Jamshedpur b) Bhupendra Kumar Rathore, Vikram Cement, Madhya Pradesh c) Nagaraja, Senior Technical Assistant, Bharat Electronics Ltd. Bengaluru* d) Rajendran. S, Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd. Bengaluru e) Pilla Siva Desa Patrudu, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd., Vishakhapatnam Answer 25: The Government of India on August 14, 2010 announced the Prime Minister‘s Shram Awards for the year 2008 to be awarded to 52 workers employed in the Departmental Undertakings & Public Sector Undertakings of the Central and State Governments and Private Sector Units employing 500 or more workers in recognition of their distinguished performances, innovative abilities, outstanding contribution in the field of productivity and exhibition of exceptional courage and presence of mind. Following is the list of awardees: SHRAM RATNA: This is the highest Award (one in number) among the Shram Awards and carries a cash award of Rs.2,00,000 along with a ‗Sanad‘. For the year 2008, the Shram Ratna Award has been awarded to Nagaraja, Senior Technical Assistant, Bharat Electronics Limited Bengaluru. SHRAM BHUSHAN: Total number of Shram Bhushan Award is four. It carries a cash award of Rs. 1,00,000 and ‗Sanad‘. Four nominations were found suitable for the Shram Bhushan Award. For the year 2008, the Shram Bhushan Awards have been given in respect of Public Sector undertakings given to Rajendran. S, Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited Bengaluru and Pilla Siva Desa Patrudu, Rashtriya Ispat


Nigam Ltd., Vishakhapatnam and in respect of Private Sector, to Samarendra Kumar Singh, Tata Steel Ltd., Jamshedpur and Bhupendra Kumar Rathore, Vikram Cement, Madhya Pradesh. SHRAM VIR/VEERANGANA: Total number of Shram Vir/Shram Veerangana Awards is twelve. It carries a cash award of Rs. 60,000/- and a ‗Sanad‘. No female worker from Public Sector and Private Sector was found suitable for Shram Veerangana Award. SHRAM SHREE/DEVI: Total number of Shram Shree/Shram Devi Awards is sixteen. It carries a cash award of Rs. 40,000/- and a ‗Sanad‘. One female worker from Public sector and one female worker from Private Sector have been selected for Shram Devi Awards for this year. 26. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled a discussion paper on entry of new banks in the private sector on August 11, 2010. Which were the last two banking licenses granted in India (in 2003)? a) Global Trust Bank & Centurion Bank b) YES Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank* c) IndusInd Bank and Bank of Rajasthan d) HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank e) Axis Bank and IDBI Bank Answer 26: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled a discussion paper on entry of new banks in the private sector on August 11, 2010.

The discussion paper follows Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee‘s announcement in the Budget speech that RBI may give more banking licences to private sector companies. The last private banking licences were issued in 2003.

RBI last issued banking licences to YES Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank in 2003 following the opening up of banking to the private sector in 1994 during Manmohan Singh‘s tenure as finance minister. 27. Which of the following statements about the selection system for National Film Awards that was restructured recently, is not correct? a) Five regional panels have been constituted for pre-selection of films that will go the Central Jury for

final selection of the awardees b) In the category of Music Direction, a new award for ‗Background Score‘ has been introduced, in

addition to an existing award for Best Music Direction (Songs) c) In the category of Acting, a new award for ‗Best Actor in a Negative Role‘ has been introduced* d) In the category of Screenplay and Dialogues, separate awards have been instituted for ‗Adapted

Screenplay‘, ‗Original Screenplay‘ and ‗Dialogues‘ e) None of the above Answer 27: The entire scheme of National Film Awards has been re-structured. The selections for National Film Awards for 2009 will be implemented under the new system unveiled on August 12, 2010. The changes have been carried out following recommendations by an Expert Committee headed by filmmaker Shyam Benegal for up-gradation of the National Film Awards. The mandate given to the Committee, constituted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was to re-invent the National Film Awards with a view to making them more contemporary and acceptable. The following are the salient features of the re-vamped National Film Awards: 2-tier selection system has been introduced.

5 Regional Panels have been constituted for pre-selection of films. These are: North (English, Punjabi, Dogri, Urdu, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani and Central Indian Languages), West (Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati and Konkani), South I (Tamil and Malayalam), South II (Kannada, Telugu and Tulu) and East (Bengali, Assamese, Oriya and dialects spoken in Northeast).


Each Regional Panel would comprise a Chairperson and one member (both of whom would be from outside the region) and 3 other members from within the region. The Central jury would comprise Chairperson plus 10 Members, of whom 5 would be the Chairpersons of the 5 regional juries New Award Categories introduced are as follows:

Audiography: The following new awards have been introduced in this category: Location Sound Recordist & Sound Designer

Music Direction: An award for Background Score has been introduced, in addition to the existing award for Best Music Direction (Songs)

Best screenplay and Dialogues: 3 Awards have been instituted in place of the current award, namely, award for Adapted Screenplay, award for Original Screenplay and award for Dialogues

The cash prize for several award in both feature films and non-feature films categories have been increased. 28. The satellite SARAL, which is scheduled for launch in 2011, is a joint project of the Indian Space Research Organisation and the National Space Agency of which of the following countries? a) Australia b) Japan c) USA d) Russia e) France* Answer 28: India plans to launch SARAL (Satellite with ARGOS and ALTIKA) satellite to monitor the sea water level. SARAL satellite will carry an Altimeter (ALTIKA) for studying the sea surface heights; and ARGOS payload, which is a satellite based data collection platform. SARAL satellite is a joint project of Indian Space Research Organisation and the French National Space Agency. The ALTIKA and ARGOS payloads are built and supplied by the French National Space Agency. The satellite building and launching are the responsibilities of Indian Space Research Organisation. The satellite is likely to be launched in 2011. This Information was given by Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State for Science & Technology & Earth Sciences, in Lok Sabha on August 11, 2010. 29. Which of the following combinations of winners and their categories at the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards announced recently is/are correct? a) HC Kamlesh Kumar Boiunthiyal – Land Adventure b) Wing Commander Jai Kishan – Air Adventure c) Sufyan Sheikh – Water Adventure d) None of the above e) All (a), (b) & (c)* Answer 29: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on August 11, 2010 announced Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award for the year 2009 to recognize the achievements of persons in the fields of adventure. The following four persons have been selected for the Adventure Awards for the year 2009.

Winner Category

HC Kamlesh Kumar Boiunthiyal Land Adventure

Wing Commander Jai Kishan Air Adventure

Sufyan Sheikh Water Adventure

Chandraprabha Aitwal Life Time Achievement


30. The government recently approved the setting up of six medical institutions modelled after the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Which of the following is not among one of the locations of these institutes? a) Amritsar* b) Patna c) Raipur d) Bhopal e) Bhubaneshwar Answer 30: The Union Cabinet on August 09, 2010, approved the proposal for formation of societies for each of the six AIIMS-like institutions being set up under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). These societies will be functional till the AIIMS-like institutions are brought under an Act of Parliament. Under Phase-I of PMSSY, six AIIMS-like institutions are being set up, one each in Bihar (Patna), Chattisgarh (Raipur), Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal), Orissa (Bhubaneshwar), Rajasthan (Jodhpur) and Uttarakhand (Rishikesh) at an estimated cost of Rs. 840 crore per institution including nursing colleges. 31. Who was given overriding powers to supervise preparations for the Commonwealth Games because of delays in completion, by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently? a) President of Indian Olympic Association b) Finance Secretary c) Union Sports Minister d) Cabinet Secretary* e) Chief Minister of Delhi Answer 31: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on August 14, 2010 gave over-riding powers to a Committee of Secretaries, headed by Cabinet Secretary, to supervise preparations for the October Commonwealth Games thus reducing the authority of controversial Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) Chairman Suresh Kalmadi.

Prime Minister Singh was prompted to take these measures following concerns over preparedness of the city to hold the Games. With merely one-and-a-half months to go for the event, a number of CWG venues are not ready with construction still underway. This has raised doubts whether these venues would be ready on time for the Games. 32. The Supreme Court had recently allowed a law allowing 69 per cent reservation, more than its prescribed 50 per cent limit, for SC/STs and OBCs in jobs and education, in which state? a) Uttar Pradesh b) Tamil Nadu* c) Bihar d) West Bengal e) Karnataka Answer 32: Tamil Nadu-based NGO, Voice, on August 10, 2010 moved for a review of the Supreme Court order allowing reservation beyond 50 per cent in educational institutions and government jobs.

The Supreme Court had recently extended one-year protection to a Tamil Nadu law allowing 69 per cent reservation for SC/STs and OBCs in jobs and education.

The Supreme Court in its 1993 ruling in the Mandal case had capped the reservation quota at 50 per cent.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India S H Kapadia and Justices K S Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar have directed the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka government to ―re-visit‖ the states‘ quota laws with their Commissions for Backward Classes.


33. India recently signed an agreement to provide a $1 billion credit facility for financing infrastructure projects with which neighbouring country recently? a) Nepal b) Bhutan c) Sri Lanka d) Bangladesh* e) Afghanistan Answer 33: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee made a brief visit to Dhaka on August 7, 2010 for talks with Bangladesh leaders on the growing cooperation between the two neighbours. Mukherjee‘s visit saw the signing of $1-billion credit facility offered by India to Bangladesh. The amount will be used for implementing 14 projects, mostly related to the development of railway infrastructure in Bangladesh, the upgrading of the Ashuganj river port, construction of roads and bridges to facilitate trans-shipment of Indian goods to its north-eastern region through Bangladesh, purchase of double-decker buses from India and setting up of a power gridline between India and Bangladesh. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced the credit facility during Sheikh Hasina‘s visit to India in January 2010. 34. The Defence Ministry decided to relocate the headquarters of the Army Service Corps Centre (North) from Gaya in Bihar to which of the following places recently? a) Bangalore* b) Chennai c) Hyderabad d) Mumbai e) Lucknow Answer 34: The Defence Ministry on August 12, 2010 decided to relocate the headquarters of the Army Service Corps Centre (North) from Gaya in Bihar to Bangalore. ASC is the logistics arm of the Army, which handles supplies for troops, ranging from arms and ammunition to food and clothing. The ASC Centre (South) is already located in Bangalore. 35. Extradition of who among the following is being sought by the Indian government to stand trial for criminal liability in the Bhopal gas tragedy of December 1984? a) Peter Norbeck b) Olive M. Johnson c) Warren Anderson* d) James R. Thompson e) Adolph Olson Eberhart Answer 35: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram informed the Rajya Sabha on August 12, 2010 that there was no record of who from the Union Home Ministry allowed Warren Anderson, then chairman of the Union Carbide Corporation, to leave India in December 1984. Anderson was arrested as soon as he landed in Bhopal on December 7, 1984 – three days after the toxic gas leak from his factory killed thousands. The Home Minister added that in the light of the fresh evidence, a petition on criminal liability was being filed and the Ministry of External Affairs was working on seeking the extradition of Anderson. 36. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2010 passed by the Lok Sabha recently? a) To facilitate signing of extradition treaties with friendly countries b) To bring about transparency in the functioning of the police* c) To strengthen anti-terrorism laws to bring about higher rates of conviction d) To facilitate use of information technology in creating a database of criminals e) To reduce the period of detention of undertrials


Answer 36: The Lok Sabha on August 12, 2010 passed the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2010. The Bill aims to make it compulsory for the Police to record the reasons for making an arrest as well as for not making an arrest in respect of a cognizable offence for which the maximum punishment is up to seven years. The government has asserted that the Bill would reduce ―arbitrariness‖ in the apprehension of people and bring about transparency in the functioning of the police. 37. The government approved the setting up of 10 new Coast Guard Stations based on assessment of vulnerability in coastal security across the country recently. Which state has the highest number of coast guard stations operating currently? a) Kerala b) Tamil Nadu c) Gujarat* d) Maharashtra e) Goa Answer 37: Government has approved ten new stations which include Pipavav (Gujarat), Ratnagiri and Dahanu (Maharashtra), Minicoy and Androth (Lakshadweep), Karaikal (Tamil Nadu), Nizampatnam and Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Gopalpur (Orissa) and Kamorta (Andaman & Nicobar). This information was given by Defence Minister A. K. Antony in the Lok Sabha on August 9, 2010.

There are twenty eight Coast Guard Stations in the country as on August 9, 2010. They are as under:- Gujarat (6), Maharashtra (2), Goa (1), Karnataka (2), Kerala (3), Delhi (1), Tamil Nadu (4), Andhra Pradesh (2), Orissa (1), West Bengal (1), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (4), Lakshadweep (1). Coast Guard Stations are being sanctioned based on assessment of vulnerability gaps in coastal security. 38. The government has decided to set up 11 new ‗Aayakar Seva Kendras‘ (ASKs) during the current financial year 2010-11. How many ASKs are functioning recently? a) 3* b) 8 c) 12 d) 15 e) 21 Answer 38: The Government has decided to set up ‗Aayakar Seva Kendras‘ (ASKs) at following 11 locations during the current financial year 2010-11: Bhubaneswar (Orissa), Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), Gandhinagar and Surat (Gujarat), Guwahati (Assam), Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Kolkata and Chinsurah (West Bengal), Ranchi (Jharkhand) and Udaipur (Rajasthan). Currently ASKs are functioning at Pune, Kochi and Chandigarh.

The scheme is being extended to 11 more cities including 4 state capitals and other mid-size cities in different regions of the country. This information was given in the Lok Sabha on August 10, 2010.

ASK is a one stop computerized shop for the taxpayers to obtain services promised by the Department in its Citizens‘ Charter in a time bound manner. 39. Which town in Andhra Pradesh was the official venue of the culmination of celebrations organised to mark the 500

th anniversary of coronation of Sri Krishnadevaraya recently?

a) Srikalahasti b) Suryapet c) Penukonda* d) Vijayapuri (North) e) Nalgonda Answer 39: The one-month long 500

th coronation celebrations of Sri Krishnadevaraya held in several towns in the


state culminated in Penukonda, the historic second capital of the famous Emperor, on August 8, 2010. 40. Anniversary of which of the following was observed on August 9, 2010? a) Goa Liberation Movement b) Foundation of Indian National Congress c) Quit India Movement* d) Salt Satyagraha e) Foundation of Indian National Army Answer 40: The 68

th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, the civil disobedience movement launched in August

1942, was observed on August 9, 2010. 41. Where has President Pratibha Patil inaugurated a lotus-shaped monument dedicated to Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru, founder of the Santhigiri Ashram, recently? a) Maharashtra b) Karnataka c) Kerala* d) Andhra Pradesh e) Tamil Nadu Answer 41: President Pratibha Patil inaugurated the lotus-shaped monument at Santhigiri Ashram at Pothencode near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on August 13, 2010. The monument is a tribute to the ashram‘s founder Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru. 42. Where did the collision of MV Khalijia-III and MSC Chitra lead to a massive oil spill recently? a) Arabian Sea* b) Barents Sea c) Bay of Bengal d) Caspian Sea e) Yellow Sea Answer 42: MSC Chitra, the outbound merchant vessel from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), collided with MV Khalijia-III around five nautical miles off the shores on August 7, 2010 when the latter was sailing towards Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) for berthing. At the time of collision, MSC Chitra was carrying fuel oil while Khalijia had been carrying crude oil. The collision led to a massive oil spill in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai. 43. A ceremony marking the completion of 1000 years of which well known temple, was organised by the Tamil Nadu government recently? a) Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai b) Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur* c) Bakthavatsala Perumal Temple, Thiruindravur d) Annamalaiyar Temple, Thiruvannamalai e) Chidambaram Temple, Chidambaram Answer 43: The ceremony to mark the completion of the 1000

th year of the Brihadeeswarar Temple, also known as

Thanjavur Big temple, constructed by Raja Raja Chola I, was organised on September 25 and 26, in Thanjavur. 44. Who among the following was re-elected as the President of Rwanda for a second term of seven years recently? a) Augustin Bizimana


b) Bernard Makuza c) Emmanuel Habyarimana d) Pasteur Bizimungu e) Paul Kagame* Answer 44: Rwandan incumbent President Paul Kagame has won re-election for a second term of seven years, the National Electoral Commission announced on August 11, 2010. Kagame garnered 93 percent of the votes. Rwandans went to polls on August 9, 2010 to elect a new president. Kagame was elected during a general presidential election in 2003 with 95 percent of the votes. 45. Who was sworn in as the new President of Hungary recently? a) Andras Balogh b) Pal Schmitt* c) Ferenc Mádl d) Gyula Horn e) Péter Medgyessy Answer 45: Newly elected Hungarian President Pal Schmitt was officially inaugurated at the presidential Sandor Palace in Budapest on August 6, 2010. The president-elect was a successful fencer in his youth, winning an Olympic gold medal for his country in 1968 and in 1972. On June 29, Schmitt was elected president with an overwhelming majority of 263 votes in the 386-member parliament, compared with 59 for the rival Socialist candidate Andras Balogh. Schmitt succeeds Laszlo Solyom as president. 46. Who among the following is the only Indian in the 21-member United Nations High-level Panel on Global Sustainability appointed by Secretary General Ban ki-Moon recently? a) Vandana Shiva b) Jairam Ramesh* c) Sunita Narain d) Medha Patker e) M. S. Swaminathan Answer 46: The UN Secretary-General on August 9, 2010 launched a 21-member High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP) that brings together leading global policymakers, private sector and civil society experts in order to formulate a new blueprint for sustainable growth and low-carbon prosperity for all on a planet under increasing strain from climate change. Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment of India, is the only Indian on the 21-member panel. The Panel will address sustainable development by focusing especially on climate change and is expected to deliver its final report at the end of 2011. The recommendations of the Panel are likely to be used in the preparations for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012 in Rio de Janeiro. 47. Patricia Neal, who passed away recently, was known for achievements in which of the following? a) Science & Technology b) Journalism c) Education d) Banking e) Films* Answer 47: Oscar-winning US actress Patricia Neal passed away at the age of 84 on August 8, 2010. Neal was best known for her role in ‗Hud‘ (1963), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. 48. Who among the following, in news recently for his autobiography, came to power by overthrowing the government of Dictator Fulgencio Batista?


a) Hugo Chavez, Venezuela b) Fidel Castro, Cuba* c) Sebastián Piñera, Chile d) Evo Morales, Bolivia e) Carlos Menem, Argentina Answer 48: The first edition of Fidel Castro‘s autobiography – ―The Strategic Victory‖ – went on sale on August 11, 2010. The book recounts Castro‘s guerrilla struggle dating back to the 1958, when a group of 300 fighters led by Castro eventually overthrew the government of Dictator Fulgencio Batista. 49. Joseph Ciechanover and Ozdem Sanberk were appointed by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to investigate which of the following recently? a) Allegations of human rights violations by Sri Lankan Army during the last days of the LTTE b) Israel‘s attacks on a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla that killed several people* c) Sinking of South Korean submarine Cheonan near the border with North Korea d) Sudan Army‘s war crimes in the separatist Darfur region e) Diversion of food and medical supplies meant for the flood-affected in Pakistan Answer 49: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on August 8, 2010 named the Israeli and Turkish members of the commission that will investigate Israel’s May 31 attacks on a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla that killed nine Turks. Israel‘s panel member is Joseph Ciechanover while Ozdem Sanberk is the Turkish panel member.

The UN had previously announced that the four-member investigating commission would be chaired by former New Zealand PM Geoffrey Palmer, with former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe as vice chairman.

The Israeli raid resulted in the death of nine Turks on the flotilla‘s lead ship, the Turkish ferry Mavi Marmara on May 31, 2010, dealing a heavy blow to Turkish-Israeli ties. Ankara denounced the raid as a violation of international law, immediately recalled its ambassador and cancelled three planned joint military exercises with Israel. 50. Which of the following has launched www.efreshindia.com, a portal that creates connectivity between the suppliers and the buyers through a trading platform recently? a) Ministry of Commerce & Industry b) Ministry of Steel c) Ministry of Railways d) Ministry of Food Processing Industries* e) Ministry of Environments & Forests Answer 50: Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries on August 11, 2010 inaugurated an e-portal to bring farmers, suppliers and customers closer. The portal www.efreshindia.com creates connectivity between the suppliers and the buyers through trading platform. 51. August 9, 2010 was observed as which of the following? a) United Nations Public Service Day b) International Day in Support of Victims of Torture c) International Day of Cooperatives d) International Day of the World's Indigenous People* e) International Youth Day Answer 51: International Day of the World‘s Indigenous Peoples observed was on August 9, 2010. The landmark UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly in 2007, laid out a


framework for governments to use in strengthening relationships with indigenous peoples and protecting their human rights. 52. Venezuela and which neighbouring country have decided to re-establish diplomatic relations recently? a) Chile b) Argentina c) Mexico d) Colombia* e) Cuba Answer 52: Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations on August 11, 2010. Refuge provided to FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) rebels by Venezuela and Colombia‘s close relations with the United States have separated the two countries in recent years. 53. President Roza Otunbayeva, in news recently for announcing her country‘s first elections after a new constitution was approved in a referendum, is the first female President of __________ . a) Turkmenistan b) Uzbekistan c) Kazakhstan d) Kyrgyzstan* e) Azerbaijan Answer 53: The Kyrgyzstan interim government has confirmed that the parliamentary elections would be held on October 10. Kyrgyz caretaker President Roza Otunbayeva on August 10, 2010 signed an executive decree to fix the election date. The Central Asian nation has suffered months of turmoil and bloodshed since the ouster of former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in early April.

In a referendum held on June 27, 2010, 90.5% of the voters approved a new constitution, which aimed to change Kyrgyzstan‘s existing presidential system into a parliamentary system by granting substantial powers to the parliament and restricting the powers of the president.

Sworn in as the interim president on July 3, 2010 Otunbayeva, the first female to lead the country, pledged to hold parliamentary elections in the coming October. Her term was also extended to Dec. 31, 2011. 54. Cambodia‘s ownership of the Temple of Preah Vihear, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been challenged by which of the following countries? a) Japan b) Myanmar c) Laos d) Vietnam e) Thailand* Answer 54: The Cambodian government on August 14, 2010 asked the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to mediate in its border dispute with Thailand. The dispute intensified after Cambodia got the Temple of Preah Vihear registered as World Heritage Site in July 2008. Thailand continues to stake territorial claims of the 4.6 square kilometer area in the vicinity of the Temple of Preah Vihear. ASEAN groups 10 countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. 55. Kimberley Process, which was in news recently, refers to trade in which of the following? a) Gold b) Silver


c) Diamonds* d) Ivory e) All the above Answer 55: Zimbabwe on August 11, 2010 held the first sale of diamonds from its Marange fields since the authority (Kimberley Process) overseeing the trade in ―blood diamonds‖ lifted a ban. The Kimberley Process had suspended the diamond exports in November in response to allegations of atrocities committed by the military at Marange. But in July 2010, it ruled that abuses had ceased and said Zimbabwe could resume limited exports.

The Kimberley Process (KP) is a joint governments, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds – rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. The trade in these illicit stones has fuelled decades of devastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‗conflict-free‘. As of December 2009, the KP has 49 members, representing 75 countries, with the European Community and its Member States counting as an individual participant. 56. Which of the following is the joint exercise over the Pacific Ocean conducted by the air forces of Russia and the US recently? a) Vanguard 2010 b) Black Hawk 2010 c) Watchful Eyes 2010 d) Vigilant Eagle 2010* e) Pioneer Mission 2010 Answer 56: The Russian and U.S. air forces defined their respective zones of responsibility in the just-completed joint exercises called ―Vigilant Eagle 2010‖ over the northern Pacific Ocean recently. The air forces of the three countries conducted exercises on how to counter a potential threat of airplane hijackings by terrorists to attack Russian, U.S. or Canadian cities. 57. Which of the following was in news recently for raising a record $22bn in world‘s biggest initial public offering (IPO) in August 2010? a) China Mobile b) Agricultural Bank of China* c) Industrial and Commercial Bank of China d) China Telecom e) Cisco Answer 57: Agricultural Bank of China (AgBank) has fully exercised an over-allotment option of its initial public offering (IPO), taking the total proceeds from the IPO to $22.1 billion on August 13, 2010. This makes it the world‘s biggest IPO overtaking the $21.9 billion IPO of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) in 2007. The Chinese government owned AgBank has a predominantly rural customer base. 58. Margaret Chan is the Director-General of which of the following? a) UNICEF b) ILO c) FAO d) WHO* e) UNESCO Answer 58:


The World Health Organisation officially declared the swine flu pandemic over on August 11, 2010. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said the organisation‘s emergency committee of top flu experts advised her that the pandemic had ―largely run its course‖ and the world is no longer in phase six — the highest influenza alert level. Many national authorities have started cancelling vaccine orders and shutting down hot lines as hospitalisations and deaths due to the virus dropped sharply 59. Which multinational bank was in news recently for receiving licence to start banking services in India from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)? a) Banca di Roma b) First Rand Bank c) Wori Bank d) Wachovia Bank e) Credit Suisse* Answer 59: Switzerland-based bank Credit Suisse on August 13, 2010 announced that it had received a licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to open a bank branch in Mumbai. The licence enables Credit Suisse to substantially expand the range of services it offers in the Indian market. Currently, Credit Suisse has a non-banking financial company in India that offers wealth management, investment banking and asset management services. 60. Tejaswini Sawant was in news for becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in world championship in which sport recently? a) Shooting* b) Weightlifting c) Fencing d) Judo e) Archery Answer 60: India finished 14

th among 105 countries, with two gold medals and a bronze, in the 50

th World Shooting

Championship which concluded in Munich, Germany on August 10, 2010.

Tejaswini Sawant won the gold in Women‘s 50 Meter Rifle Prone event thus becoming the first Indian Woman shooter to achieve this distinction.

Asher Noria won India‘s second gold in Junior Men‘s Double Trap, were achieved by matching the world record. India accounted for two of the 27 world records that were tied or set.

China topped the medals table with 21 gold, 20 silver and 11 bronze, beating Russia which had 21 gold, 13 silver and 12 bronze medals. USA was third with 11 golds, 6 silver and 7 bronze medals. 61. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled a discussion paper on entry of new banks in the private sector on August 11, 2010. Which of the following is/are one of the objectives behind allowing corporate houses to enter into banking business? I. To promote greater competition in banking sector II. To reduce costs of banking services III. To bring more people under the coverage of banking services a) I and II only b) II only c) II and III only d) III only e) I, II and III* Answer 61: Following are some of the objectives behind the proposal to allow corporate houses to get Banking License:-


To promote greater competition in banking sector

To reduce costs of banking services

To bring more people under the coverage of banking services 62. Naina Lal Kidwai was in news recently for her appointment to the Board of Directors of which large multinational bank? a) Citibank b) Barclays Bank c) JPMorgan Chase d) Standard Chartered Bank e) Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation* Answer 62: The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd on August 8, 2010 appointed Naina Lal Kidwai, currently Country Head of HSBC in India, to its board of directors. 63. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled a discussion paper on entry of new banks in the private sector on August 11, 2010. Which of the following statements about the eligibility norms for corporate houses wanting to get banking license is/are correct? I. Should not have any direct or indirect exposure to the real estate sector II. Should obtain clearance from agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax departments III. Should use their brand name and logo for the new bank‘s brand a) I and II only* b) II only c) II and III only d) III only e) I, II and III Answer 63: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled a discussion paper on entry of new banks in the private sector on August 11, 2010. Major eligibility norms for corporate houses wanting to get banking license are as follows:

Only those corporate houses which have a diversified ownership base and without any direct or indirect exposure to real estate should be allowed entry into banking

Corporate houses wanting to enter banking business should be required to obtain a clean chit from agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Enforcement Directorate, income tax and other regulators

Corporate houses cannot use their brand name and logo for the new bank‘s brand 64. Geneva Conventions Day, which was observed worldwide on August 12, 2010, refers to which of the following? a) Elimination of racial discrimination in multiracial democracies b) Treatment of injured in international conflicts and in war zones* c) Supply of aid to regions affected by natural calamities d) Duties of UN Peacekeeping missions in countries suffering civil-war e) Checking illegal trade in explosives and firearms Answer 64: The Geneva Conventions Day was observed worldwide on August 12, 2010. The Geneva Convention relates to the treatment of prisoners of war, and was adopted in 1949 at the diplomatic convention for the protection of victims of war. 65. The RBI has suggested conversion of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) into full-fledged commercial banks by allowing corporate houses to take over RRBs. Which of the following is the correct statement


regarding ownership structure of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) under current RBI norms? a) 50% of the shareholding is with central government, 35% with sponsor bank and the remaining 15%

is with the respective state governments* b) 40% of the shareholding is with central government, 45% with sponsor bank and the remaining 15%

is with the respective state governments c) 30% of the shareholding is with central government, 55% with sponsor bank and the remaining 15%

is with the respective state governments d) 30% of the shareholding is with central government, 25% with sponsor bank and the remaining 45%

is with the respective state governments e) 30% of the shareholding is with central government, 15% with sponsor bank and the remaining 55%

is with the respective state governments Answer 65: Ownership structure of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs): 50% of the shareholding is with Union government, 35% with sponsor bank (commercial bank like Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, etc.) and the remaining 15% is with the respective state governments. 66. Former Karnataka Chief Justice, P.D. Dinakaran, who is facing an enquiry for alleged corruption charges, was appointed as Chief Justice of which of the following recently? a) Mumbai High Court b) Guwahati High Court c) Sikkim High Court* d) Madhya Pradesh High Court e) Lucknow High Court Answer 66: Justice P.D. Dinakaran was sworn in the Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court at Gangtok on August 9, 2010. The ceremony was boycotted by two bar associations. Proceedings for his removal is pending before a parliamentary panel headed by Justice V.S. Sirpurkar. Justice Dinakaran faces allegations of land grabbing and other charges following which he was transferred from Karnataka. 67. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled a discussion paper on entry of new banks in the private sector on August 11, 2010. Which of the following statements about current RBI norms regarding foreign shareholding in private sector banks is/are correct? I. Banks can have upto 74 per cent foreign shareholding II. Foreign institutional investors (FII) shareholding in banks cannot exceed 33% III. Non-resident Indians (NRI) shareholding in banks cannot exceed 24% a) I and II only b) II only c) I and III only* d) III only e) I, II and III Answer 67: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled a discussion paper on entry of new banks in the private sector on August 11, 2010. Banks are now allowed to have up to 74 per cent foreign shareholding, of which 49 per cent can be held by foreign institutional investors and 24 per cent by non-resident Indians. 68. How much were India‘s marine exports in 2009-10 according to information given by Ministry of Commerce & Industry recently? a) $ 1,935.27 million b) $ 2,132.84 million* c) $ 2,618.51 million d) $ 3,162.32 million e) $ 4,295.38 million


Answer 68: The total marine product exports from the country in 2009-10 were 6,78,436 million tonnes, according to information given by Ministry of Commerce & Industry on August 11, 2010. The value of these exports in Rupee terms were Rs. 1,0048.53 crore and $ 2,132.84 million in US dollar terms.

India’s Marine exports in 2009-10

Quantity in million tonnes

Value in Rs. Crore

Value in US Dollar Million

Total 6,78,436 10,048.53 2,132.84

Top 3 destinations of India’s Marine exports in 2009-10

Destination Quantity in million tonnes

Value in Rs. Crore

Value in US Dollar Million

Japan 62,690 1,289.58 278.56

USA 33,444 1,012.52 213.52

European Union 1,64,800 3,013.33 637.40

69. How much was the revenue earned by the Indian Telecom Services Industry in 2009-10, according to the Voice & Data survey of Indian Telecom Industry 2010 released recently? a) Rs 159,510 crore* b) Rs 155,683 crore c) Rs 147,732 crore d) Rs 96,860 crore e) Rs 93,522 crore Answer 69: Indian Telecom Services Industry clocked revenues of Rs 159,510 crore in 2009-10 as against Rs 155,683 crore in 2008-09, a growth of 2.5%, according to the Voice & Data survey of Indian Telecom Industry 2010 released in July 2010. 70. Which of the following was India‘s largest IT services exporter in 2009-10 (in revenue terms), according to figures released by NASSCOM in its annual survey recently? a) Infosys Technologies Ltd b) Wipro Technologies Ltd c) Tata Consultancy Services Ltd* d) HCL Technologies Ltd e) Tech Mahindra Ltd Answer 70: National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) unveiled its annual survey on August 12, 2010.

NASSCOM Top IT Services Exporters 2009-10

1 Tata Consultancy Services Ltd 6 MphasiS Ltd

2 Infosys Technologies Ltd 7 Patni Computer Systems Ltd

3 Wipro Technologies Ltd 8 Aricent Technologies (Holdings) Ltd

4 HCL Technologies Ltd 9 CSC India Private Ltd

5 Tech Mahindra Ltd 10 L&T Infotech

71. The merger of which of the following private sector banks with Bank of Rajasthan was approved by the RBI recently? a) IDBI Bank b) HDFC Bank c) ICICI Bank* d) Axis Bank e) IndusInd Bank


Answer 71: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on August 12, 2010 approved the proposed merger between ICICI Bank and Bank of Rajasthan (BoR). All branches of Bank of Rajasthan will function as branches of ICICI Bank, with effect from August 13. On May 25, ICICI Bank and BoR announced a merger swap ratio of 1:4.72. BoR reported a net loss of Rs 102.1 crore for the year ended March 31, on revenues of Rs 1,359.5 crore. 72. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled a discussion paper on entry of new banks in the private sector on August 11, 2010. Which of the following statements about current RBI norms regarding minimum capital requirements for new banking licenses is/are correct? I. New private sector banks must have a minimum capital of Rs 200 crore at the commencement of business II. Rs 300 crore is the minimum capital a new private sector bank must have after three years from commencement of business III. Rs 500 crore is the minimum capital a new private sector bank must have after seven years from commencement of business a) I and II only* b) II only c) II and III only d) III only e) I, II and III Answer 72: The RBI guidelines issued in 2001 for licensing of new banks in the private sector:

New private sector banks must have a minimum capital of Rs 200 crore at the commencement of business

New private sector banks must have a minimum capital of Rs 300 crore after three years from commencement of business 73. Which of the following was India‘s largest employer in IT-BPO sector in 2009-10, according to figures released by NASSCOM in its annual survey recently? a) Tata Consultancy Services Ltd* b) Infosys Technologies Ltd c) Wipro Technologies Ltd d) Cognizant Technology Solutions e) HCL Technologies Ltd Answer 73: National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) unveiled its annual survey on August 12, 2010.

NASSCOM Top IT-BPO Employers in India 2009-10

1 Tata Consultancy Services Ltd 6 Genpact Ltd

2 Infosys Technologies Ltd 7 MphasiS Ltd

3 Wipro Technologies Ltd 8 Intelenet Global Services Ltd

4 Cognizant Technology Solutions India Pvt Ltd 9 Tech Mahindra Ltd

5 HCL Technologies Ltd 10 Aegis Ltd

74. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) recently asked the asset management companies (AMCs) to benchmark the performance of their mutual fund (MF) schemes with that of: SEBI names Nifty, Sensex as benchmarks for MF returns a) Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) b) S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) c) Either (a) or (b)* d) Both (a) and (b)


e) Neither (a) nor (b) Answer 74: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on August 10, 2010 asked asset management companies (AMCs) to benchmark the performance of their mutual fund (MF) schemes with that of either the Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) or the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

To objective is to restrict mutual funds (MFs) from giving misleading data of their performance to investors. At present, most MFs measure the performance of their schemes with that of the respective sectoral indices. For instance, the information technology sector fund is measured against BSE‘s IT index. This does not present the correct picture as the broader market could have seen significant moves. 75. Which of the following is the objective of Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill passed by both houses of parliament recently? a) Gives government powers to impose restrictions on import of goods* b) Gives government powers to impose restrictions on export of essential commodities c) Gives government powers to inspect foreign cargo passing through Indian ports d) Gives government powers to provide subsidies to Indian exporters e) Gives government powers to reduce duties on import of raw materials Answer 75: The Lok Sabha passed the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill on August 12, 2010. The Bill had already been passed by the Rajya Sabha.

The Bill amends Foreign Trade (Development and Regulations) Act of 1992 providing government powers to impose “quantitative restrictions” on the import of goods as a safeguard measure against any surge in imports, cheaper imports, or any threat to the domestic industry.

WTO provides for quantitative restrictions but there was no provision under any Indian law, which would have enabled such an imposition.

The amendments also bring the trade in technology and services under the ambit of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulations) Act of 1992. 76. How much was India‘s Food Subsidy in 2009-10 according to information given in Parliament recently? a) Rs 31,259.68 crore b) Rs 43,668.08 crore c) Rs 58,242.45 crore* d) Rs 62,846.64 crore e) Rs 71,582.42 crore Answer 76: The Union Government released Rs. 58,242 crore as Food Subsidy in 2009-10.

This information was given by Prof. K.V. Thomas, Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, in the Lok Sabha on August 9, 2010

Food Subsidy is released for the foodgrains lifted under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Other Welfare Schemes (OWS), Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) and for buffer carrying cost.

Food subsidy is on account of the differential between the Economic Cost and Central Issue Price (CIP). Economic Cost includes Minimum Support Price (MSP), procurement incidentals and distribution cost.

The major reason for increase in food subsidy is the increase in economic cost of foodgrains on account of increase in MSP every year with CIP remaining static since 2002.

Food subsidy has also increased due to increase in off-take of foodgrains under TPDS & Other Welfare Schemes in recent years.


Food subsidy released from 2007-08 to 2009-10 (in Rs crore)

2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

31,259.68 43,668.08 58,242.45

77. Which of the following statements about the satellite-based navigation system called GAGAN, launched by India recently, is/are correct? I. GAGAN stands for Geographically Augmented Geo Aid System II. GAGN has been jointly by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) III. GAGAN has applications in aviation as well as non-aviation sectors a) I and II only b) II only c) II and III only* d) III only e) I, II and III Answer 77: A satellite-based navigation system to aid air traffic from Southeast Asia to Africa, including over the high seas in the vast region, has been launched, placing India into a select group of nations which possess such a sophisticated technology. So far, only the US, Europe and Japan have developed similar capabilities.

The GAGAN or the GPS Aided Geo Augmented system was launched by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on August 10, 2010. GAGAN would not only help the civil aviation sector but also help in marine navigation, search and rescue operations, rail and road transport, survey and mapping as well as precision farming.

The system, developed jointly by the Indian Space Research Organisation and Airports Authority of India, would operationalise a satellite-based Indian Flight Information Region in conjunction with all nations from Southeast Asia, Gulf and West Asia and the eastern coast of Africa.

It would be based on a satellite constellation consisting of 24 satellites positioned in six earth-centered orbital planes.

The project involves establishment of 15 Indian Reference Stations, three Indian Navigation Land Uplink Stations, three Indian Mission Control Centers and installation of all associated softwares and communication links.

When commissioned, GAGAN is expected to provide civil aeronautical navigation signals consistent with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

GAGAN Benefits

To Civil Aviation Sector To Non-Civil Aviation Sector Improved Efficiency/Economy Direct routes Increased fuel savings Precision approach at all runways Significant cost savings due to withdrawal of ground aids Reduced workload of flight crew and ATCOs Improved capacity through reduced aircraft separation Higher Accuracy, Global Coverage Improved Safety Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) Enhanced Air-to-Air Surveillance: ADS-B Availability of MSAW facility (Min. Safe Altitude Warning) Reduced noise pollution

Marine Navigation Train & Road transport Precision Farming Search and Rescue (SAR) operations Surveying (Geodetic & Geodynamic) Scientific community


78. What was India‘s defence capital expenditure in 2009-10, according to information given in Parliament recently? a) Rs 28,110.01 crore b) Rs 32,826.80 crore c) Rs 35,146.88 crore d) Rs 38,427.00 crore* e) Rs 40,367.72 crore Answer 78: India‘s defence capital expenditure was Rs 35,146.88 crore in 2009-10, an increase of 28% over 2008-09. This information was given by Defence Minister A. K. Antony in Lok Sabha on August 9, 2010.

India’s defence capital expenditure in Rs crore Year Budget Estimates Revised Estimates Actual Expenditure

2007-2008 32,826.80 28,110.01 27,903.42

2008-2009 37,482.77 30,614.64 30,000.42

2009-2010 40,367.72 35,146.88 38,427.00

79. According a recent decision by Planning Commission, the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has been empowered to audit all non-government organisations (NGOs): a) involved in running religious schools b) investing funds in profitable activities c) taking loans from public sector banks d) involved in government‘s social sector schemes* e) receiving loans and donations from abroad Answer 79: The Planning Commission on August 11, 2010 decided that approvals for all social sector projects undertaken by various NGOs, normally outside the purview of CAG, will come with the rider that they will be subject to audit, if required.

Currently, inspection of the account books of private entities that spent government money is not part of CAG‘s mandate. The current law empowers it to audit only traditional government departments and public sector companies. 80. Reserve Bank of India has made it compulsory for all core investment companies (CICs) with assets over ____ to obtain certificate of registration from it. a) Rs 5 crore b) Rs 10 crore c) Rs 50 crore d) Rs 75 crore e) Rs 100 crore* Answer 80: Reserve Bank of India on August 13, 2010 said all core investment companies (CICs) with assets over Rs 100 crore will be required to obtain certificate of registration from it while the ones below Rs 100 are exempted.

A core investment company means a non-banking finance company which holds not less than 90 per cent of its total assets in the form of investment in equity shares, preference shares, debt or loans in group companies.

Most of India‘s top corporate houses such as the Tatas, the Aditya Birla Group, Bajaj, UB, GMR, have holding company structures that are essentially unlisted companies with equity stakes in all group companies. For example Tata Sons is a CIC of the Tata Group that holds equity stakes in group companies such as Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Chemicals, etc. Holding company structures have been popular, as they allow fund-raising at various levels, without the promoter losing control. 81. Which of the following was in news recently for introducing a new class of electrical locomotive that


uses the Head on Generation (HOG) system which besides driving the train will also supply electrical power for air-conditioning and lighting? a) Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, West Bengal* b) Electric Locomotive Factory, Madhepura c) Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala d) Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi e) Rail Coach Factory, Rae Bareli Answer 81: Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), a production unit of Ministry of Railways on August 11, 2010 introduced a new class of electrical locomotive that uses the Head on Generation (HOG) system which besides driving the train will also supply electrical power for air-conditioning and lighting.

Currently separate diesel operated generator power cars are attached as part of the train configuration in long distance air-conditioned intercity trains. With the introduction of this new class of electric locomotive, the diesel generator cars will not be required in the trains. This will release additional space for commercial use and will also eliminate noise and air pollution caused by the generator cars.

The new system is also more economical than the diesel generator sets of power cars.

Moreover, this 3-phase HOG scheme loco, generates about 12 per cent – 15 per cent of energy through the regenerative braking system. Thus, this HOG loco is highly energy efficient. 82. How much were India‘s foreign currency assets on August 6, 2010, according to figures released in the Reserve Bank of India‘s weekly statistical supplement recently? a) $297.39 billion b) $287.356 billion c) $261.09 billion* d) $234.16 billion e) $209.73 billion Answer 82: Foreign exchange reserves were up by $3.173 billion to $287.356 billion for the week ending August 6, 2010, according to figures released in the Reserve Bank of India‘s weekly statistical supplement recently. Foreign currency assets were up by $2.528 billion to $261.09 billion. Gold reserves were unchanged at $19.278 billion. SDRs were up by $35 million to $5.041 billion. The reserve position in the IMF was up by $610 million. 83. How much was the total cargo handled by Major and Non-Major Ports in India in 2009-10 according to information given in Parliament recently? a) 429.5 million tonnes b) 537.91 million tonnes c) 601.44 million tones d) 732.14 million tones e) 844.9 million tones* Answer 83: Major and Non-Major Ports in India accomplished a total cargo throughput of 844.9 million tones in 2009-10, reflecting an increase of 13.6% over 2008-09. The growth in cargo handled at Major and Non-Major Ports in 2009-10 was 5.7% and 33.2% respectively. This information was given by the Minister of Shipping, G.K. Vasan in Lok Sabha 84. Which of the following became the second Credit Information Company (CIC) after Credit Information Bureau Ltd to start functioning recently? a) Credit Rating and Information Services of India Ltd. b) Experian Credit Information Co* c) Indian Credit Rating Agency d) Equifax Information Services


e) Highmark Credit Information Services Answer 84: Experian Credit Information Company of India Pvt Ltd formally launched its operations on August 11, 2010 and will provide credit reports to lenders and consumers. It was awarded a licence by the RBI to operate a credit bureau in India under the new Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act (CICRA), 2005. Experian is the second credit information bureau in India after CIBIL to commence operations. 85. Which of the following were in news recently for their survey on Political Confidence Index and Business Confidence Index (BCI) in corporate India recently? a) CMIE & MasterCard b) CRISIL & VISA c) NCAER & MasterCard* d) CRISIL & MasterCard e) NCAER & VISA Answer 85: Business establishments‘ confidence in the political leadership of the country has risen after three consecutive quarters of decline, according to a NCAER-MasterCard survey conducted in the first quarter (April-June) of the fiscal 2010-11.

The Political Confidence Index (PCI) rose 22 per cent while the Business Confidence Index (BCI) showed a marginal decline of 0.6 per cent. The survey underlines business confidence for the second quarter (July-September 2010) of the fiscal. 86. Which Indian telecom company announced the acquisition of 100% stake in Telecom Seychelles recently? a) Bharti Airtel* b) Reliance Com c) Tata Teleservices d) BSNL e) Vodafone Essar Answer 86: Bharti Airtel on August 11, 2010 announced that it will acquire 100 per cent stake in Telecom Seychelles for USD 62 million (Rs 288 crore). The acquisition comes on heels of Bharti acquiring Zain Telecom‘s Africa assets for USD 10.7 billion, for which the deal was closed in June. 87. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on August 11, 2010 laid the foundation for the new campus of the Indian School of Business (ISB) at which of the following cities in Punjab? a) Amritsar b) Patiala c) Ludhiana d) Gurdaspur e) Mohali* Answer 87: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on August 11, 2010 laid the foundation for the new campus of the Indian School of Business (ISB) at Mohali in Punjab. It would be ISB‘s second campus outside Hyderabad. The facility is slated for completion in less than two years and to commence its first academic session in April 2012. 88. Which of the following has unveiled a five-year strategy for enhancing refinery capacity called ‗Dream Plan‘ recently? a) IOC b) BPCL*


c) HPCL d) OIL e) Essar Oil Answer 88: Bharat Petroleum Corporation is preparing the blueprint for a five-year strategy called ‗Dream Plan‘. One of the important elements of the plan is to enhance refining capacity to 50 million tonnes by 2015. BPCL has refineries in Mumbai, Kochi and Numaligarh (Assam) with a combined capacity of 25 million tonnes. Its six-million-tonne refinery project in Bina, Madhya Pradesh is set for commissioning soon. 89. Which public sector company was in news for winning five awards for its Human Resources Practices at Asia‘s Best Employer Brand Awards in Singapore recently? a) SAIL b) ONGC c) Coal India Ltd* d) BHEL e) Bharat Electronics Ltd Answer 89: Coal India Ltd (CIL) has won five awards for its Human Resources Practices at Asia‘s Best Employer Brand Awards in Singapore recently, according to a company press release on August 11, 2010. The CIL Chairman, Partha S. Bhattacharyya, was honoured with ‗CEO with HR Orientation Award‘ and Mohan Das, Director (personnel and industrial relations), was bestowed with ‗HR Leadership Award‘ for their contributions in the field of human resources. 90. Which country was in news for activating the reactor at Iran‘s Bushehr nuclear power plant despite US opposition recently? a) Russia* b) France c) China d) Canada e) India Answer 90: Russia‘s state-run atomic energy corporation Rosatom activated the reactor at Iran‘s Bushehr nuclear power plant on August 21, 2010. 91. Who among the following Indians was elected member of International Shooting Sport Federation committee recently? a) Avtar Singh Sethi b) Jaspal Rana c) Abhinav Bindra* d) Dr. Karan Singh e) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Answer 91: Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra was elected as one of the four members of the Athletes‘ Committee of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) during the 50

th World championship in Munich in

August 2010. Rajmond Debevec (Slovenia), Franck Dumoulin (France) and Vladimir Isakov (Russia) are the other members of the committee elected by 827 shooters. 92. Who among the following elected President of the Rural Marketing Association of India recently? a) Pradeep Kashyap* b) Raj Kumar Jha c) Sanjay Kaul d) Rajat Iyer


e) Parthi Bhatol Answer 92: Pradeep Kashyap, CEO of MART, Delhi, was re-elected President of Rural Marketing Association of India (RMAI) for 2010-11 at its fifth AGM held in Delhi in August 2010. Raj Kumar Jha, National Creative Director of Ogilvy Outreach is the Vice-President. Sanjay Kaul of Impact Communication is the Secretary and Rajat Iyer of Saarthak Delhi, is the Treasurer. 93. The International Cricket Council (ICC) appointed Alan Isaac of _________ as its new vice-president recently. a) Australia b) South Africa c) West Indies d) England e) New Zealand* Answer 93: The Dubai based International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed New Zealand‘s Alan Isaac as its vice-president on August 9, 2010. Cricket Australia (CA) and New Zealand Cricket (NZC), whose turn it was to put forward a candidate for the post, opted for Isaac after their original nomination, former Australia Prime Minister John Howard, failed to get sufficient backing from the ICC board. 94. Which country won the Champions Trophy Hockey tournament organised at Moenchengladbach, Germany recently? a) Netherlands b) India c) Australia* d) England e) Germany Answer 94: Australia won a third successive Champions Trophy, and 11

th in all, with a 4-0 defeat of England in the

final played at Moenchengladbach, Germany on August 10, 2010. Netherlands took bronze with a 4-1 defeat of hosts Germany. Australia coach Ric Charlesworth was delighted with his team‘s perfect record of six wins in six matches. 95. National Sports Federation (NSF) in which sport was in news recently for announcing voluntary acceptance of government regulations on age and tenure of the office bearers of NSFs? a) Tennis* b) Football c) Hockey d) Athletics e) Badminton Answer 95: The All India Tennis Association (AITA) on August 13, 2010 announced its acceptance of govt. regulations on age and tenure of the office bearers of National Sports Federations (NSFs).

―President Yashwant Sinha stated that the Government Guidelines with respect to tenure and age of Office Bearers should be adhered to by the AITA. These views were unanimously approved by the Executive Committee,‖ said a press release issued on August 13, 2010.

Meanwhile, other NSFs including Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Badminton Association of India (BAI) have refused to accept the guidelines, saying that they are independent and do not require government grants.

The guidelines, issued on May 1, 2010, restrict tenure of the president of a NSF to 12 years and that of the secretary and treasurer to a maximum of two consecutive terms of four years. The guidelines disallow


people of age 70 or above to contest in NSF elections. 96. Which state won the Santosh Trophy Football tournament recently? a) Goa b) Punjab c) West Bengal* d) Kerala e) Manipur Answer 96: Denson Devadas scored two goals for Bengal to beat Punjab 2-1 in the final of the 64

th Senior National

football championship for the Santosh Trophy at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on August 8, 2010. This was the 30

th occasion the State had registered its supremacy in the championship. Balwant Singh

scored the only goal for Punjab. 97. ―Har Ghar Kuchch Kehta Hai‖ (Every House tells a story), a Coffee table book released recently, is an initiative to promote tourism in which state? a) Rajasthan b) Madhya Pradesh c) Uttarakhand d) Uttar Pradesh e) Himachal Pradesh* Answer 97: The Himachal Tourism and Civil Aviation Department on August 10, 2010 unveiled a glossy coffee table book on the heritage buildings and historic houses of Shimla titled ―Har Ghar Kuchch Kehta Hai‖ (Every House tells a story). 98. The Haryana government recently announced the launch of a project to extend the Delhi Metro to which of the following cities? a) Karnal b) Faridabad* c) Yamunanagar d) Ambala e) Hissar Answer 98: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on August 9, 2010 approved the State Government‘s share of Rs. 1,588.60 crore for the extension of the Delhi Metro railway to Faridabad. The total cost of the project had been estimated at Rs. 2,533 crore out of which the Union government‘s share would be Rs. 544.40 crore. The project would start in October 2010 and would be completed by March 31, 2013. The 13.875-km fully elevated rail link from Delhi‘s Badarpur line would have nine stations up to YMCA Chowk, Faridabad. 99. The United Nations has accorded recognition to the ‗Mahatma Gandhi Tanta Mukti Gaon Mohim‘ (Dispute-free Village Scheme) that was introduced as a way to get rid of small disputes in the village and bring about harmony, recently. Which state is credited with the introduction of the ‗Mahatma Gandhi Tanta Mukti Gaon Mohim‘? a) Maharashtra* b) Karnataka c) Kerala d) Andhra Pradesh e) Tamil Nadu Answer 99: The United Nations has accorded recognition to the Mahatma Gandhi Tanta Mukti Gaon Mohim (Dispute-


free Village Scheme) of the Maharashtra government that was introduced as a way to get rid of small disputes in the village and thus bring about harmony. It was also seen as a measure to reduce the work pressure on policemen. Pune Rural SP Pratap Dighavkar presented the model to the U.N. at their New York headquarters on August 11, 2010. The presentation was given to the officials of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children‘s Fund (UNICEF), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the U.N. General Assembly and the Security Council. 100. Government in which Asian country is planning to shift its administration from the existing national capital to the new town of Sejong? a) Vietnam b) South Korea* c) North Korea d) Myanmar e) Laos Answer 100: South Korea‘s President, Lee Myung-bak, on August 8, 2010 named Kim Tae-ho as the new prime minister of South Korea. Chung Un-chan resigned as prime minister after parliament rejected the government‘s plans for relocating half of its ministries to the new administrative town of Sejong, which is under construction in central South Korea.

GJ Tutorial For the Week: September 19 to 25, 2010 Current GK

1



List of contents

Section A: INDIA Section B: WORLD Section C: AWARDS Section D: ECONOMY & CORPORATE Section E: SPORTS Section F: VOICES


M J Akbar appointed Editorial Director of India Today – English

Usha Mathur appointed Parliamentary Affairs Secretary

Veteran Congress leader Jamuna Devi passes away Filmmaker K. Balagangadhar Tilak passes away Justice V S Sirpurkar recuses himself from Dinakaran

panel Supreme Court stays Allahabad HC verdict on

Ayodhya Armed Forces Special Powers Act: Demands for

change All party delegation visits Kashmir Tamil Nadu govt. agrees to restrict Jallikattu 9th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to showcase North Eastern

Region Journalists‟ wage board report by December 31 Judge disposes of 270 cases in a day, sets a record Reservation for OBCs up in West Bengal Institute to study India-Pakistan trade integration

through Wagah MoD clears Indo-US joint amphibious exercise near

China Air quality forecasting system for CWG launched Doppler Weather Radar launched in Hyderabad Railways to switch to five-digit train number Karnataka accepts advice of Knowledge Commission 23 killed as freight train rams Gwalior Intercity

IRI launches campaign to support whistleblowers Indian scientists grow world‟s first GM “protato” „Peepli Live‟ is India‟s official entry for Oscars Sikkim University students selected for environment

training in Japan XLRI to set up campus in Hyderabad

Section B: WORLD Ed Miliband elected leader of Labour party in UK Somali Prime Minister Sharmarkeh resigns Former Soviet vice-president Yanayev passes away James Cameron tops 'most powerful in Hollywood‟ list World‟s oldest man marks his 114th birthday in US Millennium Development Goals summit organised at

UN „The Alliance‟ emerges as the largest bloc in Swedish

general elections China unveils plans for 2 more nuclear reactors for

Pakistan Japan frees Chinese captain involved in East China

Sea collision UN panel condemns Israel for flotilla raid „India will be world‟s 3rd most powerful nation‟ –

Global Governance 2025 India ranked 87th in economic freedom index 2010 World Water Week organised World Peace Day celebrated Pakistani woman scientist convicted in the US


2

“Peace Mission 2010” concludes in Kazakhstan US House panel approves China currency Bill Chile celebrates bicentennial of its independence Russia stops missile sales to Iran UAE gets seat on IAEA board World Heart Day 2010 observed World Alzheimer‟s Day observed

Section C: AWARDS Malayalam, Urdu writers win Jnanpith awards Punjabi poet Surjit Patar gets Saraswati Samman Divya Ajith Kumar wins „Sword of Honour‟ IICT Director wins Nehru Science Award Himachal gets State Agriculture Leadership Award Mahatma Gandhi Sewa Medal conferred Devdasi award given to Methil Devika Punjab gets Food Security Mission award Abhinav S. Upadhyaya enters Guinness Records for

clapping Indira Gandhi National Service Scheme awards

conferred „World Statesman Award‟ conferred on Manmohan

Singh Sir Mota Singh gets „Pride of India Award‟ Pallav Bagla selected for David Perlman award Kapil Sibal conferred Stephen P Duggan award Swedish honour for Bharat Forge CMD Kalyani Sean Penn wins award for Haiti humanitarian work IBSA gets UN award for its fight against hunger,

poverty Indian team wins Oxford business competition UN award for Drukpa Lineage Google announces „Project 10-to-the-one-hundredth‟

awards

Section D: ECONOMY & CORPORATE Anand Sinha will be new RBI deputy governor Indian-American Dipak Jain named Dean of INSEAD C.S. Rao to head AUTSPI G R Rao appointed new Tobacco Board Chairman Vellayan is new Fertiliser Association Chairman Bill Gates tops Forbes 400 rich list for 17th year Four Indian-Americans in Forbes 400 rich list Facebook founder to donate $100m to public schools RBI unveils „Profile of Banks 2009-10‟ Govt cuts PDS foodgrain prices India signs (TAPI) gas pipeline project agreement CMIE sees GDP growth at 9.2%

RBI postpones banking target in every village by a year

REC gets „infrastructure finance company‟ status Sun Pharmaceutical completes Taro acquisition Govt raises FII limit in G-Secs, corporate bonds Kharif output to rise 10.4% in 2010-11 India switches fully to Euro III and IV petrol and

diesel BSE launches mobile trading SEBI rejects MCX-SX's application for equity trading Petrobras raises $70 billion in world's largest share

offer Cabinet approves Identification Authority Bill India, Canada to set up CEO Forum for economic ties India ready to sell Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors Foundation for new Metro line laid in Kolkata Miniratna status granted to 2 CPSEs National Skill Development Corporation signs JV

with Centum ONGC to foray into shale gas exploration IndianOil launches „Propel‟ range of petrochemicals IATA terms service tax on air tickets illegal DIPP against foreign airlines buying stake in Indian

carriers IIT-B, TIFR to set up national mathematics centre NCR highest job creator among metros Wipro selected member of Dow Jones Sustainability

Index Jet bags „Best Full Service‟ award Fortune‟s India-specific edition launched New Delhi‟s Khan Market is India‟s priciest bazaar AIMA plans new test for employability CRISIL to buy Pipal Research Obama Economic Advisor Summers set to leave Nestle to set up R&D Centre in India MGM studio creditors reject Sahara‟s $ 2bn Citigroup to raise Pandit‟s one dollar token salary “Bank Standard of Excellence” Award for Federal

Bank Web site Kerala Tourism‟s global ad-campaign launched EC Media unveils e-book reader Wink

Section E: SPORTS

Mary Kom wins World boxing title Talukdar wins Archery World Cup bronze Serbia, France to meet in Davis Cup final India beat Brazil to enter Davis Cup World Group Chennai Super Kings win CLT20 2010 HCA President‟s XI wins Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup


3

Section A: INDIA

Newsmakers

M J Akbar appointed Editorial Director of India Today – English: Living

Media, publishers of India Today magazine, on September 24, 2010 announced the setting up of a special business unit (SBU) to focus on Indian language publishing. All current India Today language brands will be assigned to this new SBU, which would be placed under the leadership of Prabhu Chawla, who will be designated Editor (Languages) and CEO. He will also be Consulting Editor to Business Today. Aroon Purie is the Group Editor-in-Chief and Chairman of Living Media which has also appointed M J Akbar as Editorial Director of India Today - English and India Today - International and their extensions. In

addition, Akbar would be associated with Headlines Today as Editorial Director.

Usha Mathur appointed Parliamentary Affairs Secretary: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on September 21, 2010 approved the appointment of Usha Mathur as Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

Veteran Congress leader Jamuna Devi passes away: Veteran Congress leader Jamuna Devi, Leader of the

Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, passed away on September 24, 2010, at the age of 81. A veteran tribal woman leader, she represented Kukshi in Dhar district in the State Assembly and was elected MLA for a sixth term in 2008. She was also a member of the first Assembly of the Madhya Bharat State (1952-57).

Filmmaker K. Balagangadhar Tilak passes away: Eminent filmmaker Kollipara Balagangadhar Tilak passed away at the age of 84 on September 24, 2010. He was respected for his struggle to get film workers a share of the profits in Richard Attenborough‘s international blockbluster ‗Gandhi‘. According to an agreement with the Government of India, about five per cent of the profits were to be shared with those who worked on the film. However, when this was not adhered to, Tilak moved the court.

Justice V S Sirpurkar recuses himself from Dinakaran panel: Supreme Court Judge V S

Sirpurkar on September 23, 2010 asked Vice-President Hamid Ansari, to be recused from the three-member probe panel constituted to look into charges of corruption against Sikkim High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran. Dinakaran is facing an impeachment motion moved by 76 members of the Rajya Sabha for alleged corruption and irregularities. Chennai based Forum for Judicial Accountability had sought Sirpurkar‘s recusal from the panel on the grounds that he had been a colleague of Dinakaran at the Madras High Court. Sirpurkar had heard many cases jointly with Dinakaran. They also performed administrative duties together.

News round up Supreme Court stays Allahabad HC verdict on Ayodhya

Deferment of the judgment was sought for exploring the possibility of an amicable solution through negotiations and mediation

The Supreme Court on September 23, 2010, by an interim order, stayed the pronouncement of verdict by the Allahabad High Court on September 24, 2010 on four title suits relating to the Ayodhya dispute. A Bench of Justices R.V. Raveendran and H.L. Gokhale stayed till September 28, 2010, the High Court verdict that dismissed a special leave petition (SLP) that had sought a deferment of the judgment for exploring the possibility of an amicable solution to the dispute through negotiations and mediation.


4

Taking into consideration the fact that Justice D.V. Sharma, on the special three-judge Bench of the Allahabad High Court, is due to retire on October 1, the Supreme Court directed that the matter be listed for further hearing on September 28.

The Ayodhya dispute intensified when a crowd razed down the Babri Masjid, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama, on December 6, 1992.

It was with some reluctance that the Supreme Court bench decided to order the high court to defer its verdict for five days, with one of the two judges inclined to dismiss the petition. The plea before the Supreme Court was that, given

the implications of the impending high court decision for communal harmony and in the circumstances in which the Central and the State security forces were overstretched in dealing with the Maoists, the situation in Kashmir and the security for the Commonwealth Games, the parties should be given one more chance to work out a settlement through negotiations.

The Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi issue would no longer seem to inflame passions to the extent that it did in the 1990s, although the court verdict could still have a significant impact on communal harmony. No one would quarrel with the desirability of a fair and equitable negotiated settlement if only that were possible. Yet, if the judicial process itself

were to be held hostage to fears of disturbances, it would amount to giving rioters a veto over the law-abiding and would have disturbing implications for the rule of law.

Armed Forces Special Powers Act: Demands for change

Major changes to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act would be a politically and legally difficult exercise, but steps can be taken to give it a humane face A major factor now preventing the return of normalcy in Kashmir is the opposition to the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 or AFSPA. Demands are being raised for its repeal or for making it more humane. Another view is that the law should be lifted in certain districts of the state. The ministry of defence appears unwilling to accept any changes. The deliberations of the Cabinet Committee on Security and the all-party meeting convened by the government in September 2010 have also failed to yield a consensus. Despite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh‘s assurance in December 2006 that changes would be made in the Act to make it more humane, the law has not been softened. The Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee report is also believed to have recommended a review of the Act.

What is AFPSA?

AFSPA is a legislative tool designed to confer special powers on armed forces personnel deployed in areas declared as disturbed or dangerous by the government. It was extended to J&K as the Armed Forces (Jammu & Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990. The Act confers on an officer of the armed forces the power to:

Fire upon or otherwise force, even to the point of causing death, any person disregarding orders against unlawful assembly

Arrest without a warrant Enter and search any premises Destroy any arms dumps

The Act also provides legal immunity to military personnel for their actions. Their prosecution cannot be initiated without prior permission of the Central government.

What the critics say:

AFSPA gives military personnel draconian powers

The Act is a tool in the hand of security forces to perpetrate human rights violations

The Central government has retained the Act for decades without a valid justification

Cases against military personnel for grave offences reported by state governments to the ministry of defence have failed to trigger prosecution.


5

Way forward:

Any major changes to the Act would be a politically and legally difficult but a number of steps can be taken to give the Act a humane face. Such a formula could gradually bring normalcy.

To begin with, a probe by way of a staff court of inquiry should be made mandatory in all cases where employment of troops has led to any civilian death or grievous hurt, or caused damage to personal property.

For the sake of transparency and credibility, all such investigations must be attended by a civilian officer not below the post of a deputy collector.

Local NGOs should be permitted to take up complaints of human rights violations with local military commanders. These must be treated as requests under the Right to Information Act.

Cases forwarded to the Central government seeking sanction for the prosecution of military officers for any excesses in the discharge of their duties while operating under AFSPA should be promptly resolved.

To reduce and discourage the use of lethal force by the security forces, incentives or awards could be instituted for capturing terrorists or militants alive. This may bring down the number of fatal casualties.

All party delegation visits Kashmir

A 39-member all party delegation led by Home Minister P. Chidambaram visited the Kashmir valley on September 20, 2010 and interacted with common people. Some members of the delegation also met separatist leaders.

Some delegates like the DMK‘s T.R. Baalu and the CPI (M)‘s Sitaram Yechury met hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani at his residence on September 21. Another team led by CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta visited Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference. The Mirwaiz wanted the sentiment of ‗azaadi‘ to be accepted and made a point of reference in the dialogue for restoring normalcy in the valley. Another delegation led by Ram Vilas Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party met Yasin Malik of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front. Malik said any dialogue with the government lacked credibility.

Signs of discord within the delegation became evident when BJP leaders objected to delegates visiting the separatists. ―If some people want to go we cannot stop them but we decided not to go,‖ said BJP leader Sushma Swaraj.

Later, Mirwaiz and Malik decided to send a memorandum, urging the Centre to establish a Kashmir Committee, comprising senior representatives of all major political parties, to develop a process of engagement with the representatives of Kashmiris.

Tamil Nadu govt. to restrict Jallikattu: The Tamil Nadu government on September 24, 2010 informed the

Supreme Court that it would restrict the jallikattu (bull fight) event to four months in a year from January 15 to May 15, instead of five months as contemplated in the law enacted for its regulation. A Bench of Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice H.L. Gokhale had earlier asked the State to consider its suggestion for restricting the event to two months – January/February – in a year, instead of five months observing that that the sporting event must not become a business proposition. The Bench also wanted the government to consider increasing the organisers‘ licence fee deposit to Rs. 20 lakh from Rs. 2 lakh. Jallikattu is a bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations. A PIL was earlier filed in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on the sport on the ground that

it not only endangered the lives the fighters and general public but also amounted to cruelty to the animals.

9

th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to showcase North Eastern Region: The Ministry of Development of North Eastern

Region (DoNER) and eight North Eastern States will be partners of 9th

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)-2011, to be organised from 7-9 January 2011 in New Delhi. The convention will showcase the essence of North Eastern Region, said Vayalar Ravi, the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, on September 22, 2010. The theme of PBD-2011 is ―Engaging the Global Indian‖. The event will be organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), in


6

partnership with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region along with eight North Eastern States and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The Minister also launched the PBD-2011 website - www.pbdindia.org.

Journalists‟ wage board report by December 31: The wage boards for working journalists and other newspaper

employees, set up by the government under the Chairmanship of Justice Gurbax Rai Majithia, will submit a report by December 31, informed Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mallikarjun Kharge on September 22, 2010.

Judge disposes of 270 cases in a day, sets a record: Senior Civil Judge M. Yesu Ratnam of the Venkatagiri

Court in Sri Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh on Sept 24, 2010 created a record by disposing of 270 cases in a single day. Of the 270 cases, 167 were criminal and 103 civil. A court in Madhya Pradesh had held the record so far, having cleared 152 cases in a day. Out of the 167 criminal cases, Justice Ratnam awarded conviction to the accused in 37 cases, imposed about Rs. 73,500 fine in 48 and granted acquittal in the remaining cases.

Reservation for OBCs up in West Bengal: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb

Bhattacharjee on September 24, 2010 announced increased reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the State from the existing seven per cent to 17 per cent. This move takes reservation up to 45 per cent in West Bengal. Around 3.15 crore people constituting 39 per cent of the State‘s population are under OBC classification. A notification has been issued to reserve government jobs under this policy which also classified the backward classes into two separate groups. While one section called ‗more backward‘ would get a 10 per cent reservation, the other section classified as ‗backward‘ would get seven per cent quota.

Institute to study India-Pakistan trade integration through Wagah: Research and Information System for Developing Countries (an autonomous research institution set up with financial support from the Union government) on September 21, 2010 commissioned Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, Chandigarh (CRRID) to conduct a feasibility study on the infrastructure required for the trade integration between India and Pakistan through Wagah border. Former Ambassador of India to Malaysia P S Sahay is entrusted with the task of conducting the study. The formal trade between India and Pakistan stands at $1.8 billion (as of 2008-09) while trade through third country or circular trade is estimated at $10 billion. This is conducted through agents operating in free ports like Dubai, Singapore and Central Asian Republic Countries. The export to Pakistan is made through Mumbai and Kandla port to Karachi that incurs substantial cost in terms of logistics and loss of perishables.

MoD clears Indo-US joint amphibious exercise near China: The Defence Ministry on September 22, 2010 gave its approval to the Indian Armed forces to participate in a joint amphibious exercise at the US Marines base in Okinawa, Japan in Sept-Oct, 2010. The exercise is known as Habu Nag series of war games. Okinawa is located close to China and has a significant US presence where several military bases are concentrated. The island has also been in the news recently for frequent spotting of Chinese naval vessels, including submarines by Japanese self-defence forces. India‘s relations with China have chilled after the recent denial of a visa to Northern Army Commander Lt Gen BS Jaswal who was to lead a military delegation to Beijing on the grounds that he commanded troops in a ―disputed area‖.

Air quality forecasting system for CWG launched: India on September 22, 2010 became the third nation to have

an air quality forecasting system for a major sport event with the government unveiling a network of observatories to monitor the levels of pollutants in the air. With the launch of System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), New Delhi has become the first city in the country which will have a 24-hour advance forecast for pollutants like Ozone, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, particulate matters of less than 2.5 microns and 10 microns, benzene, toluene, xylene and black carbon.

Doppler Weather Radar launched in Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, K. Rosaiah, on September 18, 2010 inaugurated an Rs 12-crore Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) facility at the Begumpet airport premises in Hyderabad which will facilitate real-time weather monitoring capability apart from aiding in tracking cyclones. The six-storey complex now houses an S-band weather radar and is capable of providing surveillance up to a radius of 500 km and will serve as an effective infrastructure for forecast of cyclones and flash floods.


7

Railways to switch to five-digit train number: The Ministry of Railways on September 24, 2010 announced its decision to switch over to a „five‟ – digit numbering system for trains in place of the existing „four‟- digit numbering system from December 20, 2010. Five digit train numbering scheme became necessary in view of the four digit numbering scheme having got exhausted as Indian Railways runs more than 10 thousand trains every day. Need has also arisen to integrate the passenger and suburban train services in various information systems such as Control Office Application, Passenger Reservation System and other software applications.

Karnataka accepts advice of Knowledge Commission: Karnataka on September 24, 2010 accepted some recommendations of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission headed by K Kasturirangan, for improving the education system in colleges and universities. A recommendation accepted by the government is to develop the Mysore and Karnatak Universities in Dharwad as model universities.

23 killed as freight train rams Gwalior Intercity: Twenty-three people were killed and over 30 injured after a

freight train rammed the stationary Gwalior Intercity Express from behind at the Badarwas railway station in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh on the morning of September 20, 2010.

IRI launches campaign to support whistleblowers: The India Rejuvenation Initiative

(IRI), a forum for probity in public life, on September 21, 2010, decided to support whistleblowers and other individuals and organisations engaged in fighting injustice and corruption in the country. The IRI has launched a ‗save whistleblowers‘ campaign as a step towards eradicating corruption in the country. Former Chief Election Commissioner and founder member of IRI J M Lyngdoh said that IRI has been receiving a large number of suggestions from across the country to support whistleblowers and their families in the cause of fighting corruption. He said that it has been realised that there are few takers for joining the whistleblowers because of the risk to their lives and that is why the IRI has taken up the cause.

Indian scientists grow world‟s first GM “protato”: A team of Indian scientists in London have grown for the first

time, a genetically modified spud called ‗protato‘ that makes up to 60 per cent more protein per gram than ordinary potatoes. The new crop created by Subra Chakraborty and colleagues at India‘s Central Potato Research Institute in Shimla also yielded more potato per hectare, reported London based science magazine ‗New Scientist‘ on September 21, 2010. Tests on rats and rabbits revealed no toxic or allergic effects. The plants also produced 15 to 25 per cent more potatoes per hectare by weight. The team hopes that the new find can be used not only for industry or fodder, but also for boosting human nutrition.

„Peepli Live‟ is India‟s official entry for Oscars: Aamir Khan‘s ‗Peepli Live‘, depicting the

growing rural-urban divide in India, was on September 24, 2010 selected as India‘s official entry to next year‘s Oscars in the Best Foreign Film category by the Film Federation of India. Directed by debutant Anusha Rizvi, the film stars theatre actors and is a satire on the media and the political system in the country. This is third time a film from Aamir Khan Production has been selected to represent India at the Academy awards. Earlier ones were ‗Lagaan‘ (2001) and ‗Taare Zameen Par‘ (2007).

Sikkim University students selected for environment training in Japan: Two students from Sikkim University (SU) have been selected for the prestigious ‗International Environmental Leader Short-Term Training Program for Sustainable Asia‘ at Hiroshima University in Japan. Animesh A Lulam Rai and Rabindra Mani Pradhan, M.Phil students at the university, were on September 25, 2010 invited to the training being organised by the Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation [IDEC] at Hiroshima University, Japan. The two will be joining invitees from Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam and are the only two selected from India for the programme.

XLRI to set up campus in Hyderabad: The Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur, one of the top five management institutes in the country, on September 21, 2010 decided to set up a campus in Hyderabad.


8

Section B: WORLD

Newsmakers

Ed Miliband elected leader of Labour party in UK: Edward Samuel ―Ed‖ Miliband

(born 1969) was on September 25, 2010 elected Leader of the Labour Party and the Leader of the Opposition of the United Kingdom. David Miliband, Ed Balls, Andy Burnham and Diane Abbott were other contenders for the Labour Party‘s top position. The 2010 Labour Party leadership election was triggered in May, after the 2010 general election when Gordon Brown resigned as both Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party. The elections had resulted in a hung parliament, with the Conservative Party winning 306 seats, Labour 258 and the Liberal Democrats 57.

Somali Prime Minister Sharmarkeh resigns: Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdelrashid

Ali Sharmarkeh on September 21, 2010 announced his resignation in capital Mogadishu following months of growing rift with the Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

The president said that he will appoint a new prime minister as soon as possible who will in turn form a government of national unity.

Former Soviet vice-president Yanayev passes away: Former Soviet Vice-President Gennady Yanayev, one of

the leaders of a coup against then president Mikhail Gorbachev in August 1991, passed away on September 24, 2010 at the age of 73. Yanayev briefly declared himself as acting Soviet president in August 1991 during a failed coup attempt. He was later jailed on charges of treason and conspiracy to usurp power but was released in February 1994 by amnesty.

James Cameron tops most powerful in Hollywood list: Oscar-winning director James

Cameron on September 25, 2010 emerged as the most powerful man in Hollywood in a survey conducted by London based newspaper, ‗The Guardian‘. The ‗Avatar‘ director beat filmmaker Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio, who claimed the second and the third positions respectively on 2010‘s Power 100 list. Animation expert John Lasseter, the man behind the ‗Toy Story‘ franchise, ‗Finding Nemo‘ and ‗Ratatouille‘, won the fourth position, while actor Brad Pitt came fifth on the list. ―Cameron occupies the top two spots in the list of the highest-grossing movies of all time, with ‗Titanic‘ (worldwide gross: USD 1.8bn) second only to ‗Avatar‘ (USD 2.7bn)... No film-maker has taken a more passionate interest and involvement in cinema technology than this Canadian-born writer-director-producer,‖ said the UK daily.

World‟s oldest man marks 114

th birthday in US: Walter Breuning, an American believed to be the world‘s oldest

man, celebrated his 114th birthday on September 21, 2010 at Great Falls, Montana. His birthday celebration was

attended by Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and representatives from Guinness World Records. Breuning was born on Sept 21, 1896, in Melrose, Minnesota, and moved to Montana in 1918. He worked for the Great Northern Railway for 50 years. His wife, Agnes, died in 1957. The couple had no children.

News round up

Millennium Development Goals summit organised at UN

A three-day summit on Millennium Development Goals was organised at the United Nations, Headquarters in New York from 22-24, 2010. The summit was called to review efforts to implement anti-poverty goals adopted at a summit in 2000. These include cutting extreme poverty by half, ensuring universal primary education, halting and reversing the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and cutting child and maternal mortality - all by 2015. The objective was to push global leaders to meet UN goals to significantly reduce poverty by 2015.


9

The Summit concluded with the adoption of a global action plan to achieve the eight anti-poverty goals by their 2015 target date and the announcement of major new commitments for women's and children's health and other initiatives against poverty, hunger and disease

The Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health, with pledges of more than $40 billion over the next five years announced during the summit, has the potential of saving the lives of more than 16 million women and children, preventing 33 million unwanted pregnancies, protecting 120 millions of children from pneumonia and 88 million children from stunting, advancing the control of deadly diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and ensuring access for women and children to quality facilities and skilled health workers.

Celebrities, Antonio Banderas, Angelique Kidjo, Zinedine Zidane, Maria Sharapova and Annie Lennox, who are UN Goodwill Ambassadors and Messengers of Peace agreed to continue to champion the cause

of the Millennium Development Goals.

More than 140 presidents, prime ministers and kings attended the three-day summit which started on September 20, 2010 and many will be remaining in New York for the General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting which begins on September 23.

Many recent reports show that the world's poorest countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, have made little progress in eradicating poverty. Also, at the current rate of progress, the world will miss the target of cutting in half the proportion of people without basic sanitation.

The Millennium Development Goals

Goal #1: End Hunger: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a day & halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger

Goal #2: Universal Education: Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.

Goal #3: Gender Equity: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015.

Goal #4: Child Health: Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate.

Goal #5: Maternal Health: Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio. Achieve, by 2015, universal access to reproductive health.

Goal #6: Combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases: Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. Achieve, by 2010, universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all those who need it.

Goal #7: Environmental Sustainability: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources. Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation

Goal #8: Global Partnership: Develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system. Address the special needs of the least developed countries. Includes: tariff and quota free access for the least developed countries‘ exports; enhanced programme of debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) and cancellation of official bilateral debt. In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries.


10

„The Alliance‟ emerges as the largest bloc in Swedish general election

The 2010 general election to the Riksdag or Swedish parliament was held on September 19, 2010. The governing centre-right coalition ‗The Alliance‘, led by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt (leader of the Moderate Party), faced an election battle against the opposing ‗Red-Greens‘ coalition, led by Mona Sahlin (leader of the Social Democrats).

‗The Alliance‘ won 173 seats, 2 short of an overall majority, with the ‗Red-Green‘ coalition coming second at 156 seats in the 349-seat Riksdag. The Sweden Democrats (SD) broke the 4% national vote threshold and won 20 seats, entering the parliament for the first time. The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The Riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members, who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years.

Parties comprising ‗The Alliance‘ (173 seats) include Moderate Party (107 seats) led by Fredrik Reinfeldt, Liberal People's Party led by Jan Björklund (24 seats), Centre Party (23 seats) led by Maud Olofsson and Christian Democrats (19 seats) led by Göran Hägglund.

Parties comprising the ‗Red-Green‘ coalition (156 seats): The Social Democrats (112 seats) led by Mona Sahlin, Green Party (25 seats) represented by Peter Eriksson and Maria Wetterstrand and the Left Party (19 seats) led by Lars Ohly.

Analysis: As the Alliance had based its campaign on the evidence of a slow but definite economic recovery, the opposition failed to persuade voters to oust the ruling coalition. The Alliance agenda is relatively predictable and involves spending cuts and more privatisation, even though the national budget deficit is relatively small. The election has, however, been dominated by the far-right Sweden Democrat Party, which has gone far beyond the threshold four per cent vote-share to win no fewer than 20 Riksdag seats.

China unveils plans for 2 more n-reactors for Pak

China on September 21, 2010 gave its firmest confirmation yet of plans to build two new nuclear reactors for Pakistan. Beijing plans to help Pakistan expand its Chashma nuclear energy complex in Punjab by building two reactors of about 300 megawatts each in addition to one already operating and another nearing completion. China has

already notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about the relevant details.

The US has argued the Pakistan-China deal would require a waiver from the 46-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which seeks to restrict atomic exports to countries that have signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). Islamabad is not a signatory to the NPT. Countries that have not signed the NPT require special exemption from the NSG which is supposed to regulate the global nuclear trade.

Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer on September 24, 2010 said that the deal may not get the approval of the

NSG given Islamabad's track record.

Beijing says it does not see any need to seek approval from the NSG. China appears positioned to argue that the two new Chashma reactors were part of an agreement made before it joined the NSG in 2004.

India has also not signed the NPT but received special exemption from NSG due to US efforts because of its clean non-proliferation record.

The China-Pak nuclear deal has been a cause of concern for many because of Pakistan's history as a nuclear proliferator, mounting instability within that country and worries the agreement would undermine the nonproliferation regime.


11

Japan frees Chinese captain involved in East China Sea collision

Japan on September 25, 2010, released a Chinese fishing boat captain involved in a collision near disputed islands, following intense pressure from China in the worst spat between the Asian neighbours in years.

Japanese authorities had accused 41-year-old Zhan Qixiong of ramming his fishing trawler against two Japanese patrol vessels near disputed territory between the neighbours in the East China Sea, known as the Diaoyu Islands in China or the Senkaku islands in Japan.

Prosecutors in Okinawa, where Qixiong was in custody, said they would let him go partly because they did not perceive any premeditated intent to damage the Japanese coast guard boats and for diplomatic reasons.

China‟s retaliation: The captain‘s detention since September 8, 2010 had raised China‘s heckles. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao had threatened ―further action‖ against Japan if it did not immediately release the captain. There

were reports that China had suspended Japan-bound shipments of rare earth metals which are crucial to several high-tech industries from electronic equipment to missile technology. China accounts for 97 per cent of global production of rare earths, and Japan is a major destination for Chinese exports.

On September 24, 2010 China detained four Japanese nationals, accusing them of entering a military zone without authorisation and videotaping military facilities in northern Hebei province. Beijing had also suspended ministerial-level dialogue with Tokyo and postponed talks on developing disputed undersea gas fields.

UN panel condemns Israel for flotilla raid

A report by United Nations panel of human rights experts, unveiled in September 2010, has condemned Israel for the wilful killing, unnecessary brutality and torture in its ―clearly unlawful‖ assault on a ship attempting to break the blockade of Gaza in May 2010 in which nine Turkish activists died. The report by three experts appointed by the U.N.‘s Human Rights Council (UNHRC) described the seizure of MV Mavi Marmara, a Turkish vessel, by Israeli commandos as illegal under international law.

―The conduct of the Israeli military and other personnel toward the flotilla passengers was not only disproportionate to the occasion but demonstrated levels of totally unnecessary and incredible violence. It betrayed an unacceptable level of brutality,‖ the 56-page report — compiled by a former U.N. war crimes prosecutor, Desmond de Silva, a judge from Trinidad, Karl Hudson-Phillips, and a Malaysian women‘s rights advocate, Mary Shanthi Dairiam — said. It added that the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian enclave is illegal because of the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

„India will be world‟s 3rd

most powerful nation‟ – “Global Governance 2025”: ―Global Governance 2025‖, an

official US report on global governance unveiled on September 21, 2010, has declared that India will be the third most powerful nation in 2025 after the United States and China. The report was jointly issued by the National Intelligence Council (NIC) of the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the European Union‟s Institute for Security Studies (EUISS). In 2010, the US tops the list of powerful countries/regions, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of the

global power. The US is followed by China (more than 12 per cent), European Union (more than 16 per cent), India (nearly eight per cent), and less than five per cent each for Japan, Russia and Brazil.

India ranked 87

th in economic freedom index: India has been ranked 87

th in the annual Economic Freedom of

the World (EFW) Report of the US-based think-tank Cato Institute on September 25, 2010. The EFW 2010 ranks 141 nations on the following: size of government (relative to economy); legal structure and security of property rights; access to sound money; freedom to trade internationally; and regulation of credit, labour and business. As in the EFW 2009, this time also Hong Kong and Singapore are No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. The rest of the top 10 are New


12

Zealand, Switzerland, Chile, the USA, Canada, Australia, Mauritius and the UK. The bottom 10 are Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Guinea-Bissau, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Venezuela, Angola, Myanmar and Zimbabwe (also last in 2009). A random sampling of other rankings: Germany (24th), Japan (24th), France (35th), Republic of Korea (37th), Spain (39th), Italy (66th), Mexico (69th), China (82nd), Russia (84th), India (87th), and Brazil (102nd). India retains its relative position.

2010 World Water Week organised: The 2010 World Water Week was organised

by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) from September 5-11, 2010 at Stockholm. The theme for 2010 was ―The Water Quality Challenge - Prevention, Wise Use and Abatement‖. H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden presented the 2010 Stockholm Water Prize to Dr Rita Colwell of University of Maryland on September 9, 2010. The World Water Week is an annual global meeting place for capacity-building, partnership-building and follow-up on the implementation of international processes and programmes in water and development. UN-Habitat and Google.org launched the h2.0 initiative (http://www.h20initiative.org) at the World Water Week. The initiative provides a common, real-time, online platform for data collected by groups around the world, presenting them in the form of interactive maps (using Google Earth).

World Peace Day celebrated: The International Day of Peace, also known as the World Peace Day, was celebrated worldwide on September 21, 2010. The day, observed annually on September 21, is dedicated to peace, or specifically the absence of war, or a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone. The first year this holiday was celebrated was 1981. To inaugurate the day, the ―Peace Bell‖ is rung at UN Headquarters in New York. The bell is cast from coins donated by children from all continents. It was given as a gift by the Diet of Japan, and is referred to as ―a reminder of the human cost of war.‖ The inscription on its side reads: ―Long live absolute world peace.‖

Pakistani woman scientist convicted in the US: Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman

trained as a scientist in the U.S., was sentenced to 86 years in prison on September 23, 2010 in New York after she was convicted of trying to kill U.S. Army soldiers and FBI agents in Afghanistan in July 2008. Siddiqui received graduate degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brandeis University in biology and neuroscience in 1991-2002.

“Peace Mission 2010” concludes in Kazakhstan: ―Peace Mission 2010,‖ a multi-national anti-terror military drill under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation

Organization (SCO), ended on September 25, 2010 at Matybulak Range in southern Kazakhstan. The 16-day joint military drill involved 5,000 troops from five SCO member states, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. The sixth, Uzbekistan, did not participate.

US House panel approves China currency Bill: A US congressional panel on September 25, 2010, approved a bill that would let the United States impose duties on goods from countries with undervalued currencies. In a move likely to increase trade tensions with China, the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee approved the legislation on a voice vote and cleared the way for the full House to take it up soon. Critics inside and outside Congress claim that China enjoys an unfair trade advantage by undervaluing the yuan against the dollar by as much as 25 per cent to 40 per cent, hurting US exports and employment.

Chile celebrates bicentennial of its independence: Chile celebrated the bicentennial of its independence on

September 19, 2010 with the participation of many heads of state and political leaders in capital Santiago. The day marked Chile‘s 200 years of independence from Spain. Chile is one of South America's most stable and prosperous nations and leads Latin American nations in human development, competitiveness, quality of life, political stability, globalization, economic freedom, low perception of corruption and comparatively low poverty rates. In May 2010 Chile became the first South American country to join the OECD. Sebastián Piñera is the President of Chile.

Russia stops missile sales to Iran: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has banned all sales of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran. Russia signed a 2007 contract to sell the sophisticated systems that could boost


13

Iran‘s ability to defend against air strikes. Medvedev‘s decree on September 22, 2010 also prohibited exports of tanks, aircraft and sea vessels to Iran. Russia said United Nations sanctions would prevent it from delivering the S-300s to Iran. The S-300 is capable of shooting down aircraft and missiles at ranges of over 144 km and at altitudes of about 27,432 metres. No missiles have been delivered yet.

UAE gets seat on IAEA board: The UAE on September 24, 2010 was elected to the

board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957. The IAEA has its headquarters in Vienna, Austria and two ―Regional Safeguards Offices‖ which are located in Toronto, Canada, and in Tokyo, Japan. The IAEA and its former Director General, Mohamed ElBaradei, were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded in October 2005. The IAEA‘s current Director General is Yukiya Amano of Japan. IAEA

programmes and budgets are set through decisions of its policymaking bodies - the 35-member Board of Governors and the General Conference of all Member States.

World Heart Day 2010 observed: The World Heart Day 2010 was observed across the world on September 25, 2010, with the theme ―Workplaces Wellness: Take responsibility for your own heart health‖.

World Alzheimer‟s Day observed: World Alzheimer‘s Day was observed on September 21, 2010.


14

Section C: AWARDS

INDIA

Malayalam, Urdu writers win Jnanpith awards

Malayalam litterateur O.N.V. Kurup and Urdu poet Akhlaq Khan Shahryar were on September 24, 2010 chosen for the Jnanpith Award for 2007 and 2008 respectively. The selection board chaired by Oriya writer and Jnanpith winner Sitakant Mahapatra made the choices for the top literary awards.

The Jnanpith Award is the highest literary award in India. It is presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith, a trust founded by the Sahu Jain family, the publishers of The Times of India newspaper. The award carries a check for Rs. 700,000, a citation plaque and a bronze replica of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts.

The award was instituted in 1961, and its first recipient, in 1965, was the Malayalam writer G. Sankara Kurup. Any Indian citizen who writes in any of the official languages of India is eligible for the honor. Prior to 1982, the awards were given for a single work by a writer; since then, the award has been given for a lifetime contribution to Indian literature.

Shahryar, who was born in 1936 in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district, Shahryar has played a major role in shaping Urdu poetry as it is today. He has received many awards including the Uttar Pradesh Urdu Akademi award, the Sahitya Akademi award, the Delhi Urdu Akademi award and the Firaq Sammaan.

Born in 1931 in Kollam district, Kurup has 20 collections of poetry to his credit. He is also the winner of several awards and honours, including the Kerala Sahitya Academy award, Sahitya Academy award, Vayalar award and the Padma Shri. As lyricist, he won the National Award for Best Lyricist in 1989 and the State Award for the Best Lyricist over a dozen times.

Punjabi poet Surjit Patar gets Saraswati Samman: Eminent Punjabi poet Surjit Patar was honoured with the prestigious ―'Saraswati Samman‖ award 2009 for his collection ―Lafzan Di Dargah‖. Instituted by K K Birla Foundation, the award which carries a prize money of Rs 7.5 lakh, was conferred on Patar by HRD Minister Kapil Sibal in New Delhi on September 17, 2010. The Saraswati Samman, given annually by the Foundation, recognises an outstanding literary work in any of the 22 Indian languages and published during the last 10 years. Shobhana Bhartia is the President of the Foundation.

Divya Ajith Kumar wins „Sword of Honour‟: Divya Ajith Kumar received the coveted ‗Sword of Honour‘ at the Passing Out Parade of the Officers‘ Training Academy in Chennai on September 25, 2010 thus becoming the first woman cadet to bag the distinction in the history of the Army.

IICT Director wins Nehru Science Award: Dr J.S. Yadav, Director, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT),

Hyderabad, on September 24, 2010, won the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Award for Science-2007, given by the M.P. Council of Science and Technology (MPCST). The award carries a citation and cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and has been given to Dr Yadav in recognition of his contributions in the field of scientific research.

Himachal gets State Agriculture Leadership Award: Himachal Pradesh was on September 29, 2010 conferred the prestigious State Agriculture Leadership Award 2010 for its outstanding policy initiatives and performance in agriculture development. The Award, presented during the Agriculture Leadership Summit in New Delhi, was finalised by the National Awards Committee headed by former Haryana Governor A. R. Kidwai. The panel also included father of India‘s green revolution, Prof. M. S., Swaminathan. The Awards are instituted by ‗Agriculture Today‘, a national agriculture magazine.


15

Mahatma Gandhi Sewa Medal conferred: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda received the Mahatma Gandhi Sewa Medal presented to his father Ranbir Singh posthumously by the Gandhi Global Family in Chandigarh on September 24, 2010.

Devdasi award to Methil Devika: Mohiniattam dancer Methil Devika was conferred the 5th Devdasi National award

for dance during the concluding evening of the three-day Devdasi national dance festival at Jayadev Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on September 24, 2010. The award meant for an acclaimed Indian classical dancer below the age of 40 who has ―the devotion and commitment of a devdasi (temple dancer) towards dance, has been instituted by the city-based Devdasi national dance festival committee. Into its fifth edition, the festival features soloists of all Indian classical dance styles.

Punjab gets Food Security Mission award: Punjab was on September 21, 2010 awarded the Best Performance Award under the National Food Security Mission for Wheat for 2008-09 for best overall performance in terms of organisation and management of various resources. The award was presented by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar during the National Conference for Rabi crops at New Delhi.

Abhinav S. Upadhyaya enters Guinness Records for clapping: 15-year-old Abhinav S. Upadhyaya on

September 22, 2010 entered the Guinness World Records for setting a new record in the category of ―The Most Single-Handed Claps in a Minute.‖ He managed clapping 292 times a minute with his right hand and 310 times a minute with his left hand, breaking the record set by U.S.‘s Jim de Champ (263 times a minute).

Indira Gandhi National Service Scheme awards conferred

41st National Service Scheme (NSS) foundation day was celebrated on September 24, 2010. Pratik Prakashbapu Patil,

Minister of State of Youth Affairs & Sports, distributed the awards under the Indira Gandhi National Service Scheme to the Programme Coordinators, Programme Officers and NSS volunteers of colleges/schools for their contribution in the community service.

The award for Programme Coordinator was won by Dr. Sanjeet Kumar Gupta (Deen Dayal Upadhayay Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh) while the awards for Programme Officers were won by Dr. Vibha Wadhwa (Sri Sathya Sai PG College for Women, Jaipur, Rajasthan), Archana (Shri LBS Arya Mahila College, Barnala, Punjab), G.V.S. Nageshwara Rao (Aditya Degree College, Rajamundhry, Andhra Pradesh), Bendangnungsang (PATKAI Christian College, Dimapur, Nagaland), Dr. Sharad Mahadev (Golande College of Agriculture, Pune, Maharashtra) and Dr. V. Alagar Ramanyam (Government Arts College, Ooty, Tamil Nadu). Awards were also conferred on 16 Volunteers.

NSS is one of the Flag Ship Programmes of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. It has an enrolment of more than 32 lakh volunteers from various Colleges and Universities. The main objective of the scheme is to promote the personality of students through community service.

WORLD

„World Statesman Award‟ for Manmohan Singh: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been honoured with

the 2010 World Statesman Award by the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, an interfaith coalition which promotes mutual understanding, tolerance and peace. India's Ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar, accepted the award on behalf of the prime minister in New York on September 23, 2010.

Sir Mota Singh gets „Pride of India Award‟: Sir Mota Singh, the United Kingdom‘s first Sikh and Asian judge,

knighted by Queen Elizabeth II earlier this year, received the ‗Pride of India Award‘ 2009, instituted by the India International Foundation (IIF). Indian High Commissioner Nalin Surie presented the trophy at the 6

th annual awards of

the Foundation in London on September 20, 2010. Sir Mota Singh, 79, was raised and educated in Nairobi, Kenya. In 1954, he shifted to England to study law.

Pallav Bagla to get David Perlman award: Indian journalist Pallav Bagla was in September 2010 selected for the

David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Journalism given annually by the American Geophysical Union (AGU). This is the first time an Indian has been selected for this honour. The recognition is for Bagla‘s articles on the


16

impact of climate change on Himalayan glaciers. One of his articles, ―No Sign of Himalayan Melt Down, Indian Report Finds‖, published in the journal Science, explores dissent among glaciologists regarding the claim by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that the disappearance of Himalayan glaciers was imminent.

Kapil Sibal conferred Stephen P Duggan award: HRD Minister Kapil Sibal was on September 22, 2010 conferred

with the Stephen P Duggan award for Mutual Understanding by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in New York. The award is named after the institute‘s first president, a professor of diplomatic history, who alongwith Nobel laureates Elihu Root and Nicholas Murray Butler founded the IIE.

Swedish honour for Bharat Forge CMD Kalyani: B. N. Kalyani, chairman and managing director of Bharat Forge Ltd was on September 21, 2010, honored by being decorated with Commander first Class of the ‗Royal Order of the Polar Star by the government of Sweden in recognition of Kalyani‘s contribution in furthering Trade and Business cooperation between Sweden and India.

Sean Penn wins award for Haiti humanitarian work: Hollywood actor Sean Penn was

on September 24, 2010 honoured for his charity work in Haiti with this year‘s Hollywood Humanitarian Award. The Academy award winning actor had co-founded the Haitian Relief Organization in the wake of the January earthquake that devastated the country. Penn is a two-time Academy Award winner for Best Actor for his roles in ‗Mystic River‘ (2003) and ‗Milk‘ (2008). He is also the recipient of a Golden Globe Award for ‗Mystic River‘ (2003) and Screen Actors Guild Award winner for ‗Milk‘ (2008).

IBSA gets UN award for its fight against hunger, poverty: The UN on September 22,

2010 honoured the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) grouping for its efforts to fight poverty and hunger in other parts of the globe. The 2010 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Award has recognised India, Brazil and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund) for its hard work in using innovative approaches to share, replicate and scale up successful development experiences for combating poverty and hunger in other parts of the world. The award was received by representatives of the three countries and the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation in the United Nations Development Programme. The MDGs, crafted at a UN meeting 10 years ago, are regarded as the world‘s most focused time-bound and quantified targets for addressing poverty, hunger, disease and lack of adequate shelter and sanitation worldwide

Indian team wins Oxford business competition: A team of Indian entrepreneurs seeking to set up a network to

supply and process apricots in the Ladakh region to produce marketable products has on September 24, 2010 won the 2010 Oxford International Youth Business Development (YBD) Competition held at the Oxford University‘s Said Business School. It is a global competition for entrepreneurs aged 16-25, challenging them to develop business ideas that address real economic, social, and environmental issues. The judges awarded the top prize to the Organic Fresh Apricot Processing project from the Ladakh region. The winning team was mentored by current MBA student Muswagha Katya and led by Amish Chadha, Akshay Rao and Rahul Mathur, all former students of St Stephen‟s College, New Delhi.

UN award for Drukpa Lineage: The head of Buddhist sect Drukpa Lineage, Gyalwang Drukpa, and his global

charity ‗Live To Love‘ that builds eco-friendly schools aimed at teaching young women leadership skills, in September 2010, bagged the United Nation Millennium Development Goals Award. Drukpa‘s ‗Druk White Lotus School‘, where some scenes of ‗3 Idiots‘ were shot, has won numerous awards including World Architecture Awards for Best Green Building, Best Education Building and Best Building in Asia. The school‘s mission is to provide an effective modern education while maintaining traditional values and cultures.

Google announces „Project 10-to-the-one-hundredth‟ awards

Google on September 25, 2010 named five groups that will be sharing 10 million dollars that the search engine is investing in ideas that promise to change the world. More than 150,000 ideas from 170 countries were submitted to


17

―Project 10-to-the-one-hundredth‖ launched two years ago. Google whittled the selection down to 16 ―big ideas‖ and the public got to vote online to determine the five that would be backed by the Mountain View, California-based firm.

The non-profit Khan Academy will get two million dollars to bolster its free online library of educational videos and translate core works into the world's most widely spoken languages. Khan academy was started by Salman Khan, an HBS alum who started recording videos and put up the tutorials on YouTube on broad categories like – Mathematics, Economics, Algebra, Trigonometry, Physics, Chemistry etc.

The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences in Cape Town will get two million dollars to open more centers to promote graduate level math and

science study on that continent.

Non-profit group FIRST that promotes science and math study worldwide through team competitions will get three million dollars to start a robotics program for students.

Google will give two million dollars to Public.Resource.Org to support a Law.Gov initiative to make US court documents, statutes, legal forms, and other government documents easily available to anyone online.

The final award of one million dollars went to New Zealand-based startup Shweeb to develop and test a transportation system based on personal monorail pods powered by pedaling the way one might while riding a bicycle.

Recent Books

Book Author

Non-Fiction Witness To Life And Freedom: Margaret Bourke-White In India & Pakistan Pramod Kapoor

Religion, Caste And Politics In India Christophe Jaffrelot

Road To Commonwealth Games Sunil Yash Kalra

Sellotape Legacy: Delhi And The Commonwealth Games Boria Majumdar And Nalin Mehta

Articles Of Faith: Religion, Secularism And The Indian Supreme Court Rononjoy Sen

Memoirs Of An Indian Diplomat B. S. Das

Decoding Intolerance: Riots and the Emergence of Terrorism in India Prateep K Lahiri

State Of Urban Services In India's Cities - Spending And Financing Kala Seetharaman Sridhar, A.Venugopala Reddy

Literature And Nationalist Ideology - Writing Histories Of Modern Indian Languages

Hans Harder

The Ancient Indus - Urbanism, Economy, And Society Rita P. Wright

The Emerging Dimensions Of SAARC S.D. Muni

State And Foreign Policy In South Asia Jivanta Schottli & Siegfried O. Wolf

Obama‘s War Bob Woodward

Fiction

The Castle In The Pyrenees Jostein Gaarder

The Emissary: A Tale of Love, Vendetta and War Aniruddha Bahal

Way to Go Upamanyu Chatterjee

The Immortals Amit Chaudhuri

The Story of a Widow Musharraf Ali Farooqui

Atlas of Unknowns Tania James

The Immigrant Manju Kapur

Business books

Ambani & Sons Hamish McDonald

Small Wonder - The Making of the Nano Philip Chacko, Christabelle Noronha & Sujata Agrawal

Start-up Nation – The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle Dan Senor, Saul Singer


18


Newsmakers

Anand Sinha will be new RBI deputy governor: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Executive Director Anand Sinha is set to replace Usha Thorat as deputy governor on her retirement in November 2010. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee recommended Sinha‘s candidature to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on September 20, 2010. A deputy governor is appointed for a period of five years or till the age of 62, whichever is earlier. Sinha will be the fourth deputy governor in the central bank. Of the four, two are RBI officers. Shyamala Gopinath, who was given a second term last year, is an RBI officer like Thorat, while Subir Gokarn is an economist and KC Chakraborty a former public sector bank chief.

R. Chandrashekhar is new Telecom Secretary: R. Chandrashekhar on September 24, 2010 took charge as the

new Telecom Secretary following the appointment of his predecessor P. J. Thomas as Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC). Meanwhile, Shashikant Sharma was appointed new Secretary of the Department of Information and Technology.

Shyam Srinivasan is new MD of Federal Bank: Shyam Srinivasan, formerly of the Standard Chartered Bank, on September 24, 2010, took charge as the new managing director & CEO of the Kerala based Federal Bank.

Indian-American Dipak Jain named Dean of INSEAD: Noted Indian-American academician Dipak Jain was on September 20, 2010 named as Dean of leading international business school INSEAD and will take up his new role in March 2011. Jain is currently a Dean Emeritus at Northwestern University‘s prestigious Kellogg School of Management.

C.S. Rao to head AUSPI: The Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India

(AUSPI), the industry body representing CDMA and dual technology players, on September 24, 2010, elected C.S. Rao, President, Corporate Affairs, Reliance Communications, as its new President. Anand Dalal, Vice-President — Corporate Regulatory Affairs, Tata Teleservices, has

been unanimously elected as Vice-President of AUSPI.

G R Rao appointed new Tobacco Board Chairman: Ganji Kamalavardhana Rao, an IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, on September 24, 2010 assumed charge as chairman of the Tobacco Board. Rao said the focus would also be on educating farmers on cultivation, harvesting and processing of the leaf for better quality and price in the international market.

Vellayan is new Fertiliser Association Chairman: A. Vellayan, Chairman, Murugappa Group, on September 22, 2010 took over as Chairman of Fertiliser Association of India (FAI).

Bill Gates tops Forbes 400 rich list for 17th

year: Microsoft founder Bill Gates retained his position as the richest man in the US with a net worth of $54 billion, topping Forbes ‗400 Richest Americans List‘ for the 17

th year in a row.

Industrialist Warren Buffett, Chief Executive Officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, has bagged the second place this year followed by software company Oracle‘s co-founder and CEO Larry Ellison in the third position. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg ranks 35

th with a net worth of $6.9 billion.

Four Indian-Americans in Forbes 400 rich list: Four Indian-Americans, including Sun Microsystems co-founder and investment firm, Sherpalo Ventures‘ founder Vinod Khosla, are among Forbes‘ 400 Richest People in America, a list unveiled on September 24, 2010 that is topped by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Apart from Khosla, those who made the cut include outsourcing firm Syntel‘s founder Bharat Desai, venture capitalist Kavitark Ram Shriram and Romesh Wadhwani, Chairman & CEO of Symphony Technology Group, a private equity firm investing in software and software services companies.

Facebook founder to donate $100m to public schools: Social networking site Facebook‘s founder & CEO Mark Zuckerberg on September 24, 2010, announced that he would donate a $ 100 million to improve public school system in Newark city in the US. Zuckerberg, whose fortune is estimated at $6.9 billion by the ‗Forbes magazine‘, is tied at No 35 on the annual ranking of the 400 wealthiest Americans in 2010.


19

News round up

RBI unveils „Profile of Banks 2009-10‟

Number of offices of scheduled commercial banks in India increased from 67263 in 2008-09 to 71998 in the financial year ended March 31, 2010, according to a report by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), titled ‗A Profile Of Banks 2009-10‘, unveiled on September 24, 2010. Following are the highlights of the report:

„Profile of Banks 2009-10‟: Highlights

Public sector banks

Private sector banks

Foreign Banks All Scheduled Commercial Banks

2008-09 2009-10 2008-09 2009-10 2008-09 2009-10 2008-09 2009-10

No. of offices 57332 61301 9236 10387 295 310 67263 71998

No. of employees 731524 734594 176339 182284 29582 27742 937445 944620

Business per employee (in Rs lakh) 734.35 870.29 743.85 798.37 1282.74 1445.87 753.44 873.32

Profit per employee (in Rs lakh) 4.70 5.34 6.16 7.19 25.39 17.09 5.63 6.05

Advances (Rs crore) 2259212 2701300

575328 632494 165385 163260 2999924

3497054

Cost of Funds (CoF) (%) 6.04 5.34 6.18 4.83 4.46 2.82 5.96 5.09

Return on advances adjusted to CoF (%)

4.04 3.76 5.23 5.06 8.14 7.17 4.53 4.19

Wages as % to total expenses 13.88 14.76 10.83 12.76 19.44 23.48 13.60 14.83

Return on Assets (%) 1.03 0.97 1.13 1.28 1.99 1.26 1.13 1.05

CRAR (Capital Adequacy Ratio) % 13.49 13.32 15.23 17.45 14.32 17.25 13.98 14.58

Net NPA ratio (%) 0.94 1.10 1.29 1.03 1.81 1.82 1.05 1.12 Note: Public sector banks includes SBI and its Associate Banks (State Bank of India, State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Indore, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala and State Bank of Travancore), Nationalised Banks (Allahabad Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Corporation Bank, Dena Ban, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Punjab National Bank, Syndicate Bank, Union Bank of India, United Bank of India, Punjab & Sind Bank, UCO Bank and Vijaya Bank), & Other Public Sector-Indian Banks (IDBI Bank Limited).

Employee Productivity: Foreign banks have retained the top rank in terms of profits/ employee, as well as business/employee, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India. In terms of Wage costs, as a percentage of total expenses, private sector banks were the best.

NPAs: In terms of NPAs, Private sector banks were the best performers with the lowest Net NPA ratio (%)

Foreign banks in India: Foreign banks increased their number of offices in India during 2009-10. Standard Chartered Bank has the highest number of offices among foreign banks in India. It increased the number of its offices to 95 from 91 in 2009-10. Foreign banks had 27,742 employees in India as on March 31, 2010, a fall of 6.22 per cent compared to 2008-09. There are 32 foreign banks operating in the country. Standard Chartered Bank had the largest number of employees among foreign banks in India as on March 31, 2010, employing 7,903 people.

Govt cuts PDS foodgrain prices

The Union government on September 24, 2010 decided to distribute wheat and rice to poor families at Rs 2 per kg and Rs 3 per kg, respectively. At present, 65.2 million families are registered under the below poverty line (BPL) category and each are eligible for 35 kg of foodgrain a month. Rice is currently being distributed to BPL families at Rs 5.65 a kg, while wheat is allotted at Rs 4.15 a kg.

The Ministry of Food and Public Distribution System also unveiled a scheme of hiring private godowns to store foodgrains from using the government storage facilities available in states. Under the scheme – the Ten Year Guarantee Scheme – the ministry will hire private godowns for a 10-year period and take an undertaking from the private operator that they would set

aside space for a pre-approved capacity at the warehouse for foodgrain under PDS.


20

India signs (TAPI) gas pipeline project agreement

India on September 20, 2010 signed two agreements for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project. The project, assisted by Asian Development Bank, envisages the building of 1,680 km of pipeline with a total gas capacity of 90 million cubic metres per day (mmscmd). Upon completion of the TAPI gas pipeline, India would get 38 mmscmd of gas.

The first agreement refers to initialising the gas pipeline framework agreement (GPFA) while the second is Heads of Agreement for the proposed gas sales purchase agreement (GSPA).

The agreements were signed at the steering committee meeting (SCM) of the TAPI gas pipeline project, held at Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat and attended by Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Jitin Prasada.

Prasada said that the successful launch of the project depended on the transit fee for the gas through various countries must be kept at a

minimum. Similarly, security issues must be properly addressed and there should be complete clarity on the institutional mechanisms required.

Prasada added that before taking this project further, the pricing and other GSPA issues should be resolved to the full satisfaction of all partner countries. The length of pipeline from Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan up to the Indian border is 145 km, 735 km and 800 km respectively.

CMIE sees GDP growth at 9.2%

India‘s GDP is expected to grow at 9.2 per cent in 2010-11 on the back of spurt in economic activities, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) said in its monthly review in Mumbai on September 21, 2010. The GDP had grown 7.4 per cent in 2009-10. CMIE says that the three broad sectors of the economy (industry, services and agriculture) will improve their performance in 2010-11.

The industrial sector, including construction, is projected to grow by 9.4 per cent in 2010-11, better than the 9.2 per cent growth in 2009-10 while the services sector is projected to expand by 10 per cent compared with 8.6 per cent last year, led by the trade and transport segment. The biggest turnaround is expected from the agriculture and allied sector, which is projected to grow by 5.7 per

cent in 2010-11. Food grain production is projected to rise by 5.2 per cent (7 per cent).

CMIE was established in 1976 by the eminent economist Dr. Narottam Shah. The company has grown into India's leading private sector economic research institution. Headquartered at Mumbai, the CMIE has 17 offices in India and has a 330-person strong team. S. A. Dave is the Chairman while Mahesh Vyas is the Managing Director & CEO

RBI postpones banking target in every village by a year

The Reserve Bank on September 23, 2010, postponed by a year its plan to open banking facilities in all villages with a population of over 2,000 till March 2012. This brings its policy in line with the Budget announcement. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had, during his Budget speech, announced plans to provide facilities to such habitations by end of March 2012.

The RBI had earlier formed a sub-committee to draw up a roadmap ―to provide banking services through a banking outlet in every village having a population of over 2,000, by March 2011.‖ This roadmap followed a report in August, 2009, of a high-level committee on Lead Bank Scheme constituted by the RBI with Usha Thorat as the chairperson.

The Thorat-led committee had found that there were 129 un-banked blocks in the country. By February 2010, the number of such blocks had declined to 93. Low population density, inhospitable terrain, law and order problems and non-availability of basic infrastructure had been indicated as the main impediments in providing banking facilities in these areas.


21

REC gets „infrastructure finance company‟ status

State-run Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) on September 20, 2010 said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted it the infrastructure finance company status which would allow it to lend more to power projects. REC, which is into financing of power generation, transmission and distribution projects, is the second company after Power Finance Corp (PFC) to be accorded the status of IFC.

With IFC status, REC can now take an additional lending exposure of up to 5 per cent of its owned funds in case of a single borrower and up to 10 per cent of its owned funds in case of a group of borrowers. The total permissible exposure would thus be 40 per cent of owned funds in case of a group of borrowers. REC also becomes eligible for issuance of infrastructure bonds and for raising funds up to USD 500 million (Rs 2,500 crore approximately) through external commercial borrowing (ECB) in a year.

Sun Pharmaceutical completes Taro acquisition

Indian medicine company Sun Pharmaceutical Industries‘ three-year battle for Taro Pharmaceuticals is over. The Israeli company‘s promoter Barrie Levitt and family on September 23, 2010, surrendered its shares, honouring provisions of a merger agreement they had unilaterally terminated in 2008.

In 2007, Sun Pharma had struck a $454 million merger deal with Taro which was promoted by the Barrie Levitt family. Taro was on the brink of bankruptcy in 2007 when it was rescued by Sun which agreed to refinance the Israeli company‘s debt and pay back the creditors. The agreement to merge was part of the deal to save Taro from bankruptcy.

However when Taro‘s financial health improved, the deal was unilaterally terminated by the Israeli firm‘s management led by Levitt in 2008. Sun had been involved in a legal tussle with Taro since then.

The matter was resolved in August 2010, when Sun received a favourable ruling from the Israeli Supreme Court in its takeover battle.

Sun Pharma Chairman & Managing Director Dilip Shanghvi has taken over as chairman of the board of Taro, an over-the-counter (OTC) drug specialist, with most of its operations in the US, Israel and Canada.

The acquisition will help Sun Pharma gain a major foothold in the US and Canadian OTC market. Taro has an established franchise in dermatology and topical products in the US, in addition to generic products in cardiovascular, neuro-psychiatric and anti-inflammatory therapeutic categories.

Govt raises FII limit in G-Secs, corporate bonds: The government on September 24, 2010 increased the investment limit for foreign institutional investors (FIIs) in government securities (G-Secs) and corporate bonds by $5 billion each. The objective is to develop the local bond market and boost long-term foreign investment in infrastructure. The cap in G-Secs and corporate bonds now stands at $10 billion and $20 billion, respectively (up from $5 billion and $15 billion). In case of G-Secs, FIIs will have to invest the additional $5 billion in securities with residual maturity of over five years. For corporate bonds, they will have to invest the incremental $5 billion in bonds with residual maturity of over five years issued by companies in the infrastructure sector.

Kharif output to rise 10.4% in 2010-11: The total foodgrain production in the ongoing kharif season is likely to be

114.63 million tonnes (mt), 10.4 per cent higher than in 2009-10, according to the first advance estimates released by the Ministry of Agriculture on September 24, 2010. Last year, the kharif foodgrain output was 103.84 mt. The acreage of all major crops has registered an increase in acreage with pulses topping the list.

India switches fully to Euro III and IV petrol and diesel: Minister of State for Petroleum Jitin Prasada on

September 23, 2010 announced that India had completely switched over to the cleaner Euro-III and Euro-IV petrol and diesel, well ahead of the October 1 deadline fixed by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry. Euro-IV grade petrol and diesel was introduced in 13 big cities from April 1, 2010. Similarly Euro-III grade petrol and diesel, which was to be introduced in the rest of the country in phases by October 1, was introduced in the rest of the country on September 22, 2010.‘


22

BSE launches mobile trading: The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on September 22, 2010 launched mobile-based trading, using its proprietary Fastrade mobile application and a wireless access protocol browser-based mobile trade portal. Investors can get the application for mobile trading only from their brokers after signing an agreement explaining the risks attached to trading through mobile handsets.

SEBI rejects MCX-SX's application for equity trading: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on September 23, 2010 turned down the application of MCX-SX to offer trading in equities, debt, and derivatives. SEBI pointed out in its order that the management and control of MCX-SX was with two promoters, Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX) and Financial Technologies India Ltd (FTIL), and that their holdings were beyond the permissible limit of 5 per cent stake allowed to any entity in any stock exchange in the country. MCX-SX offers trading in currency futures and was recognised as a stock exchange by SEBI in 2008 for a period of one year pending compliance. SEBI had twice extended this recognition which now extends up to September 15, 2011.

Petrobras raises $70 billion in world's largest share offer: Brazilian government-controlled oil company, Petroleo Brasileiro SA, raised 120.4 billion reais ($70 billion) in the world‘s largest share sale on September 25, 2010. The deal topped Japanese telecommunications firm NTT's $36.8 billion 1987 share sale and Agricultural Bank of China's $22.1 billion initial public offering earlier this year. Petrobras is selling stock to fund development of offshore oil fields such as Tupi, the largest discovery in the Americas in three decades, and to preserve its investment grade credit rating.

Cabinet approves Identification Authority Bill: The Union Cabinet on September 25, 2010 approved the

proposed National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010, which envisages the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) as a statutory body. The Bill will now be introduced in Parliament for approval. The Bill proposes to constitute a statutory authority to be called the National Identification Authority of India and lays down the powers and functions of the authority, the framework for issuing unique identification (Aadhaar) numbers, major penalties and other related matters, through an Act of Parliament.

India, Canada to set up CEO Forum for economic ties: India and Canada on September 25, 2010 agreed to set

up a CEO Forum to suggest policy initiatives for increasing trade and investment, as the two countries aim for tripling the bilateral commerce to USD 15 billion by 2015. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma met Canadian International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan during his recent visit to Canada and also agreed in principle to establish working groups on public-private-partnership model, focusing on infrastructure, energy, mining, agro-processing and education, a statement said.

India ready to sell Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors: The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited is ready

to sell Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors of 220 MWe or 540 MWe capacity to other countries, according to Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), said Chairman Srikumar Banerjee at the 54

th general conference of the International

Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna on September 22, 2010.

Foundation for new Metro line laid in Kolkata: President Pratibha Patil laid the foundation for a new Metro line from Joka to BBD Bagh in Kolkata on September 22, 2010 in the presence of Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Joka is in the south-western fringe of Kolkata while BBD Bagh is in the central business district.

Miniratna status granted to 2 CPSEs: The Union Minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Vilasrao

Deshmukh on September 21, 2010 conferred Miniratna status on two Central Public Enterprises – Bharat Pumps & Compressor Ltd and Bridge & Roof Company (I) Ltd. The Bridge and Roof Company (I) Ltd. was granted the Miniratna status in Category –I and the Bharat Pumps & Compressor Ltd. was granted the Category II status. As per the criteria to get the category I status, the CPSE should have made profit in the last three years continuously, the pre-tax profit should have been Rs. 30 crores or more in at least one of the three years and should have a positive net worth. For category II, the CPSE should have made profit for the last three years continuously and should have a positive net worth.

National Skill Development Corporation signs JV with Centum: National Skill Development Corporation

(NSDC) on September 21, 2010 entered into a joint venture (JV), with Centum Learning, a Bharti Group company,


23

to train 11.5 million individuals over the next 10 years. The proposed JV will be called as Centum Workskills Ltd. NSDC is a not-for-profit company set up by the Union ministry of finance, under Section 25 of the Companies Act, with a mandate to create 150 million trained people in 21 focus sectors by 2022 by catalysing private sector involvement.

ONGC to foray into shale gas exploration: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on September 22, 2010 said

that it has ventured into shale gas exploration in West Bengal and made two oil and gas discoveries in the Krishna Godavari and Cambay basin. ONGC‘s close competitor Reliance Industries has already made a significant presence in shale gas through the acquisition of three shale gas acreages in the US this year. Reliance invested $3.45 billion in the acquisitions. In August, Bharat Petroleum Corporation bought two exploration acreages of shale gas operated by Norwest Energy in Perth, Australia. Shale gas is a natural gas contained within shale formations. In the US, shale gas production contributes to nearly 17 per cent of the total gas production.

IndianOil launches „Propel‟ range of petrochemicals: IndianOil, on September 22, 2010, launched the ‗Propel‘

range of petrochemicals in New Delhi. The company reported a turnover of Rs 3,000 crore from the petrochemical business in 2009-10 and has set a target of Rs 6,000 crore for 2010-11.

IATA terms service tax on air tickets illegal: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on September 24,

2010, termed the service tax charged on air tickets by the Indian government as illegal according to the Chicago Convention. ―India is a signatory to the convention and it cannot charge service tax on tickets,‖ said Giovanni Bisignani, director general and chief executive officer, IATA. Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in this year‘s Budget announced to charge 10.38 per cent service on both international and domestic air tickets. After opposition from the aviation industry, the finance ministry brought it down to Rs 100 for domestic and Rs 500 for international air tickets. Both the domestic and international airlines are charging service tax on the tickets from July 1, 2010.

DIPP against foreign airlines buying stake in Indian carriers: The Department of Industrial Policy and

Promotion (DIPP) under the Union Commerce & Industry Ministry on September 20, 2010 said it was not in favour of allowing foreign airlines to buy stake in Indian carriers. A section of the domestic airlines industry, facing huge financial crunch, has been demanding opening up the sector to foreign airlines. According to the existing policy, while 49 per cent FDI and 100 per cent NRI investment is allowed in domestic airlines, there should not be any direct or indirect participation by any foreign airlines.

IIT-B, TIFR to set up national mathematics centre: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in September 2010 signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a National Centre for Math at IIT-B. Mumbai has the largest concentration of mathematicians in India with the majority at TIFR, IIT- Bombay and Mumbai University.

NCR highest job creator among metros: The National Capital Region (NCR) has emerged as the highest job

generating city among the four major metros in India in April-August 2010, industry body ASSOCHAM said on September 19, 2010. According to a survey by ASSOCHAM, NCR has created 34.2 per cent employment followed by Mumbai (12.70 per cent), Chennai (6.12 per cent) and Kolkata (4.19 per cent) in a sample of 2,40,314 employment opportunities generated in 60 cities during the period. The sectors, which created most jobs included IT, engineering, textile, real estate, infrastructure, aviation and education. The IT and IT-enabled services accounted for 57% of the new employment opportunities.

Wipro selected member of Dow Jones Sustainability Index: Indian IT company Wipro Ltd was on September

22, 2010, selected as a member of the global Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), the global indicator tracking the financial performance of companies with outstanding performance on sustainability. The Global DJSI for 2010 comprises 318 companies from around the world. The selection was done on the basis of an evaluation of Wipro‘s sustainability performance on several dimensions, e.g., ecological sustainability, supplier standards, digital inclusion, corporate governance, innovation in sustainability.

Jet bags „Best Full Service‟ award: Private air carrier Jet Airways was on September 18, 2010 conferred with the

prestigious ‗Best Full Service Airline-International (Indian)‘ and ‗Best Full Service Airline- Domestic‘ awards for-2009 by Air Passengers Association of India (APAI).


24

Fortune‟s India-specific edition launched: The ABP Group (publisher of The Telegraph newspaper and weekly magazine BusinessWorld) launched Fortune India under a licensing agreement with Time Warner Inc on September 25, 2010. Fortune India is only the third country-specific edition for the 80-year-old magazine, apart from the American one. These are in the Chinese language and Fortune Turkey.

New Delhi‟s Khan Market India‟s priciest bazaar: New Delhi‟s Khan Market is the 21st most expensive location

in the world, according to real estate consultant Cushman & Wakefield in its ‗Main Streets Across the World 2010‘ report unveiled on September 23, 2010. The list is topped by the Fifth Avenue in New York. Hong Kong‘s Causeway Bay was the second most expensive street, followed by Ginza in Tokyo, Japan, at the third spot. According to the report that tracks the world‘s top 269 shopping locations across 59 countries, rental at Khan Market, which is India‘s priciest bazaar, is estimated to be around USD 284 per square feet annually as against USD 1,850 in New York‘s Fifth Avenue.

AIMA plans new test for employability: The All India Management Association (AIMA) on September 22, 2010 announced that it would conduct a new test to assess the employability of students passing out of Indian business schools. The management aptitude and skill test (MAST) will attempt at forming a benchmark for individuals entering into the domestic job market, said AIMA president Sanjiv Goenka.

CRISIL to buy Pipal Research: Credit rating agency CRISIL on September 23, 2010 announced acquisition of Pipal Research Corporation, a knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) firm, for $12.75 million (around Rs 58 crore). CRISIL operates a KPO division called Irevna. The acquisition will broaden Irevna‘s portfolio and presence in the industry.

Obama Economic Advisor Summers set to leave: Larry Summers, Director of President Obama‘s White House National Economic Council on September 21, 2010 will resign after Congressional elections in November.

Nestle to set up R&D Centre in India: FMCG major Nestle on September 22, 2010, announced that it would invest

Rs 230 crore to set up its first research and development centre in India. The R&D centre will come up at Manesar and is expected to be operational by July 2012. The new centre in India would be used for facilitating innovation in a wide variety of foods including culinary, cereals, beverages and dairy products. The company plans to focus on developing Popularly Positioned Products. India will be the worldwide centre for developing products which make nutrition affordable.

MGM studio creditors reject Sahara‟s $ 2bn: Sahara India Pariwar on September 24, 2010 announce that its offer

to buy out the creditors of struggling Hollywood studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc for more than $ 2 billion has been rejected. MGM has rights to the ―James Bond‖ franchise and owns half of the upcoming movies based on J R R Tolkien‘s ―The Hobbit‖.

Citigroup to raise Pandit‟s one dollar token salary: Global financial services company Citigroup will raise the one dollar token salary of its Chief Executive Officer Vikram Pandit to a compensation commensurate with the job, next year. Citigroup Chairman Richard Parsons on September 25, 2010 said that beginning next year, Pandit‘s compensation will be raised from one dollar in view of his efforts to bring the group back to profitability. The India-born CEO had pledged in February 2009 that he will accept only one dollar in salary and bonus until Citi returns to profitability. He again declined compensation this year and informed the Board that he will not accept ―additional compensation‖ above his one dollar salary for 2010.

“Bank Standard of Excellence” Award for Federal Bank Web site: Kochi based Federal Bank was on

September 21, 2010 awarded the ―Bank Standard of Excellence (2010)‖ for its content rich, innovative and ease of use corporate Web site by the Web Marketing Association.

Kerala Tourism global ad-campaign launched: ‗Your Moment is waiting,‘ a new three-minute global publicity ad

film by Kerala Tourism produced by Vodafone ZooZoo-fame Prakash Varma was unveiled on September 21, 2010 in London.

Saina Nehwal is brand ambassador of Fortune Plus: The Rs 6,000-crore Adani Wilmar Group on September 23, 2010 appointed badminton player Saina Nehwal, as its brand ambassador for its newly launched variant of


25

Fortune Plus. Nehwal is also a brand ambassador for Andhra Pradesh Tourism, Herbalife India (a nutrition and direct selling company) and IPL team Deccan Chargers.

Taj Television launches football channel: Zee Entertainment-owned Taj Television India has announced the

launch of Ten Action+, a channel airing exclusive football action from around the world. Taj Television runs sports channels like Ten Sports and Ten Cricket.

EC Media unveils e-book reader Wink: Bangalore-based digital publisher EC Media International on September

20, 2010 unveiled its e-book reader Wink which allows users to read in 15 languages and makes available 200,000 titles to choose from its online store – www.thewinkstore.com – which also stockpiles newspapers, magazines and selected articles. The company has entered into an agreement with an independent news agency in the country to publish the country‘s first e-newspaper – Wink Wire.

Tata Docomo, Alcatel launch OneTouch Net: Telecom services provider Tata Docomo along with telecom equipment maker Alcatel has launched their first co-branded mobile handset OneTouch Net that is priced at Rs 5,499.

Nokia relaunches Communicator phone: Falling back on its legacy, Finnish mobile giant Nokia has revived its

Communicator phone and launched it in a sleeker, trendier avatar dubbed as E-7. The Communicator introduced in 1996.

Bharti enters mobile handset business: Bharti Airtel on September 20, 2010 announced its entry into the fast-growing mobile handset business with the launch of eight handsets by group firm Beetel Teletech Ltd. in the price range of Rs 1,750-7,000. Bharti is India‘s number one mobile service provider with over 140 million subscribers and the company recently acquired Zain Telecom in Africa to expand its footprint to 16 countries.

IBM to buy Netezza for $1.7 billion: IBM Corp said on September 21, 2010 that it would buy data analytics

company Netezza Corp for $1.7 billion to expand its business of helping clients analyse market information. The move comes as IBM is shifting its focus from increasingly commoditised computer hardware to higher-margin software and services, particularly analytics, which help clients analyse market data to plot trends or prevent fraud.

LinkedIn buys ChoiceVendor: LinkedIn, the world‘s largest online professional network, announced September 23,

2010 that it has bought ChoiceVendor, a review site of business services providers. ChoiceVendor, a San Francisco-based startup founded in 2008 by two former Google employees, provides real-world ratings and reviews of business-to-business service providers in more than 70 categories across the United States.

Fast Trax bags Commonwealth Games‟ food licence: Fast Trax Food on September 21, 2010 bagged the food

licence for all the 12 stadiums of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2010 and Media Village at ITPO in Delhi. As a CWG partner, Fast Trax will be serving over 1.6 million meals to spectators, across 97 outlets at all the 12 stadiums. It will sell CWG tickets at their restaurants located all over the city, along with its CWG merchandise.


26

Section E: SPORTS

Newsmakers

Mary Kom wins World boxing title: M.C. Mary Kom on September 18, 2010 clinched

her fifth title in the Women's World boxing championship beating Romania's Steluta Duta convincingly in the 48kg title clash at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in Bridgetown (Barbados). Twenty-seven-year old Mary Kom had won her previous titles in 46kg weight category in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008.

Talukdar wins Archery World Cup bronze: Jayanta Talukdar won a bronze medal in

the men‘s recurve section of Archery World Cup final at Edinburgh on September 19, 2010. The Guwahati archer, who represents Steel Plant Sports Board, won the bronze with a 6-2 win over Marco Galiazzo of Italy.

News round up

Serbia, France to meet in Davis Cup final:

Serbia will host France in an all-European Davis Cup final on December 3-5, 2010. Serbia beat the Czech Republic 3-2 while France defeated Argentina 5-0 in the semi-finals that concluded on September 19, 2010.

France is third on the all-time list of champions having won the title nine times, most recently in 2001. It has also finished runner-up on six occasions. This will be Serbia‘s first Davis Cup final appearance. The most successful countries over the history of the tournament are the United States (winning 32 tournaments and finishing as runners-up 29 times) and Australia (winning 28 times and finishing as runners-up 19 times). Spain is the 2009 champion.

In the semi-final played at Palais des Sports de Gerland, Lyon, on September 17-19, 2010, hosts France beat Argentina 5-0. In the semi-final played at Belgrade Arena, Belgrade on September 17-19, 2010, hosts Serbia beat Czech Republic 3-2. The scores were:

Semi-final I: France Vs Argentina at Palais des Sports de Gerland, Lyon, September 17-19, 2010 Category Winner Runners-up Score

Rubber 1 Singles Michael Llodra (FRA) Juan Monaco (ARG) 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3

Rubber 2 Singles Gael Monfils (FRA) David Nalbandian (ARG) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3

Rubber 3 Doubles Arnaud Clement / Michael Llodra (FRA)

Eduardo Schwank / Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 6-4, 7-5, 6-3

Rubber 4 Singles Gilles Simon (FRA) Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 7-6, 6-7, 6-3

Rubber 5 Singles Arnaud Clement (FRA) Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 7-5, 6-1

Semi-final II: Serbia Vs Czech Republic at Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, September 17-19, 2010 Category Winner Runners-up Score

Rubber 1 Singles Radek Stepanek (CZE) Viktor Troicki (SRB) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4

Rubber 2 Singles Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) Tomas Berdych (CZE) 7-5, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6

Rubber 3 Doubles Tomas Berdych / Radek Stepanek (CZE) Novak Djokovic / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)

3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1

Rubber 4 Singles Novak Djokovic (SRB) Tomas Berdych (CZE) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4

Rubber 5 Singles Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) Radek Stepanek (CZE) 6-0, 7-6, 6-4

India beat Brazil to enter Davis Cup World Group

Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna won their reverse singles matches as India scripted a 3-2 win over Brazil in the play-off tie in Chennai on September 19, 2010 to enter the elite Davis Cup World Group. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi had brought India back in the tie by beating Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares in the doubles rubber, on September 18, 2010. This was Paes-Bhupati team‘s 24

th consecutive win in Davis Cup, the most by any doubles


27

team in the world. India were forced into the play-offs after losing to Russia 2-3 in the World Group first round in Moscow in March.

World Group play-off: India Vs Brazil at SDAT Tennis Stadium, Chennai, September 17-19, 2010 Category Winner Runners-up Score

Rubber 1 Singles Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) Rohan Bopanna (IND) 6-7, 7-6, 7-5, 4-6, 10-8

Rubber 2 Singles Ricardo Mello (BRA) Somdev Devvarman (IND) 4-6, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4

Rubber 3 Doubles Mahesh Bhupathi / Leander Paes (IND)

Marcelo Melo / Bruno Soares (BRA) 6-4, 7-6, 6-1

Rubber 4 Singles Somdev Devvarman (IND) Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 7-6, 4-0

Rubber 5 Singles Rohan Bopanna (IND) Ricardo Mello (BRA) 6-3, 7-6, 6-3

India to play Serbia in Davis Cup 1st

round: India will face Serbia in the Davis Cup World Group first round tie on March 4-6, 2011 in Serbia, according to the draw made in Brussels on September 22, 2010. The other world group first round matches will be, Russia vs Sweden, Czech Republic vs Kazakhstan, Argentina vs Romania, Chile vs US, Belgium vs Spain, Germany vs Croatia and Austria vs France.

Chennai Super Kings win CLT20 2010

IPL Champions – Chennai Super Kings won the Airtel Champions League Twenty20 tournament beating South African Pro20 Series winners – Warriors by 8 wickets in the final played at Johannesburg on September 26, 2010. Batting first Warriors scored 128 for 7 in their 20 overs (Davey Jacobs 34, Muttiah Muralitharan 3-16, R Ashwin 2-16). In response Chennai Super Kings scored 132 for 2 in 19.0 overs (Murali Vijay 58, Michael Hussey 51*, Nicky Boje 1-29) winning the match by 8 wickets. Murali Vijay was Man-of-the-Match for his 58 off 53 balls, helping the Super Kings claim their first CLT20 trophy.

Central Stags from New Zealand, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore from India, Guyana from West Indies, Highveld Lions and Warriors from South Africa, South Australian Redbacks and Victorian Bushrangers from Australia and Wayamba Elevens from Sri Lanka were the ten teams that participated in the tournament organised in South Africa.

Other prizes given are:

Man-of-the-Series - Ravichandran Ashwin for his consistent performance throughout the tournament that saw him take 13 wickets.

Golden Bat winner – Murali Vijay – Chennai Super Kings – (Runs – 294, Avg. – 49.00, SR - 122.50)

Golden Wicket winner – Ravichandran Ashwin – Chennai Super Kings – (Wkts - 13, Econ – 6.51, Avg. - 11.69)

In the first semi-final played at Durban on September 24, 2010, Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 52 runs. Brief Scores – Chennai Super Kings 174 for 4 (Suresh Raina 94*, Murali Vijay 41, Vinay Kumar 2-28) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 123 for 9 (Manish Pandey 52, Doug Bollinger 3-27, Muttiah Muralitharan 2-38) by 52 runs. Revised Duckworth/Lewis target 176. Suresh Raina was Man-of-the-match for his unbeaten 94 that saw CSK hand RCB a convincing 52-run defeat

In the second semi-final played at Centurion on September 25, 2010, Warriors defeated South Australian Redbacks by 30 runs. Brief Scores – Warriors 175 for 6 (Davey Jacobs 61, Colin Ingram 46, Daniel Harris 3-18) beat South Australian Redbacks 145 for 7 (Callum Ferguson 71, Lonwabo Tsotsobe 2-16, Johan Botha 2-34) by 30 runs. Davey Jacobs of Warriors was Man-of-the-match – for his 61 runs of 41 balls that laid the foundation for a robust Warriors score of 175 for 6 in 20 overs.

HCA President‟s XI wins Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup: Hyderabad Cricket Association President‘s XI won the

Coromandel King all-India Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup cricket tournament by virtue of first innings lead against Goa in the three-day final at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad on September 23, 2010. The scores: HCA President‘s XI 349 for nine in 90 overs & 188 for eight in 40 overs beat Goa 209 in 84.3 overs & 158 for six in 22 overs.


28

Voices of the Week

―Is this the ground for postponement of a judgment? For 50 years you have not been able to solve the problem. The High Court had given hundreds of opportunities for settlement but nothing worked.‖ – Justice R. V. Raveendran, Supreme

Court judge, to counsel Mukul Rohatgi on his plea for deferment of Allahabad HC verdict on Ayodhya dispute

―I hope we Indians realise how difficult it is to build stadiums and respect and so easy to break monuments and disrespect each others beliefs‖. – Shah Rukh Khan, writing on Twitter,

ahead of the Ayodhya verdict

―There is a critical degree of alienation and if we still do not realise that, Kashmir may be lost to India.‖

– Gurudas Dasgupta, CPI leader, who

was part of an all-party delegation to Kashmir

―When routinely slogans of ‗azadi' are chanted, the ordinary people do not even know what they mean by it.‖

– Arun Jaitley, BJP leader, who

returned from a three-day visit to Kashmir as part of the all-party delegation

"This is a great recognition, which will not only motivate me, but also the students to do even better. I am happy that my small initiative has brought Bihar on the international map for positive reasons".

– Mathematician Anand Kumar, whose

Super 30 coaching institute for poor IIT aspirants has been included by Newsweek in its list of four most innovative schools in the world

"There is no major project anywhere which is concluded to perfection... Trying to run down the country is not acceptable to us." – Anand Sharma, Union Commerce

Minister, in Ottawa, terming as "unwarranted" and "unfair" the criticism of India's Commonwealth Games' preparations

―People gave their land willingly for the project. We did not take any land forcibly.‖ – Mamata Banerjee, Railway Minister, at

the foundation stone-laying function of Metro Rail project in Kolkata, in an apparent reference to problems faced by the Left Front government in acquiring land in Singur and elsewhere

―Since the film talks about the perception of people on the development programmes and so on, we thought this will be quite useful for the Commission‘s officers to see the film.‖ – Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on the screening of film

‗Peepli Live‘ at the Planning Commission

"Negotiations cannot go with settlements." – Amr Moussa, Arab League chief,

warning that the newly started Israeli-Palestinian talks will fail unless Israel bans further Jewish settlements in the West Bank, territory the Palestinians want for a future state.

"The Jews have lived an existence that is much harder than ours. There is nothing that compares to the Holocaust." – Fidel Castro, Cuban leader, criticizing

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for denying the Holocaust

―It's harder to find these people (skilled workers for high-tech companies) in the US than you would expect. If you look at the computer departments in top colleges, the majority of students are not US born‖.

– Bill Gates, Microsoft Chairman, on ban

on outsourcing being counterproductive for US companies

"The monarchy and its traditions are archaic.. stupid... a British oddity". – Salman Rushdie, author, on the

British monarchy

For UPSC & Bank PO


1


No of questions: 100 Answers marked by * Explanatory answer after each question 1. Who is the Chairperson of the committee appointed by the government to evolve a comprehensive policy on autonomy for Central universities recently? a) Prof. Goverdhan Mehta b) Prof Anil Sadgopal c) Prof. Madhava Menon* d) Prof. Yash Pal e) Prof. Yogendra Alagh Answer 1:

A committee has been appointed by the government to evolve a comprehensive policy on autonomy for Central universities recently. The committee has Professor Madhava Menon as its chairperson. Its members are: Sayed Hasnain, Vice-Chancellor, Hyderabad University; Pankaj Chandra, Director, IIM Bangalore; M.S. Ananth, Director, IIT Madras; and Mihir Chaudhuri, Vice-Chancellor, Tezpur University. Ved Prakash, Vice-Chairman, University Grants Commission, will be the convener. There are three special invitees: UGC Chairman S.K. Thorat, All India Council for Technical Education Chairman S.S. Mantha; and Indira Gandhi National Open University Vice-Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai.

It has been asked to review the state of institutional autonomy in central universities, IITs and IIMs in academic governance and financial matters. It will recommend mechanism for norm-based funding of central educational institutions for development and maintenance, with an aim to enhance their financial autonomy.

The committee will examine the decentralisation of autonomy within central universities, IITs, IIMs and suggest measures by which institutional autonomy can percolate to governance structure within the university and to the teacher.

The committee will review the present governance structures of central universities, IITs, IIMs, and recommend steps for providing substantive and procedural autonomy to them vis-a-vis University Grants Commission (UGC), other central regulatory bodies and the central government.

It will also decide how to foster accountability so that they can function as public institutions.

This information was given by Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari in Lok Sabha on August 19, 2010.

2. Badminton player Saina Nehwal was in news recently for her appointment as the brand ambassador of tourism department of which state? a) Haryana b) Andhra Pradesh* c) Gujarat d) Himachal Pradesh e) Goa Answer 2:

Badminton player Saina Nehwal was on August 19, 2010 announced as the brand ambassador for Andhra Pradesh Tourism. Though hailing from Haryana, Saina has made Hyderabad her home now.

3. Commander Dilip Donde, who became the first Indian to circumnavigate the globe solo on a sailboat in May 2010, was in news recently for winning which of the following awards? a) Vir Chakra b) Sena Medal c) Shaurya Chakra*

For UPSC & Bank PO


2

d) Kirti Chakra e) Vishisht Seva Medal Answer 3:

The first Indian to circumnavigate the globe solo on a sailboat, who returned triumphant in May, Commander Dilip Donde was on August 15, 2010 decorated with the Shaurya Chakra. Donde, who went round the world on Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Mhadei, reached Mumbai harbour, the starting point of the journey, on May 22, 2010. He had begun the voyage on August 19, 2009 and completed the journey in nine months, negotiating the some of the most difficult waters in the southern hemisphere. The Shaurya Chakra is a military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not being engaged in direct action with the enemy.

4. Who is the Project Director of Chandrayaan-2 moon mission, which will help in analysis of mineral composition and undertake terrain mapping of the moon? a) M. Pitchaimani b) K. N. Shankara c) S. R. Ranganathan d) S. K. Shivkumar e) M. Annadurai* Answer 4:

Chandrayaan-2 is a joint lunar exploration mission proposed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Russian Federal Space Agency (RKA) and has a projected cost of 425 crore.

The mission, proposed to be launched in 2013 by a GSLV launch vehicle, includes a lunar orbiter and a rover made in India as well as one lander built by Russia. The wheeled rover will move on the lunar surface and will pick up soil or rock samples for on-site chemical analysis. The data will be sent to Earth through the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter.

The team headed by Mylswamy Annadurai that was behind the success of the Chandrayaan-1 mission, is working on Chandrayaan-2.

5. Who among the following became the first woman army officer to win a gallantry medal for her bravery overseas recently? a) Major Bhavna Chauhan b) Captain Neha Rawat c) Major Mitali Madhumita* d) Major Leena Gaurav e) Major Dimple Singla Answer 5:

In a first for the Army, a woman officer has been awarded a gallantry medal for her brave action overseas. Major Mitali Madhumita of the Army Education Corps, who was leading the army‘s English Language Training Team in Kabul, was on August 15, 2010 awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry on the occasion of Independence Day. Major Madhumita was the first officer to reach the Indian guesthouse that came under attack by suicide bombers on February 26. Though unarmed, she literally ran close to 2 km to reach the spot and rescued her colleagues who were trapped beneath the debris.

6. Who among the following was in news recently for winning the ‗Indian Idol 5‘ music reality show recently? a) Shivam Pathak b) Naushad Ali Kawa c) Sreeram Chandra* d) Bhoomi Trivedi e) Rakesh Maini

For UPSC & Bank PO


3

Answer 6:

The Fifth season of Indian Idol started airing on Sony TV from April 26, 2010 and concluded on August 15, 2010, when Sreeram Chandra, participant from Hyderabad, India was named the Indian Idol 5.

In addition to a recording contract with Sony BMG, the winner of Indian Idol 5 was awarded a one year contract with Sony Entertainment Television worth 5,000,000, a Suzuki GS-150R motorbike, a Tata Winger Platinum car and a chance to be a playback singer in a forthcoming movie of Yash Raj Films.

The Indian Idol 5 had three judges - Bollywood playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan and composer, singer Salim Merchant and music director Anu Malik.

7. ―Last Man in the Tower‖ is the forthcoming book of which well known Indian Booker Prize winning author? a) Kiran Desai b) Arundhati Roy c) Aravind Adiga* d) Arundhati Roy e) Salman Rushdie Answer 7:

Aravind Adiga won the 2008 Man Booker Prize for his debut novel ‗The White Tiger‘. Adiga will publish his second venture Last Man in the Tower in early 2011.

8. Who among the following Chief Ministers was in news recently for winning the Rahul Sankrityayan Tourism Award of the Union Tourism Ministry given for the best book written in Hindi on tourism? a) Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank – Uttarakhand* b) Nitish Kumar – Bihar c) Shivraj Singh Chauhan – Madhya Pradesh d) Ashok Gehlot – Rajasthan e) Prem Kumar Dhumal – Himachal Pradesh Answer 8:

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was on August 21, 2010 selected for the Rahul Sankrityayan Tourism Award of the Union Tourism Ministry for 2008-09 for his book ―Himalaya Ka Mahakumbh – Nanda Raj Jat‖. The award, which is given for best book written in Hindi on tourism, carries a citation and Rs. 20,000. The book is about the royal pilgrimage of goddess Nanda Devi that takes place every 12 years mainly in Chamoli district.

9. Which of the following is/are true regarding the information technology product BOSS developed to promote use of computing in India? I. BOSS stands for Bangalore Operating System Software II. It is based on Linux III. It was developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) a) I only b) I and II only c) II and III only d) II only* e) I, II and III Answer 9:

Bharat Operating System Solutions is a Linux based system developed by NRCFOSS (National Resource Centre for Free/Open Source Software)

10. Who among the following was conferred with the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award for 2009 recently? a) Jaswant Singh b) L K Advani c) Arun Jaitley

For UPSC & Bank PO


4

d) Murli Manohar Joshi* e) Sushma Swaraj Answer 10:

President Pratibha Patil on August 18, 2010 conferred the ―Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards‖ to Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi (Congress), Mohan Singh (Samajwadi Party) and Murli Manohar Joshi (BJP) for 2007, 2008, and 2009, respectively.

11. Who among the following former Speakers of the Lok Sabha was in news for his recently released book – ―Keeping the Faith: Memoirs of a Parliamentarian‖? a) Somnath Chatterjee* b) Balram Jakhar c) Manohar Joshi d) Shivraj Patil e) P. A. Sangma 12. Who was conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award recently? a) Maulana Kable Sadiq b) Maulana Saeed-ur-Rehman Azmi c) Maulana Khalid Rasheed d) Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan e) Maulana Wahiduddin Khan* Answer 12:

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, a noted Islamic spiritual scholar from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, was honoured with Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award on August 20, 2010. The award is given on given on the birthday of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on August 20 every year.

13. The Army recently ordered court-martial of Lt. Gen. P.K. Rath for his involvement in the Sukhna scam in which of the following states? a) Jammu & Kashmir b) West Bengal* c) Karnataka d) Himachal Pradesh e) Punjab Answer 13:

The Army on August 19, 2010 ordered the court-martial of Lt. Gen. P.K. Rath for wrongdoing in the transfer of a 71-acre tea estate adjacent to the Sukna military station near Siliguri in West Bengal to a real estate dealer.

14. Which of the following statements about the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, proposed by the government recently, is/are correct? I. The Bill seeks to give a share in mining profits to tribals whose land is taken for mining II. The Bill seeks to increase the royalty paid on the ore mined to state governments III. The Bill seeks to set up a National Mining Regulation Authority to regulate the Mining sector a) I and II only b) II only c) I and III only* d) III only e) I, II and III Answer 14:

The Union government is planning to give a 26 per cent share in mining profits to the tribals and to set up a regulatory body to check illegal mining, Union Minister of Mines B.K. Handique informed the Rajya Sabha on August 16, 2010.

For UPSC & Bank PO


5

The draft of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill was prepared on the basis of the policy directions set forth in the 2008 National Mineral Policy and the recommendations of the Hooda Committee. Its objective is to ensure fair compensation and justice to tribal people of areas where mining would be carried out.

The proposed National Mining Regulation Authority would have the powers to inspect and detect, investigate and prosecute cases of illegal mining. The Union government would also have the power to terminate the lease, if the State government did not act; the leaseholder would also become ineligible to secure lease in future.

Mining companies have opposed the provisions of the Bill. During 2009-10, of the total production of 218 million tonnes, 91 million tonnes was consumed domestically, while 117 million tonnes was exported. Iron ore mine companies argue that if this raw material was not exported, it would pile up, creating environmental problems. Nearly 75 per cent of the export variety consisted of iron fine, since the country does not have the technology to produce steel out of it.

15. Which of the following combinations of recently released books and their authors is/are correct?

Book Author

I. From Winning the War to Winning Peace: Post-War Rebuilding of the Society in Sri Lanka

Jon Oskar Solnes

II. A Powderkeg In Paradise - Lost Opportunity for Peace in Sri Lanka V.R. Raghvan

III. State and Foreign Policy in South Asia Jivanta Schottli, Siegfried O Wolf

a) I and II only b) II only c) II and III only d) III only* e) I, II and III Answer 15:

Book Author

I. From Winning the War to Winning Peace: Post-War Rebuilding of the Society in Sri Lanka

V.R. Raghvan

II. A Powderkeg In Paradise - Lost Opportunity for Peace in Sri Lanka Jon Oskar Solnes

III. State and Foreign Policy in South Asia Jivanta Schottli, Siegfried O Wolf

16. Which state government was in news recently for imposing a total ban on the movement and export of iron ore through its ports recently? a) Andhra Pradesh b) Goa c) Orissa d) Karnataka* e) Maharashtra Answer 16:

Karnataka, the country's second-largest iron ore producer, in July 2010, imposed a total ban on the movement and export of iron ore through 10 minor ports which are under the state government. The ban was imposed to curb illegal mining in the state, especially from Bellary district.

17. Which of the following is not one of the objectives of the National Innovation Council set up by the Prime Minister recently? a) Create an eco-system conducive to fostering innovation b) Promote innovation in the teaching methods in primary schools* c) Recommend appropriate policy initiatives within the government required to spur innovation d) Promote the setting up of Sectoral Innovation Councils and State Innovation Councils

For UPSC & Bank PO


6

e) Make special efforts to facilitate innovation by micro small and medium enterprises Answer 17: The Prime Minister on August 16, 2010 approved the setting up of a National Innovation Council to prepare a road map for the Decade of Innovation 2010-2020. The National Innovation Council would have Sam Pitroda, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations, as its Chairman. The Council has been given the mandate to:

Evolve an Indian model of innovation focusing on inclusive growth

Create an eco-system conducive to fostering innovation

Recommend appropriate policy initiatives within the government required to spur innovation

Promote the setting up of Sectoral Innovation Councils and State Innovation Councils.

Make special efforts to facilitate innovation by micro small and medium enterprises.

Focus on innovation in public services delivery 18. ‗A Grain of Sand in the Hourglass of Time‘ is the forthcoming autobiography of which veteran politician and former Congress Chief Minister? a) Motilal Vora b) R. Antulay c) Sharad Pawar d) Arjun Singh* e) Digvijay Singh 19. Which of the following combinations of the recently appointed members of the National Innovation Council and their current designations is incorrectly matched? a) Dr. K. Kasturirangan – Member, Planning Commission b) Dr. Samir Brahmachari – Director General, CSIR c) R. Gopalakrishnan – Executive Director, Tata Sons d) Kiran Mazumdar Shaw – Chairperson, Biocon e) Amit Mitra – Secretary General, CII* Answer 19: The Prime Minister on August 16, 2010 approved the setting up of a National Innovation Council to prepare a road map for the Decade of Innovation 2010-2020. The National Innovation Council would have Sam Pitroda, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations, as its Chairman. Members of the Council are:

National Innovation Council Chairman

Sam Pitroda, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations

Members

Dr. K. Kasturirangan & Arun Maira, Planning Commission Members

Dr. Samir Brahmachari, Director General, CSIR

Dr. Ramesh Mashelkar, Former DG of CSIR Kiran Karnik, former President, NASSCOM

Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Narayana Hrudayalaya R. Gopalakrishnan, Executive Director, Tata Sons

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson, Biocon Shekhar Kapur, Film Director

Saurabh Srivastava, Chairman, CA Technologies Anil K. Gupta, Professor IIM Ahmedabad

Prof. Sujatha Ramadorai, Professor, TIFR Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII

Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI Sanjay Dhande, Director, IIT Kanpur

Member Secretary R. Gopalakrishnan, Additional Secretary, PMO

20. Which of the following is the objective of the SABLA scheme being introduced by the government in 200 districts on a pilot basis recently? a) Improving representation of women in panchayats and other local level bodies b) Providing concessional credit to women self help groups (SHGs)

For UPSC & Bank PO


7

c) Improving nutritional and vocational skills of adolescent girls* d) Promoting woman entrepreneurs in small scale industry e) Improving maternal health and infant care facilities in rural areas Answer 20:

The Union Women and Child Development ministry will launch the Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls - SABLA - in November 2010. In the selected districts, SABLA would replace the existing Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG) and Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY). The districts have been selected on the basis of a composite index calculated on the indicators relevant to the condition of adolescent girls.

The scheme, which will be launched in 200 districts on a pilot basis, aims at empowering adolescent girls between 11 to 18 years of age by improving their nutritional and vocational skills. It will equip girls with information on health and family welfare, hygiene, and guidance on existing public services.

21. Which of the following statements about the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) organised by the International Mathematical Union (IMU) recently is/are correct? I. It was organised in India for the first time II. It is organised once every four years III. It elected an Asian as President of the IMU for the first time a) I and II only* b) II only c) I and III only d) III only e) I, II and III Answer 21:

The International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) was organised at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre from August 18-27, 2010. The ICM is organised by the International Mathematical Union (IMU) once every four years. The ICM was held in Asia for the third time after the ones in Japan (Kyoto) in 1990 and China (Beijing) in 2002. For the first time ever, a woman was elected to lead the International Mathematical Union. The Union's General Assembly elected Ingrid Daubechies of the U.S. as its president for the period 2011-14.


Book Author

I. Conspiracy of Silence - Japanese Prisoners of War in India 1942-1946 T. R. Sareen

II. Hitler‘s First War Dr. Thomas Weber

III. Besieged: Voices From Delhi, 1857 Mahmood Farooqui

a) I and II only b) II only c) II and III only d) III only e) I, II and III* 23. The Nevanlinna Prize, Gauss Prize and the Chern Prize, given recently, are for achievements in which of the following? a) Photography b) Chemistry c) Physics d) Economics e) Mathematics*

Answer 23:

The International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) was organised at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre from August 18-27, 2010. The Fields Medals, the Nevanlinna Prize, the Gauss Prize, and the Chern Medal were awarded during the Congress.

For UPSC & Bank PO


8

International Congress of Mathematicians: Award winners

Fields Medals: Elon Lindenstrauss, Ngo Bao Chau, Stanislav Smirnov, Cédric Villani

Nevanlinna Prize 2010: Daniel Spielman

Gauss Prize 2010: Yves Meyer

Chern Prize 2010: Louis Nirenberg

The Chern Medal was presented for the first time in 2010 for lifelong outstanding achievements in maths. Professor Nirenberg became the first recipient of the award Chern Medal Award that was newly instituted by the International Mathematical Union (IMU) and the Chern Medal Foundation (CMF) in memory of the Chinese-American mathematician Shiing-Shen Chern (1911-2004).

24. Who among the following former Prime Ministers of Great Britain were in news for the recently released autobiography, ‗A Journey‘? a) Margaret Thatcher b) John Major c) Tony Blair* d) Gordon Brown e) None of the above 25. Homai Vyarawalla, S. Paul, Benu Sen and K.G. Maheshwari were in news recently for winning Life Time Achievement Awards for achievements in which of the following? a) Photography* b) Astronomy c) Social Work d) Economics e) Architecture Answer 25:

Vice President M. Hamid Ansari conferred Life Time Achievement Awards on four eminent photojournalists on August 19, 2010. Homai Vyarawalla, S. Paul, Benu Sen and K.G. Maheshwari were the recipients of the awards that include a cash prize of Rs.1.50 lakhs, a shawl, a memento and a citation. Two Photojournalists and Pictorialists were selected for the award.

Photojournalists: The first is 97 years old Homai Vyarawalla of Vadodara, popularly known as the first Indian lady photojournalist in the country. She studied in J. J. School of Art and started her career as a freelancer with Illustrated Weekly. The second recipient is 79 years old S. Paul, an photojournalist who was the Chief Photographer of the Indian Express from 1962 to 1988 and the winner of the several photo awards in the country and abroad.

Pictorialists: In the Pictorialists category, the Life Time Achievement Award was conferred on Benu Sen of Kolkata, 79 year old, Secretary-General of Federation of Indian Photography. The second recipient in the Pictorialist category was K.G. Maheshwari from Mumbai. 88 years old, Maheswari has been a creative legend in Portrait Photography.


Book Author

I. Backwaters of Development - Six Deprived States of India Shovan Ray

II. Caste in a Different Mould - Understanding the Discrimination Kancha Ilaiah

III. Clothing for Liberation – A Communication Analysis of Gandhi‘s Swadeshi Revolution

Peter Gonsalves

a) I and II only b) II only c) I and III only* d) III only e) I, II and III

For UPSC & Bank PO


9

Answer 26:

Book Author

I. Backwaters of Development - Six Deprived States of India Shovan Ray

II. Caste in a Different Mould - Understanding the Discrimination Rajesh Shukla, Sunil Jain, Preeti Kakkar

III. Clothing for Liberation: A Communication Analysis of Gandhi‘s Swadeshi Revolution

Peter Gonsalves

27. Fulendra Chaudhary, V. Nandansabapathy and Dr. Sarojini Agarwal were in news for winning which of the following awards recently? a) Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Awards b) Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards c) Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Awards d) Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Awards e) Rajiv Gandhi Manav Sewa Awards* Answer 27: Rajiv Gandhi Manav Sewa Awards for Service to Children-2009 were announced by the Ministry Of Women and Child Development on the birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on August 20, 2010. The award carries a cash prize of Rupees 1 lakh and a citation and is conferred on three individuals who make outstanding contribution in the fields of Child Protection, Child Development and Child Welfare. The Selection Committee selected the following three individuals for conferment of Rajiv Gandhi Manav Sewa Award for the year 2009:

Fulendra Chaudhary, Secretary, Baba Baidyanath Balika Mook-Badhir Vidyalaya, Munger, Bihar

V. Nandansabapathy, founder and the present Secretary of CREED, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu

Dr. Sarojini Agarwal, founder and President of Manisha Mandir, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 28. Dr. Udai Chandra Jain received the Certificate of Honour conferred on Scholars on Independence Day for his achievements in which language recently? a) Hindi b) Sanskrit c) Pali/Prakrit* d) Arabic e) Persian Answer 28:

President of India conferred the Certificate of Honour to Sanskrit, Pali/Prakrit, Arabic and Persian Scholars for the year 2010 on the occasion of 64

th Independence Day on August 15, 2010. The

following is the list of scholars who were awarded on the occasion:

Certificate of Honour awardees SANSKRIT

Prof. V. Swaminathan, Prof. Umashanker Sharma ‗Rishi‘, Dr. Shankar Dev Sharma Avtre, Prof. Vijay Pandya Devshanker, H.V. Nagaraja Rao, Pandit Moti Ram Shastri, Dr. Deviprasad Khanderao Kharwandikar, Bhubaneshwar Kar, Pandit Madan Mohan Sharma, G. R. Ramachandra Sastri, Prof. Sitanath Dey, Dr. Kapil Deva Dvivedi, Dr. Ganesh Dutt Sharma, Dr. Jaydutt Upreti, Gouri Dharmapal

SANSKRIT (INTERNATIONAL): Prof. Csaba Tottossy

ARABIC: Prof. Mohd. Abdul Majeed, Saeed Ahmad Palanpuri, Prof. Ashfaq Ahmad Nadvi

PERSIAN: Dr. S. M. Talha Rizvi ―Burque‖, Dr. Muhammad Yousuf

PALI/PRAKRIT: Dr. Udai Chandra Jain

29. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Personal Laws Amendment Bill, 2010 passed by the Parliament recently? I. It seeks to amend the Guardians and Wards Act (GWA), 1890 and the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act (HAMA), 1956 II. It allows women separated from their husbands and engaged in divorce proceedings to adopt a child

For UPSC & Bank PO


10

III. It Bill seeks to allow the mother along with the father to be appointed as a guardian, making the process gender-neutral a) I and II only b) II only c) I and III only d) III only e) I, II and III* Answer 29:

A bill paving the way for women to get equal rights in guardianship and adoption of children was passed by the Rajya Sabha on August 17, 2010. The Bill was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha. The Personal Laws Amendment Bill, 2010 seeks to amend the Guardians and Wards Act (GWA), 1890 and the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act (HAMA), 1956.

It seeks to allow the mother along with the father to be appointed as a guardian, making the process gender-neutral. Besides, it aims at removing hurdles in the way of a married woman to adopt. She can also give a son or daughter for adoption.

For adoption and guardianship, under the existing Act, only the father is considered to be the natural guardian of the child in a Hindu family and only unmarried, divorced women and widows are allowed to adopt a child. Women separated from their husbands and engaged in divorce proceedings cannot adopt a child.

30. The government recently announced plans to introduce a common entrance test for admission to medical colleges across the country from the next academic session (2011-12). Which of the following will not come under the purview of the proposed common entrance test? a) Armed Forces Medical College, Pune b) All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi c) Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh d) Both (a) & (b) e) All (a), (b) & (c)* Answer 30:

MBBS aspirants will have to write a common entrance test for admission to medical colleges across the country from the next academic session (2011-12), said Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Medical Council of India (MCI) S.K. Sarin on August 17, 2010. The proposal was approved by the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister and a notification to this effect would be shortly issued.

The move will benefit approximately four lakh students who compete for 35,000 undergraduate seats in medicine every year. At present there are 17 entrance tests for admission to medical colleges. They are conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education, the State governments and even some private medical colleges.

The entrance examination would cover all medical colleges except the Armed Forces Medical College and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi and the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh. The AIIMS and PGI Chandigarh were established under Acts of Parliament and, hence not covered by the Indian Medical Council Act.

31. Who among the following was in news for co-authoring the book ‗Absolute Khushwant: The Low Down on Life, Death and Most Things‘ with well-known author Khushwant Singh recently? a) Tavleen Singh b) Humra Quraishi* c) Aditi Phadnis d) Mrinal Pande e) Shobha De 32. Which of the following is India‘s richest political party with a total asset value Rs. 612 crore in the assessment year 2009-2010, according to a survey conducted by NGO National Election Watch recently? a) Bharatiya Janata Party

For UPSC & Bank PO


11

b) Bahujan Samaj Party c) Congress* d) Samajwadi Party e) Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam Answer 32:

Congress is the richest political party with an aggregate income of Rs. 1,518 crore earned over a seven-year period between the assessment years 2002-2003 and 2009-2010, according to National Election Watch (NEW) on August 17, 2010. For the same period, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party reported incomes of Rs. 754 crore and Rs. 358 crore respectively.

The Congress reported a total asset value of Rs. 612 crore when it filed its returns for the assessment year 2009-2010. The Samajwadi Party‘s asset value stood was Rs. 178 crore while BJP‘s was at Rs. 261 crore in 2009-10. The BSP‘s assets also grew substantially increasing to Rs. 286 crore in 2009-10.

These details were obtained by the NEW under the Right to Information applications seeking copies of the income tax returns of the various parties. The NEW obtained income tax returns data for the Congress the BJP, the BSP, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), the NCP, the SP and the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

33. The establishment of the proposed Nalanda University in Bihar is an international initiative by which of the following organisations? a) ASEAN b) Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) c) Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) d) UNESCO e) East Asia Summit (EAS)* Answer 33:

The Rajya Sabha on August 21, 2010 passed the Nalanda University Bill, which intends to revive the 5

th century residential institution in Bihar that attracted students from all over the world during ancient

times.

The revival is taking place under an international initiative by the East Asia Summit (EAS), a bloc of which India is a member, with the Ministry of External Affairs being actively involved in the $1billion project.

A mentor group that drafted the regulations will be the university‘s interim governing body. The group is headed by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and includes the Singapore‘s Foreign Minister.

34. Which of the following was held responsible for a collision and the subsequent oil spill in Arabian Sea of Mumbai coast and served a compensation notice recently? a) Mumbai Port trust b) Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust c) MSC Chitra* d) MV Khalijia e) Both (c) & (d)

Answer 34:

The owners of MSC Chitra, which collided with another cargo ship MV Khalijia on August 7 resulting in an oil slick off the Mumbai coast, were on August 18, 2010 served a notice demanding compensation for the oil-spill and consequent ecological damage. Port authorities have sent notices to the merchant vessel's owners, the Mediterranean Shipping Company, asking them to pay full compensation since they have been identified as "polluters".

It was MSC Chitra's tanks that caused the oil spill and the falling tankers caused both Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) to shut down.

So far both the ports haven't put any blame on MV Khalijia, the other ship, for footing the compensation. If investigations by DG Shipping show that MV Khalijia was responsible, then MSC Chitra can claim it from Khalijia, but currently the "polluter" is MSC and it is hence liable to pay.

For UPSC & Bank PO


12

35. How many cities have been given the highest green rating in the sanitation rating of 423 cities conducted by the National Urban Sanitation Policy (NUSP) recently? a) 0* b) 1 c) 2 d) 3 e) 4 Answer 35:

Rating of 423 Class-I cities on various sanitation related parameters has been conducted under the National Urban Sanitation Policy (NUSP) during the period December, 2009 to March, 2010.

The aim of the exercise was to assess the performance of the cities in the area of sanitation with respect to outputs, processes and outcomes including environmental and health outcomes.

189 cities were categorized as red cities scoring less than 34 marks out of 100 marks and 230 cities as black cities scoring 34-66 marks out of 100 marks. 4 cities were categorized as blue scoring 67-90 marks out of 100 marks. None of the cities were categorized as green-the highest rating. Cities in the red category are those that need immediate remedial action to address negative public health and environmental outcomes.

This information was given by Saugata Roy, Minister of State, Urban Development, in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on August 19, 2010.

36. Who among the following National Advisory Council members was in news recently for chairing a committee that recommended denial of environmental clearance to the Vedanta mine project in Orissa? a) Aruna Roy b) Jean Dreze c) Harsh Mander d) Prof. Pramod Tandon e) Dr. N. C. Saxena* Answer 36:

The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), which makes recommendations for forest clearances, on August 19, 2010 accepted the Saxena committee report on the Vedanta‘s alumina mining project in Orissa. The four-member Saxena committee, chaired by former bureaucrat and National Advisory Council member N.C. Saxena, recommended that clearance be denied, citing environmental violations and an adverse impact on the Dongria and Kutia Kondh tribals. Other members of the committee are: Dr S Parasuraman, Dr Promode Kant and Dr Amita Baviskar.

37. Which of the following best describes ‗Javelin‘, whose procurement is being considered by the Defence Ministry from the US recently? a) anti-aircraft missile b) anti-submarine missile c) anti-missile missile d) anti-tank missile* e) anti-radar missile Answer 37:

Indian Army to procure US ‗Javelin‘ anti-tank guided missile: The Defence Ministry on August 17, 2010, said it plans to approach the United States to procure third generation ‗Javelin‘ anti-tank guided missile for the Army under the Foreign Military Sales route.

38. Whose birthday was observed as the Renewable Energy Day recently? a) Sir C. V. Raman b) Rajiv Gandhi* c) Meghnad Saha d) Indira Gandhi e) Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar

For UPSC & Bank PO


13

Answer 38:

The Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas (Renewable Energy Day) was observed on August 20, 2010. This mass awareness campaign about renewable energy is organised every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister, late Rajiv Gandhi on August 20 every year since 2004 all over the country.

39. Who is the founder of World Community Service Center, in news, for the issue of a commemorative postage stamp on him recently? a) Swami Sandeep Chaitanya b) Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar c) Vasudevanand Saraswati d) Vethathiri Maharishi* e) Vishwesha Theertharu Answer 39:

A commemorative postage stamp on Vethathiri Maharishi (1911-2006) was released on August 21, 2010. Maharishi was a spiritual leader and founder-trustee of the World Community Service Center in 1958 in Chennai.

40. Dr. Rajat Ray, of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), is the Chairman of the recently government appointed committee on the prevention and treatment of: a) Obesity b) HIV/AIDS c) Alcoholism* d) Cardiac diseases e) Diabetes Answer 40:

The Union government on August 15, 2010 submitted before the Madras High Court that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has constituted a group of experts to prepare a ―draft national policy on prevention of alcoholism and substance abuse and rehabilitation of its victims.‖ The panel is under the Chairmanship of Dr. Rajat Ray, Chief of the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

41. Where in Assam has the Indian Air Force (IAF) operationalised its nuclear-capable Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets at a newly refurbished airbase recently? a) Goalpara b) Jorhat c) Tezpur* d) Dibrugarh e) Sibsagar Answer 41:

A full squadron of Sukhoi-30 aircraft has been deployed at Assam's Tezpur air base in August 2010 42. Who has topped the Newsweek list of ‗world leaders other leaders love‘ unveiled recently? a) Indian PM Manmohan Singh* b) British Premier David Cameron c) French President Nicolas Sarkozy d) Chinese PM Wen Jiabao e) Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Answer 42:

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on August 18, 2010 topped the Newsweek Magazine‘s list of 10 world leaders who have won respect and is described as ―the leader other leaders love‖.

In an article titled ‗The Leader Other Leaders Love‘, the magazine said the economist-turned-politician Singh, engineered the transition ―from stagnant socialism to a spectacular takeoff in the global

For UPSC & Bank PO


14

economy.‖ ―But it‘s Singh‘s unassuming personal style that really inspires awe among his fellow global luminaries, who praise him for being modest, humble, and incorruptible,‖ the magazine said in the article.

Besides Singh, British Premier David Cameron, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Saudi Arabia‘s King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz al-Saud also figure in the list.

However, India figures 78 in the list of 100 best countries in the world with a score of 55.70 out of 100. The rank was based on five categories of national well-being, education, health, quality of life, economic competitiveness, and political environment.

43. The Law Ministry launched the __________ Adhivakta Prashikshan Yojna (Advocate‘s Training Scheme) for imparting professional training to selected young practicing advocates from each state recently. a) Rajiv Gandhi* b) Nani Palkhivala c) Indira Gandhi d) Soli Sorabjee e) Justice Harilal Kania Answer 43:

Dr. M. Veerappa Moily, Minister of Law and Justice launched Rajiv Gandhi Adhivakta Prashikshan Yojana (Rajiv Gandhi Advocate‘s Training Scheme) on August 20, 2010. The scheme envisages selection of 10 young practicing Advocates from each State every year for being imparted professional training.

44. The US has recently demanded imprisonment of Libyan Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi for his complicity in: a) December 21, 1988 attack on an aircraft over Lockerbie, Scotland* b) December 15, 1998 attacks on US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania c) September 11, 2001 attacks on World Trade Centre at New York d) August 19, 2003 assassination of UN Representative to Iraq, Sérgio Vieira de Mello e) November 26, 2008 attacks in Hotel Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai Answer 44:

The White House has called for the Libyan Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, convicted in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, to be returned to prison in Scotland.

Megrahi is an alleged former Libyan intelligence agent, who was in January 2001 convicted of murder for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on 21 December 1988 that killed all 270 people on board. In January 2001, he was sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Netherlands.

On August 20, 2009, Megrahi was freed on compassionate grounds by the Scottish government following doctors reporting that he had terminal prostate cancer and was expected to have less than three months to live.

45. Which of the following is supplying Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircrafts for the Indian Air Force? a) Elbit Systems b) Soltam Systems c) Rafael Advanced Defense Systems d) Israel Aerospace Industries e) Elta Systems* Answer 45:

A contract was signed on with Elta Systems of Israel for the procurement of three Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. Two AWACS aircraft have already been inducted into the

For UPSC & Bank PO


15

Indian Air Force while the third is expected to be delivered by December 2010. This information was given by Defence Minister AK Antony in Lok Sabha on August 09, 2010.

46. Musician Wyclef Jean was in news recently for the rejection of his candidature in Presidential elections in which island nation? a) Dominican Republic b) Cuba c) East Timor d) Haiti* e) Antigua Answer 46:

Haitian hip-hop star Wyclef Jean was on August 21, 2010 disallowed from contesting in the country‘s forthcoming presidential election. The 40-year-old singer, who lives in the US, failed to meet the Haitian constitution requirement that candidates must have lived in the country for five years prior to an election. The country is still recovering from the January 2010 earthquake, which killed an estimated 230,000 people and left more than one million homeless.

47. The Central Bank in Nepal announced its decision to replace former monarch King Gyanendra‘s face on the bank notes with a picture of which of the following recently? a) Pashupatinath Temple b) Singha Durbar (Parliament Building) c) Narayanhiti Palace d) Buddha e) Mount Everest* Answer 47:

The central bank in Nepal on August 19, 2010 announced its decision to replace former king, Gyanendra‘s face on the bank notes with a picture of the world‘s highest peak, 8,848 metre Mount Everest, in all currency notes. But the old notes bearing the king‘s picture will continue to be legal tender.

48. The James Tait Black Memorial Prizes, conferred on AS Byatt and John Carey recently, are given for achievements in which of the following? a) Archaeology b) Science c) Literature* d) Social work e) Diplomacy

Answer 48:

Novelist AS Byatt and critic John Carey were on August 20, 2010 announced as the winners of the James Tait Black Memorial Prizes. The prizes are for the best work of fiction and the best biography published during the previous 12 months. Byatt won the fiction prize of £10,000 for her novel, ‗The Children’s Book‘ while Carey was awarded the £10,000 biography prize for his book ‗William Golding: The Man Who Wrote Lord Of The Flies‘. The prizes are awarded annually by the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures at Edinburgh University.

49. Francesco Cossiga, who passed away recently, was a former President of which country? a) Italy* b) Spain c) Portugal d) Sweden e) Germany Answer 49:

Francesco Cossiga, a former Italian president, passed away at the age of 82 on August 17, 2010. He was president from 1985-1992, before becoming an outspoken lifetime senator.

For UPSC & Bank PO


16

50. China‘s economy surpassed Japan to become the world‘s second largest economy for the three months ended June, 2010, according to figures released by the Japanese Cabinet Office recently. What is India‘s position among world‘s largest economies in 2009? a) Seventh b) Eighth c) Ninth d) Tenth e) Eleventh* Answer 50:

China‘s economy surpassed Japan to become the world‘s second largest economy for the three months ended June, 2010. According to figures released by the Japanese Cabinet Office on August 16, 2010, the Japan’s economy was worth USD 1.29 trillion for the June quarter (April-June 2010). During the same period, China’s economy was valued at USD 1.34 trillion.

According to the World Bank, China‘s GDP was worth about USD 4.9 trillion in 2009, while that of Japan was USD 5.06 trillion. The US remains the world‘s largest economy, valued at around USD 14.2 trillion. India is at 11

th place, at USD 1.29 trillion.

51. Who among the following is the founder of WikiLeaks, a whistle-blower website in news for releasing classified documents belonging to the US Defence Department recently? a) Jeff Bezos b) Mark Zuckerberg c) Julian Assange* d) Orkut Buyukkokten e) Shawn Fanning Answer 51:

The US Department of Defense in a letter to the WikiLeaks on August 16, 2010 has demanded that the whistle-blower website desist from further release of classified documents that could endanger US security interests in Afghanistan. Julian Assange is the founder of WikiLeaks, in news recently for leaking classified documents and sensitive national security information of the US Department of Defense.

52. Which of the following is ranked No. 1 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) published by the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University recently? a) Harvard University (US)* b) University of California, Berkeley (US) c) Stanford University (US) d) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US) e) University of Cambridge (UK) Answer 52:

Harvard has retained the crown as top university for the 8th year in an annual ranking of the world‘s

universities. The 2010 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), published by the Center for World-Class Universities of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said the United States dominates the list with eight in the top 10 and 54 in the top 100. The top ten are as follows:

2010 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU): Top 10 1. Harvard University (US) 6. California Institute of Technology (US)

2. University of California, Berkeley (US) 7. Princeton University (US)

3. Stanford University (US) 8. Columbia University (US)

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US) 9. University of Chicago (US)

5. University of Cambridge (UK) 10. University of Oxford (UK)

Source: Center for World-Class Universities of Shanghai Jiao Tong University

The ARWU uses six indicators to rank universities globally including the number of alumni and staff with Nobel prizes, the number of highly cited researchers, the number of articles published and cited in

For UPSC & Bank PO


17

top journals and the per capita performance with respect to size of the institution. Ranking more than 1,000 universities every year with 500 published online, the list focuses heavily on achievements in scientific research.

The ranking showed Asian universities were advancing up the list with 106 from the Asia Pacific region making the top 500. From the Asia-Pacific region, the top performer was Tokyo University which was again listed in 20

th place.

53. Which is the No 1 ranked global city, according to a survey unveiled by the Foreign Policy magazine recently? a) Brussels b) San Francisco c) New York* d) Washington e) Toronto Answer 53:

New Delhi and Mumbai occupies 45th and 46

th position while Kolkata is placed at 63

rd spot in list of

rankings of 65 global cities, according to a survey by the Foreign Policy magazine in collaboration with A T Kearney and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs unveiled on August 17, 2010. New York, London and Tokyo are the top three cities in the list. Size is not the only parameter. Instead, the index aims to measure how much sway a city has over what happens beyond its own borders – its influence on and integration with global markets, culture, and innovation.

54. India has announced the setting up of two new consulates in which of the following cities in Sri Lanka? a) Trincomalee and Kotte b) Galle and Moratuwa c) Katunayake and Dambulla d) Vavuniya and Anuradhapura e) Jaffna and Hambantota* Answer 54:

India to set up two new consulates in Sri Lanka: India on August 20, 2010 announced that it will set up two new consulates in Jaffna and Hambantota cities of Sri Lanka. India already has consulates at Colombo and Kandy.

55. Constitutional Court in which Latin American country disallowed US access to its military bases recently? a) Colombia* b) Bolivia c) Mexico d) Venezuela e) Cuba Answer 55:

Colombia‘s Constitutional Court declares US access to military bases as unconstitutional: Colombia‘s Constitutional Court ruled on August 17, 2010 that the agreement granting the U.S. military forces additional access to Colombian military bases is unconstitutional, arguing that the accord hasn‘t been passed by the Congress.

The agreement, which was signed between former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe‘s administration and the U.S. government in 2009, allows 1,400 U.S. military personnel and contractors to use seven Colombian military bases for fighting narco-trafficking and terrorism.

56. World Humanitarian Day was observed recently to mark which of the following? a) December 21, 1988 attack on an aircraft over Lockerbie, Scotland b) December 15, 1998 attacks on US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania

For UPSC & Bank PO


18

c) September 11, 2001 attacks on World Trade Centre at New York d) November 26, 2008 attacks in Hotel Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai e) August 19, 2003 attack in Iraq that killed UN Representative, Sérgio Vieira de Mello* Answer 56:

World Humanitarian Day was observed at the UN Headquarters in New York, the United States on August 19, 2003. It marks the day on which the then Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq, Sérgio Vieira de Mello and 21 of his colleagues were killed following the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad on August 19, 2003.

57. Which country recently signed an agreement to allow Russian forces to remain at the Soviet-era military base in Gyumri until 2044? a) Georgia b) Poland c) Romania d) Ukraine e) Armenia* Answer 57:

Russia has extended the lease of a key military base in Armenia through 2044 in a decisive move to strengthen its military clout in the strategic region of the Caucasus and the Black Sea.

President Dmitry Medvedev and his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian signed an agreement on August 19, 2010 allowing Russian forces to remain at the Soviet-era military base in Gyumri until 2044.

The Gyumri base is Russia‘s largest military outpost beyond its borders. The base gives Russia strategic hold over South Caucasus, a major energy transport corridor from the Caspian Sea to Europe, and helps deter Turkey from giving military support to Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.

58. Which city in the Middle East was in news recently for the world‘s tallest guitar that is 36 metre high? a) Kuwait City b) Dubai* c) Riyadh d) Sharjah e) Abu Dhabi Answer 58:

Dubai is securing another landmark that comes with the ―tallest‖ tag, and this time it is not a tower. At 118 feet (approximately 36 metres), the local Hard Rock Cafe is building the world‘s tallest guitar at its Café located in the Dubai Festival City in October 2010. The 118-foot guitar is anticipated to be the largest in the world and will be submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records.

59. N. Rangachary was in news recently for his appointment as Chairman of which of the following? a) Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL)* b) Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IRDA) c) National Securities Depository Ltd. (NSDL) d) Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. (MCX) e) National Stock Exchange (NSE) Answer 59:

Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL) on August 16, 2010 appointed N. Rangachary, the founding chief of insurance regulator IRDA, as its chairman. Rangachary succeeds S. S. Thakur, who had chaired the securities depository firm since 2001. CDSL, which is promoted by the Bombay Stock Exchange, currently has 68.51-lakh active accounts and has 521 agents or depository participants (DPs) offering depository services to investors.

For UPSC & Bank PO


19

60. Arun Maira, Member Planning Commission, was in news recently for his appointment as Chairperson of the government‘s task force on growth opportunities and export potential in which sector? a) Oil & gas industry b) Steel industry c) Aviation industry d) Chemical industry* e) Agriculture Answer 60:

The Government of India on August 20, 2010 announced the setting up a taskforce for drafting a roadmap for the development of chemicals industry for the next 10 years. The proposed committee, to be headed by Arun Maira, Member Planning Commission, would look into growth opportunities, ways to harness the export potential in chemicals besides strengths and constraints. ‗India Chem 2010‘, to be organised in Mumbai during October 28-30, 2010, would be a global forum for chemical industry to attract investment from outside and forge business ties.

61. Arup Roy Choudhury has taken over as the new Chairman and Managing Director which power sector PSU recently? a) PowerGrid b) REC c) NTPC* d) PFC e) NHPC Answer 61:

Arup Roy Choudhury to take over as CMD of NTPC: Arup Roy Choudhury, currently Chairman and Managing Director, National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), will take over as CMD of state-owned power major National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) from September 1, 2010.

62. S. Radhakrishnan has taken over as the new Chairman and Managing Director of which oil PSU recently? a) Bharat Petroleum* b) GAIL c) Hindustan Petroleum d) Indian Oil e) ONGC Answer 62:

S Radhakrishnan assumed additional charge as chairman and managing director of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) on August 21, 2010 after Ashok Sinha stepped down recently. Radhakrishnan has been the director (marketing) of BPCL since 2002.

63. Who among the following took over as the new Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama after the passing away of K M Mathew recently? a) K M Cherian b) Mammen Mathew* c) K. M. Mammen Mappillai d) Philip Mathew e) Thankom Mammen Answer 63:

Mammen Mathew, 65, assumed charge as Chief Editor and Managing Director of the Kottayam based Malayala Manorama on August 18, 2010. He is the eldest son of the late K M Mathew, who was the Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama till he passed away on August 1. Mammen is a member of Prime Minister‘s National Integration Council and National Security Advisory Board. He is also a Director Trustee of the Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company, which runs the international news agency Thomson Reuters. He is the first Indian Director Trustee of the 150-year-old company.

For UPSC & Bank PO


20

64. Gopal Das has taken over as the new Chairman and Managing Director of which telecom PSU recently? a) Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) b) BSNL* c) RailTel Corporation of India Limited (RailTel) d) MTNL e) Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) Answer 64:

BSNL on August 3, 2010 announced the appointment of its director human resources, Gopal Das, as its new chairman and managing director. Das, a veteran of 35 years in the telecom sector, joined the department of telecom in 1975 and shifted to BSNL in 2007 and his tenure marked by the state-owned telecom giant‘s largest corporate restructuring, following the recommendations of the Boston Consulting Group, in December 2008.

65. Which of the following is India‘s national aquatic animal announced by the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)? a) Otter b) Whale c) Ghariyal d) Seal e) Dolphin* 66. Who among the following Indian-American IT professionals was appointed co-chairman of National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in US recently? a) Gururaj Deshpande* b) Vinod Khosla c) Pradeep Sindhu d) Kanwal Rekhi e) Vinod Dham Answer 66:

Indian born IT professional Gururaj Deshpande was named Co-chairman of President Barack Obama‘s National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, in August 2010. Deshpande is also the Chairman of Bangalore based telecom equipment maker Tejas Networks.

67. Pakistan has objected to the Kishenganga hydropower project in India on which of the following rivers? a) Ravi b) Indus c) Jhelum* d) Beas e) Chenab 68. Actress Prachi Desai was in news recently for her appointment as brand ambassador of tourism ministry of which state? a) Haryana b) Andhra Pradesh c) Gujarat d) Himachal Pradesh e) Goa* Answer 68:

Goa tourism on August 12, 2010 appointed actress Prachi Desai its brand ambassador.

For UPSC & Bank PO


21

69. How much were the gross non-performing assets of scheduled commercial banks as on March 31, 2010? a) Rs 29,000 crore b) Rs 41,000 crore c) Rs 63,000 crore d) Rs 81,000 crore* e) Rs 119,000 crore Answer 69:

The gross non-performing assets of scheduled commercial banks was Rs 81,813 crore, amounting to 2.5 per cent of their gross advances as on March 31,2010, according to information given in Parliament on August 17, 2010.

On the total, the gross NPAs of public sector banks (PSBs) was Rs 57,301 crore, while the rest Rs 17,384 crore was from the private sector banks.

The gross NPA to gross advances ratio of PSBs has reduced from 3.17 per cent in 2006 to 2.34 per cent in 2008 and 2.27 per cent in 2010.

A number of initiatives have been taken to reduce the quantum of NPAs, including provisioning and classification of such assets, corporate debt restructuring and one-time settlement schemes.

70. Which of the following has introduced Internet-protocol TV services under the name MyWay IPTV? a) BSNL & MTNL* b) Vodafone-Essar c) Idea Cellular d) Bharti Airtel e) Reliance Com 71. How much were the agriculture loans disbursed by Commercial Banks, Cooperative Banks, and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) during 2009-10? a) Rs. 254,658 crore b) Rs. 280,000 crore c) Rs. 301,900 crore d) Rs. 337,000 crore e) Rs. 366,900 crore* Answer 71:

Agriculture loans worth Rs. 3,66,919 crore were disbursed by Commercial Banks, Cooperative Banks, and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) during 2009-10. This is an increase of 113% as against the target of Rs. 3,25,000 fixed for the year. The agency-wise target and actual disbursement of credit to agriculture sector by all agencies during the last three years is as under:

Disbursement of Credit to Agriculture Sector (in Rs crore)

Agency 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

Target Actual Target Actual Target Actual

Commercial Banks 150,000 181,088 (121%)

195,000 228,951 (117%)

250,000 274,963 (110%)

Cooperative Banks 52,000 48,258 (93%)

55,000 46,192 (84%)

45,000 57,500 (128%)

Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) 23,000 25,312 (110%)

30,000 26,765 (89%)

30,000 34,456 (115%)

Total 225,000 254.658 (113%)

280,000 301,908 (108%)

325,000 366,919 (113%)

Source: Ministry of Finance, August 2010

72. Vedanta Group announced that it will acquire a majority stake in Cairn India, the Indian subsidiary of British oil exploration firm Cairn Energy recently. In which state are Cairn India‘s oil-fields – Mangala, Aishwariya, Raageshwari and Saraswati (MARS) located?

For UPSC & Bank PO


22

a) Gujarat b) Maharashtra c) Assam d) Andhra Pradesh e) Rajasthan* Answer 72: Anil Agarwal‘s Vedanta Group on August 16, 2010 announced that it will acquire a majority stake in Cairn India for $8.5-9.6 billion. Cairn India is the subsidiary of British oil exploration firm Cairn Energy PLC.

Cairn India assets Location Oilfields JV partners Capacity

Rajasthan Mangala, Aishwariya, Raageshwari and Saraswati (MARS) fields; Bhagyam and Shakti fields; and Kaameshwari West fields

ONGC (30%) 125,000 bopd from Mangala. Rest of the fields under development

Krishna-Godavari Basin

Ravva oil & gas field ONGC, Videocon & Ravva Oil

70,000 bopd

Cambay offshore Basin

Lakshmi field ONGC (50%) & Tata Petrodyne (10%)

150 mmscfd of natural gas and 10,000 bopd of oil

bopd – barrels of oil per day, mmscfd – metric square feet per day

73. Which public sector bank has launched a special product called Defence Salary Package (DSP) for Army personnel? a) Indian Overseas Bank b) Punjab National Bank c) Bank of Baroda d) State Bank of India* e) Bank of India Answer 73:

The Defence Salary Package (DSP) for Army personnel offers a bundle of free services such as free drafts, free cheque book, free fund transfers to any of the SBI Group‘s branches and free ATM cards.

74. Which US legislation, signed by President Obama recently, has sharply increased the visa fees paid by Indian IT companies for their personnel sent on short-term projects to the US? a) Employment Security Bill b) Immigrants Control Bill c) Equal Opportunities Bill d) Homeland Employment Bill e) Border Security Bill* Answer 74:

The US in August 2010 raised fees for certain categories of H-1B and L1 visas by at least $2,000 for the next five years. The steep increase was part of the USD 600 million border security bill signed by the US President Barack Obama to strengthen security along the US-Mexico border. The fee increase would apply only to companies with more than 50 employees and for whom the majority of their workforce is visa-holding foreign workers.

The funds obtained from the hike will pay for the proposed expenditure of $650 million on increasing security along the US-Mexico border. The fee increase is expected to cost Indian companies, mainly IT outsourcing firms, about $200 million annually. Indian companies Wipro, Infosys Technologies and TCS, which send thousands of their technology workers to the United States to work at their clients‘ locations, will bear the brunt of these new fees.

75. Which social networking site has recently launched ‗Places‘ – a feature to help users share where they are, figure out who is in the vicinity, and check out happenings and services within the same locality? a) MySpace b) Buzz

For UPSC & Bank PO


23

c) Twitter d) Orkut e) Facebook*

Answer 75:

Facebook users in the US will soon be able to track whereabouts of their friends across the country using the new ‗Places‘ feature, which was introduced on August 20, 2010. ‗Places‘ is being touted as a tool to help users share where they are, figure out who is in the vicinity, and check out happenings and services within the same locality.

76. Which Indian life insurance company has topped the league of companies whose agents are members of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) — an international club of agents who have sold policies with a premium of over $1 million recently? a) LIC b) SBI Life* c) ICICI Prudential Life d) Bajaj Allianz Life e) HDFC Standard Life

Answer 76:

SBI Life, a subsidiary of India‘s largest commercial bank, State Bank of India, on August 17, 2010 emerged as the insurance company with the largest number of highly productive agents world-wide.

For the second year in a row, SBI Life has topped the league of companies whose agents are members of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) — an international club of agents who have sold policies with a premium of over $1 million equivalent.

This year SBI Life has over 2,904 of its agents who have qualified for the MDRT. As against this, the second placed New York Life, has 1,995 agents on the MDRT. Globally, the company ranked 5

th in

2007, 3rd

in 2008, 1st in 2009 and in 2010 with 802, 1666, 2,677 and 2,904 MDRT members,

respectively.

77. The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) markets dairy products under the brands Amul and ______. a) Manthan b) Sagar* c) Mother Dairy d) Safal e) Dhara

Answer 77:

The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets Amul and Sagar brands of dairy products reported 19.30% increase in its sales turnover to Rs 8,005 crore for the financial year 2009-10 compared to Rs 6,711 crore in 2008-09 at its annual general meet (AGM) on August 18, 2010.

78. Union Environment and Forests Ministry shortlisted some sites for reintroducing the Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), which has become extinct in India in the 1960s, recently. Which is the only country in Asia where the Cheetah is found in its natural habitat? a) Bangladesh b) China c) Vietnam d) Pakistan e) Iran* 79. Which public sector oil company entered the shale gas business by purchasing a stake in exploration blocks in Australia from Norwest Energy recently? a) ONGC b) BPCL* c) IOC d) GAIL e) HPCL

For UPSC & Bank PO


24

Answer 79:

Public sector oil firm Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) on August 20, 2010 entered the shale gas business by purchasing a stake in two exploration blocks in Perth Basin in Australia from Norwest Energy. BPCL acquired the stake through its wholly owned subsidiary Bharat Petro Resources Limited (BPRL).

80. Which Indian corporate group was in news recently for setting up a joint venture with US media company CBS to launch general entertainment channels in South Asia? a) Aditya Vikram Birla Group b) Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group* c) Reliance Industries Ltd d) Essar Group e) Sahara India Group Answer 80:

The Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) group company Reliance Broadcast Network (RBN) (earlier known as Reliance Media World) has formed a 50:50 joint venture with US media company CBS called BIG CBS Networks Pvt. Ltd to launch general entertainment channels in South Asia. To start with, Big CBS will launch three channels – BIG CBS Spark, BIG CBS Love and BIG CBS Prime. BIG CBS Spark will be targeted at the youth, while BIG CBS Love will be aimed at women.

81. Which is the ‗world fashion capital‘ of 2010, according to the annual survey by the Global Language Monitor recently? a) Milan b) New York* c) Paris d) Mumbai e) Madrid Answer 81:

New York on August 16, 2010 regained the crown of ‗world fashion capital‘ of 2010 in an annual survey by the Global Language Monitor (GLM). Following New York are Hong Kong, London, Paris, Los Angeles, Milan, Sydney, Miami, Barcelona and Madrid. While Mumbai finds itself in the 28

th

position, Delhi is in the 30th spot.

This ranking was based on GLM‘s predictive quantities index, a proprietary algorithm that tracks words and phrases in print and electronic media, on the Internet and throughout the blogosphere. The words and phrases are tracked in relation to their frequency, contextual usage and appearance in global media outlets.

82. Which management institution has signed a MoU to establish ―Dr. Reddy‘s Cell for Employability and Skilling‖ to develop market-based solutions to address the shortage of skills among youth in the country recently? a) MDI, Gurgaon b) ISB, Hyderabad* c) FMS, Delhi d) IIM, Ahmedabad e) XLRI, Jamshedpur

Answer 82:

The Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad and Dr. Reddy‘s Laboratories Limited signed a MoU on August 19, 2010 to establish ―Dr. Reddy‘s Cell for Employability and Skilling‖ in ISB. The Cell will take up research to develop market-based solutions to address the shortage of skills among youth in the country.

83. Which foreign automobile company has recently introduced a Rs 10 lakh annual prize for young Indian artists under the age of 45 on the basis of work produced in the past one year? a) Ford

For UPSC & Bank PO


25

b) Skoda* c) Toyota d) Mercedes e) Hyundai Answer 83:

Skoda Auto India and Seventy Event Management Group have introduced an award honouring contemporary art in India called ‗The Skoda Prize‘. The annual prize will reward young Indian artists under the age of 45 on the basis of work produced in the twelve months preceding the award. The winner will be announced in January 2011 and shall be awarded Rs. 10,00,000.

84. ‗The Caged Phoenix: Can India Fly?‘ is a recent book authored by who among the following authors? a) Amitabh Kant b) Shiv Shankar Menon c) Dipankar Gupta* d) Jairam Ramesh e) Meghnad Desai 85. Which of the following launched its used car business in India under the brand ‗Proven Exclusivity‘ recently? a) Ford b) Skoda c) Toyota d) Mercedes* e) Hyundai Answer 85:

Mercedes Benz India on August 21, 2010 launched its used car business under the brand name ‗Proven Exclusivity‘ in New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Chennai. The size of the luxury car market in India is estimated at around 8500 units and is expected to go up to 13000 units by the end of this year.

86. Which of the following announced the acquisition of IT security technology firm, McAfee for $7.68bn recently? a) IBM b) Intel* c) Microsoft d) Google e) Symantec Answer 86:

The world‘s biggest chip maker, Intel, on August 19, 2010 agreed to buy the IT security technology firm McAfee for $7.68bn. Through buying McAfee, Intel intends to build security features into its microprocessors which go into products such as laptops and phones.

87. What is the operation launched to tackle the Naxalites in affected states across the country called? a) Operation New Dawn b) Operation Red Carpet c) Operation Hammer & Sickle d) Operation Green Hunt* e) Operation Crimson Sun 88. Name the company which became the first Indian company to enter the handheld gaming console market under the ‗ME’ brand recently? a) Microtek b) HCL Infosystems* c) Wipro Ltd

For UPSC & Bank PO


26

d) TCS e) Tech Mahindra Answer 88:

HCL Infosystems on August 20, 2010 became the first Indian company to enter the handheld gaming console market under the ME brand which will compete with market leaders like Sony‘s PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS.

89. Which of the following introduced India‘s first keyboard with new Rs symbol recently? a) Micromax Ltd b) Intex Technologies c) Microtek International d) Anchor Electronics & Electricals e) TVS Electronics* Answer 89:

Computer peripherals maker TVS Electronics on August 13, 2010 introduced TVS Gold Bharat – India‘s first computer keyboard with a key dedicated to the new rupee symbol.

90. Which watch company introduced a new collection called ‗New Constellation‘ in India recently? a) Titan b) Timex c) Tissot d) Rolex e) Omega* Answer 90:

Swatch Group owned Omega on August 18, 2010 introduced a new collection – ‗New Constellation‘ with brand ambassadors Abhishek Bachchan and Sonali Bendre in India.

91. Who is India‘s High Commissioner in Pakistan? a) Sharat Sabharwal * b) Meera Shankar c) Ashok K. Kantha d) Satyabrata Pal e) Malay Mishra 92. Johan Botha was named as the new Twenty20 captain of_____. a) Australia b) New Zealand c) Zimbabwe d) England e) South Africa* Answer 92:

28-year-old Johan Botha was on August 21, 2010 appointed South Africa‘s new Twenty20 captain, replacing Graeme Smith, who stepped down recently.

93. Which is the government authority in charge of hearing disputes relating to disparaging advertisements? a) Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission b) Union Information & Broadcasting Ministry c) Competition Commission of India d) Competition Appellate Tribunal e) Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission*

For UPSC & Bank PO


27

94. Which company has bagged the title sponsorship rights for the Indian cricket team‘s home series for the period 2010-13? a) Reliance Com b) Bharti Airtel* c) Idea Cellular d) Micromax Mobile e) Karbonn Mobiles Answer 94:

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on August 21, 2010 bagged the title sponsorship rights for the Indian cricket team‘s home games for 2010-13 with a Rs. 3.33 crore bid for each Test, One-Day International and Twenty20 match. Under the terms of the agreement, Airtel will get to advertise its brands in prime spots at the grounds and on the stumps.

Nimbus Communications had signed a four-year deal for broadcasting rights in October 2009.

The Sahara Group in June 2010 had won the Indian team sponsorship rights with a bid of Rs. 3.34 crore per match.

95. Which district in Kerala was in news recently for the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race that was won by Kumarakom Town Boat Club (KTBC) recently? a) Alappuzha* b) Ernakulam c) Idukki d) Kollam e) Kannur Answer 95:

The annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race was organised on the Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha, Kerala on August 14, 2010. Kumarakom Town Boat Club (KTBC), rowing the Jawahar Thayankary snake-boat, regained the Nehru Trophy in the 58

th Nehru Trophy Boat Race. Twelve-time winner United Boat

Club, Kainakary, rowing the ‗Payipad‘ chundan, came a few metres short to end up second, while the Sree Ganesh chundan, rowed by the Karumadikuttan Boat Club, Kavalam, finished third in the tightly contested final. President Pratibha Patil presented trophies to the winners.

96. Which watch company is the official timekeeper sponsor at the Delhi Commonwealth Games? a) Titan b) Timex c) Tissot* d) Rolex e) Omega

97. Where were the first Youth Olympic Games organised recently? a) Hong Kong b) Bangkok c) Singapore* d) Jakarta e) Kuala Lumpur

Answer 97: The first Youth Olympic Games (YOG) were organised in Singapore from August 14 to August 26, 2010. 98. Which of the following combinations of recently released books and their authors is/are correct?

Book Author

I. India, Climate Change, and the Global Commons Vandana Shiva

II. Superpower: The Amazing Race Between China‘s Hare and Indias Tortoise

Raghav Bahl

III. State of Urban Services in India‘s Cities: Spending and Financing Kala Seetharam Sridhar, A Venugopala Reddy

For UPSC & Bank PO


28

a) I and II only b) II only c) II and III only* d) III only e) I, II and III Answer 98:

Book Author

I. India, Climate Change, and the Global Commons A. Damodaran

II. Superpower: The Amazing Race Between China‘s Hare and Indias Tortoise

Raghav Bahl

III. State of Urban Services in India‘s Cities: Spending and Financing Kala Seetharam Sridhar, A Venugopala Reddy

99. Which IT company in association with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) launched a new ―Certificate Programme on Chess as Mind Booster‖ recently? a) Aptech b) Infosys c) NIIT* d) Wipro e) Tech Mahindra Answer 99:

Chess maestro Viswanathan Anand launched a new ―Certificate Programme on Chess as Mind Booster‖ that is jointly certified by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and NIIT in September 2010.

100. Which of the following sponsors at the Delhi Commonwealth Games is not correctly matched? a) Indian Railways – Lead partner b) Central Bank of India – Banking partner c) Air India – Airline Partner d) Maruti Suzuki – Vehicle Transport sponsor* e) Coca Cola-official beverage sponsor Answer 100:

Indian Railways is the Lead partner.

Central Bank of India is the official Banking partner, Air India is the Official Airline partner, NTPC Ltd is official Power partner and Hero Honda is the official Motorcycle partner

Tata Motors is the official Vehicle Transport sponsor

Co Sponsors are: Coca Cola-official beverage sponsor, Amity University – official Trainer Volunteers & Workforce, Reebok-official sportswear co-sponsor and Agility Logistics-official Logistical Services co-sponsor

GJ Tutorial For the Week: September 26 to October 2, 2010 Curent GK

1


September 26 to October 2, 2010

List of contents

� Section A: INDIA � Section B: WORLD � Section C: AWARDS � Section D: ECONOMY & CORPORATE � Section E: SPORTS � Section F: VOICES

Major news of the week Section A: INDIA � Allahabad High Court delivers 2-1 split verdict on

Ayodhya dispute � Rajinikanth’s ‘Endhiran’ released � Viswanathan is new Lok Sabha Secretary-General � Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah

retires � N. Tiwari takes over as new Chief Information

Commissioner � Aftab Alam replaces Sirpurkar in probe against Justice

Dinakaran � Canadian University honours Kalam with doctorate � Nepal appoints 'Indian Idol' as goodwill ambassador � Gujarat Assembly speaker Ashok Bhatt passes away � Hindi author Kanhaiya Lal Nandan is no more � Ghatam exponent T.V. Vasan passes away � Government unveils 8-point formula for Kashmir � UG admissions to be based on Aptitude test, Class XII

marks � Envoys of 7 countries present credentials to President

of India � India’s 1st model district health project launched in

Assam � Millennium celebrations of Big Temple organised � Army implements 'Project Samarth' for faster salary

payments � World Urdu conference in Bangalore in December � Country's 1st all-women police battalion inducted in

Rajasthan � International Day of Older Persons celebrated

� World Habitat Day on October 4 � Antony launches e-governance projects for retired

army personnel � Sanskriti Express showcases life and times of

Rabindranath Tagore � Incredible India ad features African elephant � Special postal cover on Ripon Building released � Mozambique President visits India � Prime Minister unveils ‘Monuments of Delhi’ � TIFR Hyderabad work to begin on October 19 � Screenplay of Raajneeti included in Oscar archives

Section B: WORLD � Former Pak President Musharraf launches political

party � Maatia Toafa elected new PM of Tuvalu � PM Gillard’s nominee re-elected parliamentary

speaker in Australia � Kim Jong-un identified as heir to ailing Supreme

Leader Kim Jong-il in North Korea � Fatmir Sejdiu resigns as President of Kosovo � Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov sacked by President

Medvedev � Rajapaksa approves Fonseka’s jail term � French Nobel laureate Charpak passes away � WWII Indian pilot Mahinder Singh Pujji passes away � Hollywood actor Tony Curtis passes away � ‘Titanic’ actor Gloria Stuart passes away � US Senate rejects ‘Creating American Jobs and End

Offshoring Act’


2

� Parliament in Nepal fails to elect PM yet again � EU takes legal action over expulsion of Roma by

France � Pakistan selected Chairman of IAEA Board � China releases 3 Japanese held for entering military

zone � President Chavez’s party loses two-thirds majority in

Venezuela elections � Stuxnet worm hits Iran nuclear plant computers � China launches lunar probe Chang'e-II � “International Day of Non-Violence” observed � Celebrations to mark 1,000th anniversary of Vietnam’s

capital begin � Uganda assumes UN Security Council presidency � 50th anniversary of independence celebrated in

Nigeria � World's 1st commercial passenger flight on 100%

synthetic jet fuel

Section C: AWARDS � Aruna Roy wins Lal Bahadur Shastri Award � CSIR Young Scientist Awards conferred � Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes awarded � Sangeet Natak Akademi fellowships conferred � Mother Teresa Award conferred on M.S.

Swaminathan � 2010 Right Livelihood Award winners announced � Pak soldier sets Guinness record for tree planting


� Noted economist Arjun Sengupta passes away � Mukesh Ambani is the richest Indian in Forbes list � R. S. Butola appointed new Chairman of IOC � U.K. Sinha appointed Chairman of AMFI � Rajiv Kumar appointed Director General of FICCI � S. Bhattacharya takes over as new CMD of Bank of

Maharashtra � Harsh Chitale appointed new CEO of HCL

Infosystems � L. Radhakrishnan appointed JNPT Chairman � Ajay Chowdhry is ‘Electronics Man of the Year’ � ‘Indra Nooyi is Most Powerful Woman in US

Business’ – Fortune � Leo Apotheker appointed new CEO of Hewlett

Packard � India’s current account deficit at $13.7 billion in April-

June 2010

� Aadhaar project launched nationally from Maharashtra’s Tembhali village

� Pension scheme ‘Swavalamban’ for unorganised sector launched

� RBI widens ambit of business correspondents, includes for-profit firms

� Govt eases FDI norms for wholesale trading, NBFCs � Govt. asks PSBs to cap MFI interest rates at 24% � Finance Minister unveils Budget Manual � SC rejects Vodafone plea on capital gains tax demands � Govt. unveils Rs. 17,000 crore plan to link all North-

East capitals by rail � Government reduces levy sugar obligation to 10% � NCCF, CWC included in list of agencies procuring

pulses, oilseeds � ADB raises India's GDP growth forecast to 8.5% � SEBI to raise investment criteria for high networth

individuals (HNIs) � Public sector banks to have a common admission test � ‘India has 1.26 lakh High Networth Individuals’ –

Merrill Lynch � ICICI Bank opens first retail branch in Singapore � US engine to power Tejas light combat aircraft � Shipping Corporation of India Golden Jubilee

celebrated � Oil giants exit Iran under US pressure � ONGC is the top advance taxpayer in 1st half of ‘10-11 � Sandur Lambani embroidery gets GI tag � Reliance Big Entertainment ties up with Tom Hanks'

Playtone � Ashok Leyland unveils India's first CNG hybrid bus � Unilever to buy Alberto for $3.7 bn � Corus gets Tata Steel name, logo

Section E: SPORTS

� N. Srinivasan elected President of BCCI � Sehwag named ICC brand ambassador � Record for highest 1st class cricket score broken � Troy Cooley is Head Coach of Cricket Australia � Pak team manager Yawar Saeed quits � Lionel Messi receives Goldon Boot award � Kirsan Ilyumzhinov re-elected as FIDE President � Yashvir chosen as FILA coach of the year � Kalpana Devi wins India’s 1st ever world

championship medal in Judo � 'Stumpy' is the mascot of 2011 World Cup � Tour de France champion Contador tests positive � Airtel India-Australia cricket series trophy unveiled � East Bengal, Mohun Bagan enters Federation Cup

final


3

Section A: INDIA Cover Story Allahabad High Court delivers 2-1 split verdict on Ayodhya

High Court awards two-thirds of disputed Ayodhya site to Hindu parties, one-third to Sunni Waqf Board Rules that makeshift Ram temple belongs to Hindus; Waqf Board, Janmabhoomi Trust to go on appeal Sixty years after the matter first went into litigation, a Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on September 30, 2010 delivered its verdict on the status of the disputed land in Ayodhya where the Babri Masjid stood for 500 years until it was demolished in 1992. While most people welcomed the verdict both the litigants, The Sunni Waqf Board and the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas, expressed disappointment and vowed to contest the ruling in the Supreme Court.

Inside the Split Verdict – 2:1

Justice

S.U. Khan

Justice

Sudhir Agarwal

Justice

D.V. Sharma Should the disputed land be partitioned between litigating parties? YES YES NO

Was a temple demolished to build a mosque during Babar’s times? NO YES YES

Was the structure demolished in 1992, a mosque? YES YES NO

Partition of Land

• The Bench of Justice S.U. Khan, Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice D.V. Sharma by a 2-1 majority verdict ruled that the 2.77 acre disputed land shall be divided into three parts. A two-thirds portion is to be shared by two Hindu plaintiffs and one-third will be given to the Sunni Muslim Waqf Board. Plaintiffs representing Lord Ram, the Nirmohi Akhara and the Waqf Board were declared joint title-holders of the property.

• The Bench asserted that the portion under the central dome of the demolished three-dome structure where the idol of Ram Lalla had been kept in a makeshift temple was the birthplace of Lord Rama “as per faith and belief of the Hindus.”

• The Bench dismissed the suit filed by the Sunni Waqf Board for possession of the Babri Masjid because it was time-barred. It cited faith as the basis to declare the site the janmasthan of Lord Ram, but ordered a three-way partition on the basis of historical use of the site by Muslims and Hindus.

Split verdict

On partition of land

• Justice Agarwal ruled that the “area covered under the central dome of the disputed structure is the birthplace of Lord Rama as per faith and belief of Hindus.”

• Justice Khan did not rule categorically on this point. He merely noted that “for some decades before 1949 Hindus started treating/believing the place beneath the central dome of the mosque to be the exact birthplace of Lord Ram.” However, he ordered that the portion below the central dome “be allotted to Hindus in final decree.”


4

• Justice Sharma, however, did not agree with the one-third formula. According to him, the outer courtyard was in the exclusive possession of Hindus for worship, and in the inner courtyard (in the “disputed structure”) “they were also worshipping” and hence they had exclusive rights to the entire site.

On whether a temple was demolished to build the mosque

• Justice Agarwal and Justice Sharma said the mosque was built after the demolition of a Hindu temple. Justice Khan disagreed, noting that “the mosque was constructed over the ruins of temples which were lying in utter ruins since a very long time before the construction of the mosque and some material thereof was used in the construction of the mosque.”

On whether a mosque was demolished in 1992

• Both Justice Agarwal and Justice Khan agreed that the building that existed until 1992 was a mosque. But Justice Sharma disagreed: “The disputed building was constructed by Babar… against the tenets of Islam. Thus, it cannot have the character of a mosque.”

What the legal eagles say

• Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, one of the lawyers critical of the judgment, said the destruction of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, had taken place on a Muslim site, and this fact could not be disputed and rendered invisible by pretending that Muslims were not entitled to the site in any way.

• Endorsing Dhavan's views, senior advocate P.P. Rao said that it was difficult to appreciate how the property can be divided by the court while dismissing the suits. “If the court accepts that the Waqf Board is entitled to one-third of the land, it can't dismiss the suit. If the court dismisses the suits, it can't give only a portion of the land. The court has gone beyond the prayers in the suits. When no one had asked for division of the land, how can the court divide the land into three portions? There are prima facie grounds for the parties to go for appeal to the Supreme Court as all of them are aggrieved over the division of the property,” added Rao

• Senior lawyer Harish Salve said: “Going by the gist of the judgment which is available, two of the judges constituting the majority have come to the conclusion that the Hindus and Muslims were in joint possession and have been declared to be joint owners. On

that basis, on account of the cross suits, they have ordered a partition — on a one-third each basis”.

• Advocate Wasim Qadri, while welcoming the judgment, said: “It shows the respect and faith in the judiciary and democracy in this country. This is a victory of governance as per rule of law and constitutional scheme. Though I am not a party, being a like-minded person, this is one way of settling the dispute. This is a good signal for India.”

What the historians say

• Irfan Habib, a noted historian and a former Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research said the verdict seemed to legitimise the events of 1949, when an idol was placed inside the mosque, by constant references. On the other hand, by minimising any mentions of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, the court seemed to be disregarding it, he said. Many historians were of the view that archaeological evidence furnished by the ASI did not provide conclusive proof about the demolition of a temple to build the mosque.

View from across the border

• The Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title suit verdict was awaited not only in India but in Pakistan too. ‘The News’ on October 1 carried an article by political commentator Harris Khalique, who observed: “On September 30, the court has come out with a balanced and futuristic judgement by dividing the land. A mosque, a temple and a memorial can be built adjacent to each other. Indian politicians must move on if they are interested in a peaceful and prosperous future.” An editorial in ‘Dawn’s stated: “Though what happened in 1992 is inexcusable, perhaps the verdict will be viewed as pragmatic if it soothes communal passions and ensures such ugly incidents do not happen again.”


5

Newsmakers Rajinikanth’s ‘Endhiran’ released

• The big-budget, multi-lingual Rajinikanth starrer, dubbed Asia’s costliest movie with an ‘official’ budget of Rs 162 crore, was released on October 2, 2010.

• The movie produced by Kalanidhi Maran is co-written and directed by S. Shankar. The film's background score and soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman while Cinematography was handled by R. Rathnavelu. Script of the movie is based on two novels by late Sujatha, a renowned science-fiction writer.

• The movie was released by Sun Pictures, part of Kalanidhi Maran’s Sun Network, and Ficus Entertainment in 2,250 screens worldwide in three languages simultaneously. While in Tamil, it was titled ‘Endhiran’, in Telegu and Hindi it is ‘Robot’. Also for the first time, a movie from India will be dubbed in Japanese.

• Biography: Rajinikanth was born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad. He worked as a conductor in the Bangalore Transport Service in the early 1970s before making his debut as an actor in ‘Apoorva Raagangal’ (1975), a Tamil film directed by K. Balachander. Best known for his mass popularity and appeal, largely drawn from his mannerisms and stylized delivery of dialogue in films, Rajinikanth received India's third highest

civilian honour, the Padma Bhushan, in 2000 for his contribution to Indian cinema.

• Viswanathan is new Lok Sabha Secretary-General: Former Law Secretary, T.K. Viswanathan, Adviser to the Union Minister for Law and Justice M. Veerappa Moily, has been appointed new Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha with effect from October 1, 2010. Viswanathan, 62, will succeed P.D.T. Achary, who relinquished office on September 30. A holder of a Masters Degree in Jurisprudence from Madras University, Viswanathan brings with him rich legal experience, having worked as Professor at the Madras Law College and been Member-Secretary in Law Commission of India from 2003 to 2006. Achary served as Secretary-General for six years and was given a year's extension last year.

• Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah retires: The Right to Information

Act is one of the most progressive legislations passed by the Indian Parliament since Independence, said Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, who retired on September 30, 2010. In a foreword to a book, 'The Change Maker', which has a collection of letters written by activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal to various newspapers and different government authorities, Habibullah said future generations will owe a deep debt of gratitude to crusaders like him. The book published by Global Vision Press and edited by Vigyan Bhushan is a collection of letters written by Agrawal who already holds a Guinness Book of World Record for most number of published letters to the editor. Information Commissioner A. N. Tiwari has taken over as the new Chief Information Commissioner. He will however, hold the job only till December 19, this year, when he is due to retire.

• Aftab Alam replaces Sirpurkar in probe against Justice Dinakaran: Supreme Court judge Aftab Alam will replace

Justice V.S. Sirpurkar as head of the three-member committee investigating corruption and land-grab charges against Justice P.D. Dinakaran, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat announced on September 27, 2010. The allegations were levelled against Justice Dinakaran when he was Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court. He has since been transferred to the Sikkim High Court. Justice Sirpurkar recused himself from the panel last week amidst questions raised over his neutrality by the Chennai-based Forum for Judicial Accountability. The panel was constituted under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 in May this year, after 75 Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha moved a motion seeking Justice Dinakaran's removal.

• Canadian University honours Kalam with doctorate: Former Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam was conferred an honorary doctorate in engineering from the University of Waterloo in Canada for his humanitarian and visonary approach in Toronto on September 28, 2010. As the 11th president of India from 2002 to 2007, Kalam made it a top


6

priority to turn India into a developed nation by 2020. As one of India's most distinguished scientists, Kalam has been awarded two coveted civilian awards, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, along with the highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna.

• Nepal appoints 'Indian Idol' as goodwill ambassador: 'Indian Idol 2008' Prashant

Tamang was on October 1, 2010, appointed as the goodwill ambassador of Nepal Tourism Board. Cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was appointed Nepal's tourism ambassador in 2005. Earlier, NTB had appointed 22-inch-tall teenager Khagendra Thapamagar as its brand ambassador and 19-year-old Miss Nepal 2010 Sadichha Shrestha as goodwill ambassador to promote tourism. Nepal aims to bring in one million tourists including 268,000 Indian tourists under the 'Nepal Tourism Year 2011' campaign to revive its tourism sector that was hit hard by decade long Maoist insurgency.

• Gujarat Assembly speaker Ashok Bhatt passes away: Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ashok

Bhatt passed away at the age of 81 years in Ahmedabad on September 30, 2010. Bhatt, who had participated in the Mahagujarat movement of 1956 that led to the creation of Gujarat, was elected to the Assembly for a record eight times from Khadia constituency in Ahmedabad. He held different portfolios in the Keshubhai Patel, Suresh Mehta and Narendra Modi ministries.

• Hindi author Kanhaiya Lal Nandan is no more: Eminent Hindi writer-journalist Kanhaiya Lal Nandan passed away at

the age of 77 in New Delhi on September 25, 2010. Honoured with Padma Shri and Bharatendu Award, Nandan served as editor of Parag, Sarika and Dinman magazines. Author of more than three dozen books, Nandan was also known as a poet and lyricist. His major works include ‘Ghat Ghat Ka Pani’, ‘Aag Ke Rang’ and ‘Guzra Kaha Kaha Se’.

• Ghatam exponent T.V. Vasan passes away: Renowned Ghatam exponent T.V. Vasan passed away in New Delhi on September 30, 2010 at the age of 61. Along with his eldest brother, renowned musician T.V. Gopalakrishnan (TVG) and older brother noted violinist T.V. Ramani, Vasan made a mark in the field of Carnatic music through his sensitive accompaniment. He could play for artistes of different styles.

News round up Government unveils 8-point formula for Kashmir

• The Union government will appoint a group of interlocutors, under the chairmanship of an eminent person, to begin the process of sustained dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir with political parties, groups, students, civil society and other stakeholders.

• The decision to begin the process of sustained dialogue was part of an eight-point initiative taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi on September 25, 2010. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the decisions were based on the report submitted by him to the Prime Minister and the inputs of the 39-member all-party delegation that had visited Srinagar and Jammu on September 20 and 21. Highlights of the formula are:

• The J&K government has been asked to convene a meeting of the unified command to review deployment of security forces in the Valley, especially in Srinagar, with particular reference to de-scaling the number of bunkers and checkpoints in towns. The state government would also be asked to review the notification of areas as ‘disturbed areas.’

• The state government has been directed to appoint two Special Task Forces, one each for Jammu and Ladakh regions that could examine the developmental needs of the two areas, deficiencies in infrastructure and make suitable recommendations.


7

• A grant of Rs. 100 crore under Special Plan Assistance (SPA) was announced for schools and colleges for improving their infrastructure. The state government has been advised to release all students detained for stone-pelting and similar violations of law, and to withdraw all charges.

• The government would grant an ex-gratia of Rs. five lakh to the family of each of those killed in civil disturbances in Kashmir since June 11. The withdrawal or dilution of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) was not discussed.

• Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said the eight-point initiative announced by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram was basically “administrative in nature” and in no way helpful towards the resolution of the Kashmir problem. Separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, rejected the formula saying it does not address the core issue of Kashmir and is a "deliberate attempt to buy time."

UG admissions to be based on Aptitude test, Class XII marks

• A meeting of Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities on September 29, 2010 in Delhi approved in principle to base admission to undergraduate courses (UG) on a combination of marks obtained in class XII examination and marks obtained in a national-level aptitude test. Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said that the details for the implementation of the decision would be worked out over the next two months. The meeting also made several other recommendations for PG courses. Following are the highlights.

• Different weightages for different universities: The meeting also unanimously decided that the universities be allowed to have different weightages for class XII marks and the aptitude test marks. Universities like the ones in the Northeast, which have special mandates to go by only class XII marks alone, are to be exempted from the new admission criteria.

• Entrance test for PG courses: The meeting in principle approved for a common entrance examination for post-graduate (PG) courses, with adequate provision for subject-wise focus. The meeting rejected the recommendation of a committee headed by the Vice-Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, B.B. Bhattacharya, that admission to UG courses be based solely on the basis of a common entrance test, and opted for a system similar to the one adopted at the meeting of the Council of IITs recently.

• ‘Navaratna' universities: The Vice-Chancellors agreed to introduce a category of ‘navaratna' universities on the lines of Ivy League in the United States, which refers to a group of eight universities known for their academic excellence. The ‘navaratna' universities would have greater financial and academic autonomy and act as a benchmark for the other universities.

• Sandwich courses: In addition, they agreed to introduce four year B.Sc-B.Ed and B.A.-B.Ed sandwich courses and offer vocational, skill development and other such programmes as additional courses to help the students have better job opportunities.

• Credit transfers: Further, the meeting decided to allow for credit transfers between and among different universities to enable lateral movement of the students and agreed to set up code of conducts for university administration, faculty, students and other stakeholders.

• Courses on academic management: It was also decided to introduce courses on academic management to ensure that those in management posts in academic institutions, like the Registrars, were able to discharge their responsibilities with greater efficacy.

• Envoys of 7 countries present credentials to President of India: Seven envoys presented their credentials to the President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan on September 29, 2010. The envoys who presented their credentials were: - Mohamed Elies Ben Marzouk, the Ambassador of Tunisia, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, the Ambassador of Apostolic Nunciature (Holy See), Nguyen Thanh Tan, the Ambassador of Vietnam, Ousmane Tandia, the Ambassador of Mali, Cristian Barros Melet, the Ambassador of Chile, Dr. Sead Avdic, the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Amadou Moustapha Diouf, the Ambassador of Senegal.


8

• India’s first model district health project launched in Assam: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on September 27, 2010 launched the Morigaon Model District Health Project, Health Department's ambitious project, in collaboration with The Earth Institute, Columbia University, and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Project aims at reducing infant & maternal mortality rates and scale healthcare services to all parts of the country by 2015. Morigaon becomes the first district in the country to have started the project and is among the five districts in the country (the rest being one each in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar) to have been selected under the model district health project. Senior adviser at The Earth Institute Nirupam Bajpai said the project aimed at scaling the healthcare services from one district to that of the State, and subsequently to all parts of the country by 2015.

• Millennium celebrations of Big Temple organised: Celebrations to mark the 1000th year of construction of the Lord Brihadisvara Temple (also known as the Big Temple), built by the emperor Rajaraja Chola in Thanjavur, were organised on September 25, 2010. A Bharatanatyam performance by over 1,000 dancers was the highlight of the celebration at Thanjavur. On the occasion, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi released a book authored by R. Nagasamy, veteran archaeologist, on the 400 dancers of the temple during the period of Rajaraja Chola. The Union government released a commemorative five rupee coin in the honour of the Big Temple and King Rajaraja Chola on September 26, 2010.

• Army implements 'Project Samarth' for faster salary payments: The 64-year-old system of manually paying salary to jawans of the Armoured Corps and Mechanised Infantry Regiment on September 26, 2010 made way for a computerised system which credits pay directly into their bank accounts. This step has been taken by the Defence Accounts Department to empower the soldiers and to do away with the time-consuming method of money order through which they send money to their families. The new Monthly Pay System has been christened 'Project Samarth' which literally means empowerment and enablement.

• World Urdu conference in Bangalore in December: Karnataka Urdu Academy is organising a World Urdu Conference in Bangalore from December 27 to 30. More than 50 Urdu scholars from across 15 countries were expected to participate in the conference along with an estimated 300 delegates from India.

• Country's first all-women police battalion inducted: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot inducted the country's

first all-women battalion, “Hadi Rani”, into Rajasthan Police at a convocation parade organised at Sultan Singh Stadium at the Police Training Centre in Jodhpur on September 26, 2010. A total of 480 women police officers from various districts have been appointed to the battalion.

• International Day of Older Persons celebrated: Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Mukul Wasnik conferred the Vayosreshtha Samman, 2010 on the winners on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons on October 1, 2010. A Committee was also constituted under the Chairpersonship of Dr. Mohini Giri to review the National Policy for Older Persons and give its recommendations on implementation of welfare programmes for the elderly. Minister of State for Science & Technology (IC) Prirthviraj Chavan gave away the Golden Award to octogenarian educationist Vijaya Mulay for her pioneering work in devising innovative methods of training primary school teachers. The Ministry’s Technology Interventions for Elderly (TIE) programme aims to promote research, development and adaptation of technology for improving quality of life of the elderly population in the country.

• World Habitat Day on October 4: October 4, 2010 will be celebrated as the World Habitat Day 2010 by the Ministry of

Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in India. The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October each year as the World Habitat Day. UNHABITAT has decided ‘Better City, Better Life’ as the theme for the World Habitat Day 2010.

• Antony launches e-governance projects for retired army personnel: Defence Minister A.K. Antony on October 1,

2010 launched three e-governance projects of the Defence Accounts Department in New Delhi to facilitate quick and accurate disbursement of pension for retired army personnel. The three web-enabled online automation projects are: titled ‘Suvigya,' ‘Aashraya,' and ‘Sankalan'.

• Sanskriti Express reaches Chennai: Indian Railway's exhibition on wheels featuring the life and times of one of

India's most famous cultural icons, Rabindranath Tagore, rolled into Chennai on October 2, 2010. The ‘Sanskriti


9

Express', flagged off from Howrah on May 9 to mark the 150th birth anniversary fete of Tagore, will stay in Chennai till October 6. The five-coach exhibition offers glimpses into the various facets of Tagore – as poet, philosopher, painter and musician. The coaches have names that evoke association with the Nobel Laureate. The ‘Jibon Smriti' features nuggets about Shantiniketan; the ‘Gitanjali' Tagore's poems, verses and songs; the ‘Muktodhara,' his short stories, novels, dramas and essays; the ‘Chitrarekha,' paintings and portraits and the ‘Sesh Katha,' the final journey. The Sanskriti Express is also scheduled to halt at six other stations of Southern Railway over the month – Puducherry, Madurai, Rameswaram, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Mangalore.

• Incredible India advertisement stars an African elephant: In an embarrassing goof-up, an Incredible India advertising campaign featured an African elephant. The Tourism Ministry had taken out a full-page advertisement in leading newspapers with the tagline “Biodiversity: our greatest treasure” to celebrate the tourism and biodiversity theme of World Tourism Day on September 27, 2010. While the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity released the advertisement, its officials made it clear that the design was prepared and approved by the Tourism Ministry itself.

• Special postal cover on Ripon Building released: A special postal cover on Chennai’s famous landmark, the Ripon Building, which is nearing its centenary, was released on September 29, 2010. The commemorative cover has the picture of the heritage building, which since 1913 remains the Chennai Corporation headquarters, on one side and on the other a brief history of the structure. The Corporation has taken up work to conserve Ripon Building with funding from Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

• Mozambique President visits India: India and Mozambique on September 30, 2010 signed three agreements

besides agreeing upon a credit line of $500 million for infrastructure projects during the visit of President Armando Emilio Guebuza to India. During talks with the visiting Mozambique president, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh discussed the safety and security of sea lanes against the backdrop of nearly a decade of intermittent cooperation in this area between the two countries.

• Prime Minister unveils ‘Monuments of Delhi’: Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on September 27, 2010, released the book titled ‘Monuments of Delhi’ published by the Archaeological Survey of India. The book provides interesting glimpses of the edifices of Delhi including the World Heritage sites, as declared by the UNESCO. The book also contains a wealth of information on historical relics, dating back to the Mauryas, the Guptas, the Rajputs, the Sultanate, the Mughal and the Colonial periods.

• TIFR Hyderabad work to begin on October 19: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will lay the foundation stone for the Hyderabad campus of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) on October 19, 2010. TIFR It is an autonomous institute under the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India. The main academic disciplines studied at the institute are natural sciences, mathematics and theoretical computer science. The AP government had invited Mumbai based TIFR to set up its campus in the state and allotted 209 acre land adjoining the University of Hyderabad at Gachibowli. Other campuses of TIFR are at Bengaluru (Centre for Applicable Mathematics and National Centre for Biological Sciences), Mumbai (Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education) and Pune (National Centre for Radio Astrophysics).

• Screenplay of Raajneeti included in Oscar archives: The screenplay of Director Prakash Jha’s film ‘Raajneeti’ was on September 30, 2010 chosen for its archives by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which is best known for its annual Oscar awards celebrations. The scripts in their collection are made available to all for research purposes only and in the premises of their reading room. Other Indian screenplays that have made it to the Oscar archives include 'Rock On', 'Heroes', 'Lagaan', 'Devdas', 'Munnabhai M.B.B.S.', 'Kal Ho Naa Ho', 'Chak De! India', 'Sarkar Raj' and 'Gandhi My Father'.

GANDHI FONT: Leo Burnett India has, in its own way, attempted to keep Mahatma Gandhi alive and relevant in the hearts and minds of youngsters in India. The ad agency has crafted an alphabetical font in the Devanagari script that has the trademark Gandhi glasses subtly incorporated into every letter. The agency hopes to propagate the use of this font to popularise Gandhiji's quotes and teachings amongst the younger generation.


10

Section B: WORLD

Newsmakers

• Former Pak President Musharraf launches political party: Former Pakistani President General(retd.) Pervez Musharraf launched a new political party named All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) on October 1, 2010 in London and announced that he is formally joining politics and that he would return to the country for the next election. Musharraf served as the 10th President of Pakistan (2001-2008) and the Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army (1998-2007). He usurped power in October 1999 following a nonviolent military coup and subsequent ouster of the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. In August 2008, Musharraf resigned from the post of president under impeachment pressure from the coalition government. He was succeeded in September 2008 by Asif Ali Zardari duly elected as Pakistan's 11th president. However, the former Pakistani president is facing several charges including the murder of Baloch tribal elder Nawab Akbar Bugti. Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani had earlier said that Musharraf will face trial if he returns home.

• Maatia Toafa elected new PM of Tuvalu: The Tuvalu Parliament on September 29, 2010 chose Maatia Toafa as the tiny Pacific island nation's new prime minister. Its population of 12,373 makes Tuvalu the second-least populous sovereign state in the world, with only Vatican City having fewer inhabitants. In terms of physical land size, at just 26 square kilometres, Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world, larger only than the Vatican City, Monaco and Nauru.

• PM Gillard’s nominee re-elected parliamentary speaker in Australia: Australia's new parliament opened in Canberra on September 28, 2010, following the country's closest election in 70 years. Prime Minister Julia Gillard won the first major test of her Labor Party government after her nominee, Labor MP Harry Jenkins, was re-elected parliamentary speaker unopposed of the 150-seat lower house. Gillard was forced to seek the backing of independents and Greens to form a government after the August's poll resulted in no party/coalition gaining a simple majority. Gillard's Labor Party has the backing of one more MP than the Liberal-led coalition, and analysts say the prime minister will be forced to negotiate issue-by-issue with the opposition.

• Kim Jong-un identified as heir to ailing Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il in North Korea: A special session of the Supreme People's Assembly, Parliament of North Korea, organised in Pyongyang on September 30, 2010, reappointed ailing Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il as the Chairman of the National Defense Commission, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, the fourth largest standing army in the world. The Assembly also announced the appointment of his son Kim Jong-un to key party positions, signaling his selection as his heir for the leadership of North Korea. Jong-un was named vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea. Earlier he was made a four-star general. He was educated in Switzerland and is about 27 years of age.

• Fatmir Sejdiu resigns as President of Kosovo: Fatmir Sejdiu on September 27, 2010

resigned from the post of President of Kosovo, following the Constitutional Court's decision that he violated the constitution by holding two public positions at the same time. He had held the office of President of the Republic as well as the position of Chairman/President of the political party Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) at the same time. LDK is part of the ruling coalition with Prime Minister Hashim Thaqi' s Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK). Sejdiu was elected president in Feb. 2006 succeeding Ibrahim Rugova who died while in office, and was reelected in 2008.

• Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov sacked by President Medvedev: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on September

28, 2010 sacked Moscow's powerful mayor, Yuri Luzhkov. 74 year old Luzhkov, who has been in office since 1992, was being removed because he had lost “the trust of the president of the Russian Federation”, a presidential decree


11

said. The sacked mayor is one of Russia's most powerful politicians and is a senior member of the pro-Kremlin United Russia party.

• Rajapaksa approves Fonseka’s jail term: Sri Lankan President Mahinda

Rajapaksa on September 30, 2010 approved a 30-month rigorous jail term given to the former Army chief, Sarath Fonseka, by a military court on charges of corruption in defence deals. Earlier Fonseka was stripped of all his ranks and pension by another Court Martial that convicted him on the charge of dabbling in politics while in uniform. Fonseka contested the January presidential election as the opposition's consensus candidate losing to Rajapaksa.

• French Nobel laureate Charpak passes away: Nobel Physics laureate, former World War II resistance fighter and ardent advocate of nuclear disarmament, Georges Charpak passed away in France at the age of 86 on September 29, 2010. He and his family were arrested and sent to Dachau concentration camp in Germany in 1944. Having survived the camp, Charpak trained as an engineer, before becoming a researcher at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva in 1959. In 1992, he was awarded the Nobel Physics Prize “for his invention and development of particle detectors, in particular the multiwire proportional chamber” in 1968 at CERN, which would become the world's largest atom smasher.

• WWII Indian pilot Mahinder Singh Pujji passes away: Squadron Leader Mahinder Singh Pujji, an Indian pilot who flew Hawker Hurricanes for the British Air Force during World War II and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery, passed away on September 22, 2010, in Kent, England.

• Hollywood actor Tony Curtis passes away: American film actor Tony Curtis passed away at the age of 85 years on September 29, 2010. Curtis is known for films such as, ‘Sweet Smell of Success’ (1957), ‘The Defiant Ones’ (1958) and ‘Some Like it Hot’. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and received the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) from France in 1995.

• Titanic actor Gloria Stuart passes away: Gloria Stuart, who played the role of an elderly survivor in the film ‘Titanic’,

passed away at the age of 100 on September 26, 2010 in Los Angeles. Stuart was cast as old Rose in ‘Titanic’ directed by James Cameron.

News round up

US Senate rejects ‘Creating American Jobs and End Offshoring Act’

• The US Senate on September 29, 2010 blocked an anti-outsourcing bill that would have deterred American companies from shifting jobs to competitive locations overseas. Seen as a blow to President Barack Obama, the 53-45 defeat vote blocked the Democrat sponsored ‘Creating American Jobs and End Offshoring Act’ as it was opposed by the Republicans and fell six votes short of passage.

• The Act proposed a payroll tax exemption for companies that moved jobs to the US from abroad. It also contained provisions to prevent businesses from deferring US taxes on the income they make from foreign subsidiaries. The objective was to deter US companies from moving jobs offshore to countries with low labour costs like India.

• Democratic backers, who vow to make the vote a campaign issue in the November 2 Congressional election, claimed that Republicans have undermined their efforts to create jobs. On the other hand, Republicans and business groups dismissed the bill as a political stunt that would increase taxes on companies and undermine job growth.

Recent protectionist moves in the US

� Ohio has banned outsourcing by govt. agencies; Indian IT sector is worried that other US states may follow suit � US recently hiked fees for work visas to fund its $600-million programme to increase security along the Mexican

border; the move is expected to cost the Indian IT industry up to $250 million annually � With unemployment remaining high, US president has been talking about denying tax breaks to the companies

offshoring jobs; the bill Republicans blocked was one such move


12

Parliament in Nepal fails to elect PM yet again

• The Nepal Parliament failed to elect a new Prime Minister in its eighth attempt on September 26, 2010. Maoist leader Prachanda of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal- Maoists (UCPN-M), one of the two candidates in the fray, had withdrawn from the contest. Ramchandra Poudel of the Nepali Congress, the only candidate left in the contest, got 116 votes in his favour, but was declared as defeated. Nepal’s electoral system requires that a candidate should secure at least 50 per cent of the total effective strength of the House to be elected.

• The UCPN-M, which ended its decade-long civil war in 2006, is the single largest party with 238 seats in the Assembly, while Nepali Congress has 114 members in the House. The Communist Party of Nepal – Unified

Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) with the strength of 109 and the Madhesi Alliance with the combine strength of 82 and other smaller parties have called for a national government.

• The Parliament has been unsuccessfully engaged in the process of electing a new Prime Minister for nearly three months now since Madhav Kumar Nepal of CPN-UML resigned on July 1, 2010. The major parties had failed to agree on a consensus candidate for the post of the Prime Minister, leading to the process of electing a new leader through majority vote in the Constituent Assembly.

• Nepali Congress has ruled out the possibility of forming the next government under the Maoists' leadership as the former rebels have not yet laid down arms, managed their combatants and dissolved the paramilitary organization of its youth wing, Young Communist League.

European Union takes legal action over expulsion of Roma by France:

• The European Union on September 29, 2010 initiated legal proceedings against France for its failure to comply with EU laws that guarantee the free movement of citizens within the region (EU). Since the beginning of the year, France has expelled over 8,000 Roma who had exercised their EU free movement rights to migrate from Romania and other eastern European states. Since early August, almost 100 illegal Roma camps have been dismantled in France.

• France has been given until October 15 to rectify the situation and transpose EU law into national law. If it fails to do so, it could face legal proceedings that would end up before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

• Paris insists it has a legal right to expel Roma who stay for longer than three months without demonstrable means of supporting themselves financially or to deport any EU citizens who becomes a threat to public order. But Brussels is worried that the French action is discriminatory against an entire ethnic group, which infringes EU free movement law.

• Pakistan selected Chairman of IAEA Board: Pakistan on September 27, 2010 was elected Chairman of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Ansar Parvez was elected unanimously for the post for 2011-12 by IAEA’s 35-member board of governors at a special one-day session in Vienna, Austria. The board of governors is the IAEA's most important policy-making body after the 151-nation general conference and meets five times a year. Its rotating chair is appointed for a period of one year with the main task of presiding over debates and helping the board of governors reach consensus decisions. Pakistan, like India and Israel, refuses to sign the NPT. Some observers see Pakistan as a potential problem because it was home to a nuclear-smuggling ring run by scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's atomic bomb and a national hero. Khan publicly confessed in 2004 that he shared atomic secrets with Iran, Libya and North Korea, although he later retracted his remarks.

• China releases three Japanese held for entering military zone: China on September 30, 2010 released three of the

four Japanese nationals it had detained for entering a military zone and videotaping military targets amid a tense diplomatic standoff. Japan says that the detained four were employees of the Japanese urban redevelopment company Fujita Corp. They were in China as part of a project to dispose of chemical weapons abandoned by Japanese military in China at the end of World War II. A day after their detention on September 23, Japan had released the skipper of a fishing trawler, detained off disputed islands known as Diaoyu by the Chinese and Senkaku by Japan. The islands are controlled and administered by Japan since 1895 but also claimed by China.


13

• President Chavez’s party loses two-thirds majority in Venezuela Parliamentary elections: The governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) of President Hugo Chavez won the highest number of seats (96) in the parliamentary election to elect the 165 deputies to the National Assembly in Venezuela, organised on September 26, 2010. The opposition MUD (Coalition for Democratic Unity) won 64 seats while the remaining seats were won by minor parties and independents. The PSUV lost its two-thirds supermajority, which it had gained when the Venezuelan opposition parties had boycotted the previous elections.

• Stuxnet worm hits Iran nuclear plant computers: A complex computer worm named ‘Stuxnet’ has infected the personal computers of staff at Iran's first nuclear power station, the official IRNA news agency reported on September 26, 2010. The Stuxnet worm is capable of seizing control of industrial plants and could target the operating system at the Bushehr nuclear power plant, due to go online soon. The West fears Iran's ultimate goal is to build nuclear weapons. Iran says its programme is aimed solely at peaceful energy use. Stuxnet is tailored to target weaknesses in Siemens systems used to manage water supplies, oil rigs, power plants and other utilities.

• China launches lunar probe Chang'e-II: China's lunar probe Chang'e-II was launched on a Long March 3C carrier

rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China's Sichuan Province on October 1, 2010. The lunar probe will test key technologies and collect data for future landings of Chang'e III and Chang'e IV, and provide high-resolution photographs of the landing area. Chang'e II was built as an alternative to Chang'e I, which was launched in October 2007 and maintained a 16-month lunar orbit. The series of Chang'e probes is named after a legendary Chinese Moon goddess.

• “International Day of Non-Violence” observed at the UN: October 2, 2010 was observed as the “International Day of Non-Violence” at the United Nations. Established by a UN General Assembly resolution in 2007, “International Day of Non-Violence” is observed annually on October 2, coinciding with the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.

• Celebrations to mark 1,000th

anniversary of Vietnam’s capital launched: Vietnam held a grand ceremony at Hanoi on October 1, 2010 to mark the beginning of the 10-day celebrations observing the 1,000th anniversary of the establishment of the country's capital city of Hanoi. Thanglong, an old name of present day Hanoi, was chosen as Vietnam's capital city 1,000 years ago. Irina Bokova, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), said that the Thanglong Imperial Citadel was recognised as a UNESCO cultural heritage.

• Uganda assumes UN Security Council presidency: Uganda on October 1, 2010 assumed the rotating United Nations Security Council presidency for the month of October. The Ugandan permanent representative to the UN, Rubakana Rugunda, took over the rotating Council presidency from the Turkish UN ambassador, Ertugrul Apakan, who held the rotating presidency for September. The Security Council presidency rotates among the Council members in the English alphabetical order of their names. Each president holds office for one calendar month. Under the UN Charter, the Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in the world at large. The Council has 15 members: five permanent members – China, France, the Russian Federation, Britain and the United States – and 10 non-permanent members elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Gabon, Lebanon and Nigeria began their two-year terms on the 15-nation Council on January 1, 2010. They join Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey and Uganda, whose terms on the Council end on Dec. 31, 2010.

• 50th

anniversary of independence celebrated in Nigeria: West African nation Nigeria, on October 1, 2010, celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence with President Goodluck Jonathan presiding over the National Day parade in capital Abuja. Nigeria gained its independence in 1960 from the then British colonial government. It is the most populous country in Africa. It is also the largest exporter of oil in the continent.

• World's 1

st commercial passenger flight on 100% synthetic jet fuel in Africa: South African petrochemical giant

Sasol set a world record after flying the world's maiden commercial passenger flight powered solely by the company's 100 percent synthetic jet fuel, which is made by converting coal into liquid fuel, on September 27, 2010. In 2008, Sasol became the first company in the world to be given the go ahead by global aviation fuel specification authorities to use its 100 percent synthetic jet fuel on commercial aircraft.


14

Section C: AWARDS

INDIA Aruna Roy wins Lal Bahadur Shastri Award

• President Pratibha Patil presented the prestigious Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration, Academia and Management to Aruna Roy, social and political activist, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on October 1, 2010. The award carries a prize of Rs. 5 lakh, a plaque and a citation stating that the award was conferred on Roy for her “arduous journey and dedication towards the issue of the common man.” The award recognises Roy's efforts that helped ensure the passage of the Right to Information Act and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (renamed as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) by Parliament in 2005.

• Born in Chennai in 1946, Roy is a member of the second National Advisory Council, set up by the Central government to advise it on social policies, and the Central Employment Guarantee Council, an advisory body to oversee the implementation of the MGNREGA.

• Roy is also a founder member of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) and a member of the National Campaign for People's Right to Information, the National Alliance

of People's Movements and the People's Union for Civil Liberties.

• A post-graduate in English literature, she served as an officer of the Indian Administrative Service till 1975, when she resigned to join the Social Work and Research Centre set up by her husband in Tilonia, Rajasthan, and subsequently established the MKSS along with Shankar Singh and Nikhil Dey.

CSIR Young Scientist Awards conferred

• M. Mohammed Idris, Scientist at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) was conferred with the CSIR Young Scientist Award in biological sciences for the year 2010 by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on its foundation day on September 26, 2010. Idris is one of the seven recipients of the awards this year, given for outstanding contributions made by young CSIR scientists on work done primarily in India over the last five years. The award consists of a citation, a cash prize of Rs.50,000 and a plaque. A special grant of Rs.5-7 lakh per annum will also be sanctioned to the awardee for a period of five years. Following is the complete list of winners:

CSIR Young Scientist Award 2010: List of recipients

Biological Sciences: Dr M Mohammed Idris, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad & Dr Sudesh Kumar Yadav, Biotechnology Division, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur Chemical Sciences: Dr Kamalesh Prasad, Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar Engineering Sciences: Dr Sanjay Pandurang Kamble, Chemical Engineering and Process Development Division, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune & Dr Saptarshi Sasmal, Structural Engineering Research Centre, CSIR Campus, Chennai Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean & Planetary Sciences: Dr Ravi Prakash Srivastava, National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad & Dr Samir Ravikant Damare, Biological Oceanography Division, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa Physical Sciences: No award

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes awarded

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar 2010 Awards of the Ministry of Science and Technology were conferred on nine scientists in seven disciplines on the Council of Science & Industrial Research (CSIR) Foundation Day on September 26, 2010. The awards carry a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, a citation and a plaque. This year no Award is being given in the area of Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean & Planetary Sciences and Mathematical Sciences. Following is the list of awardees:


15

• Biological Sciences: Dr Sanjeev Galande from National Centre for Cell Science, Pune and Dr Shubha Tole from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai.

• Chemical Sciences: Dr Swapan K Pati from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNSASC), Bangalore and Dr Sandeep Verma from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.

• Engineering Sciences: Dr G K Ananthasuresh from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Dr Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay from Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata.

• Medical Sciences: Dr Mitali Mukerji from Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology (CSIR), Delhi

• Physical Sciences: Dr Umesh Vasudeo Waghmare from JNSASC, Bangalore and Dr Kalobaran Maiti from TIFR, Mumbai

• Among other awards announced were the CSIR Award for S & T Innovations for Rural Development – 2009 for Indian Oil Corporation R &D Centre, Faridabad for developing environment friendly, non-toxic, biodegradable ‘Servo Agro spray Oil’ for pest control in diverse agricultural crops.

Sangeet Natak Akademi fellowships conferred

• President Pratibha Patil presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships 2009 on September 28, 2010. The General Council of the Akademi also selected 33 personalities from the fields of music, dance, and theatre for the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the year 2009. The honour of Akademi Fellow carries a cash award of Rs. 3 lakh, while Akademi Award carries Rs.1 lakh, besides Tamrapatra’ and ‘Angavastram.’

Akademi Fellows • Renowned Hindustani vocalist Pandit Jasraj, veteran film actor Shreeram Lagoo, danseuse Yamini Krishnamurti,

Carnatic musician Lalgudi Jayaraman, theatre personality Kamlesh Dutt Tripathi and vocalist Kishori Amonkar were among six eminent personalities to be awarded with Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellows (Akademi Ratna). At present, there are only 32 Fellows of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Akademi Awards

• Music: Eight artists in the field of music selected for the award are — Abdul Rashid Khan and Vasundhara Komkali for Hindustani vocal, Lachman Singh Seen (Tabla) and Ali Ahmad Hussain (Shehnai) for Hindustani instrumental music, Parassala B. Ponnammal for Carnatic vocal, U. Srinivas (Mandolin), Dandamudi Sumathi Rama Mohan Rao (Mridangam) for Carnatic instrumental music and L. Ibohalmacha Singh (Nata Sankirtana) for Other Major Traditions of Music.

• Dance: In the field of dance, Ananda Shankar Jayant (Bharatanatyam), Prerana Shrimali (Kathak), Kalamandalam Rajan (Kathakali), L. Bino Devi (Manipuri), Geeta Mahalik (Odissi), Vyjayanathi Kashi (Kuchipudi), Daksha Sheth (creative and experimental dance) and Kala Krishna (other major traditions of dance -Andhranatyam) have been selected.

• Theatre: In the field of theatre, the awardees are Shankar Narayan Navre (Marathi) and Vayala Vasudevan Pillai (Malayalam) for playwriting, Sudha Shivpuri and Neeta Mohindra for Acting, and Joy Michael and Dinesh Thakur for direction.

• Allied theatre arts: In allied theatre arts, Kamal Arora (make-up) and Kuldeep Singh (music for theatre) were selected. Musafir Ram Bhardwaj, Folk Dance (Himachal Pradesh); Vilayat Khan Ragi, Dhadhi Folk Music (Punjab), U.K. Kunjirama Panicker, Tneyyam (Kerala), Jaganath Behera, Pala (Orissa), Shanti Jain, folk music (Bihar), Vithal Gangaram Umap, folk theatre (Maharashtra) and Bhikhudan Govindbhai Gadhvi, folk music (Gujarat) have also been selected for the award.

• Moinul Haque was selected for contribution to mime.

• Leela Venkataraman was awarded for her overall contribution in performing arts.

Mother Teresa Award conferred on M.S. Swaminathan: M.S. Swaminathan, agricultural scientist and chairman of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, was on October 1, 2010 conferred the second Mother Teresa Memorial Award instituted by the Indian Development Foundation (IDF), a Non- Governmental Organisation working with leprosy patients, in Chennai.


16

WORLD 2010 Right Livelihood Award winners announced

• Activists from Nepal, Nigeria, Brazil and Israel were named the winners on September 30, 2010 of 2010 Right Livelihood Award, also known as the “Alternative Nobel,” for work that includes fighting to save the Amazon rain forest and bringing health care to Palestinians cut off from services. The recipients will split $270,000 cash award founded by Swedish-German philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull in 1980 to recognise work he felt was being ignored by the Nobel Prizes. The awards will be presented to the four recipients in a ceremony at Swedish Parliament on December 6. The awardees are as follows:

• Nigeria’s Nnimmo Bassey, 42, chairman of Friends of the Earth International and director of Environmental Rights Action in Nigeria, was honoured for standing up “against the practices of multinational corporations in his country and the environmental devastation they leave behind.”

• Catholic Bishop Erwin Kraeutler, 71, was honoured for his “lifetime of work for the human and environmental rights of indigenous peoples” in Brazil and for his “tireless efforts to save the Amazon forest from destruction.”

• Shrikrishna Upadhyay, 65, was honoured for his persistent fight against poverty in Nepal, “even when threatened by political violence and instability.” Upadhyay founded the organisation Support Activities for Poor Producers of Nepal, through which he has helped build hundreds of water systems, rural roads and schools in 12 districts in Nepal.

• The organisation Physicians for Human Rights of Israel was honoured for its “indomitable spirit in working for the right to health for all people in Israel and Palestine.” The PHRIA, which was founded in 1988, uses mobile clinics to bring health services to Israelis and Palestinians.

• Pakistani soldier sets Guinness world record for tree planting: A soldier of the Pakistani Army set a Guinness world record on September 29, 2010 by planting the most number of tress in a single day. Muhammad Yousuf Jamil, Lance Naik in the Pakistani Army, successfully planted 20,101 saplings in 24 hours in the Pakistani eastern city of Gujranwala, breaking the previous world record which was set by Ken Chaplin, a Canadian citizen in 2001. Chaplin planted 15,170 red pine seedlings in a day near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada on June 30, 2001. In July 2009, Pakistan already received a certificate from the Guinness Book acknowledging the planting of as many as 5,41,176 mangrove tree saplings by a team of some 300 volunteers in a day on 800 acres of land at Keti Bunder, Thatta district, in Pakistan's southern province of Sindh.


17


Newsmakers Noted economist Arjun Sengupta passes away

• Dr Arjun Kumar Sengupta, a developmental economist and Member of the Rajya Sabha, passed away at the age of 73 on September 26, 2010. Sengupta has had a distinguished and multi-faceted career as an academician, economic policy administrator and Parliamentarian. After completing his Ph.D from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he taught at the London School of Economics and the Delhi School of Economics. He was Special Secretary (Economic Advisor) to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during 1981-84.

• Sengupta worked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Washington DC as Executive Director for India, Bangladesh and Bhutan and as Special Advisor to the IMF Managing Director during 1985-90.

• He served as India’s Ambassador to the European Union, 1990-93.

• During 1993-98 he served as Member and Member Secretary of the Planning Commission.

• He was appointed Chairman of the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS) in 2004. The Commission’s voluminous report is one of the most comprehensive documents on the condition of unorganised workers in India. Its recommendations on social security led to the enactment of the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008.

• He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in August 2005. As an MP, he served on several important committees, including the Committee on External Affairs, the Committee on Labour, and the Committee on Public Undertakings.

• He was also the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi, and served as the chairperson of several other academic institutions.

• He is the author of books such as ‘Reflections On The Right To Development’ (co-authored with Archana Negi & Moushumi Basu), ‘Commodities, Finance And Trade: North/ South Negotiating Process – Studies In The New International Economic Order’, ‘Reforms, Equity And The IMF : An Economist's World’ and ‘Report On Conditions Of Work And Promotion Of Livelihoods In The Unorganised Sector’.

• Mukesh Ambani is the richest Indian at $27 bn in Forbes list: Mukesh Ambani is India's richest man, with a net worth of $27 billion (Rs 1,20,980 crore), according to the Forbes India magazine’s Rich List for 2010 unveiled on October 1, 2010. ArcelorMittal’s London-based chairman Lakshmi Mittal was second richest, with $26.1 billion this year. Wipro chairman Azim Premji ranked third, with net worth of $17.6 billion while brothers Shashi and Ravi Ruia of the Essar Group are in the fourth position with $15 billion. Savitri Jindal ($14.4 billion) of the Jindal Group, ranked fifth, was the only woman to make it to the top 10. Jindal is followed by Anil Ambani ($13.3 billion)i, Gautam Adani ($10.7 billion) of Adani Group, Kushal Pal Singh ($9.2 billion) of DLF, Sunil Bharti Mittal ($8.6 billion) of Bharti Airtel and Kumar Mangalam Birla ($8.5 billion) of Aditya Vikram Birla group. The collective net worth of the 100 wealthiest Indians is estimated at $300 billion ($276 billion in 2009). The number of billionaires in the rich list has gone up to 69 from 52 in 2009.

• R. S. Butola appointed new Chairman of IOC: Managing Director of the State-run ONGC Videsh (OVL), Ranbir

Singh Butola was on October 29, 2010 selected as the new Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), nation's largest refining and fuel marketing firm, by the Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB). The PESB also approved the appointment of R. K. Singh for the post of Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. Butola, during his tenure at ONGC Videsh, is credited with giving India a standing in the global oil scene with


18

acquisitions such as Russia-focused Imperial Energy, oil and gas assets in Venezuela, the Russian asset of Sakhalin and the latest bid to buy BP stake in a Vietnam project. The post of IOC chairman fell vacant after the government declined an extension of service to Sarthak Behuria till his superannuation age of 60 in 2012.

• U.K. Sinha appointed Chairman of AMFI: UTI Asset Management Company Chairman and MD, U.K. Sinha, was on September 28, 2010 appointed as the Chairman of the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), an industry association of the mutual funds. HDFC MF Managing Director, Milind Barve was elected as the Vice-Chairman of AMFI. Sinha takes over the reigns from Mr A.P. Kurian, who held the post since the formation of AMFI in 1995. In February, AMFI had appointed H.N. Sinor as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

• Rajiv Kumar appointed director general of FICCI: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on September 30, 2010 announced the appointment of Rajiv Kumar, former Director & CEO of Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), as its Director General, a newly created post. In his new role, Kumar will “assist” FICCI Secretary General Amit Mitra in areas with a macroeconomic and international trade focus.

• Anup Sankar Bhattacharya takes over as new CMD of Bank of Maharashtra: Anup Sankar Bhattacharya on October 1, 2010, took over as the new Chairman and Managing Director of Bank of Maharashtra. Prior to this, he was Executive Director of Indian Bank, according to a press release issued on Friday.

• Harsh Chitale appointed new CEO of HCL Infosystems: IT company HCL Infosystems on October 1, 2010

appointed Harsh Chitale as Chief Executive Officer of the company taking over from Ajay Chowdhry, who would continue to be the Chairman.

• L. Radhakrishnan appointed JNPT Chairman: The Union Government on September 27, 2010 appointed L.

Radhakrishnan, Principal Secretary to the Government, Power Department, Government of Kerala, as Chairman, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust for a period of five years.

• ELCINA industry awards recognise excellence: ELCINA, the Electronic Industries Association of India, handed out awards across seven categories for excellence in electronics hardware manufacturing and services during the 35th annual presentation ceremony on September 26, 2010. Ajay Chowdhry, chairman and CEO, HCL Infosystems Ltd, won the award for Electronics Man of the Year.

• ‘Indra Nooyi is Most Powerful Woman in US Business’ – Fortune: PepsiCo Inc chief Indra Nooyi is the most powerful woman in US business for the fifth year in a row, Fortune magazine said on September 29, 2010. The second most powerful businesswoman was Kraft Foods Chief Executive Irene Rosenfeld, number three was Archer Daniels Midland Chief Executive Patricia Woertz, followed by Wellpoint Chief Executive Angela Braly. Avon Products’ Andrea Jung came in at number five, while media mogul and talk show host Oprah Winfrey was the sixth most powerful businesswoman, followed by DuPont CEO Ellen Kullman and IBM Senior VP Ginni Rometty. The most powerful list ranked women in businesses on the size and importance of the business in the global economy, the health and direction of the business, the arc of the woman’s career, her social and cultural relevance.

• Leo Apotheker appointed new CEO of Hewlett Packard: Hewlett Packard (HP) has named Leo Apotheker, former CEO of business software maker SAP, as its new chief executive officer and president from November 1, 2010. He succeeds Cathie Lesjak, who served as the company's interim CEO since August 6, following the abrupt departure of former CEO Mark Hurd who had stepped down from his positions as president and CEO after an investigation into claims made against him by a former HP contractor. HP has also named Ray Lane, of venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, as non-executive chairman.


19

News round up India’s current account deficit at $13.7 billion in April-June 2010

• India’s current account deficit widened to $13.7 billion in the first quarter (April-June 2010) of 2010-11, from $4.5 billion in the same period last year, according to the Balance of Payments data released by the Reserve Bank of India on September 30, 2010.

• Both exports and imports increased during this period. Exports recorded a growth of 37.2 per cent to $53.7 billion. Imports grew by 35.7 per cent to $87.9 billion. This resulted in a trade deficit (exports minus imports) of $34.2 billion, which was higher than last year's deficit of $25.6 billion.

• Invisible payments grew by 35.5 per cent to $22.3 billion ($16.4

billion). As against this, invisible receipts grew by 13.6 per cent to $42.7 billion ($37.6 billion). As a result, net invisibles (invisible receipts minus invisible payments) recorded a decline of 3.4 per cent to $20.5 billion ($21.2 billion). Growth in invisible payments were higher in the first quarter because of increased payments under investment income and larger payments on account of travel, transportation, business and financial services.

• Current Account Balance = Trade Balance + Net Invisibles = – $34.2 billion + $20.5 billion = – $13.7 billion. A negative current account balance means Current Account Deficit

India's Balance of Payments (US$ billion) Item April-March April-June

2008-09 2009-10 (P) 2009-10 2010-11( P) 1. Exports 189.0 182.2 39.2 53.7 2. Imports 307.7 299.5 64.8 87.9 3. Trade Balance (1-2) -118.7 -117.3 -25.6 -34.2 4. Net Invisibles 89.9 78.9 21.2 20.5 5. Current Account Balance (3+4) -28.7 -38.4 -4.5 -13.7 Source: RBI, September 30, 2010 P: Preliminary

Aadhaar project launched nationally from Maharashtra’s Tembhali village

• Ranjna Sadashiv Sonwane, a tribal woman from Tembhali village in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra became the first recipient of the Aadhaar number of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) when she received the Aadhaar letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on September 29, 2010, the day the initiative was launched nationally. Tembhali village also became India’s first Aadhaar-gram – the first region in the country to have enrolled all its residents for the Aadhaar number.

• Chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Nandan Nilekani, mentioned the significance of the Aadhaar number for the millions of residents who still do not have any form of identification. “Today many people in this country do not possess any form of identification. The Aadhaar number will be able to fill this void.”

• The focus of the Aadhaar number is on giving the poor and marginalized in India their first clear, easily verifiable, mobile identity. The small, largely tribal village of Tembhali is in one of Maharashtra’s most remote districts. Many residents here migrate seasonally to Gujarat as well as to Mumbai for work to supplement their incomes. The Aadhaar number gives the people their first mobile identification, which they can use anywhere in the country, with any agency, to prove their identity.


20

Pension scheme ‘Swavalamban’ for unorganised sector launched

• The Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee formally launched Life Insurance Corporation's Swavalamban, a pension scheme for the unorganised sector, on September 26, 2010, at Murshidabad district in West Bengal. The scheme is applicable to all the citizens under the unorganised sector, who join the new pension scheme (NPS) subject to their meeting the eligibility criteria.

• Under this scheme, Central Government will contribute Rs 1,000 per year to each NPS account opened in the year 2010 -11 and for the next three years, i.e., 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. To be eligible, a person will have to make a minimum contribution of Rs 1,000 and

maximum contribution of Rs 12,000 per annum. All NPS accounts opened in the year 2009-10 will also be entitled to the benefit of Swavalamban.

• The finance minister had already allocated Rs 100 crore for this scheme in the budget for 2010-11. The scheme will be managed by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority of India (PFRDA). A person will have the option to join the NPS as an individual as per the existing scheme or through the CRA Lite approved by the PFRDA.

RBI widens ambit of business correspondents, includes for-profit firms RBI has allowed for-profit companies to act as business correspondents; NBFCs excluded

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on September 28, 2010 announced through a notice on its website that it would allow companies, along with individuals, non-governmental organizations, cooperative societies and post offices to work as business correspondents (BCs) for banks. It barred non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) from doing so. The move would enable companies with vast dealer network and points of presence to become BCs. NBFCs have been excluded as the RBI saw a conflict of interest in case of deposit-taking NBFCs acting as BCs as they are engaged in the same business.

• What are business correspondents: BCs are retail agents engaged by banks for providing banking services at locations other than a bank branch or ATM. They are permitted to identify borrowers, collect and process loan applications and verify customer information, monitor loans after sanction, disburse small loans and collect small value deposits. BCs help banks expand reach and offer

a limited range of services at low cost. They typically provide services in remote areas, where setting up a branch is not cost effective. By allowing large companies with organised retail networks to become BCs, the central bank hopes to rapidly scale up the reach of financial services to people, who otherwise find themselves excluded.

• Promoting financial inclusion: The RBI move to widen the ambit of BC will both deepen and broaden financial inclusion. More than half the population still remains out of reach of a formal credit structure. RBI wants business correspondents to reach two-thirds of the country’s 100,000 villages that have no access to banking services. It recommended the BC model as a cost-effective alternative to the brick-and-mortar branch. The main targets include those without easy access to a bank branch.

Rules governing BCs

• The RBI has prohibited BCs from charging any fee to the customers directly for services rendered by them on behalf of the bank. The banks (and not BCs) are permitted to collect reasonable service charges from the customers in a transparent manner. Banks may decide on a reasonable commission to be paid to a business correspondent.

• Banks will have to conduct due diligence on individuals and entities to be engaged as BCs based on its reputation or market standing, financial soundness, management, cash-handling ability and ability to implement technology solutions in rendering financial services.

• While BCs can work on behalf of more than one bank, a retail outlet or sub-agent of a BC will have to represent only one bank.


21

Govt eases FDI norms for wholesale trading, NBFCs

• The government has eased the foreign direct investment norms for sectors like wholesale cash-and-carry trading, non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) and certain segments of animal husbandry, besides bringing about procedural simplifications, in its Consolidated Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy unveiled on September 30, 2010. At the same time, FDI norms have been tightened in case of foreign tobacco product manufacturers and the real estate sector.

• NBFCs: Non-banking finance companies (NBFC) with 100% FDI will now be allowed to set up subsidiaries in India without bringing in additional FDI. They can fund these ventures through internal accruals.

• Wholesale cash-and-carry: Under the new Policy, the condition the retailers have to use items bought from group wholesaler for internal consumption has been done away with. Retailers will not be allowed to sell to end-consumers products sourced from group wholesaler companies set up in JV with foreign firms. Earlier, wholesale cash-and-carry companies were allowed to sell to retailer of the same group, up to 25 per cent of its total turnover. The retailers were, however, not allowed to resell it to end-consumers. Bharti Retail, for instance, can now sell goods sourced from Bharti-Walmart at its stores.

• Tobacco: The Policy, which would be effective from October 1, has formally included manufacture and marketing of tobacco products in the list of activities in which FDI is prohibited.

• Real estate: In case of the real estate sector, the government has ruled out any relaxation in the three-year lock-in criteria. At present, 100 per cent FDI is permitted in real estate projects in India.

Consolidated FDI Policy: Highlights

• 100% foreign owned NBFCs allowed to set up subsidiaries without requiring to bring additional capital • Retailers can now sell to end consumers products bought from wholesalers with FDI • Tobacco products brought under list of prohibited products under FDI • Three year lock-in period for FDI in real estate will continue

Govt. asks PSBs to cap MFI interest rates at 24%

• The Union finance ministry on September 28, 2010 asked Public Sector Banks (PSBs) to ensure that micro-finance institutions (MFIs) do not charge a loan rate of above 24 per cent from their borrowers. The objective is to stop MFIs from charging usurious rates. Since microfinanciers take loans from banks and lend it to customers at rates as high as 36 per cent, the government is now insisting that PSBs ask MFIs to cap their lending rates in the range of 20-24 per cent as a precondition to access bank finance.

• MFIs usually provide financial services in un-banked areas, lending mainly to rural customers. While the banks charge interest rates in the range of 9-14 per cent on loans given to MFIs, some MFIs in turn charge as much as 36 per cent from their clients.

• Under the current norms, banks need to give loans to farmers and small-scale industries to the extent of 40 per cent of their loan book, which comes under the category of priority sector lending. When they fall short of the target, banks give loans to MFIs as they are also considered part of priority sector loans. There are about 800 registered MFIs in India. SKS Microfinance Ltd, the largest micro financier in the country, disbursed loans of over Rs 14,000 crore till March to nearly seven million borrowers.

Finance Minister unveils Budget Manual

• Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee released the first Budget Manual of the Union Government on September 28, 2010. The Manual attempts to outline the entire chain of events leading to the Union Budget.

• Objective: The purpose of the manual is to provide guidance and a training tool for the officers and staff engaged in the Budget preparation, not only in the Finance Ministry but in other Ministries/Departments as well. It is also expected to act as a good reference document for interested readers and stakeholders.

• What the manual contains: The core sections of the Manual explain the entire chain of activities related to Budget preparation right from the issue of Budget Circular in September to the Budget Day in February, including the


22

processes of estimation of receipts and expenditure, their firming-up and finalization through the Pre-Budget Meetings and their compilation. The comprehensive calendar of Budget related activities and their timelines has also been brought out. Finally the Manual deals with the Implementation and Reporting of various Budget announcements.

• History of Budget: Budget was first introduced in April, 1860, two years after the transfer of Indian administration from East-India Company to British Crown. The first Finance Member, who presented the Budget, was James Wilson. After Independence, India’s first Finance Minister, Shanmukham Chetty, presented the first budget of independent India on November, 26, 1947.

SC rejects Vodafone plea on capital gains tax demands

• The Supreme Court on September 28, 2010 rejected the plea of Vodafone International Holdings BV to stay a Bombay High Court judgement in a dispute over capital gains tax demands. The income-tax department had issued a notice to Vodafone, asking it to pay over Rs 12,000 crore in capital gains tax and interest for the acquisition of 67% stake in Hutch Essar from Hong Kong-based Hutchinson Telecom International in 2007.

• Vodafone argues that the deal was between two overseas companies. The government maintains that assets in this country were involved, though the deal was signed in tax havens abroad, and therefore the tax department has jurisdiction in the matter.

• Vodafone had contested the I-T department’s claim in the HC. The HC had upheld the stand taken by the income-tax department. The Supreme Court order stated that Vodafone would

have to deposit half of the demand for Rs 12,000 crore beforehand if it wanted a stay on the HC judgement. The SC also issued notice to the income-tax to come up with the exact figures of the foreign company’s liability.

• Govt. unveils Rs. 17,000 crore plan to link all North-East capitals by rail: The Union government on September

29, 2010 announced a Rs. 17,000-crore mega initiative to link all State capitals in the North East region by rail. Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) B.K. Handique said the Railways would complete the project by 2016, provided the State governments ensure early handing over of land. The project was proposed in the Vision Document 2020, a blueprint for overall development of the region, released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2008. Currently, the rail network is available in the entire Assam and some parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. A meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC), attended by Chief Ministers and Governors of the North-Eastern States, also sanctioned a Rs. 700-crore annual plan for the NEC.

• Government reduces levy sugar obligation to 10%: The Union government on September 29, 2010 announced a reduction in the levy obligation on the sugar industry from 20 to 10 per cent from October for 2010-11 season. The government had raised the percentage of levy sugar to 20 per cent in 2009-10 in the wake of low production. Under the current levy mechanism, sugar mills are required to sell 20 per cent of their produce to the Union government at Rs 1,800 a quintal (against an open market price of Rs 2,600-2,700 a quintal). This sugar is distributed to BPL families under the public distribution system (PDS).

• NCCF, CWC included in list of Central agencies procuring pulses, oilseeds: The Union Cabinet's Committee on

Economic Affairs on September 25, 2010 approved nomination of the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF), the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and other public sector undertakings and cooperatives as Central agencies for procurement of pulses and oilseeds in addition to the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).

• ADB raises India's GDP growth forecast to 8.5%: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) raised the 2010 economic growth forecast for India to 8.5 per cent, from 8.2 per cent estimated in April, in its Asian Development Outlook 2010 Update (ADO Update) released on September 29, 2010. The report listed vigorous investor enthusiasm and net capital inflows, an optimistic services sector and more robust industrial output, driven by increasing consumer demand as the reasons for the sustained economic growth. However, it warned that high inflation and an appreciating rupee could potentially weaken future robust expansion. The ADO Update retained the growth 2011 estimate at 8.7 per cent. Asia,

excluding Japan, is now projected to grow at 8.2 percent in 2010, faster than an April estimate of 7.5 per cent. For 2011, the growth forecast is at 7.3 per cent.


23

• SEBI to raise investment criteria for HNIs: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on September 27, 2010 said that it would raise the benchmark of minimum investments by investors for classification under high networth individuals (HNIs) category. Currently, HNIs are defined as those putting in a minimum of Rs 5 lakh for investment purposes with portfolio managers and venture capital funds.

• Public sector banks to have a common admission test: The government on September 28, 2010 accepted the recommendation of the A K Khandelwal committee to introduce a common recruitment programme for public sector banks (PSBs) that would be conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). The recommendations were earlier accepted by the Indian Banks Association (IBA). The move is expected to address the issue of manpower shortage in PSBs, which are planning to recruit around 34,000 officers and 51,000 clerical staff over the next three years.

• ‘India has 1.26 lakh High Networth Individuals’ – Merrill Lynch: The story of the rich Indian continues, with India adding around 50 per cent more High Networth Individuals (HNIs) to its population in year 2009. According to a 2010 Asia-Pacific Wealth report released by Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management and Capgemini on September 28, 2010, the total number of HNIs in India at the end of 2009 was 1,26,700 with a total networth of $477 billion. HNIs, in the report, are defined as individuals with at least $1 million in investable assets excluding their primary residence, collectibles, consumables, and consumer durables. The overall increase in Asia-Pacific HNI wealth was 30.9 per cent at $9.7 trillion. For the first time, the total wealth of HNIs in the Asia-Pacific region crossed that of Europe — $9.5 trillion.

• ICICI Bank opens first retail branch in Singapore: ICICI Bank on September 30, 2010 opened its first retail branch

in Singapore after it received the Full Banking Licence with Qualified Full Banking (QFB) privileges from the Monetary Authority of Singapore in April 2010. This licence allows ICICI Bank to start retail banking operations by offering fixed deposits, current and savings accounts and remittance services to India. Under the licence, the bank can open up to 25 outlets, including branches in Singapore. ICICI had started its Singapore operations in 2003 and was offering corporate banking services. Apart from ICICI Bank, State Bank of India is the only other Indian bank which has the permission to do retail business in Singapore. SBI had received QFB privileges two years ago.

• US engine to power Tejas light combat aircraft: General Electric of the US on October 01, 2010, bagged the $800-million tender to supply 99 engines for India’s Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA). After both engines in the contest — GE’s F-414 and Eurojet’s EJ-200 — were found technically suitable, the F-414 was declared the cheaper option by the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO).

• Shipping Corporation of India Golden Jubilee celebrated: The golden jubilee of the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), India’s first public sector undertaking in shipping was observed on Saturday, October 02, 2010. Founded on October 2, 1961 SCI has earned an international reputation as one of the top performers, providing its customers with world-class shipping solutions by employing a modern fleet of diverse fuel-efficient vessels. “Transporting Goods Transforming Lives” is the corporate slogan of SCI.

• Oil giants exit Iran under US pressure: The United States on September 30, 2010 said that energy

giants Total of France, Anglo-Dutch Shell, Norway's Statoil and Italy's Eni have pledged to end their investments in Iran. The pledges fall in line with tough new energy and financial measures the US Congress imposed on Iran in June. In the same month, the UN Security Council had imposed sanctions to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions.

• ONGC is the top advance taxpayer in 1

st half of 2010-11: ONGC has dislodged State Bank of India to emerge the

top advance taxpayer for the first half of 2010-11, according to the official data unveiled in September. ONGC's advance tax pay-out stood at Rs 3,481 crore, higher than SBI's Rs 2,793 crore. The latest Top 10 league has three private sector players - Reliance Industries, Infosys Technologies and ICICI Bank.

• Sandur Lambani embroidery gets GI tag: Karnataka's famous Sandur Lambani embroidery has in September 2010 included in the list of products with Geographic Indication (GI) tag in the country. With this registration, about 300 craftswomen of the Lambani tribe located in and around Sandur in Bellary district will benefit from the GI tag as


24

they can utilise this tag as a unique selling proposition in various marketing and advertising activities across the globe. With this, no other organisation or individual can sell the embroidery products under this name without registering them as authorised users.

• Reliance Big Entertainment ties up with Tom Hanks' Playtone: Reliance Big Entertainment (RBE), the flagship media and entertainment subsidiary of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, on October 1, 2010 announced a joint venture with Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s Playtone. RBE with Playtone will create Electric City – a multi-platform digital experience covering a multi-episode animated internet series, online social game and mobile application. Zapak, the gaming arm of

RBE, will spearhead and manage the whole project. It has over seven million registered gamers. It also owns the largest chain of dedicated gaming cafes in the country, as many as 100, in more than 40 cities.

• Ashok Leyland unveils India's first CNG hybrid bus: Ashok Leyland on October 1, 2010 unveiled India's first plug-

in CNG hybrid bus – Hybus – for use during Commonwealth Games. Two Hybuses will ply on Delhi roads and ferry VIPs to various Games venues. The latest in green technology for urban mass transportation, Hybus is greener than CNG and 20-30 per cent more fuel-efficient than a conventional bus.

• Unilever to buy Alberto for $3.7 bn: Unilever on September 27, 2010 agreed to buy Alberto Culver for $3.7 billion in

cash to add VO5 and Nexxus hair-care products in the company’s biggest purchase in a decade. • Corus gets Tata Steel name, logo: Tata Steel, one of the top 10 steel producers globally, said that its UK-based

subsidiary and Europe's second largest steel producer, Corus, has changed its name to Tata Steel on September 27, 2010. The Tata Steel name and logo will begin to appear on the company's transactional documents, product deliveries, locations and vehicles. Corus joined the Tata Steel family in April 2007 in a transaction that created one of the world’s largest steelmakers,with a major presence in Europe as well as Asia.

Recent Books Book Author Mao’s Great Famine: The History of China’s Devastating Catastrophe, 1958-62 Frank Dikötter The Secret Lives Of The Dalai Lama: Holder Of The White Lotus Alexander Norman First Draft: Witness to the Making of Modern India BG Verghese From Green to Evergreen Revolution – Indian Agriculture: Performance and Challenges Dr. M.S. Swaminathan India-Pakistan – Coming to Terms Ashutosh Misra South Asia At A Crossroads

Subrata Ghoshroy & Götz Neuneck

MI6: The History of the Secret Intelligence Service 1909-1949 Professor Keith Jeffery Churchill's Secret War - The British Empire and the Ravaging of India During World War II Madhusree Mukerjee Revolution Highway Dilip Simeon The Poor Half Billion in South Asia Ejaz Ghani Human Rights and Armed Forces in Low Intensity Conflicts K. S. Sheoran Settlers, Saints and Sovereigns - An Ethnography of State Formation in Western India Farhana Ibrahim Social Responsibility and Environmental Sustainability in Business Preeta M. Banerjee, Vanita

Shastri Global Risk/ Global Opportunity: Ten Essential Tools for Tracking Minds, Markets & Money

Shlomo Maital and D. V. R. Seshadri

India's Silicon Plateau - Development Of Information And Communication Technology In Bangalore

R.C. Mascarenhas

Taking Social Development Seriously - The Experience of Sri Lanka Laksini Jayasuriya The World According to Monsanto - Pollution, Politics and Power Marie-Monique Robin Mumbai Political Economy of Crime and Space Abdul Shaban


25

Section E: SPORTS

Newsmakers N. Srinivasan elected President of BCCI

• India Cements managing director and BCCI Secretary N. Srinivasan was elected President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at the annual general meeting (AGM) organised in Mumbai on September 29, 2010. He will take over as President when the term of the incumbent Shashank Manohar ends. Other changes and appointments announced are as follows:

IPL Governing Council • The AGM officially appointed interim Chairman, Chirayu Amin, as Chairman of the

Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council. Earlier, former IPL Chairman was Lalit Modi was removed from all his positions held in the BCCI.

• Several changes have been made to the composition of the Council. The term of the members has been reduced from five years to one. Also there will be only two former cricketers in the council compared to the previous three members. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has been dropped from the Council that also has Ravi Shastri and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. Gavaskar, Shastri and Pataudi used to receive a salary of Rs 1 crore per year. The board has decided that members will not be paid anymore. All

members will now be honorary members. Shastri has agreed to continue in honorary capacity while Pataudi is unlikely to continue.

Other BCCI office Bearers

• Former India captain and leg-spinner Anil Kumble will be the new Chairman of the Bangalore-based National Cricket Academy, replacing Shastri. Another former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar will be the Chairman of the Cricket Development Committee.

• Venkat Sundaram has been retained as the Chairman of the Ground & Pitches Committee. Sunil Gavaskar has been retained as the Chairman of the BCCI Technical Committee.

• The term of the Senior National Selection Committee, which has Krishnamachari Srikkanth as its Chairman, has been extended by a year. Yashpal Sharma, Narendra Hirwani, Surendra Bhave and Raja Venkat are other members.

Legal matters

• In other major development, the BCCI withdrew the fund embezzlement case against the former BCCI president, Jagmohan Dalmiya, in the Mumbai High Court. Dalmiya was barred from holding any BCCI post in 2006. The 70-year-old Dalmiya — a former ICC chief — played a crucial role in promoting cricket as a global sport.

• The BCCI also decided to send show-cause notices to Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals and the franchisee from Kochi over financial and ownership issues.

• Sehwag named ICC brand ambassador: Indian batsman Virender Sehwag was on September 29, 2010 chosen by the International Cricket Council as its ambassadors for the year 2010-11. In all, the ICC has chosen five ambassadors, including Australian umpire Simon Taufel, for a one-year period during which its flagship event ODI World Cup will be held jointly by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, England's World Twenty20 winning captain Paul Collingwood, Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke are the other ambassadors.

• Zorain Khan breaks record for highest 1st

class cricket score: 15-year-old batsman Ali Zorain Khan of Nagpur scored 461 not out off 306 balls in a three-day match of an inter-academy tournament organised by the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) in Nagpur on October 2, 2010. Khan, batting for the Nagpur Cricket Academy against Reshimbagh Gymkhana, Mumbai, broke the 62-year old record for the highest individual score in an inning in first class cricket held by BB Nimbhalkar, who scored an unbeaten 443 runs during a first-class match between Maharashtra vs Kathiawar at Pune in 1948.


26

• Troy Cooley appointed Head Coach of Cricket Australia: Australian bowling coach Troy Cooley on September 27,

2010 succeeded Greg Chappell as the head coach of Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane. Chappell has now become the National Talent manager and is based in Melbourne.

• Pak team manager Yawar Saeed quits: Karachi : Scandal-hit Pakistan’s cricket team's manager Yawar Saeed on September 27, 2010 stepped down from his post after returning from the controversial tour of England, which was marred by spot-fixing allegations.

• Lionel Messi receives Goldon Boot award: Argentina and Barcelona football club player Lionel Messi received the Golden Boot award as last season's top scorer in Europe's domestic leagues on October 1, 2010 in Barcelona. The 23-year-old Argentina striker's 34 La Liga goals made him a clear winner ahead of Chelsea's Didier Drogba (plays in English Premier League) and Udinese's Antonio Di Natale (plays in Italy’s Serie A), who both achieved 29. Messi has also won the FIFA Player of the Year 2009 award.

• Ilyumzhinov re-elected as FIDE President: Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who is also president of Kalmykia, an autonomous Republic in Russia, was re-elected as president of FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs or World Chess Federation) on September 29, 2010 in Moscow. Ilyumzhinov won the clear backing of a majority of the world's 160 chess federations when he defeated former world Chess champion and fellow Russian Anatoly Karpov by 95 votes to 65.

• Yashvir chosen as FILA coach of the year: World champion wrestler Sushil Kumar's coach Yashvir Singh was on September 30, 2010 chosen by the International Wrestling Federation (FILA) as the Coach of the Year 2010. Yashvir is the first Indian to be selected for the prestigious award. He will be honoured during the Freestyle 2010 Advanced School of Coaches programme, in Murcia (Spain) in December.

• Kalpana Devi wins India’s first ever world championship medal in Judo: Kalpana Devi Thoudam has become the first Indian judoka to clinch a World Cup medal by grabbing a bronze in the below 52kg category at the just-concluded edition in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on September 26, 2010. The World Cup is the official event of the International Judo Federation and one of the Olympic Qualifying events.

• 'Stumpy' is the mascot of 2011 Cricket World Cup: The International Cricket Council in August 2010 selected 'Stumpy' the elephant as the mascot of the 2011 Cricket World Cup. ICC named the elephant after conducting an online competition to suggest names for the mascot. The first match of the 50-50 World Cup will be played in Dhaka, Bangladesh on February 19 next year and the final is scheduled to be held in Mumbai on April 2.

• Tour de France champion Contador tests positive, suspended: 27 year old three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador of Spain tested positive for a banned stimulant while winning this year's race and was suspended by the cycling's governing body, the International Cycling Union (UCI), on September 30, 2010. A World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited lab in Cologne, Germany, found a “very small concentration” of clenbuterol in Contador's urine sample on July 21 at the Tour, according to a statement from the UCI.

News round up

• Airtel India-Australia cricket series trophy unveiled: Bharti Airtel, the title sponsor of the India-Australia cricket series tournament, on September 30, 2010 unveiled the trophy to be given to the winner of the series. The glittering trophy has been designed by Frazer and Haws in silver with 24 karat gold plating. Bharti Airtel has been awarded the series sponsorship rights by the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) for all international cricket matches to be played in India till 2013. The first test match is scheduled from 1-5 October in Mohali.

• East Bengal enters Federation Cup final: Defending champion East Bengal beat Churchill Brothers of Goa by a solitary goal in the first semifinal of the Federation Cup at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on September 29, 2010. Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey scored the only goal for the winning team.

• Mohun Bagan beats Dempo to enter Federation Cup final: Mohun Bagan entered the final of the Federation Cup beating Dempo SC of Goa 6-4 via tie-breaker in the second semifinal at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on September 30, 2010. The teams were tied 1-1 after 120 minutes. Dempo's Nigerian striker Ranti Martins scored the first goal of the match. Bagan’s Nigerian striker Edeh Chidi scored the equaliser in the 66th minute.


27

Voices of the Week

“The judgment is not a win or loss for anybody. We invite everybody, including Muslims, to help build the temple.” – Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghachalak, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, on Ayodhya verdict

“HC’s formula of one-third land is not acceptable to the Wakf Board and it will appeal...The judgment is not only partly disappointing but also against settled principles of law.” – Zafaryab Jilani, Counsel, Sunni Wakf Board

“This is panchayati justice which takes away the legal rights of Muslims and converts the moral sentimental entitlements of Hindus into legal rights.”

– Rajeev Dhavan, senior advocate, on judgment delivered in the Ayodhya title suits

“We salute and welcome the judgment. It has now been established that the place where Ram’s idol was existing was the birthplace of the Lord. At last the faith of one billion Hindus that Lord Ram was born here was also endorsed by the judiciary.” – Pravin Togadia, Vishva Hindu Parishad

"Pakistan reaffirms its complete solidarity with the Kashmiri people, and urges the international community to persuade India to end its repression in Kashmir" – Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistan Foreign Minister, at the UN General Assembly

“Such unsolicited and untenable remarks will not and, indeed, cannot direct attention from the multiple problems Pakistan needs to tackle for the common good of its people and indeed of the entire region,”

– S.M. Krishna, External Affairs Minister, slamming Pak Foreign Minister S. M. Qureshi for raking up the Kashmir issue

“The war on Naxals is a conspiracy to acquire their ancestral land for industrial use. The deployment of security forces in the Naxal-affected States is a violation of the Human Rights Act.” – Arundhati Roy, writer-activist

"I still maintain that a long term development alone can solve the Naxal problem. The development activities should be aimed at ending the exploitation of the rural, poor and tribal people." –Nitish Kumar, Bihar chief minister

“I reassure you that the Iraqi security forces are capable of taking full responsibility” – Nouri al-Maliki, Iraq’s Prime Minister, on the end of combat operations by US troops in Iraq

“A true peace, a lasting peace, (would) be achieved only with mutual and painful concessions from both sides.” – Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, on settlement of dispute with Palestinians

"I think we are getting dominated by our guests. I have also been to number of countries and there have been times when the arrangements were not very good but we never made such a fuss out of it."

– Milkha Singh, former athlete and Asian Games gold medallist, on foreign athletes’ complaints about the living conditions at the Commonwealth Games Village

“That was unacceptable. Hygiene has no nationality. It's same all over the world.” – Michael Fennell, Commonwealth Games Federation chief, rubbishing CWG Organising Committee Secretary-General Lalit Bhanot's view that the other nations' standard of hygiene is different from that of India

Current GK

GJ Tutorial For the Week: September 26 to Oct 2, 2010

1

General Awareness Test For the week: September 26 to October 2, 2010

No of questions: 100 Answers marked by * Explanatory answer after each question 1. Who was selected for the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for the year 2009 recently? a) B. Narasimha Reddy b) L.V. Prasad c) D. Ramanaidu* d) B. Nagi Reddy e) Akkineni Nageswara Rao Answer 1: Veteran Telugu film producer Dr. Daggubati Ramanaidu, who holds the Guinness Record for making the most number of films, was on September 8, 2010 selected for the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award for the year 2009.

Ramanaidu, who is also an actor and a politician, had made 135 films in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Oriya, Assamese, Bhojpuri, Malayalam, Marathi and Bengali, several of them runaway commercial hits.

Born in Karamchedu in Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh in 1936, Dr. Ramanaidu entered the film world in 1963 with his first film ‗Anuragam‘.

Dr. Ramanaidu has won various laurels for his films. ‗Asukh‘, a Bengali film won the ‗National Award for the Best Film‘ in 1999.

Telugu film ‗Hope‘ in which Ramanaidu acted in the lead role won the national award in the Best Feature Film on Social Issues category in 2008.

He entered politics by joining the Telugu Desam and became an MP from the Bapatla in 1999. He contested from the same constituency in 2004 but lost to D. Purandeswari. Vasiraju Prakasham has authored his biography titled ‗Chalana Chitra Chakravarthi‘ (‗The Emperor of Movies‘).

The producer is the fifth personality from the Telugu film industry to win the Phalke award. Veteran director B. Narasimha Reddy won the award in 1974, film-maker L.V. Prasad in 1982, producer B. Nagi Reddy in 1986 and actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao in 1990. 2. Which of the following combinations of recent books and their authors is/are correctly matched? I. ‗Relations of NDA and UPA with Neighbours‘ – Rajkumar Singh II. ‗Lost People - An Analysis of Indian Poverty‘ – Krupakar Wasnik III. ‗From Shipbreaking to Sustainable Ship Recycling‘ – Tony George Puthucherril a) I only b) I and II only c) II and III only d) III and I only e) I, II and III* 3. Who was appointed as the new Central Vigilance Commissioner recently? a) T. N. Chaturvedi b) C. G. Somiah c) P. J. Thomas* d) Pratyush Sinha e) K. Santosh Hegde Answer 3: President Pratibha Patil administered the oath of office to the former Telecom Secretary, P.J. Thomas, as the 14

th Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) at a function held in the Rashtrapati Bhavan on

September 7, 2010. A 1973-batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, Thomas held the post of Telecom Secretary before his appointment as CVC. Thomas succeeded Pratyush Sinha who demitted office recently after a four-year tenure as the CVC.

Current GK


2

4. The ARJ21, an acronym for ―Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st Century,‖ is the first civilian aircraft being developed by which country? a) Japan b) China* c) Romania d) India e) Malaysia Answer 4: The ARJ21, an acronym for ―Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st Century,‖ is the first civilian aircraft being developed by the People's Republic of China. 5. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), which had a new Central Vigilance Commissioner appointed recently? I. The CVC was set up by the Government of India in 1964 II. Its establishment was based on the recommendations of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption, headed by K. Santhanam III. Nittoor Srinivasa Rau was the first Chief Vigilance Commissioner of India a) I only b) I and II only c) II and III only d) III and I only e) I, II and III* Answer 5: Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is an apex Indian governmental body created in 1964 to address governmental corruption.

It has the status of an autonomous body, free of control from any executive authority, charged with monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government of India, and advising various authorities in central Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.

It was set up by the Government of India in February, 1964 on the recommendations of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption, headed by K. Santhanam, to advise and guide Central Government agencies in the field of vigilance. Nittoor Srinivasa Rau, was selected as the first Chief Vigilance Commissioner of India.

The CVC is not an investigating agency, and it either gets the investigation done through the CBI or through the Departmental Chief Vigilance Officers. 6. Homi Sethna, who passed away recently, was known for his achievements in which of the following fields? a) Atomic Energy* b) Economics c) Missile technology d) Agricultural research e) Space programme Answer 6: An era in India‘s nuclear history has come to a close with the passing away of Homi Nusserwanji Sethna in Mumbai at the age of 87 on September 7, 2010.

Educated in Mumbai and the US, Sethna started his career at Imperial Chemical Industries in the U.K.

In 1959 he joined the Atomic Energy Establishment at Trombay, now the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), as Chief Scientific Officer.

Sethna later became the Director of BARC, a position he occupied from 1966 to 1972 and went on to become Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).

Dr. Sethna pioneered reprocessing technology in India and played a crucial role in the designing and setting up of the first plutonium separation plant at BARC. This plutonium went into the making of the

Current GK


3

nuclear device that was tested in on May 18, 1974 at Pokhran when Dr. Sethna was AEC Chairman, a position he served from 1972 to 1983.

Sethna received the Padma Vibhushan for organising Pokharan-I Test that India demonstrated its nuclear capability in May 1974. 7. Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia was appointed Chairperson of a government Committee for overseeing the implementation of drought mitigation strategies in the Bundelkhand region recently. Bundelkhand is a region comprising districts of which of the following states? a) Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan b) Rajasthan and Punjab c) Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan d) Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra e) Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh* Answer 7: Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia was on September 4, 2010 appointed Chairperson of a high-profile, representative Advisory Committee for overseeing the implementation of drought mitigation strategies in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

The government has approved a Rs. 766 crore-special package for drought mitigation in the region over a period of three years from 2009-10. The region comprises seven districts of Uttar Pradesh (Banda, Chitrakut, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur and Mahoba) and six districts of Madhya Pradesh (Chhatarpur, Damoh, Datia, Panna, Sagar and Tikamgarh).

Members of the committee include Ministers of State for Planning V. Narayanasamy and Union Minister of State for Rural Development Pradeep Kumar Jain ‗Aditya,‘ as also Planning Commission Members Abhijit Sen, Mihir Shah, B.K. Chaturvedi and, Member-Secretary Sudha Pillai. MPs from the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are the other members. 8. Who was in news for his recently released book ‗The March of Mobile Money: The Future of Lifestyle Management‘? a) Anil Ambani b) Sam Pitroda* c) Sunil Bharti Mittal d) Jairam Ramesh e) Nandan Nilekani Answer 8 ‗The March of Mobile Money: The Future of Lifestyle Management‘ is a recently released book co-authored by Sam Pitroda & Mehul Desai 9. The Madhava Menon award, conferred on Prof. Mizanur Rahman of Dhaka University recently, is given for achievements in which of the following? a) Medical education b) Science Education c) Management education d) Legal education* e) Engineering education Answer 9: Professor Mizanur Rahman, Faculty of Law, Dhaka University and Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh, was conferred the ―Professor N.R. Madhava Menon Best Law Teacher Award-2010‖ award in New Delhi on September 5, 2010. The awards given by the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) honours eminent law teachers from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region. September 5 is also celebrated as Law Teachers‘ Day.

Current GK


4

Following is the complete list of winners:

Award Winner

Professor N.R. Madhava Menon Best Law Teacher Award Prof. Mizanur Rahman, Faculty of Law, Dhaka University & Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh

Distinguished Law Teacher Award (posthumous) Professor S.P. Sathe, Director, ILS Law College, Pune

Distinguished Law Teacher Award (posthumous) Professor P.K. Tripathi, Dean, Faculty of Law, Delhi University

10. Which well known economist was in news for his recently released book ‗Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten The World Economy‘? a) Raghuram Rajan* b) Bimal Jalan c) Amartya Sen d) Kaushik Basu e) Rakesh Mohan 11. Who was conferred with the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Memorial Award 2010 by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry recently? a) Azim Premji b) K. V. Kamath c) Nandan Nilekani* d) Ratan Tata e) A. M. Naik Answer 11: The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) conferred the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Memorial Award 2010 to Nandan Nilakeni, Chairman, Unique Identification Authority of India on September 15, 2010. September 15 is the birthday of FKCCI founder and Nobel Laureate Sir M. Visvesvaraya. 12. Former Karnataka police chief, R. Srikumar and Chairman of Corporation Bank J.M. Garg were in news recently for their appointment as which of the following? a) Members of Planning Commission b) Advisors in Law Commission c) Members of National Advisory Council d) Commissioners in Central Vigilance Commission* e) Consultants in Indian Banks‘ Association Answer 12: The former Karnataka police chief, R. Srikumar, and Chairman of Corporation Bank J.M. Garg were on September 8, 2010 appointed Commissioners in the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). The Commission consists of a Central Vigilance Commissioner (Chairperson) and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners (Members). 13. Who among the following Justices of a High Court is facing impeachment on charges of financial regularities? a) Justice Dharam Veer Sharma b) Justice Soumitra Sen* c) Justice Vijender Kumar Jain d) Justice B Sudershan Reddy e) Justice Mukul Mudgal Answer 13: The three-member committee constituted by Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairperson Hamid Ansari to probe charges against Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court is learnt to have recommended Sen‘s impeachment.

Current GK


5

The committee comprising Supreme Court Justice B Sudershan Reddy, Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and jurist Fali S Nariman submitted its report to Ansari on September 11, 2010.

The committee had been constituted on March 20, 2009 to investigate the grounds on which the removal of Sen had been sought by members of the Rajya Sabha. Sen has not been performing judicial work for over two years.

The charges of financial regularities against Sen had been found to be true and merited his removal from judgeship. The committee is said to have refused to buy his argument that he should not be impeached as the irregularities committed by him dated back to the time when was just a lawyer and had not been elevated to the Bench. 14. Which of the following statements about caste census announced by the Union government recently is/are correct? a) Caste census will be conducted separately from population census b) Caste census will be conducted before population census c) Caste census will be conducted after population census d) Caste census and population census will be conducted simultaneously e) Both (a) and (c)* Answer 14: The Union government on September 9, 2010 decided to hold caste census next year under an exercise to be carried out separately from the enumeration of population. A separate house-to-house caste enumeration will be conducted as a separate exercise from the month of June 2011 and completed in a phased manner by September 2011 after the Population Enumeration phase (to be conducted in February-March 2011) of the Census 2011 is over. 16. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) is developing a system for communication system India that is similar to the Global Positioning System (GPS) of the U.S. What is it named? a) Indian Regional Satellite Positioning System b) Indian National Satellite Communication System c) Indian Global Positioning System d) Indian Ocean Navigation System e) Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System* Answer 16: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) intends to launch the first in a constellation of seven satellites envisaged for the ambitious Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) project, GPS‘ Indian counterpart, by the end of 2011. IRNSS, which will have a range of applications including personal navigation, will be India's answer to the U.S.-operated GPS, Russia's Glonass, European Space Agency's under-development Galileo, and China's emerging constellation, Compass. 17. The government announced the conduct of caste census recently. When was the last time caste census conducted in India? a) 1971 b) 1961 c) 1951 d) Before independence* e) This will be the first time Answer 17: The Union government on September 9, 2010 decided to hold caste census next year. This is the first time after independence that the Centre will incorporate a detailed caste-based census. The last census when caste-wise data was published was carried out in 1931.

Current GK


6

18. The Election Commission announced elections in Bihar recently. Which of the following statements is/are correct? I. Bihar has a bicameral Legislature with a Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council II. Legislative Assembly in Bihar comprises 243 seats III. Congress has decided to contest the elections in alliance with Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) of Ramvilas Paswan a) I only b) I and II only* c) II and III only d) III and I only e) I, II and III Answer 18:

The Election Commission on September 07, 2010 rolled out a six-phase polling schedule for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections in Bihar. The dates for the six phases are: October 21, 24, 28 and November 1, 9 and 20. The results will be declared on November 24. The 243-member assembly‘s five-year term ends on November 27.

The election is expected to witness a three-cornered, contest with the Congress deciding to go alone and the RJD-LJP teaming against the ruling JD (U) and BJP combination.

While the JD(U)-BJP is yet to announce its poll pact, the RJD and LJP has announced their seat sharing formula, contesting 168 and 75 seats, respectively. The Congress plans to field candidates in all 243 seats. 19. The 41

st meeting of the Council of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) chaired by Union HRD

Minister Kapil Sibal was organized recently. Which of the following statements about decisions announced by the Council is/are correct? I. IITs will be allowed to employ foreign faculty on a permanent basis II. IITs will be allowed to offer courses in medicine III. IITs will be allowed to admit foreign students a) I only b) I and II only c) II and III only d) III and I only e) I, II and III* Answer 19: The 41

st meeting of the Council of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) organised on September 11,

2010 in New Delhi was chaired by Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal. The Council reached an agreement on a number of new initiatives including introduction of courses in medicine and appointment of foreigners as faculty

Courses in Medicine: The IITs will now offer courses in medicine as well. The Council approved a proposal to amend the Institutes of Technology Act to enable the IITs to offer courses in medicine with the approval of the Medical Council of India. The IIT Council on September 11, 2010 gave the go-ahead to its institutes to venture into medical education.

Foreigners on faculty: The Council also gave in-principle approval for appointment of foreigners to permanent faculty positions up to 10 per cent, and to admit foreign students, up to 25 per cent, to postgraduate courses, without affecting the present admission norms for Indians.

No consensus on IIT admission process: The Council however, failed to arrive at a consensus on the revamp of the IIT-JEE admission process. The human resource development (HRD) ministry wants the IITs to select students just on the basis of Class 12 exam marks and an aptitude test. In the end, the Council agreed to set up a committee, headed by Science and Technology Secretary T. Ramasami, to take a re-look at the issue and come out with its recommendations in three months.

Collaboration for research: The Council decided to set up a permanent standing committee, under the former Director-General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, R.A. Mashelkar, to foster collaboration among the IITs and between the IITs and other institutions in inter-disciplinary research.

Current GK


7

New inclusions in IIT Council: The meeting gave the green signal for inclusion of the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, and the Presidents of the Indian National Science Academy and the Indian National Academy of Engineering as members of the Council of IITs. 20. The Bharatiya Janata Party staked claim to form a government in Jharkhand recently. Who among the following has not occupied the post of Jharkhand Chief Minister, a state that was carved out of Bihar in 2001? a) Babulal Marandi b) Arjun Munda c) Shibu Soren d) Sudesh Mahto* e) Madhu Koda Answer 20: The Bharatiya Janata Party on September 7, 2010, staked claim to form a government in Jharkhand under the former Chief Minister, Arjun Munda.

President's Rule was imposed in Jharkhand on June 1, 2010 with the Assembly being put under suspended animation after BJP withdrew support to the Shibu Soren-led government when Soren voted with the UPA during cut motions in Parliament. No party had come forward to form an alternative government.

It will be the eighth government after Jharkhand was carved out from Bihar on November 15, 2000. It would be Munda's third term. Babulal Marandi was the first chief minister before Munda took over from him. In between Madhu Koda held the post once and Soren thrice. 21. With which country has India signed an agreement to jointly design and develop a Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) recently? a) France b) Germany c) USA d) Russia* e) Japan Answer 21: India and Russia have decided to jointly design and develop a Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) with both sides signing a shareholders agreement for setting up a joint venture company. The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Russian partners — the United Aircraft Corporation & the Rosoboronexport — will form the company to co-develop and co-produce the 15 to 20 tonne payload capacity MTA, which would meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force and the Russian Air Force, the Defence Ministry announced on September 11, 2010. The company will have its headquarters in Bangalore. 22. Economist Kaushik Basu was in news recently for supporting the Prime Minister‘s view that opposes giving foodgrains at a very low price or free to the poor. What position does Basu occupy? a) CEO, CRISIL b) Chairman, Finance Commission c) Member, Planning Commission d) Chief Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance* e) Managing Director & CEO, CMIE Answer 22: The government will do all it can to provide affordable food to those below the poverty line but cannot implement the Supreme Court's order to give free foodgrains to the poor, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on September 6, 2010. Dr. Singh also took on the Supreme Court for straying into the executive's domain by ordering free food for the poor.

Earlier, food minister, Sharad Pawar, got a rap on his knuckles from the SC for stating that its order on distribution of free foodgrains to the poor, instead of allowing it to rot, was difficult to implement.

Current GK


8

Stating that he respected the "sentiments‖ behind the SC directive, Dr Singh asked how free foodgrains could be distributed to 37 per cent of the population which lives below the poverty line. The PM pointed out that providing free foodgrains would destroy the incentive that farmers have to produce more. If there were no foodgrains available, there would be nothing to distribute.

The Prime Minister‘s assertion that it would not be possible to provide free foodgrains to the poor found ready support from both his party as also the Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Kaushik Basu. Basu, on his part, said if foodgrains are given away at very low prices to whoever comes to purchase them, there is a likelihood that a portion of these foodgrains would be picked up by traders, who would then resell them to the government when it is procuring grain.

Mahesh Vyas is the Managing Director & CEO of CMIE (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy).

Roopa Kudwa is the Managing Director & CEO of CRISIL (Credit Rating and Information Services of India Ltd.) 23. Donald Tusk, who came on official visit to India recently, is the Prime Minister of which of the following countries? a) Hungary b) Romania c) Poland* d) Bulgaria e) Slovakia Answer 23: Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland came on an official visit to India recently. India‘s PM Manmohan Singh and the Polish PM discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relationship, especially in defence, trade and investment, during delegation-level talks in New Delhi on September 7, 2010.

India is at present looking to Poland for maintenance of Soviet\Russian equipment, including aircraft and for the supply of auxiliary equipment such as tank recovery vehicles.

Poland is India‘s largest trading partner and export destination in the Central-European region and will assume the Presidency of EU in the second half of 2011. 24. Which well known musician‘s 200

th birth anniversary is being celebrated in Europe recently?

a) Johannes Brahms b) Ludwig van Beethoven c) Fryderyk Chopin* d) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart e) Antonio Lucio Vivaldi Answer 24: Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland came on an official visit to India in September 2010.

Malgorzata Tusk, wife of the Polish PM, handed over the sculptural Bust of ―Fryderyk Chopin‖ to National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi as a gift from Poland to India. The Polish Parliament had unanimously passed a vote to make the year 2010 a year of Fryderyk Chopin (1810–1849). This year marks the 200

th

birthday of this extraordinary composer and pianist. 25. Which of the following statements about the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), in news recently for demands for its withdrawal in Kashmir, is/are correct? I. The Act was passed by the Parliament in 1984 II. It was imposed for the first time in the North Eastern states III. It was imposed in Jammu & Kashmir in 1990 a) I only b) I and II only c) II and III only* d) III and I only e) I, II and III

Current GK


9

Answer 25: The Congress Core Group, which met on September 11, 2010, remained divided on the withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the Kashmir valley.

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), was passed in 1958 by the Parliament of India. It conferred special powers upon armed forces in what the language of the act calls "disturbed areas" in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.

The AFPSA was later extended to Jammu and Kashmir as the The Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990 in July 1990.

According to the Armd Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), in an area that is proclaimed as "disturbed", an officer of the armed forces has powers to:

"Fire upon or otherwise use force, even to the causing of death, against any person who is acting in contravention of any law" against "assembly of five or more persons" or possession of deadly weapons.

To arrest without a warrant and with the use of "necessary" force anyone who has committed certain offenses or is suspected of having done so.

To enter and search any premise in order to make such arrests.

It gives Army officers legal immunity for their actions. There can be no prosecution, suit or any other legal proceeding against anyone acting under that law. Nor is the government's judgment on why an area is found to be "disturbed" subject to judicial review. 26. Which state government was in news for re-introducing a Bill that seeks to make voting compulsory in the local self-government elections without making the changes recommended by the Governor recently? a) Gujarat* b) Madhya Pradesh c) Karnataka d) Goa e) Uttarakhand Answer 26: The Gujarat government on September 7, 2010 reintroduced the ‗Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2009 that seeks to make voting compulsory in the local self-government elections. The Bill does not have the changes recommended by the Governor. The government plans to take up the discussion on the bill during the next session.

Governor Kamla Beniwal, while returning the bill, passed by the House in December 2009, to the government for re-consideration noted that the measure violated Article 19(1)(A) of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression that also included the right not to vote.

She also recommended that the clause of 50 per cent reservation for women be split from the bill for separate legislation. The government, however, preferred to reintroduce the bill in its original form with all the provisions intact, including 50 per cent reservation for women.

The Governor had noted that the bill contained no provision on the government‘s duty of incorporating all eligible voters in the voter list or timely distribution of voter identity cards, or on the penal consequences a voter was likely to suffer if he or she was declared a defaulter for not voting. 27. The Union government announced the setting up of 12 Chairs in different universities in memory of freedom fighters to mark the 150

th anniversary of India‘s First War of Independence recently. Where will

be the Chairs established in the name of freedom fighters – Saifuddin Kitchlew, A.M. Khwaja, M.A. Ansari and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai? a) Osmania University b) Jamia Millia Islamia University* c) Aligarh Muslim University d) Barkatullah University e) Aliah University Answer 27:

Current GK


10

The Union government on September 7, 2010 announced its decision to establish 12 Chairs in different universities in memory of freedom fighters as part of commemoration of the 150

th anniversary of India‘s

First War of Independence.

The Ministry of Culture has set aside a corpus of Rs. 2 crore for each university. The mandate of these Chairs is related to research in and broader areas of the freedom struggle. Compilation of memoirs and books related to the freedom movement and the personalities after whom the Chairs are named and their associates will be given priority.

The Chairs will be established in memory of:

Shaheed Bhagat Singh at the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Bahadur Shah Zafar, General Shah Nawaz and Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

Saifuddin Kitchlew, A.M. Khwaja, M.A. Ansari and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai at the Jamia Millia Islamia University.

Aruna Asaf Ali and Tatia Tope at the Delhi University .

Chandra Shekhar Azad at the Vikram University at Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.

The Veer Kunwar Singh University at Arrah in Bihar is expected to come up with a similar proposal. 28. Private educational institutions have filed petitions against the Right to Education Act that makes it compulsory for all schools to reserve _______ of seats for children from poor families recently. a) 5% b) 10% c) 15% d) 20% e) 25%* Answer 28: A five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court will look into a law providing free and compulsory education to children. The Constitution Bench will look into a batch of petitions filed by private educational institutions alleging that the Right to Education Act violated their rights under Article 19(1) (g) which provided maximum autonomy to private managements without governmental interference.

The Act, which made free and compulsory education a fundamental right for children between 6-14 years, also mandated that private educational institutions reserve 25 per cent seats for children from poor families.

The decision was announced by Chief Justice of India S H Kapadia on September 7, 2010. 29. The Supreme Court recently asked the government to consider setting up a separate Pay Commission for whom among the following? Railway employees Public sector employees Armed Forces personnel* Judicial officers NGO employees Answer 29: The Supreme Court, on September 9, 2010, asked the government to examine the idea of setting up a separate Pay Commission for both serving and retired personnel of the Armed Forces that could be headed by a retired CJI or a judge of the Supreme Court.

The apex court made the remarks while dealing with a petition filed by certain serving and retired Army officers challenging the reported refusal of the government to accord them enhanced ―rank pay‖ as recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission. 30. President Pratibha Patil gave away the National Awards to Teachers for the year 2009 to 374 teachers on the occasion of Teachers Day recently. Each award consists of a Certificate of Merit, a Silver Medal and a Cash Prize of_________.

Current GK


11

a) Rs. 5,000 b) Rs. 10,000 c) Rs. 15,000 d) Rs. 20,000 e) Rs. 25,000* Answer 30: President Pratibha Patil gave away the National Awards to Teachers for the year 2009 on September 5, 2010 in New Delhi. 374 teachers were given the award by the President, from across the states and Union Territories in the country. Each award consists of a Certificate of Merit, a Silver Medal and a Cash Prize of Rs. 25,000. 31. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will assist in the restoration of the Vat Phou temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, according to an agreement signed during the visit of President Pratibha Patil to which of the following countries recently? a) Vietnam b) Cambodia c) Laos* d) Myanmar e) Thailand Answer 31: President Pratibha Patil and her counterpart, Choummaly Sayasone, signed several agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation in Vientiane, Laos, on September 10, 2011. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will assist in the restoration of the 6

th century temple complex of Vat Phou which was

designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. 32. Which of the following special trains were launched by the Indian Railways to connect popular pilgrimage centres in different parts of the country recently? a) Bharat Darshan b) Bharat Jyoti c) Bharat Paryatan d) Bharat Tirth* e) Bharat Ekta Answer 32: The Indian Railways on September 10, 2010 announced the launch of 16 different circuits of ‗Bharat Tirth‘ touching all the important destinations across the country from October. The special tourist trains called ‗Bharat Tirth‘ will connect popular tourist sites in different parts of the country – from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari, from Dwarka to Vindhya Parbat, from Ajmer Sharief to Gangasagar and from Madurai to Patna Sahib. 33. The Ministry of Culture has decided to rename the ―Visiting Fellows in Art, Culture & Heritage‖ scheme after who among the following recently? a) Rabindranath Tagore* b) Bharatendu Harishchandra c) Ustad Bismillah Khan d) Satyajit Ray e) Raja Ravi Varma Answer 33: The Ministry of Culture has decided to rename the ―Visiting Fellows in Art, Culture & Heritage‖ scheme, approved in November 2009, as the ―Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research‖ scheme. This coincides with the 150

th birth anniversary celebrations of Rabindranath Tagore. The scholars selected as

Fellows will be tasked with reviving some of India's most prestigious cultural institutions under the scheme.

Current GK


12

33. Noted social scientist and historian, Dr Christophe Jaffrelot was in news for which of his books released recently? a) India's Silent Revolution: The Rise Of The Lower Castes b) Religion, Caste and Politics in India* c) Pakistan: Nationalism Without A Nation d) Rise Of The Plebeians e) Dr Ambedkar And Untouchability: Analysing And Fighting Caste 34. Which of the following was designated as the first biosphere reserve in Andhra Pradesh recently? a) Bhadrachalam b) Seshachalam* c) Tadepalligudem d) Ramagundam e) Arunachalam Answer 34: The government on September 9, 2010 decided to designate the Seshachalam hill ranges of Andhra Pradesh as a biosphere reserve, making over 8,000 square km of Eastern Ghats in the state a protected area devoted to conservation of rich biodiversity of the area. Seshachalam will thus become the 16

th

biosphere reserve in the country and the first one in the state. Biosphere reserves are large contiguous landscapes, having rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems. Tirupati temple would become part of this biosphere reserve. 35. The Uttar Pradesh government was in news for the launch of the ambitious _____ Expressway Project linking Greater Noida to Agra, being constructed by J.P. Infratech Ltd recently. a) Sarayu b) Ganga c) Yamuna* d) Gomti e) Betwa Answer 35: The Supreme Court on September 8, 2010 upheld Mayawati government‘s decision to acquire 1,604 hectares of private land cleared the decks for the ambitious multi-crore six-way Yamuna Expressway Project linking Greater Noida to Agra in Uttar Pradesh being built by J.P. Infratech Ltd.

The Court dismissed a bunch of petitions filed by aggrieved land owners who had challenged the acquisition on the grounds that there was no public purpose involved. The court concurred with the findings of the Allahabad High Court that the project would benefit millions of people, which was more paramount than the interest of a few aggrieved individuals whose shops, business establishments and houses would have to be demolished to make way for the project. 36. With which of the following has India signed a three-year grant agreement for $128.4 million to support the programmes of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) recently? a) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation b) Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM)* c) Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) d) Oxfam e) The Sierra Project Answer 36: India and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) on September 8, 2010 signed a three-year grant agreement for $128.4 million or Rs.609.9 crore to support the continuation of flagship programmes of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). The overall goal of the grant is to reach and diagnose an estimated 65 per cent of the HIV-infected people in India and link them to care, support and treatment services.

Current GK


13

37. Which of the following was announced as the country‘s first inter-State biosphere Reserve recently? a) Aravalli Range b) Vindhya Range c) Shivalik Hills* d) Annamalai Hills e) Cardamom Hills Answer 37: Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on September 6, 2010 said that Shivalik Hills would be notified as the country’s first inter-State biosphere reserve with the setting up of a bio-diversity corridor there to protect its natural habitat, flora and fauna. The corridor would pass through Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand. The Shivalik Hills had a cultural and geological importance and that the area had been damaged by unregulated mining of sand and stone. 38. _______ announced the construction of a national museum ―Bhuvana Vijayam National Museum‖ in memory of King __________ recently. Tamil Nadu, Mahendravarman Maharashtra, Shivaji Andhra Pradesh, Krishnadevaraya* Tamil Nadu, Rajaraja Chola Karnataka, Vishnuvardhana Answer 38: Following up the 500

th anniversary celebrations of Sri Krishnadevaraya‘s coronation, the Andhra Pradesh

government on September 9, 2010 announced the construction of a national museum ―Bhuvana Vijayam National Museum‖ at a cost of Rs. 12 crore at Penukonda in Anantapur district, which was the last capital of Vijayanagara kings. Another project envisages setting up of a peetham (chair) in the name of Sri Krishnadevaraya in Nagarjuna University. 39. The World Bank approved a $220-million credit for Bihar to support its rebuilding efforts under the ―Bihar ___Flood Recovery Project‘‘ recently? a) Damodar b) Sone c) Chambal d) Gandak e) Kosi* Answer 39: The World Bank on September 10, 2010 approved a $220-million credit for Bihar to support its rebuilding efforts in areas affected by the 2008 Kosi floods. The ―Bihar Kosi Flood Recovery Project‘‘ will finance flood recovery efforts through reconstruction of about one lakh houses, 90 bridges and 290 km of rural roads. 40. Which of the following is the Lead Sponsor of the Commonwealth Games, in news for holding back sponsorship worth Rs. 100 crore after allegations of corruption by CWG Organising Committee were made in the media recently? a) ONGC b) India Post c) Indian Railways* d) NTPC e) SAIL Answer 40: With the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee being mired in charges of corruption, the Lead Sponsor, the Indian Railways have decided against giving it sponsorship worth Rs. 100 crore; instead it will allocate the sum to the Sports Ministry.

Current GK


14

41. Which of the following was in news recently for solving the Pune German Bakery blast case recently? a) Special Task Force (STF) b) CBI c) National Security Guard (NSG) d) Special Operations Group (SOG) e) Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (MATS)* Answer 41: Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on September 8, 2010 announced an award of Rs. 5 lakh for the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad team which cracked the German Bakery blast case by arresting Mirza Himayat Baig (29) from Pune and Sheikh Lalbaba Mohammad Hussain Farid alias Bilal in Nashik 42. Which state government launched ‗Project eMpower‘ for networking all the employment exchanges in the state recently? a) Kerala b) Maharashtra c) Andhra Pradesh d) Karnataka e) Tamil Nadu* Answer 42: Project eMpower, aimed at networking all the employment exchanges in Tamil Nadu, was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on September 15, 2010 on the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai. 43. Which of the following was in news recently for launching a book on its first Director General, John Marshall recently? a) Geological Survey of India b) Indian Council of Medical Research c) Central Statistical Organisation d) Archaeological Survey of India* e) India Meteorological Department Answer 43: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on September 8, 2010 launched ‗The Marshall Albums Photography and Archaeology‘ – an illustrative book on its first Director General, John Marshall. Marshall, who died in 1958, was the longest serving ASI Director-General from 1902 to 1928. A British archaeologist of repute, his initial excavations led to the unearthing of the Mohenjo-Daro and Harappan civilisations. 44. Which of the following educational institutions was in news recently for sale of radioactive waste as scarp causing one death and several injuries recently? a) Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore b) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre c) Delhi University* d) Pune University e) Osmania University Answer 44: A UGC expert committee on September 7, 2010 suggested the setting up of university committees to review safety in handling radioactive and other hazardous materials used by the institutions. The proposed University Safety Committees (USC) will ensure that the AERB Regulations and Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules are strictly implemented.

The committee was constituted following the sale of radioactive waste including Cobalt-60 isotope by Delhi University in April 2010 that led to the death of one person and injuries to 10 others.

Current GK


15

Chaired by Professor G.K. Rath, head of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, the committee inspected the laboratories using radioactive and other hazardous materials in several universities where it detected serious lacunae in storage and handling. 45. Which state/Union territory produces the highest number of PhDs in India, according to a report titled ―Trend in Higher Education — Creation and Analysis of a Database of PhDs in India‖ prepared by scholars of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) recently? a) Delhi* b) West Bengal c) Maharashtra d) Gujarat e) Karnataka Answer 45: Delhi, which has just 19 universities, has emerged as the PhD capital of the country. In the last decade, from 1998 to 2007, Delhi has produced over 17% of the total doctoral theses in India. West Bengal is a distant second at 11.9%, followed by Maharashtra (8%). The report titled ―Trend in Higher Education — Creation and Analysis of a Database of PhDs in India‖ has been prepared by scholars at the Bangalore based National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS). 46. Which of the following won support from Independents to lead a minority government in the hung parliament in Australia recently? a) National/Liberal coalition b) Conservative Party c) Labour Party* d) Christian Democratic Party e) Workers‘ Party Answer 46: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on September 7, 2010 won support from three Independents and a first-ever Greens member in the House of Representatives to lead a minority government in a hung parliament. Both the Labour Party and the opposition National/Liberal coalition had won 72 seats each in the general elections on August 21. Prime Minister Julia Gillard had called the election after she deposed her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, in a political coup within the ruling Australian Labour Party. The Labour would now govern with 76 seats in a House of 150 members. 47. Who among the following started his second term as the President of Rwanda recently? a) Bernard Makuza b) Augustin Bizimana c) Emmanuel Habyarimana d) Pasteur Bizimungu e) Paul Kagame* Answer 47: Paul Kagame started his second term as President of Rwanda on September 6, 2010 with the swearing in ceremony at capital Kigali. The 52-year-old former rebel vowed to achieve food security and build infrastructure for his resource-rich but impoverished country. Kagame swept the August 9 election with 93 per cent of the vote. 48. Joan E. Donoghue of the United States was elected as the new judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) recently. Where is the ICJ based? a) Brussels b) The Hague* c) Zurich d) Geneva e) Lyons

Current GK


16

Answer 48: The UN Security Council and the General Assembly on September 9, 2010 voted to elect Joan E. Donoghue of the United States as the next judge for the International Court of Justice (ICJ), based in The Hague, Netherlands. Established in 1945 under the UN Charter, the ICJ settles legal disputes between States and gives advisory opinions on legal questions that have been referred to it by authorized UN organs or specialized agencies. It is sometimes referred to as the World Court. The ICJ is composed of fifteen judges elected to six year terms by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council. No two judges can be from the same country. They cannot engage in any other occupation during their term of office. 49. Stephen Green was in news for joining the coalition government in the United Kingdom as the Minister of State for Trade and Investment after resigning from his position as Chairman of which leading bank recently? a) Barclays Bank b) Citibank c) HSBC* d) Lloyds TSB e) Standard Chartered Bank Answer 49: HSBC Chairman Stephen Green on September 08, 2010 announced his decision to step down from Europe‘s biggest bank to become Minister of State for Trade and Investment in Britain‘s coalition government. 50. Austan Goolsbee was appointed by President Barack Obama as his advisor on ______ matters recently. a) Security b) South Asian c) Trade d) Foreign policy e) Economic* Answer 50: Austan Goolsbee appointed as top White House economist: President Barack Obama on September 10, 2010 appointed Austan Goolsbee as the Chairperson of the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) replacing Christina Romer who resigned recently. The CEA analyzes economic data and makes policy recommendations to the president. 51. US scientist Rita R. Colwell was in news recently for winning the _______Water Prize for her pioneering research on prevention of waterborne diseases recently. a) Copenhagen b) Oslo c) Stockholm* d) Amsterdam e) Helsinki Answer 51: Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf on September 9, 2010 conferred the Stockholm Water Prize on US scientist Rita R. Colwell for her pioneering research on prevention of waterborne diseases, the second most common cause of death among children under five. The World Water Week concluded on September 10, 2010. 52. Kurt Westergaard of Denmark was in news recently for winning one of the top German awards in which of the following? a) Science b) Economics c) Film Production

Current GK


17

d) Science e) Journalism* Answer 52: Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard was on September 8, 2010 awarded the M100 Media Award (M100-Medienpreis) by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Potsdam, Germany for his contributions to freedom of opinion. Westergaard had provoked outrage in the Muslim world in 2005 by drawing controversial cartoons of Propet Muhammad that had appeared in the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten on September 30, 2005. It unleashed violent protests across the Muslim world in which a number of people were killed. Denmark was forced to close several embassies around the world as a result of the protests. 53. Actress Gemma Arterton was in news recently for being voted as ‗Woman of the Year‘ by which of the following magazines? a) Time b) Vogue c) GQ * d) Newsweek e) Cosmopolitan Answer 53: Actress Gemma Arterton, famous for role in the James Bond movie ‗Quantum of Solace‘, was voted Woman of the Year by readers of GQ magazine on September 7, 2010. Other winners at the ‗GQ Men of the Year‘ Awards included Dizzee Rascal for Solo Artist, James Corden for Comedian and Giorgio Armani for Designer. ‗Gossip Girl‘ star Ed Westwick was named Breakthrough Talent and Aaron Johnson picked up the Most Stylish prize. ‗Doctor Who‘ star Matt Smith won the award for TV Personality. 54. Kennedy Center honours are conferred at the White House in Washington in December every year for achievements in which of the following fields? a) Science b) Economics c) Culture* d) Education e) Defence Answer 54: Sir Paul McCartney is to be presented with a Kennedy Center honour at the White House in Washington in December. He will be honoured alongside chat show host Oprah Winfrey, choreographer Bill T Jones, composer Jerry Herman and country star Merle Haggard. This was announced by the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, which annually honours arts figures for their contribution to US culture, on September 8, 2010. 55. A bronze statue of who among the following Indians was unveiled at the University Of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney recently? a) Rabindranath Tagore b) Manmohan Singh c) Sir C. V. Raman d) Mahatma Gandhi* e) JRD Tata Answer 55: A bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at the University Of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney in September 2010. The sculpture on the lawns of the library of the university was gifted to the institution by the Government of India along with a collection of books. 56. Billionaire George Soros was in news for announcing a grant of $ 100-million grant to which of the following humanitarian organizations recently? a) Doctors Without Borders

Current GK


18

b) Human Rights Watch* c) Greenpeace d) Amnesty International e) Oxfam Answer 56: Billionaire George Soros on September 8, 2010 announced a $ 100-million grant to Human Rights Watch in a bid to transform it into a global organisation. 57. Parliament in Nepal failed to elect a Prime Minister recently despite several rounds of voting as no party has a simple majority. Which party has the highest number of seats? a) Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)* b) Nepali Congress c) Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) d) Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal e) Tarai-Madhesh Loktantrik Party Answer 57: Nepal's Parliament failed to elect Prime Minister for the seventh time on September 7, 2010. Both candidates, Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‗Prachanda' and Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel, were unable to obtain a simple majority in the house of 601. Madhav Kumar Nepal continues to function as the caretaker Prime Minister, even though he had resigned from the post on July 1, 2010, amid intense pressure from the Maoists, plunging the country into a deep crisis in the absence of a government.

Nepalese Parliament/Constituent Assembly: Party positions Party No. of

seats Leaders

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) 229 Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda)

Nepali Congress 115 Sher Bahadur Deuba, Sushil Koirala & Ram Chandra Poudel

Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) 108 Jhala Nath Khanal

Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal 54 Upendra Yadav

Tarai-Madhesh Loktantrik Party 21 Mahantha Thakur

Others 74

Total 601

58. Which state in the US was in news for banning the outsourcing of government funded IT projects to other countries including India recently? a) Texas b) California c) Michigan d) Ohio* e) New Jersey Answer 58: The US state Ohio on September 8, 2010 announced a ban on outsourcing of government-funded IT projects to other countries including India. The objective is to ensure maximum employment opportunities for local people. However, analysts said this would not affect Indian companies much as they largely rely on private firms for the bulk of their business. India‘s Ministry of Commerce and Industry on September 10, 2010 decided to register its protest against the ban. 59. Karin Landgren is the UN Secretary-General‘s Representative and Head of the UN Mission in _______. a) Haiti b) Myanmar c) Nepal* d) Sudan e) Afghanistan

Current GK


19

Answer 59: Karin Landgren is the Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to Nepal, and head of the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN). Landgren, in her briefing to the UN Security Council on September 7, 2010, said that the ―gulf of mistrust between parties has paralysed the political process‖ in Nepal. The UNMIN was set up in January 2007 to monitor the disarmament of Maoist rebels and the preparations for Constituent Assembly elections in Nepal. The Nepal government had recently asked the Security Council for a four-month extension of UNMIN. 60. Which country has the cheapest fixed line broadband access in the world according to recent information by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)? a) Taiwan b) Singapore c) Malaysia d) Thailand e) Macau* Answer 60: The global disparity in fixed line broadband access and cost has been revealed by UN agency – the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) on September 2, 2010. The Central African Republic is the most expensive place to get a fixed broadband connection, costing nearly 40 times the average monthly income there. Macao in China is the cheapest, costing 0.3% of the average monthly income. 61. Which two countries occupy the top and bottom positions in the global competitiveness rankings unveiled by the World Economic Forum (WEF) recently? a) Switzerland, Chad* b) Sweden, Sierra Leone c) Singapore, Sudan d) US, Niger e) Germany, Somalia Answer 61: The developed economies of Switzerland, Sweden, Singapore, the US and Germany continue to occupy the top five global competitiveness rankings in the Global Competitiveness Report 2010 released by the World Economic Forum (WEF), on September 9, 2010. The African nation of Chad figures at the bottom of the list of 139 countries.

India has been pushed down to 51st position from 49

th last year due to its poor performance in a range of

social sector areas such as education, health and infrastructure.

Though India has performed well in complex financial sector areas, attaining the 17th rank globally in

terms of its financial markets, 44th in business sophistication and 39

th in innovation, it has failed to

improve the basic drivers of competitiveness. Widespread poverty, poor health and education facilities and poor infrastructure in rural India are a drag on India‘s competitiveness. Also despite high economic growth, India continues to be plagued by budget deficits, high public debt and high inflation. 62. The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize conferred recently is sponsored by the government of which Asian country? a) China b) Japan c) Cambodia d) South Korea* e) Thailand Answer 62: The U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on September 8, 2010 awarded prizes to six international education programs for their efforts in eliminating illiteracy. Each prize is worth US $20,000, a medal and a diploma. UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prizes are supported by the South

Current GK


20

Korean government while the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, is supported by the People‘s Republic of China. Following is the complete list of winners:

UNESCO International Literacy Prizes UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize

General Directorate of Adult Training in Cape Verde for its Adult Education and Training Programme (EdFoA).

State Institute for Teacher Training and School Development in Hamburg, Germany for its Family Literacy Project (FLY)

UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy

Non-Formal Education Centre in Nepal for its National Literacy Campaign

Governorate of Ismailia in Egypt for its programme Females for Families

Honorable Mention of the King Sejong Literacy Prize

North Catholic University Foundation in Antioquia, Colombia for its Virtual Assisted Literacy Programme

Coalition of Women Farmers (COWFA) in Malawi for the Women Land Rights Project (WOLAR)

63. Which is the best university in world according to the QS World University Rankings, 2010 published recently? a) University of Cambridge, UK* b) Harvard University, USA c) Yale University, USA d) University College London, UK e) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA Answer 63: The University of Cambridge has replaced Harvard as the world‘s best university in the prestigious QS World University Rankings, 2010, published in London on September 10, 2010. Six of the top 10 universities in the world are American while the remaining four are in the UK. The rankings of the top 500 universities in the world are based on an academic reputation index, employer reputation index, institution inclusion, and research among other criteria.

QS World University Rankings, 2010

1 University of Cambridge, UK 6 University of Oxford, UK

2 Harvard University, USA 7 Imperial College London, UK

3 Yale University, USA 8 University of Chicago, USA

4 UCL (University College London), UK 9 California Institute of Technology (Caltech), USA

5 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA 10 Princeton University, USA

Among Asian countries, Japan has 10 universities in the top 200; China and Korea have six and five respectively. India has just one — IIT Bombay at No. 187. Other Indian universities in the top 500 list include IIT Delhi (202), IIT Kanpur (249), IIT Kharagpur (335), University of Delhi (371), IIT Roorkee (401-450 bracket) and University of Mumbai (450-500 bracket). 64. Which of the following is the Top TeleWord of 2010 according to a survey by Global Language Monitor released recently? a) BP Spillcam* b) Dysfunctional c) Guido d) Reality e) Nice Answer 64: The Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the success of the TV show Jersey Shore made words like ‗BP Spillcam‘ and ‗Guido‘ among the most used words of the 2009-2010 TV season, according to a global language survey by the Texas-based Global Language Monitor released on September 9, 2010. The Global Language Monitor uses a math formula to track the frequency of words and phrases in print and electronic media. The 2010 list is the seventh annual analysis by the Global Language Monitor. Last year‘s Top Teleword was Obamavision.

Current GK


21

Top TeleWords of 2010 1 BP Spillcam 6 Rude

2 Dysfunctional 7 Drama at 10:00

3 Guido 8 Chicago-style politics

4 Reality 9 Cross-over

5 Nice 10 Ambush Marketing

Source: Global Language Monitor

65. In which neighbouring country was the two-term limit on the post of President lifted after a constitutional amendment was approved by the Parliament recently? a) Bangladesh b) Pakistan c) Sri Lanka* d) China e) Myanmar Answer 65: The Sri Lankan Parliament on September 8, 2010 approved the amendments to the 1978 Constitution proposed by the Mahinda Rajapaksa government, including lifting the two-term limit on the post of President, with more than the required two-thirds majority. Rajapaksa can now run for office of President for a third time when elections are held in November 2016. Besides removal of the term limit, the amendments require the President to attend Parliament once in at least three months. Also, the Constitutional Council to appoint persons to high offices would be replaced with a Parliamentary Council. The amendments have been denounced as dictatorial by the opposition. 66. Which of the following unveiled plans to launch the ‗Solar Probe Plus‖ to study the Sun‘s outer atmosphere recently? a) ISRO b) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency c) NASA* d) Russian Space Agency e) European Space Agency Answer 66: US space agency NASA has unveiled plans to plunge a car-sized unmanned spacecraft named ‗Solar Probe Plus‘ (SPP) into the star‘s outer atmosphere sometime before 2018. Before it is destroyed by the sizzling temperatures exceeding 1,400 degrees C, the craft will have to obtain valuable data about the Sun. To withstand the temperatures and the radiation, the instruments will be protected by a huge carbon-composite heat shield. 67. Basque separatists recently announced an end to their armed campaign to separate from ______ a) France b) Germany c) Ireland d) Portugal e) Spain* Answer 67: Basque separatist group ETA declared a ceasefire on September 5, 2010 in its violent 42-year campaign for a homeland independent of Spain, vowing to give up guns and bombs for a democratic solution. 68. Who was elected Chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) recently? a) Rajiv Dube* b) G. Krishnan c) Parsoon Joshi d) Vikram Sakhuja e) Dhananjay Keskar

Current GK


22

Answer 68: Rajiv Dube of the Aditya Birla Management Corporation, was on September 13, 2010 elected Chairman of the Board of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). Dhananjay Keskar, director – IBS, is the outgoing chairman of ASCI. During the year 2009-10, the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) of the ASCI deliberated on complaints against 159 advertisements. Of these, 87 complaints were upheld, while 72 were not upheld. In 71 cases, the ads have been withdrawn or modified appropriately as per the CCC‘s decisions resulting in an 82% compliance rate. 69. Government in which European country decided to extend the life span of nuclear power plants by an average of 12 years recently, reversing the previous government‘s decision to shut down nuclear power stations by 2021? a) Sweden b) Spain c) France d) Germany* e) Britain Answer 69: The government of Germany on September 6, 2010 decided to extend the life span of nuclear power plants by an average of 12 years. Some plants will now remain in production until the 2030s. The plan reverses a decision by the previous government - a coalition of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens - to shut down Germany‘s nuclear power stations by 2021. Chancellor Angela Merkel argued that renewable sources are not developed enough to abandon nuclear power. 70. Who was appointed President of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation recently? a) Dhananjay Keskar b) Uday Shankar* c) G Krishnan d) Sunil Lulla e) Jawahar Goel Answer 70: Uday Shankar appointed President of Indian Broadcasting Foundation: Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) elected its new office bearers on September 6, 2010. Uday Shankar, chief executive officer, STAR India has been elected as president, IBF; while G Krishnan, executive director and chief executive officer, TV Today Network has been elected vice-president; Sunil Lulla, managing director and chief executive officer, Times Global Broadcasting will be the treasurer of IBF. Earlier, Jawahar Goel, managing director, DishTV was president, IBF and had held the post for the last six years.

71. Stephen Elop was in news recently for his appointment as the CEO of world‘s largest manufacturer of______. a) Steel b) Mobile phones* c) Air conditioners d) Personal computers e) Automobiles Answer 71: Stephen Elop, took over as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of Nokia, the world‘s largest cellphone maker from Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo on September 21, 2010.

72. Which state government runs the housing schemes ‗Rajiv Swagruha‘, aimed at catering to the middle class, and ‗Rajiv Gruha Kalpa‘, aimed at the weaker sections of society? a) Karnataka b) Andhra Pradesh* c) Maharashtra d) Tamil Nadu e) Kerala

Current GK


23

73. Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd was appointed as its Co-President by which large IT company recently? a) Microsoft b) IBM c) Intel d) Oracle* e) Cisco Answer 73: Oracle CEO Larry Ellison on September 6, 2010 appointed former Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd as its co-president. Oracle is the No. 1 seller of database software, but is trying to carve out territory in other areas. Hurd had resigned from HP in August 2010 following a sexual harassment investigation. 74. Who was appointed as its brand ambassador by Kansai Nerolac Paints (KNPL) for promoting its eco-friendly paints recently? a) Akshay Kumar b) Anupam Kher c) Shah Rukh Khan* d) Boman Irani e) Aamir Khan Answer 74: Kansai Nerolac Paints (KNPL) on September 7, 2010 appointed actor Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador for promoting its eco-friendly paints. 75. ‗+3‘ in ‗ASEAN+3‘ refers to which of the following? a) Japan, US, EU b) Japan, China, Korea* c) Japan, India, China d) Japan, Korea, US e) Korea, EU, China Answer 75: ASEAN Plus Three (APT) is a forum that functions as a coordinator of cooperation between Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the three East Asian nations of China, Japan, and South Korea. 76. Who among the following Celebrity chefs was in news recently for the launch of a global chain of Indian restaurants called ―Indii‖? a) Tarla Dalal b) Sanjeev Kapoor* c) Atul Kochhar d) Madhur Jaffrey e) Hari Nayak Answer 76: Sanjeev Kapoor to launch global chain of Indian restaurants: Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor on September 8, 2010 joined hands with corporate multi-brand entity Better Value Brands (BVB) to launch a global chain of Indian restaurants called ―Indii.‖ This Rs 100-crore joint venture plans to set up 70 Indii outlets in the country, and also aims to reach out to the Indian Diaspora in different continents in the next 12 months. 77. A Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Companies Bill 2009, chaired by former finance minister Yashwant Sinha, recommended a universal cap on salaries of CEOs recently. Which of the following statements is/are correct according to current rules? I. Remuneration paid to managerial personnel and directors cannot be more than 11 per cent of the net profit of the company II. An individual manager's salary cannot exceed 5 per cent of the net profit of the company

Current GK


24

III. Salaries of the CEOs and directors of loss making companies are subject to approval by the government a) I only b) I and II only c) II and III only d) III and I only e) I, II and III* Answer 77: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the new Companies Bill, chaired by former finance minister Yashwant Sinha, on September 6, 2010 recommended that the government should fix an overall limit on the salaries of the chief executives.

According to current norms, remuneration paid to managerial personnel and directors cannot be more than 11 per cent of the net profit of the company. Also an individual manager's salary cannot exceed 5 per cent of the net profit of the company. If the company is making losses, the salaries of the CEOs and directors must be approved by the government.

Meanwhile, the committee has also suggested that companies with a net worth of Rs 500 crore or more, or those that have an annual turnover of at least Rs 1,000 crore, or companies with a net profit of Rs 5 crore or more, shall be required to spend every year, at least 2% of its average net profits during the three immediately preceding financial years on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities (as may be approved and specified by the company). 78. How much is India‘s likely demand for petroleum products in the current financial year (2010-11), according to recent estimates of the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC)? a) 92 million tonnes b) 113 million tonnes c) 146 million tonnes * d) 179 million tonnes e) 213 million tonnes Answer 78: India‘s demand for petroleum products may grow by 5.7 per cent in the current financial year (2010-11) against the last fiscal (2009-10), according to estimates of the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) released on September 8, 2010. The consumption of petroleum products (petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel, LPG, lubricants, naphtha, furnace oil, etc.) in the current financial year will be at 146.08 million tonne up from 138.2 million tonne in the last fiscal.

Demand For Petroleum Products in India

* estimate Demand in million tonnes Growth (%)

2010-11* 146.08 5.7

2009-10 138.2 3.4

2008-09 133.65 6.8

Source: Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell

79. Which of the following statements about India‘s External Debt position (at end-March 2010) according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India recently, is/are correct? I. India‘s External Debt in 2009-10 was at $ 224.5 billion II. Ratio of External Debt to GDP in 2009-10 was at 18.9% III. Short- term Debt in 2009-10 was 20.1% of External Debt in 2009-10 a) I only b) I and II only c) II and III only* d) III and I only e) I, II and III Answer 79:

Current GK


25

The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance on September 09, 2010 unveiled its annual publication titled ‗India‘s External Debt: A Status Report 2009-10‘. The report analyses India‘s latest external debt position (at end-March 2010) based on the data released by the Reserve Bank of India.

India‘s Long-term debt at US$ 208.9 billion at end-March 2010 accounts for 79.9 per cent of the total external debt. Short-term debt is at US$ 52.1 billion at end-March 2010, accounting for 20.1 per cent of the total external debt.

India‘s external debt position during the years 2006-07 to 2009-10 is given below in the Table.

Table: India‘s Key External Debt Indicators

At end March External Debt (US$

billion)

Ratio of External Debt to GDP

(Per cent)

Debt Service Ratio (Per cent)

Ratio of Foreign

Exchange Reserves to Total Debt (Per cent)

Ratio of Concessional Debt to Total

Debt (Per cent)

Ratio of Short-Term Debt to

Foreign Exchange Reserves (Per cent)

Ratio of Short- term

Debt to Total Debt (Per cent)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

2006-07 172.4 17.5 4.7 115.6 23.0 14.1 16.3

2007-08 224.4 18.1 4.8 138.0 19.7 14.8 20.4

2008-09 PR 224.5 20.5 4.4 112.2 18.7 17.2 19.3

2009-10 QE 261.5 18.9 5.5 106.7 16.8 18.8 20.1

PR: Partially Revised; QE: Quick Estimates. Source: Reserve Bank of India

80. Which state government has appointed UK-based Saffron Brand Consultants to spruce up its image recently? a) Gujarat b) West Bengal* c) Maharashtra d) Kerala e) Bihar Answer 80: The Red bastion of 33 years, which is showing signs of crumbling, is going in for a saffron makeover. The Left Front government on September 7, 2010 appointed UK-based Saffron Brand Consultants, headed by image artist Wally Olins, to rebuild the image of brand Bengal. 81. What was India‘s Tele-Density (number of phones per 100 people) as on July 31, 2010? a) 42.34 b) 58.17* c) 68.35 d) 74.11 e) 84.16 Answer 81: The number of telephone subscribers in India increased to 688.38 million at the end of July 2010. Wireless (GSM, CDMA & FWP) subscriber base increased to 652.42 Million while Wireline subscription declined to 35.96 million at the end of July-2010 registering a growth of 2.66%. Wireless Tele-density stands at 55.14. Overall Tele-density in the country has reached 58.17. 82. The government is planning to rename Department of Information Technology as: a) Department of Information Technology and Electronics* b) Department of Information Technology and Hardware c) Department of Information Technology and Computing d) Department of Information Technology and Innovation e) Department of Information Technology and Communications Answer 82:

Current GK


26

The government is planning to rename the Department of Information Technology (DIT) as the Department of Information Technology and Electronics (DITE). This is based on the proposals given by a task force set by the government a year before to suggest measures to stimulate the growth of IT, IT-enabled services (ITeS) and the electronics hardware manufacturing industry. The task force was headed by Ajai Chowdhry, Chairman and CEO, HCL Infosystems and had NASSCOM President Som Mittal as member. Electronics hardware production rose from Rs 84,410 crore in 2007-08 to Rs 94,690 crore in 2008-09, a growth of 12.1 per cent. 83. Which of the following became the third private sector airline besides Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines to launch international flights recently? a) Jagson Airlines b) GoAir c) SpiceJet * d) IndiGo e) Paramount Airways Answer 83: SpiceJet to fly abroad from October: Low-cost carrier SpiceJet on September 8, 2010 announced that it will fly to international destinations from October 7, with the first flight from New Delhi to Kathmandu. With this, SpiceJet will become the third private sector airline to fly abroad besides Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines. SpiceJet, owned by media baron Kalanithi Maran, completed five years of domestic operations this month — a mandatory requirement to launch international flights. 84. In a joint venture with which oil marketing company has ‗Shree Renuka Sugars‘ unveiled plans to set up a sugar-cum-ethanol plant recently, the first such tie-up between a sugar and a petroleum company? Reliance Industries Ltd a) HPCL* b) BPCL c) IOC d) Essar Oil Answer 84: Shree Renuka Sugars on September 7, 2010 unveiled plans to set up an integrated sugar-cum-ethanol plant with oil marketing company Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) in Maharashtra. This would be the first such tie-up between a sugar and a petroleum company. In the JV, Renuka will hold 76 per cent in the joint venture (JV), while state-owned HPCL will have the rest. It will be a flexible unit, where up to 50 per cent of the produce will be ethanol and the rest sugar. 85. Which of the following has signed an MoU with the Archaeological Survey of India to restore ancient monuments in Sivasagar district of Assam recently? a) ONGC* b) GAIL c) IOC d) BPCL e) HPCL Answer 85: Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGCL) on September 7, 2010 signed an MoU with the Archaeological Survey of India to restore ancient monuments scattered around its oil and gas fields in Sivasagar district in upper Assam. The four monuments are Rang-ghar, Talatal Ghar, Kareng Ghar, Charaideo maidams — all constructed during the 800-year-long Ahom rule. 86. Which Asian automobile company unveiled its first electric car named ―BlueOn‖ recently? a) Honda b) Toyota c) Mitsubishi d) Hyundai*

Current GK


27

e) Kia Motors Answer 86: Hyundai unveils its first electric car: Hyundai Motor, South Korea‘s No.1 carmaker, unveiled its first pure electric car named ―BlueOn‖, on September 9, 2010. The BlueOn can run 140 kilometres on a single charge and features a maximum speed of 130 kilometres per hour. Japan‘s Mitsubishi Motors Corp was the first major carmaker to roll out pure electric cars. Its i-MiEV electric car was introduced in Japan in August. 87. Which public sector bank launched its ―Star Kisan Sathi‖ scheme for landless labourers and marginal farmers on the occasion of its 105

th foundation day recently?

a) State Bank of India b) Bank of Baroda c) Bank of Maharashtra d) Bank of India* e) Punjab National Bank Answer 87: Bank of India on September 7, 2010, launched its ―Star Kisan Sathi‖ scheme for landless labourers and marginal farmers on the occasion of its 105

th foundation day.

88. Which is India‘s Most Trusted Brand according to a recent survey by Economic Times Brand Equity? a) Colgate b) Lux c) Nokia* d) Fair & Lovely e) Dettol Answer 88: Economic Times Brand Equity released the findings of the Most Trusted Brands Survey 2010 in August 2010. Nokia emerged as India's Most Trusted Brand for the third year in a row, topping a field of 300 product and service brands. Nokia is followed by Colgate, Lux, Dettol, Britannia, Lifebouy, Clinic Plus, Pond‘s, Fair & Lovely and Pepsodent in top ten list. 89. Which country was ranked as world‘s best holiday destination in the recent Conde Nast Readers‘ Travel Awards 2010? a) Turkey* b) Italy c) New Zealand d) Spain e) France Answer 89: India was on September 7, 2010 ranked as the seventh-best destination in the world in the recent Conde Nast Readers‘ Travel Awards 2010. Turkey was adjudged the favourite holiday destination followed by Egypt in second position. Australia was third followed by Italy, New Zealand and Spain. 90. Who was nominated as its first honorary wildlife warden by Uttarakhand as part of the hill state‘s tiger conservation campaign recently? a) Sachin Tendulkar b) Abhishek Bachchan c) Mahendra Singh Dhoni* d) Hrithik Roshan e) Suresh Raina Answer 90:

Current GK


28

India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on September 5, 2010 nominated as Uttarakhand‘s first honorary wildlife warden as part of the hill state‘s tiger conservation campaign. Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank also declared Dhoni as the brand ambassador of the save tiger campaign in the state. Uttarakhand houses two major national parks – Jim Corbett and Rajaji. 91. Subrata Roy, Chairman of Sahara Group joined as one of the volunteers for Commonwealth Games (CWG). What is the CWG volunteer programme renamed as recently? a) ‗Delhi Days‘ b) ‗Delhi One‘ c) ‗Delhi Ours‘ d) ‗Delhi Ahead‘ e) ‗Delhi United‘* Answer 91: Subrata Roy, Chairman of Sahara Group, on September 7, 2010 joined as one of the volunteers for the next month‘s Commonwealth Games. The CWG volunteer programme has been christened as ‗Delhi United‘. 92. Which of the following cash awards for medal winners at Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, announced recently, are correctly matched? I. Rs. 20 lakhs – gold medal II. Rs.10 lakhs – silver medal III. Rs. 6 lakhs – bronze medal a) I only b) I and II only c) II and III only d) III and I only e) I, II and III* Answer 92: The Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. M.S. Gill, on September 7, 2010, announced doubling of cash awards for the coming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games to Rs.20 lakhs (from Rs.10 lakhs) for gold medalist, Rs.10 lakhs (from Rs.5 lakhs) for silver medalist, and Rs.6 lakhs (from Rs.3 lakhs) for bronze medalist. 93. Which corporate group will host the first Indian Grand Prix under the Formula One World Championship in 2011? a) Arvind Lalbhai Group b) Mahindra & Mahindra Group c) Jaypee Group* d) Essar Group e) Hero Group Answer 93: Formula One‘s ruling body FIA on September 8, 2010 confirmed the introduction of the Indian Grand Prix for the first time next year. The Indian Grand Prix will be the 18

th race of the FIA Formula One World

Championship racing season in 2011. It is scheduled to take place at the Jaypee Group Circuit on October 30, 2011 in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. 94. Which company won the Airtel Rajsingh Dungarpur Corporate Trophy tournament recently? a) NTPC b) Air India c) India Cements d) ONGC e) IOC* Answer 94:

Current GK


29

Indian Oil Corporation pulled off an exciting three-run win over India Cements in the final of the Airtel Rajsingh Dungarpur Corporate Trophy at the ACA-VDCA stadium in Visakhapatnam on September 8, 2010. IOC made 268 for six in 50 overs and bowled out India Cements for 265. 95. Which of the following combinations of recent books and their authors is/are correctly matched? I. ‗Celebrating Delhi‘ – Mala Dayal II. ‗Akriti to Sanskriti: The Journey of Indian Forms‘ – Harsha V. Dehejia III. ‗Mother Pious Lady- Making Sense of Everyday India‘ – Santosh Desai a) I only b) I and II only c) II and III only d) III and I only e) I, II and III* 96. Which of the following statements about the Dada Saheb Phalke Award announced recently is/are correct? I. The award is conferred by the Filmfare magazine for outstanding contribution in the field of Indian Cinema. II. Devika Rani was the first recipient of the award in 1969 III. The award consists of a Swarn Kamal, a cash prize of Rs.10 lakhs and a shawl. a) I only b) I and II only c) II and III only* d) III and I only e) I, II and III Answer 96: The Dada Saheb Phalke Award is conferred by the Government of India for outstanding contribution in the field of Indian Cinema. The award consists of a Swarn Kamal, a cash prize of Rs.10 lakhs and a shawl and will be presented at the National Films Awards Function scheduled to be held in October this year. 97. Former IPS Kiran Bedi was in news for which of her books released recently? a) It‘s Always Possible b) Empowering Women As I See c) Broom & Groom* d) What Went Wrong And Continues e) I Dare Answer 97: ‗Broom & Groom‘ is co-authored by Kiran Bedi & Pavan Choudary. 98. Which of the following statements about The Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) is/are incorrect? a) The headquarters of OIC is at Muscat, Oman* b) Arabic, English, French are the official languages at OIC c) The OIC has 57 member states d) Turkey‘s Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu is the Secretary-General of OIC e) Both (3) and (4) Answer 98: The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is an international organisation with a permanent delegation to the United Nations, with 57 member states. Headquarters is at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia & Secretary-General is Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu. 99. Which well known economist was in news for his recently released book ‗Beyond the Invisible Hand: A Dissent on Contemporary Economics‘? a) Raghuram Rajan

Current GK


30

b) Bimal Jalan c) Amartya Sen d) Kaushik Basu* e) Rakesh Mohan 100. The DRDO carried out a successful flight trial its Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) at Balasore, Orissa recently. What is the missile named? Kiran Astra* Trishul Vajra Chakra Answer 100: India on July 6, 2010 conducted the night trial of its indigenously developed beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile 'Astra' in inclement weather. The 3.8 metre long missile, which has a diametre of 178 mm, can carry a warhead containing explosives weighing 15 kg and can be fitted to any fighter aircraft. It is intended to be eventually integrated with IAF's Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, Jaguar and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. Describing 'Astra' as a futuristic missile, DRDO scientists said the weapon could intercept the target at supersonic speed (mach 1.2 to 1.4).

Documents

Current Gk Final