Latest Current Affairs Quiz- 25

Latest Current Affairs Quiz- 25

1.Nishi Vasudeva will be the first woman to head a navratna status PSU in India. She was chosen to head –

(A) Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)

(B) Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)

(C) Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)

(D) Mahanagar Telephone Nigam limited (MTNL)

Ans.(C) Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)

2. “My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions” is a new book released recently. This book is authored by –

(A) Chetan Bhagat

(B) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

(C) Nirupama Vaidyanathan

(D) Garima Sanjay

Ans. (B) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

3. Recently, Facebook and six other companies launched a joint project to connect the two third of the global population to Internet. Name this project.

(A) Internet.org

(B) Project Loon

(C) Internet Access Programme

(D) None of these

Ans. (A) Internet.org

4. Recently, RTI Amendment Bill 2013 introduced in Lok Sabha says that –

(A) The definition of Public Authority in RTI Act shall not include any Political Parties

(B) Political parties will be defined as Public Authority

(C) No Public Authority shall include in RTI ACT

(D) None of these

Ans. (A) The definition of Public Authority in RTI Act shall not include any Political Parties

5. Ronjan Sodhi was recommended for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award 2013. He is associated with –

(A) Tennis

(B) Chess

(C) Football

(D) Shooting

Ans. (D) Shooting

6. On 07 August 2013, the first public sector breast milk bank in India was inaugurated in –

(A) Kolkatta

(B) Dehradun

(C) Pune

(D) Bengaluru

Ans. (A) Kolkatta

7. India launched its first indigenous aircraft carrier recently. Name this aircraft carrier –

(A) INS Viraat

(B) INS Vishal

(C) INS Vikrant

(D) INS Vikramaditya

Ans. (C) INS Vikrant

8. International Youth Day was observed on –

(A) 12th August

(B) 14th August

(C) 16th August

(D) 18th August

Ans. (A) 12th August

9. Who was appointed as 23rd Governor of Reserve Bank of India?

(A) Nirupama Rao

(B) Pratip Chaudhuri

(C) D. Subbarao

(D) Raghuram G Rajan

Ans. (D) Raghuram G Rajan

10. Who was the other one with S Sreesanth been imposed a life ban by Board of Control for Cricket in India?

(A) Siddharth Trivedi

(B) Amit Singh

(C) Ankeet Chavan

(D) Harmeet singh

Ans. (C) Ankeet Chavan

11. Who was appointed recently as CEO of iGate Corporation?

(A) Phaneesh Murthy

(B) Pierre Nanterme

(C) Ashok Vemuri

(D) Shantanu Narayen

Ans. (C) Ashok Vemuri

12. Which state achieve top position in literacy chart in India

(A) Mizoram              

(B) Kerala

(C) Tripura                 

(D) Karnataka

Ans. (C) Tripura    

13. Who has be awarded with first Mahathir Award for Global Peace in August,2013?

(A) Barack Obama                

(B) Malala Yousafzai

(C) Nelson Mandela             

(D) Ban Ki Moon

Ans. (C) Nelson Mandela 

14. Which team wons the 2013 Asia Cup Hockey?

(A) India                       

(B) Pakistan

(C) South Korea           

(D) Malaysia

Ans. (C) South Korea  

15. Which of the following has recently (Sep 2013) become the oldest man to win a Tennis Grand Slam?

(A) Leander Paes

(B) Jonas Bjorkman

(C) Max Mirnyi

(D) Arthur Ashe

Ans. (A) Leander Paes

16. Which of the following is the first ever awardee of the Sree Narayana Guru Global Secular and Peace Award?

(A) Naveen Patnayak

(B) Nitish Kumar

(C) Shashi Tharoor

(D) Jyotirmai Sikdar

Ans. (C) Shashi Tharoor

17. Robert Mugabe recently was sworn in as the seventh President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Who was the first one?

(A) Ian Smith

(B) Morgan Tsvangirai

(C) Canaan Banana

(D) Kisinoti Mukwazhe

Ans. (C) Canaan Banana

18. Which of the following Indian has recently been awarded Global Diversity Award 2013 by the Parliament of United Kingdom?

(A) Rituparno Ghosh

(B) Shashi Tharoor

(C) Amitabh Bachchan

(D) Dr. A PJ Abdul Kalam

Ans. (C) Amitabh Bachchan

19. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who was recently presented with the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2012 is president of which following country?

(A) Liberia

(B) Mali

(C) Senegal

(D) South Africa

Ans. (A) Liberia

20. Which following Tennis player did Rafael Nadal beat to clinch US Open 2013 men's singles title?

(A) Roger Federer

(B) Andy  Murray

(C) Richard Gasquet

(D) Novak  Djokovic

Ans. (D) Novak  Djokovic

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Daily Current Affairs updates of September 17, 2013

Daily Current Affairs updates of September 17, 2013

National

1) Special cell begins probe in Muzaffarnagar riot cases.

2) Government is developing safety device for women, senior citizens which could be used to trigger alarm and send signals to pre-identified phone numbers in case of emergency.

3) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi celebrated his 64th birthday. BJP's big announcement to appoint him as its prime ministerial candidate is indeed a perfect birthday gift to one of the most dedicated, dynamic and successful politicians of the country.

4) BSF jawan was injured as Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire again.

5) RTI applicants will no longer have to wait to get their applications processed as the Department of Posts is all set to bring out an RTI stamp for sale soon.

International

1) Deadly Mexico storms killed at least 42; floods strand thousands in some of the worst flooding in decades.

2) Pakistan is keen to have a comprehensive dialogue with India for the resolution of all issues including Kashmir said Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

3) 13 killed in Washington Navy Yard shooting:  At least 13 people, including Indian-American and the gunman, were killed and the police were looking for another suspect, in an audacious mass shooting at the high-security Washington Navy Yard located at a short distance from the White House.

Achievements/Awards

1) World's highest civilian airport started operating in China: World's highest civilian airport, located 4,411 meters above sea level, started operating on Monday in China's Sichuan province, shortening travel time between "the last Shangri-La" and the provincial capital.

2) Three Indian-Americans feature among America's 400 richest: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates retaining the top spot on the Forbes list for the twentieth straight year, at USD 72 billion. Up USD 6 billion from 2012, Gates is once again the world's richest person, having passed Mexico's Carlos Slim in May.

3) National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) was awarded Indira Gandhi Official Language Award for propagation of Rajbhasha ( Official Language) in the company by the Union Government of India on Hindi Divas on 14 September 2013.

4) Bollywood actor John Abraham was today conferred the 'Pride of the Nation' award for his attempt to raise the sensitive issue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination through his role as a RAW agent in "Madras Cafe".

5) Malala Yousafzai and American singer, human rights and social justice activist Harry Belafonte were on Tuesday named as joint recipients of Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award for 2013.

Business/Economy

1) Government has increased import duty on jewellery from 10 percent to 15 percent with a view to check inward shipment of gold besides protecting domestic manufacturers.

2) Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday fixed the reference rate of rupee against US dollar at 63.3770 and the euro at 84.5980 as against 62.4840 and 83.4960 on Monday.

3) Onion prices again touch Rs 70/kg on supply crunch.

4) Air India has tied up with SBI Cards to launch a co-branded travel credit card that seeks to add value to the travel experience of Indian customers.

Technology

1) Samsung launches Galaxy Note 3 at Rs 49,900 in India: Just two weeks after the global announcement of Galaxy Gear and Galaxy Note 3, Samsung launched the two devices in India. While the Galaxy Note 3 has been priced at Rs 49,900 , the Galaxy Gear, which is a smartwatch, will be sold at a price of Rs 22,990.

2) Iran restores blocks on Facebook, Twitter.

Appointments

1) Cable television services firm DEN Networks Ltd announced the appointment of Yugal Kishore Sharma as president, broadband to spearhead the company's foray into broadband Internet services.

2) Quick Heal Technologies appointed Rajesh Ghonasgi as Chief Financial Officer.

Sports

1) Ravindra Jadeja continued to jointly top the bowlers' list in the latest ICC ODI rankings.

2) Windies A beat India A to level series 1-1.

3) Pakistan were eliminated from the field hockey event at next year's Commonwealth Games after failing to enter the event by the deadline due to an internal sporting dispute.

4) Serbia will face defending champions the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup final.

5) Amit Kumar won silver at world wrestling championship for India. 

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16 September 2013: Daily Current Affairs Updates

16 September 2013: Daily Current Affairs

Days

1) World Ozone Day being observed today: This year’s theme of World Ozone Day 2013 is “A Healthy Atmosphere, the Future We Want”. World ozone day is observed on 16 September every year since 1995. This day marks the importance of ozone layer and its profuse contributions to saving the environment of earth. This date was chosen by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution to remember the signing of Montreal Protocol on substances depleting the ozone layer.

2) Keralites with traditional fervour and gaiety celebrated Onam.

National

1) Muzaffarnagar violence: Terming the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar a "big tragedy", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during a visit to the violence-hit Uttar Pradesh district today along with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi on Monday, called for punishing the guilty.

2) SC backs Centre on cutting diesel subsidy: Supreme Court on Monday cleared the decks for Centre for not providing subsidised diesel to bulk consumers of public utility services like Railways and state transport corporations, saying the economy is in bad shape and pragmatic approach is needed to be taken on subsidies.

3) Controversial godman Asaram Bapu, accused of sexually assaulting a minor, will remain in jail with court extending his judicial custody by 14 days.

4) Mountainous Northeast India would be connected to the railway network of neighbouring Myanmar to link up with the ambitious 81,000 km-long Trans-Asian Railway Network (TARN).

5) Commercial operations of the first 1,000 MW unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) have once again been shifted to October, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) said.

6) Left-leaning All India Students Association (AISA) on Monday swept the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) election.

7) Karnataka relaxes dress code for its employees.

International

1) UN report confirms use of chemical weapon sarin in Syria attack.

2) Typhoon Man-yi hit central Japan.

Awards/Achievements

1) Nina Davuluri became the first contestant of Indian heritage to win the Miss America pageant.

2) Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates is still America's richest man, taking the top spot in the Forbes 400 list for the 20th straight year with a net worth of 72 billion dollars.

Economy/Business

1) Rupee ends at one-month high of 62.83 against dollar.

2) Sensex on Monday wiped out over 350-point rise in early trade to end with 9.71 point rise as a pick-up in August wholesale inflation dashed hopes of RBI cutting rates later this week.

3) Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram launched the IRDA's Insurance Repository System (IRS) in Hyderabad.

Sports

1) PV Sindhu to lead Indian challenge at Japan Open starting 17 September 2013.

2) Djokovic, Tipsarevic take Serbia into Davis Cup final.

3) Champions League T20 2013 starts with qualifiers on 17 September 2013. THis was the fourth season.

4) Cristiano Ronaldo renews contract with Real Madrid.

Entertainment

1) Condition of veteran actor Dilip Kumar, who was admitted to Lilavati hospital on Sunday night after he complained of breathlessness, is stable, his family said.

2) Abhinav Shiv Tiwari's "OASS", a movie on human trafficking, was named the best film at the second edition of the Ladakh International Film Festival (LIFF).

3) Saudi Arabia, where cinemas are banned, is to compete for an Oscar for the first time next year with feminist film "Wadjda" directed by Haifaa al-Mansour, a Saudi official announced.

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List of Grand Slam Tennis Winners 2013

List of Grand Slam Tennis Winners 2013

The tennis grand slam tournaments start in January every year in Australia (Australian Open) and run through until September in the USA (US Open). This year it was an eventful season. Curtains for the Grand Slam season 2013 felled on 9 September 2013 with Rafael Nadal & Serena Williams winning US Open titles 2013. Now everybody will be searching for the list of winners as the same is going to be a sure question for competitive Exams till next season. So in this post we are providing you the complete list of winners with short details.  

Here are the Grandslam winners & tournament details for 2013.

Australian Open 2013

Dates: 14 – 27 January 2013

Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne Australia

Men's Singles Winner 2013: Novak Djokovic

Note: It was Djokovic's 6th career Grand Slam singles title and his 4th title at the Australian Open (a record).

Men's Singles Runner Up: Andy Murray

Women’s Singles Winner 2013: Victoria Azarenka

Note:  It was Azarenka's 2nd career Grand Slam singles title and her 2nd (consecutive) title at the Australian Open.

Women’s Singles Runner Up: Li Na

French Open 2013

Dates: 26 May to 9 June 2013

Venue: Roland Garros, Paris, France

Men’s Singles Winner 2013: Rafael Nadal

Men's Singles Runner Up: David Ferrer

Women’s Singles Winner 2013: Serena Williams

Note: It was Williams' 16th grand slam title and her second at the French Open. It was her 52nd singles title of her career and sixth of 2013.

Women’s Singles Runner Up: Maria Sharapova

Wimbledon 2013

Dates: 24 June to 7 July 2013

Venue: The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, London, UK

Gentlemen’s Singles Winner 2013: Andy Murray

Note: It was Murray's 4th title of the year and 1st Grand Slam title of the year. It was his 1st Wimbledon title, 2nd Grand Slam title and 28th career title.

Gentlemen’s Singles runner up: Novak Djokovic

Ladies’ Singles Winner 2013: Marion Bartoli

Note: It was Bartoli's 1st Grand Slam title in her career and 8th singles title overall.

Ladies’ Singles runner up: Sabine Lisicki

US Open 2013

Dates: 26 August to 9 September 2013

Venue: Flushing Meadow, New York, USA

Men’s Singles Winner 2013: Rafael Nadal

Men’s Singles runner up: Novak Djokovic

Women’s Singles Winner 2013 : Serena Williams

Women’s Singles Runner Up: Victoria Azarenka

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Happy Onam to all dear friends.....

Happy Onam to all dear friends.....

Onam is the biggest and the most important festival of the state of Kerala. It is also the Harvest Festival of Kerala with State holidays on 4 days starting from Onam Eve (Uthradom) to the fourth Onam Day. It is also a secular festival, celebrated by people of all religions and castes with the same zeal. The festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and marks the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali who Malayalees consider as their King. Onam is reminiscent of Kerala's agrarian past, as it is considered to be a harvest festival.  Carnival of Onam lasts for ten days and brings out the best of Kerala culture and tradition. Intricately decorated Pookalam, ambrosial Onasadya, breathtaking Snake Boat Race and exotic Kaikottikali dance are some of the most remarkable features of Onam - the harvest festival in Kerala. Also, it is one of the very few festivals that is celebrated with most number of cultural elements such as Vallam Kali, Pulikkali, Pookkalam, Onattappau, Thumbi Thullal etc.

Onam is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). This corresponds with the month of August-September according to Gregorian Calendar. Coinciding with the harvest season, Onam marks a joyful completion of human efforts, with a prayerful optimism for the future. People of all religion, caste and community celebrate the festival with equal joy, underlining the secular fabric of our society.This unique festival brings out the rich cultural heritage of Kerala in it’s best form and spirit.

Story behind Onam

Story goes that during the reign of mighty asura (demon) king, Mahabali, Kerala witnessed its golden era. Every body in the state was happy and prosperous and king was highly regarded by his subjects. Apart from all his virtues, Mahabali had one shortcoming. He was egoistic. This weakness in Mahabali's character was utilized by Gods to bring an end to his reign as they felt challenged by Mahabali's growing popularity. However, for all the good deed done by Mahabali, God granted him a boon that he could annually visit his people with whom he was so attached.It is this visit of Mahabali that is celebrated as Onam every year. People make all efforts to celebrate the festival in a grand way and impress upon their dear King that they are happy and wish him well.

Typical Onam Sadhya

Pookalam

More Scraps 

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Current Affairs updates from 15 September 2013

Current Affairs updates from 15 September 2013

Days

1) Engineer's day is celebrated today (15th September) across the country. This day is celebrated in the honor of "Sir Dr. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya" who was born on the same day in 1860.

2) President of India Pranab Mukherjee and Kerala CM Oommen Chandy today greeted Malayalees all over the world wishing them a prosperous and peaceful Onam festival. Onam is the harvest/state festival of Kerala. The Onam will be celebrated by Keralites tomorrow. 

National

1) Land Acquisition Bill would be notified by early next year after framing of rules, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh said.

2) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav visited Muzaffarnagar to meet victims of communal clashes.

3) Pakistan violated ceasefire in Mendhar sector along LoC

4) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called a meeting of the National Integration Council (NIC) on September 23. The meeting comes in the wake of the recent communal violence in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar in which almost 50 people have died.

5) Government has notified the landmark Food Security legislation, giving a legal right on highly subsidized foodgrains to 67 percent of the country's population. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill on August 26, while the Rajya Sabha gave its nod on September 2. President Pranab Mukherjee gave his assent to the Bill last week. "...it (the Act) shall be deemed to have come into force on July 5, 2013," the Gazette notification said.

6) Taking note of some of its staffers wearing clothes “that did not bring any repute”, the Karnataka Government has prescribed a “decent” dress code for them — pant and shirt or ‘pyjama/kurta’ for men and saree or ’churidar’ for women.

Technology & Achievements

1) India conducted a second test flight of its indigenously developed nuclear-capable 'Agni-V' long-range ballistic missile, which has a strike range of more than 5000 km, from the Wheeler Island off Odisha coast. Unlike other missiles of indigenously built Agni series, the latest one 'AGNI-V' is the most advanced version having some new technologies incorporated with it in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine.

2) Japan to be nuclear free as last reactor switched off.  Move will leave the world's third largest economy without atomic energy for the second time since the Fukushima crisis erupted in March 2011.

Awards

1) Miss India 2012 finalist Purva Rana was crowned Vice-Queen at the Miss United Continent 2013 held in Guayaquil, Ecuador. International

1) United Nations has formally accepted Syria's application to join the chemical weapons convention.

2) Salustiano "Shorty" Sanchez, recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest man, died in New York state.

Sports

1)  Andy Murray secured Britain's return to the Davis Cup World Group after a five-year absence when he defeated Croatia's Ivan Dodig.

2) ShikharDhawan to lead SunrisersHyderabad in upcoming ChampionsLeague Twenty20.

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US Open 2013- Complete list of Winners

US Open 2013- Complete list of Winners

The 2013 US Open Tennis Tournament was the 133rd edition of the US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and ran from August 26 to September 9 2013. The tournament was an event run by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and was part of the 2013 ATP World Tour and the 2013 WTA Tour calendars under the Grand Slam category.

Rafael Nadal claimed his second US Open title and 13th Grand Slam crown when he defeated world number one Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a lung-busting, big-hitting final on 09 September 2013. Whereas in women’s singles category Top-seeded Serena Williams won her fifth U.S. Open championship and 17th Grand Slam title overall by beating No. 2 Victoria Azarenka 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-1 in a windy final.

Here is the complete list of winners with details

Men's Singles

Final between: Rafael Nadal(Spain) vs Novak Djokovic(Serbia)

Winner- : Rafael Nadal(Spain) (6–2, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1)

Women's Singles

Final between: Serena Williams (USA) vs Victoria Azarenka(Belarus)

Winner: Serena Williams (USA) 7–5, 6–7(6–8), 6–1

Men's Doubles

Final between: Leander Paes(India) & Radek Štěpánek (Czech Reuplic) vs Alexander Peya(Austria) & Bruno Soares(Brazil)

Winners: Leander Paes(India) & Radek Štěpánek (Czech Reuplic) (6–1, 6–3)

Women's Doubles

Fianl between:

Andrea Hlaváčková (Czech Repulic) & Lucie Hradecká(Czech Repulic) vs Ashleigh Barty(Australia) & Casey Dellacqua(Australia)

Winners: Andrea Hlaváčková (Czech Repulic) & Lucie Hradecká(Czech Repulic) 6–7(4–7), 6–1, 6–4

Mixed Doubles

Final between: Andrea Hlaváčková (Czech Republic) & Max Mirnyi(Belarus) vs Abigail Spears(USA) & Santiago González(Mexico)

Winners:  Andrea Hlaváčková (Czech Republic) & Max Mirnyi(Belarus) 7–6(7–5), 6–3

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