Weekly CA Quiz: January 2018 1st week with PDF

Explanation: Vidarbha have created history by winning the Ranji Trophy for the first time with a thumping nine-wicket win over Delhi at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

Explanation: Israel has filed notice to withdraw from the UNESCO alongside the United States. Israel has blasted UNESCO in recent years over the organisation’s criticism of Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem and its decision to grant full membership to Palestine in 2011. Israel was the member of UNESCO since 1949. Both Israel and the US have filed its own withdrawal notice in October 2017.

Explanation: Shooter Shahzar Rizvi won the Men’s 10m Air Pistol Gold at the 61st National Shooting Championship (NSCC), at the Karni Singh Shooting Range in Delhi.

Explanation: Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita appointed Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga – a former defence and foreign minister and intelligence chief – as the new prime minister.

Explanation: The government announced the appointment of Vijay Keshav Gokhale, former ambassador in Beijing, as the new Foreign Secretary to replace S. Jaishankar who retires on January 28. He will take over from Jaishankar who was appointed Foreign Secretary on January 29, 2015, for two years and given a one-year extension in January last year.

Explanation: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu declared 2018 as Telugu promotion year. “We can preserve our culture and tradition through language only. We have to prevent the deterioration of Telugu language. I declare this year as Telugu language development year”, Naidu said.

Explanation: Parliament has passed the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017 with the Rajya Sabha approving it. The Bill seeks to amend the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981.

Explanation: Customers will not have to pay any transaction charges for payments through debit card, BHIM app and other payment made for up to Rs 2,000 from January 1, 2018. The merchant discount rate (MDR) will be borne by the government for two years with effect from January 1, 2018 by reimbursing the same to banks.

Explanation: Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has successfully commissioned its refinery off-gas cracker (ROGC) complex of 1.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) capacity along with downstream plants and utilities in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The company said that it is the world’s first ROGC.

Explanation: G Sathiyan has surpassed the legendary Sharath Kamal to become India’s highest- ranked player in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings, which also have an unprecedented nine players in the top-100.

Explanation: Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi launched a web portal, NARI, which will provide information on all government schemes for women. Users can log on to www.nari.nic.in to access information on different programmes offered by various state governments as well as the Centre. The NARI portal carries details on 350 different schemes for women and will be updated from time to time.

Explanation: HDFC Bank has announced a partnership with Rajasthan Government to promote and nurture startups in the state. Under this partnership, HDFC Bank will team up with the state government to provide end-to-end solutions like current accounts, credit cards and other solutions to startups under its SmartUp programme.

Explanation: Eminent Urdu poet Anwar Jalalpuri, also known for his translation of the Bhagavad Gita from Hindi to Urdu, has passed away.

Explanation: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017  allows the central government to increase the authorised capital of the Bank from 5 thousand crore rupees to 30 thousand crore rupees

Explanation: The Pakistan Navy demonstrated its ability to respond to any aggression by conducting a test fire of a cruise missile –  Harba Naval Cruise Missile, which is a surface-to-surface anti-ship missile, from its newly commissioned Fast Attack Craft (Missile), PNS Himmat, off Karachi in the North Arabian Sea.

Explanation: According to an HSBC report, India’s GDP growth rate is expected to accelerate to 7.0 per cent in 2018-19 from 6.5 per cent in this fiscal and improve further to 7.6 per cent by 2019-20 as key sectors would revive from disruptions related to the implementation of GST and demonetisation.

Explanation: The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and India Post Payments Bank signed an agreement for the training of employees of the latter in the area of payment banking.

Explanation: Cleared the Rs 6,808.69 crore strategic Zojila Tunnel project to provide all-weather connectivity to Kargil and Leh in Jammu and Kashmir which remain cut off from the rest of the country during the winter season.

Explanation: The central bank of Pakistan gave its green signal to using the Chinese currency, Yuan, for bilateral trade with China. The decision came just a day after US President Donald Trump vowed to stop all aid to Islamabad. Adoption of the Yuan would mean that Pakistan and China would be able to replace the US dollar for transactions in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

Explanation: Noted Odia playwright, jatra actor and director Ananta Ojha has passed away following a prolonged illness.

Explanation: The Central Government has appointed AB Mathur as the interlocutor on their behalf to hold talks with the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). A 1975-batch IPS officer, Mathur served as the former Special Secretary of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

Explanation: The Central Government has appointed former RAW Chief Rajinder Khanna as the Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA). He will assist the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who is also a former RAW chief.

Explanation: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) and State Bank of India (SBI) jointly signed an MoU with non-government organisations (NGOs) from West Bengal for financing of 2,500 Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), or informal credit group of farmers.

Explanation: A new law making it illegal to pay men more than women has taken effect in Iceland. The legislation makes Iceland the first country in the world to legalise equal pay between men and women. Under the new rules, companies and government agencies employing at least 25 people will have to obtain government certification of their equal-pay policies. Those that fail to prove pay parity will face fines.

Explanation: The NABARD has sanctioned Rs 372.51 crore loan assistance under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to Odisha towards irrigation and rural bridge projects for the last quarter of this fiscal.

Explanation: Carnatic vocalist Radha Vishwanathan (83), daughter of M.S. Subbulakshmi, who accompanied the legendary queen of music for nearly 5 decades on stage has passed away.

Explanation: The Union Health Ministry launched the nation’s first digital Online Oncology Tutorial Series, which aims to train doctors across the country in early detection, prevention, palliation, rehabilitation and treatment of various cancers.

Explanation: Ravi Menon, the Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), has been named the best central bank governor in Asia-Pacific for 2018 by UK-based magazine The Banker. The annual award by The Banker, is based on a selection process involving a survey of bankers and economists.

Explanation: Meghalaya signed the Host City Contract with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for hosting the 39th National Games in 2022. The tripartite contract was signed between the IOA, the Meghalaya State Olympic Association and the state government.

Explanation: Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar released the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) for the year 2016-17 in New Delhi. According to this survey, the number of students enrolling for higher education in India saw a marginal 0.7 per cent increase in 2016-17. It further said the gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher education had gone up 25.2 per cent in 2016-17 from 24.5 per cent in 2015-16.

Explanation: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday unveiled banknotes of Rs 10 denomination under the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series. The new 63 mm x 123 mm notes are embossed with the signature of RBI Governor Dr Urjit Patel and have the motif of the Sun Temple, Konark on the reverse, depicting the country’s cultural heritage.

Explanation: The West Bengal government launched its official emblem, conceptualised and designed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The state emblem – the “Biswa Bangla” logo with Ashoka Pillar of the national emblem – would be used in all the official works and documents of the Bengal government from now on.

Explanation: Government has sought views and suggestions of people from all walks of life to move ahead on the idea. The government has launched MyGov platform where it invites citizens, members of civil society, journalists, students, teachers, police officers, government employees, Parliamentarians, academics experts, bureaucrats, social media influencers, think tanks and all other interested people to give their considered view on the subject.

Explanation: To make India attractive to cruise passengers and to promote cruise tourism, the Central Government has exempted cruise tourists arriving with e-visas from the requirement of biometric enrolment for a period of three years till December 31, 2020.

Explanation: India has excluded Pakistan from the list of SAARC member countries with which it will be connecting its state-of-the-art National Knowledge Network (NKN) for sharing scientific databases and remote access to advanced research facilities.

Explanation: Indian Coast Guard Ship C-161 was commissioned at Porbandar in Gujarat. The induction is a part of ongoing efforts by the Coast Guard to strengthen coastal security. It will strengthen the security umbrella of west coast and also help augment patrolling to prevent illicit activities such as infiltration, smuggling and illegal fishing.

Explanation: Popular Russian painter Vladimir Yankilevsky has passed away. The Russian artist’s works are displayed at around 35 museums and galleries across the world.

Explanation:The base colour of the new banknote of Rs 10 is chocolate brown, it comes with other designs, geometric patterns aligning with the overall colour scheme, both at the obverse and reverse.The obverse side of the note contains a see-through register with denominational numeral 10 and the same in Devnagari script.It contains a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi at the centre, with the micro letters ‘RBI’, ‘INDIA’ (in both English and Hindi) and ’10’. There is also a windowed demetalised security thread with inscriptions Bharat (in Hindi) and RBI.

Explanation: Telangana government has inaugurated country’s first National Park for people with special needs in Hyderabad. The park has speech therapist, physiotherapist, vocational training instructors for the differently-abled children. The park will benefit those differently-abled children, who want to move forward and thrive in life

Explanation: Haryana has achieved the distinction of becoming the first state in the country to launch high-risk pregnancy portal. This portal not only helps in early identification of high-risk pregnant cases up to the grassroots but also ensures their timely referral to the civil hospitals for further management and delivery by specialists.

Explanation: With Environment and Climate Change as its main theme, the 26th edition of the annual book fair, will be held in Delhi at Pragati Maidan from January 6. Organised by National Book Trust, in association with ITPO, the events Theme Pavillion will have an international rights exhibition of nearly 500 titles published in English, Hindi, and other Indian languages.

Explanation: Fintech startup Nearby Technologies has tied up with Yes Bank to provide Aadhaar- enabled cardless and pinless ATM service called PayNEARBY  by which customers can deposit or withdraw money at retailers’ place. Using the PayNEARBY mobile application on a smart phone, a retailer can become an Aadhaar ATM/Aadhaar Bank branch for cash withdrawals and deposits by a customer.

Explanation: Paytm Payments Bank has partnered Induslnd Bank to introduce a facility to create a fixed deposit when the customer balance exceeds Rs. 1 lakh at the end of day. Paytm Payments Bank customers can redeem their deposits instantly, anytime without paying any pre-closure or miscellaneous charges and can earn up to 6.85 per cent annual interest.

Explanation: The Ministry of Women and Child Development has developed web portals “TrackChild” and “Khoya-Paya” to track the missing and found children. The TrackChild Portal is implemented in association with various stakeholders including Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Railways, State Governments/UT Administrations, Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards, National Legal Services Authority, etc. and the “Khoya-Paya” has been integrated as a citizen corner on TrackChild portal.

Explanation:The banking sector sustained its growth momentum post the Centre’s public sector bank (PSB) recapitalisation plan by driving a significant surge in credit growth. As per latest statistics, the banking sector posted a double digit growth of 10.7 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth in December 2017, up from 7.2 percent in October last year.

Explanation: India’s High Commissioner to Kuala Lumpur T S Tirumurti has been appointed as the Secretary (Economic Relations) in the External Affairs Ministry by the government.

Explanation:The Haryana tourism department disclosed that Uttar Pradesh would be the theme state for the 32nd Surajkund International Crafts Mela, which would be organized at Surajkund, Faridabad from February 2 to 15. Apart from all other states, about 24 countries would also participate in it.

Explanation: Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das launched “Saubhagya Yojana”, a programme that would provide electricity to all the 29,376 villages in the state.  This yojana, he said, would help achieve the central government’s target of providing 24×7 electricity.

Explanation: Union Minister of State ( I/C)Youth Affairs and Sports Col Rajyavardhan Rathore has launched the vibrant Khelo India logo, reflecting the freshness, agility and vitality of New India. The three-stroke Khelo India logo, designed by Ogilvy India. The logo conveys an impression of fitness and competitiveness. The colour of the Indian flag evoke a sense of National pride and team-work.

Explanation: Legendary astronaut John Young (from USA), who walked on the moon and flew the first space shuttle mission has passed away. Young’s career at NASA stretched for 42 years, during which he became the first human to fly in space six times. In 1965, Young flew on the first manned Gemini mission and commanded another the next year. In 1969, he became the first person to orbit the Moon alone for Apollo 10.

Explanation: Gilles Simon of France has lifted the inaugural Tata Open Maharashtra Tennis trophy. The tournament is India’s only ATP event.

Explanation: In a significant decision after taking over as Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur announced setting up of a 24×7 helpline, called Gudiya, for women. He said special women cells would be created in all three police ranges in the state to deal with crime against women. The government would also set up Atal helpline for reporting corruption cases and Hoshiar Singh helpline for other cases of crime. All these would be monitored by the CMs office and action taken would be reported within 48 hours.

Explanation: Indian Powerlifting world champion Saksham Yadav, who met with a car accident has passed away.

Explanation: The government formed a ministerial committee headed by finance minister Arun Jaitley to decide what to do with old, pre-existing projects in ports, which have become unviable. Around 10 old projects, under the shipping ministry, have been stuck in non-profitability because operating under the contract conditions which existed a decade or so ago have kept them in a state of unviability for years. The government wants to address this legal tangle.

Explanation: Lagaan actor Shrivallabh Vyas has passed away. He had appeared in over 60 Hindi films, with occasional stints in regional cinema, television and theatre.