Current Affairs Update: 20.2.09 1. The year-on-year WPI (Whole Sale Price Index) inflation rose 3.

92 per cent for week ended February 7, down from the previous weeks annual rise of 4.39 per cent. The annual Wholesale Price Index-based inflation rate fell to a 13month low, dipping below the 4 per cent mark on account of lower inflation in the case of primary articles and manufactured products, stoking expectations of more interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of India. 2. Planning Commission has approved an annual plan outlay of Rs 17,322 crore, the highest-ever allocation granted to the state by the commission for Rajasthan. 3. The central government has approved a proposal of Chhattisgarh government to create two elephant reserves in the state . It is worth mentioning that states northern region comprising of Surguja, Koria, Jashpur, Raigarh and Korba districts are worst-hit as wild jumbos run amok in villages, First reserve would be set up in Badalkhol forests of Jashpur district combining Timorpingla forests of Surguja. The second elephant reserve is to come up at Lemru forest of Korba district. 4. Former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin has formally joined the Congress.

5. A fire broke out in the Gir forest in Gujarat. The fire spread across 70-80 acres of forest but has now been brought under control. There are no reports of any civilian or animal casualties. Gir forest is in the Junagarh district near Rajkot and the biggest fear is to the lion population there. The forest is the only lion sanctuary in Asia. 6. Showcasing a broad spectrum of leather wares, the 23rd Surajkund Crafts Mela has provided a global stage for leather craftsmen as well. This year the theme is Madhya Pradesh. 7. President Pratibha Devisingh Patil today presented Gold Shield award to Narmada Hydroelectric Development Corporation for

early completion of its 520 MW Omkareshwar Project.The 8x65 MW Omkareshwar Hydroelectric Project, located in Khandwa District of Madhya Pradesh, was commissioned in November 2007, four months ahead 8. Fertiliser cooperative of major IFFCO, along with schedule. IPL (Indian

Phosphates Ltd) has entered into a landmark agreement with the Phosphate Chemicals Export Association (PhosChem) according to which the latter will supply 1.25 million metric tonnes of DAP between March 1, 2009 and February 28, 2010 initially to the former. This is a first of its kind effort by Indian inudstry to lend stability of supply to the product.

9. In December 2008, about 521,990 tourists came to India - a 12.5 percent decline compared to December 2007. In January this year, 487,262 travellers came to India, 17.6 percent less compared to the same month of 2008

10. Parakh & Co. have been selected as Auditor to carry out the Special Audit of Reliance Communications Ltd. (Stand alone), Reliance Telecom Ltd. and Reliance Communications Infrastructure Ltd. for the year 2006-07 and 2007-08 in the wake of possibilities of insider trading. 11. The government said it will convert market stabilisation (MSS) bonds worth Rs 45,000 crore into regular debt to finance extra expenditure incurred to push the economy during slowdown.

12. Indian wages will increase an average 8.2 percent this year after six successive annual increases of more than 10 percent, Hewitt Associates said in a release in New Delhi today. This follows an increase of 13.3 percent last year, 15.1 percent in 2007, 14.4 percent in 2006 and 14.1 percent in 2005, the Lincolnshire, Illinois-based human resource consultant said.

13. The Bank of Japan said it would maintain its key lending rate at 0.1 per cent. THURSDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2009 Quick Current Affairs National 1. India and Kazakhstan on jaunary 24, 2009 signed a major agreement for supply of Uranium. 2. Afganistan Presidnet Hamid Karzai Vissited India in January 2009. Main projects being completed by India are Derlam Zarang Highway and Pul-e-khumri Kabul Transmission Line. 3. Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami has suo motu sent a recommendation to the President that Election Commissioner Navin Chawla should be removed from office on the alleged ground of partisanship United Arab under Article were 324(5) banned of in the Constitution. 2009 . 4. Main arab political parties in Israel namely Israel-Balad and List-Taal January 5. Russia and Cuba sealed a strategic partnership pact designed to revive the Soviet-era close alliance between the two countries. 6. The meeting of world economic Forum was held in Davos Switzerland in improve the road in last the last week in week of of January January Arunanchal 2009. 2009. Pradesh. 7. The meeting of World Social Forum was held in Belem, Brazil 8. Union Cabinet on January 9, 2009 cleared a 12,513 crore project to connectivity 9. Delhi Government on January 14, 2009 notified a blanket ban on plastic bags use. 10. Himachal Pradesh is eyeing the tag of country's first carbon-free state and the world's second. 11. School students in Himachal Pradesh will soon be practicing complex asanas' as the State Government is all set to introduce yoga in 12. the The school syllabus from the has next academic session. of Karnataka government signed memoranda

understanding (MoUs) with public sector energy major National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and power equipment major Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to set up new thermal and

wind energy projects in the state with a cumulative capacity of 6,900 Mw in the next four years at a cost of around 35000 crores. 13. Radha Vinod Raju has been appointed as the Director of newlyconstituted National Investigation Agency. Vinod Raju is an 1975 officer of JK cadre and was posted as the Special DGP of Jammu & Kashmir. 14. Pradeep Kumar Kapur, Joint Secretary in the Minister of External Affairs and currently posted at the Foreign Service Institute, has been posted as Ambassador of India to Chile. 15. M.N. Prasad has been appointed as the new secretary in the Prime Ministers Office (PMO). The 1972 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Bihar cadre replaced Pulok Chaterji as the secretary in PMO. Prior to his appointment in PMO, Prasad served as the secretary in the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The out going PMO secretary Pulok Chaterji will move to World Bank as Executive Director. SUNDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2009 Quick Current Affars Update : 15 Feb 2009 1. The Oscar front-runner film Slumdog Millionaire, has won the NAACP award for outstanding independent motion picture.

2. US Congress has prohibited banks and firms receiving federal bailout money from hiring people on H-1B visas in place of Americans laid off by them due to the economic meltdown. 3. National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) received a setback after the country's first cloned buffalo calf "Samrupa" died just five days after its birth, they are happy that the "superior technology" they used for cloning was "tested".

4. Britain's Plain English Campaign International Media Award 2008 was given to TOI for "demonstrating a positive attitude in raising the awareness of plain English within its press coverage throughout India 5. India will test its most ambitious strategic missile next year having potent ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) capabilities, largely the preserve of the Big-5 countries till now. With the design work on the

5,000-km-range Agni-V virtually over now, DRDO chief M Natarajan on Friday said the missile would certainly be tested before December 2010 SATURDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2009 Quick Current Affairs 1. The Government has decided to infuse a 3800 crore fund to UCO Bank , Central Bank of India and Vijaya Bank to shore up their capital adequacy.

2. The citizens dream of anytime, anywhere could be reality by 2013 with the central Government deciding to pump in 20175 crore for as many as 27 projects for this purpose under its national e-governance plan. 3. Irrfan Khan an actor with performance in slumdog millionaire has been honored by British House of Commons

4. World Bank and the government of India signed deal worth $521 million for the National Vector Borne Disease Control and Polio Eradication Support Project. The credit is designed to help India boost effective prevention, diagnosis and treatment services for malaria and kala azar and increase polio vaccinations.

5. Nasscom has set up panel to avoid Satyam-like case. N R Narayana the Murthy, of Chairman the and Chief Mentor Executive of Infosys Council. Technologies, and will function as a permanent sub-committee under aegis Nasscom

6. ArcelorMittal, the worlds largest steel maker, reported its first quarterly loss of 2.63 billion dollars on as it wrote down the value of assets because of weaker demand.

7. Two large satellites a functioning U.S. device and a nonoperating Russian instrument collided in Earth orbit about 800 kilometers over Siberia on February 10, creating a swarm of some 600 chunks of

debris. 8. Three more towns in Madhya Pradesh, Maihar, Chitrakut and Salkanpur have been declared 'holy towns' - a status that prohibits the sale of liquor, meat and eggs there, official sources said Wednesday.Since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2003, Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Multai, Maheshwar and Panna have been declared as holy towns.

9. Punjab National Bank (PNB), Indias second largest public sector bank has announced that it has completed 100% core banking implementation at all its 4604 branches and extension counters through the Finacle Universal Banking Solution from Infosys, setting a significant milestone for themselves and a new benchmark for the Indian banking industry.

10. A commemorative stamp was released on 11 Feb 2009 to celebrate 125 Years of PLI (Postal Life Insurance ) Scheme 11. The Corps of Signals, more popularty known as the information Warriors of the Indian army, celebrate their 98th raising Day on Feb 15, 2009

12. As per World Bank's latest report India Economy is fifth largest in the SUNDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2009 Quick Current Affairs 1. England Players Kevin Peterson & Andrew Flintoff emerged as worlds most expensive cricketers after being sold for $ 1.5 million. 2. Kevin Peterson was bought by Bangalore Royal Challengers. 3. Andrew Flintoff was bought by Chennai Super kings. 4. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was bought in 6 crore Rupees. world.

5. AS Murthy is new Satyam CEO and Kiran kartik is new Chairman of Satyam. 6. Kiran Kartik was NASSCOM president in 2001-02 7. Delhi Metro Railway Corporation has launched Cycle for Hire scheme in New Delhi at Vishvavidyalaya Metro Station which has got overwhelming response. 8. Liberhan Commission was enquiring Babri Mosque Demolition will submit its report before 31st march 2009. 9. Chennai has got Indias First Public Stem Cell Bank. 10. The Centre Govt has opened first Jan Aushadhi Store in Delhi where unbranded generic medicines will be sold at nominal prices. 11. Triveni and Tropex are code names of the Amphibious warfare exercise launched by Tri Services of Indian Forces to hone their combat Godrej Consumer Products. 13. India has tightened the Ban on Import of Chinese Toys despite the threat by China to drag her to WTO. 14. Abhinav Bindra is set to join Exclusive club of VIP Fighter Jet Fliers with a stint aboard in F-16IN at Air Force Station Bangalore. The Elite list comprises Ratan Tata, APJ Abdul Kalam , George Fernandez. 15. Bob Houghton is an English football manager and former player, currently the head coach of the Indian national team. 16. Shilpa Shetty has bought 11% stake in Royal Rajasthan Team. Her 11% stake in the team is estimated to be USD 15.4 million FRIDAY, 30 JANUARY 2009 Ecnomic Current Affairs : Bank PO Special skills. 12. Dalip Singhal has been announced as new Managing Director of

1. The public sector banks have decided to cap the home loan interest rate up to five lakh at 5.5% and 5-20 Lakh 9.25% 2. New Bank Rates from December 2008: Bank rate 6% CRR 5.5%

SLR Statutory Liquidity Ratio : 24% Repo Rate : 6.5 % Reverse Repo Rate 5.5% 3. To check the depreciation of Indian Rupee Government sold $ 20.63 Billion foreign currency during December 2008. 4. RBI has provided EXIM bank a redefiance facility of 5000 crore rupees during December 2008 5. In 2008 Indias industrial growth has dipped to -0.4% (first time negative in 15 years) from 12.2 % in 2007 6. RBI has revealed that Indias Net International Investment Position or Net IIP has declined till June 2008 by 6.45% 7. Excise collection has also reduced by 8.3 % during 2008 8. FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) have shown 26% decline in 2008. 9. State Bank of India has merged its two Mauritius Subsidiaries recently. 10. Global Cotton trade is likely to fall by 12 % as per International Cotton Advisory Committee. 11. ADB (Asian Development Bank) has decided to provide $ 150 million to revive Khadi. 12. SBI has entered in General Insurance by partnering with Insurance Australia Group (IAG) 13. Public Sector UCO Bank has launched a multipurpose pre funded cheques series of three values Rs. 1000, Rs. 5000 & Rs. 10000. They bear all the features of Demand Drafts and not be able to bounce, as they are pre funded. 14. Govt of India has allowed foreign direct Investment in News Magazine Sector. 15. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a centrally sponsored National Mission on Medicinal Plants

FRIDAY, 30 JANUARY 2009 Ecnomic Current Affairs : Bank PO Special

1. The public sector banks have decided to cap the home loan interest rate up to five lakh at 5.5% and 5-20 Lakh 9.25% 2. New Bank Rates from December 2008: Bank rate 6% CRR 5.5% SLR Statutory Liquidity Ratio : 24% Repo Rate : 6.5 % Reverse Repo Rate 5.5% 3. To check the depreciation of Indian Rupee Government sold $ 20.63 Billion foreign currency during December 2008. 4. RBI has provided EXIM bank a redefiance facility of 5000 crore rupees during December 2008 5. In 2008 Indias industrial growth has dipped to -0.4% (first time negative in 15 years) from 12.2 % in 2007 6. RBI has revealed that Indias Net International Investment Position or Net IIP has declined till June 2008 by 6.45% 7. Excise collection has also reduced by 8.3 % during 2008 8. FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) have shown 26% decline in 2008. 9. State Bank of India has merged its two Mauritius Subsidiaries recently. 10. Global Cotton trade is likely to fall by 12 % as per International Cotton Advisory Committee. 11. ADB (Asian Development Bank) has decided to provide $ 150 million to revive Khadi. 12. SBI has entered in General Insurance by partnering with Insurance Australia Group (IAG) 13. Public Sector UCO Bank has launched a multipurpose pre funded cheques series of three values Rs. 1000, Rs. 5000 & Rs. 10000. They bear all the features of Demand Drafts and not be able to bounce, as they are pre funded. 14. Govt of India has allowed foreign direct Investment in News

Magazine Sector. 15. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a centrally sponsored National Mission on Medicinal Plants WEDNESDAY, 28 JANUARY 2009 Quick Current Affairs for Exams : 2008 Award List Awards&Prizes2008 1. IIFA best film Award: Chak de India 2. IIFA Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema : Shyam Benegal 3. IIFA Outstanding contribution to International Cinema : AR Rahman 4. IIFA Best Actor : Shahrukh Khan 5. IIFA Best Actress : Kareena Kapoor (Jab we Met) 6. United Nations Public Service Award : R.S. Pandey (Steel Secretary) 7. International Legal Alliance Summit Award 2008 : Fox Mandal Little, its a law company 8. Godfrey Phillips Bravery Award (Gold) : Anil Dhamankar 9. Nobel Prize 2008 Medicine : Luc Montangier (AIDS Vaccine) & Prof Francoise Barre Sinoussi Both French , Prof. Harald zur Hausaen (Germany) (Cervical cancer virus) 10. Noble Prize 2008 Physics: Makoto Kobayashi & Toshihide Maskawa (both from Japan) 11. Nobel Prize in 2008 Chemistry : Osamu Shimmura Japan and Martin Chalfie and Toger Tsien USA 12. Nobel Prize in 2008 Literature: Jean Marie (French) 13. Nobel Prize 2008 Economics : Paul Krugman (US) 14. Raman Magasaysay Award 2008 : Amte Couple (Mandakini & Prakash Amte) 15. Mahatma Gandhi Peace award 2008 : Nelson Mandela 16. Best of Booker Prize 2008 : Salman Rashdie 17. Deming Application Prize for TQM : Tata Steel 18. Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award 2007 : Prof. N Radha Krishnan 19. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award : Mahendra Singh Dhoni 20. Forbes Lifetime Achievement Award: Lakshmi Mittal

MONDAY, 26 JANUARY 2009 Quick Current Affairs 4. 1. World Bank has agreed to provide $ 3 billion loan to Indian Infrastructure Finance Company, SIDBI, Power Grid Corporation limited. 2. Government is proposed to establish National Science and Engineering Research Board on the line of Ntional Science Foundation of US. 3. Jalandhar is one among five cities of the selected by World Bank for special project to strengthen non motorized transport system. 4. GPS or Global Positioning System is a space based radio navigation system developed by US department of defense now available for Civilians worldwide. GPS is based upon Global Navigation Satellite Constellation. 5. Food subsidy is likely to touch a record of 50000 crore in the current fiscal. 6. The reserve Bank of India has now made buying foreign exchange for travel overseas easier. Travelers can now buy foreign exchange from authorized dealers using their debit, credit and prepaid cards. 7. Jatropha is an ideal starting material for biodiesel production and it is useful to India as it can be grown on wastelands too. Tata Chemicals recently has entered a contract with Singapore Based JOil Company for marketing seedlings of Jatropha. 8. The Bengaluru International Airport will have first of its kind a cargo Village which shall insure faster clearances of exim consignments. 9. Indias Coal based power plant of NTPC at Dadri will have now Indias First Photo Bioreactor to absorb Co2 and Nitrous Oxides with the help of microsms particularly Algae. 10. India expects to add a 1500 MW power by the end of 2009. 11. Indian made her debut on 11 Dec. 2008 in 3G services popularly called Third Generation phone services offered by MTNL. A customer can receive potentially internet and data applications at the speed of 2 MBPS.

12. Bernard L. Madoff , Chairman of Madoff Investment Securities and NADAQ ex chief had been arrested in December for a 50 Billion dollars fraud. 13. Angelina has become the highest paid Hollywood reporter after taking $ 23 million for film Wanted. 14. J.K. Rowling is the creator of Harry Potter series and his latest book is The Tales of Beedle the Bard. 15. Chinese Scientists have completed Initial Clinical Trials of AIDS Vaccine with Good results. SATURDAY, 24 JANUARY 2009 Quick Current Affairs 3 1. Harold Pinter , a Nobel Prize-winning eminent British Playwright died on Dec24,2008 2. Eartha Kitt died on dec.26, 2008 was an American singer. 3. Somali Prime Minister Hassan Hussein Nur was sacked from his post on December 14, 2008. 4. Natinal Minority Rights Award 2008 was given to Shabnam Hashmi & Dr. Inderjeet Kaur . 5. Veena Dass who is director of Sogetsu School Ikebana Delhi Chapter has been given The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold, & Silver Rays award by Japanese Emperor Akihito. 6. National Woman Excellence award 2008 was given to Leading Odissi Dancer Pritika Kalra Gandhi. 7. Indian American Doctor Tarpan Thakur has been selected in 10 top hospitalists of United States by American College of Physicians. 8. Nandini Sarma an Indian Origin and American Citizen has been honored by naming an asteroid because of her science project on Garlic. 9. Government Seeks to make inexpensive justice available to people in rural areas and for this Gram Nyayalaya Bill has been passed by Rajya Sabha. 10. BrahMos is a supersonic Cruise Missile with a strike range of 290 kms, tested on December 18, 2008.

11. Nag is an Anti Tank Missile tested in Pokharan in Rajasthan in December 2008. SATURDAY, 24 JANUARY 2009 Quick Current Affairs: National 1. Rating agency CARE has assigned AAA rating to Axis Banks lower tier II bonds worth Rs. 2000 crore 2. Sate Run National Aluminum Co. (NALCO) has signed a pact with Canada based RioTinto Alcan to increase its Global Presence. 3. Sunil Mathur has become the Chief Financial Officer of Siemens 4. Infosys has partnered with Punjab national Bank to deploy Finacle (a core banking solution) 5. VISA inc. has appointed David Lee as president of its Asia Pacific Region. 6. Congress President Sonia Gandhi (17th )and Bollywood King Shahrukh khan (41st) have got place in 50 most powerful people in the world by Newsweek Magazine. Obama tops the list. 7. Jeev Milkha Singh has won Nippon Series JT Golf Cup. 8. UNEP (United Nations Environment Program has declared 2009 as Year of Gorilla. 9. Golfer Greg Norman has headed the list of Australias Highest earning sports Star. 10. Indian ranks fourth in Worst Bribe Payers acroos the world as per Transperency Internationals Bribe Payers Index. Belgium & Canada shared the first place. 11. India has relaxed a two year old ban to allow exports of close to 11000 tons of the Food Grain to Nepal & Myanmar. 12. Katrina Kaif has topped the searches in Google among Bollywood Actress. 13. Sarah Palin lost the election but is winner to a Connoisseur of Quotations. 14. Haryana has become the first state in the country to set up a 2800 MW Nuclear Power Plant Kaumaharia Village In Fatehgarh District in The State.

15. HUL Hindustan Unilever Limited has been awarded the CII (Western Region) HR Excellence Award in 2008. 16. Government says that 53000 villages have been electrified and promised Electricity for All by year 2012. 17. Haryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Huda has declared that 2009 shall be celebrated as the year of Farmer & Laborer 18. Two new airports shall come up in Andhra Pradesh in a spanof three years in Nellore & Ongole. 19. Bharat Electricals Ltd has won the Certificate of Excellence for Exports from FIEO (Federation of Indian Export Organizations. 20. Mobile connections in India shall touch 500 million in India by 2010.

Quick Current Affairs 1 QuickCurrentAffairs Ashok Chavan is the new Chief Minister of Maharastra. Najam Sethi has been awarded the 2009 Golden Pen of Freedom. He is editor-in-chief of Daily Times , Friday Times and Urdu Aajkal. Chritiano Ronaldo is the winner of European Footballer of the Year. Anil Ambani has been voted as the happiest and healthiest person in Business Lord Swaraj Paul has been appointed as the deputy Speaker of House of Lords Abhisit Vejjajaiva has been elected the prime Minister of Thailand. He belongs to Opposition Democratic party. NCP's Jayant patil is new home minister of Maharastra. 1st December was celebrated as world AIDS Day. 10th December was celebrated as Human Rights day. 1

R. Sridharan has taken over as MD & Group Executve of SBI from Dec5,2008 Ashok Gehlot is the new chief Minister of Rajasthan. Chanda Kochar has been appointed new MD and CEO of ICICI Bank Historian Romila Thapar has been Chosen for 2008 Kluge Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the study of Humanity. Benazir Bhuttto was awarded UN Human Rights Award 2008. HDFC Bank has been given the Nasscom-CNBC TV-18 IT User Award 2008. IBM India has won the Employer of the Year Award for empowering persons with disability. Sachin got 16th ranking in ICC rankings. Repo Rate has been cut from 7.5 % to 6.5 % and Reverse Repo Rate from 6 % to 5 % in December 2008. Seventh Film Festival was hosted by Mumbai. Jhulan Goswami has topped the list of ICC's One Day Ranking of Women. According to CII , India's Biotechnology Sector Expected to become a $5 billion by 2010. TCS ( Tata Consultancy Services ) has won the 2008 Technology Innovation award. LN Mittal has been elected as New Chairman of Wporld Steel Association. Vasant Mehta has been appointed as the new chief of Gems & Jewelry Export Promotion Council. Universal Arogya Medical Scheme has been started by the Government for BPL families.