GENERAL AWARENESS

MARCH 2017
Vol. 5, Issue 09

A PUBLICATION OF GYANM EDUCATION &

TRAINING INSTITUTE PVT. LTD.
SCO 13-14-15, 2ND FLOOR, SEC 34-A, CHANDIGARH

Contents
CURRENT AFFAIRS
BUDGET 2017-18
01-40
NOV 2016 TO JAN 2017
BULLET NEWS
41-57
AUG 2016 TO OCT 2016
LATEST 100 GK MCQs 58-64

IBPS PO PRE MODEL PAPER 65-76

CURRENT GK BYTES 77-100

FIGURES TO REMEMBER UNION BUDGET 2017-18

REPO RATE (04.10.2016) 6.25%  In this year’s budget, India has moved from a discretionary-based
REVERSE REPO RATE 5.75% administration to a policy and system-based administration. We are
MARGINAL STANDING 6.75% moving from informal to formal economy. The government’s agenda for
FACILITY RATE next year is to Transform, Energise and Clean India.
STATUTORY LIQUIDITY RATIO 20.75%  Budget presentation has been advanced to help begin implementation of
CASH RESERVE RATIO 4.00% schemes before the onset of monsoon. Plan, non-plan classification of
BANK RATE 6.75%
expenditure has been done away with this budget to give a holistic picture.
BASE RATE(s) 9.30 to
(of various banks) 9.65%
The merger of railway budget with the Union budget is a historic milestone
this year.
INDIA’s RANK IN  Besides, a massive war on black money has been launched. Demonetisation
Global Index of Talent Competitiveness 92nd will help in transfer of resources from tax evaders to the government. It
Global Wind Power Index 4th will also lead to higher tax revenue.
ICT Development Index 138th
Gender Gap Index 87th
AGRICULTURE AND RURAL SECTOR
Youth Development Index 133rd
 Total allocation for Rural, Agriculture and Allied sectors is Rs 1, 87, 223
Ease of Doing Business (World Bank) 130th crores
Global Hunger Index 97th  The govt is committed to double farm income in next five years.
World Economic Freedom Index 112th  Agricultural credit from banks targeted at Rs 10 lakh crore
World Risk Index 77th  A model law for contract farming to be adopted
Human Capital Index 105th  Mini labs by qualified local entrepreneurs to be set up for soil testing in all
Sustainable Development Goals 110th 648 Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the country.
Networked Readiness Index 91st  Rs 5,000 crore allocated for ‘per drop more crop’ scheme.
Global Retail Development Index 02nd  Coverage of National Agricultural Market (e-NAM) to be expanded from
Ranking in Total Wealth 07th 250 markets to 585 APMCs.
Ranking in Attracting FDI 10th  NABARD to manage computerisation and integration of all 63,000
Global Peace Index 141st functional Primary
Good Country Index 70th
 Agriculture Credit Societies with the Core Banking System of District
Renewable Energy Index 3rd
Central Cooperative Banks
World Press Freedom Index 133rd
Rank in Manufacturing Countries 6th
 In a highest ever allocation, Rs 48,000 crore allocated to MNREGA. Assets
World Happiness Index 118th under MNREGA will be geo-tagged to contribute to transparency.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 1

 One crore households to be brought out of poverty  2 news AIIMS to be opened in Gujarat and
and 50,000 Gram Panchayats to be made poverty Jharkhand
free by 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi  Aadhaar based smart cards having health details for
ji senior citizens
 100% village electrification by May, 2018  Under Maternity Benefit Scheme, Rs 6,000 each will
 Rs 23,000 crore for Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – be transferred directly to the bank accounts of
Gramin to construct 1 crore houses by 2019 pregnant women who undergo institutional
delivery and vaccinate their children
EDUCATION
RAILWAYS

 Emphasis on science education and curriculum

design
 Innovation fund will be created for secondary
education
 Colleges will be identified on accreditation.
 Capital and development expenditure on railways to
 Swayam platform to be launched where students
be Rs 1, 31, 000 crore.
can access courses by best faculty, take test and
 The Railways Safety Fund to be set up with an
access academic grades.
allocation of Rs 1 lakh crore over 5 years.
 National Testing Agency will be established which
 Railway lines of 3,500 kms will be commissioned in
will conduct national level examination to free CBSE
2017-18.
etc from holding these exams.
 Unmanned crossings will be eliminated by 2020.
 25 stations identified for redevelopment.
EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY  Waste-to-energy plants will be set up at New Delhi
and Jaipur stations
 Allocation for women and children raised to Rs
 500 stations to get lifts, escalators to make them
1,84,632 crore
friendly to the differently-abled
 Five special tourism zones will be set up which will
 Solar power to be used in 2000 stations
be structured as special purpose vehicles.
 By 2019, bio toilets will be available in all trains
 There will be schemes for employment in textile,
 Service charge on e-ticket to be withdrawn
leather and footwear sectors.
 2000 km of coastal roads have been identified for
 Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for
development
Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) programme to be
 Coach Mitra facility to redress grievances related to
launched at a cost of Rs. 4000 crore to provide
rail coaches.
market relevant training to 3.5 crore youth
 Railway public sector undertakings (PSUs)—Indian
 Mahila Shakti Kendra will be set up with an
Railway Catering and Tourism Corp. (IRCTC), Indian
allocation of Rs. 500 crore in 14 lakh ICDS
Railway Construction Co. Ltd (IRCON) and Indian
Anganwadi Centres.
Railway Finance Corp. Ltd (IRFC) to be listed on
 New rules regarding medical devices will be
stock exchange.
formulated

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 2

 INFRASTRUCTURE  PM Mudra Yojana - lending target raised to Rs 2.44
lakh crores, with a focus on Dalits, minorities,
backward and women
 Aadhar-enabled payment system to be launched
soon
 A Computer Emergency Response Team for our
Financial Sector (CERT-Fin) will be established.

DEFENCE

 Rs. 3.96 lakh crore, the highest ever allocation made

for infrastructure sector, including Rs. 97,000 crore
for the road sector.
 The Foreign Investment Promotion Board will be
abolished
 Allocation of Rs10,000 crore for Bharat Net project
for providing high-speed broadband
 A DigiGaon initiative will be launched to provide
tele-medicine, education and skills through digital
technology
 Expenditure excluding pensions fixed at Rs 2.74
lakh crore
EASE OF DOING BUSINESS
 A Centralised Defence Travel System to be
 No long term capital gains from transfer of
developed through which travel tickets can be
immovable property, if transferred after 2 years.
booked online by our soldiers and officers
 Under the scheme for profit-linked income tax
deduction for promotion of affordable housing,
carpet area instead of built up area of 30 and 60
TAXATION
sq.mtr. will be counted.  Only 24 lakh people declared an income above Rs.
 Income tax for companies with annual turnover up 10 lakh in 2016 - 17. Out of the 4.2 crore salaried
to Rs 50 crore reduced to 25% people, only 1.7 crore file tax returns
 Allowable provision for Non-Performing Asset of  Tax for smaller companies with turnover up to Rs.
Banks increased from 7.5% to 8.5%. 50 crore will be reduced by 5 percent
 No transaction above Rs. 3 lakh would be permitted  No capital gain if you sell your house after 2 years
in cash subject to certain exceptions  No cash transactions above Rs. 3 lakh.
 Threshold limit for audit of business entities who  Max amount of cash donation a political party can
opt for presumptive income scheme increased to Rs receive in cash reduced to Rs 2000 from earlier
Rs. 2 crore. limit of Rs 20,000 from one source
 Income tax rate on income from Rs.2.5 lakh to Rs. 5
lakh reduced to 5 percent, from the earlier 10 per
BANKING
cent.
 Allocation of Rs. 10,000 crore towards  Income up to Rs 3 lakh to be tax free from earlier
recapitalisation of Public Sector Banks. 2.5 lakh
 A payment regulatory board to be set up by RBI to  10 percent surcharge on income between Rs. 50
regulate fintech companies like Paytm etc. lakh to 1 crore
 Law soon to attach assets of bank loan absconders  A single-page income tax return form for taxable
(like Vijay Mallya) income under Rs 5 lakh.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 3

 GOVT HOUSE KEEPING ( %) ECONOMIC SURVEY -2017-18
Rupee Comes From Rupee Goes To
Borrowings 19 Centrally Sponsored 10
Schemes
Corporate Tax 19 Plan Asst. to State / UTs 24
Income Tax 16 Finance Commission & 5
other Transfers
Customs Duties 9 Other-Plan Expenditure 13
Excise Duty 14 Central Sector Schemes 11
Service Tax 10 Interest Payments 18
Non-Tax Revenue 10 Defence 9
Non-Debit Capital 3 Subsidies 10
Receipt s THE HIGHLIGHTS
Total 100 Total 100
The Economic Survey is an important document that
summarises the economic status of the nation in the
KEY BUDGET FIGURES – 2017-18 current financial year and presents the expected
economic scenario in the next fiscal year.It is prepared
by chief economic adviser in the finance ministry
(Arvind Subramanian) and is presented in the
Parliament by the Finance Minister, a day before the
presentation of budget. Here are the highlights of the
Economic Survey 2016-17:
 Growth this fiscal to be 6.5 per cent, down from 7.6
per cent recorded in the last financial year.
 Growth in 2017-18 is expected to rebound in the
range of 6.75-7.5 per cent.
 Prescribes cuts in individual I-T rates, real estate
stamp duties
 Income Tax net could be widened gradually by
encompassing all high income earners
 Time table for cutting corporate tax should be
accelerated
 Tax administration could be improved to reduce
discretion and improve accountability
 Growth to return to normal as new currency comes
in circulation
 Demonetisation to affect growth rate by 0.25-0.5
per cent, but to have long-term benefits
 GST, other structural reforms should take the trend
growth rate to 8-10 per cent
 Fiscal windfall likely from Pradhan Mantri Garib
Kalyan Yojana, low oil prices
 Farm sector to grow at 4.1 per cent this fiscal, up
from 1.2 per cent last year
 Fiscal gains from GST will take time to realise
 Demonetisation may affect supplies of certain
agricultural products like sugar, milk, potatoes and
onions
*GDP for 2017-18 has been projected at Rs. 168.47 trillion.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 4

 Growth rate of industrial sector to moderate to 5.2 CONSOLIDATED FUND
per cent this fiscal, from 7.4 per cent in the last It is made up of all revenues received by the
fiscal year government, loans raised by it, and also its receipts from
 Efforts to collect taxes on disclosed and undisclosed recoveries of loans granted by it. All expenditure of the
wealth should not lead to tax harassment government is incurred from the Consolidated Fund and
 Universal Basic Income Scheme is an alternative to no amount can be withdrawn from the Fund without
plethora of state subsidies for poverty alleviation. authorisation from Parliament.

CONTINGENCY FUND
BUDGET GLOSSARY
It is an amount Rs 500 crore placed at the disposal of the
APPROPRIATION BILL President and is used by the government to incur all its
urgent and unforeseen expenditure. Parliamentary
It is presented to Parliament for its approval, so that the
approval for such expenditure and for withdrawal of an
government can withdraw from the Consolidated Fund equivalent amount from the Consolidated Fund is
the amounts required for meeting the expenditure subsequently obtained and the amount spent from the
charged on the Consolidated Fund. No amount can be Contingency Fund is recouped to the Fund.
withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund till the
Appropriation Bill is voted is enacted. EXPENDITURE BUDGET
It contains expenditure estimates made for a scheme or
CAPITAL BUDGET programme under both revenue and capital heads.
It consists of capital receipts and payments. It also These estimates are brought together and shown on a
net basis at one place by major heads.
incorporates transactions in the Public Account. It has
two components: Capital Receipt and Capital
FINANCE BILL
Expenditure.
This contains the government’s proposals for levy of
new taxes, modification of the existing tax structure or
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE continuance of the existing tax structure beyond the
It consists of payments for acquisition of assets like period approved by Parliament. It is submitted to
land, buildings, machinery, equipment, as also Parliament along with the Budget for its approval.
investments in shares etc, and loans and advances
granted by the Central government to state and union FISCAL CONSOLIDATION
territory governments, government companies, A policy aimed at reducing government deficits and debt
accumulation.
corporations and other parties.
FISCAL DEFICIT
CAPITAL RECEIPTS
It is the difference between the revenue receipts plus
The main items of capital receipts are loans raised by certain non-debt capital receipts and the total
the government from public which are called market expenditure including loans (net of repayments). This
loans, borrowings by the government from the Reserve indicates the total borrowing requirements of the
Bank of India and other parties through sale of Treasury government from all sources.
Bills, loans received from foreign governments and
bodies and recoveries of loans granted by the Central FISCAL POLICY
government to state and union territory governments The policy that decides the terms of government
and other parties. It also includes proceeds from expenditure and revenue collection (taxation) to ensure
best possible growth of the economy. It is the policy for
disinvestment of government equity in public
deciding the shape of govt budget.
enterprises.
FRBM ACT, 2003
CENTRAL PLAN The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act
It consists of the government’s budget support to the was enacted by Parliament in 2003 to bring in fiscal
Plan and the internal and extra budgetary resources discipline in the govt expenditure. The FRBM Rules
raised by public enterprises. impose limits on fiscal and revenue deficit. In the long
run, the fiscal deficit is required to be reduced to 3% of
the GDP.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 5
GOVERNMENT BORROWING persons and authorities who deposited them.
The money government borrows to fund public Parliamentary authorisation for payments from the
spending. It is the total amount of money that the Public Account is not required.
country's Government has borrowed to fund its
spending on public services and benefits. REVENUE BUDGET
It consists of the revenue receipts of the government
NON-PLAN EXPENDITURE (which is tax revenues plus other revenues) and the
It includes both revenue and capital expenditure on expenditure met from these revenues. It has two
interest payments, the entire defence expenditure (both components: Revenue Receipt and Revenue
revenue and capital expenditure), subsidies, postal Expenditure.
deficit, police, pensions, and economic services, loans to
public enterprises and loans as well as grants to state REVENUE EXPENDITURE
governments, union territory governments and foreign It is meant for the normal running of government
governments. departments and various services, interest charges on
debt incurred by the government and subsidies. Broadly
NON-TAX REVENUES speaking, expenditure which does not result in creation
Interest from loans to states, public bodies and PSUs is a of assets is treated as revenue expenditure. All grants
key item under this head. So are dividends from PSUs. given to state governments and other parties are also
The government also earns income from the services it treated as revenue expenditure even though some of the
provides. Though the Railways is a separate ministry, all grants may be for creation of assets.
its money is routed through the consolidated fund.
REVENUE RECEIPTS
PLAN EXPENDITURE It includes proceeds of taxes and other duties levied by
This is largely made up of the budget support to the the Centre, interest and dividend on investments made
central plan. It also comprises the amount the Centre by the government, fees and other receipts for services
rendered by the government. Excess of revenue
sets aside for plans of states & Union territories. Like all
expenditure over revenue receipts is called revenue
budget heads, this is also split into revenue and capital deficit.
components.
VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT)
PRIMARY DEFICIT It is a form of consumption tax. From the perspective of
If we deduct amount of interest payments from the the buyer, it is a tax on the purchase price. From that of
amount of fiscal deficit, we get the amount of Primary the seller, it is a tax only on the "value added" to a
Deficit. product, material or service, from an accounting point of
view, by this stage of its manufacture or distribution.
The manufacturer remits to the government the
PUBLIC DEBT
difference between these two amounts, and retains the
The government's borrowings are the burden of the rest for themselves to offset the taxes they had
people. The difference between borrowings and previously paid on the inputs.
repayments is the net accretion to the public
debt. Public debt can be split into two heads, internal
debt and external debt. The internal debt comprises
Treasury Bills, market stabilisation scheme, ways and
means advances, and securities against small savings.

PUBLIC ACCOUNT
It is an account in which money received through
transactions not relating to the Consolidated Fund is
kept. For example, transactions relating to provident
funds, small savings collections, other deposits etc.
Public Account funds do not belong to the government
and have to be paid back some time or the other to the
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 6
 PORTUGUESE PM VISIT INDIA
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa arrived in Goa
for a two-day trip. He was the chief guest for the 14th
Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas in Bengaluru. The two countries
signed seven agreements for mutual cooperation in
defence, marine research, besides some others.

NATIONAL NEWS INDIA 6TH MOST POWERFUL COUNTRY

In a list of eight great powers for the year 2017
JANUARY compiled by a leading American foreign policy
magazine, India has been ranked at sixth place. The list
INDIA CELEBRATES 68TH REPUBLIC DAY is topped by USA, followed by China and Japan jointly at
second place and Russia at third.

KYOTO PROTOCOL APPROVED

Union Cabinet has approved ratification of the 2nd
Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol on containing
emission of green house gases, for the period 2013-17.
Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997 and the 1st
commitment period was from 2008-2012. At Doha in
2012, the amendments to Kyoto Protocol for the 2nd
commitment period (the Doha Amendment) were
successfully adopted for the period 2013- 2020.

14TH PRAVASI BHARTIYA DIVAS

The PBD convention
68th Republic Day of India was celebrated all over India
was held in
with pomp and show. In New Delhi, President of India
Bengaluru from Jan 7
Mr. Pranab Mukherjee was given the military salute at
to 9. Prime Minister
the Raj Path. The Chief Guest of the event was the Crown
of Portugal Dr
Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al
Antonio Costa was
Nahyan. Indigenously built Tejas Light Combat Aircraft
the Chief Guest of the
and the Black Cat commandoes made the debut at the
PBD. The theme of 2017 PBS is “Redefined Engagement
parade. Another highlight of the event was the
with Indian Diaspora”. The convention started with the
participation of 149 member contingent from United
Youth PBD, the theme of which was ‘Role of Diaspora
Arab Emigrate (UAE).
Youth in the Transformation of India’. PBD convention is
This is for the first time that an indigenous fighter aircraft
a very important platform for engagement of the Central
has flown on Rajpath since Marut developd by Haindustan
and state governments with the Overseas Indian
Aeronautics Limited was showcased in 1960s.
Community.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is observed on 9th January every
CHIEF GUEST FOR REPUBLIC DAY year to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi as a
Pravasi from South Africa to India in 1915.

NO VOTES ON RELIGIOUS GROUNDS

A seven-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court
of India has ruled that no politician can seek the vote in
the name of caste, creed, religion, community or
language. Any candidate found violating the order, will
be disqualified. It held that the Constitution forbids the
country from mixing religion with politics.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme INDIA FARES POORLY IN DEVELOPMENT
Commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab As per the World Economic Forum’s Inclusive
Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan came Development Index, India has been ranked 60 among 79
to India to be the chief guest for India's 68th Republic developing economies. The index has three pillars --
Day celebrations. The two countries signed 14 growth and development, inclusion and
agreements for mutual cooperation. intergenerational equity, and sustainability.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 7
WAX MUSEUM IN DELHI  The 58th edition of India International Garment Fair
was held in New Delhi.
 The first edition of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union’s
International Television Dance Festival was held in
Hyderabad, Telangana.
 Prime Minister Modi released special commemorative
stamps on Prakash Parv to mark 350th birth
anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh in Patna on 5
January.
 Indian Space Research Organisation- ISRO and
French Space agency signed a partnership agreement
in satellite launch technology.
 Japan has decided to be associated with the
Madame Tussauds, the world famous museum of wax development of Chennai, Ahmedabad and Varanasi as
sculptures and one of London’s biggest tourist smart cities.
attractions, with 22 branches across the world, is set to  The International Conference on “Yoga for Diabetes”
open its 23rd branch at the landmark Regal Cinema in was held in New Delhi on January 4.
Delhi’s Connaught Place.  More than 111 crore people in India now have an
Aadhaar number, a number that covers more that
INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS HELD AT TIRPUATI 99% of the Indian adult population.
The 104th Indian Science Congress was hosted by the
Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati in Andhra
DECEMBER
Pradesh. The theme for the five-day event was ‘Science PRESIDENT OF KYRGYZSTAN COMES TO INDIA
and Technology for National Development’.

ANNUAL STATUS OF EDUCATION REPORT

The largest annual household survey in rural India,
Annual Status of Education Report-2016 was released in
New Delhi. It focuses on the status of children's
schooling and basic learning.

INDIA 92ND IN TALENT COMPETITIVENESS

As per the Global Index of Talent Competitiveness
compiled to measure how countries grow, attract and
retain talent, India has been placed at a low 92nd rank. President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Sharshenovich
The rankings are topped by Switzerland. Atambayev arrived in New Delhi on a four day state
visit. The two countries finalised plans for joint military
2016 - WARMEST YEAR SINCE 1901 exercises and reiterated the need for a global
Recent data released by the India Meteorological convention against terrorism.
Department (IMD) shows that 2016 was India's
warmest year ever since the documenting of
meteorological records began in 1901.
 2nd Raisina Dialogue, a flagship geo-political
conference was held in New Delhi attended by more
than 250 participants from 65 countries.
 The N.K. Singh panel, constituted to review the Fiscal
Responsibility and Budget Management Act,
submitted its report to the union finance minister.
 As per the Global Passport Index, Indian passport has
been ranked a lowly 78th place. The index is topped
by Germany.
 President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta arrived in New
Delhi on his India visit. The two countries signed
agreements for cooperation in the area of
agriculture.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 8
“100 MILLION FOR 100 MILLION” CAMPAIGN ‘PINK’ TO BE SHOWN AT UNO
Amitabh Bachhan starrer film ‘Pink’, directed by
Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury has been selected for a
special screening at the UN headquarters, New York.
The film, a modern Indian courtroom drama, highlights
the issue of gender violence.

 President of Indonesia Joko Widodo arrived in India

on a two day visit.
 Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan arrived in
India on a 5 day visit from 14 to 18 December.
President of India launched a global campaign “100  Home Ministry has cancelled Foreign Contribution
Million for 100 Million” for mobilising better-off Regulation Act (FCRA) licenses of 20,000 NGOs. As a
children to speak up for their disadvantaged result now they cannot receive foreign funds.
counterparts. The campaign lead by Nobel laureate  The World Economic Forum has ranked Hindi 10th in
Kailash Satyarthee aims to encourage youth to petition the top 10 most powerful languages in world while
governments and the international community to English is number one, followed by Mandarin.
improve the plight of children.  Disney has launched its ‘Hour of Code’ campaign in
India to teach computer programming to school
QATARI P M VISITS INDIA children through its free online tutorials.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime  The National Green Tribunal has imposed a ban on
Minister of Qatar visited India. The two sides inked five sale and use of glass powder coated ‘manja’ and other
pacts for enhancing cooperation in defence and dangerous strings for flying kites.
cybersecurity and agreed on joint action to tackle  A recent study released by Pew Research Centre, USA
money laundering and terrorist financing. shows that the Hindus are the best-educated of all
religious groups in North America and Europe.
SC SAYS NO TO LIQUOR VENDS ON HIGHWAYS  The Inter-governmental Committee for the
The Supreme Court has directed all the states and the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has
Centre to remove all liquor shops located within 500 inscribed Yoga in UNESCO’s Representative List as
meters or less from highways, both national and state. the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The existing licence-holders could continue their  The 6th Heart of Asia ministerial conference was held
business till March 31, 2017. at Amritsar to discuss peace, cooperation and
economic development in Afghanistan.
INDIA AND VIETNAM SIGN AGREEMENTS  12th International Oil and Gas Conference,
PETROTECH-2016, was held in New Delhi
 7th World Ayuerveda Congress was held in Kolkata
from Dec 2-4, supported by the Ministry of AYUSH.
 The India-UK Conference on Ease of Doing Business
was held in New Delhi.
 The 28th State Information Ministers Conference
(SIMCON) was held in New Delhi on Dec 9-10.

NOVEMBER
India and Vietnam signed a civil nuclear cooperation INDIA RANKS 87TH IN GENDER EQUALITY
agreement making it 14th nuclear partner of India. The Despite a jump of
two countries also signed three other agreements for 21 places from last
cooperation in field of aviation, energy efficiency and year, India is still
parliamentary affairs. ranked low at 87th
place globally in
‘GANDHI WITH CHARKHA’ IN TOP 100 terms of gender
A 1946 picture of Mahatma Gandhi with his ‘charkha’ equality, in a study
(spinning wheel) in the foreground is among the 100 covering 144
most influential images of all time compiled by the Time countries. Iceland has topped the annual Global Gender
magazine under the head “images that changed the Gap Index compiled by Geneva-based World Economic
world”. Forum (WEF).
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 9
NUCLEAR DEAL SIGNED WITH JAPAN 47th IFFI HELD IN GOA
The 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) began
in Goa on Nov 20. The Republic of Korea is the focus
country of the festival. Renowned South Korean director
Im Kwon-taek will be honoured with the Lifetime
Achievement Award.
Legendary singer SP Bala Subramanyam was honoured
with 'Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of
the year'
The Golden Peacock for the best film was won by the
Iranian film "Daughter" directed by Reza Mirkarimi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Japan for a two  President Pranab Mukherjee made a three-day state
day visit to participate to participate in the annual visit to Nepal from Nov 2 to 4.
bilateral summit in Tokyo. The two countries signed  Antonio Costa, the Prime Minister of Portugal shall be
a landmark nuclear agreement; opening the doors for the Chief Guest at the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to
India to commission nuclear reactors by global entities be held in Bengaluru from Jan7 to 9, 2017.
with the commitment that nuclear energy shall be used  New Zealand premier John Key arrived in India on a
for peaceful purposes only. two-day visit. The two countries may push for the
speedy conclusion of a free trade agreement (FTA).
UK PM MAY ARRIVES IN INDIA  India and Sri Lanka to set up a hotline between
UK’s Prime Minister Theresa May arrived in New Delhi officials of the two countries to address the fishermen
for her India visit. She announced a fast-track visa crisis and to facilitate easy exchange of fishermen.
service for "high net-worth" Indians and their families  Commemorative coin of Rs.500 and a circulation coin
and promised quicker border checks for all business of Rs.10 were issued to mark “500th Anniversary of
travelers from India to Britain. The two countries signed Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Coming to
two bilateral pacts, one on intellectual property (IP) and Vrindavan”.
another for enhancing ease of doing business.  For the first time, the World Robot Olympiad was
held in India at the India Expo Mart, Noida, Uttar
ISRAELI PRESIDENT VISITS INDIA Pradesh.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin arrived in Mumbai on a  First ever International Agro-biodiversity Congress
six-day visit to India to further strengthen bilateral ties was held in New Delhi.
between the two countries. Later, two countries inked  The 7th Session of the Conference of Parties to World
two agreements in the field of water resources Health Organisation Framework Convention on
management and agriculture. Tobacco Control was held in Greater Noida, U P.
INDIA FARES POORLY IN GLOBAL YOUTH INDEX
In the Global Youth Development Index compiled by NEWS FROM STATES
the Commonwealth Secretariat on the countries'
prospects for young people in employment, education, JANUARY
health, civic and political spheres, India has been placed JALLIKATTU APPROVED BY ORDINANCE
pretty low at 133rd place amongst 183 nations.
Neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka
have fared much better at 77th, 69th and 31stranks,
respectively. The Index is topped by Germany, followed
by Denmark and Switzerland.

THE COMMUNAL HARMONY WEEK

Quami Ekta Saptah (Communal
Harmony Week) was observed
across the nation from Nov 19 Tamil Nadu witnessed unprecedented massive public
to 25 to highlight the strength protests against the Supreme Court’s order to ban the
and resilience of the nation to immensely popular bull taming sport of Jallikattu. The
withstand any potential threats Govt. of Tamil Nadu issued an ordinance to bypass this
to the secular fabric. Nov 25 ban. The Supreme Court had banned holding of the
was also observed as the traditional event on the plea that it involves cruelty
Communal Harmony Flag Day. against bulls.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 10
JAIPUR FIRST CITY TO USE NOC  World Bank has sanctioned Rs 1,376 crore for
Jaipur has become the first city in the country and South upgradations and improvement of the Tripura power
Asia to monitor and operate smart city infrastructure system network.
using a single digital network, the Network Operation  Jaipur Literature Festival was held in Jaipur, the pink
Centre (NOC). It will integrate all recently developed city. Celebrated writers, thinkers, journalists,
digital infrastructure such as intelligence kiosks, historians, poets, novelists and musicians
wireless broadband, sensor-based dustbins, smart participated in it.
streetlight, parking and apps.  The World Bank has agreed to provide $48 million for
Nagaland Health Project to improve health services
DHARAMSALA TO BE 2ND CAPITAL OF HP in the state.
 Kerala has launched the country’s first solar-powered
boat 'Aaditya' at Vaikom. It has seating capacity for
75 persons.
 Sikkim has emerged as the India’s first fully organic
state by converting around 75,000 hectares of
agricultural land into sustainable cultivation.
 Haryana plans to set up a pilot corridor for an
innovative concept of India’s first 'Caterpillar Train'
that will fly over city’s traffic, in Gurugram city.
 The second international kite festival was held in
Himachal Pradesh govt has declared that Dharamsala Hyderabad in Telangana.
would be the second capital of the State. The city is
 4th Assam International Agri-Horti show was held in
important for the lower areas of Himachal Pradesh, Guwahati, Assam.
including Kangra, Chamba, Hamirpur and Una districts.
 The Election Commission announced the dates for the
assembly elections in five states Uttar Pradesh,
POSTAL BALLOT THROUGH E-MAIL Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa.
Goa will become the first state in the country to opt for
electronic transmission of postal ballot to service voters
 Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar islands hosted the
Island Tourism Festival 2017.
in the upcoming Assembly poll. The ballot will be sent
by e-mail to the voter and he will mail back the filled
form.
DECEMBER
GRAND MEMORIAL FOR SHIVAJI
AKHIRI AHUTI - A HUMANITARIAN INITIATIVE Foundation stone for the grand memorial of Maratha
Delhi Police and IndiGo airlines have joined hands to warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was laid at an
start ‘Akhiri Ahuti’ - a humanitarian initiative under island in Arabian Sea near Mumbai Coast. The main
which the bodies of the North-east residents who die in attraction of the memorial, slated to cost Rs. 3,600 crore,
Delhi will be carried free of cost to their homes in North will be a 192-metre-tall statue of the iconic Maratha
east. king riding a horse.

WORLD’S LONGEST HUMAN CHAIN

World’s longest human chain was formed in Bihar,
covering an estimated distance of 11,292 kilometres,
involving over two crore citizens standing against
alcoholism and liquor.

STREET LIGHTING NATIONAL PROGRAMME

The world’s largest street light replacement programme
Street Lighting National Programme was launched by
the South Delhi Municipal Corporation to replace over
two lakh conventional lights with LEDs.
 Arunachal Pradesh launched ‘Dulari Kanya’, a special
scheme to check infant mortality in the state.
 More than 3.5 lakh people in Gujarat’s Rajkot district
set a new world record by singing the national
anthem together at an event organised at Khodal
Dham temple.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 11
CHAR DHAM HIGHWAY PROJECT LAUNCHED INDIA’s FIRST LNG BUS
India’s first liquefied natural gas-driven bus has been
launched in Kerala. Natural gas could be considered the
most environmentally friendly fossil fuel because it has
the lowest CO2 emissions per unit of energy.

T.GANA/AP TOP IN EASE OF DOING BUSINESS

In a report released by the Commerce and Industry
Ministry on State-wise Ease of Doing Business rankings,
Andhra Pradesh and Telengana topped with 98.78 per
cent each, followed by Gujarat with 98.21 per cent.

AGRA – LUCKNOW EXPRESSWAY

India's longest expressway running for 302 kms,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone connecting Agra with capital town Lucknow was opened
of Char Dham highway development project in in Uttar Pradesh. In a rare feat, Indian Air Force fighter
Dehradun. It will allow uninterrupted access for jets used a section of this expressway for simulated
pilgrims to the four Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath, landing and takeoff.
Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri which bore the
brunt of devastating floods in 2013.  For the first time in Central Reserve Police Force
(CRPF), a team of women commandos has been
 Assam has appointed Bollywood actress Priyanka inducted to counter Naxal insurgency in Jharkhand.
Chopra as the brand ambassador of state tourism to  India’s first Cherry Blossom Festival was hosted by
promote brand entity of "Awesome Assam". Shillong in Meghalaya to showcase the beauty of the
 Rajasthan launched subsidised meal scheme flowers and the State’s cultural traditions.
‘Annapurna Rasoi' to provide breakfast for Rs 5 and  The ADB will give a $500 million loan for
lunch or dinner for Rs 8 to the poor and the needy. constructing India’s longest river bridge (9.8 kms)
 Asia’s first and longest cycle highway, running for across Ganga in Bihar.
207 kms, connecting the Taj City Agra and the Lion  Kerala has become the third Open Defecation Free
Safari at Etawah, was inaugurated in Uttar Pradesh. (ODF) state in the country. The first being Sikkim,
 The first ever International Gita Mahotsav was followed by Himachal Pradesh.
hosted by Kurukshetra in Haryana from Dec 6 to 10.  Himachal Pradesh has been declared as the India’s
second 'Open Defecation Free' state, first
NOVEMBER being Sikkim.
 As per the NITI Aayog’s ‘ease of doing agri-business
SC CANCELS SYL DEAL index’, Maharashtra is at top, followed by Gujarat and
Rajasthan, in pursuing farmer-friendly policies.

GOVERNMENT
INITIATIVES
JANUARY
SWACHH SWASTH SARVATRA LAUNCHED

In a decision that could have far reaching implications,

the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional the
Punjab Government’s 2004 law, terminating the Sutlej-
Yamuna Link (SYL) canal water sharing agreement,
Union Health Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry
giving a big jolt to Punjab and a boon to Haryana.
of Drinking Water and Sanitation has launched Swachh
Punjab has declared that it will not abide by the SC ruling.
Swasth Sarvatra initiative, aimed at strengthening
It has returned the land acquired by the govt. for the
community health centres in 708 open defecation-free
construction of SYL canal to the allottees to create
blocks to enable them to achieve higher levels of
hurdles in the implementation of the SC decision.
cleanliness and hygiene.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 12
PM ANNOUNCES NEW FINANCIAL SCHEMES VARISHTHA PENSION BIMA YOJANA 2017
The Union Cabinet approved this scheme to promote
financial inclusion. The scheme, implemented by LIC,
would provide an assured return of 8% per annum for
10 years to persons of age 60 years and above, with an
option to opt for pension on a monthly, quarterly, half-
yearly or annual basis.

BHIM APP GETTING POPULAR

Government’s online payments app Bharat Interface for
Prime Minister announced a number of new schemes to Money, BHIM has become the most popular Android app
help the poor, farmers, women and small business in his in the country, topping the charts on Google's Play Store
New Year address to the nation. Following are the main in India.
incentives announced by him:
 Housing: Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana DEGREES BY IIMs NOW
(grameen), home loans up to Rs 9 lakh will now get
4 % rebate in interest and home loans up to 12 lakh
rupees will attract 3% rebate.
 In rural areas, 3 % interest relief will be given on
loan of up to 2 lakh rupees for the construction,
renovation and expansion of home.
 Women: A national scheme was announced for the
would-be mothers to provide them Rs. 6,000 for
their delivery, vaccination, and nutritious meals.
 Senior citizen: Senior citizens have been assured 8
per cent interest on their deposits up to Rs. 7.5 lakh, The Union Cabinet has approved the Indian Institute of
for next 10 years. Management (IIM) Bill, 2017, which aims at permitting
 Farmers: the IIMs to grant degrees rather than diplomas and be
i. Govt. to bear 60 days interest on select farm loans. declared as Institutions of National Importance.
ii. To issue rupay debit cards to 3 crore farmers in
next three months. SERVICE CHARGES NOT MANDATORY
 Small and Medium businesses: Consumer Affairs Ministry has clarified that the service
i. Loan guarantee scheme to small business charges, often ranging between 5 to 20 percent in lieu of
extended up to Rs. 2 crore. tips in restaurants, is not mandatory and consumer has
ii. Banks and NBFCs not to levy high interest rate on discretion to pay it or not.
these loans as the govt. is bearing the cost of under
writing them. NSSF SCHEME AMENDED
iii. Banks to raise credit limit from 20% of turnover The Union Cabinet has excluded States and Union
to 25% for small business. Territories except Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala and
iv. Banks to raise working capital loan to 30% from Madhya Pradesh from National Small Savings Fund
20% of sales for enterprises that transact digitally. (NSSF) investments. The decision was taken in view of
the recommendations made by the 14th Finance
POST OFFICE TO ISSUE PASSPORTS Commission and representation by the other states. The
states mentioned that market borrowings were cheaper
than taking a loan from NSSF.
What is NSSF: It is a fund created in the public account of
India w.e.f. 1.4.1999. All small savings are credited in this
account and withdrawals are made out of it. The balance
is invested in central and state govt. securities.

SHAGUN TO MONITOR SSA

A dedicated web portal 'ShaGun', developed jointly by
the World Bank and Ministry of Human Resource
The External Affairs Ministry and the Department of Development has been launched to monitor the
Posts have agreed to utilise Head Post Offices in various progress of country’s flagship educational programme –
states as the Post Office Passport Seva Kendra for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
delivering passport related services to the people.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 13
MINIMUM MONTHLY PENSION INCREASED Lucky Grahak Yojana: every day 15,000 winners of
The Government of India has increased the minimum 1,000 rupees each for next 100 days
monthly pension for central govt. employees to Rs. Every week – 3 prizes – 1 lac, 50,000 and 10,000/-
9,000 per person from Rs. 3500 earlier. Further, the ex- 3 Mega prizes on April 14 – Rs. 1 crore, 50lac and 25 lac
gratia amount for the employees has been increased Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana
from 10-15 lakh to 25-35 lakh rupees. There are about 3 prizes every week – Rs. 50,000/-, 5,000 and 2500/-
50-55 lakh pensioners in the country. 3 Mega prizes on April 14 – Rs. 50 lac, 25 lac and 12 lac
 Railways has launched a new passenger mobile SMART OPTIONS FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION
application 'IRCTC Rail Connect' to promote ease of
booking tickets through digital mode.
 Employees' Provide Fund Organisation (EPFO) has
made Aadhaar mandatory for its about 50 lakh
pensioners and around four crore subscribers.
 The government has tied up with the National Yuva
Coop. Society to set up 1,000 Janaushadhi Kendras to
provide quality medicines at an affordable price.
 Govt. has launched mobile app 'Haj Committee of
India', which will provide information and facilitate
e-payments for Haj pilgrimage.
The government has launched a host of online initiatives
DECEMBER including a mobile App 'Smart Consumer' and an 'Online
PRADHAN MANTRI GARIB KALYAN YOJANA Consumer Mediation Centre to provide speedy redressal
of consumer grievances. A helpline number 14404 was
also launched for consumer related grievances.

INCENTIVES FOR CASHLESS BUSINESS

Government has announced tax benefits for small scale
businessmen opting e-payments asserting that if a small
trader having turnover below two crore rupees makes
digital payments, his presumptive income will be
assessed at 6 per cent for filing of tax, against 8 percent
for other traders.

Rs. 5 LAC PER DISTRICT FOR DIGITIZATION

To encourage each district in the country to take
the digitization route without fear, the National
Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has
Government has launched the PMGKY, a tax amnesty decided to allocate Rs.5 lakh to every district as seed
scheme that allows assessees to disclose previously money to kick start this drive.
unaccounted and undeclared income till March 31,
2017. Assessees will have to pay 50 per cent tax on REPORTING OF CASH DEALS OF OVER 2 LAC
declared income and 25 per cent of such wealth will The Income Tax Department today clarified that
have to be kept into a four-year interest-free deposit. businesses and traders receiving cash exceeding Rs 2
lakh in any single transaction for sale of goods and
CASH PRIZES TO PUSH DIGITAL PAYMENTS services are required to report it to the authorities
The Niti Aayog launched two schemes - Lucky Grahak under rule 114E of Income Tax Rules, 1962.
Yojana and Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana to encourage
cashless transactions between 50 and 3,000 rupees INDIAN ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT SERVICE
done through Rupay card, UPI (Unified Payment Union Cabinet has approved formation of a new service
Interface), USSD (unstructured supplementary service in the name of Indian Enterprise Development Service
data) and AEPS (Aadhar enabled payment system) only. (IEDS) in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium
Transactions done through private credit cards and Enterprises (MSME) to boost and achieve the vision of
digital wallets are not allowed. "Startup India", "Stand-up India" and "Make in India".
National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) will The measure will help in achieving growth in MSME
administer its implementation. Both the schemes will sector through a focussed and dedicated cadre of
give a number of cash prizes starting December 25. technical officers.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 14
  Govt. has launched a new TV channel Digi Shala to
educate people on various modes of electronic
payments, including e-wallets and mobile banking.
 HRD ministry has launched ‘Vittiya Saksharata
Abhiyan’ for making people aware about the use of
various cashless modes of transactions.
 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the
Health Outcomes Index developed by NITI Aayog to
rank states on the basis of their performance on
measurable health indicators.
 Government plans to launch a toll-free number 10588
to provide directly the relevant information and
guidance needed by the pregnant women.
 Power Ministry has launched 'Coal Mitra' web portal
to facilitate flexibility in utilization of domestic coal.
INDIA’s FIRST INSTITUTE OF SKILLS  Government has launched the GARV-II mobile app to
Country’s first ever Indian Institute of Skills will be provide village-wise and habitation-wise base line
opened in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The institute will be data on household electrification for all the states.
set up by the Union Ministry of Skill Development and  Ministry of textiles has launched a mobile app E-
Entrepreneurship in partnership with the Institute of Dhaga to address the concerns of individual weavers
Technical Education, Singapore to push up the skill such as availability of raw material, delay in supply.
development programmes of the government.
NOVEMBER
PROFESSIONALS TO BOOST SWACHH BHARAT
Government has decided to deploy 600 young
NATIONAL ACADEMIC DEPOSITORY
professionals as Zila Swachh Bharat Preraks (ZSBPs)
across the country, one in each district, to boost Swachh
Bharat Abhiyan. They will assist the district authorities
in coordinating various agencies associated with the
mission. The cadre will be funded and recruited by the
Tata Trusts, at no extra cost to the State government or
the Ministry.
The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of the
OPEN SKIES AGREEMENT National Academic Depository (NAD) at Tirupati.
India signed Open Skies agreement with six countries to School learning certificates, degrees and higher
allow unlimited number of flights to six metro airports education academic awards will be digitised by
namely Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru academic institutions and uploaded on the NAD portal.
and Chennai. The six countries are Jamaica, Guyana, It will provide digital or a printed copy of the academic
Czech Republic, Finland, Spain and Sri Lanka. award to any person authorized by the student.

NEW BILL PASSED FOR DISABLED PERSONS COMMITTEE ON CASHLESS ECONOMY

Government has formed a committee headed by
Amitabh Kant, CEO of Niti Aayog, to formulate a strategy
to expedite the process of transforming India into a
cashless economy.
APP & PORTAL FOR AIR TRAVELERS
Government has launched an Air Sewa Portal and
Mobile App to offer air travelers a convenient and hassle
free experience. Through this app, passengers can
check their flight status, schedule, register grievances.
The Lok Sabha passed the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities Bill, 2016. The bill identifies 19 conditions SMART INDIA HACKATHON-2017
as disabilities against the 7 identified by the existing Act. Government has launched world’s largest digital nation
It seeks to enhance reservation for Divyangs in building initiative which aims at challenging students
government jobs from 3% to 4%. It will benefit around across the country to offer innovative solutions to some
2.8 crore disabled population in the country. of the daunting problems faced by our nation.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 15
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 16
Dr. PATHAK TO GUIDE RAILWAYS IMF TRIMS GROWTH RATE
Ministry of Railways has appointed Dr. Bindeshwar The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has trimmed
Pathak, the founder of Sulabh International, as the India’s growth rate for the 2016-17 to 6.6% from its
Brand Ambassador for Swachh Rail Mission. previous estimate of 7.6% due to the temporary
Sulabh International is an India-based NGO working for negative consumption shock induced by cash shortages
improvement of public sanitation through vast network and payment disruptions associated with the recent
public conveniences maintained by it. currency note withdrawal and exchange initiative of
 Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana launched to boost up demonetization.
development of entrepreneurship for the youth.
 A magazine named ‘Healthy India Initiative’ and an 1% HOLD 58 % 0F INDIA’s WEALTH
app named ‘No More Tension’ launched for A study released by rights group Oxfam, UK, shows that
promotion of health and health communications just 57 billionaires in India now have same wealth
programmes. ($216 billion) as that of the bottom 70% population of
 Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan the country. India’s richest 1% hold as much as 58% of
launched to provide free health check-ups to the country’s total wealth.
pregnant women at govt health centres/hospitals on
9th of every month. CUT IN GOLD IMPORTS
India’s trade deficit came down to $10.37 billion in
December 2016 as exports grew by 5.72 per cent to
ECONOMIC INDICATORS reach $ 23.88 billion while imports rose by just 0.46 per
cent to $34.25 billion on account of lesser gold imports.
JANUARY  Output of the country's eight infrastructure industries
GDP GROWTH MAY SINK TO 7.1% - CSO grew 4.9 per cent in November 2016, helped by a
As per the recent data released by the Central Statistical healthy performance of the electricity sector.
Office, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is  The latest figures show that India’s foreign exchange
estimated at 7.1 per cent in 2016-17 as compared to 7.6 reserves soared by 932.4 million dollars to touch
per cent in 2015-16. Per capita net national income 360.7 billion dollars in the week ending January 20
during 2016-17 is estimated to be 1, 03,007 rupees,
showing a rise of 10.4 per cent as compared to 93,293 in DECEMBER
2015-16.
GDP GROWS BY 7.3 % IN SEPTEMBER QR
NITI AYOG PEGS GROWTH RATE AT 8% According to the data released by the Central Statistics
NITI Aayog has estimated a growth rate of 8% for 2016- Office (CSO), the Indian economy grew at 7.3% in the
17 flagging the lack of reforms in land acquisition, quarter ending September 30, up from 7.1% in the
labour and simplification of administrative procedures previous quarter, mainly on improved performance of
as impediments to growth. manufacturing, services and trade sectors.

ADB DOWNS GROTH RATE TO 7%

WORLD BANK LOWERS GROWTH RATE TO 7%
The Asian Development Bank has trimmed its 2016
growth estimate for India to 7.0 per cent from 7.4 per
cent due to weak investment, agricultural slowdown
and the government's recent demonetisation.

FITCH LOWERS GROWTH RATE TO 6.9%

The Fitch Ratings has observed that the cash crunch
caused by demonetisation and its impact on consumers
and farmers could result in the Indian economy’s
growth slowing down to 6.9 per cent this financial year,
down from earlier growth estimate of 7.4 per cent.

The World Bank has decelerated India's GDP growth for

NOVEMBER
2016-17 to 7 per cent from its previous estimate of 7.6
EXPORTS OF GOODS GREW 9.59%
percent saying that immediate withdrawal of a large
Exports of goods grew 9.59 per cent to $23.51 billion in
volume of currency in circulation in November
October while imports expanded 8.11 per cent to $33.67
contributed to slowing growth.
billion, leaving a trade deficit of $10.16 billion.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 17
 DECEMBER
ECONOMY & INDUSTRY INDIA RANKS 4TH IN WIND POWER
India has been ranked 4th in the Global Wind Power
JANUARY Installed Capacity Index. The cumulative installed wind
power generation capacity of India is 25088 MW. The
INTERNATIONAL STOCK EXCHANGE IN INDIA
list is topped by China, followed by USA and Germany.

INDIA JUMPS AHEAD OF BRITAIN

A report published in Forbes magazine says that India

has now taken over the United Kingdom as the fifth
India’s first international exchange called India INX has largest economy in the world, primarily on account of
been opened at the International Financial Service India's rapid economic growth over the past 25 years
Centre (IFSC) of GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. GIFT and Britain's recent woes with the Brexit. Report ranks
City stands for Gujarat International Financial Tech. It USA as the largest economy, followed by China, Japan
will work for 22 hours in a day from sunrise to sunset and Germany.
i.e. it will start when the Japan exchanges begin and will
close when the US markets end to facilitate international INDIA HIGH ON GENDER WAGE DISPARITY
investors and NRIs to trade from anywhere in the world. According to Global Wage Report by the International
Labour Organisation (ILO), India has one of the worst
INSURANCE COMPANIES TO BE LISTED levels of gender wage disparity as men are earning as
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has much as 30 per cent more than women in similar jobs.
approved listing of five government-owned General
Insurance Companies on stock exchanges. The 5 REINSURES GET IRDA APPROVAL
companies are National Insurance Company, New India The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
Assurance Company, Oriental Insurance Company, of India (IRDA) has approved the R3 application and
United India Insurance Company and General Insurance granted certificate of registration to five global
Corporation of India. reinsurers to open their offices in India. The five
companies are the US-based Reinsurance Group of
SUBSCRIBER BASE CROSSED 1.1 BILLION America, Munich Re and Hannover from Germany, Swiss
Re from Switzerland and French reinsurance major
Scor.

BOMBAY DYEING STOPS TEXTILE MFG.

One of the oldest textile mills in India, Bombay Dyeing
Manufacturing Company has officially called quits to
manufacturing of textiles. Intense competition from the
unorganised sector and growing imports from Taiwan,
China and Bangladesh, have hit domestic textile
production adversely.
India’s telecom subscriber base crossed the 1.1 billion Established by Nowrosjee Wadia in 1879, the company
mark in October, registering the highest customer was known for producing quality home textile products at
addition of about 29 million in a month, driven by two prime locations in Mumbai.
Reliance Jio.
AMAZON ANNOUNCES ‘LAUNCHPAD’
FACILITY TO EXCHANGE NOTES FOR NRIs Ecommerce giant Amazon has launched a new global
Ministry of External Affairs has informed that Indian program called Amazon Launchpad to help startups in
citizens, who are not residing in the country, will be the country. It will help startups launch, market, and
allowed to exchange their old 500 and 1,000 rupees distribute their products to Amazon customers across
notes at RBI offices till the 30th of June, 2017. India and around the world via a dedicated store.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 18
 Govt has waived import duty on wheat as its retail
prices showed little signs of coming down. Imported
wheat may be up to 20% lower in prices.
BANKING & FINANCE
 Railways has tied-up with SBI to install at least JANUARY
10,000 Point of Sale machines to facilitate use of
debit/credit cards at the Public Reservation System CASH WITHDRAWAL LIMITS GO

NOVEMBER
MSP OF RABI CROPS ANNOUNCED

The RBI has withdrawn the limits on cash withdrawal

In a bid to boost production of pulses, the government from current account / cash credit account / overdraft
has increased its minimum support price (MSP) by up accounts w.e.f. January 30, 2017. The limits on savings
to Rs. 550 per quintal, including the bonus and that of bank account will continue for the present.
wheat by Rs. 100 to Rs. 1,625 per quintal for the Rabi Similarly limits places on cash withdrawals from ATMs
2016-17 season. has also been withdrawn from Feb 1, 2017. However,
Commodity MSP (Rs./Qtl) Hike (Rs./Qtl) the overall withdrawal limit from saving accounts has
Wheat 1625 100 been retained at 24, 000 rupees per week.
Barley 1325 100
Gram 4000 500 PAYMENT BANKS START OPERATIONS
Bharti Airtel started pan India operations of the
Masur (Lentil) 3950 550
country’s first payments bank - Airtel Payments Bank.
Rapeseed/Mustard 3700 350
Another player Paytm Payments Bank will soon start
Safflower 3700 400 operations.
Payments banks can accept demand deposits and
GST RATES ANNOUNCED remittances but are not allowed to lend and accept fixed
The Finance Minister has announced the GST rates as deposits.
finalised by the GST council. The four bands of tax rates
have been fixed at 5 percent, 12 percent, 18 percent and PAN/FORM 60 MADE COMPULSORY
28 percent. Food grains will be zero-rated to insulate
people from inflationary pressures. Ultra luxuries,
demerit and sin goods, will attract a cess for a period of
five years on top of the 28 per cent GST.
These slabs now will have to be passed by the Parliament
before implementation. The main objective of the GST
rates is to maintain revenue and to minimise the
inflationary impact.
Government has amended the Income-tax Rules, 1962
JAPAN TO HELP INDIA FOR HIGH SPEED TRAIN to allow banks to obtain and link PAN or Form No 60
(where PAN is not available) in all existing bank
accounts, other than Basic Saving Account by February
28, 2017.

40% BANK NOTES FOR RURAL AREAS

RBI has observed that the bank notes being supplied to
Mr. Modi and Abe travelled in the Shinkansen (high rural areas are not sufficient to meet their requirements.
speed) bullet train, whose speed ranges from 240 kms It has directed that 40% of the bank notes be supplied to
per hour to 320 kms per hour, from Tokyo to Kobe. rural areas to mitigate their problems.
Japan has assured help in construction of the high-  Punjab National Bank has launched a contactless
speed bullet train corridor between Mumbai and credit card named PNB Wave N Pay to promote
Ahmadabad. digital payments.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 19
 DECEMBER RBI MAKES NO CHANGE IN KEY RATES
In the 5th bimonthly policy statement, the RBI, on the
RBI RELAXES CHARGES ON ONLINE PAYMENTS basis of an assessment of the current and evolving
macroeconomic situation in the country, decided to
keep the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment
facility (LAF) unchanged at 6.25 percent. There was no
change in other key policy rates.

UTTARAKHAND GETS BANKING OMBUDSMAN

RBI has opened a Banking Ombudsman office in
Dehradun, Uttarakhand to cover the entire state and 7
adjoining districts of Uttar Pradesh. With this, the total
number of RBI ombudsman offices has increased to 17
in India.
RBI has asked all Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI)
issuers and participating banks to not levy any charges SBI LAUNCHES ‘MOBICASH’
on customers for transactions up to Rs.1000 settled on SBI in partnership with BSNL launched its mobile wallet
the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), USSD application ‘State Bank MobiCash’ for feature as well as
(Unstructured Supplementary Service Data)-based *99# smartphones. It will allow users to deposit cash through
and Unified Payment Interface (UPI) systems from Jan 1 BSNL retail outlets and withdraw funds from their
to March 31, 2017. account.
Further, merchant discount rate (MDR) on debit card
transactions has been restricted to 0.25 percent up to Rs. ‘EASYPAY’ FROM ICICI BANK
1,000 and 0.5 per cent up to Rs. 2,000 during this period. ICICI Bank has launched ‘easypay’, a mobile application
for merchants that allows consolidation of all modes of
REPAYMENT NORMS RELAXED FOR FARMERS payments, including digital wallets, Unified Payments
In a relief to farmers hit by demonetisation, the RBI has Interface (UPI), QR code, and credit & debit cards. It
given an additional 60 days to repay their crop loans allows multiple users to connect to the same account.
due in November-December and said that prompt
repayment would be eligible for the extra 3 per cent NOVEMBER
interest subsidy. 500, 1000 NOTES NO MORE LEGAL TENDER
With a view to root out the menace of black money and
CHARGES SLASHED ON CARD TRANSACTIONS corruption, the govt declared that from midnight of Nov
8, 500 and 1,000 rupee notes will cease to be legal
tender. Public has been given time up to Dec. 30 to
surrender these notes in their bank and replace them
with new 500 and 2,000 rupee notes, or with notes of
lower denomination.
After Dec 30, such notes could be surrendered in
authorized RBI offices only, till March 31, 2017.

CVC TO VIEW LOAN FRAUD CASES OF OVER 1Cr

Central Vigilance Commission has now made it
mandatory for the public sector banks to share their
To encourage digital transactions, the Finance Ministry reports relating to all loan frauds involving funds over
has asked PSU banks that service charges on transfer Rs one crore.
transactions of over Rs 1,000 done through IMPS and Till now this report was shared with the RBI only. CVC
UPI should not exceed the charges applicable for NEFT. will share these details with other banks to prevent such
Further, RBI has relaxed the norms for Additional Factor cases being repeated.
of Authentication for card not present transactions of up
to Rs 2000, subject to consent by the customer. ECB ALLOWED TO STARTUPS
With a view to encourage innovation and boost job
WITHDRAWAL RESTRICTED FROM PMJDY creation, the RBI has permitted startups to raise
The Reserve Bank has placed a limit of 10,000 rupees on external commercial borrowings (ECBs) of up to USD 3
monthly withdrawals from Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan million in a financial year.
bank accounts and those who want to withdraw more  Airtel Payments Bank Ltd (Airtel Bank), a subsidiary
than 10,000 a month will have to furnish appropriate of the country’s largest telecom operator Bharti
documents to prove why they need the money. Airtel, has started its retail operation from Rajasthan.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 20
 A NEW HUMAN ORGAN FOUND
DEFENCE, SCIENCE
& TECHNOLOGY
JANUARY
NAVY GETS SUBMARINE ‘KHANDERI’
Khanderi, the second Kalvari class Scorpene submarine,
was launched into water - or 'undocked' at the Mazagon
Dock, Mumbai. The submarine will undergo rigorous
tests and trials on the surface and underwater before it
is commissioned into the Indian Navy as "INS Khanderi"
at the end of the year in December. Scientists in Ireland have classified a new organ named
‘Mesentery’ inside human body in the digestive system,
proving the anatomic description laid down over 100
AGNI-IV TESTED SUCCESSFULLY
years of anatomy as incorrect. It is a small part that
connects the intestine to the abdomen

 Japan launched its first military communications

satellite Kirameki-2 to boost the broadband capacity
of its armed forces.
 China has successfully launched Tongxin Jishu Shiyan,
a new-generation telecommunications satellite.
 NASA has approved a mission to explore an iron-rich
asteroid named ‘16 Psyche’ whose contents are said
to be worth over 100-thousand times the value of the
Agni-IV, the nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic entire world economy.
missile with a strike range of 4,000 km was tested
successfully as part of a user trial from a test range off
Odisha coast. DECEMBER
SMART ANTI-AIRFIELD WEAPON
SBI ATMs ON WARSHIP
State Bank of India has installed an ATM on India's
largest warship, INS Vikramaditya to cater to the over
1,500 sailors and 110 officers who serve on board the
aircraft carrier.
 Pakistan successfully tested its long range surface-to-
surface ballistic missile Ababeel, having a strike
range of 2,200 km.
 A new guided version of the Pinaka Rocket was
successfully test-fired from Integrated Test Range at
Chandipur in Odisha.

DRDO has successfully tested the indigenously

developed Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) bomb at
the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur off Odisha coast.
It is capable of engaging ground targets with high
precision covering a range of around 100 kms.

ICBM AGNI V LAUNCHED SUCCESSFULLY

India test launched successfully its indigenously
developed intercontinental surface-to-surface nuclear
capable ballistic missile Agni-5 from the Wheeler Island
off Odisha coast. It has a range of more than 5,000
kilometre.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 21

NAVY AND ARMY JOIN HANDS  ‘Ekuverin’ (Friends)-A two week military exercise was
held in Maldives between the Indian Army and the
Maldives National Defence Force from Dec 15 to 28.
 Indra Navy-2016, the Indo-Russian naval exercise
held in Bay of Bengal, off the Visakhapatnam coast.
 India signed an agreement with Vietnam for training
her pilots for their Sukhoi-30 fighter jets.

RESOURCESAT-2A LAUNCED SUCCESSFULLY

ISRO successfully launched India’s latest Remote
Sensing satellite, Resourcesat-2A onboard PSLV-C36
from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The satellite is
equipped with high resolution cameras to facilitate
The INS Sahyadri stealth frigate and the Indian Army's accurate imaging of land and water resources.
Poona Horse cavalry regiment were affiliated at a
special ceremony held in Vishakhapatnam. It is a symbol NEW HIGHEST HEAT RESISTANT MATERIAL
of inter-services camaraderie and co-operation for joint Scientists in UK have identified materials such as
operations and interdependence in modern warfare. Hafnium Carbide that can withstand temperatures of
nearly 4,000 degrees Celsius. They can be useful for
‘NIRBHAY’ MISSILE TESTED BY DRDO improved heat resistant shielding for the faster-than-
DRDO conducted the flight test of indigenously-designed ever hypersonic space vehicles.
and developed long range subsonic cruise missile
'Nirbhay' from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur INDIAN YOUTH GROUP AIMS FOR MOON
in Odisha. It has a range of over 1,000 kms. Team Indus, a group of young Indian scientists and IT
experts, plans to tie up with ISRO for launching an
INS BETWA TOPPLES DOWN unmanned spacecraft on the lunar surface by January,
In a first of its kind incident in the Indian Navy, INS 2018. The Team Indus is aiming to win the $20
Betwa, a 3,850 ton guided missile frigate fell down it’s million Google Lunar X Prize.
sideways during undocking at Mumbai's naval
dockyard. The job of making ship stand again will have ‘DEAD ZONE’ FOUND IN BAY OF BENGAL
to be executed by foreign experts costing some crores of Scientists have discovered a vast ‘dead zone’ of an
rupees as Indian Navy does not have this kind of estimated 60,000 square kilometers in the Bay of
expertise. Bengal. This area contains little or no oxygen and
supports microbial processes that remove vast amount
of nitrogen from the ocean.
INDIA TO BUY 145 HOWITZERS
 China launched satellite TanSat to understand
climate change by monitoring the concentration,
distribution and flow of CO2 in the atmosphere.
 China launched Fengyun-4, the first of its new
generation weather satellites.

NOVEMBER
INDIA TO BUY AIRCRAFT FROM JAPAN
India will purchase 12 amphibious rescue aircraft from
Japanese manufacturer Shin Maywa Industries. It would
be one of Japan's first sales of military equipment since
India has inked a Rs 5,000 crore deal with USA for Japan lifted a 50-year ban on arms exports in April
buying 145 M777 ultra-light howitzers, which will be 2014.
mostly deployed near the borders with China. This is the
first deal for artillery guns since the Bofors scandal in WORLD’s HIGHEST RESEARCH LAB
1980s. The Extreme Altitude Research Centre (EARC), set up at
Chang La in Ladakh at an altitude of 17,600 ft by the
 Konkan 16, the annual bilateral maritime exercise Defence Research and Development Organisation
between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of (DRDO), is set to enter the Guinness Book of Records for
Britain, commenced in 5 December 2016 off the becoming the world’s highest terrestrial research
Mumbai coast. laboratory.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 22
 Jaguar DARIN III, the twin-seat aircraft, an advanced S KOREA TOPS IN ICT DEVELOPMENT
version Jaguar fighter jet with the Indian Air Force,
has received the Initial Operation Clearance (IOC).
DARIN: Display Attack Ranging Inertial Navigation
 INS Chennai, the third indigenously designed
Kolkata-class guided missile destroyer was
commissioned into the Navy.
 The Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) has successfully tested its unmanned combat
aerial vehicle, Rustom-2.
 10th Indo-Nepal joint military exercise Surya Kiran
was held at Saljhandi, Nepal.
 The 6th joint training exercise ‘Hand in Hand 2016’ In a global study of 175 countries by the UN
held between the Indian Army and the People's International Telecommunication Union to study the
Liberation Army of China in Pune, from Nov 15 to 27. impact of Information and communication technology
 “Sampriti-2016” - The joint military training exercise on the society, South Korea has been ranked as the best
was conducted between India and Bangladesh near in the ICT development index, followed by Iceland and
Dhaka, Bangladesh. Denmark. India was placed at 138th rank.
 SIMBEX-16-Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral  NASA launched a highly advanced geostationary
Exercise between two navies took place in the Bay of weather satellite Geostationary Operational
Bengal, off the Andhra coast. Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R).
 China’s Sunway Taihu Light declared as the world’s
fastest supercomputer with an efficiency of 6051.30
MFLOPS (Million Floating Operations per Second)
 China has successfully launched its data satellite
Tianlian I-04 on a Long March-3C carrier rocket.
 The 2016 World Internet Conference was held in
Wuzhen, China, attended by 120 nations.

INTERNATIONAL
JANUARY
TRUMP BANS VISAS FOR SEVEN NATIONALITIES
ZERO-EMISSION PASSENGER TRAIN
French machinery giant Alstom has developed world's
first hydrogen-powered and zero-emission passenger
train named Coradia iLint. It is powered by a hydrogen
fuel tank on its roof which takes oxygen from the air,
and converts it into electric power.

GPS SIGNAL FROM 70,000Kms

NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) now
holds the Guinness World Record for the highest
altitude fix of a GPS signal. The MMS satellites,
operating in a highly elliptical orbit around the Earth,
have set the record at 70,000 kms above the earth’s US President Donald Trump’s latest bombshell order
surface. has barred the entry of foreign nationals from seven
Muslim-majority nations: Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya,
‘SUPERMOON’ SEEN AFTER 68 YEARS Somalia, Yemen and Iraq - for 90 days. The ban aims to
On Nov 14, the moon came closer to Earth than at any find what information is needed from each country to
other time since 1948. As this was also the full moon ensure that the visas are not issued to individuals
day, the moon reached its brightest and biggest size, posing a national security threat. It also imposes a
termed ‘supermoon’. The technical name for supermoon blanket ban on all Syrian refugees until "sufficient
is the ‘perigee-syzygy’. changes" are made to the refugee programme.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 23
WORLD’S BIGGEST SOLAR PARK “APPLE” MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANY
In a ranking of world’s 50 most innovative firms by the
Boston Consulting Group, technology giant Apple has
emerged as the most innovative company for 2016,
followed by Google and Tesla.

MYANMAR FACES HEAT ON ROHINGYA ISSUE

Myanmar government is facing strong international
criticism for failing to rein-in months-long military
crackdown on Rohingya Muslim community in northern
Rakhine State of the country. Thousands of Rohingyas
have fled as refugees to neighbouring Bangladesh and
India.

GLOBAL ECONOMY SLOWS DOWN

Considering the stagnant global trade, subdued
China has built the world’s biggest solar investment and heightened policy uncertainty, the
park, Longyangxia Dam Solar Park, in Qinghai. The park World Bank has projected a growth of 2.7% for the
spans over 27 square km of area and can produce 850 global economy in 2017.
MW of power which is enough to supply up to 200,000
households. DAVOS SUMMIT

FINLAND TO PROVIDE ‘FREE’ SALARY

Finland has become the first country in the world to pay
a basic monthly income of Euro 560 to randomly picked
citizens on a national level with a view to minimize
poverty and unemployment.

UK TOP COURT PUTS BREAKS ON BREXIT

The Supreme Court of UK has ruled that Prime Minister
Theresa May must seek Parliament’s consent to take
Britain out of the European Union (EU). This means that
government cannot officially begin Brexit negotiations The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting was held
with the EU until Britain’s MPs and peers give their
in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland with the theme
backing. ‘Responsive and Responsible Leadership’. This meeting
is generally known by the name of Davos summit.
FREIGHT TRAIN FROM CHINA TO LONDON
China has launched its first freight train to London. The
THE BEIPANJIANG BRIDGE – HIGHEST
train will depart from Yiwu in eastern China, cross
World’s highest bridge has been thrown open for traffic
through western China to pass through Kazakhstan,
in China. The Beipanjiang Bridge soars 565 metres
Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France
(1,854 feet) above a river and connects the two
before arriving in London.
mountainous provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou.
SHANGRI-LA OF THE WORLD
China launched its longest bullet train “Shangri-la of the NORWAY BIDS ADIEU TO FM
World” from Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Norway became the first country in the world to start
Yunnan Province, to Beijing, covering a distance of shutting down its FM radio network in favour of digital
2,760-km in about 13 hours. radio as it offers better sound quality and more channels
at one eighth of the cost of FM (frequency modulation)
US ENDS ‘WET FOOT, DRY FOOT’ POLICY transmission.
United States has ended a two-decade-old “wet foot, dry INTERNATIONAL YEAR-SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
foot” immigration policy that allowed Cuban migrants The United Nations General Assembly
who reach the American soil illegally to stay and has recognised the year 2017 as the International Year
become legal residents. As a result, now the Cubans of Sustainable Tourism for Development to celebrate
crossing in to American side will be sent back to Cuba, and promote the contribution of the tourism sector to
just like other migrants. building a better world.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 24
 A study by Oxfam, an international organisation says, NOVEMBER
top eight rich men own the same wealth as half the
world's population which threatens to pull societies PARIS AGREEMENT COMES IN FORCE
apart. The 12 day Global Climate conference was held in
Marrakech, Morocco to discuss the details of
DECEMBER implementing the Paris deal. The climate agreement
became effective from 4th November 2016, after being
VENEZUELA BANS 100 BOLIVAR NOTE signed by 192 nations. The agreement deals with
greenhouse gases emissions mitigation, adaptation and
means to finance these initiatives.

INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE

Over 20 countries, including Brazil and France, signed
the framework agreement of the International Solar
Alliance (ISA) at the CoP22 to the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change at Marrakech, in
Morocco. The alliance is an initiative of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
ISA is an alliance of 121 solar resource-rich tropical
countries lying fully or partially between two tropics and
who are also UN members.
Venezuela has banned the circulation of the country's
largest banknote, 100 bolivars, in a bid to fight 'mafias' ‘POST- TRUTH’ IS THE WORD OF THE YEAR
who have stashed billions of these currencies in the
adjoining Colombia. However, due to massive public
protest against this, government decided to postpone
the ban.

U N SECURITY COUNCIL CAUTIONS ISRAEL

The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding
Israel to stop building settlements on occupied
Palestinian territory. It is the first resolution the
With political upheavals like the election of Donald
Security Council has adopted on Israel and the
Trump and Brexit, Oxford Dictionaries has declared
Palestinians in nearly eight years. USA abstained from
“post-truth” as its international word of the year citing a
voting.
2,000 per cent spike in usage.
The word is an adjective, defined as “relating to or
DICTIONARY.COM SELECTS ‘XENOPHOBIA’
denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less
The website Dictionary.com has named the word
influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to
'Xenophobia' as the Word of the Year for 2016 due to a
emotion and personal belief”
very high surge in its search. It describes fear or hatred
of foreigners, people from different cultures, or strangers.
WORLD'S LARGEST MARINE PROTECTED AREA
24 countries and the European Union have unanimously
‘SURREAL’ IS THE WORD OF THE YEAR agreed to create the world's largest Marine Protected
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary has named ‘surreal’ as Area (MPA) in the Ross Sea next to Antarctica, covering
the ‘Word of the Year 2016’ as this word saw the around 1.6 million square kilometers. Now there will be
sharpest spike in look-ups over the previous year. a blanket ban on commercial fishing across about three
People used this word to describe astonishing victory of quarters of this area for next 35 years.
Donald Trump. Surreal means ‘very strange or
unusual: having the quality of a dream’.
 The 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
summit was held in Lima, Peru.
 China passed a new law to levy environment tax on  The International Competition Network has
polluters, especially on heavy industries for fighting announced that the 2018 ICN Annual Conference will
recurring pollution covers enveloping its cities. be hosted by the Competition Commission of India
(CCI).
 France has become the world’s first country to make
regular use of drone delivery in its national postal  World Meteorological Organisation data shows that
service. 2011 to 2015 were the warmest years and 2016 is
likely to break the record for the warmest year.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 25
 SALMAN KHAN: As per Forbes India Celebrity List,
PERSONS IN NEWS Salman Khan has been ranked no one, earning revenue
of Rs 270.33 crore, followed by Shah Rukh Khan at Rs
JANUARY 221.75 crore.

VINOD RAI: Former Comptroller and Auditor General SUNNY LEONE: The Bollywood actress has been
will head the 4-member panel of administrators for the declared PETA’s Person of the Year by the People for the
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for her
commitment for promoting the rescue of homeless dogs
PRIYANKA CHOPRA: Bollywood and cats, as well as her compassion for abused animals.
star won, for the second year,
MITHUN CHAKRABORTY: The 66-year-old actor was
USA’s prestigious “People’s
in news as he resigned from the Rajya Sabha citing
Choice Award for the Best
health issues. He was nominated by West Bengal's
Dramatic Actress” for her role in
ruling Trinamool Congress.
the popular TV series Quantico.
DONALD TRUMP: US President-elect was named by
SUSHMITA SEN: Former Miss Universe has been picked Time magazine as its Person of the Year 2016 for his
up to be on the judges panel of the upcoming 65th stunning upset victory in the US Presidential election.
edition of Miss Universe pageant that will take place on Incidentally, Mr Modi scored 18 per cent of popular
30 January, 2017 in Philippines. online votes as against only 7 percent won by Trump.

ANEROOD JUGNAUTH: Indian JOHN KEY: New Zealand's

origin Prime Minister of popular Prime Minister stunned
Mauritius resigned from his post the nation by announcing his
in favour of his son, Pravind resignation, after serving eight
Jugnauth, who is the Finance years as leader. He quoted
Minister. The President has ‘personal reasons’ as the ground
approved appointment of for stepping down.
Pravind as the next Prime
Minister of Mauritius. PARK GEUN-HYE: South Korea's President impeached
by the parliament over a corruption scandal, suspending
IRIS MITTENAERE: The French beauty was declared her powers. Now the country’s Constitutional Court will
the new Miss Universe at a glittering pageant held in have up to 180 days to determine whether to formally
Manila, The Philippines. end Park’s presidency or not.

ANJALI LAMA: The Nepalese model has become the first MATTEO RENZI: Italy's Prime Minister announced his
transgender to walk at the Lakme Fashion Week. stepping down from the office after he lost a referendum
on constitutional reforms.
DONALD TRUMP: 70 year old American business
tycoon and television personality took over as the 45th NOVEMBER
President of the United States on January 20. BHARAT RATNA SIR C V RAMAN
The 128th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Bharat
DECEMBER Ratna Sir CV Raman was celebrated on Nov 7. He
explained the phenomenon what makes the sea and
NARENDRA MODI: Indian Prime clear sky look blue. This is known as Raman effect for
Minister has been ranked 9th among which he was awarded Nobel prize in 1930.
the top 10 most powerful people in India celebrates National Science Day every year on
the world by Forbes. The list is February 28 to mark the discovery of Raman Effect.
topped by Russian President
Vladimir Putin for a fourth straight ADITYA PURI: CEO of HDFC Bank has been ranked 36th
year. in the US magazine Fortune's top 50 business persons in
the world list for 2016. He is the only Indian in the list
NAJEEB JUNG: Lt Governor of Delhi was in news as he that is topped by Facebook's Mark Zuckerburg.
tendered his resignation, after a nearly three-and-half-
year tenure, on the plea that he wanted to “return to RANVEER SINGH: Switzerland Tourism for the first
academics”. time has declared the Bollywood actor as the first Indian
ambassador for promoting tourism.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 26
KAMALA HARRIS: She is the first black woman elected Air Marshal BIRENDER SINGH DHANOA: New Chief of
to the upper chamber of Congress in USA, in more than the Indian Air Force
two decades.
ANIL DHASMANA: New Chief of India’s foreign
PEGGY WHITSON: The veteran NASA astronaut is the intelligence agency - Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)
first woman to have commanded the International RAJIV JAIN: New Director General of the Intelligence
Space Station-ISS and also holds the record for the Bureau, India’s main domestic intelligence agency.
longest time spent in space by a woman and that of
oldest space woman. VIRAL V ACHARYA: Appointed as the fourth Deputy
Governor of RBI in place of Dr. Urjit Patel. Presently he
is a professor of economics at New York University.
APPOINTMENTS V G KANNAN: Appointed Chief Executive Officer of the
Indian Banks’ Association (IBA)
JANUARY
O PANNEERSELVAM: Sworn in as new Chief
NATARAJAN CHANDRASEKARAN: CEO and MD of TCS Minister of Tamil Nadu
has been appointed as the new Chairman of Tata Sons.
V K SHARMA: Appointed as the Chairman of the Life
PROF. DAVID R SYIEMLIEH: Appointed as the Insurance Corporation (LIC) for five years.
Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission
(UPSC). Lt. Gen QAMAR BAJWA: Appointed as the Chief of
Pakistan Army
ALOK KUMAR VERMA: New Director of the Central
Bureau of Investigation. SULTAN MUHAMMAD V: Installed as the 15th King of
Malaysia
RAJESH GOPINATHAN: Appointed as the new CEO of
the Tata Consultancy Services – TCS. BILL ENGLISH: New Prime Minister of New Zealand

NATARAJAN CHANDRASEKARAN: CEO and MD of TCS PAOLO GENTILONI: Named as Italy's new Prime
has been appointed as the new Chairman of Tata Sons Minister

PRAVIND JUGNAUTH: Appointed as the new Prime NANA AKUFO-ADDO: Elected as the new President of
Minister of Mauritius. Ghana.

ADAMA BARROW: New President of The Gambia, a BERNARD CAZENEUVE: New Prime Minister of France
small country in West Africa. SHAVKAT MIRZIYOYEV: Elected as the new President
of Uzbekistan
ANTONIO TAJANI: Elected as the new President of the
European Parliament. ALEXANDER VAN DER BELLEN: Elected new President
of Austria
BERNARD CAZENEUVE: Appointed as the new prime
minister of France ADAMA BARROW: New President of Gambia (West
Africa)
DANIEL ORTEGA: Elected as the President of
Nicaragua for a third consecutive term. CROWN PRINCE MAHA VAJIRALONGKORN: 64 years
old Prince of Thailand was proclaimed as the new
JOVENEL MOISE: Elected as the President of Haiti.
monarch of Thailand, after the death of his father,
Thailand’s longest reigning monarch. He is the 10th
SORIN GRINDEANU: Appointed as the new Prime
monarch of the Chakri dynasty that dates back to 1782.
Minister of Romania.

DECEMBER NOVEMBER
PANKAJ R. PATEL: Elected as the President of the
JUSTICE JAGDISH SINGH KHEHAR: Appointed as the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
next (44th) Chief Justice of India, first to become CJI from Industry (FICCI). He is CMD of Cadila Healthcare.
the Sikh community.
DONALD TRUMP: Billionaire-turned-politician of
Republican Party has been elected the 45th President of
ANIL BAIJAL: Former union home secretary has
the United States of America.
been appointed Delhi's next Lieutenant Governor
GUY RYDER: Re-elected as the Director-General of the
Lt. Gen. BIPIN RAWAT: New Chief of the Indian Army International Labour Organisation (ILO) for another
Staff five-year term.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 27

DANIEL ORTEGA: Elected as the President of Nicaragua H.R.H. Princess Maha Literature
for the third time. 13. Chakri Sirindhorn & Thailand
KIM BYONG-JOON: New Prime Minister of South Korea (Foreigner) Education
Literature
MARIANO RAJOY: Prime Minister of Spain &
Late Shri Cho
Education Tamil
14. Ramaswamy
AWARDS & HONOURS (Posthumous)
–
Journalis
Nadu

m
JANUARY PADMA SHRI
PADMA AWARDS 2017 DECLARED Sr.
Name Field State
President of India approved conferment of Padma No
Awards on 89 persons comprising seven Padma 15. Smt. Basanti Bisht Art-Music Uttarakhand
Vibhushans, seven Padma Bhushans and 75 Padma Shri Shri Chemanchery
16. Art-Dance Kerala
awards, of which 19 awardees are women. Kunhiraman Nair
Smt. Aruna
17. Art-Dance Odisha
PADMA VIBHUSHAN Mohanty
Smt. Bharathi
18. Art-Cinema Karnataka
Sr. Vishnuvardhan
Name Field State 19. Shri Sadhu Meher Art-Cinema Odisha
No
1. Shri K J Yesudas Art-Music Kerala 20. Shri T K Murthy Art-Music Tamil Nadu
Others- Shri Laishram
Sadhguru Jaggi 21. Birendrakumar Art-Music Manipur
2. Spiritualis Tamil Nadu
Vasudev Singh
m
Shri Sharad Public Shri Krishna Ram Uttar
3. Maharashtra 22. Art-Music
Pawar Affairs Chaudhary Pradesh
Shri Murli Public 23. Smt. Baoa Devi Art-Painting Bihar
4. Uttar Pradesh 24. Shri Tilak Gitai Art-Painting Rajasthan
Manohar Joshi Affairs
Prof. Udipi Science & Dr. Prof. Aekka Art-
25. Telangana
5. Ramachandra Engineeri Karnataka Yadagiri Rao Sculpture
Rao ng Shri Jitendra
26. Art-Music Odisha
Late Shri Sunder Haripal
Lal Public Madhy8Prade 27. Shri Kailash Kher Art-Music Maharashtra
6.
Patwa (Posthum Affairs sh Smt. Parassala B
28. Art-Music Kerala
ous) Ponnammal
Late Shri PA Smt. Sukri
Public 29. Art-Music Karnataka
7. Sangma Meghalaya Bommagowda
Affairs
(Posthumous) 30. Shri Mukund Nayak Art-Music Jharkhand
Shri Purushottam
31. Art-Music Gujarat
PADMA BHUSHAN Upadhyay
Smt. Anuradha
Sr. 32. Art-Music Maharashtra
Name Field State Paudwal
No. Shri Wareppa Naba
Shri Vishwa Mohan 33. Art-Theatre Manipur
8. Art-Music Rajasthan Nil
Bhatt Shri Tripuraneni
Literature 34. Hanuman Civil Service Telangana
Prof. (Dr.) Devi Prasad Uttar
9. & Chowdary
Dwivedi Pradesh
Education Shri T.K.
Shri Tehemton Maharasht 35. Civil Service Haryana
10. Medicine Viswanathan
Udwadia ra 36. Shri Kanwal Sibal Civil Service Delhi
Others- Shri Birkha
Shri Ratna Sundar Literature &
11. Spirituali Gujarat 37. Bahadur Limboo Sikkim
Maharaj Education
sm Muringla
Swami Niranjana Others- Literature &
12. Bihar 38. Smt. Eli Ahmed Assam
Nanda Saraswati Yoga Education

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 28

 Literature & Shri Chintakindi Science & Andhra
39. Dr. Narendra Kohli Delhi 65.
Education Mallesham Engineering Pradesh
Prof. G. Literature & Shri Jitendra Nath Science &
40. Karnataka 66. Assam
Venkatasubbiah Education Goswami Engineering
Shri Akkitham Shri Daripalli
Literature & 67. Social Work Telangana
41. Achyuthan Kerala Ramaiah
Education
Namboothiri Shri Girish
68. Social Work Karnataka
Shri Kashi Nath Literature & Jammu & Bhardwaj
42.
Pandita Education Kashmir 69. Shri Karimul Hak Social Work West Bengal
Shri Chamu Krishna Literature & 70. Shri Bipin Ganatra Social Work West Bengal
43. Delhi
Shastry Education Smt. Nivedita
Shri Harihar Literature & Uttar 71. Social work Tamil Nadu
Raghunath Bhide
44.
Kripalu Tripathi Education Pradesh Shri Appasaheb
72. Social Work Maharashtra
Literature & Dharmadhikari
45. Shri Michel Danino Tamil Nadu
Education Baba Balbir Singh
Literature & 73. Social Work Punjab
Seechewal
46. Shri Punam Suri Delhi
Education Sports-
74. Shri Virat Kohli Delhi
Literature & Cricket
47. Shri VG Patel Gujarat
Education Sports-
75. Shri Shekar Naik Karnataka
Smt. V Literature & Andhra Cricket
48.
Koteswaramma Education Pradesh Sports-
Literature & 76. Shri Vikasa Gowda Discus Karnataka
49. Shri Balbir Dutt Education- Jharkhand Throw
Journalism Sports-
77. Smt. Deepa Malik Haryana
Literature & Athletics
Smt. Bhawana
50. Education- Maharashtra Shri Mariyappan Sports-
Somaaya 78. Tamil Nadu
Journalism Thangavelu Athletics
Literature & Sports-
51. Shri Vishnu Pandya Education- Gujarat 79. Smt. Dipa Karmakar Tripura
Gymnastics
Journalism Sports-
52. Dr. Subroto Das Medicine Gujarat 80. Shri P R Shreejesh Kerala
Hockey
Dr. (Smt.) Bhakti Madhya Sports-
53. Medicine 81. Smt. Sakshi Malik Haryana
Yadav Pradesh Wrestling
Dr. Mohammed Shri Mohan Reddy
54. Medicine Telangana Trade &
Abdul Waheed 82. Venkatrama Telangana
Dr. Madan Madhav Uttar Industry
55. Medicine Bodanapu
Godbole Pradesh
Shri Imrat Khan
Dr. Devendra 83. Art-Music USA
56. Medicine Gujarat (NRI/PIO)
Dayabhai Patel
Prof. Harkishan Shri Anant Agarwal Literature &
57. Medicine Chandigarh 84. USA
Singh (NRI/PIO) Education
58. Dr. Mukut Minz Medicine Chandigarh Shri H.R. Shah Literature &
Shri Arun Kumar Others- 85. Education- USA
(NRI/PIO)
59. Chhattisgarh Journalism
Sharma Archaeology
Others- Late (Smt.) Suniti
60. Shri Sanjeev Kapoor Maharashtra 86. Solomon Medicine Tamil Nadu
Culinary
(Posthumous)
Smt. Meenakshi Others-
61. Kerala Shri Asoke Kumar
Amma Martial Art Others-
Shri Genabhai Others- 87. Bhattacharyya West Bengal
62. Gujarat Archaeology
Dargabhai Patel Agriculture (Posthumous)
Shri Chandrakant Science & Dr. Mapuskar
63. Telangana 88. Social Work Maharashtra
Pithawa Engineering (Posthumous)
Prof. Ajoy Kumar Science & Smt. Anuradha
64. West Bengal 89. Social Work Nepal
Ray Engineering
Koirala (Foreigner)

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 29

ASHOK CHAKRA: The highest peace time gallantry
award was conferred upon Havildar Hangpan Dada, who
killed four terrorists before laying down his life in
Kupwara on May 26 last year.

Miss Universe 2017 - Final Results

Iris Mittenaere- France
First Runner-Up: Raquel Pelissier (Miss Universe Haiti)
Second Runner-Up: Andrea Tovar (Miss Universe
Colombia)

The Delhi International Airport Limited won the

Golden Peacock Award for Corporate Social
Responsibility in the aviation transport sector for the
year 2016.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD for the Best Dramatic

Actress: Priyanka Chopra won this prestigious US SHILP GURU AWARDS: Presented by the President for
award for her role in the popular TV series Quantico. outstanding work by the artisans in promoting
traditional handicrafts. The Award carries a gold coin,
two lakh rupees, a Tamarapatra, an Angavastram and a
62ND FILMFARE AWARDS HELD AT MUMBAI certificate.
Best Film: ‘Dangal’ directed by Nitesh Tiwari
Best Actor: Aamir Khan for Dangal INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN's PEACE PRIZE:
Best Actress: Alia Bhatt for Udta Punjab Awarded to Kehkashan Basu, a 16-year-old Indian
Best Director: Nitesh Tiwari for Dangal environmental activist for her fight for climate justice
Lifetime Acheivment: Shatrugan Sinha and combating environmental degradation.
TURNER PRIZE: Britain’s top award for contemporary
AMITABH BACHCHAN: The megastar was honoured by art was awarded to multimedia artist Helen Marten of
the US Embassy in appreciation for his invaluable London.
contributions to the US-India partnership on
Miss Supranational 2016: Srinidhi Shetty of India in
tuberculosis.
Krynica Zdroj, Poland
THE 74TH GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS for cinema and TV Miss International 2016: Kylie Verzosa from
were held in Beverly Hills, California (USA) Philippines
Best Motion Picture: Moonlight directed by Barry Miss Earth 2016: Katherine Espin, Ecuador
Jenkins
Best Director: Damien Chazelle for La La Land MISS WORLD 2016: Stephanie del Valle of Puerto Rico
Best Actress: Isabelle Huppert for Elle
Best Actor: Casey Affleck for Manchester by the Sea NOVEMBER
DECEMBER WORLD SANSKRIT AWARD: Maha Chakri Sirindhorn,
Princess of Thailand became the first awardee of this
JNANPITH AWARD – 2016: Eminent modern Bengali new award given for exemplary contribution for the
poet Shankha Ghosh. He is an authority on Nobel promotion of Sanskrit language.
Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
Instituted in 1961, the award recognises Indian Dr NAGENDRA SINGH INTERNATIONAL PEACE
litterateurs who write in one of the 22 Indian languages AWARD: Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for his
listed in Schedule Eight of the Indian Constitution. efforts in ensuring world peace.
THE GOLDEN PEACOCK: award for the best film at IFFI
BEST MSME BANK AWARD: bagged by the won by the Iranian film "Daughter" directed by Reza
Corporation Bank in public sector and by Karnataka Mirkarimi.
bank in Private sector. The award is given by
ASSOCHAM. Ramnath Goenka Awards for Excellence in
Journalism are given annually to honour exceptional
BEST BANK FOR SME LENDING: bagged by the Vijaya work across 28 categories in journalism.
Bank. The award is given by ASSOCHAM.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 30
THE NEW SHAPE PRIZE: A Swedish investor and Courts of India – Past to Present, a book edited by a
philanthropist, Lrszlu Szombatfalvy, has offered a $5 board of the Supreme Court of India. It is a
million prize for the best idea to develop a decision- comprehensive history of courts and judicial system in
making system capable of tackling global challenges India.
such as extreme poverty, spread of nuclear weapons
and climate change etc. NOVEMBER
Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Death Under The Deodars by Ruskin Bond
Water: Given once in two years by the Saudi Arabia to
The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad by Twinkle Khanna,
recognize the persons for doing excellent work in
Bollywood celebrity.
solving problems of water crisis.
India Rising: Fresh Hope New Fears by Ravi Vellor
MAN BOOKER PRIZE: Paul Beatty became the first
American writer to win this prestigious prize for Pound ‘An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India’ by
50,000 for English literature for his novel ‘The Sellout’. Dr. Shashi Tharoor, MP
SAKHAROV PRIZE (for human rights): Awarded by
the European Parliament to Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji
Bashar, two Yazidi women who were held as sex slaves OBITUARY
by ISIS militants. They have campaigned for human
rights since escaping from ISIS. JANUARY
OM PURI: Legendary cinema and
BOOKS & AUTHORS theater actor passed away after a
massive heart attack in Mumbai. He
will always be remembered for his
JANUARY outstanding performance in films
An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India by like Ardhsatya, Aakrosh. He also
Shashi Tharoor acted in several Pakistani, British
and Hollywood films.
The Spy by Paulo Coelho
Jinnah Often Came to Our House by Kiran Doshi. The SURJIT SINGH BARNALA: Former Punjab Chief
book won The Hindu Prize 2016 Minister and former Governor of Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh and Uttarakhand, passed away at Chandigarh.
'Akhada' - biography of former wrestler and coach
He was 91.
Mahavir Singh Phogat on whose life film ‘Dangal’ has
been made.
NAQSH LYALLPURI: Renowned
The People's President: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam by S M Urdu poet and Bollywood lyricist
Khan, President’s press secretary Jaswant Rai Sharma, known to the
world by his pen name, died at the
Brothers by Manju Kapur
age of 89. Some of his best songs
Immortal by Krishna Udayasankar include, Main to har modh par tujh
kodunga sad; Na Jane kya hua, jo
Necessary Trouble: Americans in Revolt by Sarah
tune chhu liya and Ulfat me zamane
Jaffe
ki har rasm ko thukrao.
Khullam Khulla - Autobiography of Bollywood veteran
Rishi Kapoor MASAYA NAKAMURA: The “Father of Pac-Man”, who
founded the Japanese video game company behind the
DECEMBER hit creature-gobbling game, is no more. Pac-Man, which
had gone on sale in 1980 has been played over 10 billion
The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
times, a Guinness Book record.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J K
Rowling. AKBAR HASHEMI RAFSANJANI: Two times former
Black Water Lilies by Michel Bussi Iranian President died at 82. He was an influential figure
in Iranian politics.
Many Everests by Ravindra Kumar, an IAS officer of
2011 batch who scaled Mt Everest.
ALEXANDER KADAKIN: Russian Ambassador in India,
Conflicts of Interest: My Journey through India's Green considered a great friend of India, passed away in New
Movement by Sunita Narain. She is a noted Delhi after a brief illness.
environment activist.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 31
NAT HENTOFF: Famous author, journalist, jazz critic JOHN GLENN: A trailblazing US astronaut, who became
and civil libertarian of USA passed away at 91. He wrote the first American to orbit the Earth and the first senior
regularly for the Village Voice, The New Yorker, The citizen to venture into space, died aged 95.
Washington Post, Down Beat magazine and authored
dozens of books. NOVEMBER
DILEEP PADGAONKAR: A very eminent multifaceted
TONY ATKINSON: Eminent British economist and a
journalist of India passed away at the age of 72 in
noted scholar at the London School of Economics died in
Pune. He was associated with The Times of India as its
Oxford, UK. His research in the field of income
editor.
distribution influenced studies of poverty and inequality
in India. RAM NARESH YADAV: Former Governor of Madhya
Pradesh and ex Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh passed
JOHN BERGER: The Booker-prize-winning British and a away in Lucknow at the age of 89.
revolutionary art critic passed away. His book, Ways of
Lt Gen S K SINHA: Former Governor of Assam and
Seeing, had a considerable effect on how visual art was
Jammu and Kashmir died at the age of 92.
appreciated.
Prof MGK MENON: An acclaimed physicist who played
a prominent role in the development of science and
DECEMBER technology in the country over the last five decades,
died at the age of 88. A former chairman of ISRO, he was
J. JAYALALITHA: The 68-
honoured with Padma Vibhushan.
year old charismatic
AIADMK Chief, Chief M BALAMURALIKRISHNA: Padma Vibhushan awardee
Minister of Tamil Nadu died veteran Carnatic vocalist and musician aged 86, passed
on Dec 5, after prolonged away in Chennai.
illness in Chennai. She held
the office of Chief Minister of FIDEL CASTRO: The legendary communist
Tamil Nadu for record six revolutionary and former President of Cuba died at age
times. She was immensely popular with people who of 90. He led a coup in 1959 to overthrow the regime of
called her “Puratchi Thalaivi”(revolutionary leader) the US-backed former Cuban president Fulgencio
with love. An iconic heroine, she gave more than 80 Batista, and remained hostile to Washington throughout
silver jubilee hits in Tamil. his life.

SUNDARLAL PATWA: BJP veteran, former Union

minister and two-time Madhya Pradesh chief minister PLACES IN NEWS
died in Bhopal. He was 92.
JANUARY
SAUMITRA CHAUDHURI: Eminent economist and a
former member of the erstwhile Planning Commission, DHARAMSALA: Himachal Pradesh govt has declared
passed away in New Delhi. that Dharamsala would be the second capital of the
State. The city is important for the lower areas of
SRINIVASA IYER RAMASWAMY: Popularly known as Himachal Pradesh, including Kangra, Chamba, Hamirpur
Cho Ramaswamy, political satirist and founder editor of and Una districts.
Thuglak magazine, passed away at the age of 82 due to
cardiac arrest in a Chennai hospital. KARANG: A small island located in fresh water lake
Loktak in Manipur, has become the country’s first
CARRIE FISHER: Popular US actress, best known as Star cashless island.
Wars‘ Princess Leia Organa, died after suffering a heart
attack. She was 60. BENGALURU: The capital of Karnataka has been ranked
number one in a global study conducted by World
GEORGE MICHAEL: Iconic Economic Forum to identify dynamic cities. It is
British pop singer, prolific followed by Ho chi Minh City, Vietnam with Hyderabad
songwriter and music at 5th place.
producer, rated as one of the
world's biggest-selling artists, MAWLYNNONG: a village in Meghalaya has become a
passed away at the young age role model for other states in maintaining cleanliness.
of 53. He was famous for his Termed as Asia’s cleanest village, Mawlynnong has
band Wham! become tourists' hotspot.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 32
PATNA: Capital of Bihar was in news as lakhs of NOVEMBER
devotees from all over the world visited Gandhi Maidan
to participate in the grand ‘Prakash Parv’ organised to
celebrate the 350th birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh PUKHRAYAN: Place near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh was in
guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh. news as over 145 passengers were killed and more than
180 persons were injured there as the 14 bogies of the
QUEBEC: The city in Canada saw at least six killings in a Indore-Patna Express derailed in a major train mishap.
shooting incident at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre.
SENDAI: A powerful earthquake rocked Sendai in
northern Japan, generating a tsunami that hit the same
DECEMBER
region devastated by a massive quake, tsunami and
MAJULI: Assam has decided to convert its island nuclear disaster in 2011.
district into India's first ever carbon neutral district by
2020 to fight against climate change and reduce the
emission of greenhouse gases. SPORTS WORLD
CYCLONE VARDAH: It crossed the Chennai coast and
ripped through the city killing over ten persons and JANUARY
leaving a trail of destruction in the form of uprooted INDIAN
trees, damaged roof sheets and more.
PV Sindhu: The Olympic silver medallist won her
HAVELOCK ISLAND: Around 1,400 tourists were
maiden women's singles crown at the Syed Modi Grand
stranded in this island and adjoining Neil Island in
Andamans due to cyclonic disturbances. Six ships of the Prix Gold badminton tournament in Lucknow. She
Indian Navy and two Indian Coast Guard ships were defeated Indonesia's Gregoria Mariska in the summit
deputed to rescue all the tourists safely. clash

KOLKATA: Capital of West Bengal has been listed in the Virat Kohli became the fastest batsman in the world to
top 10 best cities of 2016 in world in recognition of its score 1,000 runs as captain in One-Day Internationals
inspiring and innovative programme with regard (ODIs), playing against England at the Eden Gardens,
to solid waste management.
Kolkata.
AKODARA: Village in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat
Saina Nehwal defeated Pornpawee Chochuwong of
has earned the title of becoming first digital village in
India. The village, which sustains a total population of Thailand to win the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold
1191 people, uses various cashless systems for all final in Sarawak, Malaysia.
payments of goods and services.
Sania Mirza alongwith American Bethanie Mattek-
NAGROTA: A group of heavily-armed terrorists in police Sands won the Brisbane International women's doubles
uniform stormed an army unit in Nagrota, near Jammu title in Australia.
city on Nov 29, triggering an intense gunbattle that
lasted for several hours. Seven army personnel, Virat Kohli, the young dynamic batsman has been
including two officers, were killed in the attack that selected to lead Indian cricket team in all three formats
killed three terrorists.
– test match, ODI and T-20.
NADA: Name of the cyclone that caused widespread
heavy rains in coastal Tamil Nadu. M S DHONI: Iconic cricketer and one of the most
successful Indian captains shocked his fans and admires
PEARL HARBOR: The USA observed the 75th
by announcing his retirement from the captaincy of ODI
anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii that claimed more than 2,400 American lives. and T20 format.
About 20 US vessels were sunk or damaged and over
300 US aircrafts were damaged or destroyed when over Cricket icon Kapil Dev was inducted into Legends Club
350 Japanese warplanes launched attacks stealthily on 'Hall of Fame' in Mumbai.
Dec 7, 1941.
Shreyas Mehta: India Under-13 squash player won the
PIDIE JAYA: Meureudu, a small town in Pidie Jaya Aceh prestigious Scottish Junior Open title in Edinburg,
province in Indonesia was struck with a powerful earth
Scotland.
quake claiming around 100 lives.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 33
FORMER CAG VINOD RAI TO STEER BCCI: The Cristiano Ronaldo was named the World's Best Player
Supreme Court has appointed the former Comptroller at the Best FIFA Football Awards in Zurich, Switzerland.
and Auditor General Vinod Rai to head the 4-member
SAFF Women’s Football Championship: India
panel of administrators for the Board of Control for defeated Bangladesh in Siliguri, WB, to win the cup for
Cricket in India (BCCI). The others on the panel include the fourth consecutive time.
cricket historian Ramchandra Guha, former Indian
women cricket captain Diana Aduljee and IDFC Li Xiaoxia, China's table tennis Olympic champion has
Managing Director and CEO Vikram Limaye. announced her retirement.

Irani Trophy (cricket): Rest of India clinched recent Lionel Messi, iconic Football player from Argentina has
been named as the World’s Best Playmaker for the year
Ranji Trophy champions Gujarat in Mumbai.
2016 by the International Federation of Football History
All India Football Federation launched the first ever & Statistics (IFFHS).
Women’s Professional League, to be played in New
USAIN BOLT LOOSES A GOLD MEDAL: Jamaican men’s
Delhi.
4x100m relay team has been stripped of the gold medal
Pro Wrestling League: Punjab Royals won the title by won in Rio Olympics as their team mate Nesta Carter
defeating Haryana Hammers in New Delhi. failed the dope test. As a result, Usain Bolt, another
member of the team, also lost a gold medal, thereby
Premier Badminton League: Chennai spoiling his haul of triple gold in three consecutive
Smashers defeated Mumbai Rockets at the Siri Fort Olympics.
Complex, New Delhi, to win the tournament.
SPECIAL STAMP ON 3 OLYMPIAN SPORTS GIRLS
Ranji Trophy: Gujarat won this national trophy for the The Indian postal department released a special stamp
first time, beating Mumbai in the final at Indore, Madhya cover titled Golden girls of India – Pride of Nation. The
special cover feature the 2016 Olympic medalists
Pradesh.
gymnast Dipa Karmakar, shuttler PV Sindhu and
wrestler Sakshi Malik, all three winner of nation’s
Khelo India National level Sports Competitions were
highest sports award Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2016.
held in New Delhi. Around one thousand participants
from over 25 states took part.
DECEMBER
INTERNATIONAL Pankaj Advani, ace Indian cueist won his 11th World
Billiards (150-Up format) Championship title after
Roger Federer: The Swiss star annexed his 18th Grand defeating world champion Peter Gilchrist of Singapore
Slam trophy in the Men's Singles of Australian Open in in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Melbourne. He defeated Rafael Nadal of Spain to claim He also won the bronze medal at the IBSF World
the title. Federer also became the second-oldest winner Snooker Championship in Doha, UAE and the National
of a Grand Slam tournament after the Australian player title in 6-red Snooker championship held in Mumbai.
Ken Rosewall.
Arjun Bhati, a 12 year old school boy from Noida won
Serena Williams: Sarena Williams Beats Venus the Kids Golf World Championship in Malaysia, beating
Williams to Win Her 7th Australian Open Title. golfers from 21 countries.
Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain won the men’s singles Anmol Jain, 18 year old boy from Haryana shocked the
title of the 2017 Chennai Open Tennis Championship. senior Olympians by winning the men’s 10m air pistol
event in the National Shooting Championship held in
Abbu Ammaz, an eight-year old boy from Jammu and
Kashmir's Rajouri won gold medal in National level Pune. Satyendra Singh of Indian Army clinched the gold
Thaiboxing Championship. medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia won the Qatar Open tennis Yuki Bhambri won the $10000 ITF Hong Kong F4
title in Doha, defeating Andy Murray of UK. Futures Tennis Cup in Hong Kong.
International Football body FIFA has decided to expand
the World Cup Tournament to 48 teams from its current Smriti Mandhana has become the first Indian
32. The change will be effected from the 2026 batswoman to figure in the ICC’s Women’s team of the
tournament. year.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 34

Iqbal Sayed of Mumbai won the silver medal in the Junior World Cup Hockey – Indian boys won the cup
Classic Bodybuilding category in Olympia Amateur Asia after a gap of 15 years by beating Belgium in the finals
Contest in Hong Kong. played in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
Mukesh Kumar became the oldest golfer (51 years) to Asia Cup Twenty-20 tournament: Indian Women's
win an Asian Tour title by winning Panasonic Open Golf team lead by Mithali Raj defeated arch-rivals Pakistan
Championship in New Delhi. by 17 runs in the final played at Bangkok.
Hashim Mansoor, seven-year-old primary school The Bank of Baroda has become the first Indian
student from Bandipora, J&K won the gold medal at the company to sign up as a national supporter for the FIFA
Asian Youth Karate Championship in New Delhi. Under-17 World Cup India to be held in October, 2017
Shiva Keshavan of India clinched a gold medal at the AIBA (Amateur International Boxing Association) has
Asian Luge Championships in Nagano, Japan. granted full membership to the recently-formed Boxing
L Y Suhas, Uttar Pradesh-based IAS officer won the Federation of India.
Asian Para-Badminton Championships in Beijing. Gujarat Cricket Association plans to make Sardar Patel
Cricket Stadium in Motera, Ahmadabad as the world’s
P V Sindhu won the Badminton World Federation’s
biggest cricket stadium in terms of seating capacity for
Most Improved Player of the Year award 1,10,000 spectators.
Virat Kohli became first Indian and fifth batsman in The 2022 National Games will be hosted by
world to score three double centuries consecutively in Meghalaya.
one calendar year. The record was made playing test
YOGA DELISTED AS SPORTS
match against England in Mumbai. Union Sports Ministry has decided that from January 1,
Ravichandran Ashwin has become the third Indian 2017, yoga will no longer be a sports discipline. The
Health Ministry’s department of AYUSH will take charge
player ever to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy after
of yoga and it will be performed purely for recreational
being named the ICC Cricketer of the Year and also the purpose from January 1, 2017.
ICC Test Cricketer of the Year.
IAAF ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have Men: Sprint king Usain Bolt of Jamaica
made it a rare instance of two Indian bowlers topping Women: Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia, 10,000m world
the ICC Test rankings. record holder

Karun Nair has become the second Indian player after IAAF - International Association of Athletics Federations
Virender Sehwag to hit triple century in test cricket. He
made 303 run, not out, playing against England in INTERNATIONAL TENNIS FEDERATION
Chennai, Tamil Nadu. DECLARES WORLD CHAMPIONS 2016

Vijender Singh knocked out Men: Andy Murray of Britain

former world champion Francis Women: Angelique Kerber of Germany
Cheka to retain WBO-Asia Pacific BBC Sports Personality of the Year-2016: Andy
Super Middleweight title in a Murray, the first British Tennis player to get this award.
challenging fight in New Delhi.
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan won the Hero World
Indian boys defeated Sri Lanka to lift the Asian Cricket Challenge Golf Championship in Nassau, Bahamas.
Council’s Under-19 Asia Cup title in Colombo.
Cristiano Ronaldo, (of Portugal)forward player of Real
India won the five-match test series against England Madrid Club, Spain, won the prestigious Ballon d'Or
award, 2016 for a fourth time.
in a clean sweep of 4-0. The first match ended in draw.
Virat Kohli was declared ‘man of the series’ with a total Magnus Carlsen of Norway won the World Chess
of 655 runs. Championship for the third consecutive time after
defeating challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia.
Atletico De Kolkata Football team won the Indian
Super League football tournament after defeating Kerala 2016 Women's Hockey Junior World Cup won by
Blasters in Kochi, Kerala. Argentina by defeating Netherland in Santiago, Chile.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 35
PLANE CRASH KILLS FOOTBALL TEAM Indian Roller Skaters team claimed their first ever
A chartered plane of Lamia airlines, carrying a Brazilian International medal by securing the bronze medal in the
first division football team crashed near Medellin, 3000m team relay event in Lishui, China.
Colombia, killing 71 people. The Chapecoense team from
southern Brazil was going to play a match in Medellin, Men's Asian Champions (Hockey) Trophy: India
Colombia. lifted the trophy by defeating Pakistan in the finals
played at Kuantan, Malaysia.

NOVEMBER Asian Champions Trophy (women): The Indian

Aditi Ashok scripted history becoming the first Indian hockey team lifted the trophy by a win over China in
woman to win a Ladies European Tour title by clinching Singapore.
the Hero Women's Indian Open at Gurugram, Haryana.
She also won the inaugural Qatar Ladies Open Golf Cup The U-17 FIFA World Cup will be held in India next
in Doha. year, from October 6 to 28 in 2017. India will host a
Sachin Singh became the third Indian boxer ever to bag FIFA-accredited football tournament for the first time.
gold at the AIBA Youth World Championships.
DHONI RANKS 10TH IN BRAND VALUE
Pratul Joshi won the men’s singles title of the Bahrain The annual Forbes Fab 40 list, which estimates the
International Challenge badminton tournament. brand value of top sports labels, athletes, teams and
events, reveals that Dhoni’s brand value stood at $11
Gaganjeet Bhullar won the BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia
million this year, placing him at 10th rank in world and
Open Golf Championship in Jakarta.
at the top in India. (first rank in the world is held by
P V Sindhu clinched the Super Series Premier title at Roger Federer, Lawn Tennis)
China Open after edging out Sun Yu of China in the final Lewis Hamilton of Britain won the Abu Dhabi Grand
in Fuzhou, China. Prix and also the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix in Mexico
City, besides winning the Brazilian Grand Prix Formula
Eight-year-old Tajamul Islam scripted history at the 1 championship.
World Kickboxing Championship in Italy, becoming first
ever Indian to win gold medal in the sub-junior Andy Murray of Britain won the ATP World Tour
category. Finals in London after beating Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
He attained the world number one ranking in Tennis for
Indian golfer SSP Chawrasia clinched the $1 million the first time, replacing Djokovic.
(Rs. 6.8 crore) Resorts World Manila Masters in the
Philippines, his first ever Asian Tour title outside India. Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia defeated Angelique
Kerber of Germany to win the WTA Finals played in
International Master Padmini Rout won the National Singapore.
Women Premier Chess Championship for the third time Manny Pacquiao of Philippines reclaimed the WBO
in a row. welterweight title for the third time in Las Vegas, USA
Sania Mirza ended the current season as world's top by beating Jesse Vargas of USA.
doubles Tennis player for the second straight year. WTA Elite Singles Trophy: Czech Republic’s Petra
Kvitova won the trophy by defeating Elina Svitolina of
M C Mary Kom, five time world champion and Olympics Ukraine in Zhuhai, China.
bronze winner Indian boxer was honoured with the
'Legends Award' by the International Boxing Argentina won the Davis Cup (tennis) beating Croatia
Association (AIBA) in the finals in Zagreb, Croatia.

Narinder Batra has become the first Indian to be

elected the President of the International Hockey
Federation.
Indian women’s team defeated Sri Lanka to win the
gold at the World carrom championship in Birmingham
(UK). Indian men’s team won silver, beaten to gold by
Sri Lanka.
Indian wushu team won five medals, including four
silver and one bronze, in the 8th Sanda World Cup held
at Xian, China.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 36

 JANUARY 30: ANTI LEPROSY DAY
DAYS & DATES This day is observed to commemorate Mahatma
Gandhi’s death anniversary, who attained martyrdom
on this day in 1948, to remember his selfless efforts and
care for the people affected with leprosy. Leprosy is a
chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium
leprae, which usually affects the skin and peripheral
nerves.

DECEMBER
DECEMBER 03: National Pollution Control Day
JANUARY
JANUARY 4: WORLD BRAILLE DAY
Observed across the world to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille
language for the blind persons. The Braille language is
based on the patterns of raised dots on paper.

JANUARY 9: PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS

Observed every year to commemorate the return of Observed every year to make the people and industries
Mahatma Gandhi as a Pravasi from South Africa to India aware about the need of Pollution Control Acts.
in 1915. Ministry of External Affairs holds a 3 day PBD Thousands of human beings lost their lives on this day
convention every year on this occasion to engage the in 1984 due to the Bhopal gas tragedy.
Central and state governments with the Overseas Indian
DECEMBER 04: Indian Navy Day
Community.
JANUARY 12: NATIONAL YOUTH DAY Observed every year to celebrate the achievements of
Observed annually to commemorate the birth day of the naval force. On this day in 1971 Indo-Pak war;
Swami Vivekananda. The 21st National Youth Festival Indian Navy played a significant role in the bombing of
was held in Rohtak. The theme of this year’s Festival is the Karachi harbor.
‘Youth for Digital India’.
DECEMBER 05: The World Soil Day
JANUARY 10: WORLD HINDI DAY
Ministry of External Affairs celebrates this day through Supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation,
its missions/posts abroad and the Department of this day is observed to promote and preserve the quality
Official Language (Rajbhasha) to conduct special events of soil around the world. The theme for this year is
to spread the greatness of the Hindi language. Pl note “Soils and pulses, a symbiosis for life”.
that National Hindi Day is observed every year on
September 14. DECEMBER 07: Armed Forces Flag Day
Celebrated all over India every year to collect the funds
JANUARY 15: INDIAN ARMY DAY
The day marks the taking over of the charge of Indian from people all around the country for the wellbeing of
Army by the first Indian Commander-in-Chief, Field the staff of the Indian Armed Forces.
Marshal K M Cariappa, in 1948.
DECEMBER 09: International Anti-Corruption Day
JANUARY 24: NATIONAL GIRL CHILD DAY Observed every year with UN support to raise
Celebrated every year with the objective of raising awareness about corruption and means to combat and
consciousness of the society towards the girl child so prevent it. Theme for this year is “United against
that she can be valued and respected. corruption for development, peace and security”.
JANUARY 25: NATIONAL VOTERS’ DAY DECEMBER 10: Human Rights Day
Celebrated every year across the country for enhanced
Celebrated every year to commemorate the Universal
participation of citizens in the electoral process. It is
also the foundation day of the Election Commission, Declaration of Human Rights by the General Assembly of
which came into being on this day in 1950. the United Nations. The slogan of this year is ‘stand up
for someone's rights today’.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 37

DECEMBER 16: Vijay Diwas NOVEMBER 14: World Diabetes Day
Celebrated every year to commemorate India’s historic Supported by WHO, International Diabetes Federation
victory over Pakistan in 1971 war. The swift and observes this day globally to spread the awareness
about fighting the menace of diabetes. This year’s theme
professionally planned operations executed by the
is ‘Eyes on Diabetes’.
Indian Armed Forces led to one of the greatest military
victories recorded in the annals of world history. NOVEMBER 20: Universal Children’s Day
Supported by the United Nations, it is celebrated every
year to promote international togetherness, awareness
DECEMBER 20: International Human Solidarity Day among children worldwide, and improving children's
Observed every year supported by UNO to celebrate welfare.
unity in diversity of human beings with the aim of lifting
NOVEMBER 26: The Constitution Day
people out of poverty, hunger and disease.
It was on this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly
adopted the Constitution, though it came into force a
DECEMBER 24: National Consumer Day
On this day, the Consumer year later.
Protection Act, 1986 had received NOVEMBER 26: The National Milk Day
the assent of the President. The Observed across India to mark 95th birth anniversary of
Day is observed to promote the Dr Verghese Kurien, the Father of the White Revolution.
national consumer movement and
to highlight awareness about the
OCTOBER
basic rights of all consumers. OCTOBER 3: The World Habitat Day
It is observed to raise awareness about the need for
DECEMBER 23: Kisan Diwas
affordable housing for all in urban areas, towns and
Observed every year to celebrate the birth anniversary
cities. The theme this year is ‘Housing at the Centre’.
of the country’s fifth prime minister and kisan leader,
Ch. Charan Singh. OCTOBER 5: World Teachers’ Day
It is observed across the world to support and
DECEMBER 25: Good Governance Day popularize teachers’ organizations to ensure their in
Observed to mark the birthday of former Prime Minister educating the children. The theme for this year is
Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Government has launched Good “Valuing Teachers, Improving their Status”.
Governance campaign for 100 days to popularize
highlights of the government's key initiatives to improve OCTOBER 8: Air Force Day
delivery systems, digital transformation in all sectors. Celebrated every year on the occasion of raising day of
Indian Air Force. This year it is their 84th anniversary.
NOVEMBER
OCTOBER 10 - World day Against the Death Penalty
NOVEMBER 5: World Tsunami Awareness Day Observed around the world to fight against the death
Observed across the world to spread awareness about penalty and to abolish the capital punishment. This
the dangers of tsunami and measures to avert and year’s theme is 'The Death Penalty does not stop drug
minimize the damages by tsunami. The theme for the crimes'.
year is Effective Education and Evacuation Drills.
OCTOBER 10-World Mental Health Day:
NOVEMBER 12: Public Service Broadcasting Day The day is observed to raise awareness about mental
On this day, Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in
visited the studio of All India Radio, Delhi to address the support of mental health.
The theme for this year is - Psychological First Aid.
nation for the first and the last time in 1947.
OCTOBER 11: International Day of the Girl Child
NOVEMBER 12: World Pneumonia Day
Observed around the world to promote the rights of
Observed across the world to raise awareness about
pneumonia, promote interventions to protect against, girls and address the unique challenges they face. The
prevent and treat pneumonia. It is world’s leading killer theme for this year is action for increased investment in
of children under the age of five. This year’s theme is, collecting and analyzing girl-focused, girl-relevant and
"Keep the Promise, Stop Pneumonia Now". sex-disaggregated data.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 38
 OCTOBER 24: United Nations Day
It marks the anniversary of the foundation day of the
UNO. On this day in 1945, the UN Charter came in to
force.
October 28: The National Ayurveda Day
The Ministry of AYUSH launched ‘Mission Madhumeha’
to start National Treatment Protocol for effective
management of Diabetes through Ayurveda.
October 31: Rashtriya Ekta Diwas
It is observed to mark of the birth anniversary of Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel. The theme this year is Integration of
India. It is also the death anniversary of Smt Indira
Gandhi.
ALL THE NEWS ITEMS IN THIS MAGAZINE HAVE BEEN SOURCED
FROM VARIOUS NEWS PAPERS AND GOVT. PRESS RELEASES.

OCTOBER 13 (Second Thursday): World Sight Day

Observed across the world on second Saturday of
October to spread awareness on blindness and vision
impairment. This year’s theme is Stronger Together.

OCTOBER 14: World Standards Day

Observed worldwide to create awareness about
following prescribed international standards for various
products and services in our day to day life. The theme
for this year is “Standards Build Trust".

OCTOBER 15: World Student Day

Observed annually supported by the UNO to
commemorate the birthday of great scientist and
revered teacher, Bharat Ratna Dr. Abdul Kalam to salute
his unparalleled passion and love for students and
teaching.

OCTOBER 16: World Food Day

Observed across the world with the theme this year -
Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too.
It is the founding day of the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945.

OCTOBER 17: International Day for the Eradication

of Poverty
Observed each year since 1993, supported by the UNO.
This year's theme is Moving from humiliation and
exclusion to participation: Ending poverty in all its forms.

OCTOBER 21: Police Commemoration Day

It is celebrated every year to honour the sacrifices of ten
policemen while defending the borders with China in
1959.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 39
 Shining Stars of Gyanm

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 40

 Bullet News
(AUGUST – OCTOBER 2016)
For details visit – www.gyanm.in

 A 10-day 'Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav' was held at

NATIONAL NEWS Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in New
Delhi from Oct 15 to 24.
OCTOBER  The first National Tribal Carnival was held in New
Delhi to promote a sense of inclusiveness amongst
 The two-day BRICS Summit was held in Benaulim, the tribals and to showcase their culture.
Goa on Oct 15-16. The group agreed to cooperate in  The first ever International Conference on Voter
controlling the trans-border terrorism. Education was held in New Delhi, hosted by the
 The BIMSTEC (The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Election Commission of India.
Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic  India donated Rs. 9.3 million to the Nelson Mandela
Cooperation) meeting was held in Goa. Foundation to help it in its welfare work for the
 Vice President Hamid Ansari visited Nigeria and people of South Africa.
Mali and held wide-ranging discussions with the  The UNO has selected north-eastern region of India
leadership of both the countries. for setting up second global university to facilitate
 India's ranking in the World Bank's Ease of Doing study on resolution of conflicts and other subjects.
Business survey improved by just one notch to
130th in 2017 from 131st rank last year, SEPTEMBER
 The State Counselor of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi  Prime Minister Modi visited Vietnam on Sep 3 to
arrived in India on a four day visit to attend the
deepen ties in key areas of defence, security and
BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit in Goa.
trade, and ramping up India's engagement in oil
 Vice President Hamid Ansari visited Hungary and exploration.
Algeria to discuss bilateral cooperation in trade and
 Mr Modi visited Hangzhou, China to attend the
combating terrorism. annual summit of powerful G-20 group.
 India climbed steep 16 places to the 39th rank on  The Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru has been
the Global Competitiveness Index prepared by the ranked best university in India by the Times Higher
World Economic Forum. Education World University Rankings.
 India slipped to 97th rank amongst 118 countries on  Supreme Court struck down the acquisition of land
the Global Hunger Index compiled by the in West Bengal's Singur in 2006 for Tata’s Nano car
International Food Policy Research Institute. project and called it bad in law, intent and
 Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe execution.
visited India. The two countries agreed to enhance  Department of Animal Husbandry, Ministry of
cooperation in fighting terrorism. Agriculture has declared India free from the avian
 Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong influenza (H5N1) or bird flu.
arrived in New Delhi on a five-day visit to India.  All India Radio has launched a multimedia website
 The first BRICS Trade Fair and Exhibition was held and a mobile application of its Baluchi services.
in New Delhi to exhibit the advances made in  President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi visited
industrial development by BRICS nations. India. The two countries agreed to enhance

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 41

 cooperation in defence and signed a MoU on  A study by the New World Wealth, India with a total
maritime transport. individuals wealth of $5,600 billion was ranked 7th,
 Vice President Hamid Ansari attended the 17th NAM ahead of Canada ($4,700 billion).
Summit (Non Aligned Movement) held at Margarita  The Alibaba Group of China has launched the
Island, Venezuela. ‘Mission Million Books’ to collect textbooks etc from
 Nepal’s newly elected Prime Minister Mr. Pushpa public for distributing the same to the
Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ made his first visit to India underprivileged.
after he assumed office for the 2nd term.  As per the Global Innovation Index, India has
 Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani visited improved its ranking to 66 this year from 81 in
India. India pledged one billion dollar support for 2015. The index is topped by Switzerland followed
various development projects in Afghanistan. by Sweden.
 Third BRICS Urbanisation Forum Meet was held in  Musician Rahman performed at the UN General
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, from Sep 14 to 16. Assembly hall, the renditions of Indian Carnatic
 The first BRICS Wellness Workshop was held legend M S Subbulakshmi’s music.
Bengaluru, Karnataka on Sep 11.  The Finance Ministry has accepted the proposal to
 The two day “BRICS Convention on Tourism” was merge the Railway Budget with the Union Budget,
held at world heritage site Khajuraho in Madhya from 2017-18 fiscal.
Pradesh.  Government plans to avoid use of pellet guns in J&K
 The 2-day Indo-US Economic Summit was held in due to their damaging lethal effect and instead use
New Delhi on September 13-14. the “PAVA” munition.
 The National Security Advisors of Brazil, Russia,  PAVA or Pelargonic Acid Vanillylamide is an organic
India, China and South Africa (BRICS) held a meet in compound found in natural chilli pepper
New Delhi.  Govt has allowed the more facilities to Long Term
 The UN Charter, the seminal treaty of the UNO has Visa holders of minority communities of
now been translated into Sanskrit by the Lucknow- Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
based Akhila Bharatiya Sanskrit Parishad.  They can now open bank account, purchase
 India has signed a MoU with Greece to allow property for self occupation, can have driving
unlimited number of flights into each other’s licence, PAN card and Aadhar number.
countries.  The World Risk Report to assess the risk of natural
 The Supreme Court has directed all States and UTs disasters in 171 countries has placed India at
to upload the FIRs on their websites within 24 77th rank in the World Risk Index.
hours of registration at police stations.  Tourism Ministry has decided that it will make
 The India Post has released a commemorative Prime Minister Narendra Modi the face of the
Incredible India campaign.
stamp to honour the Mother Teresa’s
 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2017 will be held in
canonization (grant of sainthood).
Bengaluru in Jan, 2017.
 India has decided to ratify the Paris Climate Change
agreement on October 2, 2016.
 India’s premier scientific research body Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research-CSIR celebrated
its platinum jubilee.
 Address of Indian Prime Minister’s official residence
in New Delhi has been renamed as Lok Kalyan Marg
from Race Course Road at present.
 Visaranai, the Tamil film chosen as India’s official
entry for Best Foreign Language film at the
89th Academy Awards (Oscars), 2017.
 A three-day International Sikh Conclave was held in
Patna from September 22-24.

AUGUST
 U Htin Kyaw, President of Myanmar came to India
on a four-day visit to step up overall bilateral
engagements.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 42
 First BRICS film festival will be held in New Delhi  Odisha has complained that Chhattisgarh is drawing
from Sept. 2 to 6. excessive waters from the river, affecting adversely
 A two-day meeting of BRICS women the interests of farmers in Odisha.
parliamentarian's forum was held in Jaipur.  The Sawai Madhopur railway station in eastern
 India has provided $ 1 million grant to Zimbabwe to Rajasthan has won the National Tourism Award for
fight the drought disaster in the country. the ‘Best Tourist-Friendly Railway Station’.
 The United States Postal Service (USPS) on 23  It is the gateway to the renowned Ranthambore
August 2016 announced to commemorate the National Park, famous for tigers.
joyous Hindu festival of Diwali with the launch  The Maharashtra government, for the first time, has
of Forever stamp. deployed drones to check rampant lane-cutting and
overspeeding on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
 Andhra Pradesh has become first Indian state to
NEWS FROM STATES launch the DNA Index System for DNA profiling of
criminals.
OCTOBER  Kolkata Akashvani Kendra has started a special
Bangla service named Moitree Service, for listeners
in Bangladesh.
 Jharkhand becomes first state to implement Direct  The first ever BIO-CNG project in India was
Benefit Transfer in Kerosene for crediting subsidy
into beneficiary’s account. inaugurated in Pune, Maharashtra.
 Telangana, the youngest state of India, has added 21  Odisha government rescued about 1051 missing
more districts in its administrative map, hiking the children and united them with their parents by
total number of districts to 31. launching the ‘Operation Muskaan’.
 West Bengal state cabinet has adopted a resolution
SEPTEMBER to rename the state as ‘Bengal’. The change,
however, has to be approved by the Parliament.
 People of Kerala celebrated with vigor their harvest  Rajasthan has become the first state in the country
festival Onam on Sep. 14. It is famous for its ‘Pulikali to approve sewage and wastewater policy to ensure
(tiger) dance. proper treatment of urban waste water for making
 Supreme Court has directed Karnataka to release it fit for irrigation.
6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil  In one of the worst animal tragedies, over 221 hog
Nadu to save its Samba (paddy) crops. deer and 21 one-horned rhinos lost their lives in
 Rajasthan became the first state to adopt the Kaziranga National Park due to floods in Assam.
Centre's Street Lighting National Programme
(SLNP) for using LED street lights in all its cities.
 As per the ‘Swachh Survekshan’, Mandi, Himachal
Pradesh (hilly) and Sindhudurg, Maharashtra
GOVT INITIATIVES
(plaines) were declared as the cleanest districts in
India. OCTOBER
 As per the National Sample Survey Office on the
condition of sanitation in rural areas in states,  Govt has launched UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam
Sikkim has been adjudged the cleanest state. Naagrik) scheme under which fares will be capped
 Asia’s biggest digital library dedicated to the at Rs 2,500 for one-hour flights.
memory of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, was opened in  Union Cabinet has approved opening of the 20th IIM
National Institute of Technology, Silchar, Assam. (Indian Institute of Management) in Jammu.
 World Bank has agreed to provide nearly 1,000
crore rupees support to Assam for the betterment of SEPTEMBER
the inland waterways.
 Union Cabinet approved the laying down a
AUGUST dedicated submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC)
between Chennai and Andaman and Nicobar Islands
 States of Odisha and Chhattisgarh have entered in to  Govt released the third list of smart cities
a serious dispute over the issue of sharing of waters comprising of 27 cities from 12 states, bringing total
of the river Mahanadi. number of smart cities so far selected to 60.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 43

 Each selected city will get a funding of Rs 200 crore  The government has allowed online authentication
in first year and of Rs. 100 crore each in next three (e-KYC) for new mobile connections by using
years. Aadhar number.
 Govt to grant Permanent Residency Status for 10  To enhance transparency in power transmission
years to foreign investors (except Pakistani) who sector, govt has launched the ‘TARANG’ Mobile App.
bring in at least Rs. 10 crore investments for  TARANG: ‘Transmission App for Real Time
business. Monitoring & Growth (of transmission projects)’.
 The Cabinet has cleared merger of Railway Budget  A web portal named ‘e-Trans’ was launched online
with General Budget, ending the 92-year long bidding power transmission projects.
journey of separate budget for Railways.  A web portal named DEEP (Discovery of Efficient
 The Centre has notified the Bharat Stage (BS)-VI Electricity Price) launched for e-bidding of power
emission standards for two-wheelers and four- tariffs.
wheelers to be applicable from April 2020.  A first-of-its-kind touch and feel garden of various
 The government has launched a new service herbal and aromatic plants in the country has been
through which vehicle owners can access their opened for the visually impaired people.
driving license and registration certificate digitally.  It is in Calicut University, Kerala. The visitors can
 Govt has launched a dedicated pan-India helpline listen to complete details about the plant by using a
named ‘Urja Mitra’ with dedicated phone number special audio device installed with every plant.
14401 for getting update on power outages.  For the first time, civilian victims of cross border
 National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing firing along the Indo-Pak border will be given a
Innovations (NIDHI) launched for nurturing ideas compensation of Rs. 5 lakh same as terrorism or
and innovation into successful start ups. Naxal victims.
 The Railways has launched ‘Yatri Mitra Seva’ to  Union Cabinet has approved the amendments made
provide wheelchair-cum-porter services for the to the Maternity Benefits Act which aims to raise
disabled, elderly and ailing passengers. maternity leave for women from 12 weeks to 26
weeks.
 Govt has launched ‘Gas4India’ campaign for
 Government has launched a nation-wide
promoting the use of gas in the country. programme MAA – ‘Mothers’ Absolute Affection’ for
 Toll free number 1924 to register postal complaints. promoting optimal breastfeeding practices.
Efforts would be made to resolve the
complaints within 24 hours.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
AUGUST
OCTOBER
 Govt has launched Accessible E-Library 'Sugamya
Pustakalaya' for Divyang under the Accessible India  A World Bank report says that India’s GDP growth
Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan). will remain strong at 7.6 per cent in 2016 and 7.7
 The Union Cabinet cleared the draft Surrogacy Bill per cent in 2017, supported by expectations of a
rebound in agriculture and civil service pay reforms
2016, aimed at proper regulation of surrogacy in
supporting consumption.
the country.
 The Parliament passed the Institutes of Technology
(Amendment) Bill, 2016 to open way for
establishment of six new IITs.
 The new IITs will be opened in Palakkad (Kerala),
Goa, Dharwad (Karnataka), Bhilai (Chhattisgarh),
Jammu, and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh).
 The Medical Council of India launched the Digital
Mission Mode Project to monitor attendance of
faculty in medical colleges through biometric
system.
 Govt has launched ‘POCSO e-box’, an online
platform where a child victim of sexual abuse can
report the case online.
 POCSO: Protection of Children from Sexual Offences

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 44

 SEPTEMBER  India secured 35th rank in the World Bank’s
Logistics Performance Index 2016 that measures
 The RBI, in its Annual Report, has projected India's countries across six trade handling related
growth rate at 7.6% in 2016-17, up from 7.2% in components.
last year.  Railways has launched Flexi Fare System under
which Rajdhani, Shatadbi and Duronto trains will
AUGUST have to pay between 10 to 50% more
 Goldman Sachs has projected that Indian economy  Uber has joined hands with Maruti Suzuki and
National Skill Development Corporation to provide
is expected to clock 7.9% growth in the current
livelihood to one million people by 2018.
fiscal driven by better monsoon.
 Maruti will facilitate training of drivers in tie up
with NSDC and Uber will facilitate funding of

ECONOMY 
vehicles.
Amazon has tied up with director-producer Karan
Johar’s Dharma Productions to stream both new
OCTOBER and old titles on Amazon Prime Video.
 Litopenaeus vannamei, the white-leg prawn is  India is placed at 112th spot among 159 countries
forming roughly 80% of the country’s covered by the World Economic Freedom Index
shrimp/prawn exports and 46% of all marine  Reliance Communications and Aircel announced the
exports. merger of their wireless operations to create a new
 India has decided to destroy the most dangerous of combined entity.
all greenhouse gases, called HFC-23 to minimize the  Flipkart has become first Indian e-commerce
effect of global warming. company in the country to cross the milestone of
 Indian Oil Corp to lay the nation's longest LPG 100-million registered users.
pipeline- running 1987 kms from Kandla in Gujarat  The ADB has approved a $ 631 million loan to
to Gorakhpur in eastern Uttar Pradesh develop the proposed Vishakhapatnam- Chennai
 Ashok Leyland has launched India’s first fully industrial corridor, along the coastline.
electric bus made in India, named Circuit.  The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) completed 60
 Russia's Rosneft Oil Company has acquired India’s years of its service to the nation on Sep 1.
2nd biggest private oil and natural gas company AUGUST
Essar Oil in an all-cash deal valued at about $13
 The Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (122nd
billion.
Amendment) (GST) Bill to introduce the Goods and
 Govt allows the Haldia Petrochemicals, West Bengal Services Tax. The Lok Sabha passed it on Aug 8.
for fuel retailing, becoming the 8th player to enter  CBDT has exempted the govt deptts., embassies and
the petroleum products business. UN bodies from the 1% tax collection at source
 World Bank has agreed to provide $ 650-million (TCS) applicable on cash purchases of above Rs 2
loan for the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor lakh.
extending from Ludhiana to Kolkata.
 Govt has decided to set up a committee headed by
the NITI Aayog CEO Mr. Amitabh Kant to look into
 The Government has allowed British Petroleum, all issues related to this sector.
Europe's third-biggest oil company, to set up 3,500  For the first time, a new train named Tripura
petrol pumps in India. Sundari Express has been launched for Agartala,
 Govt has decided to sell subsidized pulses through capital of Tripura, from New Delhi.
authorized Post Offices. The pulses will be sold in  As per a study by ASSOCHAM, India is home to the
one kg pre packed packets. 3rd largest number of technology-driven start-ups
in the world, with the USA at the top.
SEPTEMBER  At number 18, Asian Paints is the highest-ranked
Indian company on Forbes's list of 'The World's 100
 The GST Council has fixed the annual turnover limit Most Innovative Companies'.
for exemption from GST at Rs 20 lakh. The limit for  The list is topped by the Tesla Motors of USA that
North East states will be Rs 10 lakh manufactures energy storage devices.
 Cabinet approved the formation of the GST Council,  Maruti Suzuki has launched its first light
headed by the Finance Minister. State Finance commercial vehicle (LCV) named Super Carry.
Ministers will be its members.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 45

  NPCI has launched the Unified Payments Interface
BANKING (UPI) for electronic cash transfer through mobiles
with 21 participating banks.
OCTOBER  RBI retained the ‘too big to fail’ tag for the SBI and
ICICI Bank for the second year in a row. These
 The RBI announced a 25 basis points cut in its key banks require higher level of supervision.
lending rate—the repo rate, to 6.25 percent.  These banks are called domestic systemically
 As a result, the reverse repo rate stands at 5.75 per important banks (D-SIBs).
cent, the MSF (marginal standing facility) and bank
rate stand at 6.75 per cent. OVES MERGER OF ASSOCIATES
 The Centre has constituted a four-member  The State Bank of India Board has approved merger
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) of its five associate banks and Bharatiya Mahila
under the Chairmanship of M S Sahoo Bank with itself.
 The Board will regulate the functioning of various  The 5 subsidiaries are SB of Bikaner & Jaipur, SB of
bodies dealing with insolvency under the Mysore, SB of Travancore, SB of Hyderabad and SB
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016. of Patiala.
 Latest RBI data shows that India’ banking system  Committee headed by Ratan P Watal set up to
reported total deposits of Rs 100 lakh crore for the suggest steps to promote card payments through
first time ever in September this year. incentives like tax rebates and cash back schemes.
 Union Cabinet has approved a pact between Export-  RBI is encouraging banks to issue masala bonds
Import Bank of India and New Development Bank to (rupee-denominated bonds overseas) for their
strengthen trade and economic ties. capital requirements and for financing of
infrastructure.
 The State Bank of India became the first Indian bank  RBI has asked banks to provide loans to women
to open a branch in Yangon, capital city of Myanmar. self-help groups in rural areas at 7 per cent per
annum.
SEPTEMBER  RBI Governor Raghuram G Rajan announced the
3rd bi-monthly monetary policy statement on
 ICICI Bank has become first bank in India to employ August 9. No change in any policy rate was
software robots to perform tasks like generating announced.
customer IDs, updating addresses etc.
 In one of the largest bancassurance partnerships in
 Canada’s British Columbia province has become the India, LIC has tied up with Axis Bank to sell its
first foreign government to issue rupee- insurance policies through bank branches.
denominated masala bonds.
 The RBI has formed a committee headed by Tarun
AUGUST Ramadorai, Professor in University of Oxford, to
review various facets of household finance in India.
 In consultation with RBI, the Govt has notified 4 per
cent inflation target for the next five years to be
followed by the RBI in formulation of monetary
policy.
DEFENCE, SCIENCE &
 RBI has announced guidelines for 'on tap' universal
banking licence regime. It excludes large industrial TECHNOLOGY
houses from the purview.
 “On tap” license refers to license on demand, i.e. OCTOBER
applicants can apply any time for a bank license.
 National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research,
 RBI has launched a web portal named ‘Sachet’ to Goa, has established Himansh, a high altitude
curb illegal collection of deposits from public by the research station in in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.
unscrupulous NBFCs.  Reliance Group and Dassault Aviation have formed
 The portal will provide information about the ‘Dassault Reliance Aerospace’ for manufacturing of
entities authorized by the RBI to collect deposits spare parts of Rafale fighter jets.
from the public.  India to buy the S-400 ‘Triumf’ air defence systems
 The Reserve Bank has decided to transfer its from Russia, worth over $5 billion.
surplus profit of Rs 65,876 crore to the central
 Russia to collaborate in setting up a joint
production facility for making multipurpose Kamov
government. 226T helicopters.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 46

 The 28th India and Indonesia Coordinated Patrol  In a first, ISRO's PSLV C-35 rocket launched a total
(CORPAT) and Second Bilateral Maritime Exercise of eight satellites, including SCATSAT-1, a satellite
were held in the Andaman Sea at Belawan, for weather-related studies.
Indonesia.  The fastest and most powerful computer in north-
 Indian Army's Gorkha Rifles won a gold medal at eastern, eastern and southern regions was launched
one of the most gruelling exercises in the world - in IIT Guwahati.
Exercise Cambrian Patrol organized by the British  Named PARAM-ISHAN, the super computer has a
Army. speed of 250 Teraflops and three hundred tera bites
 The Indo-Tibetan Border Police celebrated its 55th capacity.
raising day on 24 October. It guards Indian borders  The world’s first driverless bus (electric) service
from Laddakh to Arunachal Pradesh. has started in Lyon, France with two busses, each
 Fast patrol vessel ICGS Gaidinliu, named after Naga carrying 15 passengers.
freedom fighter, was inducted in the Indian Coast  Google has launched ‘Allo’, the highly anticipated
Guard. smart instant messaging mobile app for Android
 Samsung has scrapped its flagship Galaxy Note 7 and iOS users.
smart phone, less than two months after its launch,  China has launched its second space station
dealing a huge blow to its reputation. the Tiangong 2 into space atop a Long March
 ISRO's advanced communication satellite GSAT-18 7 rocket.
was launched on board an Ariane 5 rocket from
Kourou in French Guiana, South America.
AUGUST
 China sent two astronauts into orbit on board  ISRO scripted history on August 28 when it
manned spaceship Shenzhou 11 to spend a month successfully test-fired its futuristic Scramjet Rocket
aboard the space laboratory Tiangong 2. Engine that will help to design air-breathing
engines.
SEPTEMBER  A para cycling expedition named ‘divyang yodha’
was organised by the BSF under the Prime Minister
 USA and India signed the 'Logistics Exchange Sugam Bharat Mission.
Memorandum of Agreement' (LEMOA) to enable
their militaries to use each other's assets and bases  The two week long Indo - Thailand Military Exercise
‘MAITREE’ concluded on July 29 at Krabi, Thailand.
 An indigenously built stealth warship named INS
Mormugao, equipped with a range of high-tech  Astronomers have discovered an earth like planet
missiles was handed over to Indian Navy named ‘Proxima b’ that is orbiting star Proxima
 The Defence Ministry has ordered an enquiry into Centauri, the sun’s closest star neighbour.
the purchase of Embraer aircraft from Brazil.  China successfully launched a new high-resolution
 The Indo-US Joint Military Training Exercise, Yudh Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite named Gaofen-3
Abhyas - 2016 was held in mountains of Ranikhet, from its Long March 4C rocket.
Uttarakhand.
 China has successfully launched its first mobile
 The 8th Indo-Russia joint military exercise ‘Indra telecommunication satellite named Tiantong on its
2016’ was flagged off in Vladivostok (Russia). Indra Long March-3B carrier rocket.
has been a biannual exercise since 2003.
 India will pay about Rs. 58,000 crore to France for
procuring 36 off-the-shelf Dassault Rafale twin-


engine advance fighter jets.
INS Tihayu, a new Water Jet Fast Attack Craft
INTERNATIONAL
(WJFAC) has joined the Indian Navy.
 Indian and Kazakhstan Armies conducted a joint OCTOBER
exercise 'Prabal Dostyk – 16' in the Karaganda
region of Kazakhstan.  The U.N. General Assembly elected the former
 The indigenously built offshore patrol vessel, ICGS Portugal Prime Minister Antonio Guterres as the
Sarathi was inducted into the Indian Coast Guard at ninth U.N. Secretary-General.
Panaji, Goa.  A report by the World Economic Forum on ‘Safety
 ISRO placed INSAT-3DR advanced weather satellite and Security’ shows that the Finland is the safest
onboard its GSLV- Mk-II rocket, using for the first country in the world, followed by Qatar and UAE.
time, indigenously developed cryogenic engine.  The UNO appointed the popular cartoon character
 A cryogenic engine uses liquefied Hydrogen and ‘Wonder Woman’ as an honorary ambassador for
Oxygen at very low temperature as fuel. the empowerment of women and girls.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 47
 A postal stamp to commemorate Diwali festival was  Around 250 people were killed and 400 wounded in
launched by the US postal service. a strong earthquake of 6.1 magnitude that struck
 The Maldives has decided to quit the central Italy past midnight of August 24.
Commonwealth, a grouping of 53 nations that were  The 7th South Asian Association for Regional
mostly territories of the former British Empire. Cooperation (SAARC) Interior Ministers' conference
 France has become the first country in the world to was held in Islamabad, Pakistan.
legally ban usage of disposable plastic cups and  Pakistan will host the 19th SAARC Summit in
plates with a view to protect environment. Islamabad on November 9 and 10 this year.
 The law will come into effect in January 2020.
 A report released by the World Bank says that more
than 767 million people are living in extreme PERSONS IN NEWS
poverty, on less than a dollar and ninety cents a
day. OCTOBER
CYRUS MISTRY: He was sacked as chairman of Tata
SEPTEMBER Sons. He was appointed in December, 2012.

 The 193 member countries of the United Nations ARUNDHATI BHATTACHARYA: For the first time in
have signed a landmark declaration to make the the history of the State Bank of India, its Chairman has
world free from drug-resistant infections or been given a year’s extension.
superbugs.
 Leaders from the world's top economies took part SEPTEMBER
in G-20 summit at Hangzhou, China MUKESH AMBANI: As per Forbes’ list of richest Indians,
 France’s constitutional court has ruled against the he was ranked at top for a ninth year in a row with a net
ban on Burkini, the full-body swim wear used by worth to $22.7 billion.
some Muslim women. PRIYANKA CHOPRA: As per the Forbes magazine's
 Brazil's Senate voted to oust President Dilma annual list of best-paid television actresses in the world,
Rousseff ending the episode of massive corruption she has been ranked at 8th place in world.
scandal and economic crisis that rocked Brazil.
J.P. RAJKHOWA: Arunachal Pradesh Governor was
 World Health Organisation has declared Sri Lanka
dismissed by the President Pranab Mukherjee, after it
‘free’ from Malaria as no case of this deadly disease
became apparent that he was not going to quit as
has been reported in the country for last three and a
desired by the Centre.
half years due to strict control on mosquitoes.
MOTHER BECOMES ‘SAINT’ :Mother Teresa, the
 The UN Security Council to discuss the ballistic founder of Missionaries of Charity, was declared a saint
missile launches by North Korea as it is a violation at the canonization ceremony at St Peter’s Square in
of the UN Security Council resolutions. Vatican City by the Pope.
 The European Union has ordered Apple Inc of USA
to pay a record 13 billion Euros as recovery of tax AUGUST
amount as the very liberal tax arrangements made
by Ireland in favour of Apple were considered PUSHPA KAMAL DAHAL ‘PRACHANDA’: 61 year old
illegal. radical leader of Nepal was elected as Prime Minster by
 The 28th ASEAN Summit was held in Vientiane, the Parliament. A former Maoist rebel chief, he led a
Laos. Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a decade-long insurgency that toppled the Hindu
group of 10 south East Asian nations. monarchy in 2008.

AUGUST LUKE AIKINS: 42 years old American professional

skydiver became the first man in the world history to
 Colombia signed a peace deal with local gorillas dive from mid-troposphere altitude, around 25,000 feet
group FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of (7.6 km) without a parachute and land safely on a
Colombia) to end almost 50 years of conflict. 100x100 feet net on land.
 World’s highest and longest glass-bottomed bridge
was opened to visitors in Avatar Mountains in J.K. ROWLING: Renowned novelist of the Harry
Zhangjiajie, Hunan province of China. Potter series has confirmed that the eighth installment
 The 430 meter long bridge stands 300 meter above in the series, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, will be
ground and has 99 panes of three-layered the last story in the saga. There would be no more new
transparent glass. adventures for Harry Potter in future.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 48

 APPOINTMENTS
OCTOBER
AJAY KUMAR BHALLA: Appointed as the Director
General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
O P SINGH: Appointed as the new Director General of
CISF. He is 1983 batch IPS officer.
SUSHIL CHANDRA: Senior IRS officer appointed
Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)

ANTONIO GUTERRES: New Secretary General of UNO

ABDELILAH BEKIRANE: Reappointed as the Prime
Minister of Morocco.
KERSTI KALJULAID: Elected as the first female
President of Estonia, a small country in North Europe. BHASKAR KHULBE: Senior IAS officer has been
appointed as Secretary to Prime Minister
SEPTEMBER RANI SINGH NAIR: Appointed new Chairperson of the
ARUN GOYAL: Appointed Additional Secretary in the Central Board of Direct Taxes
Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council. ANANT MAHESHWARI: Appointed as the President of
SANJIV SINGH: New Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation India operations of global software giant Microsoft.
Ltd. (IOC). TAKEHIKO NAKAO: (of Japan) Re-elected as the
NAVTEJ SARNA: Appointed as Ambassador to the USA President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a
period of 5 years, from November, 2016.
ALKA SIROHI: Appointed as the Chairperson of the
PUSHPA KAMAL DAHAL ‘PRACHANDA’: Elected as the
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) by the
President of India. new Prime Minister of Nepal.
AISHWARYAA DHANUSH: Appointed as the Advocate JIM YONG KIM: Re-appointed as the President of the
for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in World Bank, USA.
India by the UN Women.
YOUSSEF CHAHED: Appointed as the new Prime
VIRAT KOHLI: Punjab National Bank has appointed Minister of Tunisia
Indian test skipper as its brand ambassador.
BAKYTZHAN SAGINTAEV: Appointed as the new
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan AWARDS & HONOURS
ALI BONGO: Re-elected as the President of Gabon,
Africa OCTOBER
AUGUST 2016 MOORTIDEVI AWARD - 2015: won by noted Telugu
writer Prof. Kalakaluri Enoch for his novel Ananta
NEW GOVERNORS APPOINTED Jeevanam.
Banwarilal Purohit: Governor of Assam MATHRUBHUMI LITERARY AWARD: Won by eminent
VP Singh Badnore: Governor of Punjab Malayalam writer C Radhakrishnan for his invaluable
Najma A. Heptulla: Governor of Manipur contributions to literature.
Jagdish Mukhi: Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and
Nicobar Islands U R RAO: Former ISRO chairman has become first
Indian to be inducted into the IAF Hall of Fame by the
VIJAY RUPANI: Selected as the new Chief Minister of International Aeronautical Federation, Paris.
Gujarat
NOBEL PRIZE 2016
Dr. URJIT R PATEL: New Governor of the Reserve Bank Physiology or Yoshinori Ohsumi of Japan
of India Medicine
For his pioneering work on autophagy — a process
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 49
 whereby cells “eat themselves” — which when disrupted
can cause Parkinson’s and diabetes.
US based scientists David Thouless,
Physics Duncan Haldane and Michael
Kosterlitz
For their work that "revealed the secrets of exotic matter"
by using advanced Mathematical methods
Jean-Pierre Sauvage (France), Sir
Chemistry Fraser Stoddart (USA) and Bernard
Feringa (Netherland)
For the development of the world's smallest nano
machines those are a thousand times thinner than a strand
of hair, for medical use.
Bob Dylan, legendary singer-song
Literature
writer from USA,
For his influential songs from the 1960s onwards. He is the
first non literary person to get the Nobel for literature.
Colombian President Juan Manuel
Peace
Santos
For his efforts to help end the 52 year long-running conflict
with FARC gorillas in his country. JACKIE CHAN: 62 years old actor and martial arts
US scientists Oliver Hart and Bengt expert from Hong Kong selected for the Lifetime
Economic Sciences
Holmstrom Achievement Oscar Award, USA.
For their work that covers issues from how best to reward
executives to whether schools and prisons should be
JESSE OWENS OLYMPIC SPIRIT AWARD-2016:
privately owned.
posthumously bestowed upon Olympic champion
FIRST INTERNATIONAL PRIZE IN STATISTICS: Muhammad Ali, who passed away on June 3, 2016.
Awarded to noted British statistician Sir David Cox for
his famous work on proportional hazards.
AUGUST
25th VYAS SAMMAN 2015: Hindi scholar and writer
Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite: (Knight in Sunita Jain for her poetry collection "Kshama". This
the National Order of Merit), one of France’s highest award is given for outstanding work in Hindi literature.
civilian award, conferred upon film-maker and elephant
researcher Prajna Chowta.
Ashok Chakra: The highest peace time gallantry
award was conferred posthumously upon Havildar
SEPTEMBER Hangpan Dada of Assam Regiment, who killed four
intruding terrorists before laying down his life at the
LEMELSON–MIT PRIZE: Ramesh Raskar, an Indian- height of 13,000 feet in the harsh and icy Himalayan
origin scientist, for his groundbreaking work in radical range of North Kashmir on May 26, 2016.
imaging solutions.
'Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Legion RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL SADBHAVANA
d'Honneur’: (Knight of the National Order of the French AWARD: Shubha Mudgal, Hindustani classical vocalist
Legion of Honour), awarded to Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, for her outstanding contribution towards the promotion
CMD of Biocon for her outstanding contribution to of communal harmony, peace and goodwill.
research in Biosciences.
KAMAL HAASAN selected by the Govt of France for the
GOLDEN LION: Award for the Best Film at the Venice
Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight in the
Film Festival won by a film from Philippine, Ang
National Order Arts and letters) for his contribution in
Babaeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left).
promotion of art and culture.
Kannada film Thithi won the best film award at the
BRICS Film Festival held in New Delhi. Madhya Pradesh won the National Tourism Award for
best comprehensive development of tourism.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 50

 Akshardham Temples world over, passed away at
OBITUARY Sarangpur in Gujarat at the age of 95.

KALIKHO PUL: 47 year old former Chief Minister of

OCTOBER Arunachal Pradesh and rebel Congress leader, who quit
as the Chief Minister in mid July, 2016 as per Supreme
HEISNAM KANHAILAL: Manipur-based theatre legend
Court ruling, committed suicide at his residence.
passed away at 75 in Imphal. He was decorated with
Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. MACHHLI: The longest known surviving tigress in the
wild, star tigress of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve,
MEHAR MITTAL: Veteran Punjabi actor, who acquired Rajasthan, died at the old age of 19 years. Famous as the
legendary status with his comic roles in over 100 films, Queen of Ranthambore, she is believed to be the most
passed away at the age of 81. photographed tigress in the wild.
HANIF MUHAMMAD: Pakistan’s legendary former
PARMESHWAR GODREJ: Philanthropist and style icon,
captain and batsman, who held the record for the
wife of Godrej group chairman Adi Godrej, passed away
longest innings in Test cricket, passed away after a
in Mumbai at 70.
prolonged battle with lung cancer.
KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ: A revered figure of
Thailand who helped unify the nation in his 70-year
reign, died at 88. He was world's longest-reigning
monarch. PLACES IN NEWS
ANDRZEJ WAJDA: A legend in the world of cinema,
Polish film director died aged 90. OCTOBER
SHIMON PERES: Israeli ex-President and Prime RANI KI VAV: Gujarat’s 900-year-old World Heritage
Minister, Nobel Peace Prize winner, died at 93. Site has won the award for the “Cleanest Iconic Place” in
the Indian Sanitation Conference (INDOSAN) 2016, New
SEPTEMBER Delhi.
REOTI SARAN SHARMA: The renowned Hindi and
THE TERMINAL 3 of Indira Gandhi International
Urdu writer, playwright and TV personality, died in New
Airport (IGIA), Delhi has become first green terminal
Delhi. He was 92 years. He penned memorable TV
building to achieve Platinum rating from Indian Green
serials like Phir Wahi Talaash and The Great Maratha.
Building Council (IGBC).
MOHAMMAD SHAFI QURESHI: Veteran Congress
leader and former Governor of Madhya Pradesh passed TYPHOON HAIMA: The strongest storm to hit
away at the age of 87.
the Philippines in past three years, killed at least 12
ARNOLD PALMER: One of the greatest golfers ever, people and inundated vast tracts of rice and corn fields.
died at 87 in Pittsburgh, USA. From 1958 to 1964, he
was the charismatic face of professional golf. TYPHOON SARIKA: Parts of Philippines and Vietnam
EDWARD ALBEE: One of the best known playwrights were devastated by a strong tropical typhoon named
of America, three time winner of Pulitzer Prize, famous Sarika, causing extensive loss of life and assets.
for works like "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "A
Delicate Balance," died at the age of 88. HURRICANE MATTHEW: A very strong storm slammed
into the coast of Haiti, a small island country in
AUGUST Carribean Sea, claiming over 900 lives.
AKHLAQ Ur RAHMAN (AR) KIDWAI: Former
Governor of States including Bihar, West Bengal and SEPTEMBER
Haryana, passed away at the age of 96. He was
decorated with Padma Vibhushan. URI: In one of the worst attacks, the army base camp in
Uri near the Line of Control (LoC) in district Baramulla,
GURDIAL SINGH: Prominent Punjabi writer and short J&K was attacked by militants, killing 18 soldiers.
story writer, Jnanpith awardee, passed away at 83. His MYSURU: The city was declared the cleanest among
famous works include ‘Anne Ghore Da Daan’ and ‘Marhi those having 10 lakh plus population in a unique
Da Deeva’ `Swachh Sarvekshan’, which looked at the level of
PRAMUKH SWAMI MAHARAJ: Head of Boachasanvasi cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene. Nearly 99% of
Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS), founder of households in Mysuru have toilets.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 51

MAJULI ISLAND: The tiny island in the River Indian captain to get to the landmark of a double
Brahmaputra in Assam was declared as the largest river century for the second time in his career.
island in the world.
Virat Kohli was presented with the ICC Test
SUPER TYPHOON MERANTI: Rated as one of the Championship mace for leading his team to the top of
strongest typhoons of the year, it devastated parts of the Test Team Rankings.
Taiwan with wind speeds of up to 370 kph. Ruthvika Shivani Gadde won the women’s title in
the Russian Open Grand Prix in Valadivostok.
TYPHOON MEGI: Taiwan bore the brunt of Megi forcing
thousands of evacuations, closure of schools and offices Arjun Vajpai, a 23-year-old professional mountaineer
and flight disruptions. from Noida, UP became the youngest in the world to
scale the Mount Cho Oyu on Nepal China border, the
AUGUST sixth highest mountain peak in the world at 8,188
metres above sea level.
MAHAD: Over 50 people went missing after two state-
run buses and a number of private vehicles were swept India bagged a silver and a bronze in the 56kg
away in flooded Savitri river when a British-era bridge category at the IWF Youth World Weightlifting
collapsed on the Mumbai-Goa Highway. Championships at Penang, Malaysia.
QUETTA: In one of the deadliest militant attacks, a
56th Atheletics Open Nationals: Services emerged as
suicide bomber killed at least 70 people and wounded
the overall champions in the games held in Lucknow,
more than 100 in an attack on crowd of mourners
Uttar Pradesh.
gathered at the civil hospital in Quetta in south western
Pakistan. India won the Kabddi World Cup in Ahmadabad by
Typhoon Nida: Squalls, heavy rain and rough seas defeating Iran
battered Hong Kong as the Typhoon Nida landed on the Indian women's beach kabaddi team won the gold in
Dapeng Peninsula, some 42 kms away from Hong Kong. the 5th Asian Beach Games in Danang, Vietnam.

SPORTS WORLD Subroto Cup Junior Boys (U-17): Brazil's Club Atletico
Paraneanse lifted the trophy after beating Army Boys,
Bengaluru in the final in New Delhi.
OCTOBER
SAINA NEHWAL: In a rare honour for an Indian 1st BRICS U-17 Football Tournament: Brazil lifted the
sportsperson, star shuttler has been appointed as a trophy defeating the South Africa in Goa
member of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC)
Athletes’ Commission. 4th Men's Under-18 Asia Hockey Cup: India lifted the
trophy by defeating Bangladesh in the final in Dhaka,
Kieren Dsouza of Bengaluru has become the first
Bangladesh.
Indian to complete the Spartathlon, widely described as
the "world's toughest race", in Greece. The Indian football team on 20 October achieved its
Neeraj Goyat retained his WBC welterweight Asia title best FIFA ranking in over six years, at 137th place in
in boxing by beating Australia’s Ben Kite in New Delhi. world rankings.
Jitu Rai clinched a silver medal in the 50 metre pistol The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi has been
event of the ISSF World Cup Final in Bologna, Italy declared as the first venue for hosting the 2017 FIFA U-
17 World Cup.
Gaganjeet Bhullar won the Korea Open 2016 Golf Cup
(Shinhan Donghae Open) in Incheon, South Korea. Indian Railways have won the World Railway Shooting
Championship Cup held at Saint Mandrier, France.
Sourabh Verma clinched the men's singles title in the
Chinese Taipei Open badminton, defeating Malaysia's Indian wrestlers won four medals, including one gold,
Daren Liew. at the TAFISA World Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Mukesh Singh Gehlot and Gaurav Sharma won gold TAFISA - The Association for International Sport for All
medal in their respective categories at the World
Powerlifting Championship held in England. The Indian women’s handball team won the
International Handball Federation Trophy after beating
Viraat Kohli scored his career-best 211 runs playing Bangladesh in Dhaka.
against New Zealand in Indore (MP), becoming the first
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 52
Indian Cricket team became the first team in world to Velavan Senthilkumar: Indian squash player defeated
play its 900th ODI. The match was played against New Jordanian Mohammad Al-Sarraj to win the U-19 Asian
Zealand in Dharamshala on 16th Oct 2016. Junior Individual squash championship title in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia.
INTERNATIONAL Ravichandran Ashwin: Indian off-spinner became the
fastest Indian and second overall to take 200 wickets,
Nico Rosberg of Germany won the Japan Grand Prix
reaching the milestone in his 37th Test at the Green
at Suzuka Circuit.
Park in Kanpur.
Andy Murray of Britain won the men’s title in the final Abhinav Bindra, India's lone individual Olympic gold
of the China Open in Beijing while women’s title was medallist, has officially announced his retirement from
won by Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland. shooting.
Lewis Hamilton of Britain won the United States Grand TENZING NORGAY ADVENTURE AWARD
Prix in Austin, Texas. Harbhajan Singh Mountaineering-
Daniel Ricciardo of Australia won the Malaysian Grand Ritu Kishor Kedia and B. water and air
Prix F1 championship in Sepang, Malaysia. Rajkumar adventure
Tashi Malik, Nungshi Malik land adventure
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup: North Korea won the
cup after defeating Japan in finals played in Amman, and Debasish Biswas
Jordan. INDIA BEAT NZ IN HISTORIC 500TH TEST
India scored a mammoth 197-run win against New
Shanghai Masters Tennis tournament: Britain's Andy Zealand in their historic 500th cricket Test in Kanpur.
Murray won men’s singles title.
Duleep Trophy Cricket tournament: India Blue team
Zabivaka the wolf has been named as the official defeated India Red to win the trophy in finals played
mascot of the 2018 FIFA Football World Cup to be Greater Noida, U.P.
hosted by Russia.
The Track Asia Cup cycling competition was held at
SEPTEMBER the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex velodrome in New
Devendra Jhajharia broke his own world record to win Delhi. Hong Kong topped the medal tally while India
gold in the men’s javelin throw in the Rio Paralympics stood second.
achieving a throw of 63.97 mts. He is ranked third in Durand Cup (football): Army Green won the Asia's
world. oldest football tournament in New Delhi by beating
Deepa Malik created history by winning silver medal in Neroca FC.
Women's shotput at Rio Paralympics, becoming first India is now placed at the148th spot in the world
Indian woman to win a medal in Paralympics games. FIFA rankings where Argentina continues to rule at top,
Mariyappan Thangavelu, para athlete from India followed by Belgium and Germany.
created history by bagging the gold in high jump event THE 15TH RIO 2016 PARALYMPIC GAMES 2016 (7-
at Rio paraolympics. Another Indian Varun Bhati won 18 September) concluded in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
the bronze medal in the same event. China topped the medal tally with 239 medal, including
Subhankar Pramanick, young Indian shooter clinched 107 gold, followed by Britain with 147 medals. India
the gold medal in 50-metre rifle prone event at the ISSF secured only 4 medals – 2 gold and one each in silver
Junior World Cup at Gabala in Azerbaijan. and bronze.
US OPEN TENNIS GRAND SLAM, NEW YORK
Anjum Chopra became the first Indian woman cricketer
to get the prestigious life membership of Melbourne Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland defeated the world
Cricket Club, London, UK. number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic of
Serbia.
Star raider Anup Kumar from Haryana will lead India
Women’s title was lifted by Angelique Kerber of
in next month’s Kabaddi World Cup to be held in
Germany by beating Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic
Ahmedabad.
Sikki Reddy and Pranaav Jerry Chopra clinched the Serena Williams, world number one in Tennis, has
mixed doubles title in the Brazil Open Grand Prix created history by setting a record of most number of
Badminton championship. Grand Slam matches wins – 307, by a woman in the
Olympic silver medalist P V Sindhu has been Open era.
appointed as the brand ambassador of the Central
Reserve Police Force – CRPF and has been given the Germany’s Nico Rosberg won the Italian Grand Prix F1
honorary rank of Commandant in CRPF. race at Monza, Italy and also the Belgian Grand Prix.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 53

England cricket team created a record by scoring the 5. Shri S. Pradeep Kumar Swimming (Lifetime)
highest-ever 444 runs (for three) in ODI, playing against 6. Shri Mahabir Singh Wrestling (Lifetime)
Pakistan at Nottingham, UK. (IV) DHYAN CHAND AWARD 2015, Lifetime
Australia made a new world record of highest runs in a Achievement award in sports, carries a plaque and cash
T-20 international, scoring 263 against Sri Lanka in award of Rs. 5 lacs.
Pallekele, Sri Lanka. S. No. Name of the awardee Discipline
1 Ms. Satti Geetha Athletics
Japan’s Aichi prefecture and its capital city Nagoya 2 Shri Sylvanus Dung Dung Hockey
have been confirmed as co-hosts of the 2026 Asian 3 Shri Rajendra Pralhad Shelke Rowing
Games.
Sania Mirza, India’s ace tennis player has once again
South Korea will be hosting the Winter Olympics at topped the ATP Women’s Doubles Tennis rankings.
Pyeonchang in 2018 and Beijing will host 2022 event.
Dipika Pallikal, India's top squash player won the
Tokyo will host the 2020 Summer Olympics Australian Open Squash women’s singles title in
Melbourne.
Pro Kabaddi League championship was won by the
AUGUST Patna Pirates defeating Jaipur Pink Panthers at
Hyderabad, Telangana.
NATIONAL SPROTS AWARDS DECLARED
(I) RAJIV GANDHI KHEL RANTA 2016, highest The 2016 World Kabbdi Cup will be held in
national award in sports, carries a medallion and cash Ahmedabad, Gujarat from Oct 7 to 22, 2016.
award Rs. 7.5 lacs
M S DHONI SET A WORLD RECORD for captaining
S. No. Name of the awardee Discipline India for the record 325th game, most by a player in
1. Ms. P.V. Sindhu Badminton history, across all three formats.
2. Ms. Dipa Karmakar Gymnastics
N. Ramachandran, President, Indian Olympic
3. Shri Jitu Rai Shooting
Association (IOA) has been awarded the prestigious
4. Ms. Sakshi Malik Wrestling
‘Olympic Order’ for his outstanding efforts in promoting
(II) ARJUNA AWARDS 2016, carries a bronze statue the Olympic movement.
of Arjuna and cash award Rs. 5 lacs.
Narsingh Yadav, India’s big hope in wrestling was lost
S. No. Name of the awardee Discipline
when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), situated
1. Shri Rajat Chauhan Archery in Lausanne, Switzerland, banned the wrestler for four
2. Ms. Lalita Babar Athletics years following an appeal by World Anti-Doping Agency.
3. Shri Sourav Kothari Billiards & Snooker
4. Shri Shiva Thapa Boxing RIO OLYMPICS – 2016 - HIGHLIGHTS
5. Shri Ajinkya Rahane Cricket The 16 days of sports extravaganza, 31st Summer
6. Shri Subrata Paul Football Olympics, hosted by Brazilian City, Rio de Janeiro came
7. Ms. Rani Hockey
to an end on August 21in the Maracana Stadium by
8. Shri Raghunath V.R. Hockey
ceremonial handing over of the Olympics flag to the
9. Shri Gurpreet Singh Shooting
officials of 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
10. Ms. Apurvi Chandela Shooting
11. Shri Soumyajit Ghosh Table Tennis
 The games had nearly 11,000 participants from 205
12. Ms. Vinesh Wrestling
countries, including a first-ever refugee team,
13. Shri Amit Kumar Wrestling
14. Shri Sandeep Singh Mann Para-Athletics
featuring in 306 events of 42 sporting disciplines.
15. Shri Virender Singh Wrestling (Deaf)  In all 65 Olympic and 19 World Records were
broken during the course of games.
(II) DRONACHARYA AWARDS 2016, highest national
 USA topped the medal tally with 121 medals
award for coaches, carries a bronze statue of
Dronacharya and cash award of Rs. 5 lacs comprising of 46 gold, 37 silver and 38 bronze.
 Great Britain followed with 67 medals (27+23+17)
S. No. Name of the awardee Discipline
and China took third place with 70 medals
1 Shri Nagapuri Ramesh Athletics
2 Shri Sagar Mal Dhayal Boxing (26+18+26).
3. Shri Raj Kumar Sharma Cricket  India could get only 2 medals, securing 67th rank.
4. Shri Bishweshwar Nandi Gymnastics

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 54

 As many as 121 countries had to return empty-  Ashton Eaton of the USA became the first man to
handed as they failed to win even a single medal. win back-to-back Olympic golds in decathlon.
INDIAN SCENE  Jamaica's Elaine Thompson became the first
woman to complete the sprint double in 28 years.
 Ace shuttler P V Sindhu from Telangana became
 South Korea completed a clean sweep of four gold
the first ever Indian woman to win a silver medal in
the Olympics. She lost the gold to the world number medals in archery to continue their dominance. Of
one Carolina Marin of Spain. the 36 archery golds in nine Olympics, South Korea
 Sakshi Malik, star wrestler from Haryana won has won 23.
India’s first medal in Rio Olympics. She defeated  Three nations won their first ever Olympic medal -
Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan to win the Fiji, Jordan and Kosovo.
bronze in 58 kg freestyle wrestling, becoming the
first ever Indian woman grappler to win an Olympic Lewis Hamilton of UK won the German Grand Prix
at Hockenheimring, Germany.
medal.
 Dipa Karmakar, star gymnast impressed with her Novak Djokovic has won the ATP Toronto Masters
4th-place finish in the vault finals. defeating Kei Nishikori of Japan
 Steeplechaser Lalita Babar also made the country
Cristiano Ronaldo, iconic star player of Real Madrid
proud by becoming the first Indian athlete in 32
Football Club has won the UEFA Best Player in Europe
years to enter the finals of an individual event in Award.
Olympics in track category.
INTERNATIONAL SCENE The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has agreed
The United States won its 1,000th Olympic gold medal to add five new games in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The
new games are Baseball-Softball, Karate, Skateboard,
when the American women's 4x100 meter medley relay
Climbing Sports and Surfing.
team won the gold at the Rio Games.
 Michael Phelps, the most amazing swimmer from
USA, rewrote the history when he secured his
23rd gold by winning the 400-meter medley relay in
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Rio Olympics. Phelps finished a career that spanned
The Ministry of Utmost Arundhati Roy
five Olympics with 28 medals, 23 of them gold.
Happiness: Title of the
 No other athlete in any sport has more than nine
forthcoming novel
gold medals. He became the first swimmer ever to
Harry Potter and the Cursed J. K. Rowling
win four consecutive Olympic golds in the same
Child
event - 200m individual medley in swimming.
This Love That Feels Right Ravinder Singh
 Usain Bolt, Jamaica's speedster retained his
Selection Day Aravind Adiga
coveted title "Fastest man alive on the planet" by
winning the 100m Final of Rio Olympics, securing The Sellout Paul Beatty
the third successive Olympic Gold medal in the Magic Danielle Steel
event, an unprecedented feat. He also achieved the Sunshine Lanes Prasoon Joshi, famous
record third successive gold in 200 meters and 400 Bolywood lyricist.
X4 meter relay race, claiming 9 golds in 3 successive Being the Other: The Muslim Saeed Naqvi, noted
Olympics. in India media personality.
 Katie Ledecky, American swimmer, won four gold Citizen and Society Hamid Ansari (Vice
and silver at Rio, setting new world records in the President of India)
400m and 800m freestyle events. Selection Day Aravind Adiga.
 Simone Biles, artistic gymnast from USA won five Six Machine An autobiography of
medals - four gold and one bronze - from her first Chris Gayle, explosive
Olympic Games. batsman from West
 Briton Mo Farah became first runner after 1976 to Indies
retain his gold in 5000m and 10,000m in two Perilous Interventions: The Hardeep Singh Puri,
successive Olympics. Security Council and the India’s former

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 55

 Politics of Chaos ambassador to UNO. The Spy Paulo Coelho
My Olympic Journey Digvijay Singh Deo and The Unseen Indira Gandhi Dr. K P Mathur
Amit Bose. Muslims Against Partition Shamsul Islam.
The Assassination of Rajiv Neena Gopal The Invention of Nature Andrea Wulf
Gandhi Vanishing Shangri La K N Raghavan.
Me, The Jokerman Khushwant Singh The Drowned Detective Neil Jordan,
(late), a compilation of Blood on my Hands: Kishalay Bhattacharjee
his essays. Confessions of Staged
Grassroots Innovation Prof. Anil K. Gupta of Encounters
IIM Ahmedabad The Outside Lands Hannah Kohler
Jihadi Jane Tabish Khair A Man Called Ove Fredrik Backman
Ace Against Odds Sania Mirza, an Me Before You Jojo Moyes
autobiography by star An Economist in the Real Kaushik Basu, Chief
tennis champion World Economist at World
Who Moved My Interest Former Reserve Bank Bank
Rates of India Governor, D Swimmer Among the Stars Kanishk Tharoor
Subbarao Mercedes-Benz - Winning Adil Jal Darukhanawala
The Phoenix Moment Praful Bidwai.
Myth Breaker Seema Singh, a book
about the life of Kiran
Mazumdar Shaw, bio-
tech queen of India,
CMD of Biocon.
The Scout Shirish Thorat, Sachin
Waze
The Gene Siddhartha Mukherjee.
Carefree Days: Many Roles, Pran Nevile
Many Lives
Half-Lion: How PV Vinay Sitapati
Narasimha Rao Transformed
India
The Great Derangement: Amitav Ghosh
Climate Change and the
Unthinkable
Courage & Commitment: An Margaret Alva, senior
Autobiography Congress leader,
former Governor of
Uttarakhand, Rajasthan
The Wars of Reconstruction Doughlas R.Egerton
Zindaginama Krishna Sobti
Favourite Ghost Stories Ruskin Bond.
From Around The World
Old History New Geography: Jairam Ramesh
Bifurcating Andhra Pradesh
A Life in Diplomacy M K Rasgotra
The Age of Genius: The AC Grayling
Seventeenth Century and the
Birth of the Modern Mind by

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 56

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 Latest M CQs
ON CURRENT AFFAIRS
JANUARY GK - 01 E. Maradonna
8. The acronym FEMA is related to
A. Financial management of companies
1. The 2017 annual meeting of World Economic
B. Fiscal consolidation policies
Forum (WEF) was held in
C. Distribution of finances between the centre
A. India B. Malaysia
and the states
C. Switzerland D. South Africa
D. Foreign exchange norms
E. Washington
E. The rules regarding inflation targeting fixed by
2. The 2017 Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors
the RBI
Summit took place in
9. India’s first amphibious bus project has been
A. Ahmedabad B. Rajkot
launched by which state government?
C. Surat D. Gandhinagar
A. Haryana B. Andhra Pradesh
E. Saputara
C. Punjab D. Uttar Pradesh
3. Antonio Guterres, the new Secretary General
E. Kerala
of the United Nations, is the former Prime
10. The 2017 National Conference for e-
Minister of
Governance was organized in
A. Portugal B. Singapore
A. Visakhapatnam B. Nagpur
C. Malaysia D. New Zealand
C. New Delhi D. Pune
E. Greece
E. New Delhi
4. Hawala is a term related to
11. Which of the following is an INCORRECT
A. Banking operations
combination?
B. Black money in India
A. Sariska: Tiger reserve
C. Forward markets
B. Dachigam: One-horned deer sanctuary
D. Illegal transactions in foreign exchange
C. Bharatpur: Asiatic lion sanctuary
E. Stock markets
D. Manas: Rhinoceros sanctuary
5. The book “Bose: The Indian Samurai – Netaji E. Periyar: Elephant sanctuary
and the INA Military Assessment” has been 12. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who passed away
authored by recently, was the former President of which
A. Sanjaya Baru B. Sanjeev Sanyal country?
C. G D Bakshi D. Ashok Tandon A. Israel B. Iran
E. Anuj Dhar C. Italy D. Iraq E. None of these
6. India’s first international stock exchange 13. Currently, the child sex ratio in India stands at
“India International Exchange” was launched A. 924 B. 927
in C. 956 D. 918
A. Gandhinagar B. Mumbai E. 1036
C. Pune D. New Delhi 14. All major economic indicators like those on
E. Bengaluru inflation, income and industrial output in
7. Which footballer has won the 2016 FIFA India are released by the
Ballon D’or Award? A. Central Statistical Office
A. Neymar B. Cristiano Ronaldo B. Finance Ministry
C. Lionel Messi D. Antoine Griezmann C. NITI Aayog D. Reserve Bank of India

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 58

 E. National Sample Survey Organization 24. Who has been sworn in as the new Chief
15. The movie titles Ardhsatya and Tamas remind Justice of India (CJI)?
you of veteran actor ________who passed away A. J S Khehar B. Madan Lokur
recently. C. Kamlesh Khehar D.T S Patil
A. Om Puri B. Syed Jaffery E. TS Thakur
C. Om Shivpuri D. Shammi Kapoor 25. Which of the following is NOT true of a
E. Sulbha Deshpande Reverse Mortgage Loan?
16. The 2017 Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) was A. The borrower can dispose of the mortgaged
hosted by property.
A. New Delhi B. Gurugram B. The bank pays the borrower regular EMIs of a
C. Chennai D. Bengaluru E. Jalandhar pre-determined amount as part of the loan deal.
17. The first C in the acronym ICICI implies C. The mortgaged asset in such a loan has to be a
A. Collateral B. Cash residential unit.
C. Copy D. Credit D. The borrower can occupy, use and maintain
E. Clearing the mortgaged property as per his will.
18. Arrange the following debt instruments in the E. All of these are true.
DECREASING sequence of their maturity 26. Debt-to-equity ratio implies the ratio of
periods. A. Paid up capital to authorized capital
1. Treasury bills 2. G-Secs B. Loan of share capital to capital
3. LAF borrowings C. Loan amount to share capital
A. 2, 1, 3 B. 1, 2, 3 D. Rate of interest to dividend rate
C. 3, 2, 1 D. 1, 3, 2 E. Share capital to loan amount
E. All of these have the same maturity period 27. Which country has become the first one pay a
19. How much 5- year Consumer Price Inflation basic income to randomly picked citizens at a
(CPI) target has been set by the Union national level?
Government under the new monetary policy A. Indonesia B. Finland
framework? C. France D. Sri Lanka
A.5% B.4% E. Switzerland
C. 6% D. 7% 28. The 104th Indian Science Congress (ISC) was
E. 7% held in
20. A “Good Samaritan Policy” has been launched A. Kerala B. Assam
by which state / union territory? C. Andhra Pradesh D. Manipur E. Punjab
A. Odisha B. Karnataka 29. The “BHIM” mobile app was launched by the
C. Delhi D. Kerala government to facilitate digital payments.
E. Madhya Pradesh What does “BHIM” stands for?
21. Pick the odd one out: A. Build Interface for Money
A. PIN B. EMV B. Built-up Interface for Money
C. OTP D. NFC C. Bi-aural Interface for Money
E. Artificial Intelligence D. Bharat Interface for Money
22. Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan, who passed away E. Bharat Internet Money
recently, was a famous proponent of the 30. The topmost authority for hearing a bank
A. Flute B. Tabla customer’s complaint is the
C. Sarangi D. Sitar A. CEO B. Chairman
E. Santoor C. Internal Ombudsman D. RBI Ombudsman
23. Pick the odd man out. E. Managing Director
A. GST: Direct Taxes B. FRBM: Fiscal deficit 31. Technically speaking, the Parliament in India
C. GAAP: Accounting norms A. Can change/ modify/ delete any fundamental
D. FATCA: Taxation compliance right
E. GAAR: Corporate tax evasion B. Is empowered to amend any part of the
Constitution except its basic features
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 59
 C. Cannot amend any part of the Constitution E. Demat
D. Remove the President after a successful 39. The Good Governance Day (GGD) in India is
impeachment motion E. Can meet anywhere in observed on
India A. December 23 B. December 24
32. George Michael, who passed away recently, C. December 26 D. December 25
was a famous singer from E. December 10
A. England B. Germany 40. The agreement to “buy or sell a debt
C. United States D. France instrument at a specified future date at a pre-
E. None of these determined price” is called
33. A fiduciary note issue is made A. Interest Rate Future B. Hedge
A. By keeping equivalent gold reserves C. Option
B. by the finance ministry and not by the RBI D. Interest Rate Derivative
C. Without keeping equivalent gold reserves E. F& O
D. to create extra money supply to plug the fiscal 41. The name given to the banking arm of India
deficit Post is
E. None of these A. Post Bank of India
34. Amnesty International is an organization B. India Post Payment Bank
working for C. Ind Post Bank
A. securing human rights D. Post India E. India Post Bank
B. refugees 42. The Ashok Chakra is awarded for
C. providing healthcare to villagers A. Exceptional bravery shown on the country’s
D. pro-democracy movements borders
E. drug de-addiction B. Exceptional bravery while fighting the
35. Who has been selected for the prestigious terrorists
2016 Jnanpith Award? C. Exceptional work in maintaining communal
A. Kedarnath Singh harmony
B. Ravuri Bharadhwaja D. Exceptional bravery and courage in war
C. Chandrashekhara Kambara E. Exceptional bravery and courage in peacetime
D. Shankha Ghosh situations
E. Nida Fazli 43. Consider the following statements:
36. Which of the following is/are true of Savings 1. Virat Kohli has been declared the ICC
Bank Accounts and Current Accounts in India? Cricketer of the Year 2016.
1. The use of cheque book is allowed in both the 2. Ravichandran Ashwin has been named the
types of accounts ICC Test cricketer of the Year 2016.
2. Both the accounts can be run as long as the Which of the following statements is/are
customer wants to
true?
3. The KYC requirement can be relaxed for
certain categories of savings accounts. A. Only 1 B. Only 2
A.1 only B.1 and 3 C. Both 1 & 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
C. 2, 3 D. 2 only E. None of the above
E.1, 2 and 3 44. If a cheque is returned due to “insufficient
37. Which one is NOT a popular stock market funds”, its issuer can be prosecuted under the
index? A. Payment and Settlement Systems Act
A. Kospi B. NASDAQ B. Banking Regulation Act
C. NYMEX D.CAC 40 C. Payment Instruments Act
E. Mid Dax D. Reserve Bank of India Act
38. Which word/expression denotes freezing of E. Negotiable Instruments Act
the application money by the bank in case of 45. Anupam Mishra, who passed away recently,
an IPO? was a noted personality from which field?
A. CDSL B. ASBA A. Water conservation B. Environment
C.T + 2 D. Trading ring C. Journalism D. Spirituality
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 60
 E. Literature JANUARY GK - 02
46. Find the ODD one out.
A. Online banking B. Net banking
1. Which of the following is/are TRUE of the
C. Branchless banking
Population Census 2011 conducted in India?
D. Mortar and Brick banking
1. The total population has registered a lower
E. Mouse and Click banking
decadel percentage growth as compared to
47. The loan/s to which of the following is/are
that in the previous decade.
NOT priority sector loan/s in India?
2. The decade saw a relative fall in the percent
1. Farmers 2. Minorities
growth rate of Hindu population as compared
3. Exporters 4. Big industries
to the earlier Census.
A.1, 2 B.1, 3
3. The decade saw a relative fall in the percent
C. 4 D.1, 4
growth rate of Muslim population as
E. All of these
compared to the previous Census.
48. Which state government has launched the
A. 2, 3 B. 1
“Annapurna Rasoi” scheme for
C. 2 D. 3
underprivileged people?
E. 1, 2, 3
A. Assam B. Punjab
2. Which one is considered to be the world’s
C. Rajasthan D. Karnataka
harshest and the most difficult battlefield?
E. Tamil Nadu
A. Tora Bora B. Kargil
49. The RBI headquarters was originally located
C. Baltal D. Siachen
in
E. Aksai Chin
A. Delhi B. Mumbai
3. Cycle, the election symbol of a prominent
C. Lucknow D. Kanpur
political party, has been in news of late. It
E. Calcutta
belongs to the
50. Which Bollywood personality has been
A. AIADMK B. Congress
appointed UNICEF’s newest Global Goodwill
C. Samajwadi Party
Ambassador?
D. Bahujan Samaj Party
A. Priyanka Chopra
E. Bhartiya Janata Party
B. Deepika Padukone
4. Which one is/are related to small industries
C. Ranveer Singh
in India?
D. Amitabh Bachchan
A. Priority sector B. MUDRA
E. Nana Patekar
C. MSME D. SIDBI
E. All of these are related to small industries
5. The acronym TAM is used in the context of
A. Corporate profitability
B. Print media readership
C. Internet readership
D. Television audiences
E. Rate of return on capital employed by the
banks
6. What is the approximate contribution of real
estate to India’s GDP?
A.7% B. 9%
C.11% D. 15% E. 19%
7. The second S in the acronym SARFAESI stands
for
A. Sustainable B. Secure
C. Securitization D. Statutory
E. Security

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 61

8. Which of the following best exemplifies a A. Prices which allow the seller a certain
sunrise industry? minimum profit margin
A. Nanotechnology B. Coal B. Free market pricing
C. Cement D. Oil refinery C. Pricing which is not based on any economic
E. Steel logic
9. Match the following pairs. D. Differential pricing for different categories of
1. Templeton Prize P. Sports coaching buyers
2. Abel Prize Q. Mathematics E. Price controls by the government
3. Dronacharya Award R. Journalism 15. India’s Current Account Deficit has shown a
4. BD Goekna Prize S. Spirituality falling trend in the past few months because
5. Magasasay Award T. Public service A. Both its imports and exports are falling
A. 1 -S, 2-Q, 3-P, 4-R, 5-T B. Both its imports and exports are rising
B. 1 -S, 2-Q, 3-P, 4-R, 5-T C. Its imports are rising but its exports are falling
C. 1 -P, 2-S, 3-P, 4-R, 5-T D. Its imports are falling but its exports are rising
D. 1 -S, 2-P, 3-Q, 4-R, 5-T E. None of these
E. 1 -S, 2-T, 3-P, 4-R, 5-Q 16. The Real Estate Regulatory Authority Act,
10. Among the following types of money supply, passed by Parliament recently, does NOT
the broadest measure of money is contain provisions on which of the following?
A. M2 B. M1 A. Transparency in providing information on
C. M4 D. M0 pricing to customers
E. M3 B. 3 years in jail for delayed project execution by
11. Which of these acronyms is NOT associated builders
with banking in India? C. Compulsory registration for all property agents
A. FATCA B. LoP D. Opening a special account for depositing the
C. CASA D. LAF customers’ money
E. BCSBI E. Compulsory registration of all residential
12. Examine the following statements labeled A projects measuring 500 sq. mt. and above
and B. 17. The MCLR regime of the Reserve Bank of India
Assertion (A): Rainforests contain the is related to
maximum biological diversity available A. Interest rates on bank loans
anywhere on the earth. B. Liquidity norms followed by the banks
Reasoning (R): Abundant rainfall, humidity, C. Capital adequacy
sunlight and appropriate temperature D. Cash reserve ratio to be maintained by the
facilitate the continued existence of a variety banks
of animals and plants. E. Interest rates on bank deposits
A. Both A and R are correct and R correctly 18. Pyramid-type, get-rich-quick schemes are
explains A. banned by the Reserve Bank as per the
B. Both A and R are correct but R does not A. Money Circulation Schemes Act
correctly explain A. B. Negotiable Instruments Act
C. A is correct but R is wrong. C. RBI Act
D. R is correct but A is wrong. D. Chit Fund Companies Act
E. Both A and R are wrong E. Banking Regulation Act
13. The atmospheric layer responsible for most 19. The Turbulent Years is an autobiography
weather phenomena is the authored by
A. Exosphere B. Troposphere A. AB Vajpayee B. Pranab Mukherjee
C. Mesosphere D. Stratosphere C. LK Advani D. Sonia Gandhi
E. Ionosphere E. Amit Shah
14. Administered pricing regime refers to a 20. Pick the odd man out of the following.
system of A. Polio B. Ebola
C. TB D. Dengue E. Zika
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 62
21. Which of these is NOT an apex industry A. Patna B. Bhopal
lobbying group in India? C. Mumbai D. Amritsar
A. NASSCOM B. ASSOCHAM E. Anandpur Sahib
C. PHDCCI D. CII 30. Who has been inducted into the International
E. CCI Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame?
22. For small banks, the ratio of priority sector A. Wasim Akram B. Shane Warne
loans to total loans has been fixed at C. Arthur Morris D. Steve Waugh
A. 50% B. 100% E. Kapil Dev
C. 60% D. 75% 31. China recently launched its longest train to
E. 40% cover over a distance of 2,760 km from
23. In India, __________ rarely attract/s any duty. Kunming, capital of Yunaan province, to
A. Industrial production Beijing. The train is called
B. Withdrawals from bank accounts A. Shangri-la of the World
C. Imports D. MSMEs B. Shenzhen Night View
E. Exports C. Shanghai Maglev Train
24. Which of the following is NOT a banking- D. Kunming-Beijing HSR
related term? E. Flying Dragon
A. Cold Calling 32. Where is mesentery, the newly discovered
B. Outstanding Amount organ, located in the human body?
C. Collateral damage A. Brain B. Digestive system
D. LAF C. Respiratory system D. Vertebral column
E. One Time Password (OTP) E. Kidneys
25. Which one/s among the following is/ are free 33. The year 2017 has been declared by the
trade blocs around the world? United Nations as the International Year of
1. European Union 2. OPEC A. Tourism for Sustainable Development
3. BRICS 4. NAFTA B. Pulses C. Refugees
A. 1 B. 1, 3, 4 D. The Family
C. 1, 2, 3 D. 1, 4 E. The Displaced People
E. All of them 34. The National Voters’ Day is celebrated on
26. The General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) are __________ to mark the coming into being of the
scheduled to come into effect from Election Commission.
A. March 2019 B. April 2017 A. January 25 B. January 31
C. February 2018 D. March 2017 C. January 23 D. January 26
E. None of these E. January 12
27. Name the movie that won in each category for 35. The CEPI was launched at the 2017 World
which it was nominated at the 74th Golden Economic Forum (WEF) to create new
Globes Awards. vaccines for emerging infectious diseases.
A. La La Land B. Midnight Express The acronym CEPI stands for
C. A Star is Born D. The Godfather A Coalition for Epidemic Preacher Innovations
E. Moonlight B. Coalition for Epidemic Preparative Innovations
28. The BCCI President, who has been removed by C. Coalition for Epidemic Practicable Innovations
the Supreme Court for violating its orders on D. Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness
implementing the Lodha Committe Innovations E. None of these
recommendations, is 36. Which state has become the first one to
A. Chetan Chouhan B. Anurag Thakur launch the “Aanandam programme” to help
C. Dilip Vengsarkar D. Niranjan Shah the needy?
E. N Srinivasn A. Odisha B. Assam
29. Where was the 350th Prakash Utsav organized C. Sikkim
to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind D. Madhya Pradesh E. Haryana
Singh?
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 63
37. Which among the following authors has won A. 60% B. 75%
the prestigious “The Hindu Prize 2016”? C. 50% D. 30%
A. Manjula Padmanabhan E. 40%
46. Gilt-edged securities refer to
B. Kunal Basu
A. Overdraft extended by the Reserve Bank of
C. Kiran Doshi D. Anil Menon India to States/Centre
E. P. Upendran B. Loans raised by the Reserve Bank of India
38. Who has been appointed the new chairman of C. Loans granted by the RBI to Commercial Banks
Tata Sons? D. Government Securities issued by the Reserve
A. Natarajan Chandrasekaran Bank of India E. None of these
B. Noel Tata 47. Michael Phelps, the world record holder
American athlete,
C. Indra Krishnamurthy D. Nowroji Saklatwala
A. Runs B. Dribbles
E. Ratan Tata C. Punches D. Swims
39. The book “An Unsuitable Boy” is the E. Shoots
autobiography of 48. Which of these organizations is NOT related to
A. Twinkle Khanna B. Rishi Kapoor banking in India?
C. Rahul Bose D. Karan Johar A. NGT B. IDRBT
E. Om Puri C. CGTMSME D. BCSBI
E. REDF
40. The Nobel Prize Series India 2017 was 49. Which of these is NOT a government scheme?
recently started in A. Housing for All B. PMLA
A. Maharashtra B. Assam C. NHM D. SSA E. PMGSY
C. Gujarat D. Punjab 50. After massive public protests against an order
E. Delhi of the Supreme Court, the government
41. The Red Data Book of the World Wildlife Fund recently issued an ordinance to provide for
holding Jallikattu, a traditional sport in
contains
A. West Bengal B. Tamil Nadu
A. The locations of ecologically sensitive zones in C. Karnataka D. Andhra Pradesh
the world E. Kerala
B. The names of extinct species
C. The names of endangered species JANUARY GK TEST KEY - 01
D. The names of newly-discovered species
1. C 2. D 3. A 4. D 5. C
E. None of these
6. A 7. B 8.D 9. C 10.C
42. The investments made in all these avenues
11. C 12. B 13. D 14. A 15.A
qualify for tax rebate under Indian tax laws 16. D 17. D 18. A 19. B 20.C
EXCEPT 21. E 22. D 23. C 24. A 25.A
A. Repayment of principal component on an 26. C 27. B 28. C 29. D 30. D
education loan 31. B 32. A 33. C 34. A 35. D
B. Repayment towards a home loan 36. E 37. C 38. B 39. D 40. A
C. New Pension Scheme 41. B 42. E 43. B 44. E 45. B
D. Equity Linked Savings Scheme 46. D 47. C 48. C 49. E 50. A
E. Medical insurance policies
JANUARY GK TEST KEY - 02
43. The maximum number of years for which a
Fixed Deposit can be made in India, is
1. E 2. D 3. C 4. E 5. D
A. 7 B. 5
6. C 7. E 8. A 9. A 10. C
C. 10 D. 15
E. 20 11. B 12. A 13. B 14. E 15. A
44. Pick the odd one out. 16. B 17. A 18. A 19. B 20. C
A. Free Look Period B. Bill of Exchange 21. E 22. D 23. E 24. C 25. D
C. EMV D. LTV 26. B 27. A 28. B 29. A 30. C
E. Foreclosure 31. A 32. B 33. A 34. A 35. D
45. The Small Banks have to allocate at least 36. D 37. C 38. A 39. D 40. C
________ of their total loans for Priority Sector 41. C 42. A 43. C 44. A 45. B
Lending. 46. D 47. D 48. A 49. B 50. B

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 64

IBPS PO - PRE EXAM
(MODEL TEST PAPER)
REASONING ABILITY opposite to the centre) what is the position
of A with respect to E?
(Note: Facing the same direction means, if one
Directions - These questions consists of a question
is facing the centre then the other also faces the
and two statements numbered I and II given below
centre and vice versa. Facing the opposite
it. You have to decide whether the data given in the
directions means if one is facing the centre then
statements are sufficient to answer the questions.
the other faces outside and vice versa)
Read both the statements and choose the most
I. C stands second to the right of E. E faces
appropriate option.
outside. C is an immediate neighbour of
both D and B. F stands second to the left of
1) How many people are standing between L
D. D faces the same direction as E.
and K in the line of 19 people (Note: All the
II. Only two people stand between B and E.
standing in a straight line facing north)?
Both B and E face outside. E is an immediate
I. Y stands to the extreme left end of the line.
neighbour of both D and F. B is an
Only five people stand between Y and K.
immediate neighbour of both C and A. A is
Only six people stand between K and R. Only
not an immediate neighbour of D.
four people stand between R and L.
a) The data in both statements I and II together
II. J stands exactly in the centre of the line.
are necessary to answer the question
Only two people stand between I and J. Only
b) The data in statement II alone are sufficient
five people stand between I and L. I stands
to answer the question, while the data in
to the left of L. K stands third to the left of J.
statement I alone are not sufficient to answer
a) The data even in both statements I and II
the question
together are not sufficient to answer the
c) The data even in both statements I and II
question
together are not sufficient to answer the
b) The data in both statements I and II together
question
are necessary to answer the question
d) The data either in statement I alone or
c) The data in statement II alone are sufficient
statement II alone are sufficient to answer the
to answer the question, while the data in
question
statement I alone are not sufficient to answer
e) The data in statement I alone are sufficient
the question
to answer the question, while the data in
d) The data either in statement I alone or
statement II alone are not sufficient to answer
statement II alone are sufficient to answer the
the question
question
3) How is X related N?
e) The data in statement I alone are sufficient
I. X is the mother of J. T is married to Z. N is
to answer the question while the data in
the daughter of T. Z is the brother of J.
statement II alone are not sufficient to answer
II. X is married to Y. Y is the father of J. J is
the question
married to M and Z is the uncle of N.
2) Among six people – A, B, C, D, E and F
a) The data even in both statements I and II
standing around a circle some facing the
together are not sufficient to answer the
centre while some facing outside (i.e.
question
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 65
 b) The data in statement I alone are sufficient immediately above R. N lives on even
to answer the question while the data in numbered floor.
statement II alone are not sufficient to answer a) The data even in both statements I and II
the question together are not sufficient to answer the
c) The data either in statement I alone or question
statement II alone are sufficient to answer the b) The data in statement II alone are sufficient
question to answer the question, while the data in
d) The data in both statements I and II together statement I alone are not sufficient to answer
are necessary to answer the question the question
e) The data in statement II alone are sufficient c) The data in statement I alone are sufficient
to answer the question, while the data in to answer the question while the data in
statement I alone are not sufficient to answer statement II alone are not sufficient to answer
the question the question
4) Among mobiles R, S, T, U, V and W which is d) The data either in statement I alone or
costlier? statement II alone are sufficient to answer the
I. T is costlier than only two mobiles. S is question
costlier than R but not the costliest. V is costlier e) The data in both statements I and II together
than only W. are necessary to answer the question
II. R is cheaper than only two mobiles. V is
costlier than W but cheaper than T. T is cheaper Directions – In these questions there are given four
than R. S is cheaper than U. statements followed by five conclusions, one of
a) The data in statement II alone are sufficient which definitely does not logically follow (or is not a
to answer the question, while the data in possibility or occurrence) from the given
statement I alone are not sufficient to answer statements. That conclusion is your answer.
the question (Note: You have to take the four given statements to be
b) The data even in both statements I and II true even if they seem to be at variance from the given
together are not sufficient to answer the statements disregarding commonly known facts.)
question
c) The data either in statement I alone or 6) Statements:
statement II alone are sufficient to answer the No toy is a doll.
question All guns are toys.
d) The data in statement I alone are sufficient All houses are dolls.
to answer the question while the data in All dolls are baskets.
statement II alone are not sufficient to answer Conclusions:
the question a) All baskets are toys
e) The data in both statements I and II together b) No gun is a house
are necessary to answer the question c) All guns being baskets is a possibility
5) In a six storey building (consisting of floors d) All houses are baskets
numbered 1 to 6, wherein the topmost floor e) No doll is a gun
is numbered 6 and the ground floor is 7) Statements:
numbered 1) each of the six friends namely Some logics are reasons.
M, N, O, P, Q and R lives on a different floor All reasons are arguments.
(Not necessarily in the same order). Who All arguments are fights.
amongst them lives on the lower most floor? No fight is a discussion.
I. M live on floor numbered five. Only two Conclusions:
people live between M and N. Q lives a) All discussions being logics is a possibility
immediately above P. b) No discussion is an argument
II. P lives on floor numbered three. Only two c) All logics being discussion is a possibility
people live between P and O. N lives d) All reason are fights
e) No reason is a discussion

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 66

8) Statements: one who likes Up does not have a presentation on
All references are mails. chemistry. O likes Lion King. R does not have a
All mentions are references. presentation on History and does not like Up. P does not
All comments are mentions. like Up.
No mail is a declaration.
Conclusions: 11) On which of the following subjects P has a
a) No reference is a declaration presentation?
b) All comments are mails. a) Chemistry b) English
c) No mention is a declaration c) Biology
d) All declarations being comments is a d) Other than those given as options
possibility e) Geography
e) Atleast some mails are mentions 12) Four of the following five form a group as
9) Statements: per the given arrangement. Which of the
Some moments are flashes. following does not belong to that group?
All moments are seconds. a) R – Cars b) Q – Shrek
All flashes are instances. c) N – Up d) M – Frozen
No instance is an hour. e) P – Rio
Conclusions: 13) Which of the following combinations is
a) All hours being second is a possibility definitely correct?
b) No second is a flash a) N – Chemistry b) R – History
c) No hour is a flash c) L – English
d) Atleast some moments are instances d) All the give combinations are definitely
e) Atleast some seconds are instances correct
10) Statements: e) P – Geography
All circles are spheres. 14) Which of the following combinations of
All spheres are rectangles. movie and subject is definitely correct with
No rectangle is a pyramid. respect to N?
No pyramid is a triangle. a) Up – Chemistry
Conclusions: b) Other than those given as options
a) Atleast some circles are pyramids c) Shrek – Geography d) Up – Geography
b) All triangles being circles is a possibility e) Finding Nemo – History
c) All rectangles being triangles is a possibility 15) Four of the following five form a group as
d) Atleast some rectangles are circles per the given arrangement. Which of the
e) No pyramid is a sphere following does not belong to that group?
a) Biology – cars
Directions – Study the following information and b) Chemistry – Lion King
answer the question. c) Civics - Shrek d) English – Frozen
Seven friends namely L, M, N, O, P, Q and R like e) Geography – Up
the different animated movies namely, Finding Nemo, 16) Which of the following movies does Q like?
Rio, Frozen, Up, Lion King, Shrek and Cars but not a) Shrek
necessarily in the same order. Each friend is also has a b) Other than those given as options
presentation on topics of different subjects namely c) Finding Nemo d) Lion King
Civics, History, English, Geography, Chemistry, Physics e) Cars
and Biology but not necessarily in the same order.
Q has a presentation on Civics and likes neither Directions – In the given question assuming the
Frozen nor Up. The one who likes Finding Nemo has a given statements to be true, find which of the given
presentation on History. L likes Rio and has a four conclusion I, II, III and IV is true and give your
presentation neither on Geography nor on Chemistry. answer accordingly.
The one who likes Cars has a presentation on Biology. M
has a presentation on Physics and does not like up. The

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 67

17) Statements: 22) Statements:
S>M≥D>H≤R≤T<W P≥Q≤C≤B=M>D
Conclusions: Conclusions:
I. S > H II. W > H I. M > Q II. D ≤ P
III. R < W IV. M > T III. M = Q IV. C > D
a) Only I, II and III are true a) None is true
b) Only II is true b) Only IV is true
c) Only I and II are true c) Only either I or II are true
d) Only I and either II or IV are true d) Only II and II are true
e) All I, II, III and IV are true e) Only either I or III is true
18) Statements:
M > U > L ≤ N; L ≥ Y > A Directions – Study the following information
Conclusions: carefully and answer the given question.
I. Y < N II. M > N A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting around a
III. N = Y IV. M > A square table in such a way that four of them sit at four
a) Only either II or III is true corners of the square while four sit in the middle of
b) Only IV and either I or II are true each of the four sides. The ones who sit at the four
c) Only IV is true corners face the centre of the table while those who sit
d) Only II is true in the middle of the sides face outside. Each one of them
e) Only III is true likes a different subject viz. Mathematics, Hindi, English,
19) Statements: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History and Geography.
J ≥ A > D = E; L < A < M (None of the information given is necessarily in the
Conclusions: same order).
I. M < J II. J > L C sits third to the left of the one who likes
III. D > L IV. E < M Geography. The one who likes Geography faces outside.
a) Only II is true Only two people sit between C and H. The one who likes
b) Only I and II are true Mathematics sits to immediate right of H.
c) None is true The one who likes Chemistry sits second to
d) Only II and IV are true right of G. G is neither an immediate neighbour of H nor
e) Only I and II are true C. G does not like the Geography.
20) Statements: Only one person sit between A and the one who
Y > F ≤ O ≤ P; F ≥ U < T likes Chemistry.
Conclusions: D sits to immediate left of the one who likes
I. Y > P II. T < F Physics. G does not like Physics.
III. O > T IV. P < U E likes History. E is not an immediate
a) Only I is true b) Only II is true neighbour of A.
c) Only III is true d) None is true The one who likes Hindi is an immediate
e) Only I and IV are true neighbour of E.
21) Statements: The one who likes Biology is an immediate
M≥N≤Y≤R<U=Z≥E neighbour of F.
Conclusions:
I. M > R II. Z ≤ R 23) Who among the following sits diagonally
III. R > E IV. Z > Y opposite the one who likes Mathematics?
a) Only I and II are true a) The one who likes Hindi
b) Only IV is true b) D
c) None is true c) A
d) Only II and IV are true d) The one who likes English
e) Only II and III are true e) The one who likes Biology

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 68

24) Who amongst the following represent the c) 15 m d) 5 m
immediate neighbours of the one who likes e) 9 m
Chemistry?
a) B, F b) C, E Directions – Study the following information to
c) B, E d) D, F answer the given question.
e) F, H A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting in a straight
25) Who amongst the following sits exactly line equidistant from each other (but not necessarily in
between H and B? the same order). Some of them are facing south while
a) C some are facing north.
b) The one who likes Hindi (Note: Facing the same direction means. If one
c) The one who likes English is facing north then the other also faces north and vice
d) G e) A versa. Facing the opposite directions means. If one is
26) Which of the following is true regarding B? facing North then the other faces south and vice versa).
a) B is one of the immediate neighbours of D H faces north. C sits at one of the extreme ends
b) The one who Geography is an immediate of the line. A sits third to the left of C. D is not an
neighbour of B immediate neighbour of C. G sits third to the right of A.
c) B sits second to left of H B sits to the immediate right of G. B does not sit at any
d) B likes History of the extreme ends of the line. Only one person sits
e) B is an immediate neighbour of the one who between F and D. G sits second to the left of F. E sits
likes Mathematics second to the right of B. Both the immediate neighbours
27) What is the position of the one who likes of G face the same direction. Both the immediate
Physics with respect to G? neighbours of A face the opposite directions. E faces the
a) Second to the left b) Third to the right same direction as B.
c) Fourth to the left d) Second to the right 32) Who amongst the following sits second to
e) Third to the left the right of F?
28) Which of the following subjects does D like? a) H b) D
a) Biology b) Mathematics c) C d) G
c) Hindi d) Chemistry e) A
e) English 33) Which of the following is true with respect
29) Who amongst the following likes to the given information?
Geography? a) G sits at one of the extreme ends of line
a) B b) F b) B sits exactly between A and F
c) H d) A c) B sits third to the right of E
e) D d) A faces north
e) A sits second to the left of B
Directions – Read the given information carefully 34) How many persons in the given
and answer the given question. arrangement facing North?
Point N is 8 m to the west of Point O. Point P is a) Four b) One
4 m to the south of Point O. Point Q is 4 m to the east of c) Three d) Two
point P. Point R is 6 m to the north of Point Q. Point S is e) More than four
8 m to the west of Point R. Point T is 2 m to the south of 35) Four of the following five are alike in a
Point S. certain way and so form a group. Which of
30) How far and in which direction is Point T the following does not belong to the group?
from Point N? a) B, A b) D, C
a) 4 m to the east b) 8 m to the west c) E, B d) A, E
c) 4 m to the west d) 6 m to the east e) G, F
e) 6 m to the south
31) If Point T is 4 m to the north of Point E, then
what is the distance between E and Q?
a) 11 m b) 8 m

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 69

 QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE 40) Total number of foreign tourists who visited
all the three places on Tuesday together is
what per cent of the total number of foreign
Directions (Q. 36-40): Study the following graph
tourists who visited Wagha Border on
carefully to answer the questions –
Monday and Wednesday together?
Number of foreign tourists who visited three
a) 168 b) 124
different places in five different days
c) 112 d) 224
e) 212
41) The present ages of Vishal and Shekhar are
in the ratio of 14 : 17 respectively. Six years
from now, their ages will be in the ratio of
17 : 20 respectively. What is Shekhar’s
present age?
a) 17 years b) 51 years
c) 34 years d) 28 years
e) None of these

Directions (Q. 42 – 46): Study the following table

carefully to answer the questions that follow-
Number of Units Manufactured (in thousands) by
Six different Companies over the Years
36) What is the average number of foreign
tourists who visited Wagha Border on all
the days together?
a) 184 b) 172
c) 186 d) 174
e) None of these
37) On which day was the difference between
the number of foreign tourists who visited
Taj Mahal and Golden Temple, second
42) What is the respective ratio of total number
highest?
of units manufactured by company A and B
a) Monday b) Tuesday
together in the year 2009 to those
c) Wednesday d) Thursday
manufactured by companies C and D
e) Friday
together in the same year?
38) What is the respective ratio between the
a) 312 : 329 b) 317 : 311
number of foreign tourists who visited Taj
c) 329 : 312 d) 311 : 317
Mahal on Thursday and the number of
e) None of these
foreign tourists who visited Golden Temple
43) The number of units manufactured by
on Friday?
company E in the year 2005 is
a) 14 : 9 b) 8 : 13
approximately what per cent of the total
c) 13 : 8 d) 13 : 7
number of units manufactured by it in all
e) None of these
the years together?
39) On which day was the total number of
a) 31 b) 27
foreign tourists who visited all the three
c) 7 d) 15
places together second lowest?
e) 23
a) Monday b) Tuesday
c) Wednesday d) Thursday
44) What is the average number of units
e) Friday
manufactured by company D in the years
2004 and 2007 together?

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 70

 a) 14650 b) 15750 Directions (Q. 51–55): What should come in place of
c) 13750 d) 16470 the question mark (?) in the following questions?
e) None of these
45) What is the total number of units 51) {(52)2 + (45)2} ÷ ? = 8
manufactured by Company C over all the a) 611.345 b) 487.225
years together? c) 591.125 d) 372.425
a) 783 b) 7830 e) None of these
c) 783000 d) 78.3 52) 14.2% of 5500 + 15.6% of ? = 1795
e) None of these a) 6500 b) 6200
46) What is the per cent increase in the number c) 5600 d) 5800
of units manufactured by company F in the e) None of these
year 2008 from the previous year? 53) (5696 ÷ 4 - ?) x 5 = 1020
(rounded off to two digits after decimal) a) 1180 b) 1200
a) 3.73 b) 3.62 c) 1240 d) 1220
c) 4.35 d) 4.16 e) None of these
e) None of these 54) 118963 – 107958 – 9589 = ?
47) Population of a village increases every year a) 1420 b) 1404
by 15%. If its population in January 2015 c) 1416 d) 1412
was 2,60,000, what will be its population in e) None of these
January 2016? 12.5  2.4  5.5  0.8
a) 2,99,000 b) 2,86,000 55) 8
?
c) 3,43,850 d) 3,38,000
a) 3.4 b) 4.8
e) None of these
c) 3.8 d) 4.3
48) Shelly could get equal number of Rs. 25 per
e) None of these
piece, Rs. 40 piece and Rs. 65 per piece
bangles. She spends a total of Rs. 1,560 for
Direction (Q. 56- 60): In each of the following a
all the bangles. How many of each type did
number series is given. Below it a number is given
she buy?
followed by (a) (b) (c) (d) & (e). You have to
a) 12 b) 14
complete the series starting with the number given
c) 16
according to the sequence for the given series?
d) Cannot be determined
56)
e) None of these
5 12 60 340
49) What is the approximate total surface area
7 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
of a right circular cone of height 14 cm and
Which of the following number will come in
base radius 7 cm?
place of (d)?
a) 510 b) 511
a) 172 b) 5044
c) 490 d) 505
c) 1012 d) 20164
e) 499
e) 28
50) Two stations A and B are 110 km apart on a
57)
straight line. One train starts from A at 7 am
11 15 38 126
and travels towards B at 20 kmph. Another
train starts from B at 8 am and travels 7 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
towards A at a speed of 25 kmkph. At what Which of the following number will come in
time will they meet? place of (c)?
a) 9 am b) 11 am a) 102 b) 30
c) 11:30 am d) 10 am c) 2140 d) 80
e) 12:30 pm e) 424
58)
2 3 8 27
5 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 71

 Which of the following number will come in 64) I. x2 – (16)2 = (23)2 – 56
place of (e)? II. y1/3- 55 + 376 = (18)2
a) 184 b) 6 a) x > y b) x  y
c) 925 d) 45 c) x < y
e) 14 d) relationship between x and y cannot be
59) determined
12 28 64 140 e) x  y
37 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) 12 8
Which of the following number will come in 65) I.   ( x)
( x) ( x)
place of (e)?
a) 1412 b) 164 (18) 5 / 2
c) 696 d) 78 II. y 2  0
y
e) 340
60) a) x > y b) x  y
2 3 9 40.5 c) x < y
4 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) d) relationship between x and y cannot be
Which of the following number will come in determined
place of (b)? e) x  y
a) 486 b) 81 66) I. (36) x  (64)  0
c) 3645 d) 18
e) 6 II. (81) y  (4) 2  0
61) The difference between a two-digit number a) x > y
and the number obtained by interchanging b) x  y
the digits is 36. What is the difference c) x < y
between the sum and the difference of the d) relationship between x and y cannot be
digits of the number if the ratio between the determined
digits of the number is 1 : 2? e) x  y
a) 10 b) 9 25 9
c) 11 d) 8 67) I.   17 ( x)
( x) ( x)
e) 7
62) In a lottery, there are 15 boys and 10 girls. ( y) 5 ( y ) 3
Three students are selected at random. II.  
3 6 ( y)
What is the probability that 1 girl and 2
boys are selected? a) x > y b) x  y
31 21 c) x < y
a) b) d) relationship between x and y cannot be
47 46
determined
22 31 e) x  y
c) d)
47 46 68) Three taps A, B and C can fill a tank in 12, 15
21 and 20 hours respectively. If A is open all
e)
47 the time and B and C are open for one hour
63) I. x2 – 10x + 21 = 0 each alternately, in what time will the tank
II. y2 – 16y + 63 = 0 be full?
a) x > y b) x  y a) 9 hours b) 7 hours
c) x < y c) 8 hours d) 10 hours
d) relationship between x and y cannot be e) 11 hours
69) A and B started a business in partnership
determined
investing Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 15,000
e) x  y
respectively. After six months, C joined them
with Rs. 20,000. What will be B’s share in
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 72
 total profit of Rs. 25,000 earned at the end This illustrates what is wrong with the World
of 2 years from the starting of the business? Bank. The World Bank has often forgotten the most
a) Rs. 8,000 b) Rs. 8,500 basic lessons of development, preferring to lecture the
c) Rs. 9,000 d) Rs. 7,500 poor and force them to privatise basic infrastructure,
e) Rs. 9,500 which is untenable, rather than to help the poor to
70) A boatman goes 2 km against the current of invest in infrastructure and other crucial sector. The
the stream in 1 hour and goes 1 km along Bank’s failure began in the early 1980s when under the
the current in 10 minutes. How long will it
ideological sway of then American President and British
take to go 5 km in stationary water?
a) 80 minutes b) 75 minutes Prime Minister it tried to get Africa and other poor
c) 70 minutes d) 72 minutes regions to cut back or close down government
e) 84 minutes investments and services. For 25 years, the bank tried
to get governments out of agriculture, leaving
impoverished peasants to fend for themselves. The
ENGLISH LANGUAGE result has been a disaster in Africa, with farm
productivity stagnant for decades. The bank also
Directions (71-80): Read the following passage
pushed for privatization of national health systems,
carefully and the questions given below it. Certain
water utilities, and road and power networks, and has
words/phrases are given in bold to help you locate
grossly underfinanced these critical sectors. This
them while answering some of the questions.
extreme free-market ideology, also called “structural
China’s rising power is based on its remarkable
adjustment”, went against the practical lessons of
economic success. Shanghai’s overall economy is
development successes in China and the rest or Asia.
currently growing at around 13% per year, thus
Practical development strategy recognises that public
doubling in size every five or six years. Everywhere
investments – in agriculture, health education, and
there are start-ups, innovations, and young
infrastructure – are necessary complements to private
entrepreneurs hungry for profits. In a series of high-
investments. The World Bank has instead wrongly seen
level meetings between Chinese and African officials,
such vital public investments as an enemy of private
the advice that the African leaders received from the
sector development. Whenever the bank’s ideology
Chinese was sound, and more practical than they
failed, it has blamed the poor for corruption,
typically get from the World Bank. Chinese officials
mismanagement, or lack of initiative. Instead of focusing
stress the crucial role of public investments, especially
its attention on helping the poorest countries to
in agriculture and infrastructure, to lay the basis for
improve their infrastructure, there has been a crusade
private sector-led growth. In a hungry and poor rural
against corruption. The good news is that African
economy, as China was in the 1970s and as most of
governments are getting the message on how to spur
Africa is today, a key starting point is to raise farm
economic growth and are getting crucial help from
productivity. Farms need the benefits of fertilizer,
China and other partners that are less wedded to
irrigation and high-yield seeds, all of which were a core
extreme free-market ideology than the World Bank.
part of China’s economical take off. Two other equally
They have declared their intention to invest in
critical investments are also needed: roads and
infrastructure, agriculture modernization, public health,
electricity, without which there cannot be a modern
and education. It is clear the Bank can regain its
economy. Farmers might be able to increase their
relevance only if it becomes practical once again, by
output, but it wont be able to reach the cities, and the
returning its focus to financing public investments in
cities won’t be able to provide the country-side with
priority sectors. If that happens, the Bank can still do
inputs. The government has taken pains to ensure that
justice to the bold vision of a world of shared prosperity
the electricity grids and transportation networks reach
that prompted its creation after World War II.
every village in China. China is prepared to help Africa
in substantial ways in agriculture, roads, power, health
71) The author’s main objective in writing the
and education. And that is not an empty boast. Chinese
passage is to
leaders are prepared to share new high-yield rice
a) make a case for the closure of the World
varieties, with their African counterparts and, all over
Bank since it promotes US interests over those
Africa, China is financing and, constructing basic
of other countries.
infrastructure.
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 73
 b) illustrate how China can play a more while the World Bank favours private sector
concrete role in Africa. involvement.
c) criticize the World Bank for playing a crucial e) None of these
role in China’s development but neglecting 75) What is China’s view on the development of
Africa. the transportation and power networks?
d) recommend that China adopt the guidelines a) Development in these sectors is not as
of the World Bank to sustain growth. important as investing in agriculture.
e) use China’s success as an example of the b) Resources need to be diverted from the rural
changes required in World Bank ideology. to the urban areas to meet the needs of the
72) What advice have African leaders received growing population in cities.
from their Chinese counterparts? c) The government should be solely responsible
a) Focus primarily on innovation, start-ups and for developing these services so all citizens
urban development. have access to them.
b) To ensure all citizens benefit from economic d) It is more important to develop and maintain
development, investment, not the private transportation networks and power grids in
sector. rural areas.
c) Improve agricultural output through e) None of these
government investment to stimulate economic 76) Which of the following cannot be said about
growth. structural adjustment?
a) None b) Only (C) a) It is the World Bank’s free market ideology
c) Only (B) d) Both (A) & (B) adapted by Asian countries.
e) None of these b) Under this strategy public sector investment
73) What effect has the World Bank policy had in priority sectors is discouraged.
on African nations? c) As a development strategy it has failed in
a) The African government has restricted Africa.
private sector investment in agriculture. d) With this strategy there has been a lack of
b) Africa has focused more on health and adequate investment in critical sectors.
education rather than on agriculture. e) It is an ideology advocated by the World
c) The agriculture sector in these countries is Bank which needs to be modified to facilitate
not as productive as it could be. economic growth.
d) US and Britain have volunteered substantial 77) Which of the following is NOT true in the
aid to Africa as Africa has complied with World context of the passage?
Bank ideology. a) China’s involvement in Africa so far has been
e) None of these restricted to advising its leaders.
74) What is the difference in the Chinese and b) The World Bank was created by the US and
World Bank approach to development? Britain for the sole purpose of furthering their
a) Unlike the World Bank, China favours the interest.
public sector and restricts private sector c) China’s economy was once in the same state
participation in crucial sectors. as many African countries are today.
b) Contrary to China’s strategy of dependence a) None b) Only (B)
on the private sector, the World Bank c) Only (A) d) Both (A) & (B)
pressurises governments to take the lead in e) None of these
investing in agriculture. 78) What has/have been the outcome/s of
c) While the World Bank has focused on Shanghai’s economy prospering?
agriculture, China’s priority has been rooting a) The World Bank has changed its
out corruption so that investment in development strategy.
infrastructure is utilised appropriately. b) China’s importance globally has been
d) The Chinese government has retained enhanced.
control over essential services like transport c) Rural areas are being neglected to promote
development of cities.

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 74

 a) Only (B) b) Both (A) & (B) 84) untenable
c) Both (B) & (C) d) All (A), (B), & (C) a) viable b) unsound
e) None of these c) consistent d) superior
79) Why is the author optimistic about Africa’s e) attractive
future? 85) empty
a) The World Bank has committed itself to a) full b) objective
invest huge sums in Africa’s development. c) meaningful d) occupied
b) Africa has decided to adopt a structural e) intelligent
adjustment ideology which has benefited many
nations. Directions (86-89): Read each sentence to find out
c) Africa has committed itself to adopting whether there is any error in it. The error, if any,
China’s strategy for economic growth. will be in one part off the sentence. The number of
d) China has urged the World Bank to waive the that part is the answer. If there is no error, the
interest on its loans to Africa. answer is (e). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any).
e) None of these
80) What advice has the author given the World 86) It is not worthy(a)/the company’s
Bank? reputation(b/to compromise on quality(c)/ for
a) Support China’s involvement in developing the sake of profit. (d) No error (e)
Africa
b) Reduce the influence of the US and Britain in 87) The company which has (a) /won the
its functioning government contract (b)/ also plans to invest
c) Adopt a more practical ideology of structural (c)/ with the power sector. (d)/ No error (e)
adjustment
d) Change its ideology to one encouraging both 88) Implementing these measures (a) / will help
public and private sector investment in basic the government (b)/ to save more of (c)/ 400
infrastructure crores each year. (d)/No error (e)
e) Focus on fighting corruption rather than
interfering in the governance of developing 89) You have failed to produce (a)/ no evidence to
countries support (b)/ the charge that he (c)/ is
responsible for the error. (d) /No error (e)
Directions (81-83): Choose the word which is most
nearly the SAME in meaning as the word printed in Directions (90-93): Which of the phrases (a), (b), (c)
bold as used in the passage. and (d) given below should replace the phrase given
in bold in the following sentences to make the
81) sway sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is
a) fluctuate b) influence correct as it is and there is no correction required,
c) govern d) dependence mark (e), i.e. ‘No correction required’ as the answer.
e) unsteady
82) core 90) The minimum eligibility age shall be less to
a) centre b) heart sixty years to allow more senior citizens to
c) adequate d) intermediate avail of the benefits of the scheme,
e) essential a) should be lowered b) should be lower
83) stress c) being lesser d) must be lessen
a) highlight b) strain e) No correction required
c) taxing d) tension 91) The latest study by Nasscom indicates possibly
e) emphasis short of five lakh qualified engineers in the IT
industry.
Directions (84-85): Choose the word which is most a) the possible shortage off
OPPOSITE in meaning of the word printed in bold as b) possibly short by
used in the passage. c) possibility of shortage

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 75

 d) a possible shortage of (F) In recent years, however, economic changes have
e) No correction required brought business sense and professionalism to the
92) China has to be prepared to meet many age- sector.
related social and financial challenges in the 96) Which of the following should be the FIFTH
coming years. sentence in the paragraph?
a) is been preparing b) was prepared a) A b) B
c) have been prepared d) has preparations c) C d) D
e) No correction required e) E
93) It is necessary to ascertain that we can do to 97) Which of the following should be the SIXTH
attract investment to the manufacturing sector. (LAST) sentence in the paragraph?
a) how we can do b) what we can do a) B b) C
c) more can be done d) that has been done c) D d) E
e) No correction required e) F
98) Which of the following should be the
Directions (94-95): In each of the following SECOND sentence in the paragraph?
sentences there are two blank spaces. Below each a) B b) C
five pairs of words have been denoted by numbers c) D d) E e) F
(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e). Find out which pair of words 99) Which of the following should be the FIRST
can be filled up in the blanks in this sentence in the sentence in the paragraph?
same sequence to make the sentence meaningfully a) A b) B
complete. c) C d) D e) E
100) Which of the following should be the THIRD
94) The Chairman in his speech stated the _____ sentence in the paragraph?
in company profits was _____ to team a) A b) B
building. c) C d) D e) E
a) incline, owing b) rise, liable
c) slump, accountable d) surge, due ANSWER KEY
e) plunge, response
95) The main _____ of Healthcare reforms is _____ Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A.
medical care to every citizen. 1 B 2 E 3 B 4 C 5 B
a) purpose, available b) cause, providing 6 A 7 C 8 D 9 B 10 A
c) challenge, accessing 11 D 12 E 13 C 14 D 15 D
d) assurance, qualified 16 A 17 A 18 C 19 D 20 D
e) focus, extending 21 C 22 E 23 A 24 C 25 E
26 E 27 E 28 A 29 B 30 A
Directions (96-100): Rearrange the following six 31 B 32 B 33 E 34 A 35 B
sentences (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) in the proper 36 B 37 E 38 D 39 A 40 E
sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then 41 C 42 C 43 D 44 B 45 E
answer the questions given below them.
46 A 47 A 48 A 49 E 50 D
(A) In fact, today, social entrepreneurship is no different
51 C 52 A 53 D 54 C 55 D
from starting a profit-motivated company.
56 B 57 A 58 C 59 A 60 D
(B) The major challenge they face is employee selection
61 D 62 B 63 E 64 E 65 A
and retention.
(C) For decades social development in India meant 66 A 67 C 68 B 69 D 70 B
charity. 71 E 72 E 73 C 74 E 75 E
(D) However, the challenges social organizations 76 A 77 D 78 E 79 C 80 D
experience are tougher. 81 B 82 E 83 A 84 A 85 C
(E) This is because while volunteering for social work is 86 A 87 D 88 C 89 B 90 A
not new, attracting talented people and tapping their 91 D 92 E 83 B 94 D 95 E
potential at lower costs is difficult. 96 B 97 2 98 2 99 C 100 A

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 76

 Latest G.K. Bytes
JANUARY – 2017 18) Iconic football player Lionel Messi hails from
which country: Argentina
1) About which restaurants charges the Consumer
19) _________has become the first country in the
Affairs Ministry has notified that they are not
world to pay a basic monthly income to its
mandatory: Service Charges
deserving citizens: Finland
2) The 104th Indian Science Congress was hosted
20) Li Xiaoxia, China's _________Olympic champion
by the __________University in Tirupati in Andhra
has announced her retirement: Table Tennis
Pradesh: Sri Venkateswara
21) John Berger, the Booker-prize-winning and a
3) __________ has been appointed as the Chairman of
revolutionary art critic passed away recently.
the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC):
He was from which country: Britain
Prof. David r syiemlieh
22) Name the legendry cinema and theater actor
4) Govt. has launched a new online payment
who acted in several Pakistani, British and
named BHIM. What is its full form: Bharat
Hollywood films, who passed away recently:
Interface for Money
Om Puri
5) DRDO recently tested which ICBM having a
23) Iconic cricketer MS Dhoni announced his
strike range of 4000 km: Agni-IV
retirement from the captaincy of which format
6) China has launched its first long route freight
of cricket: ODI and T20
train to which European city: London
24) Which country is facing strong international
7) “Khullam Khulla” is an autobiography of which criticism for failing to rein-in months-long
Bollywood star: Rishi Kapoor
military crackdown on Rohingya Muslim
8) Name the author of the book “Necessary community: Myanmar
Trouble: Americans in Revolt”: Sarah Jaffe
25) China has successfully launched Tongxin Jishu
9) What is the main objective of the initiative, Shiyan, a new-generation __________ Satellite:
‘Swachh Swasth Sarvatra’: Strengthening of Telecommunications
community health centres
26) Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar islands hosted
10) The Swachh Swasth Sarvatra initiative is the _________Festival 2017: Island Tourism
proposed to be implemented in which type of 27) India defeated which country to win the SAFF
blocks: Blocks free from open defecation
Women’s Football Championship: Bangladesh
11) Which Union Ministry has launched Mission 28) The SAFF Women’s Football Championship was
Swachh Swasth Sarvatra: Health Ministry in
held at which place: Siliguri, West Bengal
collaboration with the Ministry of Drinking
29) The grand ‘Prakash Parv’ to celebrate the 350th
Water and Sanitation
birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh guru, Sri
12) Which state plans to set up a pilot corridor for Guru Gobind Singh was hosted by which city:
an innovative concept of India’s first 'Caterpillar Patna
Train': Haryana, in Gurugram
30) Scientists in Ireland have classified a new organ
13) The Beipanjiang Bridge, the highest in the named ‘Mesentery’ inside human body in the
world, has been opened up in which country: _______ system: Digestive
China
31) The Election Commission announced the dates
14) Sorin Grindeanu has been appointed as the new
for the assembly elections in how many states:
_________ of Romania: Prime Minister
Five
15) ___________ has emerged as the India’s first fully
32) The United Nations General Assembly
organic agriculture state: Sikkim has recognised the year 2017 as the
16) The Supreme Court of India has ruled that no International Year of ________for Development:
politician can seek the vote in the name of ___, Sustainable Tourism
____, _____ community or language: Caste, Creed, 33) Jovenel Moise has been elected as the _______ of
Religion Haiti: President
17) ________ has been named as the World’s Best 34) Tony Atkinson, eminent British economist and a
Playmaker for the year 2016: Lionel Messi
noted scholar at the London School of
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 77
 Economics was in news for what reasons: He favour of digital radio: Norway
passed away 55) _______ has become the first city in the country to
35) World Braille Day is observed on which date: use the Network Operations Centre for smart
January 4 city: Jaipur
36) Why January 4 is observed as World Braille 56) Nat Hentoff, famous author, journalist, jazz
Day: It is the birth anniversary of Louis critic and civil libertarian, who passed away
Braille, the inventor of the Braille language recently, was from which country: USA
for the blind 57) The Golden Globe Awards are given for
37) Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, home excellence in which field: Cinema
loans upto Rs. _____ lakh will now get 4 % rebate 58) The Golden Globe Awards are given in which
in interest: 9 country: USA
38) Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, home 59) Which film won the Golden Globe for best
loans upto Rs. _____ lakh will now get 3 % rebate motion picture: Moonlight
in interest:12 60) Damien Chazelle won the Golden Globe for Best
39) In a new scheme, senior citizens have been Director for which film: La La Land
assured _____ per cent interest on their deposits 61) What is the name of the Kalvari class Scorpene
up to Rs. _____ lakh, for next 10 years: 8, 7.5 submarine recently acquired by the Indian
40) NRIs have been permitted to exchange their old Navy: INS Khanderi
500 and 1000 rupees notes at RBI offices till 62) Which national day is observed on January 12:
what date: 30th June, 2017 National Youth Day
41) 14th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was held at which 63) Why National Youth Day is observed on January
place: Bengaluru 12: It is the birthday of Swami Vivekananda
42) Who was the chief guest of the 14th Pravasi 64) _________elected as the President of Nicaragua
Bhartiya Divas: Dr. Antonio Costa for a third consecutive term: Daniel Ortega
43) Dr. Antonio Costa is the prime minister of which 65) International Football body FIFA has decided to
country: Portugal expand the World Cup Tournament to
44) Pravasi Bhartiya Divas is observed on which _____teams from its current 32 w.e.f 2026: 48
date: January 9 66) Which country has offered its help for
45) Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is observed every year development of Chennai, Ahmedabad and
to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi Varanasi as smart cities: Japan
as a Pravasi from ________to India in 1915: South 67) Sania Mirza alongwith American Bethanie
Africa Mattek-Sands won which women's doubles title
46) As per the recent data released by the CSO, in Australia: Brisbane International
India’s GDP growth is estimated at ________per 68) Qatar Open tennis title in Doha was won by
cent in 2016-17: 7.1 which player: Novak Djokovic
47) Who has been selected to lead Indian cricket 69) Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who died recently,
team in all three formats – test match, ODI and was two times former President of which
T-20: Virat Kohli country: Iran
48) Which country has launched world’s longest 70) The World Hindi Day is observed on which date
bullet train running for 2760 kms: China in January: 10th
49) 4th Assam International Agri-Horti show was 71) Which Union Ministry sponsors the World
held in______: Guwahati Hindi Day celebrations around the world:
50) Which city hosted the International Conference Ministry of External Affairs
on “Yoga for Diabetes”: New Delhi 72) Which Bollywood star was honoured by the US
51) The People's President: Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is Embassy in appreciation for his invaluable
a book written by S M Khan. Who is he: Former contributions to the US-India partnership on
Press Secretary of Sh. Kalam tuberculosis: Amitabh Bachchan
52) ___________ was named the World's Best Player at 73) Abbu Ammaz, an eight-year old boy from
the Best Fifa Football Awards: Cristiano Jammu and Kashmir won gold medal in
Ronaldo National level _______Championship:
53) Shreyas Mehta, India’s Under-13 _______player Thaiboxing
won the prestigious Scottish Junior Open title in 74) President of__________, Uhuru Kenyatta arrived in
Edinburg, Scotland: Squash New Delhi on his India visit: Kenya
54) _________ became the first country in the world to 75) What is the name of the biography of former
start shutting down its FM radio network in wrestler and coach Mahavir Singh Phogat:

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 78

 Akhada time in 2017: Gujarat
76) ISRO has signed a partnership agreement in 96) Khelo India National level Sports Competitions
satellite launch technology with which other were held in which city: New Delhi
space agency: French Space agency 97) ________ has been appointed as the new prime
77) Railways has launched a new passenger mobile minister of France: Bernard Cazeneuve
application 'IRCTC Rail Connect' for what 98) Indian Army Day is observed on which date:
purpose: To promote ease of booking tickets January 15
through digital mode. 99) For what reasons Indian Army Day is observed
78) India’s first international exchange called India on January 15: On this date in 1948 first
INX has been opened in which city: Indian took over as the chief of army
Gandhinagar, Gujarat 100) Name the former Punjab Chief Minister and
79) The world’s largest street light replacement former Governor of Tamil Nadu, Andhra
programme has been launched in which Indian Pradesh and Uttarakhand, who passed away
city: New Delhi recently: Surjit Singh Barnala
80) Linking of Pan card has been made mandatory 101) Filmfare award for best film was won by which
in all listing bank accounts except _________ picture: Dangal
account: Basic Savings Account 102) __________ won the Filmfare award for the best
81) The 2017 Chennai Open Tennis Championship director: Nitesh Tiwari
was won by which place: Roberto Bautista 103) Who is the author of the book “Jinnah Often
Agut, Spain Came to Our House”: Kiran Doshi
82) DRDO recently tested a new guided version of 104) The World Bank has agreed to provide $48
the Pinaka. What it is: Rocket million for health project of which state:
83) __________ has been appointed as the new Nagaland
Chairman of Tata Sons: Natarajan 105) “An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in
Chandrasekaran India” is a book written by which author:
84) Name the first payments bank of India that Shashi Tharoor
started operations in January: Airtel Payments 106) “The Spy” is a novel written by which famous
Bank novelist: Paulo Coelho
85) Payment Banks are not allowed to accept which 107) As per a global study, India’s richest 1% hold as
type of deposits: Time Deposits (FD and RD) much as _____% of the country’s total wealth: 58
86) Madame Tussauds, the world famous museum 108) As per India Meteorological Department’s data,
of wax sculptures is opening its first branch in ______ was India’s warmest year since 1901:
India which city: New Delhi 2016
87) The World Bank has projected a growth of 109) The first edition of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting
________ per cent for the global economy in 2017: Union’s International Television Dance Festival
2.7% was held in which city: Hyderabad
88) Which country has ended a two-decade-old 110) As per the Inclusive Development Index, India
“wet foot, dry foot” immigration policy: USA has been played __________ rank among 79
89) USA’s “wet foot, dry foot” immigration policy developing economies: 60th
was aimed at nationals of which country: Cuba 111) Mawlynnong, a village in __________ state has
90) Govt. has increased the minimum monthly become a role model for maintaining
pension to Rs.______ per person for Central Govt. cleanliness: Meghalaya
employees: 9,000 112) NASA has approved a mission to explore
91) The ex-gratia amount for the employees has asteroid named ‘16 Psyche’ for what purpose:
been increased from 10 -15 lakh to ______ lakh To harness its extremely rich iron content
rupees: 25-35 113) ________ has been elected as the new President of
92) ___________ has been appointed as the new CEO of the European Parliament: Antonio Tajani
the Tata Consultancy Services: Rajesh 114) The 58th edition of India International Garment
Gopinathan Fair was held in which place: New Delhi
93) Delhi Police and ___________airlines have joined 115) Which state witnessed unprecedented massive
hands to start humanitarian initiative ‘Akhiri public protests against the ban on bull taming
Ahuti’: IndiGo sport of Jallikattu: Tamil Nadu
94) Which state has launched the country’s first 116) Which Indian city has been ranked number one
solar-powered boat 'Aaditya': Kerala in a global study to identify dynamic cities:
95) Which team won the Ranji Trophy for the first Bengaluru

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 79

 117) Asia’s largest literature festival was hosted by upgradations and improvement of the power
which city in India: Jaipur system network in which state: Tripura
118) Name the cricket icon who was inducted into 138) Donald Trump took over as the _______ President
Legends Club 'Hall of Fame' in Mumbai: Kapil of United States: 45th
Dev 139) In which state more than 3.5 lakh people set a
119) As per the Global Passport Index, passport of new world record for singing the national
which country has been ranked as the best: anthem together: Gujarat
Germany 140) Which Indian state, world’s longest human
120) Govt. has approved listing of how many public chain was formed, covering around 11,292 kms:
sector insurance companies: Five Bihar
121) Which web portal has been launched to monitor 141) What was the mission behind forming the
the progress of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: ShaGun world’s longest human chain: To support ban
122) Premier Badminton League 2017 was won by on alcoholism and liquor
which team: Chennai Smashers 142) In a ranking of world’s 50 most innovative
123) In which country Priyanka Chopra won the firms, ___________ has been placed at No. 1: Apple
People’s Choice Award for best actress: USA 143) Which public sector bank has launched its
124) Who has been named new Director of the contactless credit card in January: Punjab
Central Bureau of Investigation: Alok Kumar National Bank
Verma 144) Annual meeting of the World Economic Form
125) Himachal Pradesh has declared that ______ was held in ________ in Switzerland: Davos
would be the second capital of the State: 145) In which country, Indian origin Prime Minister
Dharamsala resigned from his post: Mauritius
126) Which team won the Pro Wrestling League in 146) Which insurance company has been given the
January, 2017: Punjab Royals charge for implementing the
127) Adama Barrow has been elected as the new Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana 2017: LIC
President of The Gambia. It is in which part of 147) Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana 2017 will
the world: Western Africa provide an assured return of ____% per annum
128) National Girl Child Day is observed on which for _____ years: 8, 10
date: January 24 148) The threshold age limit for the
129) Which Indian Navy warship has become the Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana 2017 is_____
first ship to have an ATM on board: INS years: 60
Vikramaditya 149) Which airport won the Golden Peacock Award
130) Name the renowned Urdu poet and Bollywood for Corporate Social Responsibility in the
lyricist who passed away in January 2017: aviation transport sector for the year 2016:
Naqsh Lyallpuri Delhi International Airport
131) What was the actual name of the famous Urdu 150) Name the Indian beauty queen who has been
poet Naqsh Lyallpuri: Jaswant Rai Sharma picked up to be on the judges panel of the
132) Which is the first state in the country to opt for upcoming 65th edition of Miss Universe
electronic transmission of postal ballot: Goa pageant: Sushmita Sen
133) Saina Nehwal defeated Pornpawee 151) Annual Status of Education Report-2016 relates
Chochuwong of Thailand to win which to which subject: Children’s schooling in rural
international title: Malaysia Masters Grand India
Prix Gold 152) Recently Union Cabinet has approved which
134) Who was the head of the panel constituted to change for IIMs: They have been allowed to
review the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget issue degrees rather than diplomas
Management Act: N. K. Singh 153) Crown Prince of which country was the chief
135) Raisina Dialogue, a flagship geo-political guest for this year’s Republic Day Parade
conference was held in which Indian city: New function: Abu Dhabi (UAE)
Delhi 154) National Voters Day is celebrated on which
136) The government has tied up with the National date: 25th January
Yuva Cooperative Society to set up 1,000 155) For what reason National Voters Day is
Janaushadhi Kendras for what purpose: To observed on 25th January: On this date in 1950,
provide quality medicines at an affordable Election Commission came into being.
price 156) The External Affairs Ministry has joined hands
137) World Bank has sanctioned Rs. 1,376 crore for with which organization to expand outlets for
issuance of passports: Department of Posts
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 80
 157) The Supreme Court of UK has issued what Philippines): Iris Mittenaere
orders in context of Britain’s exit from 175) Iris Mittenaere, the new Miss Universe, belongs
European Union: They have asked the govt. to to which country? France
obtain consent from the Parliament 176) The “Father of Pac-Man”, who founded the
158) Which country successfully tested its long range Japanese video game company, died recently.
surface-to-surface ballistic missile Ababeel: Can you name him? Masaya Nakamura
Pakistan 177) As per reports, more than _________ of the Indian
159) The Indian postal department released a special adult population now has an Aadhaar number.
stamp cover titled Golden girls of India – Pride 99%
of Nation. Name these girls: Dipa Karmakar, 178) The Anti Leprosy Day is observed in the
PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik memory of: Mahatma Gandhi
160) Who became the fastest batsman in the world 179) Quebec, a city in news recently due to an attack
to score 1,000 runs as captain in ODIs: Virat on a mosque, is located in which country?
Kohli Canada
161) ________ has been appointed as the new Prime 180) _________ defeated __________ to claim the Men's
Minister of Mauritius: Pravind Jugnauth Singles of Australian Open in Melbourne. Roger
162) The Union Cabinet has approved ratification of Federer, Rafael Nadal
the Second Commitment Period of the Kyoto 181) The first-ever transgender model to walk at the
Protocol. This protocol relates to which issue: Lakme Fashion Week was: Anjali Lama
Containing the emission of green house (Nepal)
gases 182) Which latest order issued by US President
163) Name two active politicians who have been Donald Trump has created a flutter around the
conferred Padma Vibhushan in 2017: Mr. world? The order bars the entry of foreign
Sharad Pawar and Sh. Murli Manohar Joshi nationals from seven Muslim-majority
164) Padma Vibhushan has been conferred on which nations
politicians posthumously: Sh. Sunder Lal 183) Name the seven countries, whose nationals
Patwa and Sh. P A Sangma have been banned by the US government from
165) Prof. U R Rao has been decorated with which entering America: Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya,
national award: Padma Vibhushan Somalia, Yemen and Iraq
166) Which country has built the world’s biggest 184) What is the reason behind the latest ban on
solar park spanning and area or 27 sq. kms: Muslim-dominant nations imposed by the US?
China It wants to ensure that the visas are not
167) Japan launched its first military issued to individuals posing a national
communications satellite ________to boost the security threat.
broadband capacity of its armed forces: 185) Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused
Kirameki-2 by _____________, which usually affects the skin
168) _________ defeated Gujarat to clinch the Irani and peripheral nerves. Mycobacterium leprae
Trophy (Cricket): Rest of India
169) Name the gallant soldier who was conferred
DECEMBER – 2016
with the highest peace time gallantry award 186) Hashim Mansoor, seven-year-old school student
Ashok Chakra on this Republic Day: Havildar from Bandipora, J&K won the gold medal in
Hangpan Dada (posthumously) which Asian event: Karate
170) In a list of eight great powers for the year 2017 187) The Reserve Bank has placed a limit of
compiled by a leading American foreign policy ____________rupees on monthly withdrawals from
magazine, India has been ranked at ______place:
Sixth Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan bank accounts:
171) Which country tops this list: USA 10,000
172) _______________ the Russian Ambassador to India 188) Which country lost its first division football
who was considered India’s great friend passed team in a plane crash: Brazil
away in New Delhi: Alexander Kadakin 189) __________ has been appointed as the Chief of
173) The Supreme Court has appointed ___________ to Pakistan Army: Lt. Gen Qamar Bajwa
head the Board of Control for Cricket in India
190) L Y Suhas, UP-based IAS officer won the Asian
(BCCI). Vinod Rai (former Comptroller and
Auditor General) ________Championships: Para-Badminton
174) ____________ was declared the new Miss Universe 191) Akodara village in Sabarkantha district of
at a glittering pageant held in Manila (The Gujarat was in news recently for what reasons:
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 81
 For becoming first cashless village in India 208) Why the National Pollution Control Day is
192) “Conflicts of Interest: My Journey through observed on December 3: Thousands lost
India's Green Movement” is a book written by their lives on this day in 1984 due to the
Sunita Narain. Who is she: Noted environment Bhopal gas tragedy
activist 209) _______ has been won the IAAF Athlete of The
193) The website Dictionary.com has named the Year Award for men: Sprint king Usain Bolt of
word ________as the Word of the Year for 2016: Jamaica
Xenophobia 210) _______ has been won the IAAF Athlete of The
194) Xenophobia describes which type of fear or Year Award for women: Almaz Ayana of
apprehension: Fear or hatred of foreigners, Ethiopia, 10,000m record holder
people from different cultures, or strangers 211) What is the full form of IAAF: International
195) Which Indian film was selected for a special Association of Athletics Federations
screening at the UN headquarters, New York: 212) Name the New Zealand's popular Prime
Pink Minister who stunned the nation by announcing
196) What is the major issue in the film Pink: his resignation: John Key
Gender based violence or violence against 213) Who has been elected as the new Prime
women Minister of New Zealand: Bill English
197) Asia’s first and longest cycle highway, running 214) Which European Prime Minister announced his
for 207 kms has been opened in which state: stepping down from the office after he lost a
Uttar Pradesh referendum on constitutional reforms: Matteo
198) India has inked a Rs 5,000 crore deal with USA Renzi of Italy
for buying 145 M777 ultra-light __________.: 215) Asia Cup Twenty-20 tournament for women
Howitzers was hosted by which country: Thailand
199) Magnus Carlsen of ________ won the World Chess 216) _________ won the Asia Cup Twenty-20
Championship: Norway tournament for women: India
200) Which Indian player won the bronze medal at 217) Srinidhi Shetty of India won which
the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Doha, international beauty queen title: Miss
UAE: Pankaj Advani Supranational 2016
201) Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn was 218) Name the Philippines beauty queen who has
proclaimed as the new monarch of which been crowned Miss International 2016: Kylie
country: Thailand Verzosa
202) Monarchy in Thailand belongs to which 219) Indian navy celebrates which day as the Indian
dynasty: Chakri Navy Day: December 4
203) Which international day is devoted to raise 220) Why Indian Navy day is celebrated on
awareness to the Aids pandemic caused by the December 4: To commemorate their
spread of the HIV infection: World Aids Day achievements in 1971 Indo –Pak war.
204) What is the theme for this year’s World Aids 221) J. Jayalalitha, the charismatic Chief Minister of
Day: Hands Up for HIV Prevention Tamil Nadu, passed away on Dec 5. Popularly
205) HRD ministry has launched ‘Vittiya Saksharata she was known as _____: Puratchi Thalaivi
Abhiyan’ (Financial Education Mission) for (revolutionary leader), Amma
what purpose: To spread awareness about 222) The world soil day celebrated on Dec 05 is
digital cashless modes of transactions supported by which UN organization: FAO-
206) Name the Indian girl who has won the Food and Agriculture Organization
International Children's Peace Prize: 223) _________ has been elected as the new President
Kehkashan Basu of Uzbekistan: Shavkat Mirziyoyev
207) Kehkashan Basu won the peace prize for which 224) Justice___________has been appointed as the next
achievement: For her fight for climate justice (44th) Chief Justice of India: Jagdish Singh
and combating environmental degradation Khehar

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 82

 225) ISRO successfully launched India’s latest 241) Nada cyclone caused widespread heavy rains in
satellite Resourcesat-2A for what purposes: which coastal part of India: Tamil Nadu
Remote Sensing and imaging 242) Who became the oldest golfer (51 years) to win
226) Srinivasa Iyer Ramaswamy, political satirist and an Asian Tour title by winning Panasonic Open
founder editor of Thuglak magazine, passed Golf Championship: Mukesh Kumar
away recently. What was his popular name: Cho 243) Name the South Korea's President who was
Ramaswamy impeached by the parliament over a corruption
227) What is the main purpose of celebrating Armed scandal: Park Geun-Hye
Forces Flag Day: To collect the funds for the 244) International Anti-Corruption Day is celebrated
wellbeing of the staff of the Indian Armed on which date: December 09
Forces 245) Name the trailblazing US astronaut, who
228) Pidie Jaya, a small town in Pidie Jaya Aceh became the first American to orbit the Earth
province in Indonesia was in news for what and the first senior citizen to venture into
reason: It was devastated by a major space, died aged 95: John Glenn
earthquake 246) Which Indian language has been included at
229) Bernard Cazeneuve has been elected as the new 10th place in the top 10 most powerful
Prime Minister of which European country: languages in the world: Hindi
France 247) Which great Indian leader’s birth anniversary
230) Who is the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: O now shall be celebrated as “Water Day”: Dr. B.
Panneerselvam R. Ambedkar
231) NITI Aayog has decided to allocate Rs.____ lakh 248) Which public sector bank won the Best MSME
to every district as seed money to kick start Bank Award given by ASSOCHAM: Corporation
digitization drive: Five Bank
232) The first ever International Gita Mahotsav was 249) Which public sector bank won the Best Bank for
hosted by which city: Kurukshetra SME Lending Award given by ASSOCHAM:
233) Konkan 16, the annual bilateral maritime Vijaya Bank
exercise was held between the Indian Navy and 250) India signed an agreement with ________for
which other navy: Royal Navy of Britain training her pilots for their Sukhoi-30 fighter
234) Joint naval exercise Konkan 16 was held at jets: Vietnam
which place: Off the Mumbai coast 251) Naval exercise Indra Navy 2016 was conducted
235) Turner Prize, a top award for contemporary art between which two navies: India and Russia
is given in which country: Britain 252) Indra Navy-2016 was conducted at which place:
236) In a first of its kind incident in the Indian Navy, In Bay of Bengal, off the Visakhapatnam
a missile frigate fell down it’s sideways. Name coast
this ship: INS Betwa 253) The RBI has relaxed the norms for AFA for
237) ___________ has been named by Time magazine as online card transactions. What is AFA:
its Person of the Year 2016: Donald Trump Additional Factor of Authentication
238) Name the international statesman who scored 254) RBI has relaxed AFA norms for card
highest 18 per cent of popular online votes for transactions of up to what amount: Rs. 2000
the Time Person of the year 2016: Narendra 255) Which day is celebrated on Dec 10 to
Modi commemorate the Universal Declaration of
239) Which country observed the 75th anniversary Human Rights by the General Assembly of the
of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor: USA United Nations: Human Rights Day
240) Team Indus, a group of young Indian scientists 256) Name the new TV channel launched to educate
and IT experts was in news for what reasons: people on various modes of electronic
They have tied up with ISRO for launching payments: Digi Shala
an unmanned spacecraft on Moon by 257) Which country has become 14th partner of India
January, 2018 for civil nuclear cooperation: Vietnam

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 83

 258) Joko Widodo, President of _______ arrived in and the Centre to remove which shops from the
India on a two day visit: Indonesia highways: Liquor
259) The 28th State Information Ministers (of India) 276) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a
Conference (SIMCON) was hosted by which city: book written by which author: J K Rowling
New Delhi 277) Name the book written by Ravindra Kumar, an
260) Iqbal Sayed of Mumbai won the silver medal in IAS officer of 2011 batch who scaled Mt
Olympia Amateur Asia Contest in Hong Kong in Everest: Many Everests
which category: Classic bodybuilding 278) A recent study shows that the ____are the best-
261) Where in India world’s biggest cricket stadium educated of all religious groups in North
in terms of seating capacity is proposed to be America and Europe: Hindus
built up: Motera, Ahmadabad 279) International Tennis Federation has declared
262) Name the ace Indian cueist who won his 11th _________as World Champion (men) 2016: Andy
World Billiards (150-Up format) Championship Murray, Britain
in Bengaluru: Pankaj Advani 280) Name the women tennis player who won the
263) Cristiano Ronaldo won the prestigious Ballon World Champion (women) 2016: Angelique
d'Or award, 2016 for a fourth time. He is from Kerber, Germany
which football club: Real Madrid, Spain 281) Who won the Badminton World Federation’s
264) China launched Fengyun-4 satellite for what Most Improved Player of the Year award: P V
purpose: Weather Study Sindhu
265) “100 Million for 100 Million” campaign has 282) Sultan Muhammad V has been installed as the
been launched for what purpose: For 15th King of which country: Malaysia
mobilising better-off children to speak up 283) The Indian Railways has tied-up with which
for their disadvantaged counterparts bank to install at least 10,000 Point of Sale
266) Name the Nobel laureate who is the guiding (PoS) machines: State Bank of India
force behind the campaign “100 Million for 100 284) Which day is celebrated every year on
Million”: Kailash Satyarthee December 16 to commemorate India’s historic
267) Which Bollywood star has been once again victory over Pakistan in 1971 war: Vijaya
named UNICEF’s (United Nations Children’s Diwas
Fund) Global Goodwill Ambassador: Priyanka 285) The Niti Aayog launched which two schemes to
Chopra encourage cashless transactions between 50
268) the Hero World Challenge Golf Championship in and 3,000 rupees: Lucky Grahak Yojana and
Nassau, Bahamas was won by which player: Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana
Hideki Matsuyama 286) Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi Dhan Vyapar
269) The government has waived the import Yojana shall be implemented by which
duty on which food grain: Wheat organization: National Payment Corporation
270) 7th World Ayuerveda Congress was held in of India
which city: Kolkata 287) V K Sharma has been appointed as
271) 7th World Ayuerveda Congress was supported the Chairman of which public sector insurance
by which union ministry: Ministry of AYUSH company: Life Insurance Corporation (LIC)
272) 2016 Women's Hockey Junior World Cup won 288) “Courts of India – Past to Present” book has
by _______ by defeating Netherland: Argentina been compiled by which national institution:
273) Who became first Indian and fifth batsman in Supreme Court of India
world to score three double centuries 289) Which judicial authority has imposed a ban on
consecutively in one calendar year: Virat Kohli sale and use of glass powder coated ‘manja’ and
274) Who is the only Indian statesman to figure in other dangerous strings for flying kites:
the Forbes top 10 most powerful persons in National Green Tribunal
world: Narendra Modi 290) V G Kannan has been appointed Chief Executive
275) The Supreme Court has directed all the states Officer of which organization: Indian Banks’

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 84

 Association 308) Who has been appointed as the new Director
291) Majuli, India's first ever proposed carbon General of the Intelligence Bureau: Rajiv Jain
neutral district by 2020, is in which state: 309) What is the function of Intelligence Bureau: To
Assam collect domestic intelligence inputs
292) Name the joint military exercise undertaken by 310) Who has won the BBC Sports Personality of the
armies of India and Maldives: Ekuverin Year-2016: Andy Murray
293) __________ has become the first Indian 311) Country’s first ever Indian Institute of Skills will
batswoman to figure in the ICC’s Women’s team be opened in which city: Kanpur
of the year: Smriti Mandhana 312) The Indian Institute of Skills will be opened in
294) What is the name of the recent tax amnesty collaboration with which country: Singapore
scheme launched by the government: Pradhan 313) Stephanie del Valle of Puerto Rico recently
Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana which international beauty crown: Miss World
295) Assessees will have to pay ______ per cent tax on 2016
amount declared under Pradhan Mantri Garib 314) SBI has launched its mobile wallet application
Kalyan Yojana: 50 ‘State Bank MobiCash’ in partnership with
296) Which corporate has taken the responsibility of which organisation: BSNL
recruiting and funding 600 Zila Swachh Bharat 315) Saumitra Chaudhuri, a former member of the
Preraks: Tata Trusts erstwhile Planning Commission, died recently.
297) We hear a lot about UPI payment system these He was from which field: Eminent Economist
days. What is UPI: Unified Payment Interface 316) Which state launched a subsidised meal scheme
298) Digital payments can also be made through ‘Annapurna Rasoi' to provide breakfast for Rs 5
USSD-based *99#. What is USSD: Unstructured and lunch or dinner for Rs. 8 to the poor and the
Supplementary Service Data needy: Rajasthan
299) In the context of digital payments, what is IMPS: 317) Name the former World Champion in Super
Immediate Payment Service or Interbank Middleweight Boxing who was knocked out by
Mobile Payment Service Vijender Singh: Francis Cheka
300) While making transaction through card swipe 318) Animation giant Disney has launched its ‘Hour
machines, banks usually charge MDR. What is of Code’ campaign in India for what purpose:
MDR: Merchant Discount Rate To teach computer programming to school
301) The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, children through its free online tutorials
2016 identifies how many conditions as 319) After Virender Sehwag, who is the only other
disabilities: 19 Indian batsman to hit triple century: Karun
302) As per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Nair
Bill, 2016, reservation for Divyangs in 320) Ministry of textiles has launched a mobile app
government jobs has been raised to ________ per E-Dhaga to address the concerns of which
cent: 4% artisan community: Weavers
303) Junior World Cup Hockey for boys was won by 321) Merriam-Webster’s dictionary has named
which country: India _______ as the ‘Word of the Year 2016’: Surreal
304) Who has been named as the New Chief of the 322) What is the meaning of word Surreal: Very
Indian Army Staff: Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat strange or unusual : having the quality of a
305) Who has been named as the new Chief of the dream’
Indian Air Force: Air Marshal Birender Singh 323) Assam government has appointed which
Dhanoa Bollywood actress as the brand ambassador of
306) Anil Dhasmana has been appointed new Chief state tourism: Priyanka Chopra
of RAW. Write its full form: Research and 324) India won the five-match test series against
Analysis Wing which country in a clean sweep of 4-0: England
307) What is the function of RAW: To collect 325) International Human Solidarity Day is observed
foreign intelligence inputs on which date: December 20

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 85

 326) India has been ranked _______ in the Global Wind company to sign up as a national supporter for
Power Installed Capacity Index: 4th which international sports event: FIFA Under
327) Which country has been placed at the top as per 17 World Cup
the Global Wind Power Installed Capacity 342) GARV-II mobile app will provide village-wise
Index: China and habitation-wise base line data on which
328) Which country launched TanSat - a global issue: Household electrification
carbon dioxide monitoring satellite to 343) Which bank has launched ‘easypay’, a mobile
understand climate change: China application for merchants that allows
329) AIBA has granted full membership to the consolidation of all modes of digital payments:
recently-formed Boxing Federation of India. ICICI Bank
What is the full form of AIBA: Amateur 344) Where in India is located the proposed grand
International Boxing Association memorial of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati
330) In a rare instance, which two Indian bowlers Shivaji Maharaj: An Island of the Mumbai
are topping the ICC Test rankings: Coast
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja 345) Why National Consumer Day is observed on
331) DRDO conducted the flight test of indigenously- December 24: On this day, the Consumer
designed and developed 'Nirbhay'. What it is: Protection Act, 1986 had received the assent
Long range subsonic cruise missile of the President
332) India signed Open Skies agreement with six 346) RBI has opened its 17th banking ombudsman
countries for what purpose: To allow office recently in which city: Dehradun,
unlimited number of flights to six metro Uttarakhand
airports 347) The UN Security Council, for the first time,
333) Scientists have discovered a vast ‘dead zone’ of passed a resolution asking Israel to refrain from
an estimated 60,000 square kilometers in the what action: From building settlements on
Bay of Bengal. What is its main feature: This occupied Palestinian territory
area contains little or no oxygen 348) Shiva Keshavan of India clinched a gold medal
334) Which Indian cricketer has been named ‘ICC at the Asian _________Championships in Nagano,
Cricketer of the Year’: Ravichandran Ashwin Japan: Luge
335) Which trophy is given to the ICC Cricketer of the 349) Who won the National title in 6-red Snooker
Year: Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy championship held in Mumbai: Pankaj Advani
336) Name the Lt. Governor of Delhi who was in 350) Shankha Ghosh, eminent modern poet, winner
news as he tendered his resignation: Najeeb of the 2016 Jnanpith award, writes in which
Jung language: Bengali
337) Name the 12 year old school boy from Noida 351) Which physical exercise discipline has been
who won the Kids Golf World Championship: delisted as sports: Yoga
Arjun Bhati 352) After being delisted as sports, Yoga will now be
338) Union Cabinet has approved formation of which looked after by which ministry: Health
new service in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Ministry, Department of AYUSH
Medium Enterprises (MSME): Indian 353) As per Forbes India Celebrity List, ________ has
Enterprise Development Service been ranked number one, earning revenue of Rs
339) Indian Enterprise Development Service has 270.33 crore: Salman Khan
been started for what purpose: To boost and 354) Which Bollywood actress has been declared
achieve the vision of "Startup India", "Stand- PETA’s Person of the Year by the People for the
up India" and "Make in India" Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): Sunny
340) As per a report by Forbes magazine, India has Leone
replaced which country to become the fifth 355) Name the India’s indigenously developed
largest economy in the world: Britain intercontinental surface-to-surface nuclear
341) The Bank of Baroda has become the first Indian capable ballistic missile that was successfully

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 86

 tested in December: Agni - V 60
356) What is the approximate range of the ICBM Agni 371) Name the 18 year old boy who is the new
– V: Over 5000 km national champion in the men’s 10m air pistol
357) Which country won the Asian Cricket Council’s event: Anmol Jain
Under-19 Asia Cup: India 372) The Insurance Regulatory and Development
358) The INS Sahyadri stealth frigate and the Indian Authority of India (IRDA) has granted
Army's Poona Horse cavalry regiment were in certificate of registration to which type of five
news recently for what reasons: They entered new insurance companies: Re-insurance
in a joint affiliation to promote inter- 373) Name the material that has been identified to
services camaraderie withstand temperatures up to 4000 degrees
359) The union government plans to launch a toll- Celsius: Hafnium Carbide
free number 10588 to provide relevant NOVEMBER – 2016
information and guidance directly to whom:
374) In the recent Global Gender Gap index, India
Pregnant women
jumped 21 places to reach which rank: 87th
360) Which Ministry has launched 'Coal Mitra' web
375) __________has topped the annual Global Gender
portal to facilitate flexibility in utilization of
Gap index 2016: Iceland
domestic coal: Union Power Ministry
376) The Ministry of AYUSH has launched which
361) December 23 is observed as Kisan Diwas to
campaign to fight Diabetes: Mission
celebrate the birth anniversary of which great
Madhumeha
leader: Chaudhary Charan Singh
377) What is the full form of Ayush: Ayurveda, Yoga,
362) ________ has become the world’s first country to
Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy
make regular use of drone delivery in its
378) World's largest Marine Protected Area (MPA)
national postal service: France
has been created in the Ross Sea at which
363) According to Global Wage Report by the
location: Antarctica
International Labour Organisation, in India men
379) What is the salient feature of the Marine
earned ______ per cent more than women for
Protected Area: A blanket ban on commercial
similar job: 30
fishing in this area
364) DRDO has successfully tested the indigenously
380) RBI has permitted startups to raise ECBs of up
developed Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon. What
to USD 3 million per annum. What is ECB:
type of weapon it is: Bomb
External Commercial Borrowings
365) A helpline number 14404 has been launched for
381) Govt has approved setting up of the National
what purpose: For consumer related
Academic Depository for what purpose: For
grievances
keeping digital record of various
366) Which Indian player won the $10000 ITF Hong
educational degrees
Kong F4 Futures Tennis Cup in Hong Kong:
382) Who can authorize to take out a print or digital
Yuki Bhambri
copy of educational degrees from the National
367) NITI Aayog has developed which index to rank
Academic Depository: concerned student
states on the basis of their performance on
himself
measurable health indicators: Health
383) Sakharov Prize is given in which field: For
Outcomes Index
excellent work in the field of human rights
368) Health Outcomes Index will be implemented by
384) Which organization awards the Sakharov Prize:
which union ministry: Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare European Parliament
385) Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar, two Yazidi
369) Birth anniversary which great leader is
women who were held as sex slaves by ISIS
observed as Good Governance Day on
militants, have recently been honoured with
December 25: Atal Bihari Vajpayee
which international prize: Sakharov Prize
370) RBI has given an additional _____days to repay
386) Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is observed on which
their crop loans due in November-December:
date: October 31

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 87

 387) Why Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is observed on 406) Kim Byong-Joon has been appointed new Prime
October 31: It is the birth anniversary of Minister of which country: South Korea
Sardar Patel 407) Joint military exercise Surya Kiran was held
388) We also observe death anniversary of a with which country: Nepal
prominent national leader on October 31. Name 408) Surya Kiran exercise was held at which place:
the leader: Indira Gandhi Saljhandi, Nepal
389) What is SIMBEX-16: Singapore-India 409) Which country is the “country of focus” in the
Maritime Bilateral Exercise 47th International Film Festival of India: South
390) Which wing of Indian defence force took part in Korea
SIMBEX-16: Navy 410) The 47th International Film Festival of India
391) SIMBEX-16 was held in which area: off the (IFFI) was held at which place: Goa
Andhra coast, Bay of Bengal 411) The annual Forbes Fab 40 list of sports
392) In terms of 'Ease of Doing Business' rankings, celebrities has placed which Indian sports
which two states are the joint first in the person at top in India: MS Dhoni
country: Andhra and Telengana 412) Ministry of Railways has appointed Dr.
393) ________ won the Men's Asian Champions Bindeshwar Pathak as the Brand Ambassador
(Hockey) Trophy: India for Swachh Rail Mission. Who is he: The
394) All loan frauds involving funds over Rs _______ founder of Sulabh International
crore and above are now to be reported to 413) Pratul Joshi won the men’s singles title of the
Central Vigilance Commission: One Bahrain International Challenge in which
395) Which player has retained world's top doubles sports: Badminton
Tennis player (women) rank for the second 414) Govt. has announced how many slabs for the
straight year: Sania Mirza proposed GST tax rates: Four
396) As per the NITI Aayog’s ‘ease of doing agri- 415) What are the four tax rate slabs proposed for
business index’, which state is at top in GST: 5, 12, 18 and 28%
pursuing farmer-friendly policies: 416) The proposed GST slabs have now to be
Maharashtra approved by which constitutional body:
397) Man Booker Prize is given in which field: Parliament
English literature 417) Which major daily consumption item has been
398) Name the English author who is first American exempted from GST: Food grains
to win Man Booker Prize (money awarded 418) Which Indian organization has setup world’s
£50,000) : Paul Beatty highest research lab: DRDO
399) Paul Beatty won the Man Booker Prize for 419) Where in India DRDO has setup world’s highest
which novel: The Sellout research lab: Chang La, Ladakh
400) Indian Roller Skaters team was recently in 420) “Sampriti-2016” - The joint military training
news for what reasons: They won their first exercise was conducted between which two
ever international medal countries: India and Bangladesh
401) Which state has become the second “open 421) “Sampriti-2016” held at which place: Near
defecation free” state in India: Himachal Dhaka
Pradesh 422) Ramnath Goenka Awards are given for
402) Which state has become the third “open excellence in which field: Journalism
defecation free” state in India: Kerala 423) Sh. Ramnath Goenka was associated with which
403) Which state has become the first “open major national daily of India: Indian Express
defecation free” state in India: Sikkim 424) The Paris Agreement which became effective
404) In the Global Youth Development Index – 2016, from 4th November 2016 worldwide, deals with
India has been placed at which rank: 133rd which issue: Climate Control
405) Which country has topped the Global Youth 425) Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize
Development Index – 2016: Germany for Water is given by which country: Saudi

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 88

 Arabia Record for which achievement: For the highest
426) World Tsunami Awareness Day is observed on altitude fix of a GPS signal at 70,000 kms
which date: November 5 445) 'Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan'
427) Name the UK’s Prime Minister who arrived in has been launched to provide which facility to
New Delhi for her India visit: Theresa May pregnant lady: Free health check-ups on
428) India plans to purchase 12 amphibious rescue every 9th day of the month
aircraft from Shin Maywa Industries of which 446) Which country recently tested zero-emission
country: Japan hydrogen engine passenger train named
429) The 12 day Global Climate conference was held Coradia iLint: Germany
in Marrakech. It is in which country: Morocco 447) Donald Trump is the _________ president of the
430) Name the Nobel laureate Bharat Ratna whose USA: 45th
128th birth anniversary is being celebrated 448) Which central government ministry has
across the country: Sir C V Raman launched a new app named ‘No More Tension’:
431) Sir C V Raman is famous for which invention: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Raman Effect 449) Guy Ryder has been re-elected as the Director-
432) __________of Britain has attained the world General of which UN organization:
number one ranking in Tennis for the first time: International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Andy Murray 450) Recently Supreme Court declared
433) Andy Murray replaced which top tennis star unconstitutional the Punjab Government’s 2004
from the number one ranking: Novak Djokovic law relating to sharing of waters of which river:
434) Which city hosted the Commonwealth Sutlej
Wrestling Championship: Singapore 451) Which are the two states involved in the
435) Asian Champions Hockey Trophy (women) was dispute on Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal:
won by which country: India Haryana and Punjab
436) Daniel Ortega has been elected as the President 452) Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana has been launched
of which country: Nicaragua for what purpose: To boost up development
437) of entrepreneurship for the youth
438) The govt declared that from midnight of Nov 8, 453) During his recent visit to Japan, Mr. Modi
500 and 1,000 rupee notes will cease to be travelled in which bullet train: Shinkansen
________: Legal tender 454) Where in India is the first high speed bullet
439) New data released by which world organisation train corridor proposed: Mumbai to
shows that the five years from 2011 to 2015 Ahmadabad
were the warmest on record: World 455) What is the historical reason for observing
Meteorological Organization Public Service Broadcasting Day on November
440) Which Bollywood personality has been named 12: Mahatma Gandhi addressed the nation
as brand ambassador by Switzerland tourism: for the first and the last time on radio on
Ranveer Singh this date
441) First ever International Agro-biodiversity 456) World Diabetes Day is observed on which date
Congress was held in which city: New Delhi in November: 14
442) The 7th Session of the Conference of Parties to 457) What is the theme of this year’s World Diabetes
World Health Organisation Framework Day: ‘Eyes on Diabetes’
Convention on Tobacco Control was held in 458) Aditi Ashok became the first Indian woman to
which place: Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh win a Ladies European Tour title in which
443) Name the MP who has authored the book ‘An sports: Golf
Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India’: 459) Lewis Hamilton who won the Brazilian Grand
Dr. Shashi Tharoor Prix Formula 1 championship is from which
444) NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale country: Britain
Mission (MMS) now holds the Guinness World 460) Name the Israeli President who visited India

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 89

 recently: Reuven Rivlin which river and where: Ganga in Bihar
461) November 12 is observed around the world to 480) Oxford Dictionaries has declared __________as its
raise as a day devoted to raising awareness international word of the year: “post-truth”
about which disease: Pneumonia 481) Which Indian organization successfully tested
462) The World carrom championship (women) in its unmanned combat aerial vehicle, Rustom-2:
Birmingham (UK) was won by which country: DRDO
India 482) Govt has announced which new date for
463) ___________ won the World carrom championship presentation of union budget for 2017-18: Feb
(men): Sri Lanka 1, 2017
464) What event is ‘Hand in Hand 2016’: A joint 483) Peggy Whitson, the veteran NASA astronaut
military exercise was in news for what reasons: She has become
465) With the army of which country India hosted oldest women at 57, still active in space as
the ‘Hand in Hand 2016’: China she left for joining the International Space
466) Narinder Batra has become the first Indian Station
President of which international sports body: 484) The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad is a book written
International Hockey Federation by which Bollywood celebrity: Twinkle
467) Padmini Rout won the National Women Khanna
Premier Championship in which sports: Chess 485) Which paramilitary force has inducted, for the
468) Why the moon on November 14 was termed as first time, a team of women commandos to fight
Supermoon: Because it was brightest and Naxalites: CRPF
biggest in size on that day 486) What is the full form of CRPF: Central Reserve
469) _______ is the technical name for supermoon: Police Force
perigee-syzygy’ 487) Name the indigenously designed Kolkata-class
470) Which Rabi crop enjoys highest per quintal guided missile destroyer that was
price of Rs. 4000: Gram commissioned into the Indian navy recently:
471) Which is the main Rabi crop: Wheat INS Chennai
472) Govt. has recently announced MSP for various 488) Aditya Puri is the sole Indian, ranked 36th in the
Rabi crops. What is MSP: Minimum Support US magazine Fortune's top 50 business persons
Price in the world. Who is he: CEO of HDFC Bank
473) What is the MSP announced for wheat crop for 489) Fortune's top 50 business persons in the world
the 2016-17 Rabi season: Rs. 1625 per quintal list for 2016 has ranked _______ as No. 1: Mark
474) International Solar Alliance is a group of 121 Zuckerburg
countries as per which common factor: All 490) Sunway Taihu Light has been declared as the
these countries lie fully or partially between world’s fastest supercomputer. It belongs to
two tropics and are member of UNO which country: China
475) CoP22 to the UN Framework Convention on 491) Name the wonder girl who became first Indian
Climate Change was held at which place: to win gold at the World Kickboxing
Marrakech, Morocco Championship in Italy: Tajamul Islam
476) The 2016 World Internet Conference was held 492) UNO celebrates which day on November 20 to
in__________, China: Wuzhen promote children’s welfare worldwide:
477) India’s first Cherry Blossom Festival was held in Universal Children’s Day
which state: Meghalaya 493) India's longest expressway running for 302 kms
478) Meghalaya celebrates Cherry Blossom Festival has been inaugurated at which place: Lucknow
for what purpose: To showcase the beauty of (to Uttar Pradesh)
the flowers and the State’s cultural 494) For what reasons the Agra Lucknow
traditions expressway was in news: Indian Air Force
479) The ADB has sanctioned a $500 million loan for fighter jets used a section of this expressway
constructing India’s longest river bridge on for simulated landing and takeoff

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 90

 495) A recent news headline was ‘47th IFFI begins in White Revolution
Goa’. What is IFFI: International Film Festival 512) What is the title of the recent book written by
of India Ruskin Bond: Death Under The Deodars
496) Name the legendary singer honoured with
OCTOBER – 2016
'Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of
the year' at the IFFI: SP Bala Subramanyam 513) As per the Global Competitiveness Index
prepared by the World Economic Forum
497) Name the spiritual leader honoured with the Dr.
(WEF), India stands at which rank: 39th
Nagendra Singh International Peace Award: Sri
514) As per the Global Competitiveness Index,
Sri Ravi Shankar
which is the most competitive country in the
498) Which space agency launched the highly
world: Switzerland
advanced geostationary weather satellite
515) Name the Israeli Nobel Peace Prize winner
Geostationary Operational Environmental
who passed away in October, 2016: Shimon
Satellite-R (GOES-R): NASA
Peres
499) Which telecom operator of India launched its
516) In a recent study by ADB, India is expected to
Payments Bank from Rajasthan: Bharti Airtel
grow by ________ per cent in the year 2016-17:
500) Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has been honoured
7.4
with the first World Sanskrit Award. Who is
517) ____________ has been appointed as the new
she: Princess of Thailand
Director General of CISF: O P Singh
501) As per the ICT development index, ________ has
518) Moortidevi Award is given in which field: For
been ranked as no. 1 country: South Korea
a literary work on heritage and culture of
502) What is the rank of India in the ICT
India
development index 2016: 138th
519) Who has been awarded Moortidevi Award
503) The 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
2015: Prof. Kalakaluri Enoch
(APEC) summit was held in which place: Lima,
520) Prof. Kalakaluri Enoch is a noted novelist of
Peru
which language: Telugu
504) _________ has been elected as the President of the
521) Which country won the 4th men's Under-18
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce
Asia Cup hockey trophy: India
and Industry (FICCI): Pankaj R. Patel
522) Which country hosted the 4th men's Under-
505) Name the legendary communist revolutionary
18 Asia Hockey Cup: Bangladesh
and former President of Cuba who died at age
of 90: Fidel Castro 523) Sunshine Lanes is a book written by Prasoon
Joshi. Who is he: Famous Bollywood lyricist
506) India observes the Constitution Day on which
date: November 26 524) Being the Other: The Muslim in India is a
book written by a noted media personality of
507) Name the Indian boxer who was honoured with
India. Can you name him: Saeed Naqvi
the 'Legends Award' by the International
Boxing Association (AIBA): M C Mary Kom 525) Lee Hsien Loong arrived in New Delhi on a
five-day visit to India. Who is he: Prime
508) Lrszlu Szombatfalvy, who announced the 'New
Minister of Singapore
Shape Prize' is a investor and philanthropist
from which country: Sweden 526) As per a World Bank report, persons
spending less than $_______ per day are
509) Who is the head of the committee formed to
considered as persons living in extreme
expedite the process of transforming India into
poverty: 1.90
a cashless economy: Amitabh Kant
527) Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairperson of State
510) __________ became the third Indian boxer ever to
Bank of India was in news due to which
bag gold at the AIBA Youth World
reason related to her career: She is the first
Championships: Sachin Singh
Chairman of SBI to be granted one year
511) For what reason November 26 is observed as
extension
the National Milk Day: It is Birth anniversary
528) Why SBI Chairman has been granted one year
of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the Father of the
extension: To ensure smooth merger of

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 91

 associate banks 548) What is the new revised Bank Rate and the
529) Daniel Ricciardo won which Grand Prix F1 MSF rate: 6.75%
championship in Sepang, Malaysia: 549) The Nobel Prize for Chemistry for 2016 has
Malaysian been given for which innovation: for the
530) Where in India we can see the iconic heritage development of the world's smallest nano
site “Rani Ki Vav”: In Gujarat machines those are a thousand times
531) Why in Rani Ki Vav was in news recently: It thinner than a strand of hair, for medical
won award for the “Cleanest Iconic Place” use
in the Indian Sanitation Conference 550) __________has become the first country in the
532) The World Habitat Day is observed on which world to legally ban usage of disposable
date: October 3 plastic cups and plates: France
533) What is the theme of this year’s World 551) World Teachers’ Day is observed on which
Habitat Day: Housing at the Centre date: October 5
534) Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed 552) Recently which very heavy satellite was
bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been invited by launched by ISRO: GSAT-18
India for what purpose: To be the Chief 553) GSAT-18 was launched onboard which
Guest at the Republic Day Parade 2017 rocket: Ariane 5
535) 56th Atheletics Open Nationals were held at 554) GSAT-18 was launched from which place:
which place: Lucknow Kourou in French Guiana
536) ________ emerged as the overall champions in 555) GSAT-18 will be used for what purpose:
the 56th Atheletics Open Nationals: Services Communication
537) With which French company Reliance Group 556) Who is Prajna Chowta, who has been
has formed a joint venture for manufacturing conferred Chevalier de l'Ordre National du
aircrafts spare parts: Dassault Aviation Mérite by France: Film-maker and elephant
538) The Dassault Reliance Aerospace shall be researcher
manufacturing spare parts for which 557) Who clinched a silver medal in the 50 metre
aircrafts: Rafale Fighter Jets pistol event of the ISSF World Cup Final in
539) What is the other popular name for the Nobel Italy: Jitu Rai
Medicine Prize: Nobel Physiology Prize 558) Which foreign country has issued a postal
540) Yoshinori Ohsumi, winner of Nobel Medicine stamp to commemorate Diwali festival: USA
Prize, is from which country: Japan 559) Selection Day is a book written by which
541) Mr. Ohsumi won the Nobel Medicine Prize for author: Aravind Adiga
his work on a process whereby cells “eat 560) As per RBI guidelines products to be offered
themselves”. What is its name: Autophagy by payment banks must be approved by
542) Gaganjeet Bhullar won the Korea Open 2016 which organization: RBI
cup in which sports: Golf 561) Arjun Vajpai, a budding young professional
543) Which bank became the first Indian bank to adventure sports person is from which field:
open a branch in Yangon, capital city of Mountaineering
Myanmar: State Bank of India 562) Viraat Kohli scored his career-best 211 runs
544) ____________has become India’s first state to playing against New Zealand at which place:
implement Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Indore, MP
Kerosene: Jharkhand 563) Which international health related day is
545) Nobel Prize in Physics for 2016 has been observed on October 10: World Mental
shared by how many scientists: Three Health Day
546) RBI recently declared a ________ basis points 564) Who has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
cut in which of its key earning rate: 25, Repo for 2016: Juan Manuel Santos
Rate (6.25%) 565) Who is Juan Manuel Santos: President of
547) What is the new Reverse Repo Rate: 5.75% Colombia

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 92

 566) Mr. Santos has been awarded Nobel Peace the UNO: Five Years
Prize for which achievement: For his efforts 586) Which body elects the Secretary General of
to help end the 52 year long-running the UNO: UN General Assembly
conflict with FARC gorillas in his country 587) Which country has decided to quit the
567) Indian Air Force day is celebrated on which Commonwealth Group of Nations: Maldives
date: October 8 588) What is the unique feature of this year’s
568) Why Indian Air Force celebrates Air Force Nobel Prize for Literature: For the first time
Day on October 8: It is their raising day it has been given to a non-literary person
569) Ruthvika Shivani Gadde is a noted national 589) Name the winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize for
player in which field: Chess Literature: Bob Dylan
570) Which day is observed around the world to 590) Who is Bob Dylan: Legendary singer-song
fight against the death penalty: World day writer from USA
Against the Death Penalty 591) Union Cabinet has approved opening of the
571) British-born Oliver Hart and Finland’s Bengt 20th IIM (Indian Institute of Management) in
Holmstrom have been awarded Nobel Prize in which place: Jammu
which field: Economics 592) The United Nations has decided to appoint
572) International Day of the Girl Child is observed the which popular cartoon character as an
on which date: October 11 honorary ambassador for the empowerment
573) Martin Ennals Award is given for excellence of women and girls: Wonder Woman
in which field: Human Rights 593) The 28th India and Indonesia Coordinated
574) Which Indian oil company plans to lay the Patrol (CORPAT) was held at which place: In
nation's longest LPG pipeline- running 1987 the Andaman Sea at Belawan, Indonesia
kms: Indian Oil Corporation 594) Which Indian Bank has tied up with ‘New
575) The 1987 kms long LPG pipeline will be laid Development Bank’ to strengthen trade and
from _______ on Gujarat to _______ in Uttar economic ties: Export-Import Bank of India
Pradesh: Kandla, Gorakhpur 595) As per the Global Tuberculosis Report 2016
576) In the Global Hunger Index, how many released by the WHO, India is house to
countries are better than India: 96 roughly _____ per cent of world TB cases: 25
577) Which country has been ranked as the best in 596) What is the title of the forthcoming novel
hunger management as per the global hunger by famous author Arundhati Roy: The
index: Argentina Ministry of Utmost Happiness
578) Which Indian state recently added 21 more 597) The recent summit BRICS summit held in
districts in its administrative setups: Goa was _____ in series: 8th
Telangana 598) Which was the other multination meet held in
579) A high altitude research station named _____ Goa just before the BRICS summit: BIMSTEC
has been opened in Spiti: Himansh 599) What is the full form of BIMSTEC: The Bay of
580) Spiti is located in which state: Himachal Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral
Pradesh Technical and Economic Cooperation
581) Who has been elected as the Secretary 600) India has decided to buy ________ air defence
General of the UNO: Antonio Guterres systems from Russia: S-400 Triumf
582) Mr. Guterres is the _________ Secretary General 601) World Standards Day is observed on _________
of the UNO: 9th October every year: 14th
583) What is the profile of Mr. Guterres: he is a 602) India has agreed to stop the emission of
former Prime Minister of Portugal which highly dangerous green house gas:
584) From which date Mr. Guterres will take HFC-23
charge of the Secretary General of UNO: 603) Which is the common use of HFC-23:
January 1, 2017 Refrigerant gas for ACs and fridges
585) What is the tenure of the Secretary General of 604) What is the full form of HFC: Hydro

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 93

 fluorocarbon to setup 3500 petrol pumps in India: British
605) Who is Aung San Suu Kyi who arrived in India Petroleum
on a four day visit from Myanmar: State 622) To promote the regional connectivity by air,
Counselor of Myanmar govt has launched UDAN scheme. Acronym
606) The Government has decided to use postal stands for: Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik
network for distribution of which food item: 623) In the UDAN scheme for local air travel, the
Pulses airfare has been capped at which level: Rs.
607) The UNO has selected __________region of India 2500 for one hour
for setting up its second global university to 624) World Bank has agreed to provide $ 650-
facilitate study on resolution of conflicts and million loan for the EDFC. EDFC stands for:
other subjects: Northeastern Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor
608) Which cricket team became the first team in 625) Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor stands
world to play its 900th ODI: Indian from________ in Punjab to ______ in West
609) Against which country India played its 900th Bengal: Ludhiana, Kolkata
ODI: New Zealand 626) In October 2016, the statutory liquidity ratio
610) India played recently 900th ODI at which – SLR was lowered to ______ % by the RBI:
place: Dharamshala 20.75%
611) World’s Student Day is observed on October 627) The FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup was
15 in the honour of which noted personality: hosted by _______, Jordan: Amman
Dr. Abdul Kalam 628) What is the name of the official mascot of the
612) Why World Food Day is observed on October 2018 FIFA Football World Cup: Zabivaka
16: It is the founding day of Food and 629) Zabivaka, mascot of the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Agriculture Organization represents which animal: Wolf
613) Eminent Malayalam writer C Radhakrishnan 630) _________ will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup:
was recently honoured with which award: Russia
Mathrubhumi Literary Award 631) Why United Nations Day is observed on
614) Which company has launched first 100 per October 24: The UN charter came into force
cent electric bus made in India: Ashok on this day in 1945
Leyland 632) Name the chairman of the Tata Sons who
615) What is the name of India’s first fully electric became the first chairman in the history of
bus: Circuit Tata’s to be removed from the office: Cyrus
616) International Day for the Eradication of Mistry
Poverty is observed on which date: October 633) Which Indian Army team won a gold medal at
17 the Exercise Cambrian Patrol of British Army:
617) Which Russian company has acquired India’s Gorkha Rifles
second biggest private oil and natural gas 634) Which paramilitary force celebrated its 55th
company Essar Oil: Rosneft Oil Company raising day on October 24: Indo-Tibetan
618) Govt. has formed IBBI to regulate the Border Police
functioning of various bodies dealing with 635) In the recent World Bank report on Ease of
insolvency. Full form of IBBI is: Insolvency Doing Business, India has been placed at
and Bankruptcy Board of India which rank: 130th
619) Vannamei has helped in promoting the blue 636) Which are the best 3 countries in the world in
revolution in India. What is it: White-leg terms of ease of doing business: New
prawn Zealand, Singapore and Denmark
620) Which national organization hosted the SEPTEMBER – 2016
international conference on voter education:
637) India and the USA have signed the crucial
Election Commission of India
LEMOA that will enable their militaries to use
621) Which global oil company has been allowed
each other's assets and bases for repair and

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 94

 replenishment of supplies. What is the full Performance Index 2016: 35th
form of LEMOA: Logistics Exchange 652) How many components World Bank’s
Memorandum of Agreement Logistics Performance Index: 6
638) The European Union has ordered _______of 653) Who has been selected for life time
USA to pay a record 13 billion Euros as achievement Oscar by Academy of Motion
recovery of tax amount: Apple Inc Picture Arts and Sciences, USA: Jackie Chan
639) Who has been appointed as the advocate for 654) 28th ASEAN Summit was held at __________,
gender equality and women empowerment in capital of ________: Vientiane, Laos
India by UN Women: Aishwaryaa Dhanush 655) How many countries are member of ASEAN:
640) Name the first women President of Brazil 10
who has been removed by Brazil’s senate on 656) ASEAN summit is followed by East Asia
charges of massive corruption: Dilma Summit. How many countries are member of
Rousseff East Asia: 18
641) ________ has been sworn in as the new 657) Dhahan Prize for promotion for Punjabi
President of Brazil: Michel Temer language has been awarded to ________ for his
642) Supreme Court struck down the acquisition of work _________: Jarnail Singh, Kaale Varke
nearly 1,000 acres of land in 2006 by the 658) Who is the author of the book
West Bengal government. Which project was “Perilous Interventions: The Security Council
stated to come up there: Tata Motors Nano and the Politics of Chaos”: Hardeep Singh
Car Project Puri
643) France’s constitutional court has ruled 659) Which Indian sports person who has the
against the ban on Burkini. What is Burkini: distinction of winning the gold medal and has
The full-body swim wear used by some announced his retirement: Abhinav Bindra
Muslim women (Shooting)
644) Summer Paralympics games were held in 660) With regard to FIRs (First Information
Sept. at which place: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Report) Supreme Court has directed all states
645) Which status will be granted to foreign and UTs to upload them within _______ hours
investors who bring in atleast Rupees 10 of registration: 24
crore investment to facilitate business 661) Indian film _________ won the best film award
operations in the country: Permanent at the BRICS Film Festival held in New Delhi:
Residency Status Thithi
646) Which other condition apart from investment 662) Which neighbouring country of India has
is stipulated for foreign investors to be been declared by World Health Organization
eligible for Permanent Residency Status : The (WHO) as free of malaria: Sri Lanka
investment should also result in 663) No case of malaria has been reported in Sri
generating employment to at least 20 Lanka for the last: Three and a half years
resident Indians every financial year. 664) Who is the Director General of WHO: Dr.
647) The Permanent Residency Status once given Margret Chan
will be applicable for a period of ______ years: 665) The headquarters of WHO is located at which
10 place: Geneva (Switzerland)
648) All foreign investors are eligible for 666) Asia’s biggest digital library dedicated to the
Permanent Residency Status, except : memory of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, was opened
Persons from Pakistan at National Institute of Technology: Silchar,
649) The G-20 summit of head of the governments Assam
took place at: Hangzhou (China) 667) What is the dedicated phone number for Urja
650) The currency of Vietnam is: Vietnamese Mitra: 14401
Dong 668) How many trains will be covered under flexi
651) What is India’s rank in World Bank’s Logistics fare system: 3 (Rajdhani, Shatabdi and

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 95

 Duronto) gravitational waves, a major breakthrough in
669) What is flexi fare system: Passengers will science: Hingoli, Maharashtra
have to pay between 10-50 per cent more 687) __________ won the Asia’s oldest football
under a dynamic surge pricing system tournament known as Durand Cup: Army
670) International Literacy Day is observed on Green
which date: September 8 688) As per 2016 Swachh Survekshan’ (Cleanliness
671) At which place was Mother Teresa declared a Index) for rural India to select the cleanest
saint at the canonisation ceremony: Saint district, ______, Himachal Pradesh (hilly)
Peters Square in Vatican and________, Maharashtra (plaines) were
672) Which order was setup by Mother Teresa in declared as the cleanest districts in India:
India: Missionaries of Charity Mandi, Sindhudurg
673) Which campaign has been launched by the 689) ________became the first Indian woman
government of India for promoting use of gas: cricketer to get the prestigious life
Gas4India membership of Melbourne Cricket Club,
674) The “Prabal Dostyk-2016” exercise was London, UK: Anjum Chopra
conducted between the armies of India and 690) The GST council will be headed by: Finance
________: Kazakhstan Minister of India
675) Name the advance weather satellite placed in 691) The government has launched toll free
Geosynchronous orbit by ISRO: INSAT-3DR number _________to register postal complaints:
676) INSAT-3DR was launched using ______ rocket: 1924
GSLV-Mk-II 692) Golden Lion award for best film is awarded at
677) The launch of INSAT-3DR weather satellite _________ film festival: Venice
has been designated as__________: Mission 693) Which film got Golden Lion award 2016: Ang
‘F05’ Babeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left)
678) What is special about Mission F05: The event 694) Hindi Rajbhasha Diwas is held every year on:
marks the first time indigenous cryogenic September 14
engine was used on an operational GSLV 695) September 14 is celebrated as Rajbhasha
flight Diwas as: Constituent Assembly of the
679) Which state has been adjust the cleanest state country adopted Hindi as the official
in India: Sikkim language of India in 1949 on this day
680) The first bank to employ software robots to 696) The President of Afghanistan visited India on
perform various jobs is: ICICI Bank a two day visit. What is the name of the
681) Name the player who won the US Men’s open President: Ashraf Ghani
lawn tennis tournament: Stanislas 697) What amount has been pledged by India for
Wawrinka, Switzerland development projects in Afghanistan: one
682) Stanislas Wawrinka defeated __________ to billion dollar
claim the US open titles: Novak Djokovic 698) Which is the main festival of the state of
683) Who lifted US women’s open title: Angelique Kerala: Onam
Kerber, Germany 699) Which Indian lady figures at no. 2 rank in the
684) Who has surged past Serena Williams to 50 most powerful women in the world
become the number one ranked player in compiled by US magazine Fortune:
Women’s Lawn Tennis: Angelique Kerber Arundhati Bhattacharya (SBI Chairman)
685) "Six Machine" is an autobiography of which 700) The newly elected Prime Minister of Nepal
cricket legend: Chris Gayle (West Indies) recently made his first bilateral visit after
686) Which districts has been chosen for carrying assuming office for the 2nd time to India. What
out experiments on the ambitious LIGO is his name: Mr. Pushp Kamal Dahal
(Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave 701) Mr. Pushp Kamal Dahal is popularly known
Observatory) project that proved existence of as: Prachanda

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 96

 702) The summit of the Non Aligned countries was cities selected so far is: 60
held at ____________: Margarita Islands, 716) How much funding will be provided for the
Venezuela development of each city selected to the
703) India was represented at the NAM summit by: developed as a smart city: Rs. 200 crore in
Mr. Hamid Ansari-Vice President of India the first year and Rs. 100 crore for the
704) Name the country which occupies first place next three years
in FIFA ranking: Argentina 717) Among the 159 countries India’s rank in
705) Which two telecom companies have World Economic Freedom Index is: 112th
announced merger of their wireless 718) Which country tops the list of world
operations to create an entity worth 65000 Economic Freedom Index: Hong Kong
crore: Reliance Communication and Aircel 719) International Day of Peace is celebrated on
706) __________, an Indian-origin scientist has won September 21st every year and is dedicated
this prestigious prize Lemelson–MIT Prize to: Absence of war and violence in the
worth $500,000: Ramesh Raskar world
707) Which Indian actress has been ranked at 8th 720) The theme for International Day of Peace this
place in the world by the Forbes magazine: year is: Building blocks for peace
Priyanka Chopra 721) Name the fastest and the most powerful
708) World Bank has agreed to provide _____ crore computer launched in the north eastern,
support to Assam for betterment of in land eastern and southern regions: PARAM-
waterways: 1000 ISHAN at IIT Guwahati
709) A novel Selection Day written by Arvind 722) Which country topped the medal tally in the
Adiga was released recently. His first novel 15th Paralympics games at Rio de Janeiro,
got Man Booker Award. Name that novel: The Brazil: China
White Tiger (in 2008) 723) How many medals were secured by India at
710) Cabinet has approved the merger of railway the Paralympics games 2016: 4 (2 gold, 2
budget with the general budget. This will end silver)
the practice of presenting separate budget for 724) Which service has been launched by railways
railways. It was presented separately for the to provide wheelchair cum porter service for
first time in the year: 1924 differently abled, elderly and ailing
711) Which other change has been approved by passengers at major railway stations: Yatri
the cabinet with the regard to the date of Mitra Seva
presentation of budget: Date has been 725) A loan of ________ US$ has been approved by
advanced from last day of February to 1st ADB for Vishakhapatnam – Chennai industrial
of the month corridor: 631 million
712) The government has removed the distinction 726) According to the Time Higher Education
between ______ and _____ expenditure from the World University rankings 2016 which
next year budget: Plan and Non-plan institute is ranked at the top: University of
713) With the removal of distinction between plan Oxford, UK
and non-plan distinction the expenses will be 727) Which Indian university is within the striking
classified as: Revenue and Capital distance of making it to the top 200: Indian
expenditure Institute of Science, Bengaluru
714) What is the rationale of advancing the budget 728) Which Indian company has the highest brand
presentation by one month: It means that value: HDFC Bank
budget exercise will be over by March 31st 729) Navtej Sarna has been appointed as
and tax proposals can be effected right Ambassador to which country: USA
from April 1, i.e. beginning of the financial 730) The first annual assessment of UNO’s
year Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on
715) With the inclusion of 27 cities to the list to be health performance has ranked India _____
developed as smart cities, the total number of
GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 97
 among 188 countries, citing various Parliament, need to be ratified by at least _____
challenges, including mortality rates, malaria per cent of the states Assemblies to become a
hygiene and air pollution: 143rd law: 50% (15 states)
731) 500th test match by the Indian cricket team 750) Name two taxes that will be replaced by the
was played at__________: Kanpur against New GST: Central Excise, VAT, Service Tax
Zealand 751) The International Olympic Committee (IOC)
732) Who is the richest Indian according to the has agreed to add five new games in the 2020
Forbes list: Mukesh Ambani Tokyo Olympics. Name any two of them:
733) Who is the second richest Indian: Dilip Baseball, Karate
Shangvi of Sun Pharma 752) ___________won the National Tourism Award
734) The name of Race Course Road, which houses for best comprehensive development of
Prime Minister’s official residents has been tourism: Madhya Pradesh
changed to______: Lok Kalyan Marg 753) What is the title of the book which is the
735) 2026 Asian Games will be held at: Nagoya, compilation of essays by late Khushwant
Aichi Singh: Me, The Jokerman
736) Nagoya is capital of Japan’s: Aichi Prefecture 754) RBI has launched a web portal named ‘Sachet’
(Prefecture stands for province) for what purpose: To curb illegal collection
of deposits from public
AUGUST – 2016
755) Vijay Rupani has been selected as the new
737) Lachhu Maharaj who passed away recently
Chief Minister of which state: Gujarat
was a prominent personality in which field:
756) In consultation with RBI, the Government has
Tabla Player
notified ____ per cent inflation target: Four
738) A new train named 'Tripura Sundari Express'
757) The four per cent inflation target has been
was started recently between which two
fixed for next _________ years: Five
centres: Agartala and New Delhi
758) In terms of the growth in the industry and
739) District Infrastructure Scheme Advisory
service sectors in Indian states in past 10
Committees (DISHA) have been formed for
years, _________has emerged as the top state:
what purpose: For monitoring 28 main
Uttarakhand
Centrally Sponsored Schemes
759) Government has launched a nation-wide
740) Who will head the DISHA at the district level:
programme MAA for promoting optimal
Local Lok Sabha Member
breastfeeding practices. What is the full form
741) What is the name of two week long Indo -
of MAA: Mothers’ Absolute Affection
Thailand Military Exercise concluded on July
760) Who has formed a committee headed by
29: Maitree
Tarun Ramadorai to review various facets of
742) Jihadi Jane is novel written by: Tabish Khair
household finance in India: RBI
743) What is the title of the Autobiography of
761) Name the former Chief Minister of Arunachal
Sania Mirza: Ace Against Odds
Pradesh who recently committed suicide:
744) Which railway station has won the National Kalikho Pul
Tourism Award 2014-15: Sawai Madhopur
762) Union Cabinet has approved the extension of
745) Sawai Madhopur railway station is located in maternity leave for women from 12 weeks to
which state: Rajasthan _____________ weeks: 26
746) Sawai Madhopur railway station is the 763) Government has formed a committee headed
gateway to which famous tourist destination: by Mr. Amitabh Kant to review the regulation
Ranthambore National Park of which sector: E-commerce
747) Ranthambore National Park is famous for 764) Who is Mr. Amitabh Kant: CEO of Niti Aayog
which animal: Tiger
765) Takehiko Nakao has been re-elected as the
748) Kaziranga National Park is located in which President of which global financial giant:
state: Assam Asian Development Bank
749) The GST bill after being passed by the

GENERAL AWARENESS – MARCH 2017 98

 766) Which important international day is
observed on August 12: International Youth
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768) Name the swimmer who won for the first
time ever, four consecutive Olympic golds in AMOUNT:
Rs. 400/-
the same event - 200m individual medley in
swimming: Michael Phelps, USA
769) Which Indian organization transferred its Name: Mr./Ms……………………………………………….………
surplus profit of Rs. 65,876 crore to the
central government: RBI
770) Name the highest peace time gallantry award Address:…………………………………………………………….
in India: Ashok Chakra ……………………………………………………………………
771) Name the war hero decorated with Ashok City:……………………………District:…………………….
Chakra in August 2016: Havildar Hangpan
Dada State: ………………..…………………..PIN:
772) The Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi is a book
written by which author: Neena Gopal Email: …………………………………………………………………..
773) Usain Bolt, the fastest man on earth won
three gold medals successively in 3 Olympics,
9 in all, in which 3 events: 100m, 200m and Ph./Mob…………………………………………………..…………
400x4 m relay
774) Usain Bolt represents which country:
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gold medal mark at Rio: USA
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