30 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs (Hindi and English)

Tata-Withdraws-from-Bank-License

1) Which major industrial group of the country on 27 November, 2013 withdrew its application with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a banking licence? – Tata Sons, which is the holding company of the Tata Group (It thus became the second industrial group after Videocon-promoted Value Industries to opt out of the race for banking license that now has 25 entities in the fray. For Tata Sons, the constraining factor was the RBI guideline for new bank licences that required all financial services entities in a group to be necessarily owned by the non-operating financial holding company (NOFHC). To comply, the Tatas would have had to re-organise the existing financial services structure of the Group. The Tata move comes just two months before the final licences for new banks are to be issued by the RBI)

2) Vietnam’s 13th National Assembly on 28 November, 2013 passed an amendment to the country’s Constitution of 1992 in its sixth session in capital Hanoi. What are the two major implications of this amendment?

This amendment reaffirms the leading political and economic role of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)

The amendment also states that land rights can be revoked for socio-economic projects and the armed forces must be loyal to the party

(The amendment passed on 28 November was actually seen as a setback in comparison with the first draft of the amendment, because it reaffirms that the state must play a central role in the economy — a point the proposed draft had removed)

3) Following the attack on a woman at an ATM in Bangalore during November 2013, the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) urged recently the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to drop which plan associated with increasing the penetration of ATMs in the country? - ‘White-label ATMs’ (Under the plan of

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Daily Current Affairs : 29th November 2013

1. Indian Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar appointed as UNICEF's first brand ambassador for South Asia. Sachin Tendulkar will work for promoting hygiene

and sanitation in the South Asian region for two years. Sachin Tendulkar was already involving with the UNICEF campaigns for polio and global hand washing.

2. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) relaxed norms for participation of Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) in the insurance joint ventures by allowing them to hold more than 50 percent in such companies. The notification of Reserve Bank of India has stated that - it has been decided that in cases where IRDA issues calls for capital infusion into the Insurance joint venture company, the RBI may, on a case to case basis, consider need based relaxation of the 50 percent group limit.

3. India's economy grew a higher-than-expected 4.8 per cent in the three months through September, helped by an uptick in agriculture and construction, government data showed on Friday. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast growth of 4.6 per cent. September's figure per cent was the fourth successive quarter of economic growth below 5 per cent.

4. Govt reduces threshold limit of mandatory e- payment from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 lakh. The government has now decided to reduce the threshold limit of mandatory e- payment from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 lakh for both central excise and service tax payment with effect from January 1, 2014. Currently, a manufacturer is required to pay duty of central excise through internet banking

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28 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs (Hindi and English)

Raheel Sharif-New-Pak-Army-Chief

1) Who will be the new Chief of Pakistan Army, who will replace the outgoing General Ashfaq Kayani? - Lieutenant-General Raheel Sharif (He was nominated as the new Army chief on 27 November, 2013 by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (Raheel Sharif had been awarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz, the second highest civilian honour that is given to both civilians and military officers of the Pakistan armed forces. His brother Major Shabbir Sharif, received two of the country's highest military awards for his action during the 1971 India-Pakistan war in which he was killed. The army chief is arguably the most powerful person in Pakistan, with the military having ruled the country for more than half its 66-year history since independence from Britain)

2) 10th anniversary of the assassination of whistleblower Satyendra Dubey was marked on 27 November, 2013. He had exposed large-scale flouting of rules in which major construction project of the country due to which he was shot dead in Gaya (Bihar) on 27 November 2003? - Golden Quadrilateral highway construction project (Satyendra Dubey, an alumnus of IIT Kanpur, was a project Director with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). He had he exposed large-scale flouting of NHAI rules regarding sub-contracting and quality control. His murder sparked protests from various quarters and drew several protests in India and abroad, especially by the media. Student and Alumni bodies of IITs took the lead in raising this issue)

3) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 25 November 2013 widened the definition of infrastructure lending sub category in a bid to swiftly expedite these projects. Which sub-category was added to the infrastructure lending sub category by the RBI to widen its definition? – Hotels, with project cost of more than 200 crore rupees being built anywhere in India and of any star rating (The list will also include convention centres with project cost of more than Rs. 300 crore. Various sub-sectors under the categories such as Transport, Energy, Water & Sanitation, Communication, Social and Commercial Infrastructure come under infrastructure lending)

4) India won the ODI series against the visiting West Indies by 2-1 after defeating them in the final ODI played at Kanpur’s Green Park on 27 November, 2013 by 5 wickets. With this win, India have won six series in a

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27 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs (Hindi and English)

Ripon-Building-Chennai

1) Ripon Building, which completed 100 years of its establishment on 26 November, 2013, houses the municipal corporation of which city of India? – Chennai (This heritage building was inaugurated on 26 November, 1913 by Viceroy Lord Hardinge. The foundation stone was laid by Lord Minto, Viceroy of India, on December 11, 1909. Work then began on the edifice. Ripon Buildings cost Rs. 7.50 lakh and took four years to complete. This building now houses the Corporation of Chennai)

2) The Supreme Court on 26 November, 2013 constituted a 10-member committee to deal with complaints of sexual harassment within its precincts. Who is heading this committee titled Supreme Court Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee (GSICC)? - Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, a woman judge of the Supreme Court (This committee has been formed by Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam and is in consonance with the guidelines laid down by apex court in its judgment in Vishaka case for dealing with complaints of sexual harassment at workplace)

3) Coir Board of India, which is a statutory body for the promotion and development of Coir Industry as well as export market of coir and coir products in India, recently completed how many years of its establishment? – 60 years (Coir Board of India is a statutory body established by the Government of India under a legislation enacted by the Parliament namely Coir Industry Act 1953. Diamond Jubilee function was organized on this occasion which was inaugurated by the President Pranab Mukherjee on 25 November, 2013)

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26 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs (Hindi and English)

26 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs

Thai-Protests-2013

1) Which South East Asian country witnessed huge anti-government protests on 25 November, 2013 after which state of emergency was imposed in the capital? – Thailand (Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Thai capital Bangkok on 25 November in an effort to paralyse the government within three days and bring about a change in administration. Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is seen as the de facto leader of the Pheu Thai party that leads the current government in Thailand. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is his younger sister. Suthep Thaugsuban, a former member of parliament with the opposition Democrat Party, led marches on government offices)

2) Who is the new defence lawyer in the ongoing case of Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, who has slammed the evidences in this case on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of this attack? - Rizwan Abbasi (Abbasi has been representing all seven accused in the case including Lashkar-e-Taiyyaba commander Zakiur Rehman. He took over the case after the exit of Riaz Akram Cheema. Abbasi said no concrete evidence was provided by the Indian authorities against any of the seven accused in jail)

3) The Centre and Nagaland government have recently landed into a constitutional row due to an act of the Nagaland govt. The Centre during November 2013 sent out a strong missive to the state govt. over this issue. This controversy arose after which decision of the Nagaland state govt.? – Nagaland state govt.’s assertion that it has right to independently exploit its natural resources (The issue at hand is the interpretation of Article 371-A of the Constitution relating to Nagaland. Nagaland govt. had in 2012 issued the Nagaland Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulation Act, under which it sought to regulate mining of natural resources)

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24-25 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs (Hindi and English)

24-25 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs

National-Lok-Adalat-2013

1) A world record of disposing over 28 lakh pending judicial cases in one day was created on 23 November, 2013 in the National Lok Adalat held in the Supreme Court, all High Courts, and district and taluk courts across the country. National Lok Adalat was an initiative to reduce the huge number of pending judicial cases by ensuring speedy justice to litigants and making sure that there were no further appeals. This pan-India initiative was organized by which two organisations? - National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) - Lok Adalat aims at reducing pendency, while at the same time drawing attention of the public to the efficacious alternative dispute resolution method. The cases that were disposed of related to criminal compoundable cases, cheque bounce and bank recovery cases, civil suits, motor accident claims, labour, family and matrimonial disputes. In many states, revenue matters, land acquisition references, and consumer, service matters were also taken up.

2) India Meteorological Department (IMD) on 24 November, 2013 issued a fresh cyclone warning of a new looming cyclone, which is expected to turn into a very severe cyclone. This cyclone is expected to be a destructive cyclone and will head towards the Andhra Pradesh coast. What is the name assigned to this cyclone? – Cyclone ‘Lehar’ (IMD announced that the deep depression over south Andaman Sea had moved northwestward to become the third named cyclone this season. ‘Lehar’ would then emerge into southeast Bay of Bengal, intensify further gradually into a very severe cyclonic storm, and move west-northwestwards towards the Andhra Pradesh coast)

3) Iran and six world powers on 23 November, 2013 reached agreement on a nuclear deal to temporarily curb Iran’s nuclear programme. Under this agreement reached at nuclear talks held in Geneva, Iran will halt the enrichment of uranium to a level of 20% for six months but would be allowed to continue other parts of its enrichment programme. In return what benefit Iran would receive from these western powers? - The world powers in return would not impose additional sanctions against Iran during that time and would suspend some existing punitive measures (Measures to be suspended include parts of the oil embargo, as well as sanctions against Iran’s petrochemical industry, car production, insurances and trade with precious metals)

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23 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs (Hindi and English)

23 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs

Magnus-Karlsen

1) Norway’s Magnus Carlsen dethroned 5-time World Chess Champion Vishwanathan Anand of India to become the second youngest World Chess Champion. Carlsen achieved this feat after he drew with Anand after 65 moves on 22 November, 2013 to take an unassailable lead of 6.5-3.5 at the ongoing World Chess Championship 2013 at Chennai. Who was the youngest Chess World Champion? - Garry Kasparov of the erstwhile Soviet Union who became World Chess Champion at the age of 22 in 1985. Carlsen was just a few days short to become the youngest ever world champion. Carlsen’s win was worth Rs. 8.4 crore for Carlsen and Anand settled for Rs. 5.6 crore)

2) 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? – Air Force Station Ambala, Haryana (This station was established in 1938 and it has been most closely associated with the growth of the formation and growth of the IAF and has evolved itself into one of the premier airbases of the IAF today. On the occasion of station’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne and the Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh took part in programmes held on 21 November, 2013)

3) Which cyclonic storm hit the coast of Andhra Pradesh on 22 November, 2013 causing extensive damage to thatched roofs and huts, minor damage to

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22 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs (Hindi and English)

22 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs

Loya-Jirga-2013

1) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on 20 November, 2013 agreed on the terms of the bilateral security agreement (BSA) to cover the presence of American troops beyond 2014. This BSA was put in which crucial 4-day assembly of elders which commenced on 21 November, 2013 in Kabul? – Loya Jirga (Loya Jirga is a grand assembly of tribal heads or elders which is usually convened for major events such as choosing a new king, adopting a constitution, or discussing important national political or emergency matters.This Loya Jirga has been convened to discuss the bilateral security pact that defines the role of thousands of U.S. troops who will remain after the NATO combat mission ends in 2014)

2) What are the main points pertaining to non-performing assets (NPAs) of Indian banking sector mentioned in the recently released RBI report ‘Trends and Progress of Banking Report 2012-13’?

Gross NPAs as per cent of gross advances for scheduled commercial banks stood at 3.6% as at March 2013 as against 3.1% previous fiscal

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21 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs (Hindi and English)

21 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs

Iran-Nuclear-Talks

1) Iran and six world powers on 20 November, 2013 began a new round of talks in Geneva over Tehran’s nuclear program. These talks center on efforts to reach a deal whereby Iran suspends or rolls back sensitive nuclear activities for six months in exchange for some relief from Western sanctions. Which are the six world powers which are negotiating with Iran at these talks? – United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany (The two sides last met in Geneva 10 days ago but failed to come to agreement. The effort to reach a six-month suspension of Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief is intended as a confidence-building measure that could them provide momentum for a final and comprehensive settlement of the Iran nuclear crisis)

2) The 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) started from 20 November, 2013 in Goa. Which was the first film to be screened at this premier event of Indian film calendar? – ‘Don Juans’ (It is the latest film by Jiri Menzel, who is one of the best known Czech film and theatre directors. Jiri Menzel is also a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at this festival)

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20 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs (Hindi and English)

20 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs

Bharatiya-Mahila-bank-BMB

1) 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 – Air India building at Nariman Point in Mumbai (The bank is being started with seven branches (Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow) initially. This will soon be followed by two other branches at Delhi and Indore – the delay is in deference to the elections being held there. The bank plans to reach a branch size of 25 in the next four months and thereafter add about 75 banks every year. The capital base for this bank is Rs. 1,000 crore)

2) What is a special fact associated with the Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB), which was launched on 19 November, 2013 on the occasion of the 96th birthday of late Indira Gandhi? – BMB is the first bank started in the public sector space by an Act of Parliament (Other banks in public sector were nationalised in two tranches in 1969 and 1980)

3) Who will be awarded the coveted Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2013 as announced by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust on 19 November, 2013? – German Chancellor Angela Merkel (Merkel is being conferred this award for her exemplary leadership in Europe and the world during the financial crisis and her stewardship of German economic growth. Merkel, who became the first woman to be elected as Chancellor of Germany, has been a strong supporter of close relations with India)

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19 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs (Hindi and English)

19 November 2013 – Daily Current Affairs

UAE FORMULA ONE GRAND PRIX

1) 4-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel created which record after he won the U.S. Grand Prix held at Austin, Texas on 17 November, 2013? – He became the first driver in F1 history to win eight consecutive victories in a single season (Vettel's Australian team mate Mark Webber finished a close third while the second position was claimed by Frenchman Romain Grosjean of Lotus team. The all-time record of nine wins in a row was set by Italian Alberto Ascari but over two seasons in 1952-53)

2) Market regulator SEBI on 18 November, 2013 said that a single Self Regulatory Organisation (SRO) would be put in place for the oversight of for all mutual fund distributors. SRO is expected to be selected from among which three applicants? - Institute of Mutual Fund Intermediaries (IMFI), Organisation of Financial Distributors (OFD) and Financial Planning Standards Board India (FPSB) (The proposal to set up an SRO to regulate the mutual fund distribution business was mooted in August 2012, while a detailed framework in this regard was approved by the SEBI board in June 2013. The deadline for submitting applications for SRO was 31 July, 2013. The decision to set up an SRO followed concerns about mutual fund distributors not being regulated and complaints against them for mis-selling products. The SRO will assist SEBI and ensure a cordial relationship between mutual fund houses and distributors)

3) Normal life was affected across Kerala by the dawn-to-dusk hartal (strike) called by LDF on 18 November, 2013 to protest the Centre’s move to implement key recommendations of a draft notification issued by the Centre based on the recommendations of a report on Western Ghats conservation. In this report a comprehensive ban on ecologically damaging activities like mining, quarrying and building of thermal power plants and big building complexes was recommended. Which committee gave this report? – Kasturirangan Committee, led by eminent scientist K. Kasturirangan

4) On 18 November, 2013 which banks were designated by the RBI to collect advance income tax payments? – SBI, ICICI bank, HDFC Bank, PNB, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Bank of Baroda

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