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Seventh G20 Summit held in Los Cabos, Mexico Aimed at boosting World Economy
The seventh G20 summit took place on 18, 19 June 2012. Mexico chaired the summit. The summit took place in the city of Los
Cabos in Mexico. It is a twenty member brigade; the summit includes countries, South Africa, Canada, India, Mexico, United
States, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, European Union, France,
Germany, Italy, United Kingdom and Australia. The objectives and highlights of the summit are as follows:
THE G 20 DECLARATION
⢠The leaders of the world's largest economies will help in boosting growth and job creation to repair the wounded global
economy because of the European financial crisis.
⢠The statement also included the importance of easing the Spanish Crisis.
⢠The Summit declaration also included investment in infrastructure in the developing countries; this decision would help in
achieving global growth which was hauled due to the falling state of the world economy and the Eurozone crisis.
⢠All the Euro members of the G 20 will indulge in necessary policy measures to not only safe guard the integrity, but also
stabilize the whole area. This would be done only by breaking the feedback loop between the sovereigns and the banks.
⢠The summit has also recognized the progress made by China in market-determined exchanged rates.
⢠The summit has singled out Saudi Arabia, by bringing in a Saudi pledge to keep the oil prices at bay and low. This is a
step to ensure global economic well being.
⢠European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy asked markets to focus
on a European summit at the end of the month. It would eventually help the continent move deeper and help the economic and
political integration to match its single currency.
⢠The 14-page statement emphasized the need for growth because this is the only way they will solve the debt problem of the
Eurozone.
⢠The non-European members of the G20 have sent a message to Europe that it has to find a way that the Eurozoneâs finances
can be supervised by a triumvirate comprising the European Central Bank, the IMF and the EU.
FJP Leader Mohammed Mursi won Egyptian Presidential Election 2012
MOHAMMED MURSI, leader of the FREEDOM AND JUSTICE PARTY (FJP),on 24 June 2012 was declared victorious in Egypt's historical presidential election. Mursi bagged 51.73 per cent of the total 13.23 million votes cast, while his closest rival Ahmed Shafiq, the former Egyptian PM and the independent candidate, polled 48.3 per cent votes. The FJP is an independent political party, which enjoys a strong political support from the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest and best-organized political group in Egypt The first Presidential election, which was alo the first free elections in the history of the country, was held on 23
and 24 May 2012 followed by the main election, held on 16 and 17 June 2012.
The presidential election 2012 was the first presidential election in the country after the 2011 Egyptian revolution during the Arab Spring, which ousted the autocratic president Hosne Mubarak from the office
Calcutta hc scrapped Singur Land Rehabilitation &Development Act, 2011
The Calcutta High Court on 22 June 2012, held the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011 as unconstitutional
and void. The legislation enabled the government to recover the disputed Singur land from Tata Motors, who was leased 997
acre of land at Singur in Hooghly district by previous left front government in the state.
What Is Singur Land Dispute?
Singur land dispute surfaced in May 2006, following the left front governmentâs decision to lease 997 acre land for 99 years,
at Singur in Hooghly district, about 40 km from Kolkata, for The Tata Motorsâ Nano car project. The move was fiercely opposed by the Trinamool Congress, the then principal opposition party of the state. The party demanded the return of 400 acre of land to farmers reluctant to give land for the project. Following the dispute and the political hindrances occurring in the
project the Tata Motors decided to move to Sanand in Gujarat in 2008 to keep its ambitious Nano project going. The company,
however, kept possession of the leased land at Singur. When the Trinmool Congress swept to the power in May 2011, throwing
long standing left front government out of power, the Chief Minister Mamata Banarjee passed the Singur Land Rehabilitation
and Development Act, which enabled the government to reclaim the Singur land from the Tata Motors. Tata Motors moved to the
Calcutta High Court against the legislation. The single judge bench of Calcutta High Court upheld her decision in its ruling
held on 28 June 2011. Perturbed of the ruling, Tata Motors challenged the verdict before the Division Bench of Calcutta High
Court comprising Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice Joymalya Bagchi on 1 November 2011.
Walt Disney banned Junk Food Advertisements on Kidâs Programmes
The Walt Disney Company on 6 June 2012 announced to ban the junk food advertisements on kidâs programmes. The decision taken by the senior management of the company made it the first media company to ban junk-food ads on programmes made for children. Disney necessitated new guidelines for the commercials of food and beverages products on Disney XD and Disney-owned ABC television stations. Disney Channel and Disney Junior, which are not ad-supported but receive brand sponsorships, would also be covered under the nutrition guidelines.
WHAT IS JUNK FOOD?
Junk food is a term used for food that contains high level of calories and little nutritional components. The term Junk Food
was coined by Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, in 1972
Fitch Rating Agency Revised Outlook on India's Financial Institutions to Negative Ratings agency Fitch on 20 June 2012 revised the outlook on India's financial institutions to negative from stable. The outlook of six government banks, two private banks, two wholly owned government institutions and one infrastructure finance company was lowered by the rating agency. The financial entities which faced the axe are as follows: Bank of Baroda (BoB) and its overseas subsidiary Bank of Baroda (New Zealand),Canara Bank, IDBI Bank and Axis Bank, Export-Import Bank of India, Hudco, IDFC and Indian Railway Finance Corporation. The downward revision in outlook is likely to result in increased cost of fund from overseas. Major public sector lender, State Bank of India which recently announced its plans to raise $2 billion from overseas markets will be hit the most by the revision.
Clean India Campaign Launched for 100 Monuments in Delhi
Under 12th five year plan of Indian Government CLEAN INDIA CAMPAIGN was launched on 19 June 2012 at Qutab Minar, Delhi by Tourism Ministery to improve Indian heritage and to attract more tourists. There were 100 heritages likely to be cover under the project of Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC).
Pak Spinner Danish Kaneria was banned by England & Wales Cricket Board
Pakistani Cricket player Danish Kaneria was banned by England and Wales Cricket Board on 21 June 2012. He was given a lifetime ban because he was found guilty for corruption. He is the third Pakistani player who is banned because of match
fixing.
Dhoni Appointed as a Brand Ambassador of Nepal Cricket Association
Indian Criket Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was appointed as a brand ambassador of Nepal Cricket Association; Nepal on 17 June 2012.The announcement was made by Posta Bahadur Bogati, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal. Dhoni will promote and develop cricket in Nepal. Dhoni also advised Nepal cricket officials to get permission from International Cricket Council to construct a stadium. The stadium would likely to promote cricket in the country. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was born on 7 July 1981 in Ranchi, Bihar. At present, he is the captain of the Indian ODI, Twenty20 team and Indian Test team. India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup under his captaincy.
Pranab Mukherjee all set to be in presidential elections
Pranab Mukherjee, who has been nominated the ruling Congress Party candidate for the Presidential Elections 2012, resigned as
the Union Finance Minister on 26 June 2012. Mukherjee tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. A veteran
Congress party leader, Mukherjee was appointed the Union Finance Minister on 24 January 2009, during the UPA I government.
The victory of UPA in 2009 general elections saw him again occupying the finance portfolio in the UPA II Government.
Mukherjee was first appointed as the Finance minister of India during the Indira Gandhi government in 1982 and he got his
maiden annual budget presented in the Parliament in 1982-83.
Important Information:
As per the Article 58 of the Indian constitution, any person who holds any office of profit is not eligible to contest Presidential Election in India. Since any of the union or state cabinet ministries does not fall under the office of profit, it is constitutionally not obligatory on person holding any ministry to resign from his post to contest the Presidential Election
Pakistani Ghazal Maestro Mehdi Hassan died in Karachi
Pakistani ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan passed away in Karachi on 13 June 2012 following a prolonged illness. The legendary
ghazal singer had not been well for last several years. He was suffering from suffering from lung, chest and urinary tract
ailments. Born into a family of traditional musicians on 18 July 1927 in Luna in Rajasthan, Mehdi Hassan had migrated to Pakistan with his family in 1947 at the time of partition. Belonging from the Kalawant clan of traditional classical musicians, he represented the 18th generation of the family. He had been presented with numerous honours including Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, Pride of Performance and Hilal-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan, Saigal Award in India and Gorkha Dakshina Bahu by the Government of Nepal
Sachin Tendulkar sworn in as the Member of Rajya Sabha
Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar sworn in as the member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament on 4 June 2012. Sachin along with hindi film actress Rekha and business woman Anu Aga was nominated by the President of India as Rajya Sabha MP on 27 April 2012.
Indian Railways & IIT-Kanpur developed Real-Time Train Running Info System
A joint team of Indian railways and IIT-Kanpur developed the real-time train running information system, a technology which
will help a mobile user to get the information about the exact location of a train. Under the new technology the user will
have to type the train number and SMS it to 09415139139 or 09664139139 for getting the exact location of a train on real-time
basis.The satelite-based train tracking system was jointly developed by the Centre For Railway Information Systems (CRIS),the IT arm of Indian railways and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT),Kanpur to overcome the limitations of the existing Train
Running Information System. At present the real-time train running information system service covers 36 pairs of premier
trains. Some of the trains which have been provided with the new technology include Mumbai Rajdhani, Howrah Rajdhani,
Dibrugarh Rajdhani, Sealdah Duronto and Shatabdi trains for Bhopal, Kanpur and Amritsar. The Indian Railway has allocated 121 crore rupees for the project and the service is likely to be extended to all major trains over the next 18 months. The Indian
Railways has received the permission from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to operate the system through its
satellite. The railways department, however, sought fresh order from ISRO, to extend the facility to other major trains.
International
Afghanistan & Norway finalized Draft of Strategic Partnership Agreement
Afghanistan and Norway on 27 June 2012 finalized the draft of the strategic partnership agreement between the two countries.
The two countries will sign the draft in September 2012. Norwegian forces are posted in Faryab province of northern Afghanistan. The strategic partnership agreement provides the long-term framework for the relationship between Afghanistan
and the Norway after the withdrawal of forces. Afghanistan has already signed strategic partnership agreements with the US, Britain, India, Germany, France and Italy.
India emerged as Largest Trading Partner of Dubai
India emerged as the largest trading partner of Dubai in the first quarter of 2012-13. The latest data of Dubai foreign trade
released by the Dubai Customs in the third week of June 2012 shows the trade volume in the first quarter between India and
Dubai to be worth 13 billion US Dollars. India was the number one exporting country with a volume worth 7 billion dollars.
India and Israel inked Pact to Promote Bilateral Relation in Tourism Sector
India and Israel inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand the bilateral relation in the tourism sector on 24 June
2012. Israel, under the MoU, will open a tourism office in Mumbai and increase the frequency of flights to India. The MoU was
signed between Israeli Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov and his Indian counterpart Minister Subodh Kant Sahai in Jerusalam
in Israel
India and China set a 100 Billion Dollars Trade Target by 2015
India and China on 21 June 2012 agreed to increase their defence and security dialogue and work to take steps to ensure that the two countries achieve a 100 billion dollars trade target by 2015. The decision was taken on the sidelines of the Ri0+ 20
summits at Rio De Janeiro.India also raised the border issue during the talks.
Antonis Samara sworn in as PM of Greece
The New Democracy Party leader Antonis Samara sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Greece on 20 June 2012. Samaras's
centre-right New Democracy party bagged 129 seats of 300 in the parliamentary elections held on 17 June 2012.
PAK SC debarred PM Yusuf Raja Gilani from Office
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on 19 June 2012 debarred Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raja Gilani from his office. The court's
ruling also disqualified Gilani as the member of the National Assembly, the lower house of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament).
Gilani was convicted for violating the article 63(1) (g) (contempt of court) of the constitution of Pakistan on 26 April 2012
by the Supreme Court. The courtâs verdict came following Gilaniâs refusal to probe cases of corruption against Pakistan
President Asif Ali Zardari.
Fatou Bensouda appointed as Chief Prosecutor of International Criminal Court
Gambian lawyer Fatou Bensouda was sworn in on 15 June 2012 as the International Criminal Court's new chief prosecutor.
Bensouda was elected at the latest session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute (ASP) in December 2011 for a
nine-year term.Born on 31 January 1961 in Gambia, Bensouda is the first woman and the first African to be appointed as the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, which is investigating 15 cases in seven countries, all of them African. She also served as a Deputy Prosecutor in charge of the Prosecutions Division of the ICC since 2004. Bensouda is the recipient of the ICJ International Jurists Award (2009),which was conferred on her by President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil. Bensouda was
given this award for her contributions to criminal law both at the national and International level.
What is International Criminal Court?
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent international organisation, which has been set up to prosecute
individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes. The Court is is governed by the Rome Statute. The Rome statute
was adopted on 17 July 1998 by120 States for establishing the permanent International Criminal Court. The Statute entered
into force on 1 July 2002 after ratification by 60 countries. Separate from the United Nations system it is the first
permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to prosecute the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of
concern to the international community. The court has its permanant seating at The Hague in the Netherlands. The Courtâs
expenses are funded primarily by its 120 member States. It also receives voluntary contributions from governments,
international organisations, individuals, corporations and other entities.
84 PEOPLE KILLED AND SEVERAL INJURED IN A SERIES OF BOMB EXPLOSIONS IN IRAQ
At least 84 people were killed and score others were left injured in a series of bomb blasts and gunfire attacks throughout
Myanmar Prez Thein Sein declared Emergency in West Myanmar
India allowed Foreign Direct Investment from Pakistan
India on 8 June 2012 announced to allow foreign direct investment from Pakistan. The move is aimed at strengthening the
bilateral economic relations between the two countries. The decision will also facilitate the economic integration in the
South Asian region. The Union Finance Ministry had received a proposal by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion
(DIPP) seeking changes in Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to allow FDI from Pakistan. Under the present FDI policy, a Pakistani citizen or an entity incorporated in there is not allowed to invest in India. The Government had earlier allowed
investments from Bangladesh under the FIPB route. The bilateral trade between India and Pakistan for the year 2010-11 stood
at 2.7 billion dollar. With 2.32 billion dollar exports, India dominated the trade, which grew at a rate of 47 per cent and
also approaching forward to occupy 1 per cent share of Indian global exports.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit 2012 concluded in Beijing
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) 2012 concluded in Beijing on 7 June 2012, with member states agreeing to further cooperation in a variety of fields. Chinese President Hu Jin Tao, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President
Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek President Islam Karimov, Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and Afghan President Hamid Karzai wer among the top leaders who attended the summit.
US Defence Secy Leon Panetta vowed to strengthen tie with India
US defence secretary Leon Panetta arrived India on a two-day visit on 5 June 2012. The visit was aimed at strengthening
bilateral strategic and defence cooperation between the two nations. US specified the Indian role in the world politics and
its significance as a link between East and West Asia and how the United States views India as a net provider of security
from the Indian Ocean to Afghanistan and beyond.
US Drone Strike killed Al-Qaida's Second-in-Command Abu Yahya al-Libi
A US drone strike in northwest Pakistan killed al-Qaida's second-in-command Abu Yahya al-Libi on 5 June 2012. The killing of
al-Libi is the most significant victory for the US forces since the death of Osama bin Laden.
Pakistan conducted Test of Nuclear Capable Babur Missile
Pakistan successfully test-fired the indigenously developed Hatf-VII (Babur) cruise missile on 5 June 2012. Hatf-VII is
capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads. The missile is highly accurate Pakistani-developed cruise missile
with a range of 700 km.
Boeing MD83 Aircraft crashed in Nigeria, killed all 153
A boeing MD83 aircraft crashed in Lagos, the largest Nigerian city on 3 June 2012. All 153 people on board were killed in the
worst air disaster of Nigeria in nearly past two decades. The flight was traveling from Nigeriaâs central capital of Abuja to
Lagos in the nationâs southwest.
NATIONAL
Union Ministry of Defence approved 20000 Cr Rupees Proposal
The Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 22 June 2012 approved defence proposals worth over 20000 crore rupees for the
procurement of defence equipments for the Indian army. The proposals were given the nod of the government in a meeting
chaired by Defence Minister AK Antony.itâS Mandatory to label GM Foods: Ministry of Consumer Affairs
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs in its gazette notification published on 5 June 2012 made it mandatory to make labeling of
every package containing genetically modified food from 1 January 2013. The ministry in the notification noted that every
package containing the genetically modified food shall bear at the top of its principal display panel the words âGMâ.
Genetically Modified foods or GM foods
Genetically Modified foods also known as GM foods or biotech foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. The process includes the introduction of certain specific changes into the DNA of Genetically modified organisms by genetic engineering techniques. The GM foods were first introduced in the market in year 1996.ec notified Date for 14th
Presidential ElectionsThe Election Commission of India on 11 June 2012 notified the date for the 14th Presidential election. In accordance with the sub-section (1) of section (4) of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections Act, 1952, the Election Commission of
India fixed the following schedule for the presidential election 2012:
Date for the issue of notification for the Presidential poll 16 June 2012
last date for the nomination 30 June 2012
Date for the scrutiny of nomination papers 2 July 2012
last date for the withdrawal of candidatures 4 July 2012
Date of Election 19 July 2012
Announcement of Results 22 July 2012
Article 52 of the Indian constitution states that there shall be a President of India. The executive powers of the Union shall be vested in the President. He, as the head of a state, symbolises the nation. Article 55 (3) of the Indian Constitution provides for the manner of the Presidential election in India. The presidential election is held in accordance with the system of Proportional representation by means of Single transferable vote method. The Voting takes place by secret ballot system.
What is the meaning of Electoral College?
In the ordinary straight voting system a candidate who secures the highest number of votes is declared elected, while under
the Proportional Representation system any member who secures the necessary quota of votes is declared elected. There are
several ways of finding out the quota, but the most common method is to divide the total number of valid votes cast by the
total number of seats in the constituency plus one and adds one to the quotient.
An electoral college is a set of electors who collectively elect the President of India. It consists of elected members of
both Houses of Parliament, and elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of all States including National Capital
Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
What the term Proportional Representation system means?
In the ordinary straight voting system a candidate who secures the highest number of votes is declared elected, while under
the Proportional Representation system any member who secures the necessary quota of votes is declared elected. There are
several ways of finding out the quota, but the most common method is to divide the total number of valid votes cast by the
total number of seats in the constituency plus one and adds one to the quotient.sc refused Union Governmentâs Appeal seeking Stay on Andhra Pradesh hc Order
The Supreme Court of India on 11 June 2012 refused to entertain the Union Governmentâs petition seeking a stay on an Andhra
Pradesh high court order which quashed a 4.5 per cent sub-quota for minorities in educational institutions and government
jobs in the existing OBC quota.
UGC set Guidelines for Foreign Universities entering India
According to the new set of guidelines approved by University Grants Commission (UGC) on 2 June 2012, only global top 500
universities will be allowed to start their operation in India. The new guidelines set the norms for the foreign universities
aspiring to enter into agreement with Indian universities for offering education programmes in the country.
Union Government announced to constitute Panel on Implementaion of Dharmadhikari Committee Report
The Union Government of India on 1 June 2012 announced to constitute an implementation panel to look into the ways of
implementing the Dharmadhikari committee report on Air India and earstwhile Indian Airlines merger. The implementation panel
will suggest the government of ways to implement the recommendations of Dharmadhikari Committee on issues including pay,
allowances and career progression structure.
General Knowledge Quizzes
1. Which of these is a Lombrosian term for the phenomenon of a person being an "evolutionary
throwback"?
a) atavism
b) maladaptation
c) vestigiality
d) spandrel
The correct answer is a) Atavism
2. Which team set a Major League record by hitting 264 home runs in a season?
a) New York Yankees
b) Seattle Mariners
c) New York Giants
d) Houston Astros
The correct answer is b) Seattle Mariners
3. Who was the first deceased player inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame?
a) Honus Wagner
b) Christy Mathewson
c) Babe Ruth
d) Walter Johnson
The correct answer is b) Christy Mathewson
4. How did East Germany name itself on its postage stamps?
a) Deutsche Demokratische Republik
b) Deutschland
c) Deutsche Bundespost
d) Deutsche Reichspost The correct answer is a) Deutsche Demokratische Republik
5. Which country uses the abbreviation RSA on its stamps?
a) South Africa
b) Syria
c) Saudi Arabia
d) Solomon Islands The correct answer is a) South Africa
6. What was the name of Robert Fultons first steamboat?
a) New Orleans
b) Clermont
c) Hudson
d) Livingston The correct answer is b) Clermont
7. Which of the following did James Watt invent?
a) Steamboat
b) Incandescent Light Bulb
c) Electric Motor
d) Steam Engine The correct answer is d) Steam Engine
8. Which of these terms describes applying the natural sciences to the social sciences and/or social issues?
a) Criticalism
b) Classicalism
c) Radicalism
d) Positivism The correct answer is d) Positivism
9. Cesare Lombroso was one of the most famous believers of biologically determined criminality. Which of these "schools" was
he the founder of?
a) Postmodernist School
b) Chicago School
c) Italian School
d) Neo-Classical School The correct answer is c) Italian School
10. Which monument was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay?
a) India Gate
b) Gateway of India
c) Victoria Terminus
d) Elephanta Caves The correct answer is b) Gateway of India
11. Which famous monument was built by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah in 1951 to commemorate the end of Plague?
a) Charminar
b) Jama Masjid
c) Mecca Masjid
d) Toli Masjid The correct answer is a) Charminar
12. Hottest planet of our solar system:
a) Mars
b) Earth
c) Mercury
d) Venus The correct answer is d) Venus
13. Heaviest satellite (natural) of our solar system:
a) Ganymede
b) Sinope
c) Moon
d) Deimo The correct answer is a) Ganymede
14. Ted Bundy was an American serial killer who was convicted on the basis of which type of forensic evidence? a
) DNA fingerprinting
b) Ballistics
c) Latent fingerprinting
d) Bite marks The correct answer is d) Bite marks
15. If you know what to look for, you can tell a male from a female skull. Which of the following statements is FALSE?
a) The male skull is usually larger
b) The male skull has a more prominent brow ridge
c) The male skull has a heavier jaw
d) The male skull has a more rounded chin The correct answer is d) The male skull has a more rounded chin
16. What is the name of the light source that is commonly used in Forensic Investigation?
a)PoliLight
b) PoliLuminescence
c) LaserLight
d) LaserLumination The correct answer is a) PoliLight
17. A polysaccharide made from seaweed used to culture bacteria and fungi.
a) agamete
b) agar
c) agglutin
d) agent The correct answer is b) agar
18. A generator, it normally creates direct current electricity.
a) durain
b) dyad
c) duramen
d) dynamo The correct answer is d) dynamo
19. Which of the following was invented by Hiram Maxim?
a) The silencer
b) The automatic pistol
c) The sniper rifle
d) The assault rifle The correct answer is a) The silencer
20. The operational jet fighter was invented during this war.
a) World War I
b) World War II
c) TheSpanish Revolution
d) The Korean War The correct answer is b) World War II
21. They are the size of medium domestic dogs and their latin name is Lycaon pictus. They have large, rounded ears and dark
brown circles around their eyes. They can live for up to 10 years.
a) Prairie Dog
b) African Wild Dog
c) Mexican Wolf
d) Swift Fox The correct answer is b) African Wild Dog
22. They are the largest member of the dolphin family. Their black bodies are marked with white patches on the underside and
near the eyes.
a) Killer Whale
b) Spinner Dolphin
c) Beluga Whale
d) Sperm Whale The correct answer is a) Killer Whale
23. Now a days, the Academy Awards are presented at
) Metro Theatre
b) Shine Theatre
c) Hollywood Theatre
d) Kodak Theatre The correct answer is d) Kodak Theatre
24. Blackface is a breed of which animal?
a) Sheep
b) Hen
c) Pig
d) Cow
The correct answer is a) Sheep
25. The first Filmfare awards function was held at
a) Metro Theatre of Mumbai
b) Thane Theatre of Mumbai
c) Ashoka Theatre of Mumbai
d) Sane Theatre of Mumbai
The correct answer is a) Metro Theatre of Mumbai
ECONOMY
E-voting Mandatory for Top 500 Listed Companies of BSE & NSE: SEBI
The capital market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 26 June 2012 made it mandatory for top 500 listed companies to hold e-voting with an objective to widen shareholder participation in key decisions. SEBIâs decision on
e-voting is to be implemented in a phased manner. The implementation will begin by subjecting the top 500 listed companies at
the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange based on market capitalization to e-voting. The structural changes
like scrutiny of audit reports as well as e-voting are expected to benefit the capital market in the medium term.
Global Financial Services Firm Nomura slashed Indiaâs GDP Projection
Nomura, the global financial services firm, on 26 June 2012 slashed the country's growth forecast for the fiscal year 2012-13
to 5.8 per cent, from 6.7 per cent earlier. Nomura also cut down Indiaâs GDP forecast for 2013-14 to 6.6 per cent from the
earlier 6.9 per cent.
Petroleum & Natural Gas Ministry discarded Gas Allocation of DMICDC
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry on 25 June 2012 discarded Gas allocation of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor
Development Corporation (DMICDC). The gas allocation was of 8 million metric standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd) gas from two of DMICDC power projects, to provide gas at reasonable rate.
Moody's Investors Service reinstated âStableâ Credit Rating Outlook for India
In a big respite to the troubled Indian economy, Moody's Investors Service, the leading credit ratings provider, on 25 June
2012 reinstated the STABLE credit rating outlook for India. The Moodyâs decision mirrors its view that the prevailing
economic slowdown in India is not going to last longer and the country will soon come out of the gloomy economic state.
What does Sovereign rating B3 or BBB means? Sovereign ratings B3 are judged to be medium-grade rating and subject to moderate credit risk and possess certain speculative characteristics.
RBI hiked Foreign Investment Limit in GovT Bonds by 5 billion $
In a move aimed at arresting the unrelenting fall of Indian rupee, Indiaâs central bank the Reserve Bank of India on 25 June
2012 hiked the limit of foreign investment in government bonds by 5 billion dollar to 20 billion dollar. The bank also raised
limit of external commercial borrowing (ECB) to 10 bilion dollar.External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) refer to commercial loans *in the form of bank loans, buyersâ credit, suppliersâ credit, securitised instruments availed from non-resident lenders with minimum average maturity of 3 years.
What are Government bonds or Government securities?
Government bonds are the bonds issued by the Government of a country in its own currency. The bond helps the government to
raise money which is used to finance various activities like building roads, hospitals, infrastructure etc. Hence, the
government bonds are a kind of loan against which the government of a country receives a certain amount of money, for a
certain amount of time, on a certain interest rate.
Capital Markets Regulator SEBI notified Norms for Listing of Stock Exchange
Capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 21 June 2012 notified new rules for ownership and
governance of stock exchanges to encourage the setting up of new bourses and enable exchanges to get listed. The amendments
were announced following the legal tussle between the regulator and MCX Stock Exchange, which had earlier sought approval to
start an equity platform.
RBI kept Key Policy Rates Unchanged in Mid-quarterly Monetary Policy Review
The Reserve Bank of India in its mid-quarterly monetary policy review on 18 June 2012, decided to keep the cash reserve ratio
and the policy repo rate unchanged at 4.75 per cent and 8.0 per cent respectively. The reverse repo rate remains unchanged at
7.0 per cent. The marginal standing facility rate and the Bank Rate are to stand at 9.0 per cent.
WORLD BANK PROJECTED INDIAN ECONOMY TO GROW BY 6.9 % IN 2012-13 The World Bank in its report named GLOBAL ECONOMIC PROSPECTS released on 12 June 2012, projected Indian economy to grow by 6.9% in the financial year 2012-13. The World Bank report predicted Indiaâs growth increasing to 6.9 per cent, 7.2 per cent and 7.4 per cent in fiscal years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively.
Union Commerce Ministry unveiled New Trade Policy to boost India's Exportt
TThe Union Government of India on 5 June 2012 announced a NEW TRADE POLICY aimed at achieving 20 per cent increase in exports to 360 billion dollar in the fiscal year 2012-13. India's exports grew by 21 per cent and touched 303.7 billion dollar in
2011-12, while the trade deficit during the same period expanded to 185 billion dollar.
Oil Marketing Companies slashed Petrol Prices by 2.02 Rupees
The state-run oil marketing companies on 2 June 2012 announced to slash the petrol prices by 2.02 rupees a litre. The decision came in the wake of global fall in crude prices. The reduction took effect from past midnight 2 June 2012. The decision to cut the prices came following a fortnightly review meeting of the oil companies.
Indiaâs Forex Reserves plunged by 1.74 Billion $ to 290 billion $
According to the data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 2 June 2012, Indiaâs foreign exchange reserve plummeted
by 1.74 billion dollar to 290 billion dollar for the week ended 25 May 2012. The RBI data displayed a sharp decline in the
countryâs forex reserves for the fourth consecutive week. The forex reserves had dropped by 1.80 billion dollar, 1.37 billion
dollar and 2.18 billion dollar, respectively, in the previous three weeks.
Bihar topped in State GDP with 13.1 Per Cent Growth in 2011-12
According to data released by Ministry of Statistics of India on 1 June 2012, Bihar emerged as the state with highest
economic growth rate in the country. The state which until recently was synonymous with poverty, recorded an impressive 13.1
per cent growth in 2011-12. Bihar topped the list for second consecutive year. The stateâs economy even surpassed the Punjab
on the back of four years of double-digit growth.
STATE
Assam Govt released Vision Document for Women & Children
Assam government on 12 June 2012 released the vision document for the stateâs women and children. The government in the
vision document announced to come out with various measures to address the issues like high Maternal Mortality Rate and
Infant Mortality Rate in the state.
Annual 2012-13 Plan Outlay for Tamil Nadu fixed at 28000 Crore Rupees
The central planning commission finalized the annual outlay for Tamil Nadu for financial year 2012-13 at 28000 crore rupees.
The allocation was finalized during a meeting held between the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha and the Planning
Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi on 4 June 2012.
Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav tabled Revenue Deficit Budget for Year 2012-13
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on 1 June 2012 presented the state budget for the fiscal year 2012-13. The
200110.61 crore rupees budget did not comprise any new tax provision. For the first time in the stateâs history the Budget
size has crossed the figure of 2 lakh crore rupees
INDIA DIARY
1 June 2012
· The Prime Minister has approved the setting up of an Investment Tracking System to address the issue of major investment projects being delayed for a variety of reasons
· Air Marshal Arup Raha AVSM VM took over as AOC-IN-C, Western Air Command, IAF.
· Annual Plan for the year 2012-13 for the state of Gujarat was finalised. The plan size has been agreed at Rs.51000crore
· Air India introduced a new Crew Management System under the directions of Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ajit Singh
3 June 2012
To concretize the operational contours of the National Manufacturing Policy (NMP),the Government established a Manufacturing
Industry Promotion Board (MIPB) for matters pertaining to the implementation of the National Manufacturing Policy
4 June 2012
⢠Justice Madan Bhimarao Lokur took the oath as Supreme Court judge on 4 June 2012
⢠Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar sworn in as the member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the
Parliament on 4 June 2012.
5 June 2012
⢠Government of India on 5 June 2012 nominated Vice Admiral Devender Kumar Joshi as the new Navy chief.
⢠The Central Planning Commission of India approved 10500 crore rupees annual outlay plan for Assam for the fiscal year
2012-13. The outlay was finalized on 5 June 2012
⢠In a rare space event, Venus, the second closest planet from the sun, passed in front of the sun on 5 June 2012.
6 June 2012
⢠World IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) Launch Day held globally on 6 June 2012 7 June 2012
⢠Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi on 7 June 2012 won their second Grand Slam title together and first French Open trophy
⢠Electronic Equipments major Samsung Electronics on 7 June 2012 named Kwon Oh-hyun as its new chief executive officer.
8 June 2012
⢠Two new boysâ hostels namely Girnar and Udaigiri were inaugurated at IIT Delhi today. 9 June 2012
⢠IIT Kharagpur declared that it is ok with the proposed joint entrance exam 10 June 2012
⢠Ace Indian Badminton player Saina Nehwal clinched her 16th career title as she defeated Thailand's Ratchanok Inathon in the
Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold title in Bangkok on 10 June 2012.
11 June 2012
⢠The Election Commission of India on 11 June 2012 notified the date for the 14th Presidential election.
⢠Indiaâs batting great Sachin Tendulkar was conferred upon the Wisden India Outstanding Achievement award for completing a
century of 100 international hundreds, in Dubai on 11 June 2012. 12 June 2012
⢠Nokia launched Pure view 808 Smart phone on 12 June 2012 for India at a price of 33899 rupees in Delhi.
⢠Assam government on 12 June 2012 released the vision document for the stateâs women and children.
⢠The World Bank in its report named Global
Economic Prospects released on 12 June 2012 13 June 2012
⢠During April - May, 2012 Coal India Ltd.(CIL) registered a growth of 5.6% in coal production.
14 June 2012
⢠As per the export-import data released by the Commerce Ministry on 14 June 2012, India's export dropped by 4.16 per cent at 25.68 billion dollar in May 2012.
15 June 2012
⢠As part of the Child Survival Call to Action Forum co-convened by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Sh.
Ghulam Nabi Azad along with Ms. Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, in the US, the participating countries pledged to
recommit themselves to child survival. 16 June 2012
⢠Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah mentioned that India is committed to increasing the share
of renewable power in the electricity mix to 15 per cent by the year 2020 17 June 2012
⢠Sequoia, the US super computer, was crowned the fastest computer in the world on 17 June 2012.
18 June 2012
⢠Dipankar Mukherjee, National Secretary of Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU),passed away on 18 June 2012
⢠International credit rating agency Fitch revised the credit outlook of India to negative on 18 June 2012.
19 June 2012 ⢠Shekhar Basu was appointed as the Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) on 19 June 2012.
⢠According to the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 19 June 2012, the foreign direct investment
(FDI) inflows in India dipped nearly 8 per cent to 7.8 billion dollar during January-April 2012
20 June 2012
⢠The second meeting of the Geoscience Advisory Council (GAC) held under the chairmanship of Shri Dinsha J.Patel, Minister of
State (Independent Charge) for Mines today.
21 June 2012 ⢠India and Russia set US$ 20 BN bilateral trade target by 2015 22 June 2012
⢠Calcutta High Court holds Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011 as unconstitutional.
⢠Sensex loses 92 points in afternoon trade; Rupee falls to all time low of 57.30 against the dollar in intra-day trade.
23 June 2012
⢠Karnataka Law Minister Suresh Kumar resigns owning moral responsibility over allegations of having received a plot of land
in Bangalore; Chief Minister refuses to accept the resignation.
⢠Monsoon lashes eastern and terai districts of Uttar Pradesh. 24 June 2012
⢠In Jammu and Kashmir, the annual Amarnath yatra begins amid tight security
⢠Prime Minister assures of effective policy measures to enhance economic growth rate.
25 June 2012
⢠The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry on 25 June 2012 discarded Gas allocation of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor
Development Corporation (DMICDC).
⢠In a big respite to the troubled Indian economy, Moody's Investors Service, the leading credit ratings provider, on 25 June
2012 reinstated the stable credit rating outlook for India.
26 June 2012 â¢
B.K.Roy Burman passed away on 26 June 2012. He was anthropologist and social scientist. B.K. Roy was born in Bangladesh in the year 1922.
⢠In a path breaking development, a team of scientists at Boston Childrenâs Hospital invented an easy technique that will
help doctors to diagnoses autism in children earlier. The pioneering technique will pave the way for an early detection and
better treatment of the brain disorder in young children. The work detail of the new technique was published in journal BMC Medicine on 26 June 2012
⢠Pranab Mukherjee, resigned as the Union Finance Minister on 26 June 2012
27 June 2012
⢠The Haryana Government decided to develop Rural Water Policy on 27 June 2012.
28 June 2012
⢠Uttar Pradesh Government decided to increase the tax on Tobacco Products on 28 June 2012.
⢠India and South Korea decided to cooperate in the areas of civil nuclear energy and space, including the launch of Korean
satellites by India. Both of them met in New Delhi on 28 June 2012 during their second foreign policy and security dialogue.
⢠The Union Home Ministry appointed Neeraj Kumar, the 1976-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, as the 18th
Commissioner of Delhi Police on 28 June 2012.
29 June 2012
⢠As per the latest data released by the commerce and industry ministry on 29 May 2012, the eight core sectors registered a
higher growth rate of 3.8 per cent in May 2012.
30 June 2012
⢠The morning of 30th Jun 2012 witnessed 216 newly commissioned officers receive their first salute from their juniors as
they marched to the tune of âAuld Lang Syneâ at the end of the parade, marking their successful graduation from the Air Force
Academy at Dundigal, Hyderabad
CORPORATE
SPICE JET LAUNCHED DAILY FLIGHTS TO DUBAI FROM DELHI AND MUMBAI
Spice Jet, low-fare airline on 26 June 2012 launched daily airline to Dubai from Delhi and Mumbai for the expansion in
international markets. Spice Jetâs Boeing 737-800s took off its first flights from Dubai's Terminal 1 to Delhi and Mumbai on
25 June 2012.
Sheryl Sandberg First Female and Eighth Member on Facebookâs Board
Chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg is the first female and eighth member on the Facebook Board of Directors announced by
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on 26 June 2012. The promotion praised by The California State Teachersâ Retirement System which holds 36922 shares of Facebook. It is the second- largest pension fund in US.
Lessors occupied 34 aircraft of Vijay Mallayâs Kingfisher Airlines
Lessors occupied 34 aircraft of Kingfisher Airlines from March 2012 to June 2012 announced on 26 June 2012 due to the
non-payment of lease rentals of about 1000 crore rupees to the lessors. As per Kingfisher the aircraft were willingly
returned, not by lessors force
Harsha Viji appointed as new MD of Sundaram Mutual
Fourth generation of TVS family, Harsha Viji appointed as new Managing Director (MD) of Sundaram Mutual on 26 June 2012 after T.P. Raman. T.P. Raman is retired on 30 June 2012. He is working with the company from 16 years and will serve the company as its Non-Executive Director. Harsha will take the responsibility of MD of Sundaram Mutual from 1 July 2012.
Harsha joined the company Sundaram Mutual in 2010 as a Deputy Managing Director. Earlier, he worked in McKinsey & Co, New York, and Price water house Coopers in Chennai. He is also Director, Strategy and Planning at Sundaram Finance, where his father Viji Santhanam is the Chairman.
Airtel Rising Star Talent Hunt Launched by Airtel & Manchester United
Airtel launched AIRTEL RISING STAR in association with Manchester United, England on 25 June 2012 to provide exposure to young footballerâs talents. The talent hunt also strengthens brand positioning and appeal to youth to enhance football in countries like India.
Som Mittal remained as Nasscom President till early 2014
Som Mittal remained Nasscom (National Association of Software and Service Companies) President as per the announcement of IT trade association executive council on 25 June 2012. The agreement was extended till early 2014. He was assigned as Nasscom President in January 2008.
HP Launched Envy Ultrabook and Sleekbook in India
Hewlett-Packard (HP) launched Envy Ultrabooks and Sleekbooks on 20 June 2012. The Envy Ultrabook range is available at starting range of 57990 rupees and Envy Sleekbook at 41990 rupees. The HP Envy Ultrabook and Sleekbook are available in 14 inches display size Envy 4 and Envy 6 of 15.6 inches diagonal display size. It has Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) chips with Intel Core processors of third generation. It has the battery life of 8-9 hours. They are portable as compared to netbooks having 1.1 kg and older notebooks of 2.5 kg.
NTPC signed MoU with IIT Delhi for M Tech Programme
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) had signed Memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 20 June 2012 with IIT Delhi for M Tech programme for employees. The MoU was signed for higher qualification and to develop research skill in NTPC employees.
Black Berry maker RIM Launched Porsche Design Pâ9981 Smart Phone
Black Berry maker Research in Motion (RIM) on 20 June 2012 had launched Porsche Design Pâ9981 Smart Phone in India. It costs around 1.39 lakh. Porsche Design Pâ9981 came with an exclusive Porsche Design UI and a modified World Browser
Mahindra launched new Rodeo RZ Scooty of 125cc
Mahindra launched women oriented new Rodeo RZ Scooty on 14 June 2012 in Mumbai. The new Rodeo RZ launched with new printed images and bright colour options. Currently, the Peppy scooter came in 7 colour in addition to 2 new colours- Flame orange and Electric Green.
Mercedes-Benz launched new C Class AMG Performance Compact Premium Cars
Mercedes-Benz on 15 June 2012 launched the new C Class AMG Performance premium cars. Mercedes-Benz are German luxury carmakers. The new C Class sedan is priced at 3462609 rupees in Mumbai.
Mercedes-Benz had decided to set up its own high-tech paint shop. It is likely to be effective in the second half of 2012.
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd Decided to Merge with Suzuki Power train India Ltd
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd decided to get into a merger with Suzuki Powertrain India Ltd .This initiative will help them prepare and meet the increasing demand for diesel vehicles. Suzuki Powertrain is a 30:70 ratio joint venture between Maruti and its Japanese parent Suzuki Motor Corp. The merger is expected to increase Suzukiâs stake in its Indian subsidiary by 2 percentage points to 56.2%. Maruti proposes to make a fresh issue of 13.17 million shares to Suzuki in lieu of its 70% holding in Suzuki Powertrain. The auto industry is slowly shifting towards dieselization and has reached a diesel to petrol ratio of 1:1. The proposed merger aims to bring in constructive growth and synergies in areas such as finance, capital structuring and administration.
Nokia launched Pureview 808 Smart phone for India at 33899 rupees .
Nokia launched Pureview 808 Smart phone on 12 June 2012 for India at a price of 33899 rupees in Delhi. Pureview 808 comes only in black and white colour. The phone will be available from the July 2012 in Indian market. The Pureview 808 has a 4 inch wide screen and runs on Symbian Belle (operating software). It has 41 MP sensor and advanced imaging innovation featuring and Carl Zeiss optics. Carl Zeiss optics makes it best among the other smartphones available in India.
Samsung Electronics named Kwon Oh-hyun as its New ceo
Electronic Equipments major Samsung Electronics on 7 June 2012 named Kwon Oh-hyun as its new chief executive officer. The head of the Samsungâs components business at present, he will replace Choi Gee-sung, at the top-notch position. In addition to his previous works, Kwon as the CEO, will now also look into the corporate affairs of the company. Choi will retain his seat on Samsung Electronics board and assume the role of the head of Samsung Group Corporate Strategy Office to focus on future growth engines for the entire Samsung group of companies. Jay Lee, the son of Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-hee, will continue serving as chief operating officer of the Korean company
