In India, which city, according to a recent survey, the most prone to fires breaking out ?

Ans. Jamshedpur

Who wrote this book, which became wildly popular recently ?

This 2014 hit Hollywood movie joins films such as "North by Northwest" in getting its title from a line in Shakespeare. The book it is based on was named after this dialogue from "Julius Caesar": "The _____, dear Brutus, is not in our _____, But in ourselves, that we are underlings."Which film?

"Fault" and "Stars", giving "The Fault in Our Stars".

This is a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. It lends its name to a virus that causes a viral disease in humans, a significant outbreak of which emerged in 2014 in West African countries such as Guinea and Liberia.What is this name?

Ebola

In 2014, the International Astronomical Union, like several other organizations in recent times, has announced a crowdsourcing competition to name certain astronomical objects, in an effort to engage amateur astronomers. These objects are defined as "planets outside the Solar System i.e. those that orbit a star other than the Sun". What are these called?

Exoplanets

The last time these religious relics, located in India, were displayed to the public was in 2004. The norm is for a 'decennial exposition', i.e. this display is done once every ten years. The next exposition has thus been scheduled for 2014, starting from November. What is this?

The relics of St. Francis Xavier in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa.

In March 2014, an episode in the 25th season of this TV series was called "You Don't Have To Live Like A Referee". In this, a leading character is recruited as a referee for the 2014 FIFA World Cup matches including the Final, which predicted a Germany v Brazil match.

Which series?

The Simpsons

In July 2014, the capitals of Norway and China, and the former capital of Kazakhstan were announced as the last three remaining candidates in the fray for hosting which international competition ? (It was briefly rumored earlier in the year that no city wanted to do it.)

The Winter Olympics in 2022

The sale of a painting titled "Nympheas" for over $57 million made news in June 2014 understandably made news. What type of flower would the new owner see on it?

Water lilies - the painting was by Claude Monet famous for painting these flowers, and the genus for these plants.

In May 2014, an X of Michael Jackson appeared at the Billboard Music Awards ceremony in the USA dancing along to a song named "Slave to the Rhythm". This is from an album named "Xscape", which is a posthumous compilation. The X technique was used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his election campaign, thrice, to 'be' at three places at once. What is X ?

Hologram

In 2014, after a regime change, Ajit Doval became India's new National Security Advisor. A former undercover agent in Pakistan and UK, he was the first policeman to be awarded the Kirti Chakra, particularly for his role in "Operation Black Thunder" in 1988 to flush out militants from which specific location?

The Golden Temple, Sikhism's holiest shrine.

This sport's World Cup is held in the same year as the FIFA World Cup by a body called FIQA. Similar to football, goals are scored by sending something through a designated area. But, unlike football, this sport is mostly played in the air.The 2014 edition was also held in South America (in the Patagonian desert), in April 2014. The opening ceremony was said to have witnessed a scuffle between members from Fiji and Norway.

Which fictional sport?

Quidditch, the fictional sport from the Harry Potter series

In June 2014, the British Foreign Office Minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi unveiled eleven commemorative plaques, honouring close to 200 men. One of these plaques had the names of six Indians, such as Sepoy Chatta Singh, Lance - Naik Lala, and Naik Darwan Singh Negi, and will be sent to India later. What was being commemorated?

The wife of King Bhimadeva I, Udayamati, is said to have been responsible for building something, which the Archaeological Survey of India describes on its website as "the highest watermark of Solanki architecture." You could also say it makes one go "wow". What?

"Rani-ki-Vav", a step-well in Gujarat that was included in UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in June 2014

Since Adidas is an official sponsor for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, rival shoe makers have come up with several ways to stand out at the World Cup without violating any rules. Several high profile footballers are wearing shoes by the German footwear maker Puma, which are under the "evoPOWER Tricks" brand. What asymmetry do pairs of shoes in this brand use to get noticed, perhaps both equally by girls and boys?

One shoe in the pair is blue, while the other is pink

Raj Kamal Jha is an IIT Kharagpur graduate who later switched to writing and journalism. His first book, The Blue Bedspread, was published in 2001 and won a couple of literary awards.Since June 2014, his name is seen (in fine print) next to what designation, that has been previously used for distinguished thinkers such as Arun Shourie?

Chief Editor of the Indian Express newspaper following the departure of the previous editor Shekhar Gupta

Austria's Conchita Wurst won the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest (a annual singing competition for mostly European countries), held in Copenhagen, Denmark. The story of Wurst's win made headlines partly because Wurst was born under the name "Thomas Neuwirth" and prefers wearing women's clothes on stage along with a beard.Coming to the real question: where will 2015's contest be held, assuming no major changes ?

Austria - the contest is usually held in the home country of the previous year's winner

"Simian" is the name of a 2014 graphic novel by Vikram Balagopal. The story, based on myths and legends, begins with the old protagonist meeting his younger brother in a forest. Who are these brothers?

Hanuman, the monkey god, and Bhima, his half-brother

Their 2014 album is called "Tandanu", which takes its name from a Kannada folk song. The album features several collaborators, such as Shankar Mahadevan and Vishwamohan Bhatt. Consisting of members such as Tuheen Chakraborty, Nikhil Rao, and Himanshu Joshi, which group is this?

The band "Indian Ocean"

Like in men's football, the Men's Hockey World Cup was also held in June 2014. Which country failed to qualify for the tournament for the first time in its history, ironic because one of its countrymen conceived the idea of the Cup ?

Pakistan. The former hockey great also hosted the first ever World Cup and still holds the record for the most wins

Though this Hindi language film was completed in 2012 and even won the National Award for Best Hindi Feature Film for that year (given in 2013), it only achieved theatrical release in 2014. It shares its name with a 'cinematic location' that was co-founded by the actor Ashok Kumar. Which film?

Wearing the "BRA-Santos Dumont" suit, Juliano Pinto walked out of his chair to do something in mid-June 2014. He is paralysed waist-down, and the suit is an "exo-skeleton" that can be operated using Pinto's brain signals. What did Pinto do, which was seen by several million people?

He kicked a ball at the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, symbolising the first kick of the Finals.

"Queen" is a 2014 Hindi film starring the actress Kangana Ranaut as "Rani", a girl who has a set of small adventures in Europe during what should have been her honeymoon. The film was widely read as having parallels with a famous work of literature, which was also alluded to with the lead actress wearing a sweatshirt referencing that work. Which work of literature?

Alice in Wonderland

India has over 2 crore cases pending in Indian courts. To make matters worse, the judiciary has long vacations, for which it is often criticised. In 2014, the Chief Justice of India, R M Lodha, made an almost revolutionary proposal that could help resolve clearing the case backlog, comparing it to sectors such as health or electricity.What proposal?

365 working days for courts

Considered India's best demographer (a person who studies population statistics), Ashish Bose passed away in April 2014. In an article in the 80s, he coined the acronym "BIMARU" that came to stand for the lack of development in North India at that time. What did the acronym stand for?

Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh

In April 2014, India's I&B ministry announced the country's National Film Awards for films from 2013. "Ship of Theseus" was voted the Best Feature Film of the year. One of its lead actors is Neeraj Kabi, whose performance as a non-violent Jain monk was much lauded.Kabi also appeared in a new TV project that aired on Rajya Sabha TV, an Indian channel, beginning from Mar 2014, that portrays the events during one of India's most significant political chapters in its modern history. What project, and what role does he play?

"Samvidhaan", director Shyam Benegal's series about the making of the Indian constitution; Kabi plays M.K.Gandhi in the series.

This is the Logo of what ?

Mumbai Monorail

X was first used in Kerala's Parur, in 1982, but couldn't be used after 1983, after Supreme Court said that use of X, needed legal backing. The law was amended in December 1988. Since November 1998, Xs have been used for a very important activity in India. What is X ?

Electronic Voting Machines

Identify this personality.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Which category of employees of Kerala Government are allowed to retire from service at the age of 65 years, whereas the otherwise retirement age there is 60 years for Doctors and 55 years for others ?

The elephants employed by the Kerala Government

Which place is also called the ‘White Stone Desert’, by the Chinese ?

Aksai Chin