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Current Affairs - 22 July 2015

India to Get Rafale Planes on Indian Air Force-Approved Configuration: Government
  • India to Get Rafale Planes on Indian Air Force-Approved Configuration: GovernmentNEW DELHI:  The 36 Rafale combat planes and associated systems and weapons would be delivered in the same configuration as had been tested and approved by Indian Air Force, and with a longer maintenance responsibility by France, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said today.

    As per the India-France Joint Statement issued during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France earlier this year, the Indian government conveyed to France that in view of the critical operational necessity for multirole combat aircraft for IAF, it would like to acquire 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition as quickly as possible.

    The two leaders agreed to conclude an inter-governmental agreement for supply of the aircraft on terms that would be better than conveyed by Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of the combat plane, as part of a separate process underway and the delivery would be in time-frame that would be compatible with the operational requirement of IAF, he said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

    The aircraft and associated systems and weapons would be delivered on the same configuration as had been tested and approved by IAF, and with a longer maintenance responsibility by France, he said.

    A negotiating team has been constituted to negotiate the terms and conditions of the procurement of 36 Rafale jet planes and recommend the draft agreement.

    The meetings of the Indian negotiating team with the French side have commenced, Mr Parrikar said.

Blackmoney: E-Filing Link to Declare Illegal Assets Launched
  • Blackmoney: E-Filing Link to Declare Illegal Assets LaunchedNEW DELHI:  The Income Tax department has launched a e-filing link on its official website for declaring illegal foreign assets and black money using the one-time compliance window notified recently by government.

    "The link has been provided on the official e-filing portal of the department https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in. The relevant 'Form 6' can be used to declare undisclosed assets under the compliance window of the new anti-black money law," a senior official said.

    According to the scheme, such a declaration filed online by an individual or entity will have to mandatorily bear a "digital signature" for validation.

    A digital signature authenticates electronic documents in a similar manner as a handwritten signature validates printed or hand-written documents. It cannot be forged and it asserts that a named person wrote or otherwise agreed to the document to which the signature is attached.

    "The department has provided this facility as the compliance window is valid only till September 30 and the e-filing system provides the required secrecy and speed," the official said.

    The new two-page form brought out for this purpose has been categorised as 'Form 6' and has a three-page annexure for the "statement of undisclosed assets located outside India".

    Those who want to manually file such a declaration, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), apex policy making body of the tax department, has already notified a Commissioner of I-T in the national capital for the same.

    The government had notified the three-month compliance window beginning July 1. The tax and penalty on such declared assets or funds can be paid till December 31.

    Those availing the one-time 'compliance window' would be required to pay a tax of 30 per cent and a penalty of a similar amount.

    The compliance window is part of the new anti-black money law that was passed by Parliament in May.

    Those holding illegal foreign assets abroad and not disclosing it by September 30 will have to face action under stringent anti-money laundering laws, the taxman has warned.

    The department, in a public advertisement brought out yesterday in national dailies, had said people not disclosing illegal foreign assets will be "liable for tax and penalty totalling 120 per cent of the value of undisclosed asset, rigorous imprisonment up to 10 years and action under Prevention of Money Laundering Act."

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in Kashmir Amid Concerns About Terror Recruitment
  • National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in Kashmir Amid Concerns About Terror RecruitmentSRINAGAR:  A visit to Kashmir by India's top security officer today reflects the government's concern about the "growing number of young and educated boys joining militancy in Kashmir" and a series of pro-Pakistan protests, sources have said.

    National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is in Srinagar to review the security situation and devise a mechanism to deal with the "new challenge", the sources said.

    Mr Doval is meeting Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and senior security and intelligence officers.

    According to reports, over 100 boys from the Kashmir Valley have joined militant outfits in the last five months. Pakistani and Lashkar flags waved at protests have also been sighted several times.

    Last week, a retired police officer died after being shot by terrorists in Kulgam district of south Kashmir.

    Officials believe there has been a spurt in young men joining militancy. Last year, only 27 boys had joined the militants in South Kashmir, which is also the bastion of the ruling PDP. Three years ago, in 2012, the figure was only 7.

    "It is a major challenge and something agencies have to deal with," Lt Gen Subrata Saha, a top army officer.

    The police say the young men -all between the age of 18 and 22 years - are mostly joining the Hizb Ul Mujahideen and are being locally trained to use automatic weapons and explosives.

    The ruling People's Democratic Party-BJP government, which took office four months ago, has blamed the situation on what they call the "nine-year misgovernance" of the erstwhile government.  

    Security forces are also worried that they are not able to get information about the movement of militants in parts of South Kashmir. Videos and photos of militants have also surfaced on social networking sites.

Yakub Memon to Hang On July 30 for India's Deadliest Terror Attack
  • NEW DELHI:  Terrorist Yakub Memon will be hanged on July 30 for his role in the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai, India's worst terror attack, after the Supreme Court today refused to reconsider his execution.

    Memon, a well-spoken accountant, will be the first to be executed for the deadly attack in which over 250 people were killed.

    53-year-old Memon was found guilty in 2007 of financing the 13 blasts that shook India's financial capital. He has been in jail for two decades. His brother Essa and Yusuf and sister-in-law Rubina were all convicted of involvement in the blasts.

    "Yakub could be hanged in the Nagpur jail or in Pune's Yerwada jail," said Nagpur Jail superintendent Yogesh Desai.

    Yakub Memon's brother Ibrahim or Tiger Memon and Dawood Ibrahim, the other alleged masterminds of the attacks, have been on the run since 1993. A judge described the three as the "architects of the blasts". The Bombay Stock Exchange, the offices of the national carrier Air India and the luxury Sea Rock hotel were among the targets.

    The massive attack was followed by a very slow trial that ended over a decade later, angering the families of victims.

    Indian investigators say the plotters were helped by Pakistan's intelligence service, a charge denied by Islamabad.

    Actor Sanjay Dutt is serving a four year sentence in jail after being convicted for buying weapons from those accused in the blasts.

    Yakub Memon's was the only mercy petition to be rejected. The sentence of the other 10 people convicted for the blasts has been commuted to life in prison.

    Memon's appeals against his execution were rejected all the way to the Supreme Court and also by the President.

    Sources say the date and time of execution has been approved by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. His family members have also been informed, which is the procedure, say sources in the government.

    Memon, who completed masters degrees in English Literature and political science in jail, had challenged his death sentence on the grounds that while he could be held guilty of conspiracy, he was not involved in executing the blasts that led to death of people.

Green Panel Directs Inquiry Into Tree Felling in Taj Mahal Eco
  • Green Panel Directs Inquiry Into Tree Felling in Taj Mahal Eco ZoneNEW DELHI:  The National Green Tribunal has directed an inquiry into the alleged illegal felling and sale of 4,000 trees in the eco-sensitive zone near the Taj Mahal.

    A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar appointed advocate M C Mehta to visit the site near Taj Eco Zone where the trees are alleged to have been cut and asked him to file a report within two weeks.

    Taking note of a newspaper report, the Tribunal had issued notice to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and Uttar Pradesh government directing them to file their replies.
     
    According to the report, the former Agra DFO had allegedly cut 8,000 trees in Babarpur and around 4,000 trees in 500-metre-radius of the Taj Mahal, which is an eco-sensitive zone.

    "The state Government (UP) shall provide all facilities, and if required police security for execution of the commission by Mr Mehta."

    "We direct a nominee of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) Dehradun to be present with Mr Mehta during the course of the inspection," the bench said, while fixing Rs. 50,000 as fees of Mr Mehta for his visit.

    During the hearing, Advocate General Vijay Bahadur Singh, appearing for Uttar Pradesh, told the bench that the newspaper report on which the Tribunal has issued notice to the state government claiming that 4,000 trees have been cut and sold is factually incorrect.

    He said that the report was a "mischievous act" and submits that he would file a comprehensive affidavit on behalf of the state supported by Google images and other revenue records to show that not even a single tree, particularly in the Taj Eco Zone, has been cut or sold.

    Advocate General further told the bench that state has constituted a High Power Committee to investigate the matter on which the green panel directed it to file the report within three weeks.

    The Tribunal also issued notice to the Times of India correspondent on whose report the bench had taken suo motu cognisance of the case.

    Chief Conservator of Forests of Agra division, A K Jain, told the bench that approximately 4,000 trees have been uprooted around 500 metre of Taj Eco Zone and at another site in Babarpur village land has been given to a builder from where nearly 8,000 trees have been uprooted.

    However, this was denied by the state government.

    The Tribunal also directed Jain to file an affidavit within two weeks giving complete details on felling of trees.

    The matter is listed for next hearing on August 10.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Inaugurates Series of Projects
  • Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Inaugurates Series of ProjectsCHENNAI:  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has inaugurated a series of housing and other projects estimated at over Rs. 210 crore, the government said today.

    Ms Jayalalithaa inaugurated 1424 houses constructed by the Slum Clearance Board in different parts of the state through video conference from Chennai on Monday, an official release said.

    The houses were constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 82.78 crore in Tiruchirappalli and Tiruvannamalai among others.

    Further, she also inaugurated houses constructed by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board for higher and middle income groups at Chennai, Vellore and Thanjavur at Rs. 38.81 crore, it said.

    Ms Jayalalithaa inaugurated a 2.76 lakh sq.ft. foodgrains wholesale complex here, and a two-storeyed parking lot that could accommodate 2500 two-wheelers and 50 cars at the local Koyambedu bus terminal.

    Both are initiatives of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), it added.

Dams, Reservoirs in Karnataka Overflow With Rainwater
  • Dams, Reservoirs in Karnataka Overflow With RainwaterBENGALURU:  Dams and reservoirs in Karnataka are brimming with water after incessant rains over the last four days.

    Heavy rains have lashed parts of Karnataka. There has also been moderate rainfall in coastal and southern Karnataka, the meteorological department said today.

    Rainy days have been forecast this week for Bengaluru city.

    The Karnataka capital will experience a cloudy sky accompanied by strong winds and a spell or two of rain and thundershowers today.

    Bengaluru experienced heavy rainfall on Monday. It rained 26.1 mm in the city, 19.5 mm at HAL Airport and 45.4 mm at the Kempegowda International Airport on the city's outskirts.

    The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 29 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. The minimum temperature would be around 20 degrees Celsius.

    On Monday, Bengaluru recorded a maximum temperature of 29 degrees, one notch above the season's average. The minimum temperature was a notch down at 18.8 degrees Celsius.

Iran's Zarif Defends Nuclear Deal, Tells Lawmakers 'We Did Our
  • Iran's Zarif Defends Nuclear Deal, Tells Lawmakers 'We Did Our Best'DUBAI: Iran's foreign minister defended the nuclear deal he reached with world powers after criticism from hardliners, telling the conservative-dominated parliament today that most if not all of the country's conditions had been respected.
    "We don't say the deal is totally in favour of Iran. Any negotiation is a give and take. We have definitely shown some flexibility," the minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif said.
    "I tell you as I told the Supreme Leader, we did our best to preserve most of the red lines, if not all," Zarif said, referring to arch-conservative cleric Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last word on all high matters of state.
    Under the historic accord reached in Vienna last week, Iran will be subjected to long-term curbs on a nuclear programme that the West suspected was aimed at creating an atomic bomb but which Tehran says is peaceful. In return US, European Union and UN sanctions on Iran will be lifted.
    
    The deal must still be approved by Iran's National Security Council and ultimately by Khamenei.
    Iran's Revolutionary Guards and hardliners have started to attack the deal and have also hit out at a UN Security Council resolution passed on Monday endorsing it.
    They have in particular taken aim at provisions in the resolution that leave in place restrictions on Iran's development of ballistic missiles and foreign arms purchases.
    Khamenei has so far withheld a clear verdict on the deal, but said on Saturday he would not let the deal be "abused" or endanger "Iran's security and defence capabilities".
    Speaking before a crowd that chanted "Death to America", he also said the deal would not change Iran's anti-Western foreign policy.
    Zarif told lawmakers the UN resolution restricted development of missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads, saying this would not affect the country's missile programme as Iran does not have a nuclear missile programme.
    Hardliners in Iran may be trying to persuade Khamenei to block the deal by presenting it as having violated "red lines" set by Khamenei himself.
    The top commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Ali Jafari, said on Monday, according to Tasnim news agency: "Some parts of the (resolution) draft have clearly crossed the Islamic republic's red lines, especially towards Iran's military capabilities."

STATE BANK OF INDIA PROBATIONARY OFFICERS MAIN EXAM GENERAL AWARENESS PRACTICE QUESTIONS
  • 1. Who bagged the men's title at the 63rd National Senior Squash championship on July 12, 2015?
    1) Saurav Ghosal
    2) Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu
    3) Saurabh Nayar
    4) Sanjay Rajpal
    5) None of the above
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2. Sriram Kalyanaraman has been appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of?
    1) IDBI Bank
    2) NHB
    3) SIDBI
    4) IFCI
    5) Corporation Bank
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    3. Who won the 2015 Wimbledon Men's singles tennis championship on July 12, 2015?
    1) Roger Federer
    2) Richard Gasquet
    3) Novak Djokovic
    4) Andy Murray
    5) Marin Cilic
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    4. The seventh BRICS Summit was held in July 2015 in?
    1) Durban
    2) Fortaleza
    3) Sanya
    4) Ufa
    5) Yekaterinburg
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    5. The headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme is in?
    1) Washington
    2) Geneva
    3) Zurich
    4) Nairobi
    5) None of the above
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    6. Who won the Best Director award at the 87th Academy Awards ceremony on February 22, 2015?
    1) Bennett Miller
    2) Wes Anderson
    3) Morten Tyldum
    4) Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
    5) Richard Linklater
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    7. The first National Tribal Festival "VANAJ" was held in February 2015 in?
    1) Shillong
    2) New Delhi
    3) Agartala
    4) Kohima
    5) Raipur
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    8. The Union Government has constituted a High Level panel to suggest a framework to assess Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities undertaken by companies under the Companies Act, 2013. The panel is headed by?
    1) Anil Baijal
    2) Deepak Nayyar
    3) Onkar S. Kanwar
    4) Kiran Karnik
    5) None of the above
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    9. The first Renewable Energy Global Investors Meet & Expo (REInvest 2015) was held in February
    2015 in?
    1) Mumbai
    2) Srinagar
    3) Kolkata
    4) New Delhi
    5) Gandhinagar
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    10. Which was the partner country for RE-Invest 2015?
    1) France
    2) USA
    3) Germany
    4) Japan
    5) UK
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    11. Dhanak, a Hindi film, was honored with The Grand Prix of the Generation Kplus International Jury for the best feature length film at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2015. Dhanak was directed by?
    1) Priyadarshan
    2) Shekhar Kammula
    3) Nagesh Kukunoor
    4) Prakash Jha
    5) Madhur Bhandarkar
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    12. Who was awarded the inaugural Charleston-EFG John Maynard Keynes Prize 2015?
    1) Paul Krugman
    2) Amartya Sen
    3) Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
    4) Jean Dreze
    5) None of these
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    13. A ceasefire deal was reached between Russia and Ukraine on February 12, 2015 in?
    1) Minsk
    2) Paris
    3) Kiev
    4) Berlin
    5) Moscow
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    14. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted on February 12, 2015 to reinvestigate the
    1984 anti-Sikh riot cases. The SIT is headed by?
    1) Rakesh Kapoor
    2) Pramod Asthana
    3) Kumar Gyanesh
    4) Alok Joshi
    5) None of the above
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    15. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme on February 19, 2015 in Suratgarh in?
    1) Haryana
    2) Gujarat
    3) Rajasthan
    4) Uttar Pradesh
    5) Himachal Pradesh
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    16. The Y. Nayudamma Memorial Award for the year 2014 was given to?
    1) Tessy Thomas
    2) Geeta Varadan
    3) A. Sivathanu Pillai
    4) Both 1 and 2
    5) All 1, 2 and 3
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    17. Which of the following teams topped the medals tally with 91 gold medals at the 35th National
    Games in Kerala?
    1) Services
    2) Kerala
    3) Haryana
    4) Maharashtra
    5) Punjab
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    18. Who won the Indian Open golf title in February 2015?
    1) S.S.P. Chowrasia
    2) Siddikur Rahman
    3) Anirban Lahiri
    4) Jyothi Randhawa
    5) None of the above
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    19. Yash Bharti Samman is given for excellence in literature, fine arts, folk and classical music and sports.
    It is the highest civilian award of?
    1) Bihar
    2) Uttar Pradesh
    3) Himachal Pradesh
    4) Haryana
    5) Rajasthan
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    20. Who has been conferred the Yash Bharti Samman?
    1) Shekar Gupta
    2) Saina Nehwal
    3) Vinod Mehta
    4) Susheel Kumar
    5) Arunima Sinha
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    21. The first World Ocean Science Congress (WOSC) was held in February 2015 in?
    1) Kochi
    2) Panaji
    3) Kolkata
    4) Kandla
    5) Tuticorin
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    22. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) was established in
    1974. It is located in?
    1) Pune
    2) New Delhi
    3) Kolkata
    4) Guwahati
    5) Chennai
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    23. The Economic Survey 2014-15 was prepared by the Chief Economic Adviser?
    1) Rajiv Mehrishi
    2) Arvind Mayaram
    3) Arvind Subramanian
    4) Kaushik Basu
    5) None of the above
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    24. The Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare has declared which of the following days as
    the National Deworming Day?
    1) February 8
    2) February 10
    3) February 9
    4) February 7
    5) February 6
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    25. Ruthvika Shivani is the women's national champion in?
    1) Chess
    2) Tennis
    3) Badminton
    4) Table Tennis
    5) Archery
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    26. Sajan Prakash was the Best Performer in the men's section at the 35th National Games. He won 6
    golds and 2 silver in?
    1) Athletics
    2) Swimming
    3) Gymnastics
    4) Shooting
    5) Boxing
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    27. Which team won the 3rd edition of the Hockey India League in February 2015?
    1) Ranchi Rays
    2) Jaypee Punjab Warriors
    3) Delhi Waveriders
    4) Uttar Pradesh Wizards
    5) None of the above
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    28. Identify the mismatched pair? Tennis Player Country
    1) Rafael Nadal Spain
    2) Roger Federer Switzerland
    3) Novak Djokovic Serbia
    4) Stanislas Wawrinka Russia
    5) Andy Murray Great Britain
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    29. Who won the ATP Challenger Delhi Open tennis title in New Delhi in February 2015?
    1) Yuki Bhambri
    2) Somdev Devvarman
    3) Leander Paes
    4) Rohan Bopanna
    5) None of the above
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    30. The 36th National Games will be played in 2016 in?
    1) Manipur
    2) Karnataka
    3) Goa
    4) Telangana
    5) Haryana
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    31. The 15th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) was organized in February 2015 by?
    1) IISER
    2) CCMB
    3) IICT
    4) TISS
    5) TERI
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    32. India's first fenced elephant sanctuary will come up in?
    1) Kerala
    2) Karnataka
    3) Tamil Nadu
    4) Odisha
    5) Maharashtra
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    33. The 14th Finance Commission recommended what percent devolution of divisible funds to
    States?
    1) 32%
    2) 35%
    3) 40%
    4) 42%
    5) 37%
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    34. Facebook has tied up with which company in India to provide basic internet services on mobile
    for free?
    1) Idea
    2) Airtel
    3) Reliance Communications
    4) Vodafone
    5) None of these
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    35. Lydia Ko is a professional golfer from?
    1) Singapore
    2) Australia
    3) China
    4) Japan
    5) New Zealand
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    36. "Ammu", the mascot of the 35th National Games is?
    1) Lion
    2) Elephant
    3) Peacock
    4) The Great Hornbill
    5) Rabbit
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    37. King Faisal International Prize is given by which of the following countries?
    1) Iran
    2) Iraq
    3) UAE
    4) Indonesia
    5) Saudi Arabia
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    38. Lala Lajpat Rai was associated with the foundation of?
    1) State Bank of India
    2) Allahabad Bank
    3) Central Bank of India
    4) Punjab National Bank
    5) Indian Bank
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    39. Kampala is the capital of which of the following African countries?
    1) Rwanda
    2) Kenya
    3) Lesotho
    4) Ethiopia
    5) Uganda
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    40. CIBIL as a credit bureau caters to:
    1) Consumer segments
    2) Commercial segments
    3) Both commercial and consumer segments
    4) Nationalized Banks only
    5) Private Banks only
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Answers:
    1) 1; 2) 2; 3) 3; 4) 4; 5) 4; 6) 4; 7) 2; 8) 1; 9) 4; 10) 3;
    11) 3; 12) 2; 13) 1; 14) 2; 15) 3; 16) 4; 17) 1; 18) 3; 19) 2; 20) 3;
    21) 1; 22) 2; 23) 3; 24) 2; 25) 3; 26) 2; 27) 1; 28) 4; 29) 2; 30) 3;
    31) 5; 32) 2; 33) 4; 34) 3; 35) 5; 36) 4; 37) 5; 38) 4; 39) 5; 40) 3


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