GK & Current Affairs – November 25, 2015

1. Who among the following is appointed as chairperson of Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)?
[A]Rahul Dravid
[B]Anju Bobby
[C]Mary Kom
[D]Pullela Gopichand
Answer: Anju Bobby
India’s former long jump world champion Anju Bobby George was appointed as the chairperson of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). She will assume the charge in December month this year. The post of the chairperson was lying vacant after the resignation of Anurag Thakur. Anju Bobby George is presently a member of the TOPS’ identification committee, which also includes former Indian cricket captain Rahul Dravid and national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand.
2. Mahip Singh, who passed away recently, was related to which among the following fields?
[A]Social activism
[B]Chemical engineering
[C]Literature
[D]Architecture
Answer: Literature
Writer, columnist and journalist Mahip Singh (85) passed away recently. His collection of short stories ‘Subah ke Phool’ was first published in 1959 and later on more than 20 short stories collections were published. His famous novels include Ye Bhi Nhi, Bich ki Dhoop, and Abhi Shesh Hai. Mahip Singh had been editing literary magazine ‘Sanchetna’ for the past 45 years. He also established Bhartiya Lekhak Sangathan in 1978.
3. What is the range of the nuclear-capable Dhanush missile?
[A]250 KM
[B]350 KM
[C]450 KM
[D]500 KM
Answer: 350 KM
Recently, India has successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Dhanush ballistic missile with a strike range of 350 km from a naval ship off the Odisha coast. Dhanush is a naval variant of India’s indigenously-developed Prithvi missile. The missile is capable of carrying conventional as well as nuclear payload of 500 kg and can hit both land and sea-based targets under 350 km range. It has already been inducted in the Indian armed forces.
4. Which year is the new deadline to for completion of rural connectivity through all- weather roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)?
[A]2016
[B]2017
[C]2018
[D]2019
Answer: 2019
Recently, the Union Government has reduced the deadline for completion of flagship Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for rural connectivity through all- weather roads from 2022 to 2019. The annual allocation of the Central release for PMGSY works during year 2015-16 also has been increased by 5,000 crore rupees. With this, the total Central allocation to states under PMGSY would now be 15,100 crore rupees. PMGSY was launched in year 2000 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
5. Which among the following banks got in-principal approval form RBI for setting up of a Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS)?
[A]Kotak Mahindra bank
[B]ICICI Bank
[C]Axis Bank
[D]HDFC Bank
Answer: Axis Bank
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted in-principle nod to three entities including Axis Bank for setting up of a Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS). The TReDS is aimed at improving the flow of funds to the MSME sector by reducing receivables realisation cycles. The other two entities are Mynd Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon, Haryana and NSE Strategic Investment Corporation and Small Industries Development Bank of India, Mumbai.
6. Which state has launched ‘Tourist Mitra,’ the tourist-friendly police force?
[A]West Bengal
[B]Karnataka
[C]Gujarat
[D]Andhra Pradesh
Answer: Karnataka
Karnataka’s Dept. of Tourism and State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), along with the Home department, have launched ‘Tourist Mitra’ force. It is a tourist-friendly police force and they will be deployed at various tourist destinations in the State. They will work in coordination with the local police Tourist destinations in 13 districts of Karnataka that have been identified for the deployment of 175 personnel.
7. Which among the following countries has launched the Canadian communication satellite Telstar 12V?
[A]China
[B]Japan
[C]Canada
[D]Australia
Answer: Japan
For the first time, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. have successfully launched a commercial satellite into orbit using a Japan-made rocket. The Mitsubishi Heavy-made H-IIA rocket carried a Telstar 12 Vantage, a broadcast and telecommunications satellite to be operated by Ottawa-based Telesat. The satellite will provide coverage to areas including Europe and the Americas. With this launch, Japan is trying to enter a business dominated by European and Russian companies.
8. ‘Orange the world campaign,’ is related to which among the following organisations?
[A]United Nations (UN)
[B]OECD
[C]NATO
[D]World Bank
Answer: United Nations (UN)
On November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the United Nations (UN) has launched its campaign Orange the World. The campaign will be carried out during 16 days from 25 November until December 10, designated as the UN’s Human Rights Day. The campaign has adopted the colour orange to symbolise its goal for a bright and optimistic future that is free from violence against women and girls. Several monuments across the world are participating in the campaign. From India, India Gate and Delhi Metro are chosen as landmarks for conduct of the campaign.
9. According to a new report by United Nations (UN), which country was most-affected by weather-related disasters between 1995 and 2015?
[A]United States
[B]China
[C]India
[D]Indonesia
Answer: United States
A new UN report titled ‘The Human Cost of Weather Related Disasters by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’, pointed out that United States was the most-affected country by weather-related disasters between 1995 and 2015. United States was followed by China, India, the Philippines, and Indonesia. According to the report, India was hit by 288 disasters over the last 20 years, third only after the US (472) and China (441).
10. Which organisation(s) got the in-principle approval from RBI to function as the Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit (BBPCU) in BBPS?
[A]Axis Bank
[B]NPCI
[C]SIDBI
[D]All the above
Answer: NPCI
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted ‘in principle’ approval to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to function as the Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit (BBPCU) in BBPS. The Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) is an integrated bill payment system and it will function as a tiered structure for operating the bill payment system in the country with a single brand image providing convenience of ‘anytime anywhere’ bill payment to customers. The present scope of BBPS will include utility bill payments, such as, electricity, water, gas, telephone and Direct-to-Home (DTH). Later, based on the experience, this would be extended to include other types of repetitive payments, like school / university fees, municipal taxes etc. in future.

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