Assertive Obama brags of economic turnaround ahead of India visit
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WASHINGTON:If New Delhi is looking for a message from US President Barack Obama ahead of his trip to India this weekend, this is what came from his state of the union address on Monday night: It will be a confident and assertive US president that will arrive in India on Sunday, even if some pundits consider him a lame duck.
Buoyed by a resurgent economy and relieved by the drawdown from conventional overseas wars, Obama told Americans that the ''shadow of crisis'' that had dogged America since 9/11 has passed and ''a greater future is ours to write.'' With no more campaigns to run by his own admission, Obama unveiled a raft of proposals, aimed primarily at helping middle class Americans, from tax breaks to free college to higher wages, all of which will burnish his liberal credentials from a legacy perspective, now that he has no more elections to win.
If only he had said and done all this before the mid-term election, sighed one CNN talking head after the hour-long address that was arguably the most upbeat of all his ''SOTU'' speeches. It was constructed on the back of an economic turnaround in what the US president described as a ''breakthrough year'' that has seen more job creation, and an upbeat national mood from lower gas prices and soldiers returning home even as US ramps up its economic engagement across the world.
Buoyed by a resurgent economy and relieved by the drawdown from conventional overseas wars, Obama told Americans that the ''shadow of crisis'' that had dogged America since 9/11 has passed and ''a greater future is ours to write.'' With no more campaigns to run by his own admission, Obama unveiled a raft of proposals, aimed primarily at helping middle class Americans, from tax breaks to free college to higher wages, all of which will burnish his liberal credentials from a legacy perspective, now that he has no more elections to win.
If only he had said and done all this before the mid-term election, sighed one CNN talking head after the hour-long address that was arguably the most upbeat of all his ''SOTU'' speeches. It was constructed on the back of an economic turnaround in what the US president described as a ''breakthrough year'' that has seen more job creation, and an upbeat national mood from lower gas prices and soldiers returning home even as US ramps up its economic engagement across the world.
Now, brace for Swachh Bharat cess on phone bill
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In a legal advice given to department of telecom, the attorney general is learned to have argued against levying Swachh Bharat Cess on telecom spectrum as it would be illegal. But it can be imposed on telecom services by amending the Finance Act, he has suggested.
"AG has said that it is not possible for the DoT to levy the 'Cess' for the purpose of Swachh Bharat Kosh by way of an executive order. It will need legislative backing and impost of tax/cess is strictly construed," an official source said.
The DoT had sought the AG's advice on whether it would be legally tenable to impose 'Swachh Bharat Cess' on spectrum usage charges — a fee paid annually by telecom operators — through an executive order under the Indian Telegraph Act. The AG opined that without a legislation to back it, the cess would be without authority of law and contrary to Article 265 of the Constitution.
The legal opinion, however, was positive to query of the DoT if Swachh Bharat Cess can be imposed like education cess. "The AG in his opinion stated that since Telecom Service is a recognized service and covered by the Finance Act on which service tax, education cess and higher education cess is currently levied, it would be appropriate to amend the Finance Act and include a third kind of cess," the source said.
Telecom industry body COAI has opposed the cess. "We are not in favour of it. It will burden consumers and will be against government agenda of providing affordable service specially when it is talking about increasing rural broadband and internet penetration," COAI director general Rajan S Mathews said. "It is not an easy exercise for us either. We will need to work out tax on calls per minute and make technical changes in networks," he said.
"AG has said that it is not possible for the DoT to levy the 'Cess' for the purpose of Swachh Bharat Kosh by way of an executive order. It will need legislative backing and impost of tax/cess is strictly construed," an official source said.
The DoT had sought the AG's advice on whether it would be legally tenable to impose 'Swachh Bharat Cess' on spectrum usage charges — a fee paid annually by telecom operators — through an executive order under the Indian Telegraph Act. The AG opined that without a legislation to back it, the cess would be without authority of law and contrary to Article 265 of the Constitution.
The legal opinion, however, was positive to query of the DoT if Swachh Bharat Cess can be imposed like education cess. "The AG in his opinion stated that since Telecom Service is a recognized service and covered by the Finance Act on which service tax, education cess and higher education cess is currently levied, it would be appropriate to amend the Finance Act and include a third kind of cess," the source said.
Telecom industry body COAI has opposed the cess. "We are not in favour of it. It will burden consumers and will be against government agenda of providing affordable service specially when it is talking about increasing rural broadband and internet penetration," COAI director general Rajan S Mathews said. "It is not an easy exercise for us either. We will need to work out tax on calls per minute and make technical changes in networks," he said.
BJP spent Rs 60 crore on Narendra Modi's 3D rallies during Lok Sabha polls
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NEW DELHI: The 3D holographic campaign, a novelty in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and a critical component of Narendra Modi's hi-tech campaign enabling him to address more than 700 virtual rallies, cost BJP over Rs 60 crore. The licence fee alone for two months during the campaign accounted for Rs 10 crore.
The poll expenditure details, submitted by BJP to the Election Commission, reveal that the 3D virtual rallies Modi addressed between March and May had cost the party Rs 51.35 crore, besides the licence fees.
Besides the virtual rallies, Modi also addressed 450-odd rallies in the run-up to the parliamentary elections.
This was, however, not the first time Modi had used the latest technology to reach out to his constituents. During the 2012 Gujarat assembly elections, the BJP stalwart had created a Guinness world record when his holographic 3D speech was simultaneously broadcast from 53 locations across more than 25 cities in the state.
Meticulously planned and executed, all holographic speeches were recorded by Modi at his residence in Gujarat where he returned every night after a string of rallies through the day in different parts of the country.
In addition to the expenditure on 3D campaign, BJP spent about Rs 487 crore in propaganda activities which included Rs 304 crore on advertisements in print, electronic, cable and news portals besides bulk SMSs.
The poll expenditure details, submitted by BJP to the Election Commission, reveal that the 3D virtual rallies Modi addressed between March and May had cost the party Rs 51.35 crore, besides the licence fees.
Besides the virtual rallies, Modi also addressed 450-odd rallies in the run-up to the parliamentary elections.
This was, however, not the first time Modi had used the latest technology to reach out to his constituents. During the 2012 Gujarat assembly elections, the BJP stalwart had created a Guinness world record when his holographic 3D speech was simultaneously broadcast from 53 locations across more than 25 cities in the state.
Meticulously planned and executed, all holographic speeches were recorded by Modi at his residence in Gujarat where he returned every night after a string of rallies through the day in different parts of the country.
In addition to the expenditure on 3D campaign, BJP spent about Rs 487 crore in propaganda activities which included Rs 304 crore on advertisements in print, electronic, cable and news portals besides bulk SMSs.
Cops to quiz Shashi Tharoor on IPL angle
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NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor will be questioned again in the Sunanda Pushkar case by early next week. In the second round, Delhi Police will focus on the IPL angle and the related conspiracy theories into the death of Tharoor's wife Sunanda.
On being asked if the special investigation team (SIT) was looking into the IPL angle, police commissioner B S Bassi said on Tuesday, "Whatever has been said about the IPL will be relevant and will definitely be asked about as the objective is to reach to the bottom of the truth."
TOI had first reported that the IPL angle was being looked into and cops were probing if the Rs 75-crore 'sweat equity' given to Sunanda by Rendezvous Sports World of the Kochi IPL franchise had any connection with the "murder".
Bassi, who was briefed by SIT on Tuesday morning, said Tharoor was cooperative during questioning. Asked if Tharoor is now a witness or a suspect, he said they were "examining it with an open mind". SIT members additional DCP P S Kushwah and inspector Rajender Singh are studying Tharoor's answers and checking if there is any discrepancy with his earlier comments, an officer said.
Sources said police would probe if Sunanda was used as a front in the IPL transaction and if it had any connection with the differences between the couple. Both Tharoor and Sunanda had denied that the latter was proxy for the former UPA minister.
The controversy erupted after IPL commissioner Lalit Modi had revealed the ownership pattern of Kochi IPL, stating that Sunanda, then a friend of Tharoor, had owned free equity in Rendezvous Sports World. Modi had also accused Tharoor of asking him not to reveal the ownership details—a charge that the former minister had denied.
Sunanda had given up the equity amid controversies. Her lawyers had claimed she had surrendered the equity on her own, not under anybody's pressure. However, after Sunanda's death journalist Nalini Singh had said that hours before her death, Sunanda had said she had "taken over his crimes during the IPL".
On being asked if the special investigation team (SIT) was looking into the IPL angle, police commissioner B S Bassi said on Tuesday, "Whatever has been said about the IPL will be relevant and will definitely be asked about as the objective is to reach to the bottom of the truth."
TOI had first reported that the IPL angle was being looked into and cops were probing if the Rs 75-crore 'sweat equity' given to Sunanda by Rendezvous Sports World of the Kochi IPL franchise had any connection with the "murder".
Bassi, who was briefed by SIT on Tuesday morning, said Tharoor was cooperative during questioning. Asked if Tharoor is now a witness or a suspect, he said they were "examining it with an open mind". SIT members additional DCP P S Kushwah and inspector Rajender Singh are studying Tharoor's answers and checking if there is any discrepancy with his earlier comments, an officer said.
Sources said police would probe if Sunanda was used as a front in the IPL transaction and if it had any connection with the differences between the couple. Both Tharoor and Sunanda had denied that the latter was proxy for the former UPA minister.
The controversy erupted after IPL commissioner Lalit Modi had revealed the ownership pattern of Kochi IPL, stating that Sunanda, then a friend of Tharoor, had owned free equity in Rendezvous Sports World. Modi had also accused Tharoor of asking him not to reveal the ownership details—a charge that the former minister had denied.
Sunanda had given up the equity amid controversies. Her lawyers had claimed she had surrendered the equity on her own, not under anybody's pressure. However, after Sunanda's death journalist Nalini Singh had said that hours before her death, Sunanda had said she had "taken over his crimes during the IPL".
No need to politicize Manmohan Singh's examination by CBI: Congress
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NEW DELHI: Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Wednesday said that there was no need to politicize former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's examination by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over his role in the coal block allocation case relating to Hindalco, as it was a purely legal process.
"It's totally unnecessary and senseless to politicize the issue as it is a legal process. It's to be appreciated that he answered all the questions like a responsible citizen," said Singhvi.
Earlier today, the BJP claimed that the CBI was under pressure for not investigating former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his role in the coal block allocation during UPA tenure.
The CBI has examined and questioned the former Prime Minister on his role in the coal block allocation case relating to Hindalco, according to sources.
The CBI is yet to give an official confirmation in this regard, even as Manmohan Singh's office has denied receiving any such summons.
According to one media report, CBI officials "examined" the former PM at his home two days ago.
The case pertained to the allocation of a Talabira II block to Hindalco when Dr Singh was holding the coal portfolio.
"It's totally unnecessary and senseless to politicize the issue as it is a legal process. It's to be appreciated that he answered all the questions like a responsible citizen," said Singhvi.
Earlier today, the BJP claimed that the CBI was under pressure for not investigating former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his role in the coal block allocation during UPA tenure.
The CBI has examined and questioned the former Prime Minister on his role in the coal block allocation case relating to Hindalco, according to sources.
The CBI is yet to give an official confirmation in this regard, even as Manmohan Singh's office has denied receiving any such summons.
According to one media report, CBI officials "examined" the former PM at his home two days ago.
The case pertained to the allocation of a Talabira II block to Hindalco when Dr Singh was holding the coal portfolio.
ISIS executing 'educated women' in new wave of horror says UN
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GENEVA: The UN on Tuesday decried numerous executions of civilians in Iraq by the Islamic State group, warning that educated women appeared to be especially at risk.
The jihadist group is showing a "monstrous disregard for human life" in the areas it controls in Iraq, the UN human rights office said.
The group, which controls large swathes of territory in Iraq and in neighbouring war-ravaged Syria, last week published pictures of the "crucifixions" of two men accused of being bandits, and of a woman being stoned to death, allegedly for adultery.
Numerous other women have also reportedly been executed recently in IS-controlled areas, including Mosul, spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters.
She said "educated, professional women, particularly women who have run as candidates in elections for public office, seem to be particularly at risk."
"In just the first two weeks of this year, reports indicate that three female lawyers were executed," Shamdasani said.
The jihadist group is showing a "monstrous disregard for human life" in the areas it controls in Iraq, the UN human rights office said.
The group, which controls large swathes of territory in Iraq and in neighbouring war-ravaged Syria, last week published pictures of the "crucifixions" of two men accused of being bandits, and of a woman being stoned to death, allegedly for adultery.
Numerous other women have also reportedly been executed recently in IS-controlled areas, including Mosul, spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters.
She said "educated, professional women, particularly women who have run as candidates in elections for public office, seem to be particularly at risk."
"In just the first two weeks of this year, reports indicate that three female lawyers were executed," Shamdasani said.
Delhi elections 2015: Meet crorepatis in Gareeb and Aam Aadmi parties
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NEW DELHI: Candidates of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Gareeb Aadmi Party (GAP), Garib Raj Party (GRP) and some others championing the commonman cause have disclosed assets worth several crores in their affidavits submitted to the election commission.
Take the case of Harpal Singh Kundalia, GAP nominee from Shahdra. He and his family have assets worth Rs 2.46 crore. Similarly, another Gareeb Aadmi candidate, Shyam Bharteey, who's contesting from Uttam Nagar says he and his family are worth Rs 1.96 crore.
AAP, principal standard bearer for the common man, has at least two candidates worth more than Rs 7 crore — Fateh Singh and family from Gokalpur and S K Bagga and family from Krishna Nagar.
Manish Sisodia, senior party member contesting from Patparganj, has declared assets worth Rs 41.56 lakh.
The crore-plus club includes members from other parties. Among them is Surendra Kumar of BSP who's filed nomination from Gokalpur. This nominee is worth Rs 3.79 crore along with his family. A K Walia of Congress, who's contesting from Laxmi Nagar, has declared assets of Rs 18.28 crore.
Take the case of Harpal Singh Kundalia, GAP nominee from Shahdra. He and his family have assets worth Rs 2.46 crore. Similarly, another Gareeb Aadmi candidate, Shyam Bharteey, who's contesting from Uttam Nagar says he and his family are worth Rs 1.96 crore.
AAP, principal standard bearer for the common man, has at least two candidates worth more than Rs 7 crore — Fateh Singh and family from Gokalpur and S K Bagga and family from Krishna Nagar.
Manish Sisodia, senior party member contesting from Patparganj, has declared assets worth Rs 41.56 lakh.
The crore-plus club includes members from other parties. Among them is Surendra Kumar of BSP who's filed nomination from Gokalpur. This nominee is worth Rs 3.79 crore along with his family. A K Walia of Congress, who's contesting from Laxmi Nagar, has declared assets of Rs 18.28 crore.
GENERAL AWARENESS PRACTICE QUESTIONS FOR ALL BANK EXAMS
- 1. Which of the following organization / agencies is specifically set up to boost overall rural
development in India?
1) RBI
2) SIDBI
3) NABARD
4) SEBI
5) EXIM
- 2. Which of the following states has expressed its unhappiness over the agreement on sharing of Teesta water between India and Bangladesh?
1) Jharkhand
2) Assam
3) Manipur
4) Bihar
5) West Bengal
- 3. Banks in India are regulated under .........
1) Companies Act, 1956
2) Banking Regulation Act, 1949
3) Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
4) Special powers conferred on the RBI
5) None of these
- 4. Which of the following countries is a major producer of Jute?
1) Pakistan
2) Afghanistan
3) South Africa
4) Bangladesh
5) Sri Lanka
- 5. Compilation of data on industrial production in India is done by which of the following
agencies / organizations?
1) National Testing Lab
2) Reserve Bank of India
3) Census Commission of India
4) Planning Commission of India
5) Central Statistics Office
- 6. Which among the following US states has become the first to legalise selling of Marijuana?
1) Colorado
2) California
3) Illinois
4) Washington
5) None of these
- 7. India is providing financial help to which of the following countries for building a large harbour there named as Kankasanthuraj Harbour?
1) Nepal
2) Myanmar
3) Bangladesh
4) Sri Lanka
5) Vietnam
- 8. A Savings Bank Account opened with a commercial bank with zero balance or very minimal
balance is known as .............
1) Savings Bank Ordinary Account
2) Student Savings Bank Account
3) No Frill Account
4) Current Account
5) Call Deposit
- 9. What does the letter 'R' denote in the abbreviation 'BR Act' which controls banking activities
in the country?
1) Reformation
2) Regulation
3) Reporting
4) Resolution
5) Ranking
- 10. 'Base Rate' in banks is ..........
1) Rate of interest payable on demand deposits.
2) Rate of interest payable on fixed deposits.
3) Rate of interest charged by RBI on long term borrowings of Public Sector Banks.
4) Minimum lending rate decided by RBI which shall be adopted by all Public Sector Banks.
5) The minimum interest rate fixed by individual banks, below which they cannot lend funds, except cases like Government sponsored scheme.
- 11. Banking sector will fall under which of the following?
1) Agricultural Sector
2) Service Sector
3) Manufacturing Sector
4) Industrial Sector
5) Small Scale Sector
- 12. The Government of India has recently added the following currency for allowing Indian companies to raise debts through External Commercial Borrowings.
1) EURO
2) Dinar
3) Great Britain Pound
4) Chinese Yuan
5) Japanese Yen
- 13. A Saving Bank Deposit Account is one where .............
1) the deposits are made only once in a year.
2) amounts are deposited and are withdrawn as per requirement of the customers.
3) periodical Fixed Amount are deposited month wise and withdrawal are followed after a fixed period.
4) the deposits are made once in every month.
5) None of these
- 14. ASBA scheme is related to purchase of ......
1) IPO
2) CP
3) CD
4) TCs
5) None
- 15. Who among the following is the Ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha at present?
1) Mrs. Pratibha Patil
2) Mohammad Hamid Ansari
3) Dr. Manmohan Singh
4) Ms. Meira Kumar
5) L. K. Advani
- 16. Which one of the following countries has become the 18th Euro-area member to adopt Euro currency, recently?
1) Switzerland
2) Lat via
3) Sweden
4) Romania
5) None of these
- 17. Mobile banking requires .........
1) Account with a bank with mobile phone linked to interbank mobile payment.
2) Account with mobile post office.
3) Account with bank along with mobile phone linked to international mobile payment service.
4) Account with bank and mobile phone linked to interstate mobile payment service.
5) Account with bank along with mobile phone linked to inter-district mobile payment service.
- 18. Saina Nehwal is a famous player associated with the game of .........
1) Hockey
2) Badminton
3) Golf
4) Lawn Tennis
5) Table Tennis
- 19. Who among the following is the Prime Minister of Japan at present?
1) Mr. Yoshihiko Noda
2) Mr. Naoto Kan
3) Mr. Abe Shinzo
4) Mr. Yasuo Fukuda
5) None of these
- 20. Central Drug Research Institute is located in which of the following cities in India?
1) Jamshedpur
2) New Delhi
3) Jaipur
4) Lucknow
5) Dhanbad
- 21. Which of the following books is written by the Classic Russian author Maxim Gorky ?
1) As You Like It
2) Lolita
3) The Mother
4) War and Peace
5) Alice on Wonderland
- 22. Summer Olympic of 2016 will be organized in a city in ............
1) China
2) India
3) Brazil
4) Russia
5) South Africa
- 23. Which of the following terms is NOT used in the game of hockey?
1) Bully
2) Follow-on
3) Penalty corner
4) Centre pass
5) Scoop
- 24. If a bank of following are the usual types of deposit accounts .........
1) Savings accounts, electricity accounts and insurance premium accounts
2) Fixed deposits, Post office savings bank accounts and current deposit accounts
3) Current accounts, savings bank accounts and term deposit accounts
4) Loan accounts, savings bank accounts and term deposit accounts
5) Current bill accounts and term deposit accounts
- 25. When a bank dishonours a cheque ..........
1) it is called settlement of the cheque
2) it is called withdrawing of the cheque
3) it is called nullifying of the cheque
4) it is called truncating of the cheque
5) it is called return of the cheque unpaid
- 26. Corey Anderson, who hit the fastest century in one-day international history recently, belongs to which country?
1) Australia
2) New Zealand
3) England
4) South Africa
5) None
- 27. With which one of the following, the Election Commission of India tie up for online voters registration?
1) Facebook
2) Yahoo
3) Google
4) Twitter
5) None of these
- 28. Who among the following is the new Air Force Chief of India?
1) Arup Raha
2) Vivek Tyagi
3) Arun Singh
4) Kishore Chandra
5) None of these
- 29. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has received the highest number of complaints related to child abuse in school from the state of ..........
1) Karnataka
2) Tamilnadu
3) Assam
4) Delhi
5) Andhra Pradesh
- 30. World's top three biggest coffee exporting countries are ...........
1) Brazil, Indonesia and Vietnam
2) Vietnam, Brazil and Indonesia
3) Brazil, Vietnam and Indonesia
4) Indonesia, Vietnam and Brazil
5) None
- 31. Which among the following states has launched free CFL bulbs scheme for hut dwellers?
1) Tamilnadu
2) West Bengal
3) Manipur
4) Haryana
5) None
- 32. What is the name of cyclone which is recently battered west coast of Australia?
1) Hemp
2) Christine
3) Lava
4) Pristine
5) None of these
- 33. Which of the following countries has recently assumed the coveted chair of the ASEAN?
1) Myanmar
2) Indonesia
3) Cambodia
4) Philippines
5) None
- 34. According to latest study, which Indian city is expected to witness the highest demand for office space in the Asia during 2014?
1) New Delhi
2) Mumbai
3) Bangalore
4) Chennai
5) None of these
- 35. Who among the following has won Men's Chennai Open Tennis Trophy 2014?
1) Somdev Burman
2) Roger Vasselin
3) Stanislas Wawrika
4) David Federer
5) None of these
- 36. Losar festival is the most important festival celebrated in ............
1) Ladakh
2) Leh
3) Shimla
4) Srinagar
5) None of these
- 37. Recently, which among the following has announced to launch of an All Women Insurance branch?
1) Bajaj Allianz
2) Tata AIG General
3) ICICI Lombard
4) Reliance General
5) None of these
- 38. In which one of the following states, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has decide to setup world's largest corporate learning and development centre?
1) Kerala
2) Punjab
3) Maharashtra
4) Karnataka
5) None of these
- 39. Who among the following has been chosen for Portugal highest honour "Order of Prince Henry"?
1) Cost a Ricardo
2) Lopes Anthony
3) Alves Bruno
4) Cristiano Ronaldo
5) None of these
- 40. Who among the following led the team who have identified liver cancer genes?
1) Steven Robertson
2) The Bin Tean
3) Zoe Hellman
4) Matilda Ceesay
5) None of these
- ANSWERS:
1-3, 2-5, 3-2, 4-4, 5-5, 6-1, 7-4, 8-3, 9-2, 10-4
11-2, 12-4, 13-2, 14-1, 15-2, 16-2, 17-1, 18-2, 19-3, 20-4
21-3, 22-3, 23-2, 24-3, 25-5, 26-2, 27-3, 28-1, 29-2, 30-3
31-1, 32-2, 33-1, 34-3, 35-3, 36-1, 37-1, 38-1, 39-4, 40-2
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