The Union Finance Ministry on 30 October 2014 issued new austerity measures in view of lower revenue realization. These measures included cut in non-plan expenditure and ban on creation of new posts. How much reduction in non-plan expenditure had been proposed?
- 10%
An office memorandum issued by the Expenditure Department of the Finance Ministry stated that for the year 2014-15, every Ministry/Department shall affect a mandatory 10% cut in non-plan expenditure which will exclude interest payment, repayment of debt, defence capital, salaries, pension and Finance Commission grants to the States. The Ministry also made it clear that Government officials will not travel in first class. These measures have been announced after indirect tax collection grew mere 5.8% during first six months of the current fiscal against the budgeted target of 25.8%.
Which country on 30 October 2014 became the first major European nation to accord official recognition to Palestine and thus drawing sharp criticism from Israel?
- Sweden
Swedish announcement about giving recognition to Palestine came just a few weeks after new Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said his government would become the first major European nation to make this move. This announcement places Sweden among more than 100 others that recognize a Palestinian state. Most Western nations still don’t recognize Palestine, and many said they don’t plan to follow Sweden. European Union (EU) member states – such as Hungary and Poland that do recognize a Palestinian state did so before they joined the bloc.
Which African country’s government was toppled on 30 October 2014 by protestors who were against country’s President’s plans to further extend his 27-year rule through a vote of motion in the Parliament?
- Burkina Faso
President Blaise Compaoré had planned a vote on the motion on 30 October 2014 to further extend his 27-year rule in Burkina Faso. But this was thwarted by thousands of protestors who surged through the streets of Ouagadougou, the capital, overrunning state broadcasters, setting fire to Parliament and burning the homes of the president’s relatives. Later the government was dismissed by a Presidential order and martial law was imposed in the country. If the protests do unseat President Compaoré, it will be the first time since the Arab Spring that a popular movement has succeeded in removing an autocrat in sub-Saharan Africa.
Who was named as the acting President of Zambia on 29 October 2014 after death of President Michael Sata?
Guy Scott
Guy Scott is the Zambian Vice President and was appointed as the acting president until elections are held within 90 days. Scott is the first white leader of an African nation since F.W. de Klerk, the last president of apartheid, the South African system of white racist rule that ended in 1994. His appointment was announced by Defence Minister Edgar Lungu.
An unmanned commercial supply rocket of US space agency NASA bound for the International Space Station (ISS) exploded moments after lift-off on 28 October 2014 resulting in a setback for NASA and drawing criticism over the space agency’s growing reliance on private U.S. companies. What was the name of the company whose rocket Antares was involved in this mishap?
- Orbital Sciences Corp.
This accident took place at Orbital Sciences Corp.’s launch complex at Wallops Island in Virginia. Antares rocket blew up over the launch complex, just six seconds after the lift-off. This was the second launch attempt for the mission. Orbital Sciences Corp. is a U.S. based company specializing in the design, manufacture and launch of small- and medium- class space and rocket systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. Antares is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to deliver medium-class payloads weighing up to 6120 kg into space.
Global consulting firm McKinsey & Company on 30 October 2014 released a report which identified 49 ‘metropolitan clusters’ that could be growth hotspots in India. These 49 metropolitan clusters will drive about 77% of India’s incremental GDP from 2012-2025 and by year 2025, they would be home to 72% of the consuming class and 73% of income pool. How many of these clusters are situated in ‘performing and low performing’ states of the country?
29This McKinsey report is titled ‘India’s economic geography in 2025: States, Clusters and Cities’ and pertains with metropolitan clusters in India. A ‘metropolitan cluster’ is a group of districts that have high economic potential, are contiguous such that each cluster represents serviceable market, and have a metropolitan district as the nucleus. The report has forecast India’s average economic growth over the period 2012 to 2025 could be in the region of 7.2% a year. This forecast is assuming a scenario of ‘growth renewal’.
Questions for competative exams
- 1. Who is the chairman of 7th
pay commission ?
answer: Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur
2. Where is the venue of 101st Indian science congress ?
answer: Jammu
3. Who launches National Mission on Libraries ?
Answer: Pranab Mukherjee
4. Who won the DSC prize 2014 ?
Answer: Cyrus Mistry
5. 38th circus festival was celebrated at ?
answer: Monte-Carlo
6. Who is the new CEO of Microsoft ?
answer: Satya Nadella
7. Who is the new chairman of Microsoft ?
answer: John Thompson
8. Who is the German president, recently visited India ?
answer: Joachim Gauck
9. Who become the first women umpire in ICC Panel ?
answer: Kathy Cross
10. Who is the chief guest of republic day parade 2014 of India ?
answer: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
11. Which is the fastest supercomputer in the world ?
answer: Tiahne-2
12. Which is the first Indian state to achieve over 100% sanitation ?
answer: Sikkim
13. Where is The third World Congress on Agro-forestry 2014 held?
Answer: Delhi
14. which country joined Euro zone as its 18th member ?
Answer: Latvia joined as 18th member
15. Which high court banned the transfer of IAS, IPS and IFS officers till the re-composition of the Civil Services Board?
Answer: Allahabad high court
16. south sudan president name?
Answer : Salva Kiir Mayardit
17. which space organisation has launched carbon observatory-2 ?
Answer: NASA
18 . India's 1st post office savings bank ATM inaugurated at which place ?
Answer: Head Post Office in Thyagaraya Nagar , chennai
19 . India's 1st post office savings bank ATM inaugurated by ?
Answer: P. Chidambaram (Union Finance Minister)
20 . Who won the women’s double Portugal Open title 2014 ?
Answer: Sania Mirza and Cara Black
21. who won World Snooker Championship title 2014 ?
Answer: Mark Selby
22. where is the headquarters of o.p.c.w organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons ?
Answer: The Hague, Netherlands
23. Bocskai International Tournament is related to which game?
Answer: boxing
24. What is the birth place of Adolf Hitler
Answer: Austria
25. where is the headquarters of WWF International ?
Answer: Gland, Switzerland
26. what is the national game of Spain?
Answer: bull fighting
27. In 1951, five year plan started in India.
28. 12th 5 Year Plan (2012-2017)
29. Main Theme of 12th Five year Plan “Faster, Sustainable & more inclusive growth".
30. India’s NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DAY----------- 11 May
31 . What is the full form for ANMI?
Answer : Association of National Exchanges Members of India (ANMI)
32 . head quarters of international maritime organisation?
Answer : London
33. Who is the author of devdas?
Answer: Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
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