Page 1 CURRENT AFFAIRS
January 1, 2016
1) What is the name of the ambitious
and huge trade bloc launched by the
10 nation Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) on 31
December 2015? – ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC)
Explanation: The US-backed ASEAN
Economic Community (AEC) was
formally launched on 31 December
primarily to forge a prominent regional
bloc to rival China and Japan. AEC aims
to boost economic ties by further
lowering tariffs and allowing a freer
flow of labor, services and capital
2 CURRENT AFFAIRS
across the 10 member countries of
ASEAN.
 ASEAN which includes Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Page
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
and Vietnam, is a fast-expanding
region to a rising middle class, but
also to widespread poverty and
income inequality.
 Economic integration within the
region is also at the center of US
President Obama’s rebalance of
foreign policy toward Asia, in part
to address China’s increased
military and economic
assertiveness in the region.
2) Which phase of TRAI’s digitisation
drive to get Set Top Boxes (STBs) to
avail uninterrupted TV services ended
on 31 December 2015? – 3rd Phase
Explanation: The 3rd Phase of the
deadline to get Set Top Boxes (STBs)
for availing uninterrupted TV services
ended on 31 December. This phase
included municipal corporations and
 municipalities. Broadcasting sector
regulator Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India (TRAI) asked all cable
TV subscribers under the 3rd Phase of
digitisation drive to get Set Top Boxes
(STBs) to avail uninterrupted TV
services before the deadline of 31
December.
 In the 1st phase of the digitization
drive STBs were made mandatory
in metro cities while the 2nd
Phase included 38 cities.
3) The Union Cabinet on 30 December
2015 gave its approval to India’s Civil
Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with
Australia. The agreement makes it
possible for Australian uranium
exports in India to go ahead. This
agreement had come into force on
which date? – 13 November 2015
Explanation: The agreements coming
in force were announced on the
sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Turkey
3 CURRENT AFFAIRS
by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
his Australian counterpart Malcolm
Turnbull, in November 2015.
 Currently, India sources uranium
from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and
Page
Russia. It has a total requirement
of around 1,000 tonne of a year.
Australia has around 31% of the
world’s uranium reserves.
 It also has some of the cheapest
reserves. Earlier in the year, India
also signed a contract with
Canada for the long-term supply
of uranium.
4) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on
31 December 2015 laid the foundation
of which 14-lane Expressway that
seeks to decongest traffic in Delhi? –
Delhi-Meerut Expressway
Explanation: The ambitious Delhi-
Meerut Expressway project, the
foundation for which was laid by the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a
programme held on 31 December,
aims at easing traffic congestion in the
national capital. The project is
proposed under four packages and is
expected to cost Rs. 7,500 crore.
 The Delhi-Meerut Expressway will
be a controlled-access
expressway, connecting Delhi with
Meerut via Dasna in Ghaziabad
(UP). While the present stretch of
National Highway 24 (NH-24) up
 to Uttar Pradesh Gate will be
widened to 14 lanes from the
present eight, the road between
UP Gate and Dasna will be eight-
laned.
 This project is expected to ease
massive congestion on the 24-km
stretch between Nizamuddin
Bridge and Dasna.
5) India stormed into the final of the
2015 SAFF Championship as it
defeated Maldives by 3-2 in the
semifinal played on 31 December
2015. Which country will face India in
the finals? – Afghanistan
Explanation: The first semi-final of
2015 SAFF Championship was played
between hosts India and Maldives on
31 December 2015. Star striker Jeje
Lalpekhlua scored a brilliant brace for
India to give it 3-2 win over Maldives.
Skipper Sunil Chhetri opened the
scoring for the hosts in the 25th minute
followed by Jeje’s 34th and 66th minute
4 CURRENT AFFAIRS
brace.
 Ahmed Nashid (45th) and Amdaan
Ali (75th) were the goal-scorers for
Maldives.
Page
 In the second semi-final
Afghanistan outplayed Sri Lanka
by 3-0 to reach finals. The final
will be played on 3 January 2016.
 2015 SAFF Championship is the
11th edition of the biennial SAFF
Championship and is being played
at Trivandrum International
Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
(Kerala).
6) Which Pakistani artist was granted
Indian citizenship with effect from 1
January 2016? – Adnan Sami
Explanation: Renowned Pakistani
singer Adnan Sami was granted Indian
citizenship with effect from 1 January
2016 following his request to the
Centre to legalise his status in the
country on humanitarian grounds. He
thus became an Indian citizen from this
date.
 Sami had first arrived in India on
13 March 2001 on a visitor’s visa
 with the validity of one year which
was issued by the Indian High
Commission in Islamabad.
 But the Pak singer made India his
second home for the past few
years. His visa was extended from
time to time. His Pakistani
passport issued on 27 May 2010
expired on 26 May 2015 and his
passport was not renewed by the
Pakistan government which led
him to approach the Indian
government with the request to
legalise his stay in India on
humanitarian grounds.
 He had made a representation to
the Home Ministry on 26 May
2015 requesting his stay in India
on humanitarian grounds.

January 2, 2016
January 2016 with thousands of
volunteers taking to the streets to
assist traffic police in enforcing the
pilot plan. The restriction policy will
stay in force in the national capital till
15 January 2016.

 As per the scheme, cars bearing

1) Delhi Government introduced the
ambitious alternate-day travel policy
for cars using the odd- and even-
numbered license plates system from 1
January 2016 in an attempt to curb air
pollution. This odd-even formula has
5 CURRENT AFFAIRS
odd-numbered registration plates
shall ply on city roads on 1
January while those with even
number plates, if taken out, will
attract a penalty of Rs. 2,000
under relevant sections of the

been initially implemented for how Motor Vehicles Act.

many days? – 15 days  The restriction will be in force
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and
Explanation: The odd-even vehicular
traffic will not be restricted on
restriction policy of the Delhi
Sundays. Public transportation
Page

government came into effect on 1

 service will be increased druing
the restriction period.
 It is worth mentioning that on 16
December 2015, the Supreme
Court of India mandated several
restrictions on Delhi’s
transportation system to curb
pollution.
2) On 1 January 2016 the United
Nations Organization (UNO) ushered in
the ambitious 2030 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to
end poverty, hunger and assure gender
equally while building a life of dignity
for all over the next 15 years. How
many goals have been described in
SDGs? – Seventeen (17)
6 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Explanation: Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) are ambitious set of 17
goals to banish a host of social ills from
the world by 2030. These goals were
adopted unanimously by 193 Heads of
Page
State and other top leaders at a
summit in September 2015.
 The goals address the needs of
people in both developed and
developing countries, emphasising
that no one should be left behind.
The 17 SDGs build on the eight
Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), which specifically sought
by 2015 – to eradicate extreme
poverty and hunger; achieve
universal primary education;
promote gender equality and
empower women; reduce child
mortality; improve maternal
health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria
and other diseases; ensure
environmental sustainability; and
develop a global partnership for
development.
3) The Information and Broadcasting
Ministry on 1 January 2016 constituted
a committee to give recommendations
for restructuring of censor board,
which has been mired in controversies
 in the recent past. Who was appointed
head of this 6-member committee? –
Shyam Benegal
Explanation: The Central Board of Film
Certification (CBFC) has been mired in
controversy since the beginning of
2015 when Pahlaj Nihalani took charge
as chairperson. Several of his decisions
have been criticized by filmmakers
who have complained of arbitrary
objections and cuts sought by the
board.
 The Committee headed by Shyam
Benegal is expected to provide a
holistic framework for functioning
of the CBFC. The panel will also
suggest changes in the
Cinematograph act.
 Other 5 members in the
committee are – filmmaker
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, ad
guru Piyush Pandey, film critic
Bhawana Somaaya, National Film
Development Council MD Nina L.
Gupta and Joint Secretary (Films)
7 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Sanjay Murthy. The committee is
expected to submit its report in
two months.
Page
4) A dress code for devotees entering
temples was imposed from 1 January
2016 in which state? – Tamil Nadu
Explanation: Several important shrines
in Tamil Nadu put up notice boards
informing the applicable dress code for
devotees for entering the temples
from 1 January 2016. The dress code
for entering the temples was
implemented following on the earlier
order of the Madras High Court.
 The Madras High Court in Chennai
directed the state government
and Hindu Religious and
Charitable Endowments
Department to implement dress
code for devotees coming to offer
worship in temples to enhance
spiritual ambiance. This order was
passed on 1 December 2015.
 Under the dress code, devotees
wearing lungi, bermudas, jeans
and tight-leggings would not be
allowed to enter several
important premises. The proposed
dress code has been – for men
 dhoti or pyjamas with upper cloth
or formal pants and shirts and for
women saree or half saree with
blouse, churidhars with upper
cloth, for children any fully
covered dress.
5) Which community has the lowest
sex ratio in India as disclosed in the
additional data pertaining to Census
2011 released recently? – Sikh
Explanation: According to the 2011
census, there were 828 girls in the age
of 0 to 6 years in the Sikh community
January 3-4, 2016
8 CURRENT AFFAIRS
1) Which base of the Indian Air Force
(IAF) in Punjab was attacked by
Page
heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists on 2
in comparison to 1,000 boys. Jain
community has the second worst sex
ratio as there were 889 girls against
1,000 boys in the age group of 0 to 6
years in the community.
 Among other communities, there
were 958 Christian girls against
1,000 boys, 913 Hindu girls against
1,000 boys, 943 Muslim girls
against 1,000 boys and 933
Buddhist girls against 1,000 boys.
 The child sex ratio of total
population in the country was 918
girls against 1,000 boys.
January 2016 resulting in death of 7
Indian security personnel? – Pathankot
Explanation: Five Pakistani infiltrators
attempted to storm the Air Force base
at Pathankot in Punjab in the early
hours of 2 January 2016. One Garud
commando of the IAF and two
personnel of the Defence Security
Corps (DSC) were killed in gun-firing
with the infiltrators while all 5
infiltrators were killed. The terrorists
 could not enter the technical area of  This attack came within days of
the IAF station, which is the base for Indian Prime Minister Narendra
MiG-21 fighter planes. Modi’s surprise stopover in
Lahore on 25 December 2015,
 Later three personnel of the DSC which was seen as a big political
succumbed to their injuries in the risk.
hospital while a senior officer of
the National Security Guard (NSG),
Lt. Col Niranjan, was killed in an
accidental explosion during
combing operations at the spot on
3 January. This took the total
death toll in the attack to seven.
There were reports that one
2) India won the 2015 South Asian
terrorist was still hiding in the
Football Federation Cup (SAFF Cup) by
airbase by the evening of 3
defeating defending champions
January.
Afghanistan by 2-1 in the finals on 3
 This was the first-ever attack on
January 2016. With this title win, India
an Indian Air Force base.
has now won the SAFF Cup how many
Pathankot is an important forward
times? – Seven
operating base of the Indian Air
Force which houses Mig-21 Bis Explanation: The 2015 SAFF Cup title
fighter jets and Mi-25 & Mi-35 was India’s seventh title of this biennial
attack helicopters. football title. India has won the title in
 The attackers were believed to 1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011
have infiltrated from Pakistan and and now 2015.
there was speculation that they
9 CURRENT AFFAIRS

may belong to Jaish-e-Mohammad  India defeated defending

headed by Maulana Masood champions Afghanistan by 2-1 in
Azhar of the Kandahar hijack the finals played on 3 January.
episode. Afghanistan went into the lead
after Zubayr Amiri scored in the
Page

71st minute. But inform Indian

 striker Jeje Lalpekhlua equalized in
the very next minute. The game
went into extra time and Indian
captain Sunil Chhetri gave India
the winning goal by scoring
through a free-kick in the 10th
minute of extra time. With this
win India also took a sweet
revenge of their 2013 final loss to
Afghanistan.
 2015 SAFF Cup was the
11th edition of the biennial SAFF
Championship and was held at
Trivandrum International Stadium,
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala). The
2017 SAFF Cup will be hosted by
Bangladesh.
3) The 103rd edition of the Indian
Science Congress (ISC) was
10 CURRENT AFFAIRS
inaugurated by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on 3 January 2016.
Which university is hosting this
prestigious annual event? –University
of Mysore (Mysuru)
Page
Explanation: University of Mysore is
hosting the 103rd edition of the Indian
Science Congress. The theme of this
edition of ISC is ‘Science and
Technology for Indigenous
Development in India’. The annual five-
day Congress is returning to Karnataka
after a gap of 13 years.
 ISC 2016 has been hosted at the
postgraduate campus of the
University of Mysore. Over 12,000
odd registered attendees are
attending this event which will be
addressed by over 500 eminent
scientists and experts. Celebrating
its 100thanniversary in 2016, the
University of Mysore has a
colourful history of producing
some of the greatest Indian minds
over the years. Bharat Ratnas M
Visvesvaraya, C N R Rao and Dr. S
Radhakrishnan are its products.
 Indian Science Congress
Association (ISCA) is a premier
scientific organisation of India and
it has been hosting the ISC since
1914.
4) Saudi Arabian Government on 2
January 2016 executed a top Shia cleric
 along with 46 other persons after
being convicted of terrorism offences.
What was the name of this cleric who
was popular among youth and was
vocal critic of the Saudi government? –
Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr
Explanation: Sheikh Nimr was a vocal
supporter of the mass anti-
government protests that erupted in
country’s Eastern Province in 2011,
where a Shia majority has long
complained of marginalisation. He was
arrested two years ago and was
sentenced to death on 15 October
2014.
 Nimr was one of the most popular
Shia clerics in Saudi Arab and had
mass following amongst the
youth. Shia-led Iran, the main
regional rival of Sunni-ruled Saudi
Arabia, previously warned that
executing Sheikh Nimr would
“cost Saudi Arabia dearly”.
11 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Page
5) A B Bardhan, one of the pillars of
the communist movement in India,
passed away on 2 January 2016 in
Delhi at the age of 91. He was
associated with the Communist Party
of India (CPI) and was a widely
respected politician. He headed the CPI
for how many years as it General
Secretary? – 16 years
Explanation: Ardhendu Bhushan
Bardhan (A.B. Bardhan) was a towering
figure of the left movement in the
country. In his earlier days he had been
a leading figure of the trade union
movement and Left politics in
Maharashtra.
 He became General Secretary of
CPI’s trade union arm AITUC in
1994 and became Deputy General
Gecretary of CPI a year later. He
took over as CPI General Secretary
in 1996 when Indrajit Gupta
stepped down after joining the
United Front Government as
Home Minister. He held this post
till 2012.
6) The foundation stone for the new
helicopter unit of Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was laid at
 which place on 3 January 2016, where
the government will invest over Rs
5,000 crore for this new helicopter
factory spread across 600 acres of
land? –Tumakuru (Karanataka)
Explanation: The foundation stone for
HAL’s new helicopter unit in
Karnataka’s Tumakuru district was laid
by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 3
January 2016. The government is
investing over Rs 5,000 crore on this
new unit. This will be the first factory
in India to indigenously assemble
helicopters through its own
innovations and technology.
 On this occasion the PM set a
deadline for the HAL, that the first
helicopter assembled in this unit
should take the maiden flight in
2018. HAL is the public sector-
owned aerospace and defence
company with its headquarters in
Bangalore (Karnataka). It is
governed under the management
of the Indian Ministry of Defence.
12 CURRENT AFFAIRS
January 5, 2016
Page
7) The second edition of Premier
Badminton League (PBL) kicked-off
from 2 January 2015. How many teams
are participating in this edition of PBL,
which is the biggest Badminton event
in India? – Six
Explanation: The 6 teams participating
in PBL 2016 are Awadhe Warriors
(Lucknow), Bengaluru Topgun
(Bengaluru), Delhi Acers (Delhi),
Hyderabad Hunters (Hyderabad),
Mumbai Rockets (Mumbai) and
Chennai Smashers (Chennai). The
event will be held from 2 January to 17
January 2016. The opening ceremony
of PBL 2016 was held at Mumbai on 2
January.
 The main objective of PBL is to
bring top Indian players along
with International players on the
same platform. The league aims to
ride on the popularity that the
sport has gained in the country
over the years.

1) The three-member Supreme Court-
appointed committee on reforms in
the BCCI and the Indian cricket
administration submitted its much
anticipated report in the Supreme
Court Registry on 4 January 2016. The
committee recommended legalization
of betting while it did not found
enough evidence against former IPL
COO Sunder Raman. Who headed this
committee? – Justice RM
Lodha(former Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court)
Explanation: Former Chief Justice of
India, R.M. Lodha, submitted his report
on the various aspects of reforms in
the BCCI to the Supreme Court registry
on 4 January 2016. This culminated the
13 CURRENT AFFAIRS
committee’s exhaustive investigations
into how the game is run in the
country and what could be done to
ensure that transparency and
accountability is the rule and not the
Page
exception in the administration of
cricket in India.
Important Recommendations of
Lodha Committee
 legalization of betting in the
country
 Grant of Limited autonomy for IPL
Governing Council
 Separate governing bodies for the
IPL and BCCI
 Only one person per post. No
proxy voting of individuals
allowed
 No BCCI office-bearer can be
Minister or government servant
 A steering committee headed by
former Home Secretary G K Pillai
with Mohinder Amarnath, Diana
Eduljee
 The constitution and
establishment of a players
association
The report will now be considered by
the bench headed by Chief Justice T S
Thakur at a later stage.
 2) A 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit
India’s remote northeast region in the
early hours of 4 January 2016 resulting
in death of at least 8 people and
injuring over 100 others. Which
northeastern state had the epicenter
of this earthquake? – Manipur
Explanation: The epicenter of the
earthquake was in Tamenglong region,
some 35 kilometers northwest of
Manipur capital Imphal. The death and
injuries were caused by falling debris in
and around Imphal. The traditional
‘mother’s market’ building in the
centre of Imphal was partially
damaged in this earthquake.
 Apart from Manipur, the tremors
were also felt in neighbouring
states of Assam and Arunachal
Pradesh.
3) Which PoK based militant body on 4
January 2016 claimed the
14 CURRENT AFFAIRS
responsibility for the Pathankot
airbase attack which has left seven
security personnel and five militants
dead? – United Jihad Council (UJC)
Explanation: According to Srinagar-
Page
based wire service CNS, UJC
spokesman Syed Sadaqat Hussain
claimed responsibility for this attack
and said that Kashmiri militants
associated with the ‘Highway Squad’
attacked the airbase.
 UJC is a conglomerate of around
13 militant outfits, including the
Lashkar-e-Toiba. However, the
Jash-e-Muhammad, which is
under the scanner for the
Pathankot attack, had in the past
distanced itself from the
conglomerate after it expanded
militant activities beyond Jammu
and Kashmir and pursued a pan-
Islamic agenda.
4) The Indian consulate in which
Afghan city came under attack by
unidentified gunmen on the night of 3
January 2016? – Mazar-i-Sharif
Explanation: The Indian consulate
in northern Afghanistan city of Mazar-
i-Sharif was site of heavy firing by
unidentified gunmen on 3 January.
However, no casualty was reported
and all members of the consulate were
safe. Some firing on the consulate
were also reported on 4 January.
  The attack on the Indian consulate
in Mazar-i-Sharif was yet another
strike at Indian diplomatic
missions in strife-torn Afghanistan
over the past few years. The worst
strike was a suicide bomb terror
attack on the Indian embassy in
capital Kabul on 7 July 2008 killing
58 people and injuring 141. The
consulates in Jalalabad and Herat
were also attacked in 2013 and
2014 respectively.
5) Which PSU bank has agreed to buy
four premium Mumbai flats belonging
to Air India in an all-cash deal of Rs. 90
crore under airline’s asset
monetization plan? – State Bank of
India
Explanation: State Bank of India (SBI)
has agreed to buy four premium flats
in Mumbai’s posh Peddar Road area
from the loss-making Air India for Rs.
90 crore. SBI is planning to allocate
15 CURRENT AFFAIRS
these four flats to its top executives.
Each of these 3-BHK flats has a carpet
area of 2,033 sq ft.
 The Union Government recently
gave go-ahead to state-owned Air
Page
India to sell the flats to SBI for
about Rs. 90 crore as part the
airline’s asset monetization plan.
 Faced with substantial debt
burden, the national carrier Air
India has been exploring various
options to raise money to meet its
funding requirements. SBI has
already taken two floors in the
nearly-empty 22-storey Air India
Towers at Nariman Point, which
till a few years ago was the
headquarters of the national
carrier. The cash-starved airline
was looking to sell these flats for
the past two years.
6) Which English cricketer broke the
record for the fastest 250 in Test
cricket on 3 January 2016? – Ben
Stokes
Explanation: English all-rounder Ben
Stokes broke a host of records while
batting in the second Test against
hosts South Africa in Newlands on 3
January 2016. He scored the fastest
 250 in test cricket in a 399-run world-
record partnership for the sixth wicket
with Bairstow. He broke Virender
Sehwag’s former record for India (207
balls).
 Stokes also scored the second
fastest double century in test
history, with his 200 coming off
163 balls, 10 more than record
holder Nathan Astle of New
Zealand. Stokes also set the
highest score by a test batsman at
number six, passing a 39-year-old
mark held by Australian Doug
Walters.
7) Which power project became the
first in the country to become eligible
for the Power Ministry’s incentive
programme under which power
transmission projects achieving early
completion will be incentivized? –
Rajasthan Atomic Power Project
16 CURRENT AFFAIRS
January 6, 2016
Page
Explanation: Rajasthan Atomic Power
Project (RAPP), which has been built by
Sterlite Grid, became country’s first
power project eligible for the power
ministry’s incentive programme. The
project has been completed within 12
months from the start of construction.
It was awarded to the company in
2013.
 The project includes laying a 200-
km, 400-kilovolt double-circuit
transmission line passing through
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
 The government had issued an
order in July 2015 that
transmission projects won under
tariff-based competitive bidding
(TBCB) and those awarded to
PowerGrid Corporation for system
strengthening would get
transmission charge from the date
of commercial operations, even if
it is ahead of schedule. This order
was given in the wake of delays in
the commissioning of key
transmission corridors.

1) Which state on 5 January 2016
became the first to sign a
memorandum of understanding (MoU)
with the Centre for the Ujwal Discom
Assurance Yojana (UDAY) reforms for
state-owned power distribution
companies? – Jharkhand
Explanation: Mineral-rich but energy-
deficient state of Jharkhand became
the first state to sign an MoU with the
Union Government for the ambitious
Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana
(UDAY) reforms scheme. Jharkhand
Chief Minister Raghubar Das and
Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of State
for Power, Coal and New & Renewable
Energy were present during the signing
ceremony held on 5 January.
17 CURRENT AFFAIRS
 UDAY is the financial turnaround
and revival package for electricity
distribution companies of India
initiated by the Union Govt. with
the intent to find a permanent
Page
solution to the financial mess that
the power distribution is in. The
Cabinet had in November 2015
approved UDAY to ease the
financial crunch faced by power
distribution companies
(discoms). The scheme was
launched to tackle the Rs 4.3 lakh
crore debt on discoms besides
measures to cut power thefts and
align consumer tariff with cost of
generating electricity.
 Four major states, Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, Maharashtra and Odisha,
have already given their in-
principle approval to join UDAY.
The other states that are on board
UDAY are Andhra Pradesh,
Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir,
Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana,
Chhattisgarh and Madhya
Pradesh.
 2) The Iran-Saudi crisis became more chances of success resolving the
serious on 4 and 5 January 2016 with a Syrian conflict now look ever
few Saudi Arabian allies calling-off more distant.
their diplomatic relations with Iran.
The crisis is becoming the most serious
regional crisis in the Middle-East in
decades. Which are the prominent
countries which recalled their
ambassadors from Iran? – Bahrain,
Kuwait and Sudan

Explanation: Saudi Arabia’s embassy in 3) Who was appointed as the new

Tehran was ransacked and set alight Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Wipro
on 2 January 2016 after it executed Limited, which is India’s third largest IT
Shia Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr export firm? – Abid Ali Z.
and 46 others. In response to attacks Neemuchwala
on its embassy, Saudi Arabia broke off
Explanation: Abid Ali Z. Neemuchwala
diplomatic ties with Iran on 3 January.
was named as company’s CEO on 4
Next day Bahrain and Sudan also
January 2016. He will replace T.K.
severed their relations with Iran. On 5
Kurien, who has been appointed as the
January another Saudi ally Kuwait
Executive Vice Chairman. Both the
announced recalling its ambassador
appointments will be effective from 1
from Iran. The United Arab Emirates,
February 2016.
on its part, downgraded its diplomatic
team in Iran. This further deepened  Neemuchwala, a former CEO of
the regional crisis. the BPO unit of Tata Consultancy
18 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Services (TCS), was working as the

 Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and
group president and chief
Shia Iran are major rivals for
operating officer (COO) of the
power in the Middle East and back
company till now.
opposing sides in the conflicts in
 Wipro is a multi-national IT
Syria and Yemen. With Saudi-
consulting and system integration
Page

Iranian diplomatic ties severed,

firm being headed by its Chairman
 Azim Premji. Its revenues during
2015 stood at around $7 billion
while the firm was valued at
around $35 billion. It is the third
largest IT company in India after
TCS and Infosys.
4) What is the name of the 15-year old
Mumbai schoolboy who came to news
for becoming the first-ever player to
notch up a four-figure score by
smashing an unbeaten knock of 1009
in an inter-school tournament
organised by the Mumbai Cricket
Association (MCA) on 4 January 2016?
– Pranav Dhanawade
Explanation: Pranav Dhanawade, the
opening batsman of Smt KC Gandhi
School (Kalyan), scored an unbeaten
19 CURRENT AFFAIRS
1009 off 323 balls, a knock which
comprised 129 fours and 59 sixes
against Arya Gurukul School. This
innings came in the HT Bhandari Cup
inter-school tournament organised by
the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA).
Page
 The ground in Kalyan was
relatively small and the Arya
Gurukul School bowling attack
didn’t have a name of repute in its
ranks. However, the sheer volume
of runs Dhanawade scored made
it a special knock. He bettered the
best-ever individual score in any
form of cricket; bettering AEJ
Collins’ 628 not out for Clark’s
House against North Town in 1899
in the UK.
 The epic knock ended when his
school declared at 1465, which is
also a world record. His school
went past Victoria’s 1107 against
New South Wales made way back
in 1926.
5) Two Indian cities, Delhi and
Mumbai, made it to the top-30 list of
the World’s most powerful, productive
and connected cities prepared by
international real estate consultancy
JLL. Which city topped this list that was
released on 3 January 2016? –Tokyo
Explanation: The list is topped by
Tokyo, which along with New York,
London and Paris, make the top four
‘super cities’. These four were the
 destination of over 50% of all foreign improved the most over the past
capital invested in the Global Top 30 year.
cities.
 Other cities where commercial
 India’s financial capital Mumbai attraction has improved
has been ranked 22nd while the significantly include Milan (Italy),
national capital Delhi is placed at Istanbul (Turkey), Tehran (Iran),
24th place in this list. Mumbai is Madrid (Spain), Cairo (Egypt),
also on the top-10 “improvers” Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Lagos
list. Top-10 improvers are cities (Nigeria), Jakarta (Indonesia) and
whose scores in the index of Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
“commercial attraction” have

January 7, 2016
bomb test. This announcement raised
the anxiety among leading countries. A
hydrogen bomb is generally more
powerful than a nuclear bomb.
Consequently, the UN Security Council
has tentatively set an emergency
meeting after this test. However, it
1) Which country on 6 January 2016
was not confirmed whether this North
claimed to have successfully conducted
Korean claim was true. Russia, as well
20 CURRENT AFFAIRS

a hydrogen bomb test after which the

as a few other nations, raised serious
UN Security Council tentatively set an
doubts about this claim.
emergency meeting? – North Korea
 If this North Korean claim stands
Explanation: North Korea government
true, it will be a breach of the U.N.
on 6 January claimed that it has
Page

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

successfully conducted a hydrogen
 (CTBT). CTBT is the universally
accepted norm against nuclear
testing has been respected by 183
countries since 1996.
 In December 2015, North Korean
leader Kim Jong-un had claimed
that his country had developed a
hydrogen bomb, a step up from
the less powerful atomic bomb.
North Korea conducted
underground tests to set off
nuclear devices in 2006, 2009 and
2013, for which it has been
subject to U.N. Security Council
sanctions banning trade and
financing activities that aid its
weapons programme.
2) In a bid to curb vehicular pollution,
21 CURRENT AFFAIRS
the Union Govt. on 6 January 2016
decided to implement stricter emission
norms of Bharat Stage (BS) VI and skip
the BS-V norm altogether. BS VI will be
implemented from which date? – 1
April 2020
Page
Explanation: The decision was taken at
an inter-ministerial meeting held on 6
January 2016 and chaired by Road
Transport and Highways Minister Nitin
Gadkari. This means that India would
go straight from Euro-IV complaint
petrol and diesel to Euro-VI fuel by
2020.
 At present, BS-IV auto fuels are
being supplied in whole of
northern India covering J&K,
Punjab, Haryana, Himachal
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, parts
of Rajasthan and western UP. The
rest of the country has BS-III grade
fuel.
 Bharat Stage emission standards,
introduced in 2000, are emission
standards that have been set up
the Central government to
regulate the output of air
pollutants from internal
combustion engine equipment,
including motor vehicles. These
norms are based on European
regulations.

3) World’ largest electronics and
technology trade show the Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) was
inaugurated on 6 January 2016. This
annual show which attracts major
companies and industry professionals
from all over the world is held at which
city? – Las Vegas (Nevada, US)
Explanation: CES is the internationally
renowned electronics and technology
trade show that is held each year in Las
Vegas during January. It is sponsored
by the Consumer Electronics
Association. The 2016 edition of CES
has attracted over 3,600 companies
from across the world.
 CES is the most awaited event for
the electronics and technology
industry as it features the
upcoming next-generation
22 CURRENT AFFAIRS
innovations to be introduced in
the market place. However, the
event is restricted to trade
participants and is not open to
general public.
Page
4) Which associate bank of SBI was
imposed a fine of Rs. 1 crore by the RBI
during January 2016 for violation of
some of its instructions? – State Bank
of Travancore
Explanation: The penalty on State
Bank of Travancore (SBT) was imposed
for violation of RBI’s including
reporting of data to Central Repository
of Information on Large Credits
(CRILC). RBI set up CRILC to collect,
store, and disseminate data on all
borrowers’ credit exposures.
 Banks are required to report all
such information here, including
classification of an account as
SMA (Special Mention Accounts),
on all borrowers having aggregate
fund-based and non-fund-based
exposure of Rs. 5 crore and above.
 SBT has its headquarters in
Thiruvananthapuram and is one of
the most prominent associate
banks of the SBI. It was formerly
known as the Travancore Bank Ltd
and became associate bank of SBI
in 1960.

5) Who was sworn in as the 8th Chief
Information Commissioner (CIC) of the
Central Information Commission
during January 2016? – Radha Krishna
Mathur
Explanation: 62-year old Radha
Krishna Mathur became the 8thChief
Information Commissioner (CIC) after
he was administered the oath of office
by President Pranab Mukherjee in a
function held in the Rashtrapati
Bhawan on 4 January 2016.
23 CURRENT AFFAIRS
January 8, 2016
Page
 Mathur is a former Defence
Secretary and he will have tenure
of around 3 years. He was
appointed CIC during December
2015 to succeed the outgoing Vijai
Sharma.
 The CIC heads the Central
Information Commission that was
established in 2005 under the
Right to Information Act. The
Commission includes one Chief
Information Commissioner (CIC)
and not more than 10 Information
Commissioners (IC) who are
appointed by the President of
India.

1) Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away
on 7 January 2016 at AIIMS in New
Delhi. Sayeed, a two time chief
minister of J&K and India’s first Muslim
Union Home Minister, had founded
the Jammu and Kashmir People’s
Democratic Party (JKPDP) in which
year? – 1999
Explanation: Mufti Mohammad
Sayeed was the founder of the Jammu
and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party
(JKPDP) that he founded in 1999
primarily to persuade the Indian
24 CURRENT AFFAIRS
government into an unconditional
dialogue with the Kashmiri people.
JKPDP is the ruling coalition partner in
J&K along with the BJP.
Page
 Sayeed was in the Congress till
1987, and had been minister for
tourism in the Rajiv Gandhi
government in 1986, after which
he joined former Prime Minister V
P Singh’s National Front
government as India’s Home
Minister, thus becoming the first
Muslim to hold this post. His short
stint there (Dec 1989- Nov 90) was
marred by the kidnapping by
Kashmiri militants, of his daughter
Rubaiyya Sayeed.
 He served twice as the Chief
Minister of Jammu and Kashmir;
for three years from November
2002 till November 2005 and then
again from March 2015 until his
death.
2) The Union Cabinet on 6 January
2016 approved the conversion of
MUDRA Ltd, a non- banking financial
company (NBFC), into MUDRA Bank.
This bank thus will become a wholly-
 owned subsidiary of which entity? –
SIDBI
Explanation: The MUDRA bank (or
MUDRA Small Industries Development
Bank of India (SIDBI) Bank) will
undertake re-finance operations and
provide support services with focus on
portal management; data analysis etc.
apart from any other activity entrusted
or advised by Government of India.
 The Union Cabinet also gave its
approval for setting up of a Credit
Guarantee Fund for loans
disbursed under the Pradhan
Mantri Micro Units Development
Refinance Agency (MUDRA)
Yojana. The National Credit
Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd
(NCGTC Ltd), a wholly-owned
company of Government of India,
constituted under the Companies
Act to manage and operate
various credit guarantee funds,
shall be the Trustee of the Fund.
 MUDRA Bank and a Credit
25 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Guarantee Fund was proposed to
be set up with a refinance corpus
of Rs. 20,000 crore and a corpus
of Rs. 3,000 crore respectively in
the Budget 2015-16.
Page
3) The Union Cabinet approved the
closure of which 3 companies of the
HMT Limited on 6 January 2016? –
1) HMT Watches, 2) HMT Chinar
Watches and 3) HMT Bearings
Explanation: The Union Cabinet
approved the closure of the iconic
HMT Watches along with HMT Chinar
Watches and HMT Bearings. It also
offered a voluntary retirement scheme
(VRS) to its employees as per the 2007
pay scales. These three companies
were part of HMT Limited (formerly
known as Hindustan Machine Tools).
The Govt. also announced a cash
assistance of Rs. 427.48 crore, with
which the three loss-making
subsidiaries will attain closure after
separation of about a thousand
employees through VRS/VSS and
settlement of their dues. Voluntary
retirement scheme (VRS) package at
2007 pay scales was approved to
mitigate the hardships being faced by
the employees.
  HMT Watches, the flagship features. The starting price for this
company of the HMT Group, had range is Rs. 6.25 lakh (ex-showroom,
launched its first batch of watch in Thane). The vehicle will be
1961. This was done after its first manufactured at M&M’s Chakan plant
watch manufacturing unit was near Pune, with an initial production
established in collaboration with capacity of 20,000 vehicles.
M/s Citizen Watch Co., Japan.
HMT went to become a household  Meanwhile, the company
name in watches and was called discontinued its small commercial
‘Timekeepers to the Nation’. vehicle (SCV) ‘Genio’ in the
 But since the late 80s, HMT domestic market.
started facing numerous
hardships due to archaic
management policies and arrival
of several new-age competitors.
Its sales were affected. Despite
several financial packages by
government the company’s
5) What is the name of the Indian
performance continued to decline
woman shooter who broke the world
till it became a sick entity.
record on way to winning gold in the
women’s 10 meter air rifle event at the
Swedish Cup Grand Prix on 5 January
4) Which Indian auto company 2016? – Apurvi Chandela
launched its premium pick-up truck
Explanation: Apurvi Chandela shot
named ‘Imperio’ on 6 January 2016? –
211.2 in the event held on 5 January to
26 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M)

Explanation: ‘Imperio’ is the name of
the new premium pick-up truck range
that was launched by Mahindra &
Mahindra on 6 January. This truck
comes with car-like comforts and
Page
surpass the feat of Chinese Olympic
gold medallist Yi Siling, who held the
record with 211.
 It is worth mentioning that she
has already qualified for the Rio
 Olympics of 2016. She had won
the gold in the National
January 9, 2016
citing several issues associated with
animal welfare.
1) The Union Government on 8 January
2016 allowed the conduct of ‘Jallikattu’
– the bull taming sport by altering a
2011 Ministry of Environment
notification by exempting the sport
from performances for which the bulls
should not be used. This sport is
associated with which state? –Tamil
Nadu
Explanation: Jallikattu is a bull taming
27 CURRENT AFFAIRS
sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of
the Pongal celebrations. Bulls are bred
specifically for the sporting event and a
specific breed of cattle is bred for this
purpose. The Supreme Court had
Page
imposed a ban on this sport in 2014
Championships held during
December 2015.
 The Supreme Court had in May
2014 upheld a 2011 notification
by the Ministry of Environment
and Forests (MOEF) to include
bulls in the category of animals
that shall not be used as
performing animals, meaning that
bulls could not be exhibited or
trained as performing animals for
Jallikattu events.
 The present notification by the
Ministry of Environment and
Forests clears the ground for
Jallikattu events by making an
exception for these and some
other traditional bull-related
events in other parts of India.
 implementing the service
conditions of SBI, which the AIBEA
feels is illegal and in violation of
the settlement. SBI has a different
set of service conditions for its
employees, based on an
2) The banking and business
agreement between its
transactions were affected on 8
management and union, and is
January 2016 as bank employees of
not applicable to other banks.
several PSU banks went on a 1-day
 SBI has five associate banks –
strike on the call given by the All India
State Bank of Travancore, State
Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA).
Bank of Mysore, State Bank of
Why was this strike held? – To protest
Patiala, State Bank of Hyderabad,
against violation of employees service
and State Bank of Bikaner and
agreements by the five associate
Jaipur.
banks of the State Bank of India (SBI)

Explanation: The 1-day strike was held

to protest against the violation of
3) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
bilateral settlement by the five
offered Rs. 8,000 crore worth of 10-
associate banks of SBI and their
year benchmark government bond on
attempt to force unilateral service
8 January 2015. What is the coupon
conditions on the employees. In May
rate for these bonds which saw a
2015, the Indian Banks’ Association
strong demand? – 7.59%
(IBA) and the AIBEA signed a common
settlement, which defined the duties Explanation: The new 10-year
and remuneration of employees for benchmark government bond bore a
28 CURRENT AFFAIRS

jobs in the banks. The five associate
banks of SBI are party to this
settlement, and hence are governed by
the same.
 However, the managements of
Page
coupon of 7.59%, 13 basis points lower
than that of the current benchmark
(7.72%).
 The government is scheduled to
borrow Rs.56,000 crore over the

the associate banks are next four weeks, out of which

 nearly half would be in the 7-10
year tenor category. The 40-year
bond, the longest duration bond,
was issued in October last year
and only Rs 5,000 crore has been
raised so far. The other bonds
against which Rs 2,000 crore each
will be raised will mature in seven
years and eight years.
4) Who was named ‘Global and Asia-
Pacific Central Bank Governor of the
Year 2015’ by the ‘Banker’ magazine,
as announced on 7 January 2016? –
Raghuram Rajan,Governor of RBI
Explanation: The ‘Banker’ is a
prestigious monthly magazine of the
‘Financial Times Group’. The magazine
selected RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan
29 CURRENT AFFAIRS
for ‘Global and Asia-Pacific Central
Bank Governor of the Year 2015’
award as announced on 7 January.
 Rajan was selected for his efforts
in stabilising the Indian rupee,
Page
initiating key reforms to attract
much needed foreign capital in
the country and reining in a
runaway price appreciation.
 The RBI governor has been named
central bank governor of the year
several times by other
international magazines. In
October 2014, ‘Euromoney’ and in
January 2015, ‘Central Banking’
awarded him the best central
banker award for his contribution
in stabilising the Indian economy.
5) Who was appointed as the as the
new Chairman, Competition
Commission of India (CCI) by the Union
Govt. on 8 January 2016? – DK Sikri
Explanation: DK Sikri is an IAS officer
of the Gujarat cadre. However, his
appointment to this post came under
mild controversy as he was number
two in the list recommended by the
selection panel. DIPP secretary
Amitabh Kant was the top name
recommended for the CCI chairman’s
post. A few days earlier, Kant was
named as the CEO of Niti Aayog.
 Competition Commission of India
(CCI) is a body of the Government
 of India responsible for enforcing
the Competition Act, 2002
throughout India and to prevent
January 10-11, 2016
1) What was the important feature
associated with the 14th Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas that was observed on 9
January 2016? – It was the first limited
or shortened edition of Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas
Explanation: The first limited edition
of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) was
observed on 9 January 2016. Last year,
the government had decided to hold
larger version of Pravasi Bharatiya
30 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Divas (PBD) after every two years and
that limited version of the event will be
organised in the intervening year. 13th
edition of PBD was held in
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) last year.
Page
activities that have an adverse
effect on competition in India.
 It was also the first time that the
event was organised by
the External Affairs Ministry
(MEA) in the wake of
government’s decision to merge
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
(MOIA) with it.
 PBD 2016 was addressed by
External Affairs Minister Sushma
Swaraj and her address was
webcast by almost all Indian
missions and posts abroad. This
was followed by video-
conferencing with select Indian
Missions.
 9 January was chosen as the day
for PBD as it was on this day in
1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, the
“greatest Pravasi”, returned to
India from South Africa and led
India’s freedom struggle. The
event has been held annually
since 2003.
 2) The proposal to merge the Ministry
of Overseas Indian Affairs with the
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was
approved by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi recently. What was the main
objective of creating the Ministry of
Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA)? – To
improve engagement with the Indian
diaspora 3) The Ganga Sagar Mela started from
Explanation: Established in May 2004 10 January 2016. The annual event,
as the Ministry of Non-Resident that features bathing rituals with
Indians’ Affairs, it was renamed as the Hindu devotes taking holy dips in
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs sacred waters of Ganges River, is held
(MOIA) in September 2004. The annually at – Sagar Island or
primary task of the MOIA was to Sagardwip (West Bengal)
connect the Indian diaspora with its Explanation: Ganga Sagar Mela, also
motherland. known as Ganga Sagar Yatra or Ganga
Snan, is the annual gathering of Hindu
 The MOIA initiated various
pilgrims to take holy dip in River
programmes focusing on
Ganges at Sagar Island or Sagardwip in
developing networks with and
West Bengal. This year’s Mela is being
amongst the overseas Indians
held from 10 January to 15 January
with the intent of building
2016.
partnership with the diaspora.
 But it was merged with MEA in  Sagar Island is the place where the
sync with Union Government’s
31 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Ganges merges in the Bay of

broad principle of minimum
government, maximum
governance. IT was also realised
that substantial work of MOIA is
done through Indian missions
Page
Bengal Sea. This Mela is one of the
biggest religious events of the
country that witnesses the
gathering of lakhs of pilgrims.
During this Mela, Hindu pilgrims

abroad. from India and around the world

 arrive at Sagar Island to take a of understanding with Prime
holy dip in sacred waters of Minister Narendra Modi.
Ganges.
 Pilgrims attending the annual fair
at the Sagar Island, one among
the cluster of islands at South 24
Parganas district, have been
provided with various facilities
such as toilets by the district
administration.
5) What is the name of the founder of
the scam ridden non-banking finance
company PACL Limited who was
4) The 43rd edition of New Delhi World
arrested by sleuths of the CBI on 8
Book Fair commenced from 9 January
January 2016 for cheating investors for
2016 at New Delhi’s sprawling Pragati
over Rs. 45,000 crore? – Nirmal Singh
Maidan. Which country is participating
Bhangoo
in this fair as the guest of honour
country? – China Explanation: The arrest of Nirmal
Singh Bhangoo came 17 months after
Explanation: The nine-day fair, touted
markets regulator the Securities and
as the largest in Asia, is hosting about
Exchange Board of India (SEBI) ordered
30 countries in the fair. While China is
PACL to return money to millions of
the guest of honour country, ‘Cultural
investors, saying the company was
Heritage of India’ is the theme
running an illegal investment scheme.
presentation of the fair. This Book Fair
The scheme promised depositors
was inaugurated on 9 January by
32 CURRENT AFFAIRS

returns on investments in agricultural

Human Resource Minister Smriti Irani.
land.
 China was invited to be the guest
 The case involves alleged
country after the visit of Chinese
collection of about Rs. 45,000
President Xi Jinping here last year
crore from roughly 55 million
where he signed a memorandum
Page

investors across the country,

 making it the biggest financial
scandal.
6) Which private sector bank has
recently partnered FINO PayTech to
foray into the payments bank space, as
announced on 8 January 2016? – ICICI
Bank
Explanation: By tying up with FINO
PayTech, ICICI Bank has joined some of
the leading lenders of the country
which have partnered with payments
January 12, 2016
33 CURRENT AFFAIRS
1) What is the name of the Syrian
Foreign Minister who arrived in New
Delhi on 11 January 2016 to holds talks
with his Indian counterpart before
peace talks in Syria? – Walid Muallem
Page
banks that have received licence from
the banking regulator RBI. For
example, State Bank of India and Kotak
Mahindra Bank have picked up stake in
the payments banks that will be
floated by Reliance Industries and the
Bharti Group, respectively.
 FINO Paytech had received ‘in
principle’ licence from the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) to start a
payment bank. RBI regulations
allow universal banks to invest up
30 per cent in payments bank.
Explanation: Syrian Foreign Minister
Walid Muallem came to New Delhi on
11 January 2016 on his 3-day visit to
India. He held discussions with Indian
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and a
few other government functionaries.
 The discussions were held so as to
build international support for
President Bashar Assad’s
government before peace talks in
Geneva. Peace talks between
Assad’s government and the
 Syrian opposition are due to begin
on 25 January 2016 as part of an
ambitious 18-month plan
endorsed by the UN Security
Council.
 The UN-backed plan foresees a
rapid ceasefire, and calls for talks
that would lead to the
establishment of an inclusive
transitional governing body with
full executive powers within six
months.
2) India’s leading online marketplace
Flipkart on 11 January 2016 announced
that Sachin Bansal, CEO and Co-
founder of Flipkart will now hand over
his current responsibilities to his co-
founder Binny Bansal. What will be the
new designation for Sachin Bansal? –
Executive Chairman
Explanation: Sachin Bansal will
become the company’s Executive
34 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Chairman and will provide mentoring
to the Flipkart leadership team. On the
other hand, Binny as CEO will now be
responsible for operationally driving
the company and will be accountable
Page
for Flipkart’s overall performance.
 Flipkart is the leading online
marketplace in India with US$ 1
billion in gross merchandise value
in 2013-14. It was founded in
2007 by Sachin Bansal and Binny
Bansal, two ex-employees of
Amazon.com.
3) Ravindra Kalia, who passed away on
8 January 2016, was a noted
personality associated with which
field? – Hindi Literature
Explanation: Noted Hindi writer
Ravindra Kalia passed away on 8
January 2016. He was 78. He was
noted for his short stories and novels.
He also served as a journalist and was
Director of the Bharatiya Jnanpith, one
of the most prestigious literary
institutions in the country. He was
suffering from liver cirrhosis.
 His important works were ‘Nau
Saal Chotti Patni’, ‘Kaala Register’,
‘Gareebi Hatao’ (story collections),
‘Ghalib Chuti Sharaab’, ‘Comrade
 Monalisa’ (memoirs), ‘Khuda Sahi
Salaamat Hai’, ‘ABCD’ and ’17
Ranade Road (novels).

5) Which American movie won the top

4) Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland won
the men’s singles title of Chennai Open
2016 to win his fourth title at the
championships on 10 January 2016.
Whom he defeated in the finals? –
Borna Coric (Croatia)
Explanation: World No. 4 and top seed
Stan Wawrinka defeated Borna Coric
of Croatia by 6-3, 7-5 in the final of
2016 Chennai Open played at the SDAT
Tennis Stadium on 10 January 2016.
 This was fourth Chennai Open
men’s title for Wawarinka, having
won in 2011, 2014 and 2015. He is
35 CURRENT AFFAIRS
honours including Best Movie, Best
Director and Best Actor at the 73rd
Golden Globe Awards ceremony held
on 10 January 2015? – ‘The Revenant’
Explanation: The Revenant is an
American biographical movie set in
1823 Montana and South Dakota. It
earned Globes for best motion picture,
best actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) and
Best Director (Alejandro Inarritu).
DiCaprio beat out Bryan Cranston
of ‘Trumbo’, Michael Fassbender
of ‘Steve Jobs’, Eddie Redmayne
of ‘The Danish Girl’, and Will Smith
of ‘Concussion’.
 Actors Kate Winslet, Matt Damon,
Sylvester Stallone and Jon Hamm

the most successful player at

were the other winners at the
Chennai Open, which is the
2016 Globe Awards. Winslet
highest ranked ATP tournament in
walked away with the golden
India.
trophy in the supporting actress
category for her role in
Page

biopic ‘Steve Jobs’. Brie Larson

 won the Golden Globe in best
actress award in a motion picture-
drama category for her role
in ‘Room’. Stallone won the best
supporting actor in a motion
picture trophy for his role
in ‘Creed’. Damon won the best
actor trophy in a musical or
comedy category for his role
in ‘The Martian’.
 Globe Awards are often seen as
the precursor to the Academy
Awards (Oscars) and the winners
are seen as the major contenders
for the Oscars.
6) British artist David Bowie who
passed away on 10 January 2016 at the
age of 69, was associated with which
field? – Singing
Explanation: 69-year old David Bowie
was primarily a singer but was also
known as an accomplished songwriter,
instrumentalist, record producer,
arranger, painter and actor. He was a
figure in popular music for over four
decades, and was known as an
innovator, particularly for his work in
the 1970s.
 Throughout his career, he has sold
an estimated 140 million records
worldwide. Bowie’s breakthrough
came with 1972’s ‘The Rise and
Fall of Ziggy Stardust’ and the
‘Spiders From Mars’. His last live
performance was at a New York
charity concert in 2006.

January 13-14, 2016

36 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Page
 components. If the design is not
Indian, 60% of its components
must be Indian.
 The entire focus, including that of
looking for strategic partners to
manufacture critical equipment
like fighter jets encourages
business and enterprise in India
1) Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar
 Small and medium scale industries
during January 2016 gave go ahead to
will be given from Rs. 3 crore to
major changes in how India buys its
10 crore in funding for design and
defence equipment. One major change
development and contract within
in policy pertains to the emphasis on
24 months
‘Designed in India’ initiative. What are
 To encourage research and
the two most important features of
development in the private sector,
this initiative? – Indigenously made
the department of defence
defence equipment must have at least
production will bear 90% of design
40% Indian components and if the
and development cost of major
design is not Indian, 60% of its
systems.
components must be Indian

Explanation: Under the new policy

changes, ‘Designed in India’ will be
2) The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
emphasised, as this will not only help
constituted a committee to hasten the
the country retain Intellectual Property
Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail
Rights, but also build an “eco- system”
Corridor on 11 January 2016. Who is
for manufacturing defence equipment.
37 CURRENT AFFAIRS

heading this committee? – Arvind

Some important features of ‘Designed Panagariya (vice-chairman of the NITI
in India’ initiative for Defence Sector: Aayog)

 Under the new rules, indigenously Explanation: Apart from Arvind

made defence equipment must Panagariya is Chairman, Railway Board
Chairman, Secretary in the Department
Page

have at least 40% Indian

 of Expenditure, Secretary DIPP &
Foreign Secretary will be part of the
committee. The panel will interact with
the Japanese counterpart for taking
the next step in implementation.
 Railway Board head will look after
all issues related to overall
operation and technical issues.
The economic affairs secretary will
look after all issues related to the
financial outlay and his industrial
policy counterpart the Make in
India component of the trains.
 It is worth mentioning that
Cabinet’s approval for the high-
speed line between Mumbai and
Ahmedabad was based on the
recommendations of a committee
headed by Panagariya.
38 CURRENT AFFAIRS
3) Lt General JFR Jacob, who passed
away on 13 January 2016 at the age of
92, was an Indian war hero associated
with which war? – 1971 Indo-Pak War
Explanation: Lt General Jacob-Farj-
Page
Rafael or JFR Jacob was the Chief of
Staff of the Eastern Command during
the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 and had
played a pivotal role in defining the
Indian Army’s strategy during the
course of operations. He came to be
known as one of the architects of the
1971 war which resulted in creation of
Bangladesh.
 In the 1971 war, he designed a
“war of movement” plan where
the Indian Army bypassed
intermediary towns which had
been fortified by the Pakistan
Army. His goal was to neutralise
Pakistan’s command and control
infrastructure and use secondary
routes to enter Dhaka.
 He also fought in World War II and
the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. He
later served as the Governor of
the states of Goa and Punjab.
4) At least 10 tourists were killed in a
suicide bomb blast in Istanbul’s historic
Sultanahmet Square district near the
 Blue Mosque on 12 January 2016. A
Syrian national having links with the
Islamic State (IS) was identified as the
attacker. Majority of the killed tourists
were from which country? – Germany
Explanation: There were as many as 9
German tourists in the 10 persons that
died in the suicide bomb blast that
took place in Turkish city of Istanbul on
12 January. Another 15 persons were
injured and it included 6 Germans, one
Norwegian, one Peruvian and a South
Korean. The blast took place at
Sultanahmet Square, a bustling tourist
spot in Istanbul.
 The attacker was identified as
Nabil Fadli, a Saudi Arabian-born
Syrian national and member of
the Islamic State (IS). The last
major attack on Sultanahmet
Square occurred on 6 January
2015
39 CURRENT AFFAIRS
5) Life Insurance Corporation of India
(LIC) launched which closed-ended
single-premium plan for sale from 11
January 2016? – Jeevan Shikhar
Explanation: Jeevan Shikhar is the
Page
name of a closed-ended plan which
has been offered for sale by LIC from
11 January. It will be available for sale
till 31 March 2016. It is a non-linked,
with profits, single premium plan,
wherein the risk-cover is 10 times of
tabular single premium providing a
combination of savings and risk cover.
 Under this plan, the proposer/life
assured will have an option to
choose the maturity sum assured,
and the single premium payable
will depend on the chosen
amount of maturity sum assured
and the age of the assured. The
plan is available from ages six to
45 years.
6) Who were chosen for FIFA’s World
Footballer of the Year (Male and
Female) for 2015 on 11 January 2016?
– Lionel Messi (Male) and Carli Lloyd
(Female)
Explanation: Argentinian super star
Lionel Messi made his name into
history books as he deposed eternal
rival Cristiano Ronaldo to take back his
crown as the undisputed king of world
football by lifting a record fifth FIFA’s
Men’s Footballer of the Year award (or
Ballon d’Or).
  US midfielder Carli Lloyd was
announced the winner of the FIFA
Women’s World Player of the Year
award. This is the first Player of
the Year award for Carli Lloyd.
 On the other hand, FC Barcelona
coach Luis Enrique Martínez and
US national team coach Jill Ellis
were named as FIFA World
Coaches of the Year for Men’s and
Women’s Football respectively.
 FIFA’s World Footballer of the
Year award (also known as Ballon
d’Or) is an annual association
football award given by FIFA to
the male and female player
considered to have performed the
best in the previous calendar year.
It is awarded based on the votes
from national team coaches and
captains, as well as journalists
from around the world. It was first
given in 2010. (Photo Courtesy :
FIFA and Getty images)
40 CURRENT AFFAIRS
7) Which Southeast Asian country was
struck with a 6.4 magnitude
earthquake on 11 January 2016? –
Indonesia
Page
Explanation: A strong 6.4 magnitude
struck off North Sulawesi province in
central Indonesia. The epicenter of the
earthquake was around 233 kilometres
southeast of Sarangani in the
Philippines, as recorded by the US
Geological Survey.
 The quake, which struck just 22
minutes before midnight of 11
January was centered about 58
kilometres (36 miles) southeast of
the Talaud islands in North
Sulawesi province and had no
potential to trigger a tsunami.
8) Which Indian cricketer made a
memorable international ODI debut
against Australia by taking 3 wickets in
the first ODI match that was played at
WACA Ground in Perth on 12 January
2016? – Barinder Singh Sran
Explanation: Barinder Singh Sran, the
left-handed fast bowler, made a
fabulous one-day international (ODI)
debut for India on 12 January 2016. He
 took three wickets during the match. from defeat as Australia
He took scalps of three top class successfully chased the Indian
batsmen in the form of David Miller, score of 309 for 3 with the help of
Aaron Finch and Australian skipper centuries from Steve Smith and
Steve Smith. It was the first match of George Bailey. Rohit Sharma’s 171
the ODI series between India and not out also went in vain. This was
Australia and was played at Perth’s the highest successful run-chase
WACA Ground. at the WACA.

 However, his fabulous bowling

figure of 3-59 could not save India

January 15, 2016

Explanation: Pradhan Mantri Fasal
Bima Yojna (PMFBY) is the name of the
revamped crop insurance scheme that
was announced by the Union Govt. on
the eve of harvest festivals across the
country on 13 January. It will replace
the National Agriculture Insurance
Scheme (NAIS) and Modified National
1) What is the name given to the new
Agriculture Insurance Scheme
crop insurance scheme that was
(MNAIS).
41 CURRENT AFFAIRS

approved by the Union Govt. on 13

January 2016 that seeks to include
successful aspects of the existing ones
while effectively addressing their
deficiencies? – Pradhan Mantri Fasal
Bima Yojna (PMFBY)
Page
 PMFBY seeks to substantially
reduce the premium paid by
farmers-1.5% on Rabi crops, 2%
on Kharif crops and 5% on
commercial/horticultural crops,
 and reduce delays and leakages in
payment of compensation
through direct transfers into the
bank accounts of farmers. This is
expected to drive up enrolment
under the scheme.
 Under the previous crop insurance
scheme, risks were only partially
covered. The existing premium
rates vary between 2.5% and 3.5%
for Kharif crops and 1.5% for Rabi
crops-but the coverage was
capped, meaning farmers could,
at best, recover a fraction of their
losses. Also, the premium for
commercial and horticulture crops
was calculated on actuarial basis,
meaning premiums could be as
high as 25% depending on the risk
factor involved.
 The Centre and States will equally
share the estimated expenditure
of Rs. 8,000 crore as premium for
PMFBY. Currently, the Centre pays
about Rs. 3,000 crore as premium.
42 CURRENT AFFAIRS
2) Which state became the first organic
state in India, as announced by the
state government on 14 January 2016?
– Sikkim
Page
Explanation: Sikkim on 14 January
claimed that it has become India’s first
fully organic state by implementing
organic practices on around 75,000
hectares of agricultural land. Sikkim
Organic Mission’s executive director
Anbalagan claimed that the state has
achieved this milestone by
implementing organic practices on
state’s agricultural land.
 Under this mission, around 75,000
hectares of agricultural land was
gradually converted to certified
organic land by implementing
organic practices and principles as
per guidelines laid down in
National Programme for Organic
Production (NPOP).
 It was 12 years ago in 2003 when
the Pawan Chamling-led
government decided to make
Sikkim an organic farming state
through a declaration in the
legislative assembly. Later the
entry of chemical inputs for
farmland was restricted and their
sale banned. Farmers therefore
had no option but to go organic.
Organic cultivation is free of
chemical pesticides and chemical
fertilizers as it tries to strike a
 harmonious balance with a new year period after threats
complex series of ecosystems. from the IS.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi
will formally announce this at a
sustainable agriculture conference
in capital Gangtok on 18 January
2016.

3) Which Southeast Asian city

witnessed a series of bomb blasts in
the morning of 14 January 2016
resulting in death of 7 people including
4 attackers? – Jakarta
Explanation: A series of bomb
explosions and gunfire were reported
in central district of Indonesian capital
Jakarta on 14 January 2016. The blasts
were centered around Thamrin Street,
a major shopping and business district
close to foreign embassies and the
United Nations offices. At least seven
people, five attackers and two civilians
(an Indonesian and a Canadian), were
killed and 23 others were injured in the
43 CURRENT AFFAIRS
4) India’s Sania Mirza and her Swiss
partner Martina Hingis on 14 January
2016 broke a 22-year-old world record
by winning their 29th women’s doubles
match in a row. This feat was achieved
en route to their entry into the
women’s doubles final of the WTA
Sydney International, in Sydney.
Whose record Mirza and Hingis have
broken? – Natasha Zvereva (Belarus)
and Gigi Fernandez (Puerto Rico)
Explanation: The World No. 1 pair of
Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis broke
the 22-year old record of Natasha
Zvereva and Gigi Fernandez after

attack. winning against Romanian Raluca

Olaru and Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava
 Later the Islamic State (IS) claimed
Shvedova by 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 in a closely-
responsibility for this attack.
fought semifinal on 14 January.
Indonesia has been attacked by
Islamist militant groups in the past
Page

and was on high alert over the

  Natasha Zvereva and Gigi
Fernandez had made this record
in 1994 when they continued their
winning spree for 28 matches.
 The Indo-Swiss pair has continued
their good show from 2015 when
they won 9 titles which included
the Wimbledon, US Open and the
year-ending WTA finals.
5) Microsoft Corp. came out with
major announcement with regard to
its Internet browser application
‘Internet Explorer’ (IE) on 12 January
2016? – It officially closed the support
for IE 8, 9, and 10 from this date
Explanation: US software giant
Microsoft on 12 January finally decided
44 CURRENT AFFAIRS
to kill off its older versions of Internet
January 16, 2016
Page
Explorer by ending the support for
Internet Explorer versions 8, 9, and 10.
End of support means there will be no
more security updates, non-security
updates, free or paid assisted support
options, or online technical content
updates.
 Use of these older versions of
Internet Explorer has been in
decline for years. These older
versions of IE will of course still be
useable, but after 12 January, they
will receive no support from
Microsoft. Microsoft has advised
Internet Explorer users to upgrade
to either Internet Explorer 11, or
to the still relatively new Edge
browser.
 Internet Explorer had been the
most popular web browser till
some years ago but Google’s
‘Chrome’ slowly changed IE’s
domination. Mozilla, Opera and a
host of other new browsers also
dented IE’s authority.

1) Which bank on 14 January 2016
became the first public sector bank to
launch wealth management services? –
State Bank of India (SBI)
Explanation: SBI launched its wealth
management service called ‘SBI
Exclusif’ on 14 January 2016 at
Bengaluru. This service will be open to
customers with a wealth base of Rs.30
lakh, which may be relaxed to Rs.10-15
lakh if the bank feels the customer has
the potential for scaling up wealth.
Non-resident Indians will be tapped as
well.
 ‘SBI Exclusif’ customers will have
access to a dedicated relationship
manager and a service manager,
45 CURRENT AFFAIRS
supported by a team of
investment experts.
 Initially, three SBI branches in
Bengaluru – Indiranagar,
Koramangala and Central
Bengaluru, will offer Exclusif
Page
services. The bank plans to
expand wealth management to
other cities soon.
 SBI also differentiated its wealth
management services from its
private sector peers by linking
performance incentives for its
relationship managers to
satisfaction of customers and the
maximisation of their wealth.
2) What is the name given to SBI’s first
specialized for catering to the financial
needs of start-ups that was opened on
14 January 2016 in Bengaluru? – ‘SBI
InCube’
Explanation: ‘SBI InCube’ is the name
of the first of the proposed series of
branches that will cater to the specific
financial needs of start-ups in the
country. First ‘SBI InCube’ branch was
opened on 14 January at St. Mark’s
Road in Bengaluru.
 The branch will assist start-ups in
cash management, taxation,
regulations, foreign exchange and
remittances, mentoring, and other
financial services’ needs.
 However, InCube, in its current prospective customers to upload
form, will not fund start-ups. know your customer (KYC) and
 SBI has tied up with investors like income documents to receive a
chairman of Manipal Global final approval on their home loan
Education Services and Aarin applications within eight working
Capital T.V. Mohandas Pai, co- hours.
founder and ex-chief executive of
Infosys Ltd Nandan Nilekani and
software product think tank iSpirt
to help mentor and connect start-
ups.

4) The 12th and the latest battalion of

3) Which private sector bank on 14
the National Disaster Response Force
January 2016 claimed to have become
(NDRF), was made operational on 15
the first private sector bank in India to
January 2016. This newest NDRF
cross Rs. 1 lakh crore mark in mortgage
battalion has been established at –
disbursals? –ICICI Bank
Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh)
Explanation: India’s largest private-
Explanation: The 12th battalion of the
sector bank ICICI Bank’s mortgage
National Disaster Response Force in
disbursals have crossed the Rs1 trillion
Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) from 15
(Rs. 1 lakh crore) mark recently, as was
January 2016. NDRF will initially use
claimed by the bank on 14 January.
land of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
Bank also claimed that its home loan is
in Itanagar and will soon submit a
growing at about 25% on a year-on-
46 CURRENT AFFAIRS

proposal to purchase land worth Rs. 33

year basis.
crore from the Arunachal Pradesh
 The bank’s average ticket size for government.
home loans is at aboutRs.35-36
 NDRF is an Indian police force
lakh. ICICI bank also launched
constituted for the purpose of
‘Express Home Loans’ – a web-
Page

specialist response to a
based portal that allows
 threatening disaster situation or  The Empowered Committee of
disaster under the National Secretaries headed by P.K. Sinha
Disaster Management Act will function as a screening
(NDMA), 2005. committee to process the
 NDRF’s existing battalions are at – recommendations with regard to
1) Ghaziabad, UP 2) Bhatinda, all relevant factors of the Pay
Punjab 3) Kolkata, West Bengal 4) Commission.
Guwahati, Assam 5) Mundali,
Odisha 6) Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu
7) Pune, Maharashtra 8)
6) On 14 January 2016 which two new
Gandhinagar, Gujarat 9) Patna,
members were included in the recently
Bihar 10) Vijayawada, Andhra
constituted Shyam Benegal Committee
Pradesh 11) Varanasi, UP and 12)
to look holistically into the functioning
Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
of the controversy-ridden Central
Board of Film Certification (CBFC)? –
Kamal Haasan andGautam Ghosh
5) The Union cabinet on 13 January
Explanation: Actor-director Kamal
2016 approved setting up of an
Haasan and film-maker Gautam Ghosh
empowered committee of secretaries
were included in the Shyam Benegal
to devise a process for the
Committee by the Union Govt. on 14
implementation of the 7th Central Pay
January 2016. With these new
Commission (CPC) recommendations.
inclusions the said committee has
Who will head this committee? – P.K.
become a six-member committee.
Sinha, Cabinet Secretary

Explanation: The 7th CPC, in its report  These new members were
47 CURRENT AFFAIRS

released on 19 November 2016, had included in the committee as it

proposed a 23.55% increase in
emoluments for 4.7 million
government employees and 5.2 million
pensioners, potentially providing an
impetus to the consumer economy.
Page
was felt that more regions of the
country should be given
representation on the committee.
 The Union Information and
Broadcasting Ministry had set up

the panel on 1 January 2016 to

 take a relook at the functioning of
the CBFC. Apart from Shyam
Benegal, other members of the
committee are film-maker
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra,
January 17-18, 2016
Other major announcements under
“Start-Up Mission”:
1) Union Government kick-started its
ambitious “Start-Up Mission” with
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
announcing a host of measures for
start-ups at the inaugural session of
the Start-Up India programme held at
Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on 16
January 2016. In a huge onus to the
start-ups, how many year of tax
exemption was announced? – 3 years
48 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Explanation: Prime Minister Narendra
Modi announced tax exemption of 3
year for start-ups, which was a much-
sought after demand from the start-up
fraternity. Start-ups set up after 1 April
2016, shall be exempted from income-
Page
tax for a period of three years.
advertising veteran Piyush Pandey
and film journalist Bhawana
Somayaa.
 Establishment of a Start-up India
Hub that would be a set-up and a
friend, mentor and guide for start-
ups through their entire journey
 Fast track mechanisms of start-up
patent applications
 A credit guarantee mechanism
through National Credit
Guarantee Trust Company
(NCGTC) and SIDBI to be rolled out
with a budgetary corpus of Rs. 500
crore per year for the next four
years
 Introduction of compliance regime
based on self-certification for
start-ups
 Faster exits for start-ups (Start-
ups, who have simple debt
structures, can be allowed to wind
up within a period of 90 days after
filing an application)
  Facility of starting a start-up in a
day through mobile app
 Norms of public procurement for
start-ups to be relaxed
 Establishment of 35 new
incubators in institutions for start-
ups
2) The United States took which
historic and defining decision
pertaining to Iran on 16 January 2016?
– It officially lifted nuclear sanctions
against Iran on this day
Explanation: On 16 January Secretary
of State John Kerry confirmed in a
statement that the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had
verified that Iran had fully
implemented its required
49 CURRENT AFFAIRS
commitments under the Nuclear deal.
 After this, U.S. President Barack
Obama signed an executive order
lifting sanctions on Iran related to
its nuclear. Lifting of sanctions
Page
allows Iran to immediately recoup
some $100 billion in assets frozen
overseas. Iran will also see huge
benefits from new oil, trade and
financial opportunities after
Western sanctions against it are
lifted.
 Before this, the two countries also
swapped long-held prisoners. Five
US citizens, including a
Washington Post reporter, Jason
Rezaian, were being flown out of
Iran on a Swiss aircraft right after
the nuclear accord was
implemented.
3) Northern India’s first permanent
exhibition on nuclear power – ‘Hall of
Nuclear Power’, was inaugurated on 16
January 2016 at which place? – New
Delhi
Explanation: ‘Hall of Nuclear Power’ is
the name of Northern India’s first
permanent exhibition on nuclear
power that was inaugurated on 16
January 2016 at the National Science
Centre (NSC) in New Delhi.
 With the setting up of “Hall of
Nuclear Power” in New Delhi, it
will become possible to showcase
 all the great achievements and
milestones achieved by India’s
nuclear programme in the last 60
years in the national capital
region.
 Similar permanent exhibitions
(galleries) on nuclear power have
also been built at Nehru Science
Centre, Mumbai and Tamil Nadu
Science and Technology Science
Centre, Chennai.
4) Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank (AIIB), the new international
finance institution that aims to support
the building of infrastructure in the
Asia-Pacific region, was formally
launched by Chinese President Xi
Jinping in Beijing on 16 January 2016.
50 CURRENT AFFAIRS
AIIB is being seen as a rival to the US-
led World Bank. Who was formally
elected as the first President of AIIB? –
Jin Liqun
Explanation: The AIIB was proposed by
China in 2013 and the initiative was
Page
unveiled at a ceremony in Beijing in
October 2014. China has the highest
shares (30.34%) and voting rights
(26.06%) in this bank as it seeks to
change the unwritten rules of global
development finance. India is the
second largest shareholder (8.52%)
and voting stake holder (7.51%) in this
entity.
 Despite opposition from
Washington, US allies including
Australia, Britain, German, Italy,
the Philippines and South Korea
have agreed to join the AIIB in
recognition of China’s growing
economic clout. The AIIB is
expected to lend $10-15 billion a
year for the first five or six years.
 The AIIB will require projects to be
legally transparent and protect
social and environmental
interests, but it will not force
borrowers to adopt the kind of
free-market practices allegedly
favoured by the IMF. AIIB’s
headquarters have been
established at Beijing.
5) What significant trend in Haryana’s
sex ratio was witnessed during
 December 2015, as disclosed by the
State Govt. on 16 January 2016? –
State’s sex ratio crossed 900 mark for
the first time in a decade
Explanation: Haryana Chief Minister
Manohar Lal Khattar on 16 January
claimed that the sex ratio at birth for
December 2015 has crossed the 900
mark with 903 girls per 1,000 boys.
This was first time in 10 years that
state’s sex ratio has shown an upward
trend.
 According to the CM, while 12
districts in the state have
recorded sex ratio above the 900
mark in December 2015, district
Sirsa tops the list with sex ratio of
999 girls per 1,000 boys.
 Haryana has had the dubious
record of being the worst among
states in sex ratio with just 879
females per 1,000 males. Out of
the 100 worst districts in India for
sex ratio, Haryana accounts for 12
districts.
51 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Page
6) Which team the Premier Badminton
League title for 2016 on 17 January
2016? – Delhi Acers
Explanation: Delhi Acers defeated
Mumbai Rockets by 4-3 in the finals of
the second edition of Premier
Badminton League (PBL) played at Siri
Fort Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on
17 January 2016 to win its maiden PBL
title.
 Tommy Sugiarto, men’s doubles
pair of Koo Kien Keat and Tan
Boon Heong and Rajiv Ouseph
won their respective matches for
Delhi Acers and pocketed a
winner’s cheque of Rs 3 crores.
For Mumbai Rockets mixed
doubles pair of Kamilla Juhl and
Vladimir Ivanov and China’s Han Li
won their matches.
 In the deciding match, which was
Delhi’s Trump match, 2010
Commonwealth Games silver
medallist Rajiv Ouseph took the
court against RMV Gurusaidutt
and he took Delhi across the line
by grabbing two points with a 15-
11, 15-6 win over the Indian in the
last match of the day.
 This was the first PBL title for
Delhi Acers, owned by Infinite
 Computer Solutions. The first founded in 2013. It is a franchisee
edition of PBL (2013) was won by league managed and
Hyderabad Hotshots. PBL was commercially owned by the
earlier known as Indian Badminton Association of India
Badminton League (IBL) when (BAI).

January 19, 2016

Explanation: The khesari dal was
banned in 1961, after its consumption
was linked to a neurological disorder
called lathyrism (paralysis in the legs).

 An RTI filed by a leading

newspaper to the Indian Council
1) In an important development a
of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has
research panel headed by the Indian
confirmed that the proposal to lift
Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
the ban has been communicated
during 2015 cleared the consumption
to the Food Safety and Standards
52 CURRENT AFFAIRS

of khesari dal (pulse) 55 years after it

Authority of India (FSSAI).
was banned. Khesari dal, considered
 Khesari (Lathyrus odoratus) is a
the poor man’s dal due to its low cost,
hardy pulse crop that can grow in
was banned because it was linked with
both drought as well as
which neurological disorder? –
waterlogged conditions.
Lathyrism (paralysis of leg)
Page
  Earlier studies on khesari dal had of TDS rates. Who headed this
confirmed that it produced a toxin committee? –Justice R.V. Easwar
called BAPN or beta-amino-
Explanation: Justice R.V. Easwar
propio-nitrile, which, when
committee was constituted by the
ingested, causes limb paralysis
Union Govt. on 27 October 2015 with
and bone deformity, the result of
the primary objective of simplifying the
a neurological disorder called
provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
lathyrism.
The committee submitted the first
 However, agricultural scientists
batch of its recommendations during
like Dr. Shantilal Kothari, have
January 2016.
contended for decades that
khesari dal is absolutely safe for Important Recommendations:
consumption.
 Doubling the turnover limit for the
 It is worth mentioning that khesari
presumptive income scheme for
dal’s biggest advantages are that
individual, Hindu Undivided
it gives 10-12 quintals per hectare
Family or a partnership firm to Rs.
yields even in the harshest
2 crore annually from the current
environment and can mature
Rs. 1 crore.
within 125 days.
 Introducing the scheme for
professionals whose total receipts
do not exceed ₹ 1 crore during the
financial year
 Tax relief for new businesses in
the first year of operations
 Rationalization of the structure of
53 CURRENT AFFAIRS

2) The first draft of the expert tax deducted at source (TDS)

committee constituted to simplify the
Income Tax Act, 1961 was released
during January 2016. The committee
3) The Torch Relay of the 12th South
has proposed a slew of
Asian Games, 2016 was held at Major
recommendations including tax relief
Page

Dhyan Chand National Stadium on 17

for new businesses and rationalisation
 January 2016. These Games will be mentioned that over the last decade
hosted during February 2016 at which 16 players of tennis, who have ranked
places in India? – Guwahati and in the top 50, have been repeatedly
Shillong flagged to the Tennis Integrity Unit
(TIU) over suspicions they were
Explanation: India is hosting the
involved in throwing their matches. It
12th South Asian Games, 2016 in
claimed that all of the players,
Guwahati and Shillong from 5 February
including winners of Grand Slam titles,
to 16 February 2016. Athletes from
were allowed to continue competing
eight member countries namely,
despite these findings.
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri  The report also claimed that eight
Lanka will participate in these Games. of the players flagged to the TIU
over the last decade are due to
 The South Asian Games (SAG) is a
play in the Australian Open.
biennial multinational multi-sport
 This report was released on the
event held amongst the athletes
eve of the Australian Open, the
from South Asia and being
first Grand Slam tournament of
organized in the similar format of
the season, which started in
Olympics, Asian Games, and
Melbourne on 18 January 2016.
Commonwealth Games (CWG).
 However, ATP, the most
prominent professional authority,
rejected these reports.
4) Which sport came under a huge
shadow after the BBC and BuzzFeed
News on 17 January 2016 claimed to
54 CURRENT AFFAIRS

have seen secret files exposing

evidence of widespread suspected
corruption at the top level of this
sport? – Tennis
5) Who was appointed as the new
Explanation: The BBC and BuzzFeed
Chief Executive Officer & Managing
Page

News claimed that the secret files

 Director of Tata Motors on 18 January  Butschek’s last assignment was at
2016? – Guenter Butschek Airbus Group where he served as
CEO and Member of the Group
Explanation: Selection of Guenter
Executive Committee. Prior to
Butschek as Tata Motors’ new Chief
Airbus, Butschek worked at
Executive Officer (CEO) & Managing
Daimler AG for more than 25
Director (MD) ended long search for a
years in international automotive
suitable candidate for the post. He will
management, leading functions
lead all operations of Tata Motors in
like production, industrialization
India and in international markets
and procurement.
including South Korea, Thailand,
Indonesia and South Africa.

January 20-21, 2016

the Satish Dhawan Space Centre
(SDSC), Sriharikota (AP) in the morning
of 20 January 2016.

 This satellite was the 5th satellite

1) What is the name of the fifth
satellite of the Indian Regional
55 CURRENT AFFAIRS
to be launched under the Indian
Regional Navigation Satellite
System (IRNSS) series that seeks
to establish a regional navigation

Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) satellite system on the lines of the

series that was successfully launched
by ISRO from Sriharikota on 20 January
2016? –IRNSS-1E
Explanation: IRNSS-1E was launched
Page
Global Positioning System (GPS) of
the United States.
 IRNSS, an independent regional
navigation satellite system, is

designed to provide accurate

successfully by PSLV-C31 rocket from
 position information service to
users in India as well as the region
extending up to 1,500 km from its
boundary.
 The four earlier satellites
launched under the IRNSS series
were IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C and 1D,
which were launched by PSLV-
C22, PSLV-C24, PSLV-C26 and
PSLV-C27 in July 2013, April 2014,
October 2014 and March 2015
respectively.
 Successful establishment of IRNSS
will reduce India’s dependency on
the United States’ Global
Positioning System (GPS) and
other networks.
2) What is the name of the university
situated in Pakistan’s volatile
56 CURRENT AFFAIRS
northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
province that was targeted by a group
of militants on 20 January 2016
resulting in death of at least 21
persons? – Bacha Khan University
Page
Explanation: Bacha Khan University
situated in Charsadda in northwestern
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of
Pakistan was the site of a terrorist
attack on 20 January 2016. According
to media reports, a group of militants
stormed the university using the cover
of thick fog before opening fire on
students and teachers in classrooms
and hostels.
 At least 21 persons, including a
university professor, were killed in
the attack. Later security forces
secured the university premises
and killed 4 militants involved in
the attack. Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan (TTP), a banned Islamic
terrorist organisation, claimed
responsibility for the attack. TTP
was also responsible for the attack
on Army Public School in
Peshawar in 2014.
 Bacha Khan University is named
after Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, the
great peace activist and leader,
who was popularly known as
Bacha Khan (or Badshah Khan).
 institutions, such as Exim Bank,
NACAS, NHB and SIDBI.
 However, urban cooperative
banks (UCBs) and regional rural
banks (RRBs) are not required to
apply Ind AS and can continue to
3) The Union Govt. on 19 January 2016
comply with the existing
announced the much-awaited
standards for the present.
roadmap for implementing the Indian
 The roadmap for Ind AS is being
Accounting Standards (Ind AS) by
implemented as a follow-up of the
banks, insurers and non-banking
announcement made by Finance
finance companies (NBFCs). When Ind
Minister Arun Jaitley in Budget
AS has been proposed to be
2015-16.
introduced in India? – From 1 April
2018

Explanation: Indian Accounting

Standards (Ind AS) are a set of
accounting standards developed by
Indian authorities, which converge
with the International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS). 4) The Supreme Court on 19 January
2016 stopped the Union Govt. from
 According to the roadmap
divesting its remaining stake in which
announced on 19 January,
PSU entity questioning government’s
scheduled commercial banks
apparent hurry in this disinvestment? –
(excluding regional rural banks)
Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL)
57 CURRENT AFFAIRS

and insurers will be required to

prepare Ind AS-based financial
statements for accounting periods
beginning 1 April 2018. The
roadmap would also apply to all-
India term-lending refinancing
Page
Explanation: Union Govt. was planning
to divest its 29% share in the erstwhile
public sector unit Hindustan Zinc Ltd
(HZL), which is now a subsidiary of
Vedanta. HZL deals in strategic
 minerals such as zinc and copper and
was first divested to Vedanta in 2003.
 The SC bench led by Chief Justice
TS Thakur insisted on status quo in
the Hindustan Zinc disinvestment,
while advising the government
against bowing out of HZL. The
court made it clear that the
restraint was not meant as a
roadblock for Vedanta’s
operations in HZL, but only a
pause on the government’s plans
to sell its residual stake till the
court finally decides on the issue.
 The petition against HZL
disinvestment was brought by
National Confederation of
Officers’ Associations of Central
Public Sector Undertakings, which
alleged violations of law in the
first disinvestment.
58 CURRENT AFFAIRS
January 22, 2016
Page
5) Bihar State Government gave its
approval to how much reservation for
women in state government jobs on 19
January 2016, which was a key poll
promise of Chief Minister Nitish
Kumar? – 35%
Explanation: The crucial decision to
provide 35% reservation for women in
all kinds of state government jobs was
approved at a Cabinet meeting held on
19 January.
 The decision thus marked Chief
Minister Nitish Kumar’s first big
step in this direction in nearly 10
years after unveiling 50%
reservation for women in
panchayat and local body polls in
2006. He had frequently referred
to his promise of reservation for
women during the bitterly fought
2015 Assembly elections.

1) Data from US space agency NASA
and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
showed that 2015 was the hottest year
on record globally. What was an
important fact associated with 2015
with regard to global warming? – Year
2015’s global average temperature
was the hottest ever by the widest
margin on record
Explanation: The data of NASA and
NOAA showed that in 2015, the
average temperature across global
land and ocean surfaces was 1.62
degrees Fahrenheit (0.90 Celsius)
above the 20th century average,
surpassing 2014’s previous record by
0.29 F (0.16 C).
 This was the fourth time a global
59 CURRENT AFFAIRS
temperature record has been set
this century, NASA and NOAA said
in a summary of their annual
report.
 The sharp increase in 2015 was
driven in part by El Niño, a natural
Page
weather cycle in the Pacific that
warms the ocean surface every
two to seven years.
 But scientists say human activities,
notably burning fossil fuels, were
the main driver behind the rise.
2) An advisory committee set up by the
capital markets regulator SEBI on
alternative funds industry released its
report on 20 January 2016. The
committee has suggested a slew of tax
reforms and changes in existing laws to
facilitate capital-raising by alternative
investment funds (AIFs) and boost
entrepreneurship. Who lead this 21-
member committee? – N.R. Narayana
Murthy
Explanation: The committee formed
by the Securities and Exchange Board
of India (SEBI) and headed by Infosys
founder N.R. Narayana Murthy put out
a report on 20 January 2016. It
primarily suggested ways to create a
favourable tax environment for
investors.
 The committee also addressed
how to unlock domestic sources
of venture capital and private
equity and other funds for AIFs;
enable and encourage onshore
 fund management in India; and
reform the AIF regulatory regime
to facilitate and optimize
investments by AIFs.
 The 21-member panel
recommended that the
government introduce a securities
transaction tax (STT) on all
distributions (gross) of AIFs,
investment, short-term gains and
other income and eliminate any
withholding of tax.
 AIFs, or money collected from
high net-worth investors to invest
primarily in unlisted securities and
start-ups to promote
entrepreneurship, more than
doubled during the past year,
outpacing traditional investment
vehicles such as mutual funds and
market-linked insurance products.
60 CURRENT AFFAIRS
3) Legendary danseuse and Padma
Bhushan recipient Mrinalini Sarabhai
passed away in Ahmedabad on 21
January 2016 at the age of 97. She was
Page
the wife of which noted Indian
scientist? – Dr Vikram Sarabhai
Explanation: Mrinalini Sarabhai was
one of the most famous dance
exponents in India, having been
trained in various art forms like
Bharatnatyam, Kathakali and
Mohiniattam by some of the most
prominent dance gurus of her time.
 Besides being a classical dancer,
she was a poet, writer and
environmentalist. She founded
the Darpana Academy of
Performing Arts, an institute for
dance, drama, music and
puppetry, in Ahmedabad. She was
one of the first classical dancers to
turn to choreography.
 She married the architect of
India’s space programme, Late Dr.
Vikram Sarabhai.
 Mrinalini is survived by daughter
Mallika and son Kartikey, founder
of Ahmedabad-based Centre for
Environment Education (CEE).
4) During January 2016 the state of
Kerala was officially declared the 1st
 state in the country to achieve 100%
primary education. A huge role in this
achievement was made by Kerala
literacy mission’s primary education
equivalency drive. What is the name of
this drive? – ‘Athulyam’
Explanation: Athulyam is the name of
the special education equivalency drive
of Kerala State Literacy Mission (KSLM)
that was launched in October 2014.
 As per the scheme, the literacy
mission identified people who had
not completed their primary
education. They were given five
months of training, enabling them
to attend the fourth equivalency
examination.
 Accordingly, the literacy mission
enrolled two lakh people into
‘Athulyam’, and gave them a
fourth equivalency programme, in
a year.
5) The book titled ‘The Z Factor’, which
61 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Explanation: ‘The Z Factor: My Journey
as the Wrong Man at the Right Time’ is
the name of the autobiography of
Subhash Chandra, the founder of the
multi-million Zee Group. This
autobiography has been written along
with Pranjal Sharma and is published
by HarperCollins India. It was released
by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on
20 January.
 The book was officially launched
at the ‘ZEE Jaipur Literature
Festival’ on 21 January.
 Subhash Chandra’s Zee TV, India’s
first private satellite Hindi channel
launched in 1992, changed the
rules of the game and tickled the
fancy of a public starved of
entertainment.
 Today Zee is a household TV
media brand, running
entertainment, news and sports
channels. The other businesses
include DNA (newspaper), Siti
Cable (MSO), Dish TV (DTH),
entertainment parks (EsselWorld

was released by Prime Minister and Water Kingdom), online

Narendra Modi on 20 January 2016, is gaming (Playwin) and
the autobiography of which noted infrastructure development.
personality? – Subhash
Chandra (Founder of Zee Group)
Page
 January 23, 2016
1) What is the name of the new state-
of-the-art superfast express train
between Varanasi and New Delhi that
was flagged-off by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi at a function held at
Varanasi on 22 January 2016? –
Mahamana Express
Explanation: The train has been
named Mahamana Express after
Mahamana Madan Mohan Malviya,
the founder of the Banaras Hindu
University (BHU). It will run between
Varanasi and Delhi via Lucknow thrice
62 CURRENT AFFAIRS
a week.
 The train, whose fares are 15%
higher than normal fares, has
improved aesthetic and
ergonomics in all its coaches,
Page
besides modular panels without
visible screws and minimum
maintenance hatches inside
passenger area for better safety
and aesthetics. Superior material
for panels in terms of toxicity
index and fire retardation has
been used for the interiors.
 The train would leave Varanasi for
New Delhi on Tuesday, Thursday
and Saturday at 6.35 pm and
reach Delhi at 8.25 the next
morning. The train would run
thrice a week on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday from New
Delhi at 6.35 pm and would arrive
at Varanasi the next morning at
8.25.
2) What is the maximum capped
number of credit transactions in a
 calendar year for pensioner’s account
as directed to the banks by the RBI on
21 January 2016? – 14
Explanation: The Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) on 21 January 2016 directed
banks that a pensioner’s account
should not exceed more than 14 credit
transactions in a calendar year for
retirement and arrear payments.
 It is worth mentioning that the
agency banks are compensated
at Rs.65 per transaction for
handling pension computation,
payment and related services on
behalf of central and state
governments.
 However, it came to RBI’s notice
that banks are apportioning
payment of arrears on account of
dearness relief (DR) or delay in
start of pension month-wise,
which is resulting in inflated
agency commission claims.
 14 credit transactions include one
monthly credit for payment of net
63 CURRENT AFFAIRS
pension and a maximum of two
per year for payment of arrears on
account of increase in DR.
Page
3) The 10th edition of bilateral maritime
exercise named ‘Naseem Al Bahr’
started at Goa in the Arabian Sea on 22
January 2016. This naval exercise
comprises of ……….. apart from India –
Oman
Explanation: ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ is the
name of the bilateral maritime
exercise between the Indian Navy and
the Royal Navy of Oman that was
started in 1993. The exercise
epitomizes the strong long term
strategic relationship between the two
countries.
 The primary aim of this exercise is
to increase interoperability
amongst the two navies and
develop common understanding
and procedures for maritime
security operations.
 10th edition of ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ is
being held from 22 January to 27
January 2016 in two stages at
Arabian Sea. The first stage will be
Harbour Phase (22 – 24 January)
at Goa and the second stage will
 be Sea Phase (24 – 27 January among the teams from Ranji
2016) off Goa. Trophy. It was first played in 2008-
 Indian Navy is represented by INS 09.
Trikand and INS Trishul while the
Royal Navy of Oman is
represented by RNOV Al-Shamikh,
a Corvette and RNOV Al-Seeb, a
fast attack craft.
5) Which personalities were chosen as
the new brand ambassadors for Indian
Government’s ‘Incredible India’
4) Which team won the Syed Mushtaq
campaign, as reported on 21 January
Ali Trophy T20 title for 2015-16 by
2016? –Amitabh Bachchan and
winning the final played on 20 January
Priyanka Chopra
2016? – Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: Actors Amitabh Bachchan
Explanation: Suresh Raina-led Uttar
and Priyanka Chopra were chosen as
Pradesh brushed Baroda aside to win
the new brand ambassadors of the
their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
‘Incredible India’ campaign to market
by 38 runs on 20 January.
the country to tourists abroad. They
 Having made the final in 2013-14, will replace actor Aamir Khan, who was
the UP team was hungry to put its the face of the campaign for around a
name on the trophy. After winning decade.
the toss the two-time champions
 The selection of the two actors
Baroda elected to field. Uttar
follows the Centre’s decision to
Pradesh made 163 runs for the
discontinue the contract of actor
64 CURRENT AFFAIRS

loss of 7 wickets. In reply Baroda

Aamir Khan, who had allegedly
could muster just 125 runs in the
angered the BJP-led government
stipulated 20 overs for the loss of
with his remarks on perceived
7 wickets.
intolerance in the country.
 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a T20
cricket domestic championship in
Page

India, organized by the BCCI,

 January 24-25, 2016
1) India’s first high speed public Wi-Fi
service was opened at which railway
station on 22 January 2016? – Mumbai
Central
Explanation: India’s first high speed
public Wi-Fi service was inaugurated
by Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu at
Mumbai Central Railway station on 22
January 2016. This free internet
initiative has been setup by RailTel
Corporation in association with
Google.
 After the inauguration of Wi-Fi
service, Mumbai Central station
65 CURRENT AFFAIRS
has gained the distinguished
status of being the first ever
station in India to have high–
speed internet facility for its
thousands of passengers who
Page
travel everyday by trains.
 The project was announced last
September when Prime Minister
Narendra Modi visited Google
headquarters in Silicon Valley.
2) Union Finance Ministry on 22
January 2016 announced that country-
by-country reporting for Indian
multinationals will be made
compulsory from 1 April 2016. The
provision for changes in pertaining
laws will be done in the upcoming
budget. This change in the so-called
base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS)
guidelines is being done to fulfill the
guidelines prescribed by which
international entity? – Organization
for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD)
Explanation: The norms were
announced in October last year by the
rich nations’ club Organization for
Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) to close tax
loopholes that it estimated cost
countries upwards of $100 billion a
year.
  The government’s move will
impact all Indian companies with
significant cross-border
operations and with an annual
consolidated global revenue of
more than €750 million
(around Rs.5,500 crore) , i.e., the
threshold prescribed by the OECD
which India plans to adopt.
 These norms will have to be
followed by Indian companies
from the financial year that begins
on 1 April 2016.
3) What is the name of the famous
Chinese investor and real-estate
tycoon who announced his plans to
invest $10 billion in an industrial park
66 CURRENT AFFAIRS
in Haryana? – Wang Jianlin
Explanation: Wang Jianlin is the
Chairman of the Dalian Wanda group.
The group claims to be the largest real
estate developer in China with
Page
ownership of the largest number of
6,000 cinema screens across the world.
 Dalian Wanda group will invest
$10 billion to develop a
comprehensive industrial park at
Kharkhoda in Sonipat (Haryana) to
be known as ‘Wanda Industrial
New City’. A preliminary
agreement was signed between
the Wanda Group and Haryana
State Industrial and Infrastructure
Development Corporation
(HSIIDC) on 22 January 2016.
 The first phase of the city will
come up over an area of
approximately 13 sq km.
4) Which Indian badminton player won
the women’s singles title of Malaysia
Masters Grand Prix Gold tournament
on 24 January 2016? – P.V. Sindhu
Explanation: Two-time World
Championship bronze-medallist,
India’s P.V. Sindhu won the women’s
singles title of Malaysia Masters Grand
 Prix Gold tournament by defeating supreme body for framing policies
Kristy Gilmour of Scotland in the finals related to direct taxes.
on 24 January 2016.

 Sindhu defeated Gilmour in

straight games by 21-15, 21-9
clash to clinch her fifth Grand Prix
Gold title. This was her second
Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold
title, having won it in 2013 as well.
6) Which West Indian cricketing great
officially retired from international
cricket on 22 January 2016, almost 22
5) Who was appointed as the new
years after his international cricket
Chairman of the Central Board of
debut? – Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Direct Taxes (CBDT) on 22 January
2016? – Atulesh Jindal Explanation: West Indies batsman
Shivnarine Chanderpaul officially
Explanation: Atulesh Jindal is a senior
retired from international cricket on 22
officer of the Indian Revenue Service
January 2016. He announced his
(IRS). His appointed as the next
retirement seven months after
Chairman of the Central Board of
selectors opted to discard the veteran
Direct Taxes (CBDT) was cleared by
and push for a youth-oriented policy.
Appointments Committee of Cabinet
He was dumped before the home
(ACC) on 22 January.
series against Australia in June 2015.
 Jindal will have tenure of around 6
 Chanderpaul made his test debut
months till his retirement in July
67 CURRENT AFFAIRS

against England in 1994 and went

2016. He replaces Arun Kumar
on to amass 11,867 runs at an
Jain who completed his term.
average of 51.37 in his 164 tests
 CBDT is the highest policy making
for the Caribbean side. His total is
entity of Income Tax department
the seventh highest of all time,
(IT Department) in India and is the
and he finished behind Brian
Page
 Lara’s 11,953 as the second most
prolific West Indian batsman.
 He scored 30 test centuries and 66
half centuries and had a high
score of 203 not out. He also
January 26-27, 2016
1) The country celebrated the
67th Republic Day on 26 January 2016
with the main function being held at
capital New Delhi’s imposing Rajpath.
A slice of country’s military might and
culture was displayed at this annual
parade. Who was the Chief Guest of
the Republic Day Parade? – French
President Francois Hollande
68 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Explanation: French President Francois
Hollande was the Chief Guest of the
67th Republic Day held on 26 January.
India’s military prowess and diverse
cultural heritage were on display
at this parade.
Page
scored 8,778 runs in 268 one-day
internationals at 41.60.
 To mark the presence of French
President, a 76-member French
Army contingent led by a French
military band comprising 48
musicians, marched at the Rajpath
and presented a ceremonial salute
to the President of India. The
contingent is the 35th infantry
regiment, has been active since
1604.
 Prior to the commencement of
the parade, Prime Minister Modi
lead the nation in paying tributes
to martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyoti,
the monument that symbolizes
the martyred soldiers.
 2) Who was chosen for the nation’s
highest peacetime gallantry
award Ashoka Chakra, as announced
on 25 January 2016 on the eve of the
67th Republic Day? – Lance Naik
Mohan Nath Goswami (Posthumous)
Explanation: Lance Naik Mohan Nath
Goswami of 9 Para (Special
Forces)/6th Battalion of the Rashtriya
Rifles was conferred with the Ashoka
Chakra (posthumously) for his act of
bravery against terrorists during
September 2015 in Jammu and
Kashmir.
 Mohan Nath Goswami was part of
an ambush in Haphruda forest at
Kupwara district of Jammu &
Kashmir against four fierce
terrorists. He not only killed two
terrorists, but also assisted in
neutralizing the other two and
save the lives of three of his
wounded colleagues. He
succumbed to his injuries.
 On the eve of 67th Republic Day,
69 CURRENT AFFAIRS
four Kirti Chakras and 11 Shaurya
Chakras were also announced
apart from numerous other
defence medals.
Page
3) Union Government announced the
name of the 112 awardees of the
Padma Awards on 25 January 2016 on
the eve of the 67thRepublic Day
celebrations. How many personalities
were chosen for the Padma Vibhushan,
which is the second highest civilian
award in India? – Ten
Explanation: This year 112 persons
have been chosen for these prestigious
awards, which comprise of the Padma
Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan and
Padma Sri. 10 persons have been
conferred with the Padma Vibhushan,
19 with the Padma Bhushan and 83
with the Padma Sri.
 10 personalities who were chosen
for the Padma Vibhushan are –
Shri Shri Ravi Shankar (spiritual
leader), Jagmohan (former
bureaucrat and politician), Dr. V.
Shanta (famous
oncologist), Avinash
Dixit (economist and
author), Ramoji Rao(media
entrepreneur), Rajinikant (actor),
Dhirubhai Ambani (Industrialist,
 posthumous), V.K. Aatre (former
DRDO chief), Girija Devi (classical
vocalist) andYamini
Krishnamurthy (Bharatnatyam
and Kuchipudi exponent).
4) Which Act pertaining to tackle
atrocities against the Scheduled
Castes and the Scheduled Tribes of the
country came into effect from 26
January 2016? – The Scheduled
Castes and the Scheduled Tribes
(Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment
Act, 2015
Explanation: The Scheduled Castes and
the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of
Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 is
the name of the act that provides for
stringent action against those
committing atrocities against
Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled
Tribes (ST) communities or indulging in
actions which are derogatory to their
dignity, including social or economic
70 CURRENT AFFAIRS
boycott.
 This Bill pertaining to the Act was
passed by the Rajya Sabha on 21
December 2015 while the Lok
Sabha had passed it earlier on 4
Page
August 2015. It came to effect
from 26 January 2016.
 Under this Act, actions like
tonsuring of head, moustache, or
similar acts which are derogatory
to the dignity of members of SCs
and STs, will now be treated as
offences of atrocities.
 The offences include denying
access to irrigation facilities or
forest rights, “garlanding with
chappals”, compelling them to
dispose or carry human or animal
carcass, or to dig graves, using or
permitting manual scavenging,
dedicating a SC or ST women as
devadasi and abusing in caste
name.
 Presently, only those offences
listed in IPC as attracting
punishment of 10 years or more
and committed on members of
Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe
are accepted as offences.
5) The India-France Business Summit
was held in which city on 24 January
2016 where 16 MoUs and agreements
were exchanged? – Chandigarh
 Explanation: The India-France Business
Summit was held at Chandigarh on 24
January 2016 and was attended by
French President Francois Hollande
and Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi.
6) Shankar Ghosh, the eminent
classical instrumentalist, who passed
away during January 2016 at the age of
80, was associated with which
instrument? – Tabla
January 28, 2016
71 CURRENT AFFAIRS
1) The Union Government on 27
January 2016 approved which new
model to fast-track highway projects in
the country under which the
Page
Explanation: Shankar Ghosh was a
tabla maestro and was associated with
the Farrukhabad gharana of Hindustani
classical music.
 He toured a number of countries
to play solo or with celebrated
classical musicians like sitarists
Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad
Vilayat Khan and violinist Pandit
VG Jog and earned rave reviews.
 His wife Sanjukta Ghosh is a noted
Hindustani classical vocalist
associated with the Patiala
gharana.
government will provide 40% of the
project cost to the developer? –
‘Hybrid Annuity Model’
Explanation: The Cabinet Committee
on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by
the Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
gave its approval for the ‘Hybrid
Annuity Model’ as one of the modes of
delivery for implementing the highway
projects
  Under the ‘Hybrid Annuity Model’
the government will provide 40%
of the project cost to the
developer to start work while the
remaining investment has to be
made by the developer.
 The main objective of this model
is to revive highway projects in
the country by making one more
mode of delivery of highway
project. It is expected that by
adopting the ‘Hybrid Annuity
Model’, all major stakeholders in
the PPP arrangement – the
Authority, lender and the
developer, concessionaire would
have an increased comfort level
resulting in revival of the sector.
72 CURRENT AFFAIRS
2) What is India’s position in Berlin-
based corruption watchdog
Transparency International (TI’s) latest
Corruption Perception Index that was
released on 27 January 2016? – 76 out
Page
of 168 countries
Explanation: India was ranked at
76th position in the latest Corruption
Perception Index that was prepared by
Berlin-based corruption watchdog
Transparency International (TI). India
thus improved its position by 9 places
as it was ranked 85th in last year’s
index.
 The country’s 2015 corruption
perception score, however,
remained the same as last year’s –
38/100 – showing lack of
improvement.
 India shared its rank along with six
other countries: Brazil, Burkina
Faso, Thailand, Tunisia and
Zambia. China fared worse than
India and Brazil at rank 83 with a
score of 37.
 TI also noted that Pakistan is the
only country among the SAARC
countries, to have improved its
score this year, though its rank
remains poor at 117.
 The list was led by Denmark and
followed by two other Nordic
countries Finland and Sweden. On
the other hand Somalia was
placed at the bottom of the list
followed by North Korea and
Afghanistan.

3) What was an important fact
associated with US tech giant Apple
Inc.’s forecasts that were presented by
the company on 26 January 2016? – It
predicted company’s first revenue
drop in 13 years
Explanation: Apple Inc. on 26 January
2016 forecasted its first revenue drop
in 13 years. This forecast came as it
also reported the slowest-ever
increase in iPhone shipments as the
critical Chinese market showed signs of
weakening.
 This forecast thus also that the
technology company’s period of
exponential growth may be
ending.
 The slowdown came as Wall
73 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Street analysts worry that Apple
does not have another
blockbuster product to replace
the iPhone.
Page
4) India was named as the new top
ranked Test team on 26 January 2016
after England completed a 2-1 series
victory over former leaders South
Africa. This was only the second time
in Test cricket history when India was
named No.1 in world. When this
happened first? – August 2011
Explanation: India was ranked No. 1 in
ICC Test rankings for the first time in
August 2011. They were named No.1
Test team for the second time after
England completed a 2-1 series victory
over former No. 1 team South Africa
on 26 January. Australia are in the
second spot while South Africa were
relegated to third spot.
 India had moved to second on the
rankings in December 2015 when
they mauled South Africa 3-0 on
home soil. It was the first time
South Africa had been beaten
away from home in nine years.
 However, Australia can have a go
at the first place in ICC Test
rankings with a series win in the
two-Test Trans-Tasman Trophy
against New Zealand, starting on
12 February 2016.
 5) According to the Financial Times
Global MBA Ranking for 2016, three
Indian institutions were once again
successful in making their presence in
this elite list. Which institutes are
these? – Indian Institute of
Management Ahmedabad (IIMA),
Indian Institute of Management
Bangalore (IIMB) and the Indian
School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad
Explanation: Apart from being able to
make into this elite list, IIMA, IIMB and
ISB were also able to improve upon
their positions on the list from a year
earlier.
 While IIMA, has moved two spots
up to the 24th place, ISB climbed
four steps to be ranked 29th. On
the other hand IIMB jumped from
82nd last year to 62nd this year.
 The first on the list is France’s
INSEAD, for its one-year
programme. It thus joined
Harvard Business School, London
Business School, the Wharton
School, and Stanford Graduate
School of Business, in the elite
club of schools that have reached
the number-one spot. One
important feature of INSEAD
programme is that its fees are
lower than those of the top three
US schools.

January 29, 2016

1) On 28 January 2016 which 20 cities
were chosen for Smart City mission
from a list of 98 cities submitted by
74 CURRENT AFFAIRS

states? – Ahmedabad, Belgaum,

Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chennai,
Coimbatore, Davangere, the New
Delhi area, Guwahati, Indore,
Jabalpur, Jaipur, Kakinada, Kochi,
Page
 Ludhiana, Pune, Solapur, Surat,
Udaipur and Visakhapatnam
Explanation: The list of 20 smart cities
out of the 98 shortlisted for the ‘Smart
Cities Mission’ was released on 28
January 2016. These 20 cities will be
the first to receive funds, thus kick-
starting the process of developing
them into ‘smart cities’.
 The next two years will see the
inclusion of 40 and 38 cities,
respectively.
 These 20 cities were picked from a
list of 98 cities submitted by states
during a competition last year
(2015). All states were asked to
give their choices, which were
judged on service levels,
infrastructure and track record.
 None of the cities are from the big
states Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and
West Bengal. On the other hand,
some states have two or more
nominees – Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat,
75 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and
Andhra Pradesh.
 A ‘smart city’ is an urban region
that is highly advanced in terms of
overall infrastructure, sustainable
Page
real estate, communications and
market viability.
2) The Union Government on 27
January 2016 gave its approval to
establish 17 new Indian Reserve
Battalions (IRBs) in 5 states. Which five
states are these? – Jammu and
Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Odisha,
Jharkhand and Maharashtra
Explanation: The decision to create 17
new Indian Reserve Battalions (IRBs)
was cleared at a meeting of the Union
Cabinet held on 27 January 2016 under
the chairmanship of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
 While a maximum of 5 IRBs will be
raised in Jammu and Kashmir, four
will be established in
Chhattisgarh, three each in
Jharkhand and Odisha and two in
Maharashtra.
 In the Left Wing Extremism (LWE)
affected states, 75% of vacancies
of constables in the new IRBs will
be filled from 27 core districts
identified under the Security
Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme
which categories the worst Naxal
violence.
  An IRB has an estimated
operational strength of 1,000
personnel. The IRBs were first
created in 1971 by the central
government and till now 144 such
units have been raised out of a
total sanctioned 153.
 These 17 IRBs are expected to
provide jobs to about 17,000
youth in these 5 states.
3) The Union Agriculture Ministry on
27 January 2016 constituted a 9-
member committee on the minimum
support price (MSP) of genetically
modified Bt cotton seeds. What is the
main task of this committee? – To
execute a cotton price control order
76 CURRENT AFFAIRS
that will decide the price farmers pay
to seed companies
Explanation: The committee on
modified Bt cotton seeds was
constituted by the Union Agriculture
Ministry a day after the Delhi High
Page
Court adjourned the hearing of a plea
by Mahyco Monsanto Biotech India
Pvt. Ltd (MMBL), challenging the price
control order, to 4 March.
 The committee will be headed by
Joint Secretary (Seeds) in the
Agriculture Ministry and will have
the agriculture secretaries of
Telangana and Gujarat as
members. The committee has a
deadline of 31 March to decide on
the MSP of genetically modified Bt
cotton seeds.
 The agriculture ministry on 7
December 2015 issued a price
control order to bring uniformity
in Bt cotton seed prices, as several
states such as Maharashtra,
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
have brought in price control
orders. The other reason was to
make Bt cotton seeds affordable.
 MMBL, a joint venture between
Mahyco and Monsanto,
petitioned the Delhi high court to
quash certain provisions in the
price control order, specifically
those allowing the centre to
determine trait or royalty fees.
 At least six million farmers grow
cotton in India, over 95% of which
 is grown using the transgenic Bt
technology which is licensed to 49
seed companies by MMBL.
4) Which regiment was chosen as the
best marching contingent (Services
category) for the Republic Day Parade
2016, as announced by the Union
Govt. on 28 January 2016? –Assam
Regiment
Explanation: Union Govt. on 28
January announced the winners of the
different competitive presentations in
the Republic Day Parade 2016.
 Among the Services category,
Assam Regiment was adjudged
the best marching contingent. In
the category of Para-Military
77 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Forces and other auxiliary
marching contingents, Border
Security Force (BSF) contingent
was been adjudged the best
contingent.
Page
 In the tableau category, first
position went to West Bengal
tableau, which depicted the
famous Baul folk singers rendering
the songs based on Bhakti and
Sufi movement. While Tripura’s
tableau on beautiful Unakoti
sculptures, seen in a Shiva
pilgrimage site was adjudged the
second best, third position went
in favour of Assam tableau
showcasing the popular Rongali
Bihu festival.
5) Arindam Sen Gupta, who passed
away on 28 January 2016, was the
Managing Editor of which English
daily? – The Times of India
Explanation: Arindam Sen Gupta had a
long and distinguished association with
the Times of India Group, which he
rejoined in 1991 after a previous stint
from 1988 to 1990.
 He worked with Probe magazine
from 1982 to 1984, after which he
 joined the political bureau of The
Patriot, where he launched the
first business page in any daily
newspaper. He later moved to The
Sunday Observer in 1986. He
January 30, 2016
Lokayukta from a list of five names
presented to it by the State
government on 16 December 2015.
1) The Supreme Court on 28 January
2016 recalled its order appointing
Justice (retired) Virendra Singh as Uttar
Pradesh (UP) Lokayukta after heeding
to the objections of Chief Justice of
Allahabad High Court. Who was
appointed as the new UP Lokayukta? –
78 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Justice (retired) Sanjay Misra
Explanation: It is worth mentioning
that the Supreme Court went ahead
with a rare display of its extraordinary
powers vested under Article 142 of the
Page
Constitution to appoint Justice Singh as
joined TOI for the first time in
1988.
 He became the executive editor of
the Times of India in 2008. He was
re-designated Managing Editor
recently.
 However, the appointment
triggered a row when news
reports surfaced that the State
government had included Justice
Singh’s name in the list of five
shown to the apex court despite
objections raised by High Court
Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud
about Justice Singh’s integrity.
 A Bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi
and Prafulla C. Pant then on 28
January appointed another former
High Court judge, Sanjay Misra, as
the State’s anti-corruption
ombudsman.

2) The Human Resource Development
(HRD) Ministry appointed a one-
member commission of inquiry on 28
January 2016 to probe into the
circumstances that led to the suicide of
Hyderabad University research scholar
Rohit Vemula recently. Who is heading
this enquiry commission? –Ashok K.
Roopanwal
Explanation: Ashok K. Roopanwal, a
former judge of the Allahabad High
Court, was appointed the head of the
one-man enquiry commission to probe
the suicide of Rohit Vemula, a dalit
scholar of Hyderabad University.
 Rohit had taken his life on 17
January 2016 after the university’s
executive council expelled him
and four other students from the
hostel. His death led to
79 CURRENT AFFAIRS
widespread protests by students
nationwide.
 The commission has also been
asked to fix accountability in the
context of the UGC guidelines,
Page
framed in 2012, which addressed
discrimination at universities and
colleges.
3) What is the name of the mosquito-
borne disease, which is presently
spreading through the Americas, and is
expected to affect between three
million and four million people, as
stated by the WHO on 28 January
2016? – Zika Virus
Explanation: Zika Virus is a member of
the Flaviviridae virus family and in
humans, it initially causes a mild illness
known as Zika fever, Zika, or Zika
disease. It is related to dengue, yellow
fever, Japanese encephalitis. However,
Zika virus infection in pregnant women
has been linked with thousands of
cases of newborn microcephaly by
mother-to-child transmission.
 Year 2016 is witnessing the most
widespread outbreak of Zika virus
in history is ongoing in the
Americas. The outbreak began in
 April 2015 in Brazil, and
subsequently spread to other
countries in South America,
Central America, and the
Caribbean.
 On 28 January WHO’s director-
general Marcos Espinal stated that
Zika virus had gone from a mild
threat to one of alarming
proportions and it is expected to
affect three million and four
million people now.
4) In an attempt to prevent possible
misuse, Railway Ministry on 28 January
2016 introduced new checks on
booking of e-ticket and i-ticket through
IRCTC website. Under the new
provisions a maximum of six tickets
can be booked online by an individual
user in a month on IRCTC website. This
80 CURRENT AFFAIRS
new provision will come into effect
from which date? – 15 February 2016
Explanation: The new provision
pertaining to capping the number of
online tickets for individual users to 6
Page
per month were formulated keeping in
view the analysis of usage of quota of
10 tickets. This analysis indicated that
ninety per cent of users are booking up
to six tickets in a given month and only
10 per cent are making more than six
tickets.
The revised rules for booking ticket
through IRCTC are as follows:
 Individuals are allowed only two
tickets per user-ID in a day from 8
am to 10 am.
 Individuals are allowed only two
tickets per user-ID in a day for
Tatkal booking from 10:00 am to
12:00 noon.
 A maximum of 6 tickets can be
booked online in a month by an
individual.
 Quick Book Option is disabled
from 08 am to 12 noon
 Booking is not allowed through e-
wallet and cash cards from 8 am
to 12 noon.
 There is only one booking in one
user login session except for
return/onward journey between
08 am to 12 noon.
5) Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis won
the Australian Open (2016) women’s
 doubles title on 29 January 2016 when
they defeated Czech duo of Andrea
Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka in
straight sets in the finals. This was the
…………consecutive Grand Slam title for
Sania and Martina – Third

Explanation: The top seeds Sania
Mirza (India) and Martina Hingis
(Switzerland) defeated seventh seeds
Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka
by 7-6 (1), 6-3 in the women’s doubles
final on 29 January.
 It was their third consecutive
Grand Slam title for Sania and
Martina, having won the
Wimbledon and US Open in the
2015 season.
 In an incredible feat, Sania and
Martina have now extended their
unbeaten run to 36 matches,
winning eight titles in a row. They
won five straight titles in 2015,
starting from the US Open and
before the Australian Open now.
 It was Sania’s second title at the
81 CURRENT AFFAIRS
6) 169th edition of the annual Tyagaraja
Music Festival was held on 28 January
2016. This music festival held every
year in the memory of the great
Carnatic music patron Saint Tyagaraja
is held at which place in Tamil Nadu? –
Tiruvaiyaru
Explanation: Tyagaraja Music Festival
(also known as Tyagaraja Aradhana) is
held in the memory of saint composer
Tyagaraja at Thiruvaiyaru (Tamil Nadu).
The saint had attained samadhi at this
place on the Pushya Bahula Panchami
day in 1847.
 The renowned proponents of
Carnatic music from all over the
world descend each year at
Tiruvaiyaru to mark the occasion.
169th edition of Tyagaraja

Australian Open, having won the Aradhana was held on 28 January

mixed doubles in 2009 with as legendary exponents and
Mahesh Bhupathi. devout rasikas sang in unison to
salute the spirit of Saint Tyagaraja.
Page
 Current Affairs | Banking & Financial | General Studies | Current Affairs Magazines
82 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Page