Bank railway s. S. C



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Explanation: The allegations of human rights abuses and war crimes have been a long-simmering one in Nepal. Both Maoists as well as the state forces have been accused of grave war-time abuses, including unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, disappearances, rape and torture, during the decade-long conflict which ended under a 2006 peace agreement. Both sides pledged to look into the crimes within six months after signing the peace deal. But subsequent governments failed to investigate the accusations, fearing doing so would derail a tenuous peace between politicians and former rebels, leaving alleged perpetrators to rise through the military and political ranks.

Following are the two commissions constituted on 10 February 10, 2015

Truth and Reconciliation Commission: This Commission has been modelled after the one set up in South Africa after the end of apartheid and would investigate abuses committed during the conflict between state forces and the Maoists.

The Commission on Enforced Disappearances: This Commission would investigate the disappearances of more than 1,300 people still missing eight years after the end of the conflict.



6) Social networking giant Facebook recently forged partnership with which Indian telecom company to provide free Internet access in the country as announced on 10 February 2015? – Reliance Communications Limited (RCom)

Explanation: Under this partnership Facebook will launch the Internet.org app in India with association with RCom. Internet.org is the Facebook-led global initiative to bring Internet within reach of people all over the world. India, the world’s second-biggest mobile market, will become the first country in Asia to get the new Internet.org app, which targets mobile phone users. The app, aimed at low income and rural users, will offer access to more than 30 web services, including job listings, healthcare and education sites, as well as Facebook’s own social network and messaging services. It will be provided via the Android operating system. RCom will offer free data access to over 30 popular websites for all its customers under the umbrella of Internet.org. The service comes to India after having launched in Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana and Colombia.



TODAY’S NEWS FOR FUTURE

12/02/2015



1) The crucial summit to secure a deal in the ongoing Ukraine conflict was held on 11 February 2015 in which Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met face to face. An important agreement was struck to start the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine from 15 February 2015. Which country hosted this initiative, which was led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande? – Belarus

Explanation: The summit was held at Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko hosted these talks which were held in the background of new attacks in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions on 11 February. Thousands of people have been killed in the fighting in the east of Ukraine. Russia has been accused of arming and reinforcing pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine, a claim it denies. The main agenda in the summit was on securing a ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons and creating a demilitarised zone. While the Ukrainian government sought a demarcation line based on the failed ceasefire agreed on 5 September in Belarus last year, the pro-Russian rebels wanted a new truce to reflect the gains they have made in recent weeks. At the end of the talks, both Russia and Ukraine agreed to bring into effect a ceasefire in the warring zone of eastern Ukraine from 15 February. More than 5,400 people have died since the conflict began, and there has been a dramatic rise in casualties in recent days, with 263 civilians killed in populated areas between 31 January and 5 February.



2) Finance Ministry released latest data for the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) on 11 February 2015. According to it, a little more than 127 million new bank accounts have been opened since launch of the scheme on 28 August 2014. What is an important achievement associated with this figure? – The number of people added to the country’s banking system in the past five months is higher than that in the period from 2001 to 2011

Explanation: With opening of around 127 million bank accounts in last five months, the total number of bank accounts in the country stand at 210.5 million (21 crore). According to census data, only 36% of Indian households had access to banking services in 2001. This increased to 59% in 2011. If the latest figures for the PMJDY are anything to go by, all but 23,000 Indian households have already been made part of the banking system. However, even as the government continues to add accounts, the speed of linking the accounts with Aadhar numbers has not been as fast. Until 4 February 2015, seeding of Aadhar numbers, to ease the process of direct transfer of cash subsidies in beneficiaries’ bank accounts, had been done for 35% of all new bank accounts.



3) The opening ceremony of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 was held on 12 February 2015 in which cities of New Zealand and Australia? – Christchurch and Melbourne

Explanation: Opening ceremonies of ICC World Cup 2015 took place in both countries – first in Christchurch and then in Melbourne. Christchurch’s Hagley Park was the venue of the opening ceremony of the ICC World Cup 2015 in New Zealand while Melbourne’s Myer Music Bowl was the venue for the same in Australia. This World Cup is jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand as the event returned to the region after 23 years. The World Cup is the largest event Christchurch has hosted since an earthquake in February 2011 devastated the city’s centre.



4) In a major development Myanmar President Thein Sein on 10 February 2015 gave his approval to hold a referendum this year, which is being seen as a political game-changer in country’s path to democracy. What will be the main issue of this proposed referendum? – To bring amendments to country’s military-drafted constitution

Explanation: It is unclear, however, what possible changes to the constitution would be addressed in the referendum. The referendum is expected to be held ahead of a general election due late this year. It is being seen as an important step as it could see a shakeup of a political system over which the military effectively holds veto power. Myanmar has been ruled in a brutal manner by country’s military establishment from 1962 to 2011. Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party has been pushing to change a constitution that it says grants too much political power to the military.



5) Which private bank on 10 February 2015 launched first-of-its-kind digital banking service called “Pockets”, which enables users to instantly send money to any e-mail id, mobile number, friends on Facebook and bank account? – ICICI Bank

Explanation: Under the “Pockets” service, anyone including those who are not customers of ICICI Bank, can easily download the e-wallet from Google Playstore, fund it from any bank account in the country and start transacting immediately. This wallet uses a virtual VISA card which enables the users to transact on any website or mobile application in India. The universal wallet and the savings account are the first two products to be launched as part of ICICI’s ‘Pockets’ digital bank initiative.



6) The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports on 11 February 2015 announced the revision of the Scheme of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar, which was introduced by the Union Govt. in 2009. What is the main objective of this award scheme? – Encourage the involvement of corporates and sports promotion boards in the development of sports in the country

Explanation: As per the revised scheme, the award will be given in four categories such as, (a) identification and nurturing of budding/young talent, (b) encouragement of sports through Corporate Social Responsibility c) employment of sportspersons and sports welfare measures and (d) sports for development. The govt. further notified that, as training to promote rural sports, nationally recognized sports, paralympic sports and Olympic sports’ have been included in the Schedule VII of the Companies Act 2013, companies spending on promotion and development of sports from their CSR funds will be considered for the award.



7) Apple Inc. on 10 February 2015 achieved which record in market capitalization? – $700 billion

Explanation: Apple Inc., the maker of the iconic iPhone, created history on 10 February as it became the first global company to achieve a market capitalization of $700 billion. The landmark comes two weeks after Apple created history by posting a quarterly profit of $18 billion, the biggest ever by a public company, worldwide. Apple’s valuation is now way over the next-biggest American company Exxon Mobil. At its current market cap of $710 billion, Apple is more than double the size of its rival Microsoft, which is valued at $347 billion. In fact, Apple is bigger than the combined market cap of Google ($359 billion), Samsung Electronics ($226 billion) and Hewlett-Packard ($69 billion). In term of Indian rupee, this market capitalization is around 42 lakh crore, which is nearly one third the size of India’s economy.



8) Who was appointed as the new heir of the Mysuru royal family on 12 February 2015? – Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs

Explanation: Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs is the grandson of Princess Gayatri Devi and son of Tripurasundari Devi and Swaraup Gopal Raj Us. His adoption as the heir was announced on 12 February at Mysuru. After his adoption ceremony on 23 February, he will be renamed as Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar. His announcement as heir was done primarily to continue the Dasara traditions of the Wadiyar dynasty and carry forward the protracted legal battle over the acquisition of palace with the State Government.



9) Which New Zealand cricketer was named country’s Sportsman of the Year for 2014 on 11 February 2015 and thus became the first cricketer to win New Zealand’s coveted sports award since former captain Martin Crowe in 1991? – Brendon McCullum

Explanation: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum was given this award for scoring over 1,000 Test runs in 2014 and for becoming the first New Zealander to score a Test triple century. However, he could not win the supreme prize, the Halberg Award, and was beaten by Olympic and world rowing champions Hamish Bond and Eric Murray, who had also won the Sports Team of the Year award. McCullum thus became the first cricketer to win New Zealand’s Sportsman of the Year award since former captain Martin Crowe in 1991. The 302 he scored against India at the Basin Reserve last February was also voted by the public as New Zealand’s Sports Moment of the Year.



10) What is the name of the Indian-American assistant professor who was awarded the $500,000 National Science Foundation Career award for his breakthrough research on 11 February 2015? – Gurpreet Singh

Explanation: Gurpreet Singh is an assistant professor of mechanical and nuclear engineering at Kansas State University. He was given the National Science Foundation Career award for his research on nanosheets. He will use the award to develop ultrathin metal sheets that can help produce better rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors and catalysts for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production. The award will also help him organize educational activities for high school students and teachers.

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TODAY’S NEWS FOR FUTURE

14/02/2015



1) India’s trade deficit during January 2015 stood at $8.32 billion, which is the lowest since February 2014. During December 2014 the trade deficit stood at $9.43 billion. What is the primary reason for narrowing of trade deficit in recent months? – Decrease in international crude prices

Explanation: Global crude prices have plunged more than half since last June, promising windfall gains for India as oil accounts for nearly a third of India’s total imports. Year-on-year oil imports fell by nearly 38%. Analysts reckon every $10 fall in the price of a barrel of oil narrows India’s current account gap by 0.5% of GDP and reduces the fiscal deficit by 0.1%. But in a worrying sign, weak global demand led to a second straight annual fall in merchandise exports. Merchandise exports were down 11.19% year-on-year at $23.88 billion. Exports account for nearly a fifth of India’s economy.



2) State Bank of India (SBI)’s net profit for the October to December quarter for 2014-15 stood at Rs. 2,910 crore as announced by the bank on 13 February 2015. These results were cheered by the stock and financial markets of the country. Why? – SBI’s bad loans rose only slightly and its asset quality made an improvement

Explanation: SBI’s net profit rose by around 30% as compared to corresponding quarter of 2013-14. However, the markets were happier because the bank was able to improve on its non-performing assets (NPAs) during the quarter. Gross non-performing assets (NPA) as a percentage of total advances improved to 4.90% during the quarter from 5.73% in the year-ago period. Net NPA was 2.80% during the quarter, down from 3.24% in corresponding quarter of last fiscal. SBI is country’s largest bank and it controls nearly 25% of India’s banking business. Thus better results from SBI were cheered after poor results by many PSU banks earlier.



3) Union Home Ministry on 12 February 2015 constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to re-investigate the 1984 Sikh riots of Delhi. This was done as proposed by the G.P. Mathur Committee recently. Who is heading this newly constituted 3-member SIT? – Pramod Asthana (IPS)

Explanation: Pramod Asthana is a 1986-batch senior IPS officer. Other two members in the SIT are Rakesh Kapoor, a retired judge and Kumar Gyanesh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) in Delhi. It is worth mentioning that G.P. Mathur committee that was constituted to look into the possibility of re-investigation of the 1984 riots of Delhi, had recommended that the riots should be re-investigated by a SIT. The anti-Sikh riots were triggered after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by on 31 October 1984. Of the 3,325 victims, 2,733 were killed in Delhi alone while the rest were from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other States.



4) Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways during February 2015 decided to close down 125 toll plazas in the country. It has also initiated the process of putting together a list of such plazas. Which category of toll plazas are to be closed as announced by the govt.? – Toll plazas where either the cost has been recovered or where collection isn’t feasible any more

Explanation: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has identified 74 such plazas and out of that, 61 have already been shut down. It is worth mentioning that the road ministry had been considering doing away with toll for passenger and non-commercial vehicles. A study had revealed that the removal of toll plazas and provision of e-toll on national highways would not only reduce waiting periods, but also help save time and fuel. This, consequently, may allow the government to save about Rs. 88,000 crore. The government is contemplating increasing the road cess on petrol and diesel in order to compensate for the revenue lost by the forfeiture of tolling. Other than this, the ministry has also recommended levying a 2% surcharge on the purchase of new vehicles.



5) 9 persons were killed are more than 40 persons were injured when coaches of an intercity express derailed near Anekal town on the outskirts of Bengaluru in the morning of 13 February 2015. Which train was involved in this accident? – Bengaluru City-Ernakulam Intercity Express (Train no. 12677)

Explanation: The accident took place at Belagondapalli near Anekal town on the outskirts of Bengaluru at around 7:30 am when a boulder rolled on the railway track causing its derailment. This Ernakulam (Kerala) bound train had left the Bengaluru City station at 6:15 am.



6) Who was confirmed as the new US Defence Secretary by the US Senate on 12 February 2015? – Ashton Carter

Explanation: Ashton Carter was named as the Defence Secretary earlier by the US President Barack Obama. The Senate on 12 February confirmed this appointment. The vote in the Republican-controlled Senate was 93-5. Carter will replace Chuck Hagel, the former Republican senator who had a rough relationship with Obama’s close group of national security advisers. Carter will be Obama’s fourth defence secretary in six years, joining a line of succession that began with Robert Gates and included Leon Panetta and Hagel. He had served as the Deputy Defence Secretary from 2011 to 2013.



7) FMCG major ITC has purchased which two famous brands of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) as announced on 12 February 2015? – ‘Savlon’ and ‘Shower To Shower’

Explanation: ITC has entered into asset purchase agreements with Johnson & Johnson Ltd, India, and Johnson & Johnson Pte Ltd, Singapore for the purchase of the ‘Savlon’ and ‘Shower To Shower’ trademarks and other intellectual property, primarily for use in India. The company, however, did not provide any financial details about the deal, though analysts tracking FMCG sector estimate that could be in the range of Rs 300-450 crore.



TODAY’S NEWS FOR FUTURE

16/02/2015



1) India defeated Pakistan by 76 runs in its ICC World Cup 2015 opener at Adelaide on 15 February 2015 to record its sixth consecutive win over the arch-rivals in the history of cricket World Cup. Virat Kohli proved his batting credentials once again with a blistering knock of 107 runs. With this century Kohli made numerous records. What is the prominent among these? – He became the first Indian to score a century against Pakistan in a World Cup match

Explanation: He also broke the record of Sachin Tendulkar for scoring highest runs against Pakistan in a World Cup innings. Tendulkar, who scored 98 off 75 balls against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup at Centurion on 1 March 2003, held this record. Apart from this Kohli also became the first Indian to score a World Cup century in Australia. Mohammed Azharuddin’s 93 versus Australia in Brisbane on 1 March 1992 was the previous best. India scored 300 for 7 batting first and bowled out Pakistan for 224 to win this opening tie on 15 February. Kohli was adjudged Player of the Match.



2) India’s first Renewable Energy Global Investors’ Meet and Expo was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 February 2015. What is the name of this summit? – Re-Invest India 2015

Explanation: Re-Invest India is Government of India’s initiative primarily to showcase the renewable energy potential of the country to the world and for attracting investments. With this event the govt. sought to establish India as the manufacturing hub for renewable energy and for research and innovation. This has been associated with the “Make in India” campaign that has become the core of the new government’s initiative to create jobs in India. Re-Invest India 2015 is also a platform to engage bankers to come up with innovative financing models for renewable energy. At present, renewable energy contributes over 6% of the total power generated in India and the govt. wants to increase it up to 12% by 2019-20.



3) The State Bank of India (SBI) made how much commitment for clean energy generation (renewable energy) as announced by it at Re-Invest India 2015 on 15 February 2015? – Rs. 75,000 crore

Explanation: SBI committed Rs. 75,000 crore for generation of 15,000 MW of renewable energy in the next 5 years. SBI has a loan exposure of Rs. 1.78 lakh crore in the power sector including conventional energy and discoms. Of this the bank’s outstanding loan towards clean energy is to the tune of Rs. 7,500 crore.



4)  The 35th National Games of India concluded on 14 February 2015 at Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala). Which three teams occupied the top three spots in the final medals tally? – Services, Kerala and Haryana

Explanation: Services once again dominated the Nationals Games with gold medal tally of 91 and overall tally of 159 medals. It was followed by hosts Kerala with 54 golds and Haryana with 40 golds. The top three were respectively followed by Maharashtra, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Assam in the top 10. The 35th National Games were held in cities and sporting facilities spread across Kerala. Now the 36th edition of National Games would be held at Goa in 2017.



5) National Lok Adalat was held on 14 February 2015 with over 56,000 cases disposed of across the country. This was which edition of National Lok Adalat, which is held under the patronage of the Chief Justice of India? – 3rd

Explanation: National Lok Adalat is the national-level initiative to settle legal disputes through compromise and settlements. It’s main aim to lessen the burden of Indian judiciary which is piled up with huge number of pending cases. The first edition of National Lok Adalat was held in 2013 and it saw disposal of around 71.50 lakh cases on a single day. In its second edition in 2014 a record of sorts was made with the disposal of around 1.25 crore cases on a single day. Under third National Lok Adalat cases were taken up in the Supreme Court, High Courts, district-level courts and taluka-level courts across the country (except Assam and Uttar Pradesh). Disbursal of around Rs. 265 crore as claims towards final settlement in bank recovery and cheques bounce cases was made apart from resolving of around 56,000 cases.



6) Which Scandinavian country came under attacks on 14 and 15 February 2015, which are said to be inspired by an attack on French satirical weekly ‘Charlie Hebdo’ last month? – Denmark


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