GK & Current Affairs: January 1 & 2, 2015

1. The union government has replaced the Planning commission, which will now be called as NITI Aayog. Who among the following will be the chairman of the new institute?

Prime MinisterPrime Minister will be the chairperson of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog. NITI Aayog to have a governing council comprising all chief ministers and lieutenant governors.

2. Recently, which country has successfully launched a new meteorological satellite called Fengyun-II 08?

ChinaFengyun-II 08, is a China’s new meteorological satellite that was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province in the country’s southwest. The newly launched satellite is expected to collect meteorological, maritime and hydrological data, while also transmitting information that will be useful to forecast weather and monitor environmental changes.

3. Who among the following is the chairman of the committee that submitted its report on rail fare hike, recently?

D K MittalA hike in passenger train fares, particularly in suburban service, and increase in the minimum distance to be covered in passenger and express trains are some of the recommendations made by the committee.

4. Recently, which among the following became the latest country to join Euro currency zone?

LithuaniaLithuania has become the 19th member of euro currency zone.

5. The Chandyan village, where the remnants of late Harappan period house have been discovered recently is located in __?

Uttar PradeshChandyan Village is in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh. The Archaeological Survey of India, during its excavation has found remnants of house that belongs to Harappan period.

6. At present, which of the following states have Legislative Councils?

Only 1, 2, 3 & 4There are Legislative Councils in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana. The union cabinet has recently cleared a proposal of setting up of Legislative Council in Assam.

7. As per the latest report, which one of the following states of India has world’s highest number of conflict induced internally displaced persons in the world?

AssamAs per the report prepared by Asian Centre for Human Rights Assam had the highest conflict induced internally displaced persons in the world during the year 2014. There are over 3,00,000 internally displaced persons in Assam, which is the highest in the world during 2014.

8. Vasant Gowrikar, who passed away recently, was a famous personality in which field?

Space ScienceVasant Gowrikar was a space veteran and eminent scientist. He was the chief of Indian Space Research Organisation in 1991-1993. His contribution to Indian space technology is immeasurable. Gowrikar was the recipient of Padma Shri in 1984 and Padma Bhushan in 2008.

9. The Dongaria Kondh, one of India’s vulnerable tribal groups is found in which state?

Odisha

10. As per the RBI guidelines, what is the minimum paid-up equity capital for small finance banks?

Rs. 100 Crore

GK & Current Affairs: January 3, 2015

1. Which among the following is the official mascot of the 35th National Games?

AmmuThe Great Indian Hornbill or christened as Ammu, the state bird of the Kerala, is the official Mscot of the 35th National Games

2. Who among the following is the author of “The Dramatic Decade: The Indira Gandhi Years”?

Pranab MukherjeeThe Dramatic Decade: The Indira Gandhi Years has been written by Pranab Mukherjee. This book focuses on 1970s and is a rare account of one of the most contentious periods in Independent India’s past: The Emergency.

3. Recently, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution in favour of granting citizenship to Rohingya Muslims. The Rohingya Muslims are stateless people of __?

MyanmarThe Rohingya are a Muslim minority population living mainly in the state of Arakan, in Myanmar. Recently, the United Nations general assembly adopted a resolution urging Myanmar to grant citizenship to its Rohingya Muslims minority and grant them equal access to services.

4. Who among the following is chiefly known as “Father of Indian Mansoon Model”?

Vasant GowrikarNoted scientist and space veteran Vasant Gowrikar, who made valuable contribution to the fields of space research, weather and population was chiefly known as Father of Indian Mansoon Model.

5. The former RBI deputy governor Shyamala Gopinath has been appointed as the chairperson of which among the following banks?

HDFC BankFormer RBI deputy governor Shyamala Gopinath has been appointed as chairperson of HDFC Bank, India’s second largest private sector bank. She has been appointed as part-time non-executive chairperson of the bank for a period of three years from January 2, 2015.

6. The “Kolha” is a tribe indigenous to which one of the following states?

OdishaKolha is an important tribe living in forest areas and hilly terrains in the state of Odisha.

7. Who among the following is the new chairman of the Railways board?

A K MittalA K Mittal is the new chairman of the Railways board.

8. For the first time, Kisan Vikas Patra was launched on __?

1st April 1988

9. According to International Federation of Journalist, which among the following is the most dangerous country for journalists?

PakistanPakistan is the most dangerous country for journalist, according to International Federation of Journalist. In Pakistan 14 media persons lost their lives in 2014. As per the report, Asia Pacific region was the most dangerous region for journalists and media staff in the world for a second consecutive year. The Middle East is the second most dangerous region with 31 fatalities followed by Americas with 26. Africa came fourth (17 killings) and Europe reported nine deaths.

10. US dollar index is the trade weighted index of the how many currencies?

SixUS dollar index is a trade weighted index of the six most traded currencies globally viz. Euro (57.6% weight), Japanese yen (13.6% weight), Pound sterling (11.9% weight), Canadian dollar (9.1% weight), Swedish krona (4.2% weight) and Swiss franc (3.6% weight). It has been a key gauge for measuring risk aversion among global investors in Indian equities and the investment outlook in global risky assets. It has lost relevance in recent times.

GK & Current Affairs: January 4, 5, 2015

1. Which among the following is the only breeding ground for Indian Skimmer, an endangered fresh water bird species?

Chambal RiverThe Indian Skimmer is an endangered fresh water bird species. The Chambal River is the only breeding ground for the bird. The colourful bird, with a black cap and orange bill, was once widely found in major rivers and estuaries. But it is now mainly seen in and around the National Chambal (Gharial) Wildlife Sanctuary, spread across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

2. Recently, the union government has said it has decided to accept the recommendations of the Bezbaruah Committee. Bezbaruah committee was set up to study the ___?

Safety and security of people from North East IndiaBezbaruah Committee was set up to look into the safety and security of people from North East India. In February, 2014 the Government had set up the Committee chaired by retired IAS officer M P Bezbaruah, following killing of north-east student Nido Tania last year. The Committee handed over its report in July 2014, which had recommendations on ways to solve the apprehensions of the people of North East, with special regard to their safety and security.

3. The Itaipu Dam, one of the largest hydropower plants in the world is located in which country?

Brazil

The Itaipu hydroelectric power plant is second largest hydropower plant in Brazil. The project is located on the Parana River, at the border between Brazil and Paraguay. Itaipu dam with an installed capacity of 14,000MW ranks as the world’s second largest hydropower plant.

4. Which among the following is the theme of the Indian Science Congress-2015?

Science and Technology for Human Development

5. Who among the following has won the ATP World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi?

Andy MurrayAndy Murray won the ATP World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi. His win comes after world number one Novak Djokovic withdrew from the final match citing reason of illness.

6. The “Strait of Dover” separates which of the following countries?

United Kingdom and FranceThe Strait of Dover is the strait at the narrowest part of the English Channel and marks a boundary between the Channel and North Sea, separating Great Britain from continental Europe.

7. Recently, Prime Minister Modi has dedicated the digital village Akodara in Gujarat to the Nation. Akodara has been developed as Digital village by which bank?

ICICI BankPrime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated the digital village Akodara through digital inauguration in Mumbai. Akodara village is part of Sabarkantha district of north Gujarat. It has been developed as digital village by ICICI bank. In this village, shops, mandi, cooperative society, milk producer group have been facilitated for cashless transactions.

8. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has decided to prepare a Tea Atlas in which one of the following states?

AssamUnited Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has decided to prepare a Tea Atlas in India’s North Eastern State Assam. This atlas seeks to create a comprehensive database of the tea gardens and socio-economic condition of its workers in state.

9. Who among the following has become the fastest to score 12,000 runs in Test matches?

Kumar SangakkaraSri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara has become the fifth cricketer to make 12,000-runs in Test. The 37-year-old Lankan legend reached the milestone in his 224th Test innings, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, both of whom needed 247 innings to achieve the mark.

10. The Turpan Depression, the third lowest point on Earth is located in which of the following Asian countries?

ChinaTurpan Depression is the lowest point in China and third lowest on Earth (after the Dead Sea and Lake Assal (Djibouti) at 154 meters below sea level.

GK & Current Affairs : January 6, 7, 2015

1. The theme of National Youth Festival-2015, which began in Guwahati recently (January 2015) is __?

Youth for Clean, Green and Progressive IndiaThe 19th National Youth Festival has begun in Guwahati, Assam. This festival coincides with the 152nd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Theme of this edition of youth festival is Youth for Clean, Green and Progressive India. It aims to spread to spread national integration and harmony. National Youth Festival is one of the most important events organized by the Union

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports wherein about 5000 youth from all over the country congregate to show their grit and metal in the field of art and culture.

2. The Union Government is planning to launch Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan to create awareness among the students in _____?

Science and MathematicsThe union government will launch Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan to create interest among the students in Science and Mathematics. Abhiyan which will be launched from the next academic session envisages to motivate and engage children in 6-18 age group in Science, Mathematics and Technology through observation and experiment.

3. Who among the following has become the first to make three Test centuries in his first three innings as captain?

Virat KohliIndian cricketer Virat Kohli became the first man to make three Test centuries in his first three innings as captain. Kohli made this record on an eventful third day of the fourth Test against Australia in Sydney.

4. Recently, which among the following banks has launched the countries first contactless debit and credit cards?

ICICI BankICICI bank has become the first bank to launch the countries first contactless debit and credit cards. The cards use the near-field communication technology, enabling one to make payments by just waving the card near merchant terminals instead of swiping the same. The bank has introduced these two cards in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Gurgaon to begin with and it has installed over 1,200 PoS machines capable of accepting contactless payments in these cities.

5. The strategic oil- and gas bearing region called “Yamala Peninsula” is located in which country?

RussiaThe Yamal Peninsula stretches some seven hundred kilometres into the Arctic Ocean from the Russian mainland below the Arctic Circle. It is believed that his region has one of the largest oil and gas reserves in the world.

6. Which city is the host of International Hindi Conference (April 2015)?

New JerseyNew Jersey is the venue for the International Hindi Conference-2015 that will be held in April 2015. Theme of 2015 edition of this conference is Expanding World of Hindi: Possibilities and Challenges.

7. According to Fortune magazine, the Business Person of the Year-2014 is __?

Larry PageGoogle co-founder Larry Page has been named as the business person of the year-2014, according to Fortune magazine. Larry Page surpassed global business leader Alibaba co- founder Jack Ma and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, to top the list.

8. The largest monolith of granite in the world called “El Capitan” is located in __?

USAEl Captain, the largest monolith of granite in the world is in California’s Yosemite National Park USA. It extends around 3,000 feet from base to summit along its tallest face. It is one of the world’s favourite challenges for rock climbers and BASE jumpers.

9. Teixobactin, which is news recently, is a ____?

A new antibioticA new antibiotic Teixobactin is the first new class of antibiotic announced in decades. Teixobactin shows great activity against some of the problem Gram positive superbugs like MRSA, enterococci, and C. diff—and has activity against tuberculosis and B. anthraces.

10. Maithripala Sirisena, has been elected as new President of which country?

Sri LankaMaithripala Sirisena has won the Presidential election of Sri Lanka. Maithiripala Sirisena was declared elected in Presidential elections after he had defeated incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa by more than 4 and a half lakh votes. In this election he had secured 51.28 per cent of total votes casted. Sirisena is the seventh President of Sri Lanka.

GK & Current Affairs: January 8, 9, 2015

1. Recently, Indian Immunological Limited (IIL) has launched the “Raksha Blue” India’s first vaccine for ____?

Blue TongueRaksha Blue is India’s first vaccine for blue tongue disease prevalent among flocks of goats and sheep across the country.

2. The 2016 UEFA European Championship or Euro 2016 for men’s national football teams will be hosted by which country?

FranceFrance will host the 2016 UEFA Championship for men’s national football teams. It is scheduled to be held from 10 June to 10 July 2016.

3. Recently, which among the following countries has announced “Great Collaborations” programme to forge collaboration with Indian companies?

UKGreat Collaboration is a campaign launched by United Kingdom to seek better cooperation between the companies based in India and the UK on a range of sectors. The campaign will over the time showcase and promote areas collaboration that benefit both countries across a range of sectors such as energy, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, financial service and infrastructure.

4. The Charlie Hebdo, which is in news now a day, is a satirical newspaper from which country?

FranceCharlie Hebdo is a French satirical weekly newspaper. The magazine has been in news when masked gunmen attacked Charlie Hebdo’s offices in Paris. The attacker murdered 12 people and wounded others, in France’s worst terrorist attack for half a century.

5. The Pampas are a grassland biome in ____?

South AmericaThe Pampas are a grassland biome in South America. They are flat, fertile plains that covers an area of 300,000 sq.miles. It found primarily in Argentina and extended to Uruguay.

6. Recently, World Congress on International Law was held in ___?

New DelhiWorld Congress on International Law was held in New Delhi from January 9-11. It was organised by Indian Society of International Law.

7. In which of the following cities, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Dandi Kutir, a museum on the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi?

Gandhinagar, Gujarat

8. Recently, Ranil Wickeramasinghe was sworn in as new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. He is the ___ Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Fill the blank with correct option?

10thRanil Wickeramasinghe is the tenth Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. He was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka thrice, from 7 May 1993 to 19 August 1994, from 9 December 2001 to 6 April 2004.

9. The Living Planet Report, a science based analysis on the health of our only planet is published by ____?

World Wide Fund for NatureThe Living Planet Report is published by World Wide Fund for Nature in every two year. The report is based on the Living Planet and ecological footprint calculations.

10. As per RBI guidelines, banks can allow minors above ___ years to independently open and operate saving banks accounts. Fill the blanks with correct option?

10Children older than 10 years can now open and operate saving bank accounts. RBI also allowed banks to offer additional facilities like internet banking, ATM, debit card and chequebook to minor.

GK & Current Affairs: January 10, 11, 2015

1. With respect to Niti Aayog which of the following statements is/are true?

1. Sindhushree Khullar is the first CEO of Niti Aayog2. Arvind Panagariya is the Vice-chairman of the Niti Aayog3. Economist Bibek Debroy and V K Saraswat are full time members

1, 2 & 3

2. Who among the following is/are major players in the Government Securities Market?

1. Commercial Banks2. Insurance Companies3. Individual Households4. Co-operative and Regional Rural Banks

Only 1, 3 & 4Major players in the Government market include commercial banks and primary dealers beside institutional investors like insurance companies. Other participants include co- operative banks, regional rural banks, mutual funds, provident and pension funds.

3. The Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC), a body to review and rewrite the legal-institutional architecture of the financial sector was set up by ___?

Ministry of FinanceThe Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) was set up on 24 March 2011 by Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Former Judge of the Supreme Court Justice B N Srikrishna is the chairman of the commission.

4. The “East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM)” is an Islamist terrorist group founded by Uyghur militants in which country?

ChinaThe East Turkestan Islamic Movement is an Islamist terror group in China. It was founded by Uyghur militants in western China. Its stated goals are the Independence of East Turkestan from China.

5. The book “Born Again on the Mountain” is authored by which of the following mountaineer?

Arunima SinhaArunima Sinha who became the first female amputee to scale Mount Everest is the author of the book “Born Again on the Mountain”

6. Which of the following would be the first state to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), an initiative of the United Nations?

GujaratGujarat will be the first state to sign a MoU with Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), an initiative of the United Nations. Gujarat will sign the MoU during the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. The intent of the MoU is to establish a framework for collaboration between SE4ALL and the state government on activities that would support SE4ALL objectives.

7. Satya Nadella, who has been conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award is CEO to which company?

MicrosoftSatya Nadella, is Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft. Nadella has been selected for a Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, which will be presented to him in absentia in Gandhinagar.

8. Recently, China has honoured its top science award to veteran nuclear Physicist Yu Min. Yu Min is popularly known as Father of China’s ___?

Hydrogen BombVeteran nuclear physicist Yu Min is dubbed as Father of China’s Hydrogen Bomb. He was a leading scientist in designing the China’s hydrogen bomb, winning a medal for his contribution to “two bombs, one satellite”, China’s self-reliant national defence programme in 1999.

9. Celtic Tiger is a term used to describe the economy of which of the following countries?

IrelandCeltic Tiger refers to the economy of the Republic of Ireland between 1995 and 2000. During this period Ireland has seen rapid real economic growth fuelled by foreign direct investment, and a subsequent property price bubble which rendered the real economy uncompetitive.

10. Which among the following countries has the world’s largest and most important tar oil sands deposits?

CanadaCanada is boasting to have biggest and most important tar oil sands in the world followed by Venezuela.

GK & Current Affairs: January 12, 2015

1. In a first of its kind in the country, which among the following state has separate ministry for cow affairs?

RajasthanRajasthan has separate ministry for cow affairs. Otaram Devasi is the India’s first cow minister.

2. Silesia, one of the largest coal producing region of Europe, is now located mostly in ____?

PolandSilesia is a region of Central Europe now located mostly in Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Silesia is a resource-rich and populous region. This region is best known for coal mining.

3. UNMEER is the first-ever United Nations emergency health mission, to combat ____?

EbolaUNMEER or the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response is the first-ever UN emergency health mission. It was set up as a temporary immediate needs related to the unprecedented fight against Ebola.

4. In which one of the following cities, Biosafety lab to strengthen the country’s livestock disease monitoring and forecasting system has been set up, recently?

BangaloreA state-of-the-art bio safety laboratory to strengthen the country’s livestock disease monitoring and forecasting system has been set up in Bangalore. The lab was set up by the National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics.

5. Stan Wawrinka, who won the Chennai Open title-2015, belongs to which country?

SwitzerlandStan Wawrinka is a Swiss professional tennis player. He is currently ranked World no.4. He defeated Aliaz Bedene of Slovernia 6-3, 6-4 to become the Chennai Open champion.

6. Recently, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, has become the first female President of ____?

CroatiaKolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, has become the first President of Croatia. Kitarovic was a former foreign minister and member of the centre-right opposition HDZ party. She secured 50.5% of the vote with 99% ballots counted, while incumbent Ivo Josipovic was close behind on 49.5%.

7. Recently, Reserve Bank of India and which one of the following has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the area of central banking?

European Central BankThe RBI and European Central Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the area of central banking. The MoU provides a framework for regular exchange of information, policy dialogue and technical cooperation between the two.

8. Who among the following has been chosen for the prestigious Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Award-2015?

M Y S PrasadM Y S Prasad, has been chosen for the prestigious Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Award-2015. Prasad is director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre. He has chosen for his outstanding contribution to R&D in the field of space science in his career at the ISRO.

9. Recently, which states has launched the “Sandesh One” project, an initiative for creating network of women social entrepreneur offering technologies and solution at the gross root level?

Kerala

10. The percentage of skilled people among the total workforce is highest in which one of the following countries?

South KoreaThe percentage of skilled people among the total workforce is highest in South Korea, which has 96 per cent. Japan has 80 per cent, Germany has 75 per cent and UK 70 per cent. In India it is just 2 per cent.

GK & Current Affairs: January 13, 2015

1. Which among the following has won the best film drama at the Golden Globe Awards?

BoyhoodThe movie Boyhood directed by Richard Linklater’s has won the best film drama at the Golden Globe Award. Boyhood take 12 year to make. Linklater named best director and Patricia Arquette best supporting actress.

2. The Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Award, an award for distinguished scientist is given by ____?

Indian Science Congress AssociationThe Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), a premier scientific organisation of the country has been giving this award. The awards carry a gold medal and given in alternate years. Indian Science Congress Association was established in 1914.

3. The “Popular State Militia” is a pro-government militia formed by which country to fight against Islamic State terrorist?

Syria

4. Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India has declared the following monuments as Adarsh monuments. Identify the wrongly paired one?

Vaishali Kolhua – JharkhandThe Hazadurai Palace in Murshidabad, Rang Ghar in Assam, world famous Konark Sun Temple in Odisha and Vaishali Kolhu in Bihar has been given the coveted Adarsh Monument tag by Archaeological Survey of India. These sites have been selected under the Adarsh Smarak Yojana.

5. The Dardanelles Strait, is a narrow strain in northern Turkey connects ____?

Aegean Sea and Sea of MarmaraThe Dardanelles Strait, a vital transportation bridge between the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea, is a narrow channel of water that connects the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It separates Asian Turkey from European Turkey (Trace), thus it also separates the two continents.

6. Which among the following has broke record for highest run-chase in T20 International cricket, recently?

West IndiesWest Indies set record for highest run-chase in T20 International cricket against South Africa. It is the highest successful run chase in Twenty20 international cricket, beating India’s 211 against Sri Lanka in 2009, with 467 runs scored in under 40 overs.

7. The Lake Chapala, is the largest fresh water lake of ____?

MexicoLake Chapala is Mexico’s largest freshwater lake.

8. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), is a proposed free trade agreement between the members of ____?

ASEANRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement between the ten ASEAN member states and the group’s Free Trade Agreement partners, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.

9. Recently, the union government has given its approval to link Damanganga-Pinjal interstate river link project. The project envisages sharing of water between which two states?

Gujarat and MaharashtraThe Damanganga-Pinjal River Linking is a project to share waters of two river basins across Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Damanganga-Pinjal rivers linking project envisages transfer of balance available water at the proposed Bhugad reservoir across Damangangariver and at the proposed Khargihill reservoir across Vagh river, a tributary of Damanganga river, in Damanganga basin for augmentation of water supply to Greater Mumbai to meet its domestic and industrial water requirements in the near future.

10. The first-ever Budda Heritage walk was recently held in ___?

Bihar

The first-ever Budda Heritage Walk was held in Bihar. It was organized by the Bihar Tourism Development Corporation. More than five hundred People from 11 countries walked through a 13 kilo meter long forest rail which Lord Gautama Buddha had once walked to Rajgir from Bodagaya around 2,543 years ago.

GK & Current Affairs: January 14, 2015

1. Which among the following has won the Federation Cup Football Tournament 2014-15?

Bengaluru FC

2. Who among the following has been voted as 2014 “Asian Tour Players’ Player of the year”?

Anirban LahiriIndian professional golfer Anirban Lahiri, who currently plays on the Asian Tour, has been voted the 2014 Asian Tour Players’ Player of the year.

3. ‘Maati Ke Rang’, a national culture festival, has been organised in which one of the following northeast states, recently?

Assam NagalandMaati Ke Rang, a national cultural festival was kick started at Dimapur, Nagaland on January 13. The festival was organised by the Union ministry of culture’s North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) for the first time in the northeast. The five-day extravaganza will showcase the cultural diversity of the country. Artists from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar will also take part in the event. The previous editions were held in Panchkula, Haryana (2012), and Nagpur, Maharashtra, (2013).

4. The International Year of Light 2015 is an initiative that aims to raise awareness about the breakthroughs in light science is adopted by___?

UNIYL 2015 is a project of United Nations that aims to raise awareness about the breakthroughs in light science and its applications and its importance to humankind.

5. Who among the following is the new chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation?

A S Kiran KumarA S Kiran Kumar has been appointed as new secretary of the department of space and also chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the space commission.

6. Who among the following has been named as the “Governor of the Year” in the Central Banking Awards for 2015?

Raghuram RajanReserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan has been named as the Governor of the Year in the central banking journal award for 2015. This is the recognition of the part of RBI and its staff have been playing in bringing macroeconomic stability to the Indian economy.

7. Recently, Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha has become the first Hindu chief justice of which one of the Muslim major countries?

BangladeshJustice Surendra Kumar Sinha has been appointed as Chief Justice of Bangladesh. Sinha became the first Hindu to hold highest judicial post in the Muslim-majority country.

8. Recently, Idukki has become the first district in the country to have high speed rural broadband network. Idukki district is in which state?

Kerala

Idukki is a district in Kerala state. It has become the first district in the country to have high speed Rural Broadband Network i.e. National Optical Fibre Network internet connectivity. In Idukki, 8 block offices and 52 village panchayat out of 53 will benefit from this project.

9. The winner’s of FIFA Ballon d’Or award for 2014 in men and women category, respectively _____?

Cristiano Ronaldo and Nadine KesslerPortugal footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Germany midfielder Nadine Kessler are the winners of the FIFA Ballon d’Or award for 2014 in men and women category respectively.

10. Lima, the host of United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP20 or COP10, is the capital of which country?

Peru

GK & Current Affairs: January 15, 2015

1. The prestigious “ Vyas Samman award for the Year-2014” will be awarded to ___?

Kamal Kishore GoyankaEminent Hindi litterateur Kamal Kishore Goyanka has been chosen for the prestigious Vyas Samman award for the year 2014. He has been chosen for this award for his research work “Premachand Kee Kahaniyo Kaa Kaalkramanusar Adhyayan”.

2. The “Indira Paryaavaran Bhavan”, India’s first Net Zero Energy building is located in which city?

New DelhiIndira Paryavaran Bhavan, India’s first net zero energy consumption building is in New Delhi. The building is constructed in such a way that it can meet its most of its annual energy requirement through solar power. The net zero energy building is a structure with zero net energy consumption where the total amount of energy used in the premises on an annual basis is more or less equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site.

3. Which one of the following is the slogan of the Vistara airline which commissioned its operation, recently?

Fly the New Feelings

4. According to New World Wealth report, the number of High Net worth Individuals is highest in which one of the following religions?

ChristiansChristians dominate the list of high net worth individuals, according to the report by New World Wealth report. Christians followed by Muslims and Hindu. As per the report the total wealth held by Christians stood at $ 107,280 billion, which account for over 55 per cent of worldwide health, followed by Muslims at the second place with wealth of $ 11,335 billion (5.8 per cent) and Hindu with wealth of $ 6,505 billion (3.3 per cent).

5. The Ken River flows through which of the following two states?

Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh

6. Who among the following has been selected for the “ Social Media Person of the Year” award?

Amitabh BachchanAmitabh Bachchan has been named Social Media Person of the Year by the Internet and Mobile Association of India.

7. Which among the following books is not authored by writer- cum-politician Shashi Tharoor?

The Blue Mountain

8. Bhakti Sharma, who is in news recently, is associated with ____?

SwimmingBhakti Sharma is open water swimming champion. Recently, she set a world record by swimming 1.4 miles in 52 minutes in one degree temperature in the Antarctic Ocean. She became the first Indian woman to and also the first Asian to achieve this feat.

9. Recently, Indian railway has flagged off the first Compressive Natural Gas (CNG) based trains in which state?

HaryanaIndia’s first CNG based two trains were flagged off from Haryana’s Rewari station. The trains will run between Rewari-Rohtak and Rewari to Bikaner section. These trains based on the dual fuel system- diesel and CNG will reduce greenhouse gas emission and also the consumption of diesel.

10. Which among the following banks has bagged the “MSME Banking Excellence Awards-2014”?

Corporation BankCorporation bank has won the MSME Banking Excellence Awards-2014. The bank bagged two awards under the categories Best MSME Bank award for other bank and Best Bank award. The awards were instituted by Chamber of Indian Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.

GK & Current Affairs: January 16, 2015

1. Which one of the following is the venue for the 30th Africa Cup of Nations?

Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea is hosting the 30th edition of Africa Cup of Nations. Sixteen teams will compete in the event from 17 January to 8 February in venues across Equatorial Guinea.

2. Recently, which one of the following countries has commissioned the “Huanggang”, a new missile destroyer?

ChinaHuanggang is a new missile destroyer commissioned by China. The new 4,000-tonne guided missile destroyer which can attack ships and submarines. It was named after a city in central China’s Hubei province. It is one of the new generations of battle warships with long-range detection and air-defence capabilities.

3. Hari Shankar Brahma is the ___ Chief Election commissioner of India. Fill the blank with correct option?

19thElection Commissioner Hari Shankar Brahma has been appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner. Brahma is the 19th Chief Election Commissioner of India.

4. The e-Panchayat project, which has won the National Award for e-Governance for the best district-level initiative is a project of which state?

Jammu & KashmirThe e-Panchayat is a project in Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen 147 Panchayats. It was launched in 2013-14. Under the project, a decentralised regime of Panchayats has been established with service delivery shifted from block level to Panchayat level. Jammu and Kashmir has bagged the award first time in 18 years since the institution of awards in 1997

5. Prabhu Nath Dwivedi, who has been named as the winner of the 2014-Sahitya Akademi Award, is an eminent scholar in ___?

SanskritPrabhu Nath Dwivedi is an eminent Sanskrit scholar. Dwivedi has been conferred the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for 2014 for his “Kanakalochanaha” collection of short stories. The collection comprises of 16 short-stories that touch upon various social issues eroding the system.

6. Who among the following is the author of the book “India Shastra: Reflections On The Nation In Our Time”?

Shashi Tharoor

7. Which one of the following states is organising the “International Conference on Buddhist Heritage” (Febraury-2015)?

OdishaOdisha will host the International Conference on Buddhist Heritage from February 6, 2015. A three-day International Buddhist Conference would be attended by the Ambassador of Thailand, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka and many other dignitaries along with tour operators from New Delhi and senior executives from hotel groups to draw a plan to attract tourists.

8. World Congress on Information Technology-2018, a biennial event will be held in ___?

Hyderabad

9. With which one of the following countries India has not implemented Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)?

USAIndia has implemented Free Trade Agreements with Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia.

10. As per the latest report, India-ASEAN free trade agreement (FTA) in services and investments will come into force from ____?

1st July, 2015India’s free trade agreement (FTA) in services and investments with 10-member ASEAN grouping will come into force from July 2015.

GK & Current Affairs: January 17, 18, 2015

1. For which among the following books, Ashok Srinivasan has been named winner of “The Hindu Prize-2014” ?

Book of Common SignsAshok Srinivasan won The Hindu Prize-2014 for his work ‘Book of Common Signs”. Book of Common Signs is a collection of 13 short stories.

2. The winner of women’s Brisbane International Title 2015 in professional tennis tournaments is __?

Maria SharapovaRussian tennis star Maria Sharapova won the Brisbane International Title-2015 by defeating Ana Ivanovic.

3. Recently, UN chief Ban Ki-Moon has inaugurated the India’s first-ever canal top solar power plant in __?

GujaratUnited Nations secretary general Ban Ki-Moon has inaugurated the canal top solar power plant in Gujarat. The 1 megawatt project envisaged covering of 3.6km of Vododara branch of Narmada river canal with solar panels.

4. The union ministry of water resource has decided to celebrate the year 2015-16 as ____?

Jal Kranti VarshThe Union Minister for Water Resources has decided to observe the Year 2015-16 as ‘Jal Kranti Varsh (Year)’ across the country. The move is to create awareness the need of conservation and saving of water.

5. The “Great Rift Valley”, an intra-continental ridge system is located in ____?

Africa

The Great Rift Valley is a part of an intra-continental ridge system running north to south for around 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometres), from northern Syria to central Mozambique in East Africa.

6. Which among the following are the only banks from India listed in the top 50 global banks in terms of market capitalisation, recently?

HDFC and SBIHDFC and SBI are the only banks from India to figure in a list of the top 50 global banks in terms of market capitalisation. HDFC Bank, India’s second-largest private bank in terms of asset size, ranks 45th, with a market capitalisation of $39 billion and SBI is ranked 46th ($38 billion). Reference

7. The names of mascots for 2016 Rio Olympic Games and Paralympics Games are respectively__?

Vinicius & TomVinicius and Tom are the names of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and Paralympics Games. These are names of two great Brazilian musicians Vinicius de Moraes and Tom Jobim. The mascot Vinicius is a yellow feline animal, which represents Brazil’s rich floral and faunal diversity.

8. According to RBI guidelines, the net NPA of a bank should be less which among the following fractions of overall assets to be eligible for insurance broking?

Three percentThe Reserve Bank of India has issued the final guidelines for banks to become insurance brokers. As per the guidelines, the net NPA of a bank should be less than three per cent of overall assets to be eligible for insurance broking.

9. Which one of the following banks has topped the list of top 50 most-valued global banks in terms of market capitalisation?

ICBCIndustrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) tops the list of global banks. ICBC has market capitalisation of $285 billion. Wells Fargo ($263 billion) ranked second in the list.

10. The headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) are located in __?

Abu DhabiThe International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is headquartered in Abu Dhabi. IRENA is an intergovernmental organisation to promote adoption and use of renewable energy. It was founded in 2009 and its statue entered into force on 8 July 2010.

GK & Current Affairs: January 19, 20, 2015

1. Which among the following countries has occupied first place in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI)?

SwitzerlandSwitzerland has been ranked no.1 in the annual Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI). Switzerland followed by Singapore, Luxemburg, Denmark and United States have been place in the top five. India has been ranked 78th in the list.

2. Who among the following has been appointed as new chairman of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)?

Pahlaj NihalaniPahlaj Nihalani has been appointed the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Nihalani is a former president of the Association of Motion Picture and Television Programme Producers. Nihalani has produced films like “Shola Aur Shabnam” and “Andaz” in the past.

3. To celebrate the power of voters the Election Commission of India has been organising “Matdata Mahotsava” in which city?

New Delhi

The Election Commission of India has been organising Matdata Mahotsava at the Dilli Haat in South Delhi. The event will showcase India as a vibrant and performing democracy. The event will include a photo exhibition, capturing some special moments from the beginning of general elections to the 16th Lok Sabha.

4. The Gini Coefficient is used to measure _____?

Inequality of income or healthGini coefficient represents the income distribution of a country’s residents. It was developed by the Italian statistician and sociologist Corrado Gini. It measures the inequality. The coefficient ranges from zero to one, with zero representing perfect equality and one showing perfect inequality. The more the inequality, the more is Gini Coefficient. The more is the value of Gini Coefficient, the more is gap between rich and poor.

5. Recently appointed Indian men’s football team head coach Stephen Constantine is from__?

EnglandStephen Constantine is an English professional football coach. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirms the appointment of Stephen Constantine as the Head Coach for the Senior Men’s National Team of India. Stephen will also be in charge of the India U-23 National Team. Earlier he was India football coach from 2002 to 2005.

6. The Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) is a bi-national hydropower project between India and __?

NepalThe Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) is a bi-national hydropower project to be developed by India and Nepal. The project is on Mahakali River bordering Nepal and India.

7. The movie “The Theory of Everything” is based on the life story of which one of the following celebrated physicist?

Stephen HawkingThe Theory of Everything is the story of the most brilliant and celebrated physicist Stephen Hawking, and Jane Wilde the arts student he fell in love with whilst studying at Cambridge in the 1960s.

8. Which among the following West African countries has been declared Ebola free, recently?

MaliThe Malian government and the United Nations have declared the country free of Ebola after registering 42 days without any new cases of the deadly virus. Countries must report no new cases for 42 days or two incubation periods of 21 days to be declared Ebola-free.

9. Which among the following state is not among the Special Category States in India?

OdishaSpecial Category States status is so far extended to 11 states including 7 sisters of the North East viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura and the border states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim as well as Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.

10. According to International Monetary Fund (2013) estimates, in nominal GDP terms, what is the rank of Indian Economy in world?

10thIndia is currently the 10th-largest economy in the world in nominal GDP terms. In purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, it is the third-largest economy, right behind the US and China.

GK & Current Affairs: January 21, 22, 2015

1. According to latest tiger census report (2015), which among the following states has recorded highest number of tigers?

KarnatakaTiger numbers in India grow by 30% in four years according to latest tiger census report. The population of tigers has increased in India from 1,706 in 2011 to 2, 226 in 2014. Karnataka has the highest number of tigers (406) followed by Uttarakhand (340), Madhya Pradesh (308), Tamil Nadu (190) and Maharashtra (167).

2. Who among the following is the chairman of the committee that has submitted its report on restructuring of Food Corporation of India, recently?

Shanta KumarShanta Kumar is the chairman of the eight-member committee, which was set up in August 2014, to recommend restructuring of Food Corporation of India. The committee has submitted its report to the government. The panel was asked to suggest a model for restructuring FCI to improve its operational efficiency and financial management, and suggest measures for overall improvement in improvement in management of food grains by FCI.

3. The Tadoba-Andhari Tiger reserve is located in ____?

MaharashtraTadoba-Andhari tiger reserve is in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. The Tadoba-Andhari is fften referred to as “The Jewel of Vidharba.

4. Recently, a first of its kind in the world economic valuation of tiger reserves has been conducted in India. As per the study which tiger reserves has highest annual flow benefits?

Periyar Tiger ReserveIn a first of its kind exercise, India has conducted economic valuation of six of its tiger reserves and placed their value at Rs 1,49,900 crore. The valuation study was conducted by Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, at the behest of the environment ministry’s National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The study provides quantitative and qualitative estimates of benefits accruing from tiger reserves which include economic, social and cultural services. The report shows that Periyar tiger reserve has the highest annual flow benefits (Rs 1,760 crore), followed by Kanha (Rs 1,650 crore) and Corbett (Rs 1,470 crore).

5. The “Kabuki” is a traditional form of theatre belongs to which one of the following countries?

JapanKabuki is a traditional Japanese form of theatre. It is recognized as one of Japan’s three major classical theatres along with noh and bunraku, and has been named as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

6. India’s first and only container trans-shipment terminal is in ____?

VallarpadamIndia’s first container trans-shipment terminal is at Vallarpadam in Cochin port, Kerala.

7. The Houthis are members of a rebel group operating in which country?

YemenThe Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah (Partisans of God), are members of a rebel group operating in Yemen. The Houthis, who adhere to a branch of Shia Islam known as Zaidism. Zaidis make up one-third of the population and ruled North Yemen under a system known as the imamate for almost 1,000 years until 1962. The Houthis take their name from Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi. He led the group’s first uprising in 2004 in an effort to win greater autonomy for their heartland of Saada province, and also to protect Zaidi religious and cultural traditions from perceived encroachment by Sunni Islamists.

8. The National Financial Switch, the largest shared automated teller machines in India, is run by ____?

National Payments Corporation of India

The National Financial Switch (NFS) run by the National Payment Corporations of India. The NFS was conceptualised, developed and implemented by Institute of Development and Research in Banking Technology with a view to inter-connect the ATM’s in the country.

9. Which one of the following organisations is launching new anti-terrorism projects in partnership with Muslim countries and also increasing its intelligence sharing?

European UnionThe European Union has decided to launch a slew of new anti-terrorism projects in partnership with Muslim nations and also increase the sharing of intelligence. This move comes after a series of violence in Belgium and lethal attacks in France.

10. Which one of the following institutes was founded by Rajni Kothari, renowned political scientist, who passed away recently?

Centre for Study of Developing SocietiesRajni Kothari was a renowned political scientist. He founded the Centre for Study of Developing Societies (1963), a research institute which did pioneering work in the field of caste, identity and politics. He was also one of the first presidents of People’s Union for Civil Liberties and a former Planning Commission member.

GK & Current Affairs: January 23, 24, 2015

1. The United Nations general assembly has declared the year 2015 as ____?

International Year of SoilsThe International Year of Soils, 2015 (IYS 2015) was declared by the Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly on December 20, 2013 after recognizing December 5 as World Soil Day. The International Year of Soils aims to be a platform for raising awareness of the importance of soils for food security and essential eco-system functions. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has been nominated to implement the IYS 2015.

2. Who among the following has won the prestigious DSC Prize for Literature, one of the South Asia’s top literary awards?

Jumpa LahiriIndian-American author Jhumpa Lahiri has won the $50,000 DSC Prize for Literature, one of South Asia’s top literary awards. She was awarded the prize for her book, The Lowland.

3. The Yunnan province, which is considered China’s gateway to Southeast Asia, does not share its border with which one of the following countries?

JapanYunnan is China’s gateway to Southeast Asia, sharing common borders with Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.

4. Which of the following banks has launched banking service on Twitter which allows customers to transfer money using the social networking site, recently?

ICICI BankICICI Bank, India’s largest private sector bank has launched banking service on Twitter which allows customers to transfer money using the social networking site. The facility, which is first of its kind in India, allows customers to check their account balance, view the last three transactions and recharge their prepaid mobile phones using their accounts on the site.

5. The National Girl Child Day is observed on ____?

January 24National girl child day is celebrated every year on 24th of January. It is celebrated to increase the awareness among people about all the inequalities faced by the girl child in society. The ministry of women and child development was celebrating it since 2008.

6. Who among the following has clinched the women’s billiards title at the National Billiards and Snooker Championship?

Arantxa SanchisArantxa Sanchis has won the billiards women’s title. She defeated state-mate Meenal Thaku in the National billiards and snooker championship held at the Bengal Rowing Club in Kolkata.

7. The Rara Lake is the biggest lake of which among the following countries?

NepalRara Lake is the largest lake of Nepal. It is situated in Mugu district in the Karnali Zone of Nepal. It is also known as Mahendra Daha after the late King Mahendra of Nepal

8. World’s largest vertical maze has been unveiled in recently in __?

DubaiThe world’s largest vertical maze has been unveiled in Dubai. The tower, an iconic 55-storey mixed-use building, was constructed by Al Rostamani Group. The maze has been confirmed by records tally-keeper Guinness World Records to be the largest vertical maze.

9. M S Narayana, who died recently, was a popular actor and comedian in which film industry?

TeluguM S Narayana was a famous actor and comedian in Telugu film industry. Narayana was acted in more than 700 films. He won five Nandi awards and a filmfare award during his long and illustrious career.

10. According 2011 census, which of the following North East region states has lowest child sex ratio?

ManipurIn the North East region, Manipur has lowest child sex ratio. Child sex ratio in Manipur was 957 in 2001 which declined to 936 in the 2011. Arunachal Pradesh has sex ratio of 972, Mizoram and Meghalaya (970), Tripura (957) and Nagaland (943).

GK & Current Affairs: January 25, 26, 2015

1. Which among the following states is the site for India’s first International Institute of Music?

KeralaKerala state government has announced the setting up of India’s first International Institute of Music. The trust headed by Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has been given the responsibility to set up the institute.

2. Recently, which one of the following schemes of union government has entered into Guinness book of world record?

Prime Minister Jan Dhan YojanaPrime Minister Modi’s ambitious initiative financial inclusion scheme Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana has entered into the Guinness book of world record for opening the highest number of bank accounts in the least time. As per the data 11.5 crore new accounts has been opened under the scheme so far.

3. Who among the following is the author of the book “Neither A Hawk, Nor A Dove”?

Khurshid Mahmud KasuriPakistan’s former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri is the author of the book “Neither A Hawk, Nor A Dove”. The book will provides a detailed account of Indo-Pak diplomacy through the eyes of Kasuri.

4. Which among the following is the first state in India to launch web based education programme for all schools?

Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh became the first state in the country to launch web based education programme for all schools in collaboration with Google. The programme would initially launch in 50 to 100 schools of over 7000 schools and later extended to other schools in phased manner.

5. Who heads the Supreme Court panel to ensure major reforms in the practice and procedure of BCCI?

Justice R M LodhaSupreme Court appointed a three member panel to recommend major reforms in the practice and procedure of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The panel to be headed by former CJI Justice R M Lodha along with Justice Ashok Bhan and Justice R V Raveendran to suggest amendments in the board rules and regulations.

6. Currently, who among the following is the world’s oldest monarch?

Queen ElizabethBritain’s Queen Elizabeth II is now world’s oldest monarch. She became oldest monarch in the world after the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

7. The “Tunnel of Time” is the autobiography of _____?

R K LakshmanThe “Tunnel of Time” is an Autobiography of an eminent Indian cartoonist R K Laxman. His other notable books are “The Eloquent Brush”, “Servants Of India”, “Sorry, no room”, “The Very Best of the Common Man”, “Thama and the Little Bird”, “Laxman Resha”, “Science Smiles” etc.

8. Edgar Lungu, has been elected as new President of which one of the following countries?

ZambiaEdgar Lungu, candidate from the ruling Patriotic Front has won Zambia’s presidential election. Lungu received 48.3 per cent of the vote, while Hakainde Hichilema of the united party for national development secured 46.7 per cent and came second.

9. Who among the following has won the women’s and men’s singles titles, respectively at Syed Modi International Badminton Championship?

Saina Nehwal and P KashyapSaina Nehwal and P Kashya clinched the women’s and men’s singles titles, respectively at Syedi Modi International Badminton Championship.

10. The “Channapatna toys” are a particular form of wooden toys that are manufactured in which state?

KarnatakaThe “Channapatna toys” are a particular form of wooden toys that are manufactured in Channapatna town in Karnataka state. The toys from this place are famous worldwide for their uniqueness. The traditional toys and dolls made of special wood in colours are protected as a geographical indication (GI) under the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

GK & Current Affairs: January 27, 28, 2015

1. Recently, India and United States have signed an agreement to develop three smart cities in India. Which one of the following is not one of that?

BhopalIndia and United States has signed pacts under which the three cities viz., Allahabad, Ajmer and Vishakhapatnam will be developed as smart cities with the help of United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

2. Proposed Kowada Nuclear Power Plant is located in which of the following states of India?

Andhra PradeshKowada Nuclear Power Plant is a proposed power project is in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. The project will be developed under the Indo-US agreement.

3. With the assistance of which of the following bodies, the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) was launched in India?

World BankThe National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) has been drawn up with a view to address the cyclone risks in the country, with World Bank assistance. The main objectives of the project are to minimize risk and vulnerabilities to cyclones, to strengthen the structural and non-structural cyclone mitigation efforts and to build capabilities and capacities of people for cyclone risk mitigation in harmony with the conservation of coastal ecosystems in coastal cyclone hazard prone States and Union Territories.

4. Jaswant Singh Rajput, who passed away recently, was associated with which sports?

HockeyJaswant Singh Rajput (c. 1926 – 28 January 2015) was an Indian hockey player. Rajput was part of the gold medal winning teams in 1948 London and 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

5. Which among the following countries ranks first in terms of per capita emission of carbon dioxide?

QatarQatar with per capita emissions of 10.94 metric tonnes ranks first, followed by Trinidad and Tobago (10.30 metric tonnes) and Kuwait (9.34 metric tonnes).

6. Which among the following drugs is popularly known as “meow meow”?

MephedronMephedrone, also known as 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC) or 4-methylephedrone, is a synthetic stimulant drug of the amphetamine and cathinone classes. It is popularly called by name M-CAT and meow meow.

7. The Operation Ice Bridge, is the largest airborne survey of Earth’s polar ice ever flown was launched by ____?

NASAThe Operation Ice Bridge is a six-year NASA mission. It is the largest airborne survey of Earth’s polar ice ever flown. It will yield an unprecedented three-dimensional view of Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets, ice shelves and sea ice.

8. The PACE is the flagship program between the U.S. and India to work jointly on which of the following?

Energy security and clean energyPACE or Partnership to Advance Clean Energy was launched in 2009 under India-US energy dialogue to strengthen energy co-operation between both the countries. PACE focuses on accelerating the transition to high-performing, low emissions, and energy-secure economies. It aims to bolster joint efforts to demonstrate the viability of existing clean energy technologies as well as identify new technologies that can increase energy access and security.

9. The Iguazu Falls, which is listed in seven wonders of nature, is located in which country?

ArgentinaIguazu Falls, in Iguazu River, are one of the world’s largest waterfalls. They extend over 2,700 m (nearly 2 miles) in a semi-circular shape. Iguazu Falls are on the border between the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentine province of Misiones

10. Who among the following has been appointed as the new chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi in January 2015?

Shekhar Sen

Padma Shri awardee music composer-singer-lyricist and actor Shekhar Sen, has been appointed Chairman of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi for a period of five years. This post was vacant since October 2014, after then Chairman Leela Samson had resigned. Sen is known for his devotional albums as well as mono act musical plays, such as Tulsi, Kabeer, Vivekananda, Sanmanti, Saahab and Soordas. He has also undertaken research- oriented musical programmes, such as “Dushyant Ne Kaha Tha”, “Madhya Yugeen Kaavya”, “Pakistan Ka Hindi Kavya”, “Meera Se Mahadevi Tak”.

GK & Current Affairs: January 29, 31, 2015

1. Which among the following cities is nick named as “Mile High City”?

DenverDenver, the capital of the American state of Colorado, has the nickname the Mile High City because, at one of its points, it measures 5,280 feet (1,609 m) in height. This measurement is exactly one mile above sea level.

2. Which among the following countries is the venue for ICC Cricket World Cup-2019?

EnglandEngland and Wales will host the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 from 30 May to 15 July 2019. This will be the twelfth Cricket World Cup competition, and the fifth time it will be held in England and Wales.

3. Who among the following has been appointed as new chairman of the African Union?

Robert MugabeZimbabwe president Robert Mugabe has been appointed as new chairman of the 54-nations African Union. Mugabe succeeds Mauritania’s president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

4. In which of the following years, Project Crocodile was launched in India?

1975Project Crocodile was launched in 1975 with support from the United Nations Development Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisation. The project included an intensive captive rearing and breeding program intended to restock depleted Gharial habitats.

5. The Kanjli wetland, one of the Ramsar site is located in which of the following states?

PunjabKanjli wetland is in Punjab. It was enlisted among Ramsar sites in 2002 as per the Ramsar convention.

6. Zhelyu Zhelev, who passed away recently, was the first democratically elected president of which country?

BulgariaZhelyu Zhelev was the first democratically elected president of Bulgaria. He won the nationwide presidential vote in 1992 and served until 1997.

7. The 24th African Union heads of state summit was recently kicked off in _____?

Addis Ababa, EthiopiaThe 24th African Union Summit was commenced in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa. The summit focused on women’s empowerment as an entry point to achieve Africa’s Agenda 2063 vision of socio economic renaissance. The theme of this year’s summit is “2015 Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063”.

8. Who among the following is the head of the panel formed RBI to look into parameters for urban co-operative banks, recently?

R Gandhi

The Reserve Bank of India has set up a panel under the chairmanship of R Gandhi, Deputy Governor, RBI to look into various parameters of urban co-operative banks. The panel entrusted to re-examine and recommend an appropriate set of businesses, size, conversion criteria and licensing terms for the urban cooperative banking sector.

9. Which among the following airports has become the world’s busiest airport for international traffic?

Dubai International AirportDubai International Airport has overtaken London’s Heathrow airport as the world’s busiest airport for international traffic. Dubai airport reported a total of 70.4 million passengers in 2014, up in 6.1% over the previous year. Whereas Heathrow airport reported around 68.1 million international passengers in 2014.

10. The Yangko dance is a traditional folk dance of which one of the following countries?

ChinaThe Yangko dance is a traditional folk dance of the China. It is originated from China and happens to be popular part of their culture. It involves swaying of the body to certain rhythms. The dance has a one thousand year history in China and is usually performed in the Lantern Festival.