Weekly CA Quiz: August 2019 3rd week with PDF

The Inter-State Council, which is mandated to investigate and advise on disputes between states, has been reconstituted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its chairman and six Union ministers and all chief ministers as members.

With interest in space among public zooming up courtesy the successful flight of the Chandrayaan-2 mission to the moon, India’s first Space Science Museum opened in Hyderabad.

5th BRICS Minister of Environment Meeting was held in Sao Paulo, Bazil. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar along with Environment Ministers of other 4 countries attended the meeting.

The government has come out with a linked back-series of India’s growth numbers from 1950-51 to 2003-04, with 2011-12 as the base year, to align gross domestic product numbers from past years with the new internationally accepted methodology and facilitate comparisons.

The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) slashed its forecast for India’s economic growth to 6.2% in the financial year ending next March from a previous estimate of 6.5%, warning it would be tough for authorities to engineer a turnaround.

Title favourites India lifted the inaugural T20 Physical Disability World Cricket Series after defeating hosts England by 36 runs in the finals.

Wrestler Deepak Punia has become India’s first junior World Champion in 18 years. He claimed a gold medal at the Junior Worlds with a win over Russia’s Alik Shebzukhov at Tallinn, Estonia.

K. Sivan, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was awarded on Thursday the Tamil Nadu government’s Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award.

Senior journalist Neelum Sharma, a founding anchor with over 20 years of association with DD News, has passed away. Neelum, known for programmes like ‘Badi Charcha’ and ‘Tejasvini’, was conferred with the Nari Shakti Award by President Ram Nath Kovind earlier this year. She was also a widely acclaimed filmmaker with more than 60 documentaries to her credit.

A new book will tell the riveting story of the history of Jammu and Kashmir, from the time of its political and geographic consolidation under Maharaja Gulab Singh to the present-day.Titled, “Kashmir’s Untold Story: Declassified”, the book penned by filmmaker Iqbal Chand Malhotra and defence analyst Maroof Raza, will hit stands on September 18. The book, which comes after the scrapping of Article 370 and 35A earlier this month, will also shed light on why the special status was “integral to the accession treaty”.

Giving a fresh push to digital transactions in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the motto of ‘yes to digital payment, no to cash”. He called for increasing the use of digital payments all over the country.

The plan to provide the Rotavirus vaccine to prevent diarrhoea will be now be expanded across India by September, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said.

The 14th Edition of KONKAN series of annual bilateral exercises between Indian Navy and Royal Navy of Britain is currently underway off the South Coast of UK.

In a bid to ensure transparency in governance, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the “Mo Sarkar” initiative during Independence Day celebration in the state.

Aditya Birla Health Insurance (ABHI), a stand-alone health insurer, has entered into a bancassurance partnership with Axis Bank, the country’s third largest private sector bank.

A government-constituted high level panel on August 13 recommended making expenditure on CSR tax deductible as well as treat non-compliance with CSR requirements a civil offence under the companies law.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli added yet another feather in his cap as he became the first batsman to score 20,000 international runs in a single decade.

Veteran journalist and consulting editor at India Today TV Rajdeep Sardesai has been awarded the 2019 Prem Bhatia Award for Outstanding Political Reporting.

Film and television actress Vidya Sinha, who was known for her roles in films like Pati Patni Aur Woh and Chhoti Si Baat, has passed away at the age of 71. The actress was admitted to hospital after she had complained of breathlessness.

Former Indian batsman VB Chandrasekhar has passed away following a heart attack. He was 57. Chandrasekhar was an aggressive opening batsman and played a vital role in the Tamil Nadu’s second Ranji Trophy title in 1987-88.

More than Rs 1 lakh crore have been deposited in over 36 crore bank accounts opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).

The world’s first museum dedicated to the life and times of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the 16th-century mystic and saint, and the chief proponent of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition, has been inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata.

Lucknow’s famous ‘Hazratganj Chauraha’ has been renamed as ‘Atal Chowk’ in memory of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Four new products – Palani Panchamirtham from Palani Town in Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu State, Tawlhlohpuan and Mizo Puancheifrom the state of Mizoram and Tirur Betel leaf from Kerala – received Geographical Indication (GI) under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.

Former diplomat Rajiv Dogra, who has penned two books on Indo-Pak relations and the Durand Line, has just come out with his third novel.

Senior journalist and Editor of language daily Sambad’s editorial page Ranjit Guru passed away following illness. He was 61.

President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the underground Bunker Museum at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. The 15,000 square feet underground bunker museum has virtual reality booths in which visitors can “time travel” to the 19th century.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh launched “School Fagadaba” scheme to improve the infrastructure of government schools in the state.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel announced the formation of ‘Lemru Elephant Reserve’ (LER) in Korba, Chattisgarh. Spanning over an area of 450 square kilometres, LER is aimed at minimizing human-elephant conflict and destruction of property in addition to providing a permanent habitat for the wild tuskers.

Tribal Affairs Ministry and Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) are jointly organizing a 9- Day Aadi Mahotsav (National Tribal Festival) between August 17 to August 25, in Leh-Ladakh.

The Indian rupee has become Asia’s worst-performing currency in August amid foreign fund outflows, global trade tensions and pressure from China’s yuan. The local currency has slumped 3.49% against the US dollar so far this month, heading towards its second-worst monthly loss in four years.

Panjab University, Chandigarh has won the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) trophy, the Selection Committee for sports awards 2019 announced.

Rio Paralympics silver medallist Deepa Malik is all set to get the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in Para Athletics. It is the country’s highest sporting honour.

Top Indian Sprinter Hima Das bagged a gold medal in the women’s 300m race at the Athleticky Mitink Reiter in the Czech Republic.

Indian ace athlete Muhammed Anas bagged a gold medal in the men’s 300m race at the Athleticky Mitink Reiter in the Czech Republic.

Derby County’s Ashley Cole (from UK) announced his retirement from football.

Guinness Book of World Records holder Chinmay Prabhu made another world record of solving pyraminx (pyramid-shaped rubik’s cube) puzzles while riding a bicycle.

Former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra passed away. He was 82 and unwell for several months. Mishra was a three-time Chief Minister of the State.

A function will be held in Kerela to celebrate the Guinness Book of World Records entry of 100 Years of Chrysostum, a biographical documentary on Metropolitan Emeritus of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, Philipose Mar Chrysostum.

Union Minister of State for Chemical & Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya has announced that the first Central Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology (CICET) will be set up in Gujarat.

In Arunachal Pradesh, researchers of the Rajiv Gandhi University have discovered five new fish species in various districts of the state.

According to an analysis of a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) data released by environmental NGO Greenpeace, India has more than 15 percent of all anthropogenic sulphur dioxide (SO2) hotspots in the world detected by the OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) satellite.

Iceland unveiled a plaque to its Okjokull ice sheet, the first of the country’s hundreds of glaciers to melt away due to climate change.

India have won gold at the Under 12 Asian Tennis Team championship held in Kazakhstan. India defeated Chinese Taipei 2-1 in the summit clash to win the title.

The prestigious World Youth Chess Championship will be held in Mumbai in October 2019. India’s latest chess sensation and the world’s second youngest Grand Master Praggnanandhaa R from Chennai will be the star attraction at the Championship.

Australia’s top order batsman Marnus Labuschagne became the first like-for-like substitute in the 142-year history of Test cricket after Steve Smith was ruled out of the remainder of the second Ashes Test in Lord’s. Smith was diagnosed with concussion caused by a blow to his neck from England seamer Jofra Archer.

Vodafone Idea announced that Balesh Sharma has stepped down from the position of chief executive officer (CEO) citing personal reasons. Ravinder Takkar, currently Vodafone Group’s representative in India, will be appointed as the new MD and CEO with immediate effect.

Legendary music director-composer Mohammed Zahur Khayyam famed for his compositions in films like ‘Kabhie Kabhie’ and ‘Umrao Jaan’ has passed away.

President of Zambia Edgar Chagwa Lungu arrived in New Delhi on a three-day visit to India. Mr Lungu will meet President Ram Nath Kovind and will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Indian Railway’s 2nd double-decker Uday (Utkrisht Double-Decker Air Conditioned Yatri) Express will run between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. The train would consist of 9 double-decker coaches and 2 power cars.

Paying tribute to former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi on his 75th birth anniversary, Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh launched his government’s flagship universal health insurance scheme ‘Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana’, benefitting nearly 46 lakh families in the state.

The humanoid robot Palki unveiled at the Guwahati’s Uruka restaurant, a women-run eatery, recently has been a hit with patrons, especially the younger generation who enjoy the novelty of being served by her.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over the design of Mobile Metallic Ramp (MMR) to the Indian Army.

Divyang Satendra Singh Lohia from Madhya Pradesh has become the first Asian swimmer to cross the Catalina Channel of America. Satendra holds the Asian record of crossing both the English and Catalina channels.

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev and American Madison Keys recorded straight-set victories to win the men’s and women’s Cincinnati Masters titles in Ohio.

Navneeth Murali, an Indian-American teenager from New Jersey won the 2019 South Asian Spelling Bee, after correctly spelling the word “flipe” to earn the national title and $3,000 grand prize.

Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Babulal Gaur has passed away. He was 89. Gaur served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh from August 2004 to November 2005.

Five-time MLA and the “Robin Hood of Rae Bareli” Akhilesh Singh has passed away after a prolonged illness.

India handed over a cheque of NPR 2.45 billion to Nepal on towards the reimbursement for housing reconstruction in Nuwakot and Gorkha Districts during the Fifth Joint Commission Metting (JCM) held in Kathmandu.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched the National Mission to improve Learning Outcomes at the Elementary level – NISHTHA, National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic Advancement. During the programme, NISHTHA Website, Training Modules, Primer Booklet and a Mobile App were also launched by the Minister.

Maharashtra’s Tribal Development Department in association with the Pace Educational Trust launched an academic programme for young tribal students aspiring to be doctors and engineers.

Karnataka has emerged as the best state for setting up a roof top solar project according to the State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index–SARAL released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh come next in the rankings but all four have been graded A++.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and tennis star Sania Mirza will be among co-chairs for India Economic Summit to be held in New Delhi in October by the World Economic Forum, where hundreds of Indian and global leaders would discuss India’s role in South Asia and on the world stage.

E-commerce giant Amazon has formally opened its largest campus building anywhere globally in Hyderabad, a facility spread over 9.5 acres and comprising three million square feet of built up area.

US’ Artificial intelligence(AI) company Cerebras Systems has unveiled the world’s largest single silicon-based processor named Cerebras Wafer Scale Engine(WSE). This chip has 1.2 trillion transistors, the basic on-off electronic switches that are the building blocks of silicon chips.

Delhi is the 10th fastest growing prime market globally on Knight Frank’s Prime Global Cities Index. The capital region, by virtue of its limited supply of luxury properties, saw a 4.4 per cent rise in weighted average of capital values.

The Indian Women’s Hockey team won the Olympic Test Event by registering a 2-1 win against Japan in the final at Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of senior IAS officer Ajay Kumar as the new Defence Secretary. He will replace Sanjay Mitra whose term ends on August 23.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba has been appointed the new Cabinet Secretary, the country’s top bureaucratic post, for a tenure of two years. He will succeed P K Sinha.

Prominent economist Abdalla Hamdok has been sworn in as Sudan’s new prime minister, leading the country’s transitional cabinet months after a mass protest movement forced the military removal of long-time authoritarian President Omar al-Bashir.