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