Aug 2014

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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 populous district?
Thane
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August 1-2, 2014
1) Which
three
West
African
countries are the worst-hit with the
Ebola outbreak, which is said to be
the
largest
recorded
Ebola
outbreak in history? Liberia,
Guinea and Sierra Leone
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 the
most severe in recorded history,
both in the number of cases and
fatalities. Over 340 deaths were
reported from Guinea, 233 from
Sierra Leone and over 150 from
Liberia. The leaders of West African
countries met the World Wealth
Organisation (WHO) head on 1
August 2014 to introduce a $100
million plan to deploy hundred
Explanation : The proposal for a

new, smaller and manageable
Palghar district was hanging fire for
over two decades. The proposal
was
finally
cleared
by
the
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.
3) A three-day ceasefire in the
Gaza Strip went into effect on 1
August 2014 bringing a temporary
break in the ongoing war between
Palestinian group Hamas and the
Israeli Army. This ceasefire was
called by which countries/entities?
The United Nations and the
USA
Explanation :
The
hostilities
between Hamas and Israel started
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5) Who was the deputy National

Security
Adviser
(NSA)
who
tendered his resignation on 31 July
2014 more than 20 months ahead
of his contractual retirement?
Nehchal Sandhu
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 tenure of
Joint Intelligence Chief Ajit Lal and
Military Adviser Lt. General Prakash
Menon also came to an end on 31
July and they did not receive any
extension. With these two officials
retiring, the secretariat of NSA Ajit
Doval has been left with three
vacancies.
4) US Secretary of State John Kerry

headed a high-powered delegation
to co-chair the annual India-US
Strategic Dialogue with the Indian
External Affairs Minister Sushma
Swaraj in New Delhi on 31 July
2014. This was which edition of
India-US
Strategic
Dialogue?
Fifth
Explanation : No breakthroughs
marked this 5th edition of strategic
dialogue between India and the
U.S. on the trade facilitation talks
at the WTO. India stayed firm on
the issues of food security and
stockpiling. Sushma Swaraj, on the
other hand, raised the snooping
issue in a very strong manner in
the dialogue. Kerry called on Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1
August 2014. It was the first
Cabinet-level between the Obama
administration and the new Indian
Government.
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on 8 July 2014 and around 1,450

Palestinians have been killed in it.
Israel claimed that 61 of its
soldiers and 3 civilians also died.
But this ceasefire too crumbled
within a few hours as Israel struck
Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
after capture of an Israeli soldier.
At least four short humanitarian
ceasefires have been announced
since the conflict began, but each
has been broken within a few hours
by renewed fighting.
6) Who are the 6 winners of the

Ramon Magsaysay Awards 2014 as
announced on 31 July 2014? Hu
Shuli (China), Saur Marlina
Manurung (Indonesia), Randy
Halasan
(The
Philippines),
Wang Canfa (China), Omara
Khan Masoudi (Afghanistan),
The
Citizen
Foundation
(Pakistan)
Explanation :
The
Magsaysay
Awards, often regarded as Asias
version of the Nobel Prize, are
named after the popular Philippine
president Ramon Magsaysay, who
died in a 1957 plane crash. These
are given to personalities from Asia
Read More about Magsaysay

Awards 2014
Explanation : Van Kirk was the

navigator of the plane named
Enola Gay that on 6 August 1945
on Japanese city of Hiroshima. 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.
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,
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
international debut at the age of
20, he has been a mainstay of the
South African line-up in all forms of
the game. He announced his
retirement on 30 July 2014 during
the ODI series against Sri Lanka.
8) What is the name of the last
surviving member of the plane
named Enola Gay that dropped
the
first
atomic
bomb
on
Hiroshima, who passed away
during July 2014? Theodore Van
Kirk
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7) Which great cricket all-rounder

announced his retirement from all
formats of the game during July
2014? Jaques Kallis of South
Africa
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for their contribution in various

fields of the society.
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,
a
Gurkha
officer
who
had
participated in the 1987 Indian
Peace
Keeping
Force
(IPKF)
operation in Sri Lanka, was till now
the Vice-Chief of Army Staff. An
alumnus
of
Sainik
School,
Chittorgarh, he joined National
Defence Academy in 1970 and was
commissioned into 4/5 GR (FF) in
June 1974.
10) Which multiplex chain is
poised to acquire Delhi-based
Satyam Cineplexes as announced
on 30 July 2014? Inox Leisure
Ltd
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has a total of 38 screens now in

Amritsar,
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.
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Explanation :
Multiplex chain
Inox Leisure Ltd. announced its
plan
to
acquire
Delhi-based
Satyam
Cineplexes.
It
has
executed transaction documents to
acquire 100% of the equity share
capital of Satyam from its existing
shareholders for a consideration of
Rs. 182 crore. Satyam Cineplexes
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of Rs. 640 Crore from domestic

budget.
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August 3, 2014
1) With west and central African

countries continuing to witness an
outbreak of the deadly Ebola
virus, Indias top health watchdog
on 2 August 2014 issued an
advisory
to
state
health
intelligence officials and to the
National Centre for Disease
Control (NCDC) to keep a watch
on the disease. What is the name
of Indias health watchdog that
issued this advisory? Integrated
Disease
Surveillance
Programme (IDSP)
Explanation : IDSP was launched
with World Bank assistance in
November 2004 to detect and
respond to disease outbreaks
quickly. The project was extended
for 2 years in March 2010. The
Programme
continues
during
th
12 Plan under NRHM (National
Rural Health Mission) with outlay
2) In a landmark initiative Prime

Minister Narendra Modi on 1
August 2014 pushed for shifting
to self-certification of documents
and pitched for minimum use of
affidavits.
On
this
day
all
ministries and departments at the
Centre and in states were asked
to make provision for selfcertification of documents in
place of affidavits. Under the selfcertification method, the original
documents are required to be
produced at the final stage. What
is the provision for false selfcertification in this initiative?
The person charged with
false self-certification can be
booked
under
relevant
sections of the Indian Penal
Code
Explanation :
The
Prime
Minister, during his meeting with
all Union Secretaries on 4 June
2014, had spoken of reforming
the public service delivery system
and bridging the governance
deficit. Getting an affidavit is a
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.
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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.
3) Who was appointed as the new

Chairman of the Central Board of
Direct Taxes (CBDT) on 1 August
2014? K.V. Chowdary
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tough task for the common man.

People have to either shell out
money to get affidavits from
notary or approach a gazetted
officer.
5) Who was chosen for the

22nd edition of the Rajiv Gandhi
National
Sadbhavana
Award?
Muzaffar
Ali,
the
noted
filmmaker
4) Vishal Sikka, who took charge

as CEO and MD of Infosys on 1
August 2014, is the .head
of the company Fifth
Explanation : Muzaffar Ali is

known for directing the classic
Bollywood film Umrao Jaan. He
is also known for his 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 prize of
Rs. 5 lakh apart from a citation.
Recipients of the award include
Mother Teresa, K.R. Narayanan,
Ustad
Bismillah
Khan,
Lata
Mangeshkar, Sunil Dutt, Dilip
Kumar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan.
Explanation : He replaced S.D.

Shibulal, who was among the cofounders of Infosys founded in
1981. Four earlier CEOs of the
company were N.R. Narayan
6) What is the name of the latest

Global Positioning System (GPS)
satellite of the United States
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Explanation : This satellite has

an expected service life of twelve
years and will replace USA-132
(GPS IIR-2), which was the first
Block IIR satellite to 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
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(U.S.) that was launched on 1

August 2014 from Cape Canaveral
Air Force Station? GPS IIF-7
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 GPS
available to civilian users was
taken by Ronald Reagan in 1983,
after 269 people were killed when
a Korean airliner became lost and
strayed into Soviet airspace,
where it was shot down.
August 4, 2014
1) On 3 August 2014 the curtains

were
raised
on
the
20th Commonwealth Games 2014
held at Glasgow (Scotland). Which
country topped the medals tally?
England
Explanation :
England
was
placed at first spot in the medals
tally with a haul of 58 gold, 59
silver and 57 bronze medals.

Australia followed with 49 gold,
42 silver and 46 bronze medals
while Canada was at third place
with 32 gold medals. England
finished at the top in the medals
tally for the first time since
Commonwealth Games of 1986
(Edinburgh). From 1990 Australia
dominated
six
Games
till
th
19 Commonwealth
Games in
2010.
2) Which city would host the

21st Commonwealth
Games of
2018?
Gold
Coast
City (Australia)
3) What is Indias final position in

the
medals
tally
in
the
20th Commonwealth Games 2014
that culminated on 3 August
2014? Fifth
Explanation : India was placed
at fifth placed (after England,
Australia, Canada and hosts
Scotland respectively). India won
15 gold medals, 30 silver medals
and 19 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.
4) What is the name of the

Secretary General of the Indian
Olympic Association (IOA) who
was arrested on 2 August 2014 at
the
ongoing
Commonwealth
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Explanation : Gold Coast City is

situated
in
the
Queensland
province of Australia. The city
would
host
the
st
21 Commonwealth Games from 4
to 15 April 2018. The hosting
rights to Gold Coast City were
awarded in November 2011. It
thus would be the fifth hosting of
these games in Australia, with the
earlier stagings in 1938 (Sydney),
1962 (Perth), 1982 (Brisbane),
and 2006 (Melbourne).
Games on charges of drunken

driving? Rajeev Mehta
Explanation : 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
charge of sexual assault. The two
were not staying with the Indian
contingent at the Commonwealth
Games Village. The arrest of the
two of officials left the Indian
contingent
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
mens
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
Explanation : Prakash Padukone
had won the mens singles gold
medal
at
the
1978
Explanation: Inder Kumar Gujral

had visited Nepal on a state visit
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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
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Commonwealth
Games
in
Edmonton (Canada), Syed Modi
retained it for India four years
later at Brisbane (Australia)
in 1997. After that Prime Minister

Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited
Kathmandu in 2002 but it was not
a state visit and he 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 : 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
In which year this historic treaty
was signed between the two
countries? In 1950
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 objective of charting a
new course in bilateral relations.
Explanation : The official name

of this bilateral treaty is Treaty of
Peace and Friendship Between the
Government of India and the
Government of Nepal. The treaty
allows free movement of people
and goods between the two
nations and a close relationship
and collaboration on matters of
defence and foreign affairs. After
an abortive attempt in 1952 of
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 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
Explanation :
The
formula
brought forward by the Union
Govt. ensures that questions on
English
Language
Comprehension Skills, worth 22.5
marks out of the total 200, will
not be counted for preparing
merit list of candidates. The govt.
also said this is its opinion and it
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the Communist Party of Nepal to

seize power with Chinese backing,
India and Nepal stepped up
military
and
intelligence
cooperation
under
treaty
provisions, and India sent a
military 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.
was not sure whether this would

translate into policy.
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 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
Organisation-National Institute of
Ocean Technology (ESSO-NIOT)
Chennai
and
ESSO-National
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 and Norway
on 23 July 2014.
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
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 due to
retire in 2020.
5) The government of Portugal on
4 August 2014 announced how
much relief package for countrys
largest listed bank Banco
August 6, 2014
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bank?
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which public-sector
Syndicate Bank
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.
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ratio
(CRR)
* SLR cut by 0.50% to 22% to

unlock banking funds
* Lowers banks SLR holdings in
held-to-maturity
category
by
0.5% to 24%
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13
* Cash reserve
unchanged at 4%
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 adjustment facility
(LAF) unchanged at 8.0%. It also
left the cash reserve ratio (CRR)
of scheduled banks unchanged at
4.0% of net demand and time
liabilities (NDTL). However, which
is the only major rate to be
changed in this policy review?
Statutory
Liquidity
Ratio
(SLR)
Explanation :
The
SLR
of
scheduled commercial banks was
reduced by 50 basis points from
22.5% to 22.0% of their NDTL
with effect from the fortnight
beginning 9 August 2014.
The major rates after this
policy review are as follows:
* Short-term lending (repo) rate
unchanged at 8%
The
other
major
estimates/projections in this
policy review are as follows:
* Estimates GDP growth at 5.5%
for current fiscal
* Targets 8% CPI inflation by
January 2015, 6% by Jan 2016
* Govt policies to
domestic
demand,
conditions
improve
supply
* Higher oil prices, pass-through

of administered price increases
pose upside risks to inflation
* Monsoons still a concern, posing
risks to inflation
*
Govt.
action
on
food
management and fast-tracking
project completion to improve
supply
* Banking
continue
sector
reforms
will
3) What important notification

pertaining
to
dissection
of
animals in colleges was issued by
the University Grants Commission
(UGC) during August 2014? It
has banned the dissection in
zoology and life sciences
undergraduate
and
postgraduate courses
Explanation : In this notification,
the UGC has asked universities
and colleges across India to stop
dissection
of
animals
immediately. The ban follows
discussions with the People for
the Ethical Treatment of Animals
(PETA) India and the Minister for
Women & Child Development,
Maneka Gandhi. The UGC had
issued a partial ban on dissection
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Explanation : Justice Chellur was

till now the Chief Justice of Kerala
High Court. She broke the gender
barrier on a number of occasions,
starting from being the first lady
advocate to practice in Bellary in
Karnataka
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2) Who on 5 August 2014 took

over as the first woman Chief
Justice of Calcutta High Court,
which is the oldest High Court of
India? Justice Manjula Chellur
in 2011. It is estimated that

around 19 million animals are
dissected in the labs of countrys
universities and colleges every
year.
4) On 4 August 2014 what

deadline was announced by
Beijings Municipal Environmental
Protection Bureau for ban of all
coal use in the city? Year 2020
Explanation : Beijings Municipal
Environmental Protection Bureau
announced year 2020 as the
deadline for imposing complete
ban of coal in the Chinese capital.
Coal-fired power and heating is a
major generator of greenhouse
gases and has helped turn China
into the worlds largest emitter of
carbon and other heat-trapping
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
home-grown
mobile
brand.
According to data released by
Hong Kong-based Counterpoint
Technology
Market
Research,
Micromaxs share of the overall
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5) Which company during the

quarter of April-June 2014 toppled
South
Korean
mobile
giant
Samsung to become the largest
mobile handsets selling company
in India? Micromax
handset market (smartphones,

feature phones, and low-cost
handsets) stood at 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 homegrown players Micromax (19.1%)
and Karbonn (5.9%) were second
and third, respectively.
August 7, 2014
basis of average of last three
years. What is the year proposed
by the WTO to be taken as the
base year? 1986-87
1) In order to solve the ongoing

tussle between India and the WTO
(World Trade Organisation), India
has suggested fixing of the base
year for food subsidies on the
Explanation : India is of the view

that taking 1986-87 as a base
year in 2014-15 is completely
illogical
and
it
has
hence
suggested a more scientific
calculation
for
base
year
calculation. Indian Government
had vetoed the adoption of a WTO
treaty to simplify, standardise and
streamline the rules for shipping
2) The
Securities
Laws
(amendment) Bill, 2014 was
approved unanimously by the Lok
Sabha on 6 August 2014. This Bill
empowers the SEBI with powers
to disgorge (taking back the
money)
the
money
from
fraudulent
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
Explanation : According to the
provisions in this bill, the money
collected
through
SEBIs
disgorgement orders will now be
parked
in
SEBIs
Investor
Protection and Education Fund
(IPEF).
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goods across borders, having

previously agreed to its terms at a
ministerial conference in Bali
(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.
3) The Union Cabinet on 6 August

2014 cleared a proposal to allow
100% foreign direct investment
(FDI) in Indian Railways. Apart
from this, two U.S. companies
were shortlisted for a proposed
diesel locomotive factory to be
built
in
Bihar.
Which
two
companies are these? GE and
EMD
Explanation :
GE
(GE
Transportation Systems) is a
leading U.S. based locomotive
manufacturer and is engaged in
manufacturing of both electric
and diesel locomotive engines.
EMD (Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.)
designs, manufactures and sells
diesel-electric locomotives and
diesel power engines under the
EMD brand. It is owned by
Caterpillar through its wholly
owned subsidiary Progress Rail
Services Corporation.
After 100% FDI in Indian Railways,
except operations of trains, FDI
can be brought into all other
areas
like
high-speed
train
systems,
freight
terminals,
building of rail links, electrification
and signalling systems.
Explanation : He created the

character Dabbu for a Delhibased
newspaper Milap.
His
most famous character was
Chacha Chaudhary which was
first published in 1969 in Lotpot,
a famous Hindi magazine. Later
(in 1981) all his characters were
given shelf space in Gulshan Rais
Diamond
Comics
and
this
publication
became
almost
synonymous with Pran and his
comic characters.
5) Who was appointed as the
Deputy NSA (National Security
Advisor) on 4 August 2014?
Arvind Gupta
Explanation : The post of Deputy
NSA had fell vacant after the
resignation of Nehchal Sandhu,
who took retirement on 31 July
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17
2014 some 20 months before the

end of his term. Arvind Gupta is a
1979-batch Indian Foreign Service
(IFS) officer who retired in 2013.
He was presently working as
Director-General of Institute of
Defence Studies and Analyses
(IDSA).
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4) Noted Indian cartoonist Pran

Kumar Sharma, popularly known
as Pran, passed away on 5 August
2014 at the age of 75. He was the
creator of iconic Indian cartoon
characters
such
as
Chacha
Chaudhary and his friend Sabu,
Shrimatiji, Pinki, Billoo, Raman
and Channi Chachi. What was the
name of first character created by
him? Dabbu
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
Explanation : The project named
Lights Out was held on the
occasion of the 100 years of the
First World War. Under this lights
were turned-off all over Britain on
4 August 2014 to pay tribute to all
those who died in this War. The
Lights
Out
project
was
organised by the Royal British
Legion and people in the UK were
urged to leave just one light on or
candle burning for an hour
approaching the 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.
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18
August 8, 2014

(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 SRs as directed
in this RBI guideline? 15%
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.
2) Who is heading the special

committee to review the security
of Indian Parliament that was
constituted on 7 August 2014?
RK Singh, 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
Police
Commissioner Satyapal Singh.
The committee has been asked to
give its report within one month
after 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
Explanation : The two are the

most senior surviving ex-Khmer
Rouge
officials
and
were
convicted for crimes against
humanity, political persecution
and
other
inhumane
acts
committed during the infamous
Khmer Rouge era from 19751979. 88 year old Nuon Chea was
known as Brother Number Two
during Khmer Rouge era while 83
year old Khieu Samphan was the
head of the state. Led by Brother
Number One Pol Pot, who died in
1998,
the
Khmer
Rouge
dismantled modern society with
regime
atrocities
affecting
virtually
every
family
in
Cambodia.
4) Mexicos Congress on 6 August

2014 gave final approval to a
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3) What are the names of two

former Khmer Rouge leaders who
were sentenced for life by
Cambodias UN-backed court on 7
August 2014 after being found
guilty
of
crimes
against
humanity? Nuon Chea and
Khieu Samphan
19
red
the
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Ambassador car with a

beacon
had
stormed
Parliament complex.
historic reform that would open

up an important state-controlled
sector to foreign investment for
the first time since 1938. Which
sector is this? Energy Sector
(comprising of oil and natural
gas)
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
Congress voted 78-26 for the
package of Bills that will break
this monopoly and will allow
foreign companies to sign profitsharing contracts with Mexico.
The reform is the centrepiece of
President Pena Nietos reform
drive to breathe new life into
Latin Americas second biggest
economy. However, this move is
opposed by the leftist opposition
who is saying that it will amount
to a damaging privatisation of
Pemex.
5) Indian cricket team almost

surrendered to English bowlers as
it was dismissed for a paltry 152
runs in the opening day of the
fourth Test match at Manchester
on 7 August 2014. The Indian
team became the owner of an
ignominous statistic with six of
Explanation : Six Indian batsmen

(Murali
Vijay,
Virat
Kohli,
Cheteshwar
Pujara,
Ravindra
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their batsmen getting out for

ducks (zero), thereby equalling
the record number of six ducks in
a single Test inning by an
international team. India now
jointly hold this record of six
ducks with which two other
countries? South Africa and
Bangladesh
Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and

Pankaj Singh) were dismissed
without scoring a single run. Only
three
batsmen
Captain
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (71),
Ajinkya
Rahane
(24)
and
Ravichandran Ashwin (40) had
respectable scores against their
names. The last time that India
had five batsmen out for duck
was during the 1952 series at the
Headingley, when England won
by seven wickets inside four days.
August 9, 2014
PHEIC declaration has been
issued by the WHO till date?
Three
times (including this
Ebola declaration)
1) The World Health Organization

(WHO) on 8 August 2014 declared
the Ebola outbreak in West Africa
to be an international public
health
emergency.
The
emergency was declared a Public
Health Emergency of International
Concern (PHEIC), which is the
name of the formal declaration of
health emergency by the WHO.
On how many occasions the
Explanation : PHEIC is a legally

binding international instrument
on
disease
prevention,
surveillance,
control,
and
response
adopted
by
194
countries worldwide. It was first
issued in April 2009 for H1N1
(Swine Flu) epidemic. The second
declaration of PHEIC was issued in
May 2014 with the resurgence
Polio after its near-eradication. On
8 August WHO declared its third
PHEIC in response to the outbreak
of Ebola in Western Africa.
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 the then U.S. President
George W. Bush and the Iraqi
Government. U.S. troops had
invaded Iraq on 20 March 2003.
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2) U.S. fighters dropped bombs

on Islamic militants in Iraq on 8
August 2014, a day after U.S.
President
Barack
Obama
authorised
the
Pentagon
to
launch targeted airstrikes on
Islamic militants in Iraq. This
attack 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
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 desperately in need of
supplies. However, the U.S.
President vowed anew not to put
American combat troops back on
the ground in Iraq, being mindful
of the publics aversion to another
lengthy war.
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
Explanation : H.Kumar replaced

PP Upadhya, who retired as MD of
MRPL on 31 July 2014. Kumar was
till now posted as the Executive
Director (corporate strategy and
planning) of Hindustan Petroleum
Corporation Limited (HPCL). MRPL
is an oil refinery established in
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Managing Director (MD) of publicsector based Mangalore Refinery
and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) on
7 August 2014? H. Kumar
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in India and Pakistan on 7 August

2014.
1993 at Mangalore (Karnataka). It

is a subsidiary of ONGC.
5) Social networking company
Facebook during August 2014
acquired which cyber-security
startup firm to boost its huge
server network? PrivateCore
Explanation : PrivateCore is a
California-based
cyber-security
startup firm that was launched in
2012. The company specializes in
protecting
servers
against
malware and other kinds of virus
intrusions. However, the terms of
this deal were not released by the
two companies.
August 10-11, 2014

event
in
countrys
91-year
history? Because this was the
first-ever direct presidential
elections in the country
1) Turkish Prime Minister Recep

Tayyip
Erdogan
won
the
Presidential election held in the
country on 10 August 2014. Why
these elections were a watershed
Explanation :
The
Turkish
president was previously chosen
by parliament, but a 2010
referendum gave Turks the power
to choose the head of state by
direct vote. With 99% of ballot
boxes counted, Erdogan had
51.95% of the vote. Opposition
candidate Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu,
a former diplomat and academic
2) Indias capital market regulator

SEBI cleared final 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 attract
greater foreign and domestic
investments into these sectors.
What are the names of business
trusts associated with real estate
and infrastructure which would be
created and listed with these SEBI
guidelines?
Real
Estate
Investment Trusts (REITs) and
Infrastructure
Investment
Trusts (InvITs)
Explanation : Finance Minister
Arun Jaitley had outlined the
proposal for establishment of Real
Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
and Infrastructure Investment
Trusts (InvITs) in the Union Budget
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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 a fourth term as prime
minister, he has faced 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.
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
real estate and infrastructure
companies. Along 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
registration
for stock
brokers recently. What would be
the main benefit for brokers with
this
approval?
Now
the
brokers would not need to
obtain multiple certificates
from SEBI for operating in the
different segments of equity,
equity derivatives, currency
derivative and debt
Explanation :
Under
the
proposed regime, initial certificate
of
registration
as
stock
broker/clearing member will be
granted by SEBI and subsequent
permissions to act as stock
brokers/clearing member of other
stock
exchanges/clearing
corporations will be granted by
respective
stock
exchange/clearing
corporation
4) What is the name of the newly

constituted act which was signed
into law by the U.S. President
Barack Obama on 8 August 2014
and
which
authorises
the
President to appoint a Special
Envoy in the near East and South
Central Asia? Near East and
South Central Asia Religious
Freedom Act
Explanation : The House of
Representatives had passed the
Bill associated with this Act on 25
July and the Senate passed it on
29 July 2014. The Bill requires the
Special Envoy to promote the
right of religious freedom of
religious
minorities
in
the
countries of the near East and
August 12, 2014
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South Central Asia, denounce the

violation of such right, and
recommend
appropriate
US
Government responses to such
violations. The Special Envoy
carries the rank of that of an
ambassador.
24
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after following the prescribed

procedure. The latest SEBI move
will also obviate the need for
separate certificate for each
category of operations trading
member,
trading-cum-self
clearing member and professional
clearing member.
5) Who is the author of the book

Strictly Personal, the new
biography of the former Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh and his
wife Gursharan Kaur, which is to
be released during August 2014?
Daman Singh, the daughter of
Manmohan Singh
Explanation : Daman Singhs
book does not deal with the
period of Dr. Singhs tenure as the
Prime Minister, instead it is a
description of all the years before
2004. The book portrays her
parents on the basis of interviews
with them conducted over the
past five years, and Manmohan
Singhs letters to friends during
his student years.
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Explanation :
The
muchanticipated name was announced
on 11 August 2014 by TSAL amid
the release of the aubergine and
gold logo of Vistara. Vistara is
derived from the Sanskrit word,
which means limitless expanse
and draws inspiration from the
brands 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 introduced The Repealing
and Amending Bill, 2014 in the
Lok Sabha on 11 August 2014,
which seeks to remove obsolete
Amendment Acts and Principal
Acts from the statute books as
they have outlived their utility.
Page

proposed
airline
of
Tata-SIA
Airlines Limited (TSAL), a jointventure between Tata Group and
Singapore International Airlines
(SIA)? Vistara
How many archaic laws are

proposed to be repealed through
this bill? Thirty Six (36)
Explanation : This is the first
time since 2001 that such an
exercise is being undertaken by
the Law Ministry. The Amendment
Acts which are sought to be
repealed include amendments to
the Representation of the People
Act, Marriage Act, Election Laws,
Divorce Laws and Anand Marriage
Act and the Evidence Act. Two of
the standalone Acts which will
also be repealed through the Bill
are Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947,
and Sugar Undertaking (Taking
Over
of
Management)
Act.
Through the Bill, the Government
also seeks to amend a patent
error committed by the Law
Ministry during the passage of the
Whistleblowers Bill. While the Bill
became an Act in May this year, it
is called the Whistleblowers
Protection Act, 2011 instead of
2014. Between 1950 and 2001,
over a hundred Acts have been
repealed by such bills.
3) Who was nominated as the

new Prime Minister of Iraq to
replace Nouri al-Maliki on 11
August 2014? Haider al-Abadi
4) What is the name of NASAs

vintage
spacecraft
which
successfully completed a return
visit to the earth-moon system
during August 2014? ISEE-3
Explanation :
The
ISEE-3
spacecraft
made
its
closest
approach to the earth on 9
August 2014 and a flyby of the
moon on 10 August 2014. Its
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Explanation : Haider al-Abadi, is

a low-key figure who spent much
of his life living in exile in Britain,
before returning to Iraq after the
2003 invasion. Iraqi President
Fouad
Massoum
nominated
Haider al-Abadi, a member of the
governments Shia coalition, as
the countrys next Prime Minister.
But this nomination has set off a
potential clash with Nouri alMaliki, the current Prime Minister,
who has demanded he remain in
power. Maliki has insisted that he
had the right to form the
government as he commands the
largest
bloc
in
the
Iraqi
Parliament. On 10 August, a
defiant Maliki mustered Iraqi
forces in the Green Zone,
Baghdads government centre.
However, Maliki has been accused
of pursuing a sectarian agenda
and excluding the moderates
from power.
closest approach was 15,600 km

from the moons surface. This
spacecraft
was
originally
launched in 1978 and was 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.
5) Which batsman on 9 August

2014 broke cricketing-great Sir
Don Bradmans 66-year-old record
for most scores of 190 plus?
Kumar Sangakkara of Sri
Lanka
Explanation : 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
66-year-old
record for most scores of 190
plus.
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27
August 13, 2014
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 the Lok Sabha on 6
August 2014 and 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.
2) What
is
the
key
recommendation
of
Indian
telecom
and
broadcasting
regulator TRAI pertaining to
independence of press in India, as
announced by it on 12 August
2014? Restrictions should be
imposed on political bodies
and corporates from entering
the television and newspaper
business
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
3) Petroleum Ministry recently

accorded its in-principle approval
for stake-sale in ONGC which may
fetch
the
government
about Rs. 18,000 crore to meet
disinvestment target for the
current fiscal. For this how much
stake-sale in the company is
proposed? 5%
Explanation : As per the Budget
2014-15, the disinvestment target
is Rs. 58,425
crore
including
receipts from disinvestment of
government stake in the nongovernment
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.
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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, TRAI said
Government should not regulate
the media; there should be a
single regulatory authority for TV
and print mediums.
4) What is the name of the 45

megawatt
hydro-electricity
project in J&K that was dedicated
to the nation by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on 12 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 state. The Prime
Minister dedicated this project on
the occasion of his visit to the
state on 12 August. He also laid
the foundation stone for LehKargil-Srinagar
transmission
system on this occasion.
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 2012-13. It has thus
become only the second airline in
Indian market space to earn
profits. Which was the only profitearning airline in the Indian airline
space till now? IndiGo
Explanation : GoAir was founded
in 2005 as an aviation venture of
Wadia group of Bombay Dyeing
fame. IndiGo was founded in 2006
by Rahul Bhatia. It is the largest
6) Tata Motors launched a new

car after a gap of almost 4 years
on 12 August 2014. What is the
name of this car? Zest
Explanation : Zest is a all-new
compact sedan launched 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 top-end diesel at
Rs.6.99 lakh (ex-showroom in
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Delhi). Given that the Tata Motors

performance in the domestic
market has been under a lot of
pressure in the recent past, a lot
depends on the success of the
Zest.
29
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Indian airline at present and was

the only profitable airline venture
in India. Both GoAir and 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%).
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

is the name of this passed bill?
- The
National
Judicial
Appointments
Commission
Bill, 2014
1) A landmark bill to overturn the

collegium system for higher
judiciary was passed by the Lok
Sabha on 13 August 2014. What
Explanation :
The
bill
was
passed by the Lok Sabha by a
voice-vote. Union Govt. is against
the collegium system of judges
appointing judges. Under the
collegium system top judges of
the Supreme Court, headed by
2) 99th Constitution
Amendment
Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha
on 13 August 2014. What is the
subject of this constitutional
amendment?
Giving
Constitutional status to the
proposed
National
Judicial
Appointments Commission
Explanation :
The
99th Constitution Amendment Bill
was passed by 367 members in
favour and nil against it.
3) Which city was chosen as the

ad hoc capital of Andhra Pradesh
by the 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.
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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minsiter N.

Chandrababu Naidu also asked
the members of the advisory
committee on Capital City to see
that the ad hoc capital houses key
administrative offices during the
interregnum.
30
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the Chief Justice of India, decides

the appointment of judges to
higher courts. Under the new law,
where
the
National
Judicial
Appointments Commission will
decide appointment of judges to
Supreme Court and High Courts,
seniority along with ability and
merit will be considered for
elevation.
4) Who was elected as the

Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha
on
13
August
2014?
- M.
Thambidurai
Explanation : M. Thambidurai
represents AIADMK in the Lok
Sabha.
He
was
elected
unanimously as almost all parties
moved motions for his election,
including the Congress. The
AIADMK has 37 MPs in the lower
house of parliament and is the
third largest party after the
Bharatiya Janata 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 the
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
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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 yearold Canadian-American 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
IndianAmerican 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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International Mathematical Union

(IMU) announced on 13 August
2014? - Manjul Bhargava and
Subhash Khot
Explanation :
The
Go-India
Card has been launched to be
used at nominated UTS counters
and Automatic Ticket Vending
Machines (ATVMs) and nominated
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
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1) India created history on 14

August 2014 by winning the
bronze medal in the 41stWorld
Chess Olympiad held in Norway.
This was for the first time India
won a medal in the Chess
Olympiad. Which country won the
gold medal (open category) in
this edition of Chess Olympiad?
China
Explanation :
41st edition
of
Chess Olympiad was held from 1
to 14 August 2014 at Troms, a
northern city in Norway. China
won the gold medal in the open
category for the first 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 Uzbekistan
3.5-0.5 in the final round. 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 which teams
from all over the world compete
against each other. The event is
organised by FIDE, which selects
the host nation. Total number of
1,570 players participated at the
41st edition of Chess Olympiad,
with 881 in the open and 689 in
the womens section.
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 a debit
card and an accidental insurance
cover of Rs. 1 lakh? Pradhan
Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
Explanation : The Union Cabinet
has already cleared the twophase financial inclusion 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 Independence Day address
3) 55
gallantry
awards
(peacetime) were announced on
the eve of 68thIndependence Day
on 14 August 2014. Who was
conferred the lone Ashok Chakra,
Indias
highest
peacetime
gallantry award? Late Maj.
Mukund Varadarajan
Explanation :
Major
Mukund
Varadarajan was the officer from
the 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 antiterrorist 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).
4) The Reserve Bank of India on

14 August 2014 announced its
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33
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.
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
month. This reduction would
come into effect from which date?
1 November 2014
Explanation : The six metro
cities
(Mumbai,
New
Delhi,
Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and
Hyderabad) were chosen first for
reducing the number of mandated
free transactions as they are wellserved in terms of payment
infrastructure. This reduction in
the number of mandated free
transactions will, however, not
apply to customers having nofrills/small/Basic Savings Bank
Deposit Account (BSBDA) type of
accounts
as
well
as
for
transactions done by savings
bank account holders at ATMs
situated outside these six metro
cities. Banks are also free to offer
free transactions above this
mandated limit.
5) In a departure from the over

five-decades-old
tradition
of
Independence Day celebrations at
Parade Grounds, the Telangana
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar
Rao on 15 August 2014 hoisted
the national flag at a newly
6) Which Iranian-born professor

became the first woman ever to
win the Fields Medal of the
International Mathematical Union
(IMU), which is considered the top
prize in the field of mathematics?
Dr. Maryam Mirzakhani
Explanation :
Maryam
Mirzakhani is a Iran-born woman
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Explanation :
The
Andhra
Pradesh governments of the past
had been organising this event at
the
Parade
Grounds
in
Secunderabad for well over 5
decades. In a move aimed at
showcasing the rich cultural
heritage of Telangana, the CM
chose the fort for the first
Independence Day celebrations
after formation of Telangana as a
separate
state.
The
ruined
Golconda Fort on the fringes of
Hyderabad was the capital of
Qutub Shahi kingdom from 1518
to 1687. The fort was built by
Kaktiyas of Warangal during
10th century as a mud fort and
was fortified by Qutub Shahis.
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selected historic spot in capital

Hyderabad. Which place is this?
The Golconda Fort
professor at Stanford University

(US). She received the Fields
Medal, known as the Nobel Prize
of
mathematics,
at
the
International
Congress
of
Mathematics in Seoul on 13
August 2014, along with three
other mathematicians honoured
with the prize this year. The other
recipients were Artur Avila, Manjul
Bhargava and Martin Hairer. 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.
7) Which woman bank officer was

appointed
as
the
Executive
Director of the Bharatiya Mahila
Bank on 14 August 2014? SM
Swathi
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.
Explanation : Mazgaon Dock

Limited
is
public-sector
undertaking (PSU) unit based in
Mumbai.
It
is
engaged
in
manufacturing
warships
and
submarines for the Indian Navy,
as well as offshore platforms and
associated support 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 anti-submarine
capability and can take on an
anti-ship missile and fighter
aircraft. INS Kolkata is also the
first Indian ship to be armed with
the
land
attack,
anti-ship
Brahmos missile.
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35
1) Prime Minister Narendra Modi

on 16 August 2014 dedicated to
the
nation
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)
Page
August 17, 2014
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 : The Youth Olympic
Games were established 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. Thomas
Explanation : K.V. Thomas is a
senior
Congress
leader
and
former Food Minister. PAC is the
top finance panel of the Indian
Parliament and is constituted for
the auditing of the expenditure of
the Government of India. It
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
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 beat the strongest of
men. She has defeated 10 world
champions. The chess greats
whom Judit Polgar had defeated in
her illustrious career included
Garry
Kasparov,
Viswanathan
August 18, 2014
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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
Page
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.
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).
(RBI) announced on 14 August
2014 that its board has given
approval to create an additional
post in the rank of Deputy
Governor. For this RBI has
approached the government for
required
legislative
changes.
Which post is this? Chief
Operating Officer (COO)
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
organisational
resources
and
structures with the needs of the
domestic economy and changes
in the external environment.
2) Who was selected as the

Chairman of the Committee on
Public Undertakings (CoPU) of
Parliament by the Lok Sabha
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on 16
August
2014?
V.
Shanta
Kumar
3) India lost the 5th and final test

of the Test series against England
37
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Explanation :
The
Estimates
Committee
consists
of 30
members, all from Lok Sabha,
who are elected by Lok Sabha
every year from amongst its
members. The main function of
this committee is to suggest
alternative policies in order to
bring
about efficiency
and
economy in govt. administration.
Page
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
at the Oval on 17 August 2014 to

lose the series 1-3. India suffered
a humiliating loss by an innings
and 244 runs after they were
bundled out for a paltry 94 in the
second innings in the final test.
England won the series despite a
defeat at Lords in the second
Test. 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 a controversy,
involving Indias Ravindra Jadeja.
The loss at Oval was the third
biggest innings defeat for India.
With this series win England
retained the Pataudi Trophy,
awarded to the winner of the
England-India Test Cricket series.
4) Which area of upper Assams

Golaghat district came to news
during 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
Explanation :
Uriamghat
is
situated along the disputed
5) What is the name of the IndoNepal Combined Army Training

Exercise that started from 18
August 2014 near Pithoragarh in
Uttarakhand? Surya Kiran-VII
Explanation : Surya Kiran-VII is a
joint bilateral army exercise
between India and Nepal being
conducted from 18 August to 31
August 2014. It is being held in
the
mountain
terrain
of
Pithoragarh
in the
Northern
Himalayas at an altitude of 50006000 feet under the aegis of
Guard Division. It is the Second
Battalion
Level
Combined
Exercise and approximately 300
personnel including officers and
JCOs from both the armies are
participating in this exercise.
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Assam-Nagaland
border.
It
witnessed raids from Nagalandbased armed groups on 12 and 13
August
2014.
The
incident
created panic among the people
living in the disputed area. Assam
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on 16
August
2014
sought
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modis
intervention for restoration of
peace in the Uriamghat area.
6) Who took over as the new

Chairman of Union Public Service
Commission (UPSC) on 16 August
2014? Rajni Razdan
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 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.
7) In order to honour its jawans

and officers killed in action, the
Central Reserve Police Force
(CRPF) has decided to prefix the
name of these courageous people
with an honourable word. Which
word is this? Shaheed, which
means a martyr
Explanation : CRPF is Indias
largest paramilitary force and is
the leading anti-Naxal operations
force, which by virtue of its huge
deployment has the highest
casualty rate among all forces
deployed in internal security
duties. It recently issued orders
for use of the prefix Shaheed
with immediate effect for all
8) Which suburb of Missouri State

in the U.S. witnessed widespread
violence, protests and incidents of
looting during August 2014 as a
CURRENT AFFAIRS
39
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casualties where the trooper or

officer was on duty. There was a
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.
result of the shooting of a black

teenager by a white policeman?
Ferguson
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
and announced a curfew to go
into effect between midnight and
5 a.m.
August 19, 2014

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 Pakistan slated to be held on
25 August 2014 at Islamabad.
What was the reason given for
calling-off
these
talks?
Explanation : India on 18 August

conveyed a blunt message to
Pakistan that it was interfering in
Indias internal affairs by holding
talks with Kashmiri separatists.
India was upset that despite
being firmly told by the Indian
Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh
that Pakistan has to choose
between India or separatists for
talks, its top envoy Abdul Basit in
New Delhi went ahead with the
2) According
to
information
released
by
Indias
power
regulator
Central
Electricity
Regulatory Commission (CERC),
around
what
percentage
of
countrys total power generation
capacity is contributed by diesel
gensets (generators)? Around
36%
information released by CERC
during August 2014, millions of
diesel
generator
(DG)
sets
working to meet the shortage in
industrial and commercial units
now add up to a cumulative
capacity of 90,000 MW or around
36% of countrys current installed
generation capacity. Taking into
account domestic loadrunning on
gensets, would take this figure to
beyond 90,000 MW. That figure is
nearly equal to what was Indias
total installed power generation
CURRENT AFFAIRS
40
capacity just over a decade ago

(March 2002). According to CERC
data, DG capacity is growing at a
rate of 5,000 MW to 8,000 MW
every year. That is higher than
the cumulative nuclear and solar
capacities being added year-onyear in the country.
Page
meeting with the separatist

leader Shabbir Shah, the leader of
Jammu and Kashmir Democratic
Freedom Party (JKDFP). Sujatha
Singh was to travel to Islamabad
on 25 August 2014 to hold talks
with her Pakistani counterpart
Aizaz Chaudhry, nearly two years
after the Indo-Pak talks were
stalled due to incidents along the
LoC.
3) Who was nominated as the

Parliamentary Party leader of the
AIADMK on 18 August 2014
following the election of M
Thambidurai as Deputy Speaker
of the Lok Sabha? P Venugopal
Explanation : P. Venugopal, a
two-time Lok Sabha MP from
Tiruvallur (reserved) constituency,
will be AIADMK Parliamentary
Party leader and the floor leader
of the party in Lok Sabha. A
Navaneethakrishnan, Rajya Sabha
MP and former Advocate-General,
will be the Deputy Parliamentary
Party leader and the floor leader
in the Rajya Sabha. AIADMK has
the third largest MPs in the Lok
Sabha after the BJP and Congress.
4) WikiLeaks
founder
Julian
Assange on 18 August 2014 said
that he will soon leave the
Ecuadorian Embassy he has been
holed up for nearly two years to
5) Who will head the Indian

contingent as the Chef-de-Mission
for
the
oncoming
17th Asian
Games to be held at Incheon,
South Korea during Sep-Oct
2014? Adille Sumariwala
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
CURRENT AFFAIRS
41
Explanation : Julian Assange,

whose
website
WikiLeaks
published classified 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 will
be arrested if he leaves the
building. Scotland Yard officers
have been stationed outside the
building round-the-clock for two
years now. Reports suggest that
he has developed life-threatening
ailments
that
require
hospitalisation.
Page
avoid his arrest. He has been

living
in
which
countrys
Ecuadorian Embassy which he
wants to leave now? Britain
with 12 medals (5 gold, 2 silver

and 5 bronze) coming from
athletics.
6) With 16,100 MW wind power

produced in 2013, China was
ranked World top wind power
producing country in the recently
released Renewables 2014 Global
Status Report. What was Indias
rank in this report? 5th
Explanation : India added 1,700
MW wind producing capacity in
year 2013 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.
7) Who was the founder of the

Jharkhand Disom Party (JDP)
which merged with the BJP on 18
August 2014? Salkhan Murmu
Explanation : Jharkhand Disom
Party (JDP) was founded in 2002
by Salkhan Murmu, who was a
CURRENT AFFAIRS
42
Page
former MP of the BJP. It was

founded with the objective of
working for the rights of the
Adivasi
(tribal)
people
of
Jharkhand. The party was merged
with the BJP as it wants to fight
the next assembly elections in the
state under the banner of BJP.
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 their respective
states? Dayanidhi Maran
Explanation : Dayanidhi Maran,
the then Telecom Minister in
2004, had asked the DoT to
merge Chennai service area with
Tamil
Nadu,
Mumbai
with
Maharashtra and Kolkata with
West Bengal so that customers
are not required to pay roaming
charges within a state. Later,
plans for merger of Uttar Pradesh
West and East were also taken up.
However, in 2005, only Chennai
was merged with Tamil Nadu.
August 20, 2014

August 2014 and due to which
various sections of the state were
scared
and
apprehensive?
Samagra Kutumbh Survey
or
Intensive
Household
Survey

controversial survey conducted
by the Telangana Government
throughout the state on 19
Explanation :
The
Intensive
Household Survey, completed in
one day across Telangana, was to
identify genuine beneficiaries of
government welfare measures.
The surveyors sought to see bank
account details and the Aadhar
card.
The
government
had

(RBI)
on
18
August
2014
constituted a 15-member interregulatory committee to monitor
the growing phenomenon of
shadow banking. Who has been
appointed as the Chairman of this
committee?
P.
Vijaya
Bhaskar (Executive Director, RBI)
CURRENT AFFAIRS
43
Page
declared holidays under the

Shops and Establishment Act.
Residents of Telangana, especially
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
the Hyderabad High Court about
validity of the survey. The High
Court on 14 August 2014
permitted
the
Telangana
government to go ahead with the
survey on the assurance of the
states Advocate General that the
exercise was not mandatory and
denizens could choose not to
answer
the
queries
of
enumerators. The survey was
conducted across the ten districts
in the state with the help of four
lakh government employees and
a huge team of outsourced
enumerators in the state.
Explanation : Shadow banking

refers to banking-like activity by
non-banking finance companies
(NBFCs) that remain outside the
regulatory net. They generally
operate
as
intermediaries
between investors and borrowers.
The role of this newly constituted
committee will be to find out the
volume of money in shadow
banks, who the investors are and
direction of the money flow, etc.
Also real estate dealings will be
looked into very meticulously by
the committee. The 15-member
committee comprises of officials
of the RBI, Securities and
Exchange Board of India (SEBI),
Central Economic Intelligence
Bureau and the National Housing
Bank (NHB).
3) A Manipur court on 19 August

2014 ordered the release of
Manipuri woman Irom Sharmila,
who has staged a 14-year hunger
strike in protest at human rights
abuses in Manipur. She began her
fast on 4 November 2000 after
witnessing the killing of 10 people
by the army at a bus stop near
her home in Manipur. Her protests
against the abuses allegedly
committed by security forces are
subject of which law, which has
been opposed in the state?

Mission Director of the Direct
Benefits Transfer (DBT) Scheme,
who resigned from the post
during
August
2014?
S.
Sundareshan
Explanation : Sundareshan was
a 1976 batch IAS officer of Kerala
cadre and was appointed Mission
Director, Direct Benefits Transfer
Scheme, in June 2013. The reason
for his resignation was not
disclosed. The much touted DBT
programme was rolled-out by the
previous UPA government on 1
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Explanation : Sharmila, known

as the Iron Lady of Manipur for
her unwavering and non-violent
protest, has refused food and
water for almost 14 years to draw
attention to abuses allegedly
committed by security forces, a
subject which comes under the
purview of the AFSPA. The AFSPA,
which covers large parts of
northeastern India and Kashmir,
gives security forces sweeping
powers to search, enter property
and shoot-on-sight and is seen by
critics as cover for human rights
abuses.
44
Special
Page
Armed
Forces
Powers Act (AFSPA)
January 2013, for transferring

subsidies of various welfare
schemes through the Aadhaarlinked
platform.
The
UPA
government had also initiated
transfer of LPG subsidy through
DBT from 1 June 2013, under
which consumers are paid cash
subsidy to help them buy LPG
cylinders at market price.
Team Director of the Indian
cricket team by the BCCI on 19
August 2014 for the upcoming
ODI series against England, a
decision which virtually sidelined
Chief Coach Duncan Fletcher?
Ravi Shastri, Former Indian
cricketer and captain
Explanation : While Fletcher will
continue as the head coach of the
team, the shake-up is a clear
indication that his wings will be
clipped. Under pressure to act
after
Indias
disastrous
performance in the Test series,
the BCCI also appointed former
players Sanjay Bangar and Bharat
Arun as assistant coaches and R.
Sridhar as the fielding coach as it
revamped the team management.
BCCI also gave a break to
bowling coach Joe Dawes and
fielding coach Trevor Penny for
the upcoming ODI series.
CURRENT AFFAIRS
45
Page
August 21, 2014
1) World-renowned Yoga guru

B.K.S. Iyengar passed away at a
Pune hospital on 20 August 2014
at the age of 96 years. He was
considered one of the foremost
Yoga teachers in the world and
founded the style of yoga known
as Iyengar Yoga. Iyegar is
credited with providing global
popularity to Yoga with his
unusual style. What is the name
of the iconic book written by him
which is considered as the Bible
of Modern Yoga? Light on
Yoga
Explanation : B.K.S Iyengar (full

name
Bellur
Krishnamachar
Sundararaja 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.
He
was
awarded the Padma Vibhushan,
Indias second highest civilian
award, during the Republic Day
celebrations earlier this year.
2) Who is heading high-level

committee
to
recommend
restructuring of Food Corporation
of India (FCI) that was constituted
by the Union Government on 20
August 2014? Shanta Kumar
Explanation : Shanta Kumar is
the former Chief Minister of
Himachal
Pradesh
and
is
presently a Lok Sabha MP of the
BJP. The committee will mainly
study
various
models
of
3) Which international finance

entity launched a $2.5-billion
onshore
Indian
rupee
bond
programme on 20 August 2014 so
as to strengthen the capital
market and support infrastructure
development
in
India?
International
Finance
Corporation (IFC)
Explanation : IFC is a member of
the World Bank Group. It finances
and provides advice for private
sector ventures and projects in
developing
countries
in
partnership
with
domestic
financial institutions and banks.
Under
the
rupee
bond
programme, IFC will use a
combination
of
rupeedenominated bonds and swaps to
raise local currency financing of
up to $2.5 billion or Rs. 15,000
crore over the next five years.
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restructuring or unbundling of FCI

to
improve
its
operational
efficiency
and
financial
management as well as measures
for
overall
improvement
in
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.
Proceeds from the programme will

be
used
for
infrastructure
investments in India.
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?
Dena Bank and Oriental
Bank of Commerce (OBC)
Explanation :
According
to
media reports, a Mumbai-based
branch manager of Dena Bank
mobilised fixed deposits (FDs),
using middlemen, to the tune of
Rs 256.5 crore from seven
corporates, while in the case of
OBC, misappropriation of funds to
the tune of Rs. 180 crore was
reported. In the wake of rising
scams in public sector banks, the
Finance Ministry is looking at
various
steps,
including
strengthening
of
risk
management, appointment of
bank chiefs for longer tenures,
separation of posts and better
quality
of
nominee
and
independent directors.
5) Who took over as the fourth
Deputy Governor of the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) during July
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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.
Before taking this responsibility at
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2014? Subhash Sheoratan

Mundra (S.S. Mundra)
RBI, Mundra was the Chairman

and Managing Director (CMD) of
the public-sector bank Bank of
Baroda (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

ambitious e-governance project of
the Union Govt., which was
approved by the Union Cabinet on
20 August 2014 and which aims
to
ensure
that
government
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 latest information and
communication
technology.
Digital India project envisages
bringing all the existing initiatives
such as the Ebiz project, E-kranti,
virtual classroom, e-visas and the
National Optical Fibre Network
project under a single umbrella.
Other
programmes
include
implementation of e-office to
make Government departments
paperless, encouraging domestic
manufacturing
of
electronic
products
and
kick
starting
Research & Development and
entrepreneurship
development
fund. The project was unveiled in
the Budget 2014-15 and is being
directly monitored by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
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2) Who was chosen as the next

Prime Minister of Thailand by
countrys
junta-appointed
legislature on 21 August 2014?
General Prayuth Chan-ocha
Explanation : General Prayuth
Chan-ocha is due to retire from
the army during September 2014
and was the only candidate put
forward for the post of Prime
Minister. He served as de facto
premier since toppling the elected
govt. of Yingluck Shinawatra on
22 May 2014. Thai legislatures
choice of Gen. Prayuth as next
Prime Minister will now be
endorsed by Thai King Bhumibol
Adulyadej as a mere formality.
American journalist who was
killed by the militants of the
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) by beheading, as shown in a
video released by the militants on
19 August 2014? James Foley
Explanation : The militants of
the Islamic State had released a
horrific video which contained the
beheading of 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.

Punjabi film, the slated release of
which on 22 August 2014 was
stopped by the Union Govt. on 21
August
2014?
Kaum
De
Heere
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 of law and order
problems in parts of the country.
The
decision
was
taken
collectively by the Information
and Broadcasting Ministry, Home
Ministry and the Central Board of
Film Certification (CBFC) after
watching the movie. The film is
reportedly based on the lives of
the assassins of the late Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi Beant
Singh, Satwant Singh and Kehar
Singh and is alleaged to glorify
their act.
5) Which 5 Indian companies
were listed among Forbes list of
the Worlds 100 Most Innovative
Companies
released
on
20
August
2014?
Hindustan
Unilever,
Tata
Consultancy
Services (TCS), Larsen &
Toubro (L&T), Sun Pharma
Industries and Bajaj Auto
Explanation : Hindustan Unilever
was listed at 14th place and in the
list and was followed by TCS
(57th place), L&T (58th place), Sun
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Pharma Industries (65thplace) and

Bajaj Auto (96th place) among
Indian companies. The list has
been topped by California-based
global cloud computing company
Salesforce for the fourth year in a
row. Forbes Worlds 100 Most
Innovative Companies is based
on innovation premium, which is a
measure of how much investors
have bid up the stock price of a
company above the value of its

existing
business
based
on
expectations of future 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.
August 23-24, 2014
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 was
commissioned into the Indian
Navy by Defence Minister Arun
Jaitley at Vishakhapatnam on 23
August. The first indigenouslybuilt stealth was handed over to

Indian Navy by Garden Reach
Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd.
(GRSE) earlier on 12 July 2014.
GRSE is a public-sector ship
building enterprise
and
has
manufactured INS Kamorta. The
ship will be based at the
Vishakhapatnam-based
Eastern
Command of Indian Navy.
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 the liquor policy of the
government, decided to bring in
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
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3) Indias capital market regulator

SEBI on 22 August 2014 ordered
which NBFC entity to refund the
money raised from some 58.5
million
customers
through
collective investment schemes
(CIS)? Pearls Agrotech Corp.
Ltd
Explanation : Delhi-based Pearls
Agrotech
operates
from
15
regional offices and had 3.35
million field associates in 201112. SEBI found Pearls 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.
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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.
Explanation
: U.R.
Ananthamurthy (full 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 languages and have
been awarded with important
literary prizes.
(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 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
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certain special products which

are specifically designed for
members of a target market
group or may use defensible,
commercially
acceptable
economic
rationale
for
discriminating
between
customers
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and conditions that are in

simple
language,
easily
understandable,
and
with
sufficient information that the
customer could be reasonably
expected
to
make
an
appropriate choice of product
The
financial
services
provider may, however, have
August 25, 2014

(RBI) during August 2014 notified
that the two-step authentication
for
credit
card
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 customerfriendly
payment
model
followed by certain service
providers
Explanation : The toughening

RBI
stance
on
two-step
authentication
process
is
primarily aimed to set right an
unintended wrong arising out of
the so-called customer-friendly
payment model followed by
certain service providers. By
doing so, they have managed to
give the two-step authentication
requirement 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
a hassle-free payment process.
2) History was created at Delhis
prestigious St. Stephens College
3) Maharashtra
Governor
K.
Sankaranarayanan on 24 August
2014 quit the office consequent
to his transfer from Maharashtra.
He was transferred to which state
as its next Governor? Mizoram
Explanation :
K.
Sankaranarayanan
was
transferred from Maharashtra to
Mizoram on the same day. He was
also the only Governor appointed
by the Congress-led UPA to
openly come out against the
manner in which the Modi
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on 23 August 2014 as student

from the Hindi medium was
elected president of its students
union. What is the name of this
student
who
achieved
this
success despite his humble
background
for
a
college
traditionally known as college of
the elite? Rohit Kumar Yadav
Explanation :
Rohit
Kumar
Yadav, is the son of Harish Yadav,
who works 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.
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.
Government
sought
his
resignation.
He
took
strong
exception to the Union Home
Secretarys action seeking his
resignation.
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
tobacco-to-consumer
goods
conglomerate. Releasing the third
annual list of 45 most admired
companies in India for the year
2014,
Forbes
magazine
announced there are as many as
19 new entities on the list
including GMR Infra, Shapoorji
Pallonji,
Idea
Cellular, BSES
Rajdhani Limited, Cognizant and
Abbott Pharma. In the latest list
for the year 2014, ITC is followed
by engineering and infrastructure
major L&T, Hindustan Unilever,
carmaker Maruti Suzuki and
public sector bank SBI among the
top five most admired companies
in India. In comparison, the list for
2013 was topped by TCS, followed
by HUL, ITC, Infosys and SBI at in
the top-five. TCS has moved down
to the sixth position this year. The
rankings are based on a survey of
over 1,500 companies as per
responses from the top industry
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American teenaged swimmer who
broke her own womens 1500 m
freestyle World Record on 23
August 2014? Katie Ledecky
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
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executives, including on the basis

of peer group response.
Championships being held in Gold

Coast, Australia.
6) Who won the Belgian F1 Grand
Prix held on 24 August 2014?
Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull
team
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 lead over
his teammate Lewis Hamilton
(Great Britain) for 2014s F1 title.
August 26, 2014
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
knowledge
being
implemented
by
Google?
Knowledge Vault
Explanation : Knowledge Vault
will be a type of knowledge base
or
a
system
that
stores
information so that machines as
well as people can read it.
Googles
existing
knowledge
base, called Knowledge Graph
relies
on
crowd-sourcing
to
expand its information. However,
humans could only take it so far
so Google decided to automate
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2) In an important development,
the Supreme Court on 25 August
2014 declared all coal block
allocations made from 1993 to
2011 illegal and arbitrary. How
many coal block allocations stand
cancelled with this order? 218
Explanation : While pulling up
the Centre on this issue, the SC
Bench elaborated that the entire
allocation of 218 coal blocks as
recommended by the Screening
Committee from 14 July 1993, in
36 meetings and the allocation
made through the government
dispensation 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
be
considered on 1 September 2014
taking
into
account
the
investments made by companies
for various projects and the
procedure to be adopted for
cancellation. In February 2012,
the court had also ordered the
cancellation
of
spectrum
allocations and directed fresh
auction.
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the process and undertake a new

project called Knowledge Vault.
Knowledge Vault has pulled in
1.6 billion facts to date.
3) The results of the by-elections

in 18 Assembly constituencies in
Bihar, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh
and Karnataka came as a setback
for the ruling National Democratic
Alliance (NDA) as Congress-led
opposition scored a major win
over NDA. How many seats were
won by Congress and its allies?
10
Explanation : Congress and its
allies won 10 out of 18 Assembly
constituencies where by-elections
were held during August 2014.
Remaining 8 seats were won by
BJP and its allies. The so-called
Grand-Alliance
of
RJD-JDUCongress in Bihar won 6 out of 10
seats while BJP won and its allies
won the remaining 4 seats. In
Karnataka Congress secured win
in 2 assembly constituencies
while 1 seat went into BJPs fold.
In Punjab, Congress and the ruling
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) shared
one seat each while in Madhya
Pradesh BJP won 2 and Congress
got 1 seat.
4) French
President
Francois
Hollande
dissolved
the
government on 25 August 2014
and
after
accepting
the
resignation of Prime Minister
Manuel Valls and ordering him to
form a new government by 26
August. What was the main
reason for resignation of Manuel
Valls Socialist government? The
5) Renowned Actor-Director Sir

Richard
Attenborough
passed
away at the age of 90 on 24
August 2014. As the Director of
much-lauded
Gandhi
he
became an unflagging pillar to
British cinema. In which year his
film Gandhi won 8 Oscar
awards to etch its name in the
history of film making? 1982
Explanation : He won the 1982
Academy Award (Oscar) for Best
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issue of countrys stagnant

economy
Explanation : France has had
effectively no economic growth
this year and President Hollandes
approval ratings are at an all-time
low. The country is under pressure
from the European Union (EU) to
get its finances in order.
Director and the Academy Award

for Best Picture for Gandhi.
Apart from his film-making talent,
Richard Attenborough was a
prolific actor too. In his 60-plus
years of acting, he amassed some
70
acting
credits,
including
Brighton Rock, The Great
Escape, Doctor Dolittle, 10
Rillington Place, Jurassic Park
(as the failed theme park
developer) and the 1994 remake
of
Miracle
on
34th Street.
(Naturally, he played Kris Kringle.)
He was a constant advocate 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 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 part of the
partnership, about 1,000 homes
across projects in cities like
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 decision-making body, on
26 August 2014. The 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 Home
Minister Rajnath Singh. What is
the
name
of
this
newly
constituted
panel?
Margadarshak Mandal
Explanation : The trio of Atal
Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani and
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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.
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Mumbai,
Pune,
Ahmedabad,
Bangalore and Chennai will be put
up for sale on Snapdeal. These
houses are priced between Rs.
18-70 lakh and range from 1 BHK
to 3 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 as well.
3) Which four persons were

named as the new Governors of
the four states of Rajasthan,
Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa
by the President on 26 August
2014?
Kalyan
Singh
(Rajasthan), C. Vidyasagar
Rao (Maharashtra), Vajubhai
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 is a
former
BJP
Mahila
Morcha
president Mridula Sinha. On the
other hand Manipur Governor
Vinod Kumar Duggal will continue
to hold additional charge of
Mizoram
until
regular
arrangement for the office is
made.
Explanation : Chabad House is

the name of a Jewish centre in
South Mumbai was left bulletridden and bereft of its directors
Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his
pregnant wife Rivky, who were
both killed in the siege. They were
among 166 people killed in the
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-storey Chabad
House has a synagogue, a
cafeteria and a function room for
the Jewish community. The top
two floors, due to be turned into a
museum, have been left bearing
the damage from bullets and
grenades as a reminder of the
tragedy.
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4) What is the name of the Jewish

centre in Mumbai that reopened
on 26 August 2014, nearly six
years
after
heavily-armed
Pakistani terrorists stormed the
building and killed six people
inside
during
the
infamous
terrorist
attacks
of
2008?
Chabad House
5) What is the name of the probe

launched by American space
agency NASA which passed
Neptunes orbit on 25 August
2014? New Horizons
Explanation : New Horizons
was launched on 19 January 2006
from Cape Canaveral to study the
dwarf planet Pluto, its moons and
one or two Kuiper Belt objects. It
is scheduled to pass through the
Pluto system on 14 July 2015. The
probe
craft
passed
through
Neptunes orbit nearly 25 years
after
Voyager
2
spacecraft
executed the first-ever flyby of
faraway Neptune and its icy moon
Triton.
6) Sheila Dikshit tendered her

resignation on 26 August 2014 as
the Governor of which state?
Kerala
Explanation : The former Delhi
chief minister Sheila Dikshit was
appointed the Governor of Kerala
by the UPA-II government about
five months ago. She thus
became the eighth Governor to
have resigned since the Narendra
Modi government came to power
on 26 May 2014.
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August 28, 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 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
15. The move will benefit over 5

crore subscribers across the
country. What is this retained rate
of interest? 8.75% per annum
58
7) The trustees of the Employees

Provident
Fund
Organisation
(EPFO) on 26 August 2014
retained the rate of interest on
provident fund deposits for 2014-
website from 27-31 August for

travel during 27 August to 30
September 2014.
2) 19th Rajiv
Gandhi
National
Quality Awards for the year 2012
were
announced
by
Union
Minister for Consumer Affairs,
Food and Public Distribution Ram
Vilas Paswan on 26 August 2014.
Which organisation has won the
highest prize under this Award
category? 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
3) What is the name of the U.S.

citizen who came to limelight for
being the first American jihadi to
have died in Syria while fighting
for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS), a terrorist outfit that has
gained control of large parts of
Syria
and
Iraq?
Douglas
McAuthur McCain
Britain-based Syrian Observatory
for
Human
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.
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Page
59
encouraging
Indian
manufacturing
and
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
made personal investments in
which
online
marketplace
company? Snapdeal.com
Explanation : Snapdeal is the
second largest online marketplace
in India after Flipkart.com. The
company has raised about $400
million since its inception and has
invested about $100 million in
logistics and operations to expand
its presence in the $3 billion
Indian
e-Commerce
market.
Snapdeal currently houses over 5
million products across 500
diverse categories from over
50,000 sellers. Snapdeal claims
that it had seen 600% growth
year-on-year for the last two
years.
5) The USB Implementers Forum

(UIF) has come up 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
Explanation : USB stands for
Universal Serial Bus, an industry
CURRENT AFFAIRS
60
Page
standard developed in the mid1990s that defines the cables,

connectors and communications
protocols used in a bus for
connection, communication, and
power supply between computers
and electronic devices. The first
USB standard was 1.0 which was
introduced in January 1996. The
USB 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
10Gbps data transfer rates. That
means a full movie can be
transferred in a single second,
theoretically.
August 29-30, 2014

George. This event laid the
foundation of the modern city of
Madras, which slowly started
building up around Fort St.
George. The city thus completed
375 years of its establishment
during August 2014.
1) The city of Chennai celebrated
its landmark anniversary during
August 2014. What landmark
anniversary is this? 375th
Explanation :
The
city
of
Chennai (previously known as
Madras)
celebrated
its
th
375 anniversary on 22 August
2014. The city was established on
22 August 1639 as on this date
the East India Company acquired
a small piece of land from the
king of Chandragiri (Peda Venkata
Raya) for establishing Fort St.
2) What is the most important

recommendation of the Kelkar
Committee on gas pricing, as
disclosed in the second report of
the committee presented during
August 2014? Domestic gas
prices should be linked to the
market
Explanation : The committee to
recommend a new gas-pricing
formula was constituted in 2013
under former Finance Secretary
Vijay Kelkar. The suggestion of
market-linked pricing for domestic
3) 2nd Summer Youth Olympics

concluded at Chinas Nanjing city
on 28 August 2014. Which
country topped 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 65 medals. Russia
was second with 27 gold medals
and the United States was third
with 10 gold medals. The second
edition
of
Summer
Youth
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).
4) To strengthen warehousing
facilities in the commodity futures
market,
regulator
Forward
Markets Commission (FMC) has
CURRENT AFFAIRS
61
Page
natural gas came after a series of

consultations by the committee.
The
committee
in
its
recommendations
said
that
natural resources should be
priced at the highest price
possible in the market, based on
market-determined pricing. This
will ensure energy security for the
country by encouraging domestic
exploration
and
production,
efficient use of the resource and
reduction in the import burden.
The first report of this committee
was brought out in January 2014.
come out with which important

proposal during August 2014?
Uniform norms should be
established
for
the
accreditation of warehousing
service providers
Explanation : The draft rules, on
which 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
commodity
exchanges
for
accreditation
of
warehousing
service providers (WSPs).
5) The Central Board of Direct
Taxes (CBDT) on 28 August 2014
constituted
a
high-level
committee
to
scrutinise
all
income tax cases arising out of
the retrospective tax amendment.
Which govt. official heads this
committee? TheJoint Secretary
of the Foreign Tax and Tax
Research Unit -1 of CBDT
Explanation :
The
announcement
about
this
mechanism was announced by
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his
Budget 2014-15 speech on 10 July
2014. According to the terms of
reference for the new committee,
CURRENT AFFAIRS
62
August 31, 2014
income tax department which is

perceived higher by the company
being assessed, charged higher
due to some unknown reasons.
Page
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
2) India and Japan signed a

Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) 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
country on 30 August 2014 on his
first bilateral foreign visit outside
South Asia after becoming Prime
Minister? Japan
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 in
several key fields such as
defence,
civil
nuclear
and
infrastructure besides commerce.
Explanation : Under the signed

MOU a Smart Heritage Cities
Programme
would
be
implemented in Varanasi. Under
this programme Kyoto will provide
cooperation in the fields of
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.
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
CURRENT AFFAIRS
63
Explanation :
Prof.
Bipan
Chandra was considered to be a
specialist
in
economic
and
political history of India. He wrote
several
authentic
books
on
modern Indian history including
The Rise and Growth of Economic
Nationalism, In the 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 Commission
(UGC) and the Chairman of the
National Book Trust (NBT). His
text books on History have been
taught in schools and colleges in
the country for a long time.
Page
3) Prof. Bipan Chandra, who

passed away on 30 August 2014,
was a renowned academician
associated with which field?
History
30 August 2014. Which player

defeated Sindhu in this match?
Carolina Marin of Spain
Explanation : 9th seeded Carolina
Marin defeated P.V. Sindhu by 2117, 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.
5) What is the GDP growth rate of

India during the first quarter
(April-June) of 2014-15, which is
the best growth rate in around
ten quarters? 5.7%
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 GDP
at factor cost at constant (20042005) prices for Q1 of 2014-15 is
estimated at Rs14.38 lakh crore,
as against Rs13.61 lakh crore in
Q1 of 2013-14, showing a growth
CURRENT AFFAIRS
64
Page
rate
of
5.7%
over
the
corresponding quarter of previous
year. The economic activities
which
registered
significant
growth in Q1 of 2014-15 over Q1
of 2013-14 are electricity, gas &
water supply at 10.2%, financing,

insurance,
real
estate
and
business services at 10.4% and
community, social and personal
services at 9.1%.
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Explanation : The official name

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the Communist Party of Nepal to

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3) What important notification

Explanation : Justice Chellur was

2) Who on 5 August 2014 took

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4) On 4 August 2014 what

5) Which company during the

handset market (smartphones,

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