DEC 2013 curent affairs

INTERNATIONAL

1) Which country Central Bank has recently adopted an official symbol for the national currency ,the ruble ,which has been approved in a public vote ?
Ans:- Russia

2) Which country became the first country in the world to legalise marijuana (Drug) for recreational use with the state taking control of the trade on 10 December 2013?
Ans:- Uruguay

3) Who was elected as Chile’s president on 15 December 2013 in a landslide victory – with about 62% support ?
Ans:- Michelle Bachelet

4) Which country Parliament on 15 December 2013 banned the use of US drones in the country after dozens of civilians were killed by the unmanned aircraft ?
Ans:- Yemen

5) The European Union on 12 December 2013 granted GSP-Plus status to ——— ?
Ans :- Pakistan

6) Which country President Enrique Pena Nieto on 20 December 2013 signed a controversial law that allows foreign companies to drill for oil ?
Ans:- Mexico

INDIA & WORLD

1) Which country on 16 December supported Thailand government’s move to hold fresh elections after facing protests for past several weeks ?
Ans:- India

2) Which country troops recently once again detained five Indian porters and their mules at Chumar area along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh ?
Ans:- China

3) Which country and India on 20 December 2013 signed a Programme on Cultural Exchange ?
Ans:- Venezuela

4) Which country Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Indian Navy bilateral maritime exercise was held in waters off the Indian coast in the Bay of Bengal from 19 – 22 December 2013 ?
Ans:- Japan

5) Which country and Nepal on 22 December 2013 agreed to address each other’s concerns on commerce and transit, including reduction of tariff barriers and checking illegal trade along the border ?
Ans:- India

6) In the month of December 2013 An MoU was signed by India’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) VS Sampath offering India’s expertise to which country in election management and electoral roll preparations recently?
Ans:- Yemen

NATIONAL

1) Which natural gas pipeline inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 3 December, 2013 is the first one to connect Southern India to the national grid?
Ans:- Dabhol – Bangaluru Gas Pipeline of GAIL

2) In the month of December 2013 India’s first heritage transport museum was opened at ——– ?
Ans:-  Taoru, Gurgaon (Haryana)

3) Which bill was approved by Union Cabinet on 12 December 2013 ?
Ans:- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2011

4) The Supreme Court on 17 December 2013 ruled that the Centre’s approval was not required to investigate officers of ————– level and above when a constitutional court monitors the probe ?
Ans:-  Joint Secretary

5) Lokpal Bill was passed by the Parliament as the Lok Sabha on 18 December 2013 adopted the measure as amended by the Rajya Sabha after a short discussion. Name the two parties which opposed the bill in Loksabha?
Ans:- Samajwadi Party and Shiv Sena

6) Union government recently announced decision to covert the National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NIMSME) into the National SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) University. NIMSME is situated at ———– ?
Ans:- Hyderabad

STATES

1) Which national party on 8 December 2013 won the state assembly election in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh?
Ans:- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

2) Which state Legislative Assembly on 13 December 2013 passed the much-awaited Anti-Superstition Bill which seeks to curb black magic and other inhuman practices arising out of superstition?
Ans:-  Maharashtra

3) Which state government on 3 December 2013 approved a new surrender and rehabilitation policy for Maoists in the state?
Ans :-  Bihar

4) The Supreme Court on 3 December 2013, set a deadline for all states and Union Territories to frame rules to regulate sale of acid and notify them accordingly. What is the deadline?
Ans:- 31 March 2014

5) The Karnataka Govt. is contemplating two sessions of the legislature at the Suvarna Vidhan Soudha in a calendar year. Suvarna Vidhan Soudha is a new legislature building of the State situated at —— ?

Ans:- Belgaum

6) According to a study of the International Association of Public Transport (UTIP) released on 16 December 2013 ,which state was ranked top in public transport among Indian cities ?
Ans:- Kerala

CONFERENCES

1) 9th Ministerial Conference of the WTO was held from 3 to 6 December 2013 at Bali. Bali is in which country?
Ans:- Indonesia

AWARDS & HONOURS

1) Which project has won the 2013 eASIA Award under Trade Facilitation category?
Ans :- e-BRC project of Directorate General of Foreign Trade

2) Who is the Indian-American mathematician and author has won this year’s ” Bad Sex in Fiction ” Award by Britain’s Literary Review magazine for his book “The City of Devi” ?

(Ans:- Manil Suri )

3) Who is the Pakistani teenage activist was received the 2013 UN Human Rights Prize on 10 December 2013 ?
Ans:- Malala Yousafzai

4) Who was recently joined the ranks of legendary figures of the Indian Army including Field Marshal KM Kariappa as he has been awarded the sixth highest American military honour ‘Legion of Merit’ ?
Ans:- Gen Bikram Singh

5) How many girls from remote Maharashtra were on 13 December received United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) ‘ Navjyoti awards – 2013 ‘ for resisting child marriages and also helping other girls fight the scourge ?
Ans:- Nine

6) Who is the Eminent historian on 17 December 2013 was awarded Itihas Ratna from Asiatic Society Bihar ?
Ans:- Bipan Chandra

SPORTS & GAMES

1)  Name the official 2014 FIFA World Cup match ball which was unveiled on 3 December 2013 by manufacturers Adidas?
Ans:- Brazuca

2) Which entity would replace Sahara as the title sponsor of the Indian cricket team with effect from 1 January, 2014?
Ans:- Star India

3)  International Olympics Committee (IOC) cleared the Indian athletes to participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics on 11 December 2013. Where will the Winter Olympics 2014 be held?
Ans:- Sochi in Russia

4) Who won women’s and men’s singles titles at the 78th Senior National Badminton Championships, which concluded at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in New Delhi on 23 December 2013?
Ans:- PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth

5) Zaheer Khan reached the milestone of 300 wickets in test cricket after he took the wicket of Jacques Kallis in the first Test at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on 22 December 2013. He became —— Indian bowler to take 300 wickets in test cricket ?
Ans:- Fourth

6) India won the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup for 2013 on 12 December 2013 and thus won its third consecutive Kabaddi World Cup title. India defeated which team in the final?
Ans:-  New Zealand

7) Which England cricket player announced his retirement from international and first-class cricket midway through the Ashes Series on 22 December 2013?
Ans:- Graeme Swann

ECONOMY

1) Which practice has been made compulsory from 1 December, 2013 with regard to use of debit card at retail outlets?
Ans:-  Mandatory punching of debit card PIN number after swiping

2) Which Indian bank on 19 December 2013 announced that it has received a license from the Board of Governors of the US Federal Reserve System to open a branch in New York?
Ans:- Canara Bank

3) Which entity on 3 December, 2013 announced plans to set up a MFIs Credit Information Bureau to enable Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) to secure credit on faster and better terms?
Ans :- Credit Information Bureau (India) Ltd. – CIBIL

4)  On 16 December 2013, Budget airliners SpiceJet Ltd has entered into a three-year interline agreement with which another airlines to offer greater connectivity between flights operated by both the carriers ?
Ans:- Tiger air from Singapore

5) On 16 December 2013, which company acquires the robot-making company Boston Dynamics which had previously been contracted by the U.S. military ?
Ans:- Google

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

1) Name the surface to surface ballistic missile which was successfully test fired by India on 3 December 2013 from Chandipur in the Balesore district of Odisha?
Ans:- Prithvi-ll

2) Name the first lunar rover of China, which was carried by an unmanned remotely piloted spacecraft Chang’e-3 and was deployed successfully on moon on 14 December 2013?
Ans :- Jade Rabbit (called Yutu in Chinese

3) First Trajectory Correction Manoeuvre (TCM) of Spacecraft of India’s maiden interplanetary mission to Mars was carried out successfully at 06:30 hrs (IST) on 11 December 2013. What is the expected date that the spacecraft will reach to the Martian orbit?
Ans :- 24 September 2014

4) In the month of December 2013 ,World’s first artificial heart transplant was recently successfully performed in which country?
Ans:- France

5) Scientists and experts of which country have successfully launched a research rocket that took the second monkey of that country into the space on 14 December 2013?
Ans:- Iran

PERSONS IN NEWS

A) APPOINTMENTS

1) Who was appointed as the Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo India by the company on 9 December, 2013?
Ans:-  D. Shivakumar

2) Who was appointed as the new CEO of General Motors (GM) to become the first woman to head any major car company?
Ans:- Mary Barra

3)  Who was appointed as the new Managing Director and CEO of state-owned IFCI on 12 December 2013?
Ans:-  Malay Mukherjee

4) Who was named as President and CEO of Walmart India on 13 December 2013 to replace interim CEO Ramnik Narsey?
Ans:-  Krish Iyer

5) Who was appointed as Chairman of the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) on 18 Dec 2013?
Ans:- Justice Darmar Murugensan

B)RESIGNS

1) Who is the Union minister of state for environment and forest from the Council of Ministers (COM) resigned from his post on  21 December 2013 ?
Ans:- Jayanthi Natarajan

C) DEATHS

1) Renowned Japanese biologist and scientist Dr. Michiaki Takahashi died at the age of 85 due to heart failure on 23 December 2013 in Osaka, Japan. He developed vaccine for fighting which disease?
Ans:-  Chicken Pox

D) VISITORS

1) Which country President Hamid Karzai visited India from 12 – 15 December 2013 ?
Ans:- Afghanistan

E) MISCELLANEOUS

1) Name the Islamist leader of Bangladesh who was executed on 12 December 2013 for genocides done during the Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war with Pakistan?
Ans :- Abdul Kader Mullah

PLACES IN NEWS

1) Scientists in the month of December 2013 in their report claimed that the super volcano lying beneath Yellowstone National Park in which country is much larger than it was thought previously ?
Ans:- US

ABBREVIATIONS IN NEWS

1) What is the full form of  ‘ NABARD ‘ ——– ?
Ans:-  National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development

BOOKS IN NEWS

1) Name the book launched by Mumbai University on 16 December 2013 to mark a year since the brutal gangrape of a Delhi student ?
Ans:- Nirbhaya: Ek Atmachintan

COMMITTEES IN NEWS

1) Union Cabinet on 12 December 2013 approved the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2011. Bill is based on the recommendations of which Committee appointed in 2010 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment?
Ans:- Sudha Kaul Committee

DAYS & DATES

1) World Aids Day is Observed on —————– ?
Ans:- December 1

NOV 2013 curent affairs

INTERNATIONAL

1) What is the name of the new political party recently set up by the supporters of China’s disgraced senior politician Bo Xilai who has been jailed for corruption?
Ans:-  Zhi Xian Party

2) The UN’s International Court of Justice ruled on 11 November 2013 that the area around a flashpoint ancient temple on the Thai border belongs to ————- ?
Ans:- Cambodia

3) Which famous black money-heaven country recently announced shedding its secrecy cloak and join hands with a host of countries including India for automatic exchange of information and mutual assistance in tax matters?
Ans:-  Liechtenstein

4) The UN General Assembly’s human rights committee on 19 November 2013 passed a resolution urging ———– to give the stateless Rohingya minority equal access to citizenship ?
Ans:- Myanmar

5)50th anniversary of the infamous assassination of the 35th U.S. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was observed on 22 November, 2013.This high-profile assassination was executed at which city?
Ans:-  Dallas, Texas

6) Which South East Asian country witnessed huge anti-government protests on 25 November, 2013 after which state of emergency was imposed in the capital?
Ans:- Thailand

7) Indonesian government on 25 November, 2013 ordered evacuation of local residents after a volcano in Sumatra erupted nine times within a few days.Which volcano is this?
Ans:- Mount Sinabung

INDIA & WORLD

1) Union Cabinet on 7 November 2013 approved the visa waiver agreements with which countries?
Ans:-  Poland, Slovenia and Lithuania

2) The 7th India-Republic of Korea Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) was held on 8 November 2013 in ———- ?
Ans:- New Delhi

3) The fifth session of India-Ukraine Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation held in ————— on 13 November 2013.
Ans:- -New Delhi

4) India and Russia on 18 November 2013 decided to hold a Joint Air Force Level exercise for the first time in ————- ?
Ans:- 2014

5) The first Integrated Checkpost along ————- , India-Bangladesh border was jointly inaugurated on 17 November 2013 by Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir ?
Ans:- Agartala-Akhaura

6) Which country and India signed eight agreements on 20 November 2013 in areas of defence and security, oil exploration, civil aviation and scientific research ?
Ans:- Vietnam

NATIONAL

1) Government of India on 4 November 2013 decided to extend the sale of the non-subsidized ———kg cooking gas (LPG) cylinders at petrol pumps across the country?
Ans :- 5 Kg

2) Name the mobile app for iOS and Windows Phone platforms on Passport launched by Ministry of External Affairs, in the month of November 2013?
Ans:-  mPassport Seva

3) Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram released a Commemorative Coin of 20 Rupees a circulation coin of 5 Rupees to mark the culmination of the 125th Birth Anniversary of which freedom fighter/leader at New Delhi on 11 November 2013?
Ans:- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

4) Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and the Embassy of Sweden on 9 November 2013 jointly unveiled a ————– at Rajiv Chowk metro station, Delhi ?
Ans:- ‘Nobel Memorial Wall’

5) President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the 33rd India International Trade Fair (IITF) in New Delhi on 14 November 2013.Where was the event held in New Delhi?
Ans :- Pragati Maidan

STATES

1)  India’s first police academy for riot control and public order management was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on 10 November, 2013. This academy has been established at —- ?
Ans:- Meerut, Uttar Pradesh

2) Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed the penalty of 41393 Rupees on which state Film Exhibitors’ Association (TNFEA) ?
Ans:- Tamil Nadu

3) Which oldest airbase of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is witnessing 75th year of its establishment in 2013, for which Platinum Jubilee Celebrations are being held at the base station?
Ans:- Air Force Station Ambala, Haryana )

4) Which state government on 26 November 2013 issued notification constituting an inquiry commission into the alleged snooping on a woman by the Gujarat police ?
Ans:- Gujarat

5) Which state government announced on 7 November 2013 the high security measures against poachers of the world heritage site Kaziranga National Park ?
Ans:- Assam

6) Which state on 11 November 2013, launched its first food bank in order to give assistance to the different feeding programmes in Gurgaon as well as nearby areas?
Ans:- Haryana

CONFERENCES
1) Which country would host the next Commonwealth summit in 2015, after it was unanimously chosen as the host during the concluding ceremony of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013 at Colombo, Sri Lanka on 17 November, 2013?
Ans:-  Malta

AWARDS & HONOURS

1) Name the former Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia who was on 14 November 2013 conferred with the Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship by the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund?
Ans:- Mushirul Hasan

2) Name the two personalities who were decided to be conferred with the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna, by Government of India on 16 November 2013?
Ans :- Prof CNR Rao and cricket player Sachin Tendulkar

3) President Pranab Mukherjee on 19 November 2013 presented Indira Gandhi National Service Scheme Best University Award 2012-13 to —————— ?
Ans:- Mangalore University

4) Who received the inaugural Centenary Award for the Indian Film Personality of the Year 2013, which was constituted recently by the Union Govt. to mark the 100 years of Indian Cinema?
Ans:- Waheeda Rehman

5) Who was presented with the Dayawati Modi Award for Art and Culture and Education on 19 November, 2013?
Ans:-  Anjolie Ela Menon

SPORTS & GAMES

1) Debutant Rohit Sharma scored an unbeaten century (127) against the West Indies on the second day of Kolkata Test on 7 November, 2013. With this century he became the —— Indian batsman to score a century on debut.
Ans:- 14th

2) Indian men’s hockey team on 3 November 2013 officially qualified for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014. International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed the India’s berth in a official press release at Switzerland. Where will the event be held?
Ans:- The Hague, Netherland

3) Which Indian won the ATP men’s singles title of Traralgon event in Australia on 4 November 2013?
Ans:- Yuki Bhambri

4) Who on 14 November, 2013 became the first West Indian cricketer to play 150 tests for the team?
Ans:- Shivnarine Chanderpaul

5) What was the position of Sachin Tendulkar in the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen after he ended his record-breaking 200-Test career on 16 November, 2013?
Ans:-  18th

6) Two Jamaican athletes were crowned the male and female World Athletes of the Year 2013 on 16 November, 2013. Which athletes are these?
Ans:-  Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

7) Which teenager of Mumbai came to limelight on 20 November, 2013 after he smashed an astonishing 546 runs, which is the third highest score in the world in any format of cricket?
Ans:- Prithvi Shaw

ECONOMY

1) The BSE Sensex scaled a new historic high of 21,293.88 points in the late morning trade on 1 November, 2013 before retreating back to 21,196.82 points at the end of the day. When the previous highest figure of 21,206.77 was touched by Sensex?
Ans:- 10 January, 2008

2) India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) on 6 November 2013 increased its lending rates by ——– percent with effect from 7 November 2013?
Ans :-  0.20 %

3) The first all-women Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) was launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 19 November, 2013 with the inauguration of the first branch of the bank. This first branch of BMB was inaugurated at ——— ?
Ans:-  Air India building at Nariman Point in Mumbai

4) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 19 November 2013 directed Public Sector Banks (PSBs) to provide loans to women self-help groups (SHGs) at ———— per cent per annum to avail the benefit of interest rate subvention scheme under the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana-Aajeevika (SGSY) scheme?
Ans :- 7 percent

5) Jet Airways on 20 November 2013 concluded the sale of  ——- percent equity stake in the airline to Etihad Airways for 2057 crore Rupees?
Ans :- 24

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

1) India’s premier space agency, ISRO, on 5 November 2013 successfully launched its historic mission to Mars from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, about 100km from Chennai.Name the launch vehicle which was used for the mission?
Ans:- PSLV C25

2) Name the Proton-M rocket carrying a defense satellite which was successfully launched by Russia on 12 November 2013?
Ans:- Raduga-1M

3) India successfully test fired the indigenous ———-missile from Wheeler Island off Odisha coast on 8 November 2013?
Ans:- Agni-1

4) Pakistan on 5 November 2013 successfully test-fired ……………. missile, a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 60 km?
Ans:- Hatf IX (Nasr)

5) Indian Navy on 12 November 2013 commissioned the first Advanced Light Weight Helicopters Squadron at Southern Command at which place?
Ans :- Kochi, Kerala

6) Name the aircraft carrier which was inducted into the Indian Navy on 16 November 2013 giving a boost to the India’s maritime warfare capabilities?
Ans :- INS Vikramaditya

7) Which country space agency on 18 November 2013 launched its MAVEN orbiter Mission to Mars Planet ?
Ans:- US

PERSONS IN NEWS

A) APPOINTMENTS

1) Who was elected as the new President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on 15 November, 2013?
Ans:-  Craig Reedie of Britain

2) Who was appointed as the new Chairman of PFRDA by the Finance Ministry following the resignation of Chairman Yogesh Agarwal?
Ans :- Anup Wadhawan

3) Who was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court on 12 November 2013?
Ans :- Justice R. Banumathi

4) Name the Indian Weightlifting Federation Joint Secretary who was on 4 November 2013 appointed as an international Weightlifting referee?
Ans:- Abraham K Techi

5) Who was appointed Chairman of the National Multi-Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (NMCE) on 12 November 2013?
Ans:- Krishna Mohan Sahni

B)RESIGNS

1) Name the Chairman of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), who resigned from the post of Chairman on 13 November 2013?
Ans :- Yogesh Agarwal

C) DEATHS

1) Renowned Pakistani folk singer Reshma died on 3 November, 2013 in Lahore .She was born at which Indian town?
Ans:-  Bikaner, Rajasthan

2) An eminent Sri Lankan personality Gamani Corea, who passed away on 2 November, 2013, was associated with which field?
Ans :- Economics

3) Writer Vijaydan Detha, who passed away on 10 November, 2013 was a famous writer of folk tales in ——— ?
Ans:-  Rajasthani

D) VISITORS

1) Which country Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah visited India from 7 – 10 November 2013 ?
Ans:- Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah

E) MISCELLANEOUS

1) Who was selected as the first Miss Universe contestant to represent Myanmar in more than 50 years time in history of the country on 3 October 2013?
Ans:- Moe Set Wine

PLACES IN NEWS

1) Which province of the Philippines came to highlight due to death of over 10,000 people due to the devastating Typhoon Haiyan, which lashed it with speeds of over 300 kph on 8 November, 2013?
Ans:-  Leyte

ABBREVIATIONS IN NEWS

1) What is the full form of  ‘ PSLV ‘ ?
Ans:- Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle

BOOKS IN NEWS

1) What is the name of the book released by Vice President M. Hamid Ansari on the 175 years of Times of India at a function in New Delhi on 11 November 2013 ?
Ans:- Momentous Times

COMMITTEES IN NEWS

1) The Gopal Krishna Committee findings are related to the reason for decrease in production of —————— ?
Ans:- Natural Gas

DAYS & DATES

1) National Integration Day is observed on ———— ?
Ans:- 19 November 2013

OCT 2013 curent affairs

INTERNATIONAL

1) Which European country recently announced its decision to exit the international bailout programme by December 2013 and seek funds from other outside sources?
Ans:- The Republic of Ireland

2) U.S. President Barack Obama on 17 October 2013 signed a bill into law to end the 16-day government shutdown.What is the name of this important law?
Ans:- The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014

3) Which country on 18 October, 2013 rejected its seat in the UN Security Council just hours after it was selected as one of the 10 non-permanent members in the council?
Ans:- Saudi Arabia

4) Which country recently agreed on a deal with Romania for making use of Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, as a transit point for the American forces leaving Afghanistan ?
Ans:- US

5)  Which country and the EU have reached an agreement in principal on a comprehensive free trade agreement ?
Ans:- Canada

6)  Ethiopia’s parliament on 7 October 2013 elected ——— as the country’s new president for a six-year term?
Ans :- Mulatu Teshome

7) Which Southeast Asian country recently announced a new Islamic criminal law to be enforced within six months in the country, which could include penalties like amputation for theft and stoning for adultery?
Ans:- Brunei

8) What is the name of a new ordinance that was passed by the Pakistani President on 22 October, 2013 which gives more teeth to fight terror?
Ans :- Protection of Pakistan Ordinance, 2013

INDIA & WORLD

1)  What is the name of an American ship which was detained for carrying arms and buying diesel in an unauthorized manner near Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu on 12 October, 2013?
Ans:- MV Seaman Guard Ohio

2) According to the French Institute of Demographic Studies survey,what is the Indian populaion by 2050?
Ans:- 160 crore

3) The UK-based ‘ Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2013-14 ‘ report released on 2 October 2013.Which university got a first place in this list?
Ans:- Calfornia Institute of Technology

4) Which country and India signed the bilateral agreement for the promotion and development of traditional systems of medicine on 17 October 2013 ?
Ans:- Hungary

5) The Sixth India- Brazil Joint Commission Meeting was held in ——– on 14 -15 October 2013
Ans:- Brasilia

6) The members of the Africa – India Business council ,representing the voice of industry in Africa and India recently met in ————- ?
Ans:- Johannesburg

7) The 14th Annual India-Russia Summit was held on 21 October, 2013 on the occasion of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s official two-day visit to Russia. How many bilateral agreements were signed between the two countries in this summit?
Ans :- Five

8) Which country and China on 23 October 2013 signed the deal to further strengthen and deepen cooperation in the energy sector ?
Ans:- India

NATIONAL

1) Union government of India on 5 October 2013 launched the Inter Company ——- portability scheme in 24 cities across the country?
Ans:- LPG portability scheme

2) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 3 October 2013 cleared Jet Airways proposed sale of 24 per cent equity to Abu Dhabi-based ——- Airways?
Ans:- Etihad

3) Ninth Formation Day of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) took place in New Delhi at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 4 October 2013. What is the function of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)?
Ans:- NDMA is India’s apex body in the area of disaster management

4) Union Cabinet on 17 October, 2013 approved the Rs. 50 per quintal raise in the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat to encourage farmers to cover more area under the crop in the ongoing Rabi season.What is the MSP of wheat after this raise?
Ans:- Rs. 1,400 per quintal

5) Indira Gandhi International Airport in India and Birmingham Airport, UK on 7 October 2013 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)  to Become Sister Airports? Where is Indira Gandhi International Airport situated?
Ans :- New Delhi

6) The Union cabinet of India approved on 17 October 2013 the appointment of a three-member supervisory committee headed by a representative of the Central Water Commission on construction of  ———- issue ?
Ans:- Babhli Barrage

7)  Supreme Court of India on 8 October 2013 directed the Election Commission of India to introduce VVPAT in EVMs in phased manner for the next general elections in 2014. Expand VVPAT?
Ans :- Vote Verifier Paper Audit Trail

8) What is the name of a newly formed regional political federation which was formed by 10 regional parties of the North-East India on 20 October, 2013?
Ans:- North East Regional Political Front (NERPF)

9) The first meeting of the seven-member Tax Administration Reforms Commission (TARC) led by Parthasarathi Shome was held on 21 October, 2013 at Delhi. What is the tenure of TARC, which will act as an advisory body to the Finance Ministry?
Ans:- 18 months

STATES

1) India’s largest forged-wheel factory for railways is proposed to be established at which place of Uttar Pradesh?
Ans:-  Lalganj in Raibareili

2) Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE’s) first ever Career Counselling & Guidance Centre (CCGC) in the country was opened on 15 October, 2013 at which place?
Ans:- Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh

3) Which state Lokayukta Bill was received President of India Pranab Mukherjee assent on 17 October 2013 ?
Ans:- Uttarakhand

4) Where was the First Mega Food Park in Uttar Pradesh Established recently?
Ans :- Jagdishpur of Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh

5) The Union government on 19 October 2013 approved construction of roads and bridges worth 354 crore rupees in different parts of  —————– ?
Ans :- Maharashtra

6)  Which state has the highest proportion of Visitor Location Register (VLR) subscribers in India according to the latest telecom subscription data (as on 31st July 2013) released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recently?
Ans :- West Bengal

7)  Which dam completed 50 years of its establishment on 24 October, 2013?
Ans :- Bhakra dam

CONFERENCES

1) The 23rd ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit was held in ———— on 9 – 10 October 2013 ? (Ans:- Brunei Darussalam )

AWARDS & HONOURS

1) Who is the Indian Engineering student from the University of Nottingham  to be awarded the overall prize at a British government-backed entrepreneurial contest?
Ans:- Ashutosh Pathak

2) Who received the “2014 Leo Sziland Lectureship Award”?
Ans:- R.Rajaraman

3) Who was selected for IPI-India Award for Excellence in Journalism 2013?
Ans:- Karan Thapar

4) Who won the Man Booker Prize 2013 as announced on 15 October, 2013?
Ans:- Eleanor Catton for her novel ‘The Luminaries’

5) Who was named Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013 by the panel of international judges ?
Ans:- Greg du Toit

6) Who was conferred with European Union’s (EU) Sakharov human rights prize 2013 on 10 October 2013?
Ans:-  Malala Yousafzai

7) Who was awarded the first founders’ award from the Elton John AIDS Foundation in New York ?
Ans:- Hilary Clinton

SPORTS & GAMES

1) Name the Indian women who won bronze medal at the Judo tournament held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 5 October 2013?
Ans:- Kalapana Devi

2) India’s lawn tennis player Rohan Bopanna with French partner Edouard Roger-Vasselin won the Rakuten Japan Open tennis championship (Men’s Doubles) on 6 October 2013. Where was the event held?
Ans:- Tokyo, Japan

3) Which country qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup recently and with it earned its first berth as an independent nation?
Ans:- Bosnia-Herzegovina

4) Who won the Japanese F1 Grand Prix held on 13 October, 2013 at the Suzuka circuit?
Ans:-  Sebastian Vettel

5)  Who won the title of the Indian Open Snooker 2013, final of which was held on 19 October, 2013?
Ans:- Ding Junhui of China

6) Who won China Open Tennis Tournment title in Women’s singles?
Ans:- Serena Williams

ECONOMY
1) Who occupied the first place in the  list of “100 most powerful Indians” in Gulf published by GCC?
Ans:- Yusuff Ali

2) Name the International Money Transfer Service launched by India Post on 11 October 2013?
Ans:-  Instant Cash

3)  Which country passed USA to become world’s biggest oil importer in September 2013 as per the data released by US government in the first week of October 2013?
Ans :- China

4) Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for all commodities in the month of September 2013 stood at ———— percent as compared to 6.1percent in August 2013 ?
Ans:- 6.46 %

5) IFC on 7 October 2013 launched a ————– offshore bond programme to strengthen India’s capital markets and attract greater foreign investment ?
Ans:- 1 billion Dollars

6) What is the name of the Indonesian bank whose first branch in India was opened on 21 October, 2013 at Mumbai?
Ans:- Bank Internasional Indonesia – BII

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

1) India on 7 October 2013 successfully test-fired it’s indigenously developed nuclear-capable ——— missile with a strike range of 350 km from Chandipur Integrated test range in Odisha?
Ans:- Prithvi-II

2) An international team of scientists in the month of October 2013 discovered a new species of dragon tree (Dracaena Kaweesakii) in ——— ?
Ans:- Thailand

3) Which country Scientists recently developed  Li-Fi Tech -a new cheaper way of getting connected to internet by using signals sent through light bulbs ?
Ans:- China

4) Samsung Electronics on 9 October 2013 became the first manufacturer to launch the first curved screen smartphone of the world. What is the name of the phone?
Ans :- Galaxy Round

5) Union Minister for Mines Dinsha J. Patel dedicated state of art Geo-scientific research vessel ———- to the nation at Kandla Port of Gujarat on 12 October 2013?
Ans:- RV Samudra Ratnakar

PERSONS IN NEWS

A) APPOINTMENTS

1) The Union Government on 7 October, 2013 cleared the elevation of Arundhati Bhattacharya as the new Chairperson of SBI. She will become the first woman to head SBI, which is India’s largest bank. Bhattacharya will become —— head of SBI
Ans:-  24th

2) Who took over as the first Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province on 7 October, 2013?
Ans:- C.V. Wigneswaran

3) Who was appointed as a Assistant Secretary and Direcor General of the U.S.on 5 October 2013?
Ans:- Arun M.Kumar

4) Who was appointed as the new Chairman of the Railway Board on 16 October, 2013 by the Indian Railways?
Ans:- Arunendra Kumar

5) Who was appointed as head of the joint mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations ?
Ans:- Sigrid Kaag

6) Who was appointed as the Chairperson of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) on 17 October 2013 ?
Ans:- Gireesh B. Pradhan

7) On 18 October, 2013 who was nominated by US President Barack Obama to head the Department of Homeland Security?
Ans:-  Jeh Johnson

B)RESIGNS

Who is the Goa Lokayukta chairman resigned from his post on 16 October 2013 ?
Ans:- Justice B Sudarshan Reddy

C) DEATHS

1) Name the nine-times Prime Minister of Belgium and who led the European Union’s Christian Democrat group who died on 9 October 2013 at 77 in Lokeren, in East Flanders?
Ans :- Wilfried Martens

2) Who is the Cuban-American writer died on 13 October 2013 in New York City ?
Ans:- Oscar Hijuelos

3)  Dr. Ravuri Bharadwaja, who passed away on 18 October, 2013, was a renowned personality associated with which field?
Ans:- Literature

D) VISITORS

1) Which country Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited India from 16 – 19 October 2013 ?
Ans:- Viktor Orban

E) MISCELLANEOUS

1) Who was selected as the first Miss Universe contestant to represent Myanmar in more than 50 years time in history of the country on 3 October 2013?
Ans:- Moe Set Wine

PLACES IN NEWS

1) Over 100 people, around half of which were women and children, were killed in a stampede on 13 October, 2013 during Navratri festivities in a temple in Madhya Pradesh. This incident took place at which place?
Ans:- In Datia’s Ratangarh Mata Temple

2) Name the cyclonic storm which hit the Andaman and Nicobar islands and moved northwestwards 800 km South East of Paradip in Odisha on 10 October 2013?
Ans :- Phailin

3) Name the Typhoon which slammed into Southeastern China on 7 October 2013 with powerful winds and heavy rains?
Ans :- Typhoon Fitow

ABBREVIATIONS IN NEWS

1) What is the full form of  ‘OPEC ‘ ——————— ?
Ans:-  Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries

BOOKS IN NEWS

1) What is the title of a newly-released coffee table book on the great Brazilian footballer Pele, which weighs 15 kg and is worth $1,700?
Ans:- ‘1283’

2) The Third Curve: The End of Growth as We Know It, a Book Written by Film Director Mansoor Khan was released at the India International Centre in New Delhi on  11 October 2013. Which famous Bollywood actor has released the book?
Ans. Aamir Khan

COMMITTEES IN NEWS

1) Supreme Court of India proposed a three-member committee on 7 October 2013 to examine the IPL spot-fixing scandal. Who is the head of the committee ?
Ans:- Mukul Mudgal (former Punjab and Haryana Chief Justice)

DAYS & DATES

1) The United Nations Day was observed across the world on ————- ?
Ans:- 24 October

SEp 2013 curent affairs

INTERNATIONAL

1) Which party came to power in Norway after defeating Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg’s Labour Party in the recently held national elections?
Ans:-  Conservative Party

2) The Sri Lankan Govt. on 14 September, 2013 resumed railway services between the capital Colombo and Kilinochchi, a town devastated by the civil war.This link was broken how many years ago?
Ans:- Six years ago

3) An industrial park which was jointly operated by North and South Korea was reopened on 16 September, 2013. This industrial park was closed when tension between the two Koreas reached its pinnacle earlier this year. Which industrial park is this?
Ans:- Kaesong Industrial Park

4) Which country companies signed 13 agreements on 16 September 2013 with the U.S. agricultural exporters for buying 4.83 million tonnes of U.S. soybeans ?
Ans:- China

5) Which party scored a landslide victory in the historic provincial council polls held after a gap of 25 years in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province?
Ans:- Tamil National Alliance – TNA

6) Which country President Adly Mansour on 1 September 2013 approved a 50 member panel to amend the suspended 2012 Constitution ?
Ans:- Egypt

INDIA & WORLD

1) Which country has agreed to look forward for the development of Japanese Electronics Manufacturing Township in New Delhi ?
Ans:- Japan

2) Which country on 10 September lifted the ban on import of non-Basmati Rice from India ?
Ans:- Russia

3) According to UN Food and Agriculture Organization report,How much food was wasted every year?
Ans:- one – third

4) How much amount of credit line was extended to Liberia by India?
Ans:- US $ 144mn

5) According to the World Ultra Wealth Report 2013 by Wealth-X, among the five BRICS countries, which country recorded the largest increase in its Ultra-High Networth Individual (HNIW) club during the last one year?
Ans:- India

6) Bilateral security matters between India and which country were reviewed at the Minister’s level meeting held in New Delhi on 12 September 2013 ?
Ans:- Mozambique

7) According to the recently released 2013 World Population Data Sheet released by the US’s Population Reference Bureau, which Indian city has been ranked as the second most populous city in the world after Tokyo?

Ans:- Delhi

8) India during the second weekend of September, 2013 received 20 containers of Afghan dry fruit which were sent directly to India by Afghanistan without taking the old traditional route of sending them through Pakistan. These dry fruit were sent through which port of Iran?
Ans:- Chabahar Port

NATIONAL

1) Prime Minister of India Dr. Mamohan Singh on 2 September 2013 launched the Gandhi Heritage Portal in New Delhi. Gandhi Heritage Portal is an initiative of which union ministry?
Ans:- Union Ministry of Culture

2) Where was the 11th Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) Congress held recently?
Ans. New Delhi

3) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the proposal for restructuring of the centrally sponsored Scheme SJSRY. Expand it?
Ans:- Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana

4) When the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill Passed In Rajya Sabha?
Ans:- 2013 September 5

5) When the key Pension Bill passed in the Parliament?
Ans:- 2013 September 6

6) When the “Street Vendors Bill” passed in the Parliament?
Ans:- 2013 September 6

7) When the Lok Sabha Passed Bill To Set Up First National Aviation University at Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh?
Ans:- 2013 September 6

8) When the Food Security Bill got approval from President Pranab Mukherjee ?
Ans:- 12 September 2013

STATES

1) Minister of State V Narayanasamy of Puducherry on 1 September 2013 inaugurated the Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign at ———– ?

Ans:- Karaikkal, Puducherry

2) Sis Ram Ola, Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Government of India, inaugurated the state-of-the-art ESIC Model Hospital at —— ?

Ans:- Jaipur

3) The Union Government of India approved a special package 1000 crore Rupees to strengthen sports infrastructure in ———- on 16 September 2013 ?

Ans:- Jammu and Kashmir

4) The trial run of Jaipur Metro train was flagged off by Rajasthan’s Chief Minister ———- on 18 September 2013 ?

Ans:- Ashok Gehlot

5) Which State Government on 18 September 2013 approved the proposal of Disaster Management department for declaring the 33 districts as drought-hit ?

Ans:- Bihar

6) Indian Govt. on 20 September, 2013 gave its approval to set up a 4,000 MW solar power project in the country, which would become the largest solar power project in the world when commissioned fully. Where this project would be established?

Ans:- Near Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan

CONFERENCES

1) The 13th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit is held in ————– on 13 September 2013 ?
Ans:- Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan

2) Which country will host the 2014 NATO summit ?
Ans:- Britain

AWARDS & HONOURS

1) Who is the Indian Freedom Fighter on 11 September 2013 got a “Lifetime Achievement Award” at UK.s House of Commons?
Ans:-Vijay Jawaharlal Darda

2) Which movie on human trafficking, was named the best film at the Ladakh International Film Festival (LIFF) on 15 September 2013 ?
Ans:- Abhinav Shiv Tiwari’s “OASS”

3) Who received the First Sree Narayan Guru Global Secular & Peace Award 2013 on 10 September 2013 ?
Ans:- Dr. Shashi Tharoor

4) Who won the best director award for Paan Singh Tomar movie at the 11th Norway Bollywood Film Festival at Oslo on 17 September 2013 ?
Ans:- Tigmanshu Dhulia

5) Which film was on 21 September, 2013 announced as India’s official entry at 2014 Oscar Awards in the Best Foreign Film category?
Ans:- ‘The Good Road’

SPORTS & GAMES

1)  Name the team which won Men’s Doubles Title 2013 at US Open 2013 on 8 September 2013?
Ans:- Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek

2) Who won the men’s singles title of US Open 2013?
Ans:- Rafael Nadal

3) Which two Indian wrestlers won medals at the World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary?
Ans:- Amit Kumar and Bajrang Kumar

4) Which team won the Durand Cup Football tournament 2013 after defeated ONGC in the finals played on 19 September, 2013?
Ans:- Mohammedan Sporting

5) Who won the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix held on 22 September, 2013 at Singapore’s Marina Bay street circuit?
Ans:- Sebastian Vettel

6) Which team defeated India in the final of the SAFF Football Championship on 11 September, 2013 to win their maiden SAFF title?
Ans:- Afghanistan

7) Which city on 7 September 2013 won the right to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games?
Ans:- Tokyo

ECONOMY

1) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 6 September, 2013 increased the amount of Indian currency that individuals travelling abroad can carry with them to Rs. 10,000 per person. What was this amount till now?
Ans:- Rs. 7,500

2) Which private sector bank recently launched ‘Branch on Wheels’, an initiative to offer basic banking services in remote areas which have so far been devoid of banking facilities?
Ans:-  ICICI Bank

3) Telecom regulator (TRAI – Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) on 9 September, 2013 recommended lowering of the floor price for mobile spectrum auction.What pan-India reserve price of spectrum was recommended by TRAI?
Ans:-  Rs.1,496 crore per MHz

4) A country, which was ranked as the sixth-largest investor in 2011, was recently ranked as the third-largest investor in the world based on figures of 2012.Which country is this?
Ans:- China

5) Which company came to news for raising a bond issue of $49 billion on 11 September, 2013, which is the largest corporate bond deal in the world till date?
Ans:-  Verizon

6) Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority’s (IRDA’s) insurance repository system was launched by Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on 16 September, 2013.This repository system, which is claimed by IRDA as the first-of-its-kind in the world is situated in ?
Ans:-  Hyderabad

7) Which bank on 19 September, 2013 became the first major state-run bank to hike lending rates after short-term rates rose as a result of the Reserve Bank of India’s liquidity tightening moves announced during July, 2013?
Ans:-  State Bank of India

8) What is the name of a proposed company to be established by the union govt. on the lines of a sovereign wealth fund to lend financial muscle for securing access to overseas natural resources?
Ans:-  India Overseas Investment Corporation – INOIC

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

1) What is the name a new robotic explorer that was launched by NASA on 6 September, 2013 through the Minotaur-5 rocket from the Virginia coast?
Ans:- Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer or LADEE

2) What is the name of a giant volcano that has been discovered in the Pacific Ocean recently and which is almost equal to the size of the UK?
Ans:-  Tamu Massif

3) A research team has recently found that the third largest object near Earth, which was believed to be an asteroid for about last 30 years, is actually a comet. What is the name of this object?
Ans:-  3552 Don Quizote

4) Which spacecraft has became the first human-made object to venture into interstellar space as disclosed by NASA on 13 September, 2013?
Ans:-  Voyager 1

5) Which country scientists discovered the indicators of gold deposits at hotspots in the Pacific Ocean ?
Ans:- German

6) What is the name of India’s most formidable and advanced nuclear capable strategic missile that was tested for its full range of 5,000 km on 15 September, 2013?
Ans:- Agni-V

PERSONS IN NEWS

A) APPOINTMENTS

1) India-born Mamnoon Hussain, who was sworn in as the President of Pakistan on 9 September, 2013, is the —— President of the country?
Ans:- 12th

2) Who was elected as the 9th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in place of Jacques Rogge on 10 September, 2013?
Ans:-  Thomas Bach of Germany

3) Who is the Indian-American appointed as the Assistant Secretary of State for Poliical Military Affairs of United States?
Ans:-Puneet Talwar)

4) Who was recently nominated to the post of regional director for South-East Asia at the WHO?
Ans:- Poonam Kherapal Singh

5) On 19 September, 2013 who became the first judge of the Uttarakhand High Court to be appointed as the Chief Justice of a High Court of the country after he took over as the new Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court?
Ans:-  Prafulla Chandra Pant

6) Who was appointed as the new Managing Director and CEO of the beleaguered National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL) recently?
Ans:- Saji Cherian

B)RESIGNS

1) Who is the Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies on 19 September 2013 resigned from the Rajasthan cabinet after being accused of raping a woman ?
Ans:-Babulal Nagar

C) DEATHS

1) Who is the former UP governor died on 7 September 2013 in Gurgeon?
Ans:- Romesh Bhadari

2) Who is the pioneer of Noise Reduction in Audio Recordings died on 12 September 2013?
Ans:- Ray Dolby

D) VISITORS

1) Who is the Prime Minister of Bhutan visited India from 30 August 2013 -  4 September 2013 ?
Ans:- Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay

E) MISCELLANEOUS

1) What is the name of the woman from West Bengal who was declared world’s tallest woman by the Guinness Book of World Records?
Ans:-  Siddiqa Parveen

2) What sentence was pronounced upon China’s former Politburo member Bo Xilai on 22 September, 2013 by a court at northeastern China?
Ans:- Life Sentence

PLACES IN NEWS

1) Which city of Uttar Pradesh was hit by communal violence on 7 and 8 September, 2013 in which over 25 people died?
Ans:- Muzaffarnagar

2) A tropical storm devastated Mexico’s Pacific coast on 15 September, 2013 killing over 24 people and rendering thousands homeless. What was the name given to this storm?
Ans:-  Manuel

ABBREVIATIONS IN NEWS

1) What is the full form of ‘INMARSAT ‘ ?
Ans:-  International Maritime Satellite Organisation

BOOKS IN NEWS

1) What is the name of the book released by the M.Hamid Ansari on 9 September 2013 ,which deals with the relation between India and Malaysia?
Ans:- India and Malaysia:Interwind Strands

COMMITTEES IN NEWS

1) Newly appointed RBI Governor on 4 September, 2013 announced constitution of a panel to strengthen monetary policy framework. This panel is to submit its report in three months. Who is heading this panel?
Ans:-  Urijit Patel, Deputy Governor of the RBI

DAYS & DATES

1) ‘ International Day of Peace ‘ is observed on ——— ? ( 21 September )

AUG 2013 curent affairs

 INTERNATIONAL

1) Which country blocked the import of milk powder from New Zealand in the month of August 2013 after it discovered bacteria that can lead to botulism in some of its dairy products ?
Ans:- China

2) On 20 August 2013 the US has imposed sanctions on a Pakistani —————  being used for training bomb makers and suicide attackers for the LeT and Al-Qaeda, the first time such action has been taken against a seminary ?
Ans:- Madrassa

3) Which country court  has disqualified the country’s largest Islamic party from taking part in the next general election ?
Ans:- Bangladesh

4) Who was declared open the new International Container Terminal of the Colombo harbour on 5 August 2013 ?
Ans:- Sri Lanka’s President, Mahinda Rajapakse

5) In the month of August which country  released the world’s first zinc-enriched rice variety capable of fighting diarrhoea and pneumonia-induced childhood deaths and stunted growth ?
Ans:- Bangladesh

6) Which country on 26 August 2013 rejected the proposal of Japan to hold talks on disputed Sekaku and Diaoyu islands ?
Ans:- China

7) The Chinese and Pakistani air forces on 28 August 2013 decided to hold a joint-drill in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region bordering Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) .What is the code name assigned to this joint drill?
Ans:-  Shaheen -II

8) UN Security Council failed to reach an agreement on a resolution that could authorise the use of military force against ——— ?
Ans:- Syria

9) It was recently reported in some sections of media that a 1,750 MW nuclear power plant is being established, which will be the largest nuclear power plant in the world till date. This plant is reportedly being established in which country?
Ans:-  China

10) The population of which BRICS nation crossed 200 million mark recently?
Ans:-  Brazil

INDIA & WORLD

1) India and Pakistan exchanged fire at which area of Poonch Sector of Jammu and Kashmir on 6 August 2013 killing five Indian Soldiers?
Ans:- Chakan Da Bagh

2) In the recently released Academic Ranking of 500 World Universities (ARWU) for 2013 only one Indian institute features in the list. Which institute is this?
Ans:-  Indian Institute of Science (IIS), Bangalore

3) 1) An avian flu emergency was declared in the capital of which neighbouring country of India on 17 August, 2013 after fresh cases emerged from different areas of the capital?
Ans:- Nepal

4) Name the country which India surpassed to become world’s third largest Internet user?
Ans:- Japan

5) Which country has suggested Myanmar to set-up a Joint Border Working Group to address the issues of demarcation of border between the two countries ?
Ans:- India

NATIONAL

1) Which union territory of the country celebrated its 60th Liberation Day on 2 August 2013?
Ans:- Dadra and Nagar Haveli

2) Union Cabinet on 9 August 2013 approved the proposal for establishment of which new Wing in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting?
Ans:- Media Wing

3) Ministry of Communications and Information Technology inaugurated Data portal of India in New Delhi on 8 August 2013. Name the URL of the website?
Ans:- www.data.gov.in

4) Which house of Parliament passed the historic companies Bill 2012 on 8 August 2013?
Ans:- Rajya Sabha

5) Janata Party led by Subramanian Swamy has merged with which party on on 11 August 2013?
Ans:- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

6) Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister K.V. Thomas on 7 August 2013 introduced National Food Security Bill 2013 in Lok Sabha. This will replace which ordinance?
Ans:-  National Food Security Ordinance, 2013

7) Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on 16 August 2013 unveiled the National Skill Certification and Monetary Reward Scheme. What is the objective of the scheme?
Ans:- To motivate the youth for acquiring vocational skills

STATES

1) For the first time a pilot-project for use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be undertaken during an upcoming assembly by-election to be held in an Indian state. Which state is this?
Ans:- Nagaland

2) In the month of August 2013 Which State Government has decided to revoke the suspension order of mining leases in the state ?
Ans:- Goa

3) In the month of August 2013 ADB and Union government signed an agreement for 300 million US dollars in additional loan to upgrade highways in ——  ?
Ans:- Bihar

4) Which state on 20 August, 2013 became the first to launch the food security scheme for its citizens?
Ans:-  Delhi

5) Which state Government’s Department of Town and Country Planning on 20 August 2012 notified an affordable housing policy, 2013 ?
Ans:- Haryana

6) Which state became the only state of India to have increased its forest cover in the past two decades, as announced recently by the state govt.?
Ans:-  Sikkim

7) Which state government has recently decided to introduce 11 different coloured strips for the three-wheelers based on the zones ?
Ans:- Delhi

8) State Government of Rajasthan on 21 August 2013 laid the foundation stone for world’s biggest solar park at which place?
Ans:-  Bhadla of Jodhpur District

9) Which state government on 22 August 2013 laid the foundation store of Bio 360, a Life Sciences Park ?
Ans:- Kerala

10) During 2011-12, which state replaced Maharashtra to become the state with the largest number of HIV patients in India?
Ans:-Andhra Pradesh

CONFERENCES

1) The 2nd ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus was concluded in ———– on 29 August 2013 ?
Ans:-  Brunei

AWARDS & HONOURS

1) Who is the Malayalam poetess was awarded 22nd Saraswati Samman of K.K. Birla Foundation ?
Ans:- Sugathakumari C)Shibani Bathija D)Urvashi Butalia

2) Which former US President was one among the 16 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for the year 2013, which were announced on 8 August 2013?
Ans:- Bill Clinton

3) Who was conferred the Gujar Mal Modi Award for Science and Technology for year 2013 on 9 August, 2013?
Ans:- Vinod Prakash Sharma

4) Subrata Kumar was nominated for the Prime Minister’s Shram Ratna Award for year 2012 as announced by the union govt. on 14 August, 2013 on the eve of the Independence Day. He is associated with which company?
Ans:- Tata Steel Limited

5) Who is the Professor of economics, conservationist and mountaineer was selected on 12 August 2013 to receive the Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal ?
Ans:- Harshwanti Bisht

SPORTS & GAMES

1) Indian Police Wrestlers won five gold medals on 5 August 2013 (the fifth day) in the World Police and Fire Games. At which place the games were held?
Ans:- Belfast, England

2) Name the Wimbledon 2013 Women’s Singles winner who announced her retirement from Lawn Tennis on 14 August 2013?
Ans:-  Marion Bartoli

3) Who won Men’s Singles Title in Rogers Cup 2013?
Ans:- Rafael Nadal

4) India won six medals at the 7th Asian Junior Wushu Championships which concluded on 13 August 2013. Where was the Championship held?
Ans:- Manila, Philippines

5) Which Indian player has won 10000 dollar the Internalional Tennis Federation (ITF) Women’s Tennis Tournament on 11 August 2013?
Ans:-  Sowjanya Bavisetti

6) Who won the men’s singles title at the World Badminton Championships held at Guangzhou?
Ans:- Lin Dan of China

7) Who won the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix on 25 August, 2013?
Ans:- Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull

8) India won Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC’s) Emerging Team under-23 title in the final held on 25 August, 2013 at Singapore. India defeated which team in the finals?
Ans:-  Pakistan

9) Who equaled the world record of highest golds after winning the 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Championships on 18 August 2013 at Moscow, Russia?
Ans:- Usain Bolt

10) Which franchisee team became the winner of the 1st edition of Indian Badminton League (IBL), final of which was played on 31 August, 2013?
Ans:-  Hyderabad Hotshots

ECONOMY

1) Central Government on 13 August 2013 raised customs duty on gold, silver and platinum to ———- percent in a bid to curb the surging imports and burgeoning Current Account Deficit.
Ans:- 10%

2) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently transferred its surplus profit to the government for the year ended June 2013, which is the highest amount to be transferred by the RBI to the government, except year 2007. How much amount was transferred as surplus profit to the govt.?
Ans:-  Rs. 33,010 crore

3) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 8 August 2013 announced its decision to sell govt. bonds on a week day with an objective of controlling the volatility in the foreign exchange market. Which day of the week was chosen for proposed weekly sale of govt. bonds?
Ans:- Monday

4) What is the name of a proposed commission that will look into removing ambiguity and establishing a stable and non-adversarial tax administration in the country and establishment of which was approved by the union govt. recently?
Ans:-  Tax Administration Reform Commission – TARC

5) The new Petronet LNG terminal near Kochi in Kerala received its first cargo vessel carrying liquified gas on 20 August, 2013. This new LNG terminal, which has been built at a cost of Rs 4,200 crore, is situated at  ——- ?
Ans:- Puthuvype

6) Cheraman Financial Services Limited (CFSL), which became the first Islamic financial services company to be launched in India, started its operations in which Indian state recently?
Ans:-  Kerala

7) On 24 August, 2013 the Union Govt. approved the initiative for free supply of essential medicines to the patients availing treatments. How much budget outlay has been made available under this initiative, which comes under the 12th Five Year Plan?
Ans:- Rs. 16,000 crore

8)  The Indian Rupee fell sharply on 28 August, 2013 to hit a record low of 68.80 to the dollar. This was its biggest single-day percentage fall since how many years?
Ans:-  18 years

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

1) Name the indigenously developed rockets which were successfully test-fired by India on 7 August 2013from a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) from a base at Chandipur-on-sea near Balasore, off the Odisha coast?
Ans:- Pinaka rockets

2) NASA is all set to launch its next mission to Mars in November 2013 from Florida. What will be the project called?
Ans:- Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN)

3) Name the first ever indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier launched by India on 12 August 2013?
Ans:- INS Vikrant

4) Name the indigenously-developed nuclear-capable surface-to-surface missile successfully test-fired by India on 12 August 2013?
Ans:- Prithvi-II

5)  ISRO called off GSLV-D5 launch with just an hour to go before the launch as a “leak” had been detected in fuel tank on 19 August 2013. GSLV-D5 was supposed to carry which satellite?
Ans:- GSAT-14

PERSONS IN NEWS

A) APPOINTMENTS

1) Who was appointed as 11th Director of the IIM A (Indian Institute of Management, Ahmadabad) on 13 August 2013?
Ans:- Ashish Nanda

2) Who was appointed as the new Director-General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on 17 August, 2013?
Ans:-  Dilip Trivedi

3) Who recently took over as the new Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the UN Conference on Disarmament at Geneva?
Ans:-  D. Bala Venkatesh Varma

4) Who was appointed as the new Chairperson of the National School of Drama (NSD) Society on 19 August, 2013?
Ans:- Ratan Thiyam

5) For the first time an Uttarakhand High Court judge has been made the Chief Justice of a High Court of the country. Who is this judge?
Ans:-  Justice P.C. Pant

6) Robert Mugabe was sworn in as the President of Zimbabwe on 22 August, 2013.Mugabe won a landslide victory in the 31 July elections with 61% of the presidential votes.What is the name of his political party?
Ans:-  Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF)

7) How many Additional Solicitors General (ASGs) were appointed in the Supreme Court on 26 August, 2013?
Ans:-  Three

8) Who was appointed Head of Atomic Energy Organisation in Iran on 16 August 2013?
Ans:- Ali Akbar Salehi

B)RESIGNS

1) Who is the Iran’s representative to the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since 2005, announced his resignation on 22 August 2013 ?
Ans:- Ali Asghar Soltanieh

C) DEATHS
1) A Dronacharya Award winner and the coach of former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev passed away on 16 August, 2013 at Mohali. What was the name of this famous cricket coach?
Ans:- Desh Prem Azad

2) Leading anti-superstition activist Dr. Narendra Dabholkar was shot down on 20 August, 2013 in Pune. He was founder of which organisation which was engaged in spreading the movement against anti-superstition in Maharashtra?
Ans:- Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti

 D) VISITORS

1) Who is the Afghanistan vice president visited India from 20 – 22 August 2013 ?
Ans:- Mohammad Karim Khalili

 E) MISCELLANEOUS

 1) Which tennis player topped the Forbes list of highest-paid female athletes for the ninth straight year?
Ans:- Maria Sharapova

2) A Street in Winnipeg city of which country has been named after Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of India’s 67th Independence Day?
Ans:- Canada

3) Name the oldest penguin of the world which turned 36 years old on 12 August 2013 ?
Ans:- King Penguin Missy

4) What is the name of a dreaded terrorist from the 1980s who was arrested on 16 August, 2013 and who was allegedly involved in a series of blasts including the 1993 Mumbai train blasts?
Ans:-  Abdul Karim Tunda

5) Indian-American Trio won top honours at the 11th National Geographic World Championship. Where was it held?
Ans:- Russia’s St. Petersburg city

 PLACES IN NEWS

 1) Which country was hit by earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 on 16 August 2013?
Ans: New Zealand

ABBREVIATIONS IN NEWS

 1) What is the fullform of ‘ NABARD ‘ ?
Ans:- National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development

 BOOKS IN NEWS

 1) Gitanjali, the collection of poems (song offerings) by Rabindranath Tagore was released in 14 different languages at Kolkata. Who hasa released it?
Ans:- . Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal

2) “My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions”, which was published recently by Rupa, is a new book written by ——– ?
Ans:- A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

COMMITTEES IN NEWS

1) A committee constituted by the Corporate Affairs Ministry to look into ways to improve the country’s overall business climate is ready to submit its report to the Union Govt. Who is heading this 25-member committee?
Ans:- M. Damodaran, Former SEBI Chairman

DAYS & DATES

1) World Youth Day is observed on ——- ?
Ans:- 12th August