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1 CURRENT AFFAIRS

August 1-2, 2014

the World Wealth Organisation (WHO)
head on 1 August 2014 to introduce a
$100 million plan to deploy hundred
more

medical

professionals

in

the

affected areas.
2) Palghar became the 36th and the
newest district of Maharashtra on 1
August 2014. It was carved out from
which district, which was Indias most
1) Which three West African countries
are

the

worst-hit

with

the

Ebola

Explanation : The proposal for a new,

outbreak, which is said to be the largest

smaller and manageable Palghar district

recorded Ebola outbreak in history?

was hanging fire for over two decades.

Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone

The proposal was finally cleared by the

Explanation : Ebola epidemic is a viral

disease spread through the Ebola virus.
The present Ebola outbreak, which
began in Guinea in February 2014, has
spread to Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It is

2 CURRENT AFFAIRS

the most severe in recorded history,

Page

populous district? Thane

both in the number of cases and

fatalities.

Over

340

deaths

Maharashtra Cabinet on 13 June 2014.

With a population of over 12 million, till
31 July 2014, Thane held the distinction
of being the most populated district in
the

country,

spread

across

9,600

sq.kms of hills, forests and coastal

areas.

were

3) A three-day ceasefire in the Gaza

reported from Guinea, 233 from Sierra

Strip went into effect on 1 August 2014

Leone and over 150 from Liberia. The

bringing a temporary break in the

leaders of West African countries met

ongoing war between Palestinian group

Hamas and the Israeli Army. This

security

ceasefire

which

Swaraj, on the other hand, raised the

countries/entities? The United Nations

snooping issue in a very strong manner

and the USA

in the dialogue. Kerry called on Indian

was

called

by

Explanation : The hostilities between

Hamas and Israel started on 8 July
2014 and around 1,450 Palestinians
have been killed in it. Israel claimed that

Sushma

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1

August 2014. It was the first Cabinetlevel between the Obama administration
and the new Indian Government.
5) Who

died. But this ceasefire too crumbled

Security Adviser (NSA) who tendered

within a few hours as Israel struck

his resignation on 31 July 2014 more

Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip after

than 20 months ahead of his contractual

capture of an Israeli soldier. At least

retirement? Nehchal Sandhu

been announced since the conflict

began, but each has been broken within
a few hours by renewed fighting.

3 CURRENT AFFAIRS

stockpiling.

61 of its soldiers and 3 civilians also

four short humanitarian ceasefires have

Page

and

was

the

deputy

National

Explanation : Nehchal Sandhu was a

former Intelligence Bureau Director and
he had joined the NSAs office in March
2013 on a three-year contract. The

4) US Secretary of State John Kerry

tenure of Joint Intelligence Chief Ajit Lal

headed a high-powered delegation to

and

co-chair the annual India-US Strategic

Prakash Menon also came to an end on

Dialogue with the Indian External Affairs

31 July and they did not receive any

Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi

extension. With these two officials

on 31 July 2014. This was which edition

retiring, the secretariat of NSA Ajit

of India-US Strategic Dialogue? Fifth

Doval

Explanation : No breakthroughs marked

Military

has

Adviser

been

left

Lt.

General

with

three

vacancies.

this 5th edition of strategic dialogue

6) Who are the 6 winners of the Ramon

between India and the U.S. on the trade

Magsaysay Awards 2014 as announced

facilitation talks at the WTO. India

on 31 July 2014? Hu Shuli (China),

stayed firm on the issues of food

Saur Marlina Manurung (Indonesia),

Randy Halasan (The Philippines), Wang

international debut at the age of 20, he

Canfa (China), Omara Khan Masoudi

has been a mainstay of the South

(Afghanistan), The Citizen Foundation

African line-up in all forms of the game.

(Pakistan)

He announced his retirement on 30 July

Explanation : The Magsaysay Awards,

often regarded as Asias version of the

8) What is the name of the last surviving

popular Philippine president Ramon

member of the plane named Enola

Magsaysay, who died in a 1957 plane

Gay that dropped the first atomic bomb

crash. These are given to personalities

on Hiroshima, who passed away during

from Asia for their contribution in

July 2014? Theodore Van Kirk

Explanation :

Van

Kirk

was

the

Read More about Magsaysay

navigator of the plane named Enola

Awards 2014

Gay

7) Which
announced

great

cricket

all-rounder

his

retirement

from

all

formats of the game during July 2014?

Jaques Kallis of South Africa
Explanation : Jaques Kallis was one of
the greatest all-rounders of all time in
the game of cricket. He was on par with
the likes of Imran Khan, Ian Botham and
Kapil Dev. During his illustrious career,

4 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Lanka.

Nobel Prize, are named after the

various fields of the society.

Page

2014 during the ODI series against Sri

spanning nearly two decades, Kallis

played a total of 519 internationals in
which he scored 25,534 runs with 62
centuries and took 577 wickets, besides
338

catches.

Since

making

his

that

Japanese

on

city

of

August

1945

Hiroshima.

on
Tom

Ferebee and Paul Tibbets were the

other

members

of

this

mission.

However, as far as crew-members of

this plane were concerned, Van Kirk
was the last surviving member since the
death of Morris Jeppson in 2010.
9) General Dalbir Singh Suhag on 31
July 2014 took charge as new chief of
the Indian Army. He succeeded Gen.
Bikram Singh, who retired on the same
day. Suhag is the Chief of the
Army Staff 26th

Explanation :

59-year-old

Suhag,

Explanation :

Multiplex

chain

Inox

Gurkha officer who had participated in

Leisure Ltd. announced its plan to

the 1987 Indian Peace Keeping Force

acquire

(IPKF) operation in Sri Lanka, was till

Cineplexes. It has executed transaction

now the Vice-Chief of Army Staff. An

documents to acquire 100% of the

alumnus of Sainik School, Chittorgarh,

equity share capital of Satyam from its

he joined National Defence Academy in

existing

1970 and was commissioned into 4/5

consideration of Rs. 182 crore. Satyam

GR (FF) in June 1974.

Cineplexes has a total of 38 screens

10) Which multiplex chain is poised to

acquire Delhi-based Satyam Cineplexes
as announced on 30 July 2014? Inox
Leisure Ltd

now

in

Delhi-based

Satyam

shareholders

Amritsar,

for

Mysore,

Rohtak,

Aurangabad, Jodhpur, Indore and New

Delhi and another 30 are in the pipeline
in six cities. With this acquisition, Inox
will expand its presence to 50 cities with
91 multiplexes and 358 screens.

August 3, 2014
Indias top health watchdog on 2
August 2014 issued an advisory to
state health intelligence officials and to

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5 CURRENT AFFAIRS

the

National

Centre

for

Disease

Control (NCDC) to keep a watch on

the disease. What is the name of
1) With

west

and

central

African

countries continuing to witness an

outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus,

Indias health watchdog that issued

this advisory? Integrated Disease
Surveillance Programme (IDSP)

Explanation : IDSP was launched with

Explanation :

World Bank assistance in November

during his meeting with all Union

2004 to detect and respond to disease

Secretaries on 4 June 2014, had

outbreaks quickly. The project was

spoken of reforming the public service

extended for 2 years in March 2010.

delivery

The

during

governance deficit. Getting an affidavit

12th Plan under NRHM (National Rural

is a tough task for the common man.

Health Mission) with outlay of Rs. 640

People have to either shell out money

Crore from domestic budget.

to

Programme

continues

get

The

system

affidavits

Prime

and

Minister,

bridging

from

notary

the

or

approach a gazetted officer.

2) In

landmark

initiative

Prime

Minister Narendra Modi on 1 August

3) Who was appointed as the new

2014 pushed for shifting to self-

Chairman of the Central Board of

certification of documents and pitched

Direct Taxes (CBDT) on 1 August

for minimum use of affidavits. On this

2014? K.V. Chowdary

day all ministries and departments at

the Centre and in states were asked to
make provision for self-certification of
documents in place of affidavits. Under
the

self-certification

method,

the

original documents are required to be

produced at the final stage. What is

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6 CURRENT AFFAIRS

the provision for false self-certification

in this initiative? The person charged
with false self-certification can be
booked under relevant sections of the
Indian Penal Code

Explanation : K.V. Chowdary is the

1978-batch officer belonging to the
Indian Revenue Service (IRS). He was
working

as

the

Member

(Investigations) of the direct taxes

revenue collection board till now and
succeeded R.K. Tewari who retired on
31 July 2014. CBDT is the top policy
making body of the Income Tax
department and is constituted of six
members apart from the Chairman.

4) Vishal Sikka, who took charge as

prize of Rs. 5 lakh apart from a

CEO and MD of Infosys on 1 August

citation.

Recipients

2014, is the .head of the

include

Mother

company Fifth

Narayanan, Ustad Bismillah Khan,

Explanation :

He

replaced

S.D.

Shibulal, who was among the cofounders of Infosys founded in 1981.

of

the

award

Teresa,

K.R.

Lata Mangeshkar, Sunil Dutt, Dilip

Kumar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan.

Four earlier CEOs of the company

were N.R. Narayan Murthy (1981 to
2002), Nandan Nilekani (2002 to 2007)
and S. Gopalakrishnan (2007 to 2011).
Sikka is the first CEO to be outsourced
from outside the organisation.

6) What is the name of the latest

Global

Positioning

System

(GPS)

satellite of the United States (U.S.)

that was launched on 1 August 2014
from

Cape

Canaveral

Air

Force

Station? GPS IIF-7

5) Who was chosen for the 22nd edition

Explanation : This satellite has an

of

National

expected service life of twelve years

Sadbhavana Award? Muzaffar Ali,

and will replace USA-132 (GPS IIR-2),

the noted filmmaker

which was the first Block IIR satellite to

the

Rajiv

Gandhi

Explanation : Muzaffar Ali is known for

directing the classic Bollywood film
Umrao Jaan. He is also known for his

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7 CURRENT AFFAIRS

social work and Sufi poetry. The award

is given in the memory of late Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi and is given for
outstanding contribution towards the
promotion

of

communal

harmony,

peace and goodwill. It carries a cash

enter service and was launched in July

1997. GPS IIF-7 is the part of the US
Air Forces Global Positioning System
(GPS), a program aimed at providing
worldwide

navigational data

which

began in the 1970s. Although originally

developed for military use, some GPS
signals are also made freely available
for civilian navigation and the network
is used by most commercial navigation

devices. The decision to make the

airliner became lost and strayed into

GPS available to civilian users was

Soviet airspace, where it was shot

taken by Ronald Reagan in 1983, after

down.

269 people were killed when a Korean

August 4, 2014
time since Commonwealth Games of
1986

(Edinburgh).

From

1990

Australia dominated six Games till

19th Commonwealth Games in 2010.

2) Which

host

the

21st Commonwealth Games of 2018?

raised

Gold Coast City (Australia)

on

the

2014

20th Commonwealth
held

at

Glasgow

(Scotland). Which country topped the

medals tally? England

8 CURRENT AFFAIRS

would

1) On 3 August 2014 the curtains were

Games

Page

city

Explanation :

Gold

Coast

City

is

situated in the Queensland province of

Australia. The city would host the

Explanation : England was placed at

21st Commonwealth Games from 4 to

first spot in the medals tally with a haul

15 April 2018. The hosting rights to

of 58 gold, 59 silver and 57 bronze

Gold Coast City were awarded in

medals. Australia followed with 49

November 2011. It thus would be the

gold, 42 silver and 46 bronze medals

fifth

while Canada was at third place with

Australia, with the earlier stagings in

32 gold medals. England finished at

1938 (Sydney), 1962 (Perth), 1982

the top in the medals tally for the first

(Brisbane), and 2006 (Melbourne).

hosting

of

these

games

in

3) What is Indias final position in the

charge of sexual assault. The two

medals tally in the 20th Commonwealth

were not staying with the Indian

Games 2014 that culminated on 3

contingent

August 2014? Fifth

Games Village. The arrest of the two

Explanation : India was placed at fifth

placed
Canada

(after

England,

and

respectively).

hosts

India

Australia,

won

15

gold

bronze medals. Indias total medal tally

was thus 64, which is far less than the
19th Commonwealth Games of 2010 at
New Delhi, where India won a total of
101 medals.

thoroughly embarrassed.

5) Indian badminton player Parupalli

Kashyap (P. Kashyap) created history
by winning mens singles gold medal
at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in
Glasgow on 3 August 2014. He thus
became the first Indian player in 32
years and the third overall to win the

4) What is the name of the Secretary

the

Indian

Olympic

Association (IOA) who was arrested

on 2 August 2014 at the ongoing

9 CURRENT AFFAIRS

badminton

singles

title

in

Commonwealth Games. Who are the

two players who had won the title in
the past for India? Prakash Padukone
and Syed Modi

Commonwealth Games on charges of

Explanation : Prakash Padukone had

drunken driving? Rajeev Mehta

won the mens singles gold medal at

Explanation :

Page

Commonwealth

of officials left the Indian contingent

mens

of

the

Scotland

medals, 30 silver medals and 19

General

at

Rajeev

Mehta

was

arrested on 2 August 2014 following

reports of an alleged assault at City
Centre of Glasgow. On the other hand
unattached wrestling referee, Virender
Malik, was arrested for a more serious

the 1978 Commonwealth Games in

Edmonton

(Canada),

Syed

Modi

retained it for India four years later at

Brisbane (Australia)

6) Prime

Minister

Narendra

Modi

visited Nepal on 3 and 4 August 2014.

He became the first Indian Prime
Minister to come to Nepal on a state
visit in last 17 years. Who was the last
Prime Minister to visit Nepal? Late
Inder Kumar Gujral

came only to attend the SAARC

Summit.
7) How much financial assistance was
announced for Nepal by the Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 3
August 2014 on his state visit? $1
billion

Explanation: Inder Kumar Gujral had

visited Nepal on a state visit in 1997.
After that Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee had visited Kathmandu in
2002 but it was not a state visit and he

Explanation : This $1 billion credit to

Nepal was offered on concessional
rates and would be used for road and
hydro-power projects to be developed
in the country.

August 5, 2014
objective of charting a new course in
bilateral relations. In which year this
historic treaty was signed between the

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10 CURRENT AFFAIRS

two countries? In 1950

Explanation : The official name of this
bilateral treaty is Treaty of Peace and
1) India and Nepal on 4 August 2014
agreed to review, adjust and update
the Treaty of Peace and Friendship
between

the

countries

with

an

Friendship Between the Government

of India and the Government of
Nepal.

The

movement

of

treaty
people

allows
and

free
goods

between the two nations and a close

Explanation :

relationship

on

forward by the Union Govt. ensures

matters of defence and foreign affairs.

that questions on English Language

After an abortive attempt in 1952 of

Comprehension

the Communist Party of Nepal to seize

marks out of the total 200, will not be

power with Chinese backing, India and

counted for preparing merit list of

Nepal

and

candidates. The govt. also said this is

intelligence cooperation under treaty

its opinion and it was not sure whether

provisions, and India sent a military

this would translate into policy.

and

stepped

collaboration

up

military

The

formula

Skills,

brought

worth

22.5

mission to Nepal. It was signed on 31

July 1950 at Kathmandu by the then
Prime

Minister

of

Nepal

Mohan

Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana and

Indian

ambassador

to

Nepal,

Chadreshwar Narayan Singh.

3) What is the name of Indias first

multi-sensor moored observatory that
was deployed between North Pole and
Norway during July 2014? IndARC
Explanation : The IndARC observatory

2) Union Govt. on 4 August 2014

came up with a formula to resolve the
ongoing controversy pertaining to the
Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT).
What

is this

formula

which

was

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11 CURRENT AFFAIRS

rejected by some sections of civil

services aspirants who are demanding
scrapping CSAT altogether? The
section

on

English

language

comprehension skills should not be

included for gradation or merit

has been termed as a major milestone

in Indias scientific endeavours in the
Arctic region. This observatory has
been designed and developed by the
Earth System Science OrganisationNational Institute of Ocean Technology
(ESSO-NIOT) Chennai and ESSONational Centre for Antarctic and
Ocean Research (NCAOR). It was
deployed from the Norwegian Polar
Institutes research vessel R.V. Lance
in Kongsfjorden Fjord of the Arctic

roughly halfway between North Pole

5) The government of Portugal on 4

and Norway on 23 July 2014.

August 2014 announced how much

relief package for countrys largest

4) S.K. Jain, who was arrested by the

CBI on charges of allegedly accepting
a bribe of Rs 50 lakh to enhance the
credit limit of some companies, was
the Chairman and Managing Director
(CMD) of which public-sector bank?
Syndicate Bank
Explanation : He was arrested on 2
August 2014 by the CBI and was
suspended by the Union Govt. on 4
August 2014. Jain was appointed
CMD of state-owned Syndicate Bank
in July last year for a period of five
years. He was one of the youngest
CMDs of a public sector bank and was

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12 CURRENT AFFAIRS

due to retire in 2020.

listed bank Banco Espirito Santo

(BES) to bill out the beleaguered
bank? 4.9 billion euros ($6.58 billion)
Explanation : This relief package was
announced just months after Portugal
exited an international bailout and is
therefore expected to test the Euro
Zones resilience to another banking
crisis. The rescue of Banco Espirito
Santo would include split of the bank
into a good bank, renamed Novo
Banco, and a bad bank, which will
house BES exposures to the troubled
Espirito Santo business empire as well
as its subsidiary.

August 6, 2014
The major rates after this policy review
are as follows:
*

Short-term

lending

(repo)

rate

unchanged at 8%
* Cash reserve ratio (CRR) unchanged
at 4%
* SLR cut by 0.50% to 22% to unlock
1) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
presented its bi-monthly policy review
on 5 August 2014. It kept the policy
repo

rate

under

the

liquidity

banking funds
* Lowers banks SLR holdings in heldto-maturity category by 0.5% to 24%

adjustment facility (LAF) unchanged at

8.0%. It also left the cash reserve ratio

The other major estimates/projections

(CRR) of scheduled banks unchanged

in this policy review are as follows:

at 4.0% of net demand and time

liabilities (NDTL). However, which is

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13 CURRENT AFFAIRS

the only major rate to be changed in

* Estimates GDP growth at 5.5% for

current fiscal

this policy review? Statutory Liquidity

* Targets 8% CPI inflation by January

Ratio (SLR)

2015, 6% by Jan 2016

Explanation : The SLR of scheduled

* Govt policies to improve domestic

commercial banks was reduced by 50

demand, supply conditions

basis points from 22.5% to 22.0% of

* Higher oil prices, pass-through of

their

administered price increases pose

NDTL

with

effect

from

fortnight beginning 9 August 2014.

the

upside risks to inflation

* Monsoons still a concern, posing

undergraduate

risks to inflation

courses

* Govt. action on food management

Explanation : In this notification, the

and fast-tracking project completion to

UGC

improve supply

colleges

* Banking sector reforms will continue

has

and

asked
across

postgraduate

universities

and

India

stop

to

dissection of animals immediately. The

ban

follows

discussions

with

the

People for the Ethical Treatment of

2) Who on 5 August 2014 took over as

Animals (PETA) India and the Minister

the first woman Chief Justice of

for Women & Child Development,

Calcutta High Court, which is the

Maneka Gandhi. The UGC had issued

oldest High Court of India? Justice

a partial ban on dissection in 2011. It

Manjula Chellur

is estimated that around 19 million

Explanation : Justice Chellur was till

now the Chief Justice of Kerala High
Court. She broke the gender barrier on

animals are dissected in the labs of

countrys universities and colleges
every year.

a number of occasions, starting from

being

the

first

lady

advocate

to

practice in Bellary in Karnataka

4) On 4 August 2014 what deadline

was announced by Beijings Municipal
Environmental Protection Bureau for

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14 CURRENT AFFAIRS

3) What

important

notification

pertaining to dissection of animals in

ban of all coal use in the city?

Year 2020

colleges was issued by the University

Explanation :

Grants

Environmental

Commission

(UGC)

during

Beijings
Protection

Municipal
Bureau

August 2014? It has banned the

announced year 2020 as the deadline

dissection in zoology and life sciences

for imposing complete ban of coal in

the Chinese capital. Coal-fired power

and heating is a major generator of

become the largest mobile handsets

greenhouse gases and has helped

selling company in India? Micromax

turn China into the worlds largest

emitter of carbon and other heattrapping gases. Coal accounted for a
quarter

of

Beijings

energy

consumption in 2012 and 22% of the

fine particles floating in the citys air.
Motor vehicles, industrial production
and general dust also contributed to
pollution in city with a population of 2.1
crore. Pressure is growing on Chinas
central government to clean up the
countrys polluted environment, as
discontent over smog and water and
soil

contamination

grows

among

Chinas growing middle class.

Explanation : Micromax is a homegrown mobile brand. According to data

released

by

Counterpoint

of April-June 2014 toppled South

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15 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Korean mobile giant Samsung to

Kong-based

Technology

Market

Research, Micromaxs share of the

overall handset market (smartphones,
feature

phones,

handsets)

stood

and
at

low-cost

16.6%,

while

Samsung settled for 14.4% during

April-June 2014. Nokia was relegated
to the third spot with a 10.9% share,
while Karbonns share was 9.5% and
Lavas

5.6%.

However,

Samsung

retained its top slot in the smartphone

market with a 25.3% share, while
home-grown

5) Which company during the quarter

Hong

players

Micromax

(19.1%) and Karbonn (5.9%) were

second and third, respectively.

August 7, 2014
(Indonesia) during December 2013.
India wanted more attention paid to its
concerns

over

WTO

limits

on

stockpiling of food which will ultimately

hit its subsidised food distribution
programme,

the

worlds

largest,

targeted at nearly 850 million people.

1) In order to solve the ongoing tussle
between India and the WTO (World
has

2) The Securities Laws (amendment)

suggested fixing of the base year for

Bill, 2014 was approved unanimously

food subsidies on the basis of average

by the Lok Sabha on 6 August 2014.

of last three years. What is the year

This Bill empowers the SEBI with

proposed by the WTO to be taken as

powers to disgorge (taking back the

the base year? 1986-87

money) the money from fraudulent

Trade

Organisation),

India

Explanation : India is of the view that

taking 1986-87 as a base year in
2014-15 is completely illogical and it

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16 CURRENT AFFAIRS

has hence suggested a more scientific

calculation for base year calculation.
Indian Government had vetoed the

companies and schemes. SEBI has

issued disgorgement orders only in
two cases in over two decades of its
formation. Which two cases are these?
IPO irregularities issue of 2006 and
the Satyam Computer scandal

adoption of a WTO treaty to simplify,

Explanation :

standardise and streamline the rules

provisions in this bill, the money

for shipping goods across borders,

collected through SEBIs disgorgement

having previously agreed to its terms

orders will now be parked in SEBIs

at a ministerial conference in Bali

According

to

the

Investor

Protection

and

Education

Fund (IPEF).

signalling systems.

3) The Union Cabinet on 6 August

4) Noted Indian cartoonist Pran Kumar

2014 cleared a proposal to allow 100%

Sharma, popularly known as Pran,

foreign direct investment (FDI) in

passed away on 5 August 2014 at the

Indian Railways. Apart from this, two

age of 75. He was the creator of iconic

U.S. companies were shortlisted for a

Indian cartoon characters such as

proposed diesel locomotive factory to

Chacha Chaudhary and his friend

be built in Bihar. Which two companies

Sabu, Shrimatiji, Pinki, Billoo, Raman

are these? GE and EMD

and Channi Chachi. What was the

Explanation : GE (GE Transportation

Systems) is a leading U.S. based
locomotive

17 CURRENT AFFAIRS

manufacturer

and

is

name of first character created by

him? Dabbu
Explanation : He created the character

engaged in manufacturing of both

Dabbu

electric and diesel locomotive engines.

newspaper Milap. His most famous

EMD

(Electro-Motive

for

character

and

sells

which was first published in 1969 in

diesel-electric locomotives and diesel

Lotpot, a famous Hindi magazine.

power engines under the EMD brand.

Later (in 1981) all his characters were

It is owned by Caterpillar through its

given shelf space in Gulshan Rais

wholly owned subsidiary Progress Rail

Diamond Comics and this publication

Services Corporation.

became almost synonymous with Pran

After 100% FDI in Indian Railways,

Chacha

Delhi-based

Inc.)

manufactures

was

Diesel,

designs,

Page

building of rail links, electrification and

Chaudhary

and his comic characters.

except operations of trains, FDI can be

5) Who was appointed as the Deputy

brought into all other areas like high-

NSA (National Security Advisor) on 4

speed train systems, freight terminals,

August 2014? Arvind Gupta

Explanation : The post of Deputy NSA

Explanation :

had fell vacant after the resignation of

Lights Out was held on the occasion

Nehchal Sandhu, who took retirement

of the 100 years of the First World

on 31 July 2014 some 20 months

War. Under this lights were turned-off

before the end of his term. Arvind

all over Britain on 4 August 2014 to

Gupta is a 1979-batch Indian Foreign

pay tribute to all those who died in this

Service (IFS) officer who retired in

War. The Lights Out project was

2013. He was presently working as

organised by the Royal British Legion

Director-General

of

and people in the UK were urged to

Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA).

leave just one light on or candle

of

Institute

The

project

named

burning for an hour approaching the

6) Which country during August 2014
held a special tribute named Lights
Out to pay tribute to all those who
died in the First World War? Britain

declaration of war. It was inspired by a

famous comment made by the then
Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey,
shortly before the war began on 4
August 1914.

August 8, 2014

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18 CURRENT AFFAIRS

1) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on

6 August 2014 issued guidelines for
asset

reconstruction

companies

(ARCs) to increase their investments

in security receipts (SRs) with the
objective of strengthening the asset
recovery sector. What is the minimum
prescribed percentage of funds that

ARCs would now have to invest in

Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh.

SRs as directed in this RBI guideline?

The committee has been asked to give

15%

its report within one month after

Explanation :

This

minimum

investment requirement for ARCs was

5% at present. Public sector banks sell
their

bad

loans

or

NPAs

(non-

performing assets) to these ARCs.

Sale of bad loans to ARCs gained
momentum in 2013-14 mainly because
banks were able to obtain better prices
for these sales. But this RBI directive
is likely to dissuade ARCs from
offering a better price, since they will
now have to make a higher upfront
payment.

making a comprehensive review of the

existing security set-up and suggest
measures to further strengthen it. In
the previous Lok Sabha, a committee
on security in Parliament complex,
headed by then Deputy Speaker Karia
Munda, was set up in the aftermath of
the pepper spray attack inside Lok
Sabha by a suspended Congress MP
that sparked massive outrage. The
Parliament witnessed a terrorist attack
on 13 December 2001 when five
terrorists in a white Ambassador car
with a red beacon had stormed the
Parliament complex.

2) Who

is

heading

the

special

committee to review the security of

Indian Parliament that was constituted
on 7 August 2014? RK Singh,

Page

19 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Former Union Home Secretary

Explanation : This special committee
was constituted Lok Sabha Speaker
Sumitra Mahajan and will include
former

Rajasthan

DGP

Harish

Chandra Meena and former Mumbai

3) What are the names of two former

Khmer

Rouge

leaders

who

were

sentenced for life by Cambodias UNbacked court on 7 August 2014 after

being found guilty of crimes against
humanity? Nuon Chea and Khieu
Samphan
Explanation : The two are the most
senior

surviving

ex-Khmer

Rouge

officials and were convicted for crimes

Congress voted 78-26 for the package

against humanity, political persecution

of Bills that will break this monopoly

and other inhumane acts committed

and will allow foreign companies to

during the infamous Khmer Rouge era

sign

from 1975-1979. 88 year old Nuon

Mexico. The reform is the centrepiece

Chea was known as Brother Number

of President Pena Nietos reform drive

Two during Khmer Rouge era while

to breathe new life into Latin Americas

83 year old Khieu Samphan was the

second biggest economy. However,

head of the state. Led by Brother

this move is opposed by the leftist

Number One Pol Pot, who died in

opposition who is saying that it will

1998, the Khmer Rouge dismantled

amount to a damaging privatisation of

modern society with regime atrocities

Pemex.

affecting

virtually

every

family

profit-sharing

contracts

with

in

Cambodia.

5) Indian

cricket

team

almost

Page

20 CURRENT AFFAIRS

surrendered to English bowlers as it

4) Mexicos Congress on 6 August

was dismissed for a paltry 152 runs in

2014 gave final approval to a historic

the opening day of the fourth Test

reform

an

match at Manchester on 7 August

important state-controlled sector to

2014. The Indian team became the

foreign investment for the first time

owner of an ignominous statistic with

since 1938. Which sector is this?

six of their batsmen getting out for

Energy Sector (comprising of oil and

ducks (zero), thereby equalling the

natural gas)

record number of six ducks in a single

that

would

open

up

Explanation : Mexican energy sector

has been a monopoly of state-run
energy giant Pemex since foreign
companies were kicked out of Mexico
75 years ago. On 6 August countrys

Test inning by an international team.

India now jointly hold this record of six
ducks with which two other countries?
South Africa and Bangladesh

Explanation :

Six

Indian

batsmen

Ravichandran

Ashwin

had

against

their

(Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar

respectable

Pujara,

Jadeja,

names. The last time that India had

Pankaj

five batsmen out for duck was during

Singh) were dismissed without scoring

the 1952 series at the Headingley,

a single run. Only three batsmen

when England won by seven wickets

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (71),

inside four days.

Ravindra

Bhuvneshwar

Ajinkya

Kumar

Rahane

and

(24)

scores

(40)

and

August 9, 2014
declaration has been issued by the
WHO

till

date?

Three

times (including this Ebola declaration)

Explanation :

PHEIC

is

legally

binding international instrument on

disease

21 CURRENT AFFAIRS

surveillance,

Organization

control, and response adopted by 194

(WHO) on 8 August 2014 declared the

countries worldwide. It was first issued

Ebola outbreak in West Africa to be an

in April 2009 for H1N1 (Swine Flu)

international public health emergency.

epidemic. The second declaration of

The emergency was declared a Public

PHEIC was issued in May 2014 with

Health

the resurgence Polio after its near-

1) The

Page

prevention,

World

Health

Emergency

of

International

Concern (PHEIC), which is the name

eradication.

of the formal declaration of health

declared its third PHEIC in response to

emergency by the WHO. On how

the outbreak of Ebola in Western

many

Africa.

occasions

the

PHEIC

On

August

WHO

2) U.S. fighters dropped bombs on

desperately

Islamic militants in Iraq on 8 August

However, the U.S. President vowed

2014, a day after U.S. President

anew not to put American combat

Barack

the

troops back on the ground in Iraq,

Pentagon to launch targeted airstrikes

being mindful of the publics aversion

on Islamic militants in Iraq. This attack

to another lengthy war.

Obama

authorised

in

need

of

supplies.

is the deepest American engagement

in Iraq since U.S. troops withdrew from
the country after nearly a decade of
war.

In

which

year

U.S.

troops

withdrew completely from Iraq? In

2011
Explanation : The withdrawal of U.S.
military forces from Iraq began in June
2009

and

was

completed

by

December 2011. The last U.S. troops

left Iraq on 18 December 2011, in
accordance with the agreement signed
between
George

the
W.

then U.S.
Bush

and

President
the

Iraqi

Government. U.S. troops had invaded

Page

22 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Iraq on 20 March 2003.

At the request of the Iraqi Govt.,
American military planes on 7 August
2014 also carried out airdrops of food
and water to tens of thousands of Iraqi
religious minorities (the Yazidis) atop a
mountain surrounded by militants and

3) What is the name of the Border

Security Force (BSF) jawan, who was
swept into Pakistan by strong currents
of Chenab River and after being
picked up by Pakistan Rangers, was
handed over to BSF authorities on 8
August 2014? Satyasheel Yadav
Explanation : Satyasheel Yadav was
captured by Pakistani troops after he
was swept away by strong currents in
the

Chenab

river

into

Pakistani

territory on 6 August 2014. He was

handed over to BSF authorities on 8
August in RS Pura sector of Jammu
district in the Jammu sector by the
Pakistani Rangers. Indian Govt. had
raised the issue of the expeditious
release

of

Satyasheel

through

diplomatic channels both in India and

Pakistan on 7 August 2014.

4) Who

was

5) Social

networking

Managing Director (MD) of public-

Facebook

during

sector based Mangalore Refinery and

acquired which cyber-security startup

Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) on 7

firm to boost its huge server network?

August 2014? H. Kumar

PrivateCore

Explanation : H.Kumar replaced PP

Explanation :

Upadhya, who retired as MD of MRPL

California-based cyber-security startup

on 31 July 2014. Kumar was till now

firm that was launched in 2012. The

posted

company

as

the

appointed

as

Executive

the

Director

company

August

PrivateCore

specializes

in

2014

is

protecting

(corporate strategy and planning) of

servers against malware and other

Hindustan

Corporation

kinds of virus intrusions. However, the

Limited (HPCL). MRPL is an oil

terms of this deal were not released by

refinery

the two companies.

Petroleum
established

Mangalore

in

(Karnataka).

1993

at

It

is

subsidiary of ONGC.

August 10-11, 2014

1) Turkish

Prime

Minister

Recep

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23 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Tayyip Erdogan won the Presidential

election held in the country on 10
August 2014. Why these elections
were a watershed event in countrys
91-year history? Because this was
the

first-ever

direct

elections in the country

presidential

Explanation : The Turkish president

domestic

was previously chosen by parliament,

sectors. What are the names of

but a 2010 referendum gave Turks the

business trusts associated with real

power to choose the head of state by

estate and infrastructure which would

direct vote. With 99% of ballot boxes

be created and listed with these SEBI

counted, Erdogan had 51.95% of the

guidelines? Real Estate Investment

vote.

Trusts

Opposition

Ekmeleddin

candidate

Ihsanoglu,

former

diplomat and academic had 38.34%

and the third candidate, Selahattin
Demirtas,

had

9.71%.

60-year

Erdogan old has been in power since

2003. Barred by party rules from
seeking
minister,

fourth

he

term

has

faced

as

prime
multiple

challenges to his 11-year rule, amid

growing opposition to his authoritarian
style. A clear victory in these elections
is expected to solidify his hold on
Turkey.

24 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Page

SEBI

and

these

Infrastructure

Explanation : Finance Minister Arun

Jaitley had outlined the proposal for
establishment
Investment

of

Real

Trusts

Infrastructure

Estate

(REITs)

Investment

and
Trusts

(InvITs) in the Union Budget 2014-15

presented on 10 July 2014. The new
norms would enable listing and trading
of REITs and InvITs as any other
security

on

the

stock

exchange

platforms and would also help create

new platforms for raising of funds by

capital

cleared

market

final

regulator

guidelines

for

creation and listing of business trusts

for key sectors of real estate and
infrastructure on 10 August 2014.
These guidelines have been cleared to
help

(REITs)

into

Investment Trusts (InvITs)

real
2) Indias

investments

attract

greater

foreign

and

estate

companies.

and
Along

infrastructure
with

foreign

investors, domestic institutions like

insurers, pension funds and provident
funds would also be allowed to invest
in these trusts.

3) SEBI gave its approval to single

law by the U.S. President Barack

registration for stock brokers recently.

Obama on 8 August 2014 and which

What would be the main benefit for

authorises the President to appoint a

brokers with this approval? Now the

Special Envoy in the near East and

brokers would not need to obtain

South Central Asia? Near East and

multiple certificates from SEBI for

South Central Asia Religious Freedom

operating in the different segments of

Act

equity, equity derivatives, currency

derivative and debt
Explanation :

Explanation :

The

House

of

Representatives had passed the Bill

Under

proposed

associated with this Act on 25 July and

regime, initial certificate of registration

the Senate passed it on 29 July 2014.

as stock broker/clearing member will

The Bill requires the Special Envoy to

be granted by SEBI and subsequent

promote the right of religious freedom

permissions

stock

of religious minorities in the countries

other

of the near East and South Central

stock exchanges/clearing corporations

Asia, denounce the violation of such

will be granted by respective stock

right, and recommend appropriate US

exchange/clearing

Government

to

brokers/clearing

the

act

as

member

of

corporation

after

responses

to

such

following the prescribed procedure.

violations. The Special Envoy carries

The latest SEBI move will also obviate

the rank of that of an ambassador.

the need for separate certificate for

Page

25 CURRENT AFFAIRS

each category of operations trading

member,
member

trading-cum-self
and

professional

clearing
clearing

member.

5) Who is the author of the book

Strictly Personal, the new biography
of

the

former

Manmohan

Prime

Singh

and

Minister
his

wife

Gursharan Kaur, which is to be

4) What is the name of the newly
constituted act which was signed into

released

during

August

2014?

Daman

Singh,

the

daughter

of

Manmohan Singh

years before 2004. The book portrays

her parents on the basis of interviews

Explanation : Daman Singhs book

does not deal with the period of Dr.
Singhs tenure as the Prime Minister,

with them conducted over the past five

years, and Manmohan Singhs letters
to friends during his student years.

instead it is a description of all the

August 12, 2014

domain the limitless sky. It would be
a full service airline service and may
take to the skies in October 2014.

2) Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

Page

26 CURRENT AFFAIRS

introduced

The

Repealing

and

1) What is the name of the proposed

Amending Bill, 2014 in the Lok Sabha

airline of Tata-SIA Airlines Limited

on 11 August 2014, which seeks to

(TSAL), a joint-venture between Tata

remove obsolete Amendment Acts and

Group and Singapore International

Principal Acts from the statute books

Airlines (SIA)? Vistara

as they have outlived their utility. How

Explanation :

much-anticipated

many archaic laws are proposed to be

name was announced on 11 August

repealed through this bill? Thirty Six

2014 by TSAL amid the release of the

(36)

aubergine and gold logo of Vistara.

Explanation : This is the first time

Vistara is derived from the Sanskrit

since 2001 that such an exercise is

word, which means limitless expanse

being undertaken by the Law Ministry.

and draws inspiration from the brands

The

The

Amendment

Acts

which

are

sought

to

be

repealed

include

invasion.

Iraqi

President

Fouad

amendments to the Representation of

Massoum nominated Haider al-Abadi,

the People Act, Marriage Act, Election

a member of the governments Shia

Laws,

Anand

coalition, as the countrys next Prime

Marriage Act and the Evidence Act.

Minister. But this nomination has set

Two of the standalone Acts which will

off a potential clash with Nouri al-

also be repealed through the Bill are

Maliki, the current Prime Minister, who

Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947, and

has demanded he remain in power.

Sugar Undertaking (Taking Over of

Maliki has insisted that he had the

Management) Act. Through the Bill,

right to form the government as he

the Government also seeks to amend

commands the largest bloc in the Iraqi

a patent error committed by the Law

Parliament. On 10 August, a defiant

Ministry during the passage of the

Maliki mustered Iraqi forces in the

Whistleblowers Bill. While the Bill

Green Zone, Baghdads government

became an Act in May this year, it is

centre. However, Maliki has been

called the Whistleblowers Protection

accused

Act, 2011 instead of 2014. Between

agenda and excluding the moderates

1950 and 2001, over a hundred Acts

from power.

Divorce

Laws

and

of

pursuing

sectarian

have been repealed by such bills.

Page

27 CURRENT AFFAIRS

4) What is the name of NASAs

3) Who was nominated as the new

vintage spacecraft which successfully

Prime Minister of Iraq to replace Nouri

completed a return visit to the earth-

al-Maliki on 11 August 2014? Haider

moon system during August 2014?

al-Abadi

ISEE-3

Explanation : Haider al-Abadi, is a low-

Explanation : The ISEE-3 spacecraft

key figure who spent much of his life

made its closest approach to the earth

living

before

on 9 August 2014 and a flyby of the

2003

moon on 10 August 2014. Its closest

in

returning

exile
to

in

Iraq

Britain,
after

the

approach was 15,600 km from the

Bradmans 66-year-old record for most

moons surface. This spacecraft was

scores

originally launched in 1978 and was

Sangakkara of Sri Lanka

tasked with studying the outer reaches

of the earths magnetosphere. Its
second mission was in the 1980s to
chase comets before NASA decided to
shut

it

down

in

1997.

In

an

unprecedented move, NASA formally

handed over control of ISEE-3 to a
private ISEE-3 Reboot Project, which
was formed through a crowd-funding
project.

of

Explanation :

plus?

Kumar

Kumar

Sangakkara

struck his 10th double hundred in Galle

(Sri Lanka) on 9 August in the first
innings of the first Test match against
Pakistan. With this double century he
broke the record of nine double
centuries made by West Indian Brian
Lara. The knock also put him two
behind

the

great

Don

Bradman.

However, he managed to break the

Australians

5) Which batsman on 9 August 2014

broke

190

cricketing-great

Sir

66-year-old

record

for

most scores of 190 plus.

Don

August 13, 2014

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28 CURRENT AFFAIRS

1) Indian Parliament on 12 August

2014 passed the bill to empower SEBI
to act against ponzi operators and
market manipulators more effectively.
What is the name of this bill? The
Securities Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014

Explanation : The bill was passed by

entering the television and newspaper

the Lok Sabha on 6 August 2014 and

business

the Rajya Sabha passed it on 12

August 2014. It empowers SEBI to act
against ponzi operators and market
manipulators more effectively through
search and seizure, attachment orders
and recovery proceedings and with
access to call data records. This
marks a dilution from the direct powers
granted to SEBI Chairman through as
many as three ordinances in the past
one year to authorise search and
seizure operations. Under the act
constituted (with the passing of this
bill), a special SEBI court would be set
up in Mumbai to fast track prosecution
proceedings launched by SEBI, as
also to clear search and seizure
operations proposed by SEBI.

Explanation : The Telecom Regulatory

Authority of India (TRAI) presented a
paper on Issues Relating to Media
Ownership on 12 August 2014 under
its Chairman Rahul Khullar. In this
paper

it

suggested

that

political

bodies, religious bodies and central

and state government ministries or
departments should be barred from
entry into broadcasting and television
channel distribution sectors. It also
recommended if such a permission
has been given, an appropriate exit
route must be provided. In an attempt
to ensure plurality of news and views,
it suggested restrictions on political
bodies and corporates entering the
television and newspaper business.
With respect to the media regulator,

Page

29 CURRENT AFFAIRS

2) What is the key recommendation of

Indian

telecom

regulator

TRAI

and

broadcasting

pertaining

to

independence of press in India, as

TRAI said Government should not

regulate the media; there should be a
single regulatory authority for TV and
print mediums.

announced by it on 12 August 2014?

Restrictions should be imposed on
political bodies and corporates from

3) Petroleum

Ministry

recently

accorded its in-principle approval for

stake-sale in ONGC which may fetch

state. The Prime Minister dedicated

the

about Rs. 18,000

this project on the occasion of his visit

crore to meet disinvestment target for

to the state on 12 August. He also laid

the current fiscal. For this how much

the foundation stone for Leh-Kargil-

stake-sale

Srinagar transmission system on this

government

in

the

company

is

proposed? 5%

occasion.

Explanation : As per the Budget 201415,

the

disinvestment

target

is Rs. 58,425 crore including receipts

from

disinvestment

stake

of

government

in

the

non-government

companies.

The

Department

of

Disinvestment (DoD) has kick-started

the process of stake sale in ONGC
and has invited bids for appointing
merchant bankers to manage the
share sale.

5) The Wadia Group-owned GoAir

declared that it has entered into profit
zone by earning a profit of around Rs.
100 crore during financial year 201213. It has thus become only the
second airline in Indian market space
to earn profits. Which was the only
profit-earning airline in the Indian
airline space till now? IndiGo
Explanation : GoAir was founded in

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30 CURRENT AFFAIRS

2005 as an aviation venture of Wadia

4) What is the name of the 45

group of Bombay Dyeing fame. IndiGo

megawatt hydro-electricity project in

was founded in 2006 by Rahul Bhatia.

J&K that was dedicated to the nation

It is the largest Indian airline at present

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on

and was the only profitable airline

12

venture in India. Both GoAir and

August

2014?

Nimoo

Bazgo

Hydroelectric Project
Explanation : The project is on the
Indus River and is situated at village
Alchi, 70 kilometers from Leh in J&K

IndiGo

operate

in

the

low-cost

segment but IndiGos marketshare of

around one-third of Indian market is
way more than that of GoAir (around
9%).

6) Tata Motors launched a new car

of pressure in the recent past, a lot

after a gap of almost 4 years on 12

depends on the success of the Zest.

August 2014. What is the name of this

car? Zest
Explanation :
compact

Zest

sedan

is

launched

all-new
by

the

company. It is available in both petrol

and diesel variants. The top-end petrol
is priced at Rs.5.99 lakh and the topend

diesel

at

Rs.6.99

lakh

(ex-

showroom in Delhi). Given that the

Tata

Motors

performance

in

the

domestic market has been under a lot

7) Oscar

winning

Hollywood

actor

Robin Williams was found dead in his

home in California on 11 August 2014.
He was considered one of the most
talented actors in Hollywood at present
with incredible ability to excel in both
comic and serious roles. For which film
he won the Oscar Award for Best
Supporting

Actor?

Good

Will

Hunting (1997)

August 15-16, 2014

passed bill? - The National Judicial
Appointments Commission Bill, 2014
Explanation : The bill was passed by

Page

31 CURRENT AFFAIRS

the Lok Sabha by a voice-vote. Union

Govt. is against the collegium system
of judges appointing judges. Under the
1) A landmark bill to overturn the

collegium system top judges of the

collegium system for higher judiciary

Supreme Court, headed by the Chief

was passed by the Lok Sabha on 13

Justice

August 2014. What is the name of this

appointment

of

India,
of

decides

judges

to

the
higher

courts. Under the new law, where the

Minsiter N. Chandrababu Naidu also

National

Appointments

asked the members of the advisory

Commission will decide appointment

committee on Capital City to see that

of judges to Supreme Court and High

the

hoc

capital

houses

key

Courts, seniority along with ability and

administrative

offices

during

the

merit will be considered for elevation.

interregnum.

2) 99th Constitution

Bill

4) Who was elected as the Deputy

was passed by the Lok Sabha on 13

Speaker of the Lok Sabha on 13

August 2014. What is the subject of

August 2014? - M. Thambidurai

this

Judicial

constitutional

Amendment

amendment?

Giving Constitutional status to the

proposed

National

Judicial

Appointments Commission
Explanation :

The

ad

Explanation :

M.

Thambidurai

represents AIADMK in the Lok Sabha.

He

was

elected

unanimously

as

almost all parties moved motions for

99th Constitution

his election, including the Congress.

Amendment Bill was passed by 367

The AIADMK has 37 MPs in the lower

members in favour and nil against it.

house of parliament and is the third

largest party after the Bharatiya Janata

3) Which city was chosen as the ad

hoc capital of Andhra Pradesh by the

Page

32 CURRENT AFFAIRS

state government on 12 August 2014?

Vijayawada
Explanation : Vijayawada would be
used as ad hoc capital of the state
until the needed infrastructure and
other projects for the new capital are
completed.

Andhra

Pradesh

Chief

Party (BJP) and the Congress.

5) Who

were

presented

the

Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards

for

year

2012,

2011

and

2010

respectively on 12 August 2014? Sharad Yadav (2012), Karan Singh

(2011) and Arun Jaitley (2010)
6) Who are the two mathematicians of
Indian origin, who are among the eight

winners of the prestigious awards of

Explanation : The Go-India Card has

the International Mathematical Union

been

(IMU) announced on 13 August 2014?

nominated

- Manjul Bhargava and Subhash Khot

Automatic Ticket Vending Machines

Explanation :

These

awards

were

announced at the inaugural session of

the 9-day International Congress of
Mathematicians (ICM) which began at
Seoul, Republic of Korea on 13
August. The 40 year-old CanadianAmerican Manjul Bhargava, a number
theorist from Princeton University, was
one of the four Fields Medalists
chosen for the ICM2014 awards. The
Fields Medal is considered the highest
award in mathematics. Subhash Khot,
an

Indian-American

theoretical

computer scientist at the Courant

Institute of Mathematical Sciences of
New York University was chosen for
the ICM2014 Rolf Nevanlinna Prize.

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33 CURRENT AFFAIRS

7) Indian Railways recently launched a

contact-less

smart

card

enabling

passengers to pay for reserved as well

as unreserved travelling train tickets
as part of a pilot project. What is the
name of this smart card with lifetime
validity? Go-India

launched

(ATVMs)

to

UTS
and

be

used

counters
nominated

at
and
PRS

counters for reserved tickets. The card

will enable passengers to pay for
tickets for long distance reserved,
unreserved and suburban journeys. It
is part of a pilot project to be
implemented on two sectors New
Delhi Howrah and New Delhi
Mumbai. On New Delhi Howrah
sector this card could be used at 6
railway stations New Delhi, Kanpur,
Allahabad,

Dhanbad,

Asansol

and

Howrah whereas on New Delhi

Mumbai sector the card could be used
at New Delhi, Kota, Vadodara, Ratlam,
Surat and Mumbai Central. The card
would be of pre-paid nature and can
be bought for Rs. 70 where passenger
can get a value of Rs. 20 balance.
After that the card can be recharged
for Rs. 20 or in multiples of Rs. 50 up
to Rs. 5,000. Maximum recharge value
for Go-India Card would be Rs.
10,000.

August 15-16, 2014

Indian players who represented the
country in open category included
Parimarjan

Negi,

Sethuraman,

Sasikiran, Adhiban and Lalith Babu.

Top three spots in women category
were claimed by Russia, China and
Ukraine respectively. Chess Olympiad
is a biennial chess tournament in
1) India created history on 14 August

which teams from all over the world

2014 by winning the bronze medal in

compete against each other. The

the 41 World Chess Olympiad held in

event is organised by FIDE, which

Norway. This was for the first time

selects the host nation. Total number

India won a medal in the Chess

of 1,570 players participated at the

Olympiad. Which country won the gold

41st edition of Chess Olympiad, with

medal (open category) in this edition of

881 in the open and 689 in the

Chess Olympiad? China

womens section.

st

Explanation :

41st edition

of

Chess

Olympiad was held from 1 to 14

August 2014 at Troms, a northern

34 CURRENT AFFAIRS

medal in the open category for the first

Page

city in Norway. China won the gold

Uzbekistan 3.5-0.5 in the final round.

time by defeating Poland 3-1 in the

11th and last round. Hungary clinched
the silver in open category while India
won bronze medal after crushing

2) What is the name of the new

scheme announced by the Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August
2014 to help the poor in opening bank
accounts, which will come with the
facility

of

debit

card

and

an

accidental insurance cover of Rs. 1

lakh? Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan

Explanation :

Yojana

Varadarajan was the officer from the

Explanation : The Union Cabinet has

already

cleared

financial

inclusion

the

two-phase

scheme

under

which bank accounts will be opened

for 15 crore poor persons with an
overdraft facility of Rs 5,000 and
accidental insurance cover of Rs. 1
lakh. The scheme, to be pushed by the
government in a mission mode, seeks
to provide two accounts to 7.5 crore
identified households by August 2018.
The

Prime

Minister

in

his

Major

Mukund

44th battalion of Rashtriya Rifles, who

laid down his life in a gun battle after
killing

three

Hizbul

Mujahideen

militants in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)

earlier this year. He was leading an
anti-terrorist

search

operation

in

Qazipathri village in J&K. The other 54

gallantry awards announced on this
occasion were 12 Shaurya Chakras,
39 Sena Medals (gallantry), one Nau
Sena Medal (gallantry) and two Vayu
Sena Medals (gallantry).

Independence Day address observed

that people have mobile phones but
not bank accounts and he hoped that
the scheme will help in bringing the
benefits of formal banking system to
them.

4) The Reserve Bank of India on 14

August 2014 announced its decision to
reduce the number of mandated free
transactions for savings bank account
holders at other bank ATMs located in
six metro cities from five to three per

Page

35 CURRENT AFFAIRS

3) 55 gallantry awards (peacetime)

were

announced

on

the

eve

of

68thIndependence Day on 14 August

month. This reduction would come into

effect from which date? 1 November
2014

2014. Who was conferred the lone

Explanation : The six metro cities

Ashok

(Mumbai,

Chakra,

Indias

highest

New

Delhi,

Chennai,

peacetime gallantry award? Late

Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad)

Maj. Mukund Varadarajan

were chosen first for reducing the

number of mandated free transactions

showcasing the rich cultural heritage

as they are well-served in terms of

of Telangana, the CM chose the fort

payment infrastructure. This reduction

for

in the number of mandated free

celebrations

transactions will, however, not apply to

Telangana as a separate state. The

customers having no-frills/small/Basic

ruined Golconda Fort on the fringes of

Savings

Account

Hyderabad was the capital of Qutub

(BSBDA) type of accounts as well as

Shahi kingdom from 1518 to 1687.

for transactions done by savings bank

The fort was built by Kaktiyas of

account holders at ATMs situated

Warangal during 10th century as a mud

outside these six metro cities. Banks

fort and was fortified by Qutub Shahis.

Bank

Deposit

the

first

Independence
after

formation

Day
of

are also free to offer free transactions

above this mandated limit.

6) Which

Iranian-born

professor

became the first woman ever to win

5) In a departure from the over five-

the Fields Medal of the International

decades-old tradition of Independence

Mathematical Union (IMU), which is

Day celebrations at Parade Grounds,

considered the top prize in the field of

the

mathematics?

Telangana

Chief

Minister

K.

Chandrasekhar Rao on 15 August

2014 hoisted the national flag at a
newly selected historic spot in capital

Page

36 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Hyderabad. Which place is this? The

Golconda Fort

Dr.

Maryam

Mirzakhani
Explanation : Maryam Mirzakhani is a
Iran-born woman professor at Stanford
University (US). She received the
Fields Medal, known as the Nobel

Explanation : The Andhra Pradesh

Prize

of

governments of the past had been

International Congress of Mathematics

organising this event at the Parade

in Seoul on 13 August 2014, along

Grounds in Secunderabad for well

with

over 5 decades. In a move aimed at

honoured with the prize this year. The

three

mathematics,

other

at

the

mathematicians

other recipients were Artur Avila,

the Bharatiya Mahila Bank on 14

Manjul Bhargava and Martin Hairer.

August 2014? SM Swathi

Dr. Mirzakhanis research focusing on

geometry and dynamical systems has
contributed to the understanding of
symmetry of curved surfaces, which
has

implications

for

physics

and

quantum field theory.

Explanation : SM Swathi was till now

the General Manager of Corporation
Bank.

She

headed

important

branches, zones and other offices

during her tenure in Corporation Bank.
She took the charge on 14 August
2014.

7) Which woman bank officer was

appointed as the Executive Director of

August 17, 2014

based in Mumbai. It is engaged in
manufacturing

warships

and

submarines for the Indian Navy, as

1) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 16
August 2014 dedicated to the nation

Page

37 CURRENT AFFAIRS

the largest indigenously-built destroyer

warship INS Kolkata. This huge
6800-tonne

warship

has

been

manufactured by which PSU defence

unit? Mazgaon Dock Limited (MDL)

well

as

associated

offshore
support

platforms

and

vessels

for

offshore oil drilling. INS Kolkata is a

part of the Kolkata Class destroyers
and is the first of the three such ships
that will join the Indian Navy in the
next few years. It has an in-built antisubmarine capability and can take on

Explanation : Mazgaon Dock Limited is

an anti-ship missile and fighter aircraft.

public-sector undertaking (PSU) unit

INS Kolkata is also the first Indian ship

to be armed with the land attack, anti-

expenditure of the Government of

ship Brahmos missile.

India.

2) The

2nd Summer

Youth

Olympic

Games started on 16 August 2014 in

China with Rugby making its return to
the Olympic programme after 92 years
with these Games. Which Chinese city
is hosting these Games? Nanjing
Explanation :
Games

The

were

Youth

established

Olympic
by

the

International Olympic Committee in

2007. The first-ever Summer Youth
Olympic Game was held in 2010 at
Vancouver

(Canada).

Over

200

countries are taking part in these

Games to be held from 16 to 28
August 2014.
3) Who was appointed the Chairman
of the Public Accounts Committee
(PAC) by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra
Mahajan on 16 August 2014? K.V.

Page

38 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Thomas

Congress leader and former Food

Minister. PAC is the top finance panel
the

comprises

of

selected

Members of Parliament (MPs). It is

formed every year with a strength of
not more than 22 members of which
15 are from Lok Sabha, the lower
house of the Parliament, and 7 from
Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the
Parliament. The term of office of the
PAC members is one year. The
Chairman of PAC is selected from the
opposition.
4) The greatest-ever female chess
player retiredfrom competitive chess
arena on 14 August 2014 with the
conclusion of the 41st World Chess
Olympiad at Troms (Norway). She
had been the world No.1 woman
player for 25 years and had been one
of the worlds top players for a couple
of decades. She was once ranked No.
8 among men. What is the name of
this legendary player? Judit Polgar

Explanation : K.V. Thomas is a senior

of

It

Indian

Parliament

and

is

constituted for the auditing of the

Explanation : Judit Polgar of Hungary

has sometimes been rated as the
greatest sportswoman of all time. Judit
did not want to play with women
because they posed no challenge for

her. Besides, she was good enough to

Governor.

beat the strongest of men. She has

approached

defeated 10 world champions. The

required legislative changes. Which

chess greats whom Judit Polgar had

post is this? Chief Operating Officer

defeated

(COO)

in

included

her

illustrious

Garry

career

Kasparov,

Viswanathan Anand, Anatoly Karpov,

Veselin Topalov and the present World
Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen.
She was the youngest of the three
legendary Hungarian sisters called
Polgar Sisters, the other two being
Susan (the eldest) and Sofia (the
middle-one).

For

this

the

RBI

has

government

for

Explanation : The RBI, the central

bank of India, is presently headed by a
Governor and assisted by four deputy
governors

looking

after

different

functions of the bank. It now wants to

create a post of COO and re-allocate
work among the five. The RBI has
been deliberating on a broad HR
restructuring

exercise

to

align

5) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

organisational

resources

and

announced on 14 August 2014 that its

structures with the needs of the

board has given approval to create an

domestic economy and changes in the

additional post in the rank of Deputy

external environment.

Page

39 CURRENT AFFAIRS

August 18, 2014

1) Who was selected as the Chairman
of

the

Estimates

Committee

of

Parliament by the Lok Sabha Speaker

Sumitra Mahajan on 16 August 2014?
Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi

Explanation :

The

Estimates

Committee consists of 30 members, all

from Lok Sabha, who are elected
by Lok
amongst

Sabha
its

every

members.

year

from

The

main

function of this committee is to suggest

alternative policies in order to bring
about efficiency and economy in govt.
administration.

Who was named man of the series?

James Anderson of England
Explanation : James Anderson took 25
wickets in the series and contributed
heavily in Indias series defeat. He
gave this sterling performance despite
being

involved

in

controversy,

involving Indias Ravindra Jadeja. The

loss at Oval was the third biggest
innings defeat for India. With this

2) Who was selected as the Chairman

of

the

Committee

on

Public

Undertakings (CoPU) of Parliament by

the

Lok

Sabha

Speaker

Sumitra

series

win

England

retained

the

Pataudi Trophy, awarded to the winner

of the England-India Test Cricket
series.

Mahajan on 16 August 2014? V.

Shanta Kumar

4) Which

area

of

upper

Assams

Golaghat district came to news during

3) India lost the 5th and final test of the
Test series against England at the
Oval on 17 August 2014 to lose the

Page

40 CURRENT AFFAIRS

series 1-3. India suffered a humiliating

loss by an innings and 244 runs after

August 2014 due to raids by armed

groups from Nagaland, that left 11
dead and seven injured and forced
over 10,000 people to take shelter in
relief camps? Uriamghat

they were bundled out for a paltry 94

Explanation : Uriamghat is situated

in the second innings in the final test.

along the disputed Assam-Nagaland

England won the series despite a

border.

defeat at Lords in the second Test.

Nagaland-based armed groups on 12

It

witnessed

raids

from

and 13 August 2014. The incident

created panic among the people living

Commission (UPSC) on 16 August

in the disputed area. Assam Chief

2014? Rajni Razdan

Minister Tarun Gogoi on 16 August

2014 sought Prime Minister Narendra
Modis intervention for restoration of
peace in the Uriamghat area.

Explanation : Rajni Razdan was till

now a member of the UPSC. She
succeeded Prof. D.P. Agrawal, who
also administered the oath of office
and secrecy to her. Razdan, an IAS

5) What is the name of the Indo-Nepal

Combined Army Training Exercise that
started from 18 August 2014 near
Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand? Surya
Kiran-VII
Explanation : Surya Kiran-VII is a joint

Officer of Haryana Cadre of 1973

Batch, joined the UPSC as Member on
19 April 2010. UPSC is Indias central
agency authorised to conduct some of
the

premier

all-India

examinations

including IAS, IES, CDS, NDA, etc.

bilateral army exercise between India

and Nepal being conducted from 18

7) In order to honour its jawans and

August to 31 August 2014. It is being

officers killed in action, the Central

held

of

Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has

Pithoragarh in the Northern Himalayas

decided to prefix the name of these

at an altitude of 5000-6000 feet under

courageous people with an honourable

the aegis of Guard Division. It is the

word. Which word is this? Shaheed,

Second

which means a martyr

in

Page

41 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Exercise

the

mountain

Battalion
and

Level

terrain

Combined

approximately

300

personnel including officers and JCOs

from both the armies are participating
in this exercise.
6) Who

took

Explanation : CRPF is Indias largest

paramilitary force and is the leading
anti-Naxal operations force, which by
virtue of its huge deployment has the

over

as

the

new

highest casualty rate among all forces

Chairman of Union Public Service

deployed in internal security duties. It

recently issued orders for use of the

violence, protests and incidents of

prefix Shaheed with immediate effect

looting during August 2014 as a result

for all casualties where the trooper or

of the shooting of a black teenager by

officer was on duty. There was a

a white policeman? Ferguson

demand from all quarters about the

need to address the slain personnel in
a befitting manner. CRPF has the
maximum deployment of troops in antiNaxal operations at close to 90,000
personnel and has lost hundreds of
men in combating Maoists over the
years.

Explanation : Ferguson is a small

suburb in St. Louis County in the state
of Missouri. The violence and protests
started after a black unarmed teenager
Michael Brown was killed by a white
police officer on 9 August 2014. On 16
August 2014 Missouri Governor Jay
Nixon declared a state of emergency

8) Which suburb of Missouri State in

and announced a curfew to go into

the

effect between midnight and 5 a.m.

U.S.

witnessed

widespread

August 19, 2014

Pakistan slated to be held on 25
August 2014 at Islamabad. What was
the reason given for calling-off these

Page

42 CURRENT AFFAIRS

talks? Pakistani High Commissioner

Abdul Basits meetings with Kashmiri
separatist leaders belonging to the
Hurriyat
1) India on 18 August 2014 called off
Foreign

Secretary-level

talks

with

Explanation :

India on

18

August

conveyed a blunt message to Pakistan

that it was interfering in Indias internal

affairs by holding talks with Kashmiri

generator (DG) sets working to meet

separatists.

the

India

was

upset

that

shortage

in

industrial

and

despite being firmly told by the Indian

commercial units now add up to a

Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh that

cumulative capacity of 90,000 MW or

Pakistan has to choose between India

around

or separatists for talks, its top envoy

installed generation capacity. Taking

Abdul Basit in New Delhi went ahead

into account domestic loadrunning on

with the meeting with the separatist

gensets, would take this figure to

leader Shabbir Shah, the leader of

beyond 90,000 MW. That figure is

Jammu

nearly equal to what was Indias total

Freedom

and

Kashmir

Party

Democratic

(JKDFP).

36%

of

countrys

current

Sujatha

installed power generation capacity

Singh was to travel to Islamabad on 25

just over a decade ago (March 2002).

August 2014 to hold talks with her

According to CERC data, DG capacity

Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Chaudhry,

is growing at a rate of 5,000 MW to

nearly two years after the Indo-Pak

8,000 MW every year. That is higher

talks were stalled due to incidents

than the cumulative nuclear and solar

along the LoC.

capacities being added year-on-year in

the country.

Page

43 CURRENT AFFAIRS

2) According to information released

by Indias power regulator Central

3) Who

Electricity

Commission

Parliamentary Party leader of the

(CERC), around what percentage of

AIADMK on 18 August 2014 following

countrys

generation

the election of M Thambidurai as

by

Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

capacity

Regulatory
total
is

power

contributed

diesel

was

nominated

as

the

gensets (generators)? Around 36%

P Venugopal

Explanation :

Explanation : P. Venugopal, a two-time

According

to

the

information released by CERC during

Lok

August

(reserved)

2014,

millions

of

diesel

Sabha

MP

from

constituency,

Tiruvallur
will

be

AIADMK Parliamentary Party leader

will be arrested if he leaves the

and the floor leader of the party in Lok

building. Scotland Yard officers have

Sabha. A Navaneethakrishnan, Rajya

been stationed outside the building

Sabha MP and former Advocate-

round-the-clock for two years now.

General,

Reports

will

be

the

Deputy

suggest

that

Parliamentary Party leader and the

developed

floor leader in the Rajya Sabha.

that require hospitalisation.

he

life-threatening

has

ailments

AIADMK has the third largest MPs in

the Lok Sabha after the BJP and
Congress.

5) Who will head the Indian contingent

as

the

Chef-de-Mission

for

the

oncoming 17th Asian Games to be held

4) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

at Incheon, South Korea during Sep-

on 18 August 2014 said that he will

Oct 2014? Adille Sumariwala

soon leave the Ecuadorian Embassy

he has been holed up for nearly two
years to avoid his arrest. He has been
living

in

which

countrys

Ecuadorian Embassy which he wants

to leave now? Britain

Explanation : Adille Sumariwala is the

President of the Athletics Federation of
India (AFI). India won 65 medals in the
2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou in
China with 12 medals (5 gold, 2 silver
and 5 bronze) coming from athletics.

Explanation : Julian Assange, whose

website WikiLeaks published classified

Page

44 CURRENT AFFAIRS

US military and diplomatic documents

embarrassing the US government, has
been living inside the Ecuadorian
embassy building in London since
being granted diplomatic asylum by
the Ecuador Govt. in August 2012. He
is under continuous surveillance and

6) With

16,100

MW

wind

power

produced in 2013, China was ranked

World top wind power producing
country

in

Renewables

the

recently

2014

Global

released
Status

Report. What was Indias rank in this

report? 5th

Explanation : India added 1,700 MW

assembly elections in the state under

wind producing capacity in year 2013

the banner of BJP.

to emerge as the fifth largest wind

power producing country. China was
followed by USA, Germany, Spain and
India to complete the Top 5 nations in
this list. In terms of annual investment
in the wind energy sector in 2013,
China ranked number one followed by
Germany, UK, India and Canada.
Worlds

aggregate

wind

power

capacity during 2013 stood at 3,18,000

MW.

8) The Department of Telecom (DoT)

is considering merger of Mumbai and
Kolkata circles with Maharashtra and
West Bengal service areas. This step
will

end

roaming

charges

on

subscribers travelling from these two

cities to other parts in respective
states and vice versa. Which Telecom
Minister had in 2004 started the
discussion to merge certain circles like
Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai into

7) Who

was

the

founder

of

the

Jharkhand Disom Party (JDP) which

merged with the BJP on 18 August

Page

45 CURRENT AFFAIRS

2014? Salkhan Murmu

their respective states? Dayanidhi

Maran
Explanation : Dayanidhi Maran, the
then Telecom Minister in 2004, had

Explanation : Jharkhand Disom Party

asked the DoT to merge Chennai

(JDP)

by

service area with Tamil Nadu, Mumbai

Salkhan Murmu, who was a former MP

with Maharashtra and Kolkata with

of the BJP. It was founded with the

West Bengal so that customers are not

objective of working for the rights of

required to pay roaming charges within

the

of

a state. Later, plans for merger of Uttar

Jharkhand. The party was merged with

Pradesh West and East were also

the BJP as it wants to fight the next

taken up. However, in 2005, only

was

Adivasi

founded

(tribal)

in

2002

people

Chennai was merged with Tamil Nadu.

August 20, 2014

capital

Hyderabad,

who

originally

came from Andhra areas were scared

with this survey as they felt that the
information collected from them would
be used against them at a later stage.
As various sections of the state
populace were apprehensive about
this survey, the matter was taken to

Page

46 CURRENT AFFAIRS

1) What

is

the

name

of

the

the

Hyderabad

High

Court

about

controversial survey conducted by the

validity of the survey. The High Court

Telangana Government throughout the

on 14 August 2014 permitted the

state on 19 August 2014 and due to

Telangana government to go ahead

which various sections of the state

with the survey on the assurance of

were scared and apprehensive?

the states Advocate General that the

Samagra

exercise

Kutumbh

Survey

or

was

not

mandatory and

Intensive Household Survey

denizens could choose not to answer

Explanation :

the

The

Intensive

queries

of

enumerators.

The

Household Survey, completed in one

survey was conducted across the ten

day across Telangana, was to identify

districts in the state with the help of

genuine beneficiaries of government

four lakh government employees and

welfare

measures.

The

surveyors

huge

team

of

outsourced

sought to see bank account details

enumerators in the state.

and the Aadhar card. The government

2) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on

had

the

18 August 2014 constituted a 15-

Act.

member inter-regulatory committee to

Residents of Telangana, especially

monitor the growing phenomenon of

declared

Shops

and

holidays

under

Establishment

shadow

banking.

Who

has

been

Manipur. She began her fast on 4

appointed as the Chairman of this

November 2000 after witnessing the

committee?

killing of 10 people by the army at a

P.

Vijaya

Bhaskar (Executive Director, RBI)

bus stop near her home in Manipur.

Explanation : Shadow banking refers

to banking-like activity by non-banking
finance

companies

(NBFCs)

that

remain outside the regulatory net.

Page

47 CURRENT AFFAIRS

They

generally

operate

as

Her

protests

against

the

abuses

allegedly committed by security forces

are subject of which law, which has
been opposed in the state? Armed
Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)

intermediaries between investors and

Explanation : Sharmila, known as the

borrowers. The role of this newly

Iron

constituted committee will be to find

unwavering and non-violent protest,

out the volume of money in shadow

has refused food and water for almost

banks, who the investors are and

14 years to draw attention to abuses

direction of the money flow, etc. Also

allegedly committed by security forces,

real estate dealings will be looked into

a subject which comes under the

very meticulously by the committee.

purview of the AFSPA. The AFSPA,

The 15-member committee comprises

which

of officials of the RBI, Securities and

northeastern India and Kashmir, gives

Exchange Board of India (SEBI),

security forces sweeping powers to

Central Economic Intelligence Bureau

search, enter property and shoot-on-

and the National Housing Bank (NHB).

sight and is seen by critics as cover for

Lady

of

covers

Manipur

large

for

parts

her

of

human rights abuses.

3) A Manipur court on 19 August 2014
ordered

the

woman

Irom

release

of

Sharmila,

Manipuri
who

4) What is the name of the Mission

has

Director of the Direct Benefits Transfer

staged a 14-year hunger strike in

(DBT) Scheme, who resigned from the

protest at human rights abuses in

post

during

August

2014?

S.

Sundareshan

upcoming ODI series against England,

Explanation :

Sundareshan

was

1976 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre

and was appointed Mission Director,
Direct Benefits Transfer Scheme, in
June

2013.

The

reason

for

his

Chief Coach Duncan Fletcher? Ravi

Shastri, Former Indian cricketer and
captain
Explanation :

While

Fletcher

will

continue as the head coach of the

much touted DBT programme was

team,

rolled-out

indication

by

the

previous

UPA

the

shake-up
that

his

is

wings

clear

will

be

government on 1 January 2013, for

clipped. Under pressure to act after

transferring

various

Indias disastrous performance in the

welfare schemes through the Aadhaar-

Test series, the BCCI also appointed

linked platform. The UPA government

former players Sanjay Bangar and

had also initiated transfer of LPG

Bharat Arun as assistant coaches and

subsidy through DBT from 1 June

R. Sridhar as the fielding coach as it

2013, under which consumers are paid

revamped

cash subsidy to help them buy LPG

BCCI also gave a break to bowling

cylinders at market price.

coach Joe Dawes and fielding coach

subsidies

of

Director of the Indian cricket team by

48 CURRENT AFFAIRS

a decision which virtually sidelined

resignation was not disclosed. The

5) Who was appointed as the Team

Page

the BCCI on 19 August 2014 for the

the

team

management.

Trevor Penny for the upcoming ODI

series.

August 21, 2014

Iyengar) is credited with integrating the
eight aspects of astanga yoga, now
known as Iyengars Yoga. His iconic
book

Light

on Yoga has been

translated into 19 languages and has

sold more than 3 million copies
worldwide.
Padma

He

was

Vibhushan,

awarded

the

Indias second

highest civilian award, during the

Republic Day celebrations earlier this
year.
1) World-renowned Yoga guru B.K.S.

Page

49 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Iyengar passed away at a Pune

hospital on 20 August 2014 at the age

2) Who

of 96 years. He was considered one of

committee to recommend restructuring

the foremost Yoga teachers in the

of Food Corporation of India (FCI) that

world and founded the style of yoga

was

known as Iyengar Yoga. Iyegar is

Government on 20 August 2014?

credited

Shanta Kumar

with

providing

global

is

heading

constituted

by

high-level

the

Union

popularity to Yoga with his unusual

Explanation : Shanta Kumar is the

style. What is the name of the iconic

former Chief Minister of Himachal

book

is

Pradesh and is presently a Lok Sabha

considered as the Bible of Modern

MP of the BJP. The committee will

Yoga? Light on Yoga

mainly

Explanation : B.K.S Iyengar (full name

restructuring or unbundling of FCI to

Bellur

improve its operational efficiency and

written

by

him

Krishnamachar

which

Sundararaja

study

various

models

of

financial management as well as

programme

will

be

used

for

measures for overall improvement in

infrastructure investments in India.

management of foodgrains by FCI. It is

commonly

perceived

that

FCI

is

plagued with several functional and

cost inefficiencies, which need to be
removed for efficient management of
foodgrains and saving costs.

4) On 20 August 2014 the Finance

Ministry ordered a forensic audit to be
done at the branches of two banks in
view of the reports of misappropriation
of funds worth Rs. 436 crore. Which
two banks are involved in this matter?

3) Which international finance entity

Dena Bank and Oriental Bank of

launched a $2.5-billion onshore Indian

Commerce (OBC)

rupee bond programme on 20 August

2014 so as to strengthen the capital
market

and

support

infrastructure

development in India? International

Page

50 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Finance Corporation (IFC)

Explanation :
reports,

According

to

Mumbai-based

media
branch

manager of Dena Bank mobilised fixed

deposits (FDs), using middlemen, to
the tune of Rs 256.5 crore from seven

Explanation : IFC is a member of the

corporates, while in the case of OBC,

World Bank Group. It finances and

misappropriation of funds to the tune

provides advice for private sector

of Rs. 180 crore was reported. In the

ventures and projects in developing

wake of rising scams in public sector

countries in partnership with domestic

banks, the Finance Ministry is looking

financial institutions and banks. Under

at

the rupee bond programme, IFC will

strengthening of risk management,

use

rupee-

appointment of bank chiefs for longer

denominated bonds and swaps to

tenures, separation of posts and better

raise local currency financing of up to

quality of nominee and independent

$2.5 billion or Rs. 15,000 crore over

directors.

combination

of

the next five years. Proceeds from the

various

steps,

including

5) Who took over as the fourth Deputy

Before taking this responsibility at RBI,

Governor of the Reserve Bank of India

Mundra

(RBI) during July 2014? Subhash

Managing

Sheoratan Mundra (S.S. Mundra)

public-sector bank Bank of Baroda

Explanation : S.S. Mundra took the

charge as the Deputy Governor of the
RBI on 31 July 2014. Three other
deputy governors of the RBI are Urjit
Patel, HR Khan, and R. Gandhi.

was

the

Director

Chairman

and

(CMD)

the

of

(BOB). Mundra filled the vacancy

created by the retirement of K.C.
Chakrabarty in April 2014, two months
before his five-year tenure was come
to an end.

August 22, 2014

services

are

available

to

citizens

electronically? Digital India Project

Explanation : The project, which has a
total overlay of Rs 1 lakh crore, aims
to ensure that government services
are available to citizens electronically
and help people gain benefits from the

Page

51 CURRENT AFFAIRS

latest information and communication

1) What is the name of the ambitious

technology.

e-governance project of the Union

envisages bringing all the existing

Govt., which was approved by the

initiatives such as the Ebiz project, E-

Union Cabinet on 20 August 2014 and

kranti, virtual classroom, e-visas and

which aims to ensure that government

the National Optical Fibre Network

Digital

India

project

project under a single umbrella. Other

programmes include implementation of

3) What is the name of the American

e-office

Government

journalist who was killed by the

departments paperless, encouraging

militants of the Islamic State of Iraq

domestic manufacturing of electronic

and Syria (ISIS) by beheading, as

products and kick starting Research &

shown in a video released by the

Development

militants on 19 August 2014? James

to

make

and

entrepreneurship

development fund. The project was

unveiled in the Budget 2014-15 and is
being directly monitored by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.

Foley
Explanation : The militants of the
Islamic State had released a horrific
video which contained the beheading
of

2) Who was chosen as the next Prime

Minister of Thailand by countrys juntaappointed legislature on 21 August
2014? General Prayuth Chan-ocha
Explanation : General Prayuth Chanocha is due to retire from the army

U.S.

freelance

photojournalist

James Foley. The White House on 20

August 2014 authenticated the video
as real. James Foley thus became the
first American citizen to be formally
executed

under

the

ISIS

establishment.

Page

52 CURRENT AFFAIRS

during September 2014 and was the

only candidate put forward for the post

4) What is the name of the Punjabi

of Prime Minister. He served as de

film, the slated release of which on 22

facto

the

August 2014 was stopped by the

elected govt. of Yingluck Shinawatra

Union Govt. on 21 August 2014?

on 22 May 2014. Thai legislatures

Kaum De Heere

premier

since

toppling

choice of Gen. Prayuth as next Prime

Minister will now be endorsed by Thai
King Bhumibol Adulyadej as a mere
formality.

Explanation : Kaum De Heere is a

Punjabi film on former Prime Minister
Indira Gandhis assassination and its
release was barred by the govt. citing

apprehensions

order

Explanation : Hindustan Unilever was

problems in parts of the country. The

listed at 14th place and in the list and

decision was taken collectively by the

was followed by TCS (57th place), L&T

Information and Broadcasting Ministry,

(58th place), Sun Pharma Industries

Home Ministry and the Central Board

(65thplace) and Bajaj Auto (96th place)

of Film Certification (CBFC) after

among Indian companies. The list has

watching

been

topped

reportedly based on the lives of the

global

cloud

assassins of the late Prime Minister

Salesforce for the fourth year in a row.

Indira Gandhi Beant Singh, Satwant

Forbes Worlds 100 Most Innovative

Singh

Companies is based on innovation

the

and

of

law

movie.

Kehar

and

The

Singh

film

and

is

is

alleaged to glorify their act.

by

California-based

computing

company

premium, which is a measure of how

much investors have bid up the stock

5) Which 5 Indian companies were

listed

among

Worlds

100

Forbes
Most

list

of

the

Innovative

Companies released on 20 August

2014?

Hindustan

Unilever,

Tata

Consultancy Services (TCS), Larsen &

Toubro (L&T), Sun Pharma Industries
and Bajaj Auto

price of a company above the value of

its

existing

expectations

53 CURRENT AFFAIRS

of

future

based

on

innovative

results like new products, services and

markets. Salesforce, with a market cap
of

USD

35.87

billion,

had

an

innovation premium of 75.9% and

continued its reign as Forbes most
innovative company for the fourth
straight year.

Page

business

August 23-24, 2014

2) Which state government on 21
August 2014 announced proposal to
clamp complete prohibition on liquor in
various phases? Kerala
Explanation : The Congress-led United
Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala,
which met 21 August 2014 to discuss
1) What is the name of Indias first
Naval vessel with all weapon systems
built

indigenously,

that

was

commissioned into the Indian Navy on

23 August 2014? INS Kamorta
Explanation :

INS

Kamorta

the liquor policy of the government,

decided to bring in prohibition in a
phased

manner.

The

state

govt.

proposed to make Kerala a dry state in

10 years. Presently Gujarat is the only
dry state of India.

was

commissioned into the Indian Navy by

Page

54 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Defence

Minister

Arun

Jaitley

at

3) Indias

capital

market

regulator

Vishakhapatnam on 23 August. The

SEBI on 22 August 2014 ordered

first

was

which NBFC entity to refund the

handed over to Indian Navy by Garden

money raised from some 58.5 million

Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd.

customers

(GRSE) earlier on 12 July 2014.

investment schemes (CIS)? Pearls

GRSE is a public-sector ship building

Agrotech Corp. Ltd

enterprise and has manufactured INS

Explanation :

indigenously-built

stealth

Kamorta. The ship will be based at the

Vishakhapatnam-based
Command of Indian Navy.

Eastern

through

Delhi-based

collective

Pearls

Agrotech operates from 15 regional

offices and had 3.35 million field

associates in 2011-12. SEBI found

languages and have been awarded

Pearls

with important literary prizes.

Agrotech

violating

CIS

regulations by mobilizing the money

without

being

registered

with

the

regulator. The company offered two

kinds of plans- a cash-down payment
plan and an instalment payment plan.
Under the former, it offered to allot
land to customers within 270 days of
payment and under the latter within 90
days.

5) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on

22 August 2014 released the charter
of customer rights, which seeks to
provide the right to be treated with
courtesy to both the customer and the
financial services provider. What are
the important clauses of this charter?
- The customer should not be unfairly

4) U.R. Ananthamurthy, the writer of

incredible

literary

works

like

Samskara and Bharatipura and the

winner

of

Indias

highest

literary

award- the Janapith Award, passed

away on 22 August 2014. He did his
writings

in

which

language?

Kannada
Explanation : U.R. Ananthamurthy (full

Page

55 CURRENT AFFAIRS

name

Udupi

Rajagopalacharya

Ananthamurthy) was considered the

doyen of Kannada literature. He was
the pioneer of the Navya movement.
His works have been translated into
several

Indian

and

European

discriminated against on grounds such

as gender, age, religion, caste and
physical ability when offering and
delivering financial products by the
financial services provider
- The key risks associated with the
financial product as well as any
features

that

may

especially

disadvantage the customer should be

made

known

to

him/her

by

the

financial services provider

-

The

financial

services

provider

should provide customers with product

terms and conditions that are in simple
language, easily understandable, and
with sufficient information that the

customer

could

be

reasonably

designed for members of a target

expected to make an appropriate

market group or may use defensible,

choice of product

commercially

- The financial services provider may,

however,

have

products

which

certain
are

special

acceptable

economic

rationale for discriminating between

customers

specifically

August 25, 2014

customer-friendly

payment

model

followed by certain service providers

Explanation :
stance

on

The

toughening

two-step

RBI

authentication

process is primarily aimed to set right

an unintended wrong arising out of the
1) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
during August 2014 notified that the
two-step authentication for credit card

Page

56 CURRENT AFFAIRS

transactions

including

card

not

present transactions is a must as

mandated

under

the

rules.

This

announcement was made by the RBI

primarily to set right which anomaly?
To bring under check the so-called

so-called customer-friendly payment

model followed by certain service
providers. By doing so, they have
managed

to

authentication

give

the

requirement

two-step
a

slip.

According to the RBI, however, this is

resulting in foreign exchange outflow.
The non-adherence to the two-step
authentication process has also made
the field uneven for players especially
in

fields

such

as

taxi

operation.

Frequent taxi users among credit card

holders will prefer a cab provider who
accepts

hassle-free

payment

process.

3) Maharashtra

Governor

K.

Sankaranarayanan on 24 August 2014

quit the office consequent to his
transfer from Maharashtra. He was

2) History

was

created

at

Delhis

prestigious St. Stephens College on

transferred to which state as its next

Governor? Mizoram

23 August 2014 as student from the

Explanation :

Hindi medium was elected president of

was transferred from Maharashtra to

its students union. What is the name

Mizoram on the same day. He was

of this student who achieved this

also the only Governor appointed by

success

humble

the Congress-led UPA to openly come

background for a college traditionally

out against the manner in which the

known as college of the elite? Rohit

Modi

Kumar Yadav

resignation. He took strong exception

despite

his

Explanation : Rohit Kumar Yadav, is

the son of Harish Yadav, who works

K.

Sankaranarayanan

Government

sought

his

to the Union Home Secretarys action

seeking his resignation.

as a gardener in the college premises.

A student of 3rd year BA Programme,
Rohit has been educated in Hindi
medium all through his student life. St.

Page

57 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Stephens

does

not

work

in

accordance with other Delhi University

colleges. While other colleges are yet
to

conduct

their

students

union

elections, St. Stephens conducted its

polls on 23 August and announced the
result the same day.

4) Which company replaced IT giant

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as
Indias most admired company in
Forbes list of Indias Most Admired
Companies for 2014 released during
August 2014? ITC Limited
Explanation : ITC Limited is tobaccoto-consumer

goods

conglomerate.

Releasing the third annual list of 45

most admired companies in India for

Record on 23 August 2014? Katie

the

Ledecky

year

2014,

Forbes magazine

announced there are as many as 19

new entities on the list including GMR
Infra,

Shapoorji

Cellular, BSES

Pallonji,

Rajdhani

Idea
Limited,

Cognizant and Abbott Pharma. In the

latest list for the year 2014, ITC is
followed

by

infrastructure

engineering
major L&T,

and

Hindustan

Unilever, carmaker Maruti Suzuki and

public sector bank SBI among the top
five

most

admired

companies

in

Explanation :

17-year

old

Katie

Ledecky broke her own World Record

womens 1500 m freestyle swimming
which she had set in June 2014 by
completing the event in 15 minutes
28.36 seconds. She hacked almost six
seconds off her previous record. This
feat was achieved at the ongoing Pan
Pacific Championships being held in
Gold Coast, Australia.

India. In comparison, the list for 2013

was topped by TCS, followed by HUL,

6) Who won the Belgian F1 Grand Prix

ITC, Infosys and SBI at in the top-five.

held on 24 August 2014? Daniel

TCS has moved down to the sixth

Ricciardo of Red Bull team

position this year. The rankings are

based on a survey of over 1,500
companies as per responses from the
top industry executives, including on

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58 CURRENT AFFAIRS

the basis of peer group response.

Explanation : Australian driver Daniel

Ricciardo pipped this years F1 leader
Nico Rosberg (Germany) to second
spot while third place was claimed by
Williams Valttteri Bottas (Germany).
Now Red Bulls Rosberg has 29 points

5) What is the name of the American

teenaged swimmer who broke her own
womens 1500 m freestyle World

lead

over

his

teammate

Lewis

Hamilton (Great Britain) for 2014s F1

title.

August 26, 2014

to

automate

undertake

the
new

process
project

and
called

Knowledge Vault. Knowledge Vault

has pulled in 1.6 billion facts to date.

1) Search engine behemoth Google is

in the process of building the largest
store of information in human history
that

autonomously

gathers

and

merges data from across the web to

provide unprecedented access to all
facts about the world. What is the
name given to this enormous project of
information

and

implemented

knowledge
by

Google?

made from 1993 to 2011 illegal and

arbitrary.

How

many

coal

block

allocations stand cancelled with this

order? 218

Centre on this issue, the SC Bench

elaborated that the entire allocation of

be a type of knowledge base or a

system that stores information so that

59 CURRENT AFFAIRS

declared all coal block allocations

Explanation : While pulling up the

Explanation : Knowledge Vault will

Page

Supreme Court on 25 August 2014

being

Knowledge Vault

machines as well as people can read

it. Googles existing knowledge base,
called Knowledge Graph relies on
crowd-sourcing

2) In an important development, the

to

expand

its

information. However, humans could

only take it so far so Google decided

218 coal blocks as recommended by

the Screening Committee from 14 July
1993,

in

allocation
government

36

meetings

made

and

through

dispensation

the
the
route

suffered from the vice of arbitrariness

and legal flaws. Though the present
judgment would imply that the coal
block allocations are to be cancelled,
the Bench said the consequences of

declaring the allocations illegal would

seats. In Karnataka Congress secured

be considered on 1 September 2014

win in 2 assembly constituencies while

taking into account the investments

1 seat went into BJPs fold. In Punjab,

made

various

Congress and the ruling Shiromani

projects and the procedure to be

Akali Dal (SAD) shared one seat each

adopted for cancellation. In February

while in Madhya Pradesh BJP won 2

2012, the court had also ordered the

and Congress got 1 seat.

by

companies

for

cancellation of spectrum allocations

and directed fresh auction.

4) French President Francois Hollande

dissolved

on

25

August 2014 and after accepting the

Assembly

Bihar,

resignation of Prime Minister Manuel

and

Valls and ordering him to form a new

Karnataka came as a setback for the

government by 26 August. What was

ruling National Democratic Alliance

the main reason for resignation of

(NDA) as Congress-led opposition

Manuel Valls Socialist government?

scored a major win over NDA. How

The

many seats were won by Congress

economy

constituencies
Madhya

in

Pradesh

and its allies? 10

issue

Explanation :

of

countrys

France

stagnant

has

had

Explanation : Congress and its allies

effectively no economic growth this

won

year

10

out

constituencies

60 CURRENT AFFAIRS

government

3) The results of the by-elections in 18

Punjab,

Page

the

were

held

of

18

where
during

Assembly
by-elections

August

2014.

and

President

approval ratings are at an all-time low.

The country is under pressure from the

Remaining 8 seats were won by BJP

European

and its allies. The so-called Grand-

finances in order.

Alliance

of

RJD-JDU-Congress

in

Bihar won 6 out of 10 seats while BJP

won and its allies won the remaining 4

Hollandes

Union

(EU)

to

get

its

5) Renowned

Sir

In his 60-plus years of acting, he

Richard Attenborough passed away at

amassed some 70 acting credits,

the age of 90 on 24 August 2014. As

including Brighton Rock, The Great

the Director of much-lauded Gandhi

Escape,

he became an unflagging pillar to

Rillington Place, Jurassic Park (as

British cinema. In which year his film

the failed theme park developer) and

Gandhi won 8 Oscar awards to etch

the 1994 remake of Miracle on

its name in the history of film making?

34th Street. (Naturally, he played Kris

1982

Kringle.) He was a constant advocate

Explanation :

Actor-Director

He

won

the

1982

Academy Award (Oscar) for Best

Director and the Academy Award for
Best Picture for Gandhi. Apart from
his

film-making

talent,

Richard

Attenborough was a prolific actor too.

Doctor

Dolittle,

10

for the British film industry as well as

other humanitarian causes, including
his extensive work as a goodwill
ambassador for UNICEF. He was
awarded the Martin Luther King Jr.
Peace Prize in 1983.

August 27, 2014

1) Tata Value Homes, a subsidiary of

Page

61 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Tata Housing with focus on affordable

housing, on 26 August 2014 entered
into partnership with which online
seller to enable users to buy houses
online? Snapdeal
Explanation :

As

partnership,

about

part
1,000

of

the

homes

across projects in cities like Mumbai,

Home Minister Rajnath Singh. What is

Pune, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and

the name of this newly constituted

Chennai will be put up for sale on

panel? Margadarshak Mandal

Snapdeal. These houses are priced

between Rs. 18-70 lakh and range
from

BHK

to

BHK.

Upon

possession of the house, customers

buying the house through Snapdeal
will get Rs. 10,000 per month for a
year as an assured rent (whether they
stay on premise or lease it out) as part
of the deal. Tata Value Homes will
continue to sell through its own portal

Explanation : The trio of Atal Bihari

Vajpayee,

L.K.

Advani

and

Murli

Manohar Joshi had occupied the top

rung of BJP since the formation of the
party in 1980. Vajpayee has been
unwell, and has not been active in
politics for several years. L.K. Advani
and Murli Manohar Joshi are still
active in politics.

as well.
3) Which four persons were named as
2) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
dropped veteran leaders Atal Bihari
Vajpayee,

L.K.

Advani

and

Murli

Manohar Joshi from its parliamentary

Board, the partys highest decisionmaking body, on 26 August 2014. The

Page

62 CURRENT AFFAIRS

three veterans, leading lights of the

BJP for nearly four decades, were
dropped

from

its

central

election

committee too. The three leaders were

however placed in a new five-member
guidance panel along with Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and Union

the new Governors of the four states

of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka
and Goa by the President on 26
August

2014?

(Rajasthan),
(Maharashtra),

C.

Kalyan
Vidyasagar
Vajubhai

Singh
Rao

Rudabhai

Vala (Karnataka) and Mridula Sinha

(Goa)
Explanation : Kalyan Singh is a former
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. C.
Vidyasagar Rao is a former Union
Minister while Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala
is a senior leader of the BJP. Mridula

Sinha is a renowned Hindi writer and

storey

is a

Mahila Morcha

synagogue, a cafeteria and a function

president Mridula Sinha. On the other

room for the Jewish community. The

hand Manipur Governor Vinod Kumar

top two floors, due to be turned into a

Duggal will continue to hold additional

museum, have been left bearing the

charge

damage from bullets and grenades as

former

of

BJP

Mizoram

until

regular

has

a reminder of the tragedy.

4) What is the name of the Jewish

5) What is the name of the probe

centre in Mumbai that reopened on 26

launched by American space agency

August 2014, nearly six years after

NASA which passed Neptunes orbit

heavily-armed

on 25 August 2014? New Horizons

Pakistani

terrorists

people inside during the infamous

terrorist attacks of 2008? Chabad
House

63 CURRENT AFFAIRS

House

arrangement for the office is made.

stormed the building and killed six

Page

Chabad

Explanation :

New

Horizons

was

launched on 19 January 2006 from

Cape Canaveral to study the dwarf
planet Pluto, its moons and one or two

Explanation : Chabad House is the

Kuiper Belt objects. It is scheduled to

name of a Jewish centre in South

pass through the Pluto system on 14

Mumbai was left bullet-ridden and

July 2015. The probe craft passed

bereft of its directors Rabbi Gavriel

through Neptunes orbit nearly 25

Holtzberg and his pregnant wife Rivky,

years after Voyager 2 spacecraft

who were both killed in the siege. They

executed the first-ever flyby of faraway

were among 166 people killed in the

Neptune and its icy moon Triton.

three-day onslaught which started on

the evening of 26 November 2008,
which targeted five-star hotels, the
popular Leopold Cafe and the main
train station. The refurbished five-

6) Sheila

Dikshit

tendered

her

resignation on 26 August 2014 as the

Governor of which state? Kerala

Explanation : The former Delhi chief

7) The trustees of the Employees

minister Sheila Dikshit was appointed

Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)

the Governor of Kerala by the UPA-II

on 26 August 2014 retained the rate of

government about five months ago.

interest on provident fund deposits for

She thus became the eighth Governor

2014-15. The move will benefit over 5

to have resigned since the Narendra

crore subscribers across the country.

Modi government came to power on

What is this retained rate of interest?

26 May 2014.

8.75% per annum

August 28, 2014

time by Air India. Air-India Day stands
for what? Air Indias amalgamation
with erstwhile Indian Airlines into one
airline as Air India on 27 August 2007
Explanation : Rs. 100 tickets are being
sold only through Air India website
from 27-31 August for travel during 27

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64 CURRENT AFFAIRS

August to 30 September 2014.

1) Indias national carrier offered air

tickets at Rs. 100 (excluding fuel
surcharge, taxes and fees) for five
days beginning 27 August 2014 on the
occasion of Air India Day. Air India
Day is being celebrated for the first

2) 19th Rajiv Gandhi National Quality

Awards

for

announced

the
by

year
Union

2012
Minister

were
for

Consumer Affairs, Food and Public

Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan on 26
August 2014. Which organisation has

won the highest prize under this Award

Explanation : According to the Britain-

category?

based Syrian Observatory for Human

Rail

Wheel

factory

(Ministry of Railways), Bangalore

Explanation : The award winners and
recipients

of

commendation

certificates were selected from a total

of 63 applicants from various sectors
following vigorous evaluation by a
group

of

qualified

and

trained

professionals from different spheres of

intellectual activity. The awards, given
annually, were instituted by the Bureau
of Indian Standards (BIS) in the year
1991 with a view to encouraging
Indian

manufacturing

and

Rights, Douglas McCain died in a

battle between rival extremist groups
in

the

suburbs

of

Aleppo,

the

commercial capital and largest city of

Syria. He reportedly converted from
Christianity to Islam several years ago.
While McCain is the first American
jihadi to have died fighting for ISIL in
Syria, he is not the only one. The US
estimates say that there are about 100
American passport holders who are
fighting for ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

service

organizations to strive for excellence

and giving special recognition to those,
who are considered to be the leaders
of quality movement in India.

4) Ratan Tata, Tata Sons Chairman

Emeritus,

recently

investments
marketplace

in

made

personal

which

online

company?

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65 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Snapdeal.com
3) What is the name of the U.S. citizen

Explanation : Snapdeal is the second

who came to limelight for being the

largest online marketplace in India

first American jihadi to have died in

after Flipkart.com. The company has

Syria while fighting for Islamic State of

raised about $400 million since its

Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a terrorist outfit

inception and has invested about $100

that has gained control of large parts

million in logistics and operations to

of Syria and Iraq? Douglas McAuthur

expand its presence in the $3 billion

McCain

Indian e-Commerce market. Snapdeal

currently

houses

million

defines the cables, connectors and

diverse

communications protocols used in a

categories from over 50,000 sellers.

bus for connection, communication,

Snapdeal claims that it had seen

and power supply between computers

600% growth year-on-year for the last

and electronic devices. The first USB

two years.

standard

products

over

across

500

was

1.0

which

was

introduced in January 1996. The USB

5) The
(UIF)

USB
has

Implementers
come

up

Forum

with

the

specifications for a new USB standard.

This standard would make it sure that
theres a new universal port where it
doesnt

matter

which

side

faces

upwards or which end of the cable is

used. What is the name of this new
upcoming USB standard? USB 3.1

3.1 is will be an update of USB 3.0

which was released in November
2008. It will be backward compatible
with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0. Using
three power profiles of those defined in
the USB Power Delivery Specification
it lets devices with larger energy
demands request higher currents and
supply voltages from compliant hosts.
USB 3.1 is compatible with up to

Explanation : USB stands for Universal

10Gbps data transfer rates. That

Serial

means a full movie can be transferred

Bus,

developed

an
in

industry

the

standard

mid-1990s

that

in a single second, theoretically.

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66 CURRENT AFFAIRS

August 29-30, 2014

1) The city of Chennai celebrated its
landmark anniversary during August
2014. What landmark anniversary is
this? 375th

Explanation : The city of Chennai

domestic natural gas came after a

(previously

series

known

as

Madras)

of

consultations

committee.

August 2014. The city was established

recommendations said that natural

on 22 August 1639 as on this date the

resources should be priced at the

East India Company acquired a small

highest price possible in the market,

piece

of

based on market-determined pricing.

Chandragiri (Peda Venkata Raya) for

This will ensure energy security for the

establishing Fort St. George. This

country

event

the

exploration and production, efficient

modern city of Madras, which slowly

use of the resource and reduction in

started building up around Fort St.

the import burden. The first report of

George. The city thus completed 375

this committee was brought out in

years

January 2014.

land

laid

of

from

the

its

the

king

foundation

of

establishment

during

by

committee

encouraging

in

the

celebrated its 375th anniversary on 22

of

The

by

its

domestic

August 2014.
3) 2nd Summer
2) What

is

the

most

recommendation
Committee

on

of
gas

the

concluded at Chinas Nanjing city on

Kelkar

28 August 2014. Which country topped

pricing,

as

committee presented during August

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67 CURRENT AFFAIRS

2014? Domestic gas prices should

be linked to the market
The

Olympics

important

disclosed in the second report of the

Explanation :

Youth

the medals tally at these games?

China
Explanation : Hosts China won 38
gold, 13 silver and 14 bronze medals
to top the medals tally with a total of

committee

to

65 medals. Russia was second with 27

recommend a new gas-pricing formula

gold medals and the United States

was constituted in 2013 under former

was third with 10 gold medals. The

Finance Secretary Vijay Kelkar. The

second edition of Summer Youth

suggestion of market-linked pricing for

Olympics 2014 was held from 16 to 28

August 2014 at Nanjing. The first-ever

Summer Youth Olympic Game was
held in 2010 at Vancouver (Canada).

5) The Central Board of Direct Taxes

(CBDT) on 28 August 2014 constituted
a high-level committee to scrutinise all

4) To strengthen warehousing facilities

in the commodity futures market,
regulator

Forward

Markets

Commission (FMC) has come out with

which

important

proposal

during

govt. official heads this committee?

TheJoint Secretary of the Foreign Tax
and Tax Research Unit -1 of CBDT
Explanation :

be established for the accreditation of

about this mechanism was announced

warehousing service providers

by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his

public comments have been sought by

15 September 2014, come in the wake
of Rs 5,600 crore payment scam at the
National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL)
that

surfaced

in

July

last

year,

exposing loopholes in the system. The

proposed changes are being made
because at present no uniform norms
are being followed by national level

68 CURRENT AFFAIRS

retrospective tax amendment. Which

August 2014? Uniform norms should

Explanation : The draft rules, on which

Page

income tax cases arising out of the

commodity

exchanges

for

accreditation of warehousing service

providers (WSPs).

The

announcement

Budget 2014-15 speech on 10 July

2014. According to the terms of
reference for the new committee, it
would decide on such retrospective
cases within of 60 days of receiving
them from the Assessing Officer.
Retrospective tax is the tax rate levied
by income tax department which is
perceived higher by the company
being assessed, charged higher due to
some unknown reasons.

August 31, 2014

on 30 August 2014 to turn Varanasi
into a smart city. This MOU was
signed on the occasion of Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modis official visit
to Japan. Which Japanese city would
provide its expertise to turn Varanasi
in a smart city? Kyoto
1) Narendra Modi arrived at which

Explanation : Under the signed MOU a

country on 30 August 2014 on his first

Smart Heritage Cities Programme

bilateral foreign visit outside South

would be implemented in Varanasi.

Asia after becoming Prime Minister?

Under this programme Kyoto will

Japan

provide cooperation in the fields of

Explanation : Prime Minister Narendra

Modi arrived at Tokyo on his five-day
official

visit

to

Japan.

The

two

countries Modi visited before Japan

are Bhutan and Nepal. This Japan visit
is expected to boost bilateral relations

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69 CURRENT AFFAIRS

in several key fields such as defence,

civil nuclear and infrastructure besides

conservation and modernisation of

Varanasi, as well as art, culture and
academics. Kyoto is called the city of
ten thousand shrines and has been
the imperial capital of Japan for more
than

1,000

years.

The

city

has

modernised while keeping its old city,

temples and monuments alive.

commerce.
3) Prof. Bipan Chandra, who passed
2) India

and

Japan

signed

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

away on 30 August 2014, was a

renowned

academician

with which field? History

associated

Explanation : Prof. Bipan Chandra was

Which player defeated Sindhu in this

considered

match? Carolina Marin of Spain

to

be

specialist in

economic and political history of India.

He wrote several authentic books on
modern Indian history including The
Rise

and

Growth

Nationalism,

In

of
the

Economic
Name

of

Democracy: The JP Movement and

the

Emergency,

Nationalism

and

Colonialism in Modern India and The

Making of Modern India: From Marx to
Gandhi. Prof. Chandra had donned
multiple

roles

including

that

of

chairperson of the Centre for Historical

Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University,
Member

of

the

University Grants

Explanation :

9th seeded

Carolina

Marin defeated P.V. Sindhu by 21-17,

21-15 to reach womens singles final.
She will take on World No.1 and
reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui
of China in the finals. The 11th seeded
Sindhu had created history on 29
August 2014 when she made into the
semi-finals to become the first Indian
to

notch

two

medals

at

the

badmintons most prestigious event,

having also clinched the bronze last
year in Guangzhou.

Commission (UGC) and the Chairman

of the National Book Trust (NBT). His

5) What is the GDP growth rate of

text books on History have been

India during the first quarter (April-

taught in schools and colleges in the

June) of 2014-15, which is the best

country for a long time.

growth rate in around ten quarters?

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70 CURRENT AFFAIRS

5.7%
4) Indias P.V. Sindhu had to be
content with the bronze medal in
womens singles event at the World
Badminton Championships held at
Copenhagen (Denmark) after she lost
in the semi-final on 30 August 2014.

Explanation : The GDP growth of 5.7%

during first quarter (Q1) was recorded
as compared with the same quarter of
2013-14.

According

to

the

data

released by the Central Statistics

Office (CSO) on 29 August 2014,

quarterly

at

economic activities which registered

constant (2004-2005) prices for Q1 of

significant growth in Q1 of 2014-15

2014-15 is estimated at Rs14.38 lakh

over Q1 of 2013-14 are electricity, gas

crore, as against Rs13.61 lakh crore in

& water supply at 10.2%, financing,

Q1 of 2013-14, showing a growth rate

insurance, real estate and business

of

services at 10.4% and community,

5.7%

71 CURRENT AFFAIRS

quarter

Page

GDP

over
of

at

factor

the

previous

cost

corresponding
year.

The

social and personal services at 9.1%.

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