The Competition Master

RAPID GK SERIES 49

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">1. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the body of the World Bank Institution was formally started in this year<br />
2. The abbreviation of ESCAP is<br />
3. India joined the Trillion Dollar Club in the year of<br />
4. Yakshagana is the Rural Dance of this Indian State<br />
5. The Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports is situated in<br />
6. The First Woman Congress President was<br />
7. India won the World Cup Cricket in the year<br />
8. In order to honour the Space Scientist Kalpana Chawla, this Satellite has renamed as Kalpana-1 in 2002<br />
9. A Form of Strike in which the Workers report for Duty but do not carry on with the Work is<br />
10. No-Tobacco Day is observed on<br />
<br />
<strong>ANSWERS</strong><br />
<br />
1. 1988<br />
2. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific<br />
3. 2007 (April)<br />
4. Karnataka<br />
5. Patiala<br />
6. Annie Besant<br />
7. 1983<br />
8. METSAT<br />
9. Sit-down Strike<br />
10. 31st May</div>

RAPID GK SERIES 49

1. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the body of the World Bank Institution was formally started in this year 2. The abb...

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Israeli Embassy’s car hit by explosion in Delhi

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5985" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">A car belonging to the Israeli Embassy  was gutted after it suddenly exploded in the VVIP area of Delhi on Feb  13. Wife of a senior diplomat is said to be among the four injured.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Innova SUV car, bearing diplomatic number 109 CD 35, went up in  flames after it exploded near a petrol pump, metres away from 7 Race  Course Road – PM’s residence. Another car in the vicinity was also  damaged.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>As per unconfirmed reports, the car was being tailed by two men on a  motorcycle. The man riding the pillion seat threw in ‘something’,  following which there was an explosion in the car.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Four persons are said to be injured and have been rushed to a nearby  hospital. Among the injured is a 42-year-old lady who is posted as an  administrative attaché in the Israeli Embassy.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Initial reports said that the CNG cylinder of the vehicle had exploded but it was now clear that the car was not CNG-run.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Sources said that there is a possibility the car was specially  ‘targeted’. The fears were compounded as in a similar incident, an  explosives-laden car was found near the Israeli Embassy in Georgia. That  device was defused by police.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The blast created a flutter among security agencies including elite  SPG guarding the Prime Minister. A high alert was immediately sounded  and the entire area has been cordoned off.  </li>
</ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><span><strong>Israel hit out at Iran</strong>  accusing it to be behind the explosion in a car belonging to its  embassy in Delhi saying that it was a terror attack. In a strong  reaction Israel directly blamed Iran for the attacks in Delhi and  Georgia. </span></li>
</ul></div></div>

Israeli Embassy’s car hit by explosion in Delhi

A car belonging to the Israeli Embassy was gutted after it suddenly exploded in the VVIP area of ...

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UN gives Suu Kyi non violence prize awarded in 2002

UN gives Suu Kyi non violence prize awarded in 2002

The UN has given Aung San Suu Kyi a 10-year-old peace award delayed by her long house arrest. A ...

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Pak will grant MFN status to India 'very soon'

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5987" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Pakistan on Feb 13 said the process for  giving India the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status is expected to be  finalised "very soon".<span> </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"The cabinet has approved in-principle approval to giving MNF status  to India and the government will grant it very soon," Fahim said while  talking to reporters after he received India's Commerce Minister Anand  Sharma.<span> </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Fahim said the issue of multiple entry visas valid for a year for  businessmen of both countries had been sorted out and the two sides will  soon sign a formal agreement.<span> </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Responding to a question, Fahim said the process of identifying  items to be included in a negative list for trade with India is underway  and the list will be finalised shortly.<span> </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Later, Sharma, who is visiting Pakistan with a 120-strong business  delegation, visited The India Show, the largest India-specific  exhibition to be held in the country.  </li>
</ul></div></div>

Pak will grant MFN status to India 'very soon'

Pakistan on Feb 13 said the process for giving India the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status is exp...

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Google issued foreign exchange violation notice

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5988" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Enforcement Directorate has issued a  foreign exchangeviolation notice to Internet giant Google for alleged  irregularities in <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">transfer</span> of funds to its foreign entities. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The ED has asked the Indian arm of <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">the company</span> to  explain to it all the permissions the company has obtained from  the Reserve Bank of India in this regard and its source of income in <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD7">the country</span> along with I-T returns filed earlier. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The agency has obtained relevant data in this regard from the <strong>RBI</strong> and would take up any possible penal action under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) after going through the documents</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>About DGEE</em></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The <strong>Directorate General of Economic Enforcement </strong> is a <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD11">law enforcement agency</span> and economic  intelligence agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and  fighting economic crime in India. It is part of the <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD12">Department</span> of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. It comprises <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD8">officers</span> of the <strong>Indian Revenue Service</strong>.  It was established on the 1st day of June, 2000 by the Central Govt.  of India to investigate provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management  Act, 1999. </li>
</ul></div></div>

Google issued foreign exchange violation notice

The Enforcement Directorate has issued a foreign exchangeviolation notice to Internet giant Googl...

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US approves first nuclear plant in decades

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong>US</strong> has approved <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD11">construction</span> of two atomic reactors in <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD9">the country</span>. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD10">The first</span> to be built in America in more than three decades despite objections from the nation’s top nuclear regulator. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Commissioners of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) voted 4-1 to approve <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD7">the construction</span> of two 1,100 megawatt Westinghouse-Toshiba AP1000 at <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD5">power generator</span> at Vogtle in Georgia. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The NRC certified Westinghouse’s amended AP1000 design on December 30, 2011. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>There are over 100 operating <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD6">nuclear power plants</span> in America and 16 non-operational power plants, and a large number of nuclear fuel and weapons facilities. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><em>Protection: </em>Don’t count on the plant security forces — they  aren’t nearly strong enough. These plants are each vulnerable to air  strikes, truck bombs, boat bombs, and of course, the well-equipped and  well-armed single madman or small group of terrorists. All anyone needs  to do is toss a grenade into a <strong>Spent Fuel Pool</strong> and hundreds of thousands or even millions could die.</li>
</ul></div>

US approves first nuclear plant in decades

US has approved construction of two atomic reactors in the country . The first to be built in America in more than three decades despi...

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Food Bill Burden Won't be Big: K.V. Thomas

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The proposed National Food Security  Bill (NFSB) will not entail "large" financial implications for the  government, Minister of State for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer  Affairs K.V. Thomas said. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Explaining his point, the minister said that with the current  coverage and entitlement and taking into account estimated allocations  under other welfare schemes, the food subsidy bill for financial year  2012-13 is expected to be about <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.siliconindia.com/images/rupeesymbols/rs.small.jpg" />88,997 crore. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The major impact of NFSB will be in terms of food subsidy, which is estimated to be additional <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.siliconindia.com/images/rupeesymbols/rs.small.jpg" />23,228 crore in 2012-13, he said. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>According to Thomas, if the government were to just update the  coverage under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) using 2011  census provisional data, the food subsidy will be <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.siliconindia.com/images/rupeesymbols/rs.small.jpg" /> 109,795 crore. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>With the estimated subsidy requirement under the NFSB at <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.siliconindia.com/images/rupeesymbols/rs.small.jpg" />112,205 crore, the minister said this was an addition of just <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.siliconindia.com/images/rupeesymbols/rs.small.jpg" />2,410 crore. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had resaid he was "losing sleep"  over the rising subsidy bill of the country, including the proposed  right to food law. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Thomas further said the perception of some states that the coverage  under TPDS provided in the bill is restrictive and will come in the way  of universal PDS being implemented by them is misplaced. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>He said the rural development ministry and Planning Commission will  consult the states to arrive at a consensus on the methodology that will  seek to ensure that no poor or deprived household is excluded from  coverage under different government programmes and schemes. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The National Food Security Bill, a  dream project of United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi,  is currently before a parliamentary standing committee.</li>
</ul></div>

Food Bill Burden Won't be Big: K.V. Thomas

The proposed National Food Security Bill (NFSB) will not entail "large" financial implications for the government, Minister of S...

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First World Radio Day being observed today on Feb 13

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="5991" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">DRM technology is now revolutionalising  radio transmission across the world. The Director General of All India  Radio, Mr. Lila Dhar Mandloi said that All India Radio has already  started introducing the technology. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Participating in our Spotlight and News Analysis Programmes today,  he said that within a year or so all AIR stations in the country will be  broadcasting programmes using this technology. It will lend clarity to  communication and listeners will be able to clearly listen to radio  broadcasts of distant stations in short and medium waves. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Mr. Mandloi said that the contents of broadcasts are changing to  suit the changing tastes of the people, particularly the youth. He said,  community radio is playing a great role in meeting the requirements of  the rural population.  </li>
</ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">As such, radio communication will never  lose its importance in modern life, he said. The full text of the  interview with Mr. Mandloi can be heard on Rajdhani, FM Gold channels  and additional frequencies from 9.30 p.m.</li>
</ul></div></div>

First World Radio Day being observed today on Feb 13

DRM technology is now revolutionalising radio transmission across the world. The Director General...

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2nd World Meteorological conference in New Delhi

2nd World Meteorological conference in New Delhi

The Second World Meteorological Organization ,WMO International Conference on Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone and Climate Change will begin ...

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Europe’s new Vega rocket carrying nine spacecraft launched

Europe’s new Vega rocket carrying nine spacecraft launched

Europe's new Vega rocket has launched on its first flight. The 30m-tall vehicle has been designed to put small scientific and governme...

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Crude oil prices rise after Greece austerity measures approval

Crude oil prices rise after Greece austerity measures approval

Crude prices rose in Asia today on Feb 13 as markets cheered Greece's approval of harsh austerity measures requested by international ...

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Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission meeting starts in Bangkok

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The 5th Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary  Commission meeting began began in Bangkok on Monday. The two-day meeting  is co-chaired by the head of the Thai delegation, Bundit Sotiplarit,  and his Cambodian counterpart Var Kim Hong.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>A Foreign Ministry spokesman said the meeting would discuss the  progress in the surveying and demarcation of boundary between the two  countries.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The meeting will also discuss the opening of a new permanent border  checkpoint between northeastern Thailand 's Sa Kaeo and Cambodia's  Bantey Meancheay provinces as proposed by Cambodia.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The two countries, which share 800-kilometer-long border, have  clashed for border dispute over the area adjacent to the 11th- century  Preah Vihear temple which the International Court of Justice awarded to  Cambodia in 1962.</li>
</ul></div>

Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission meeting starts in Bangkok

The 5th Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission meeting began began in Bangkok on Monday. The two-day meeting is co-chaired by the head o...

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