Weekly CA Quiz: November 2017 3rd week

Explanation: RBI Governor Urjit Patel has been appointed to the Financial Stability Institute Advisory Board or the Bank of International Settlement (BIS). Bank for International Settlements is an international financial organisation owned by 60 member central banks across the world.

Explanation: The first Indian woman trap shooter to win an Olympic berth, Shagun Chowdhary bagged a national champion crown at the 61st National Shooting Championship in New Delhi.

Explanation: Canada hosted the 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference in Vancouver, Canada. This conference is the largest gathering of Defence ministers dedicated to UN Peacekeeping.

Explanation: According to the UN report, Syria has officially signed up to the Paris Agreement, leaving only the United States as the only country to reject the global climate-rescue pact. Syria became the 169th of 196 countries that are members of the UN climate convention to take the legal step of ratification. After Nicaragua signed up in October 2017, Syria and USA were the only countries not to have adopted the pact.

Explanation: Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 12th North-East Business Summit in New Delhi. The two-day summits aims to explore the scope for business opportunities in the North-Eastern region of the country.

Explanation: The target of 100 per cent completion of installing bio-toilets in the Indian Raiways coaches has been advanced to December 2018. Earlier, the target to install bio-toilets in all its coaches as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission was by September 2019.

Explanation: India, for the first time ever, is going to host the Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS), one of the world’s largest conferences in the field of Cyber Space and related issues, on 23 & 24 November 2017, at Aerocity, New Delhi. Theme: Cyber4All: A Secure and Inclusive Cyberspace for Sustainable Development

Explanation: Shri R.K. Singh, Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, launched the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana – ‘Saubhagya’ Web Portal. The portal can be accessed at http://saubhagya.gov.in.

Explanation: The Space Kingdom of Asgardia has launched its first satellite Asgardia-1 satellite, which is about the size of a loaf of bread, launched on 12 November and contains half a terabyte of data. It holds the foundations of the project – the nation’s constitution, its national symbols, and data from its 115,000 citizens. It was launched from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia aboard a Cygnus spacecraft on an Orbital ATK Antares rocket.

Explanation: Private sector RBL Bank has set up an all women branch in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The branch at R A Puram, would be managed by eight women and offer all products and services across liability and assets.

Explanation: After upgrading India’s sovereign rating to Baa2 stable from Baa3 positive, Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded the ratings of infrastructure government-related issuers (GRIs) NTPC, NHPC, NHAI & GAIL to Baa2 in line with India’s sovereign ratings.

Explanation: ‘Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat’ Yojana has been started with an objective to strengthen cultural relations of various parts of the country and to embolden the mutual connection between the people dwelling in different States. An announcement was made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding this scheme on Ekta Diwas on the occasion of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel’s anniversary on October 31, 2015.

Explanation: The first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending TB in the Sustainable Development Era held in Moscow, Russia Federation on November 16, 17. The conference was themed “Ending TB in the Sustainable Development Era: A Multisectoral Response”.

Explanation: France will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup in a huge surprise after the Council of the sport’s governing body World Rugby’s Board announced so.

Explanation: Under the scheme, Madhya Pradesh has been made partner of Manipur and Nagaland. The Higher Education Department of Madhya Pradesh has been made nodal department to implement the scheme.

Explanation: International credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded India’s bond rating for the first time in 14 years. It has also upgraded India’s bond rating to Baa2 from its lowest investment grade (Baa3). It has changed the outlook for India’s rating to stable from positive.

Explanation: Former Murshidabad MP and senior Trinamool Congress leader Abdul Mannan Hossain has passed away.

Explanation: The Bihar government gave its nod for setting up a “State Ayush Society” to give a boost to alternative medicine in the state. The Society will be set up as part of the Centre’s “National Ayush Mission” and registered under the Society Registration Act.

Explanation: Moody’s has upgraded India’s local currency senior unsecured rating to Baa2 from Baa3 and its short-term local currency rating to P-2 from P-3.

Explanation: Sri Lankan author Anuk Arudpragasam’s “The Story of a Brief Marriage” — a touching tale of a young man trapped on the frontlines between the Sri Lankan Army and the Tamil Tigers — has bagged the $25,000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2017.

Explanation: India’s Manushi Chillar won the coveted Miss World 2017 pageant at a glittering event held at Sanya City Arena in China. Chillar from Haryana also won the Beauty with Purpose award. Chillar, who is from Haryana, had earlier won the Femina Miss India 2017.

Explanation: Former Supreme Court judge and eminent jurist, Justice V Khalid, has passed away.

Explanation: Ecobliss India managing director AVPS Chakravarthi has been appointed as the ambassador of World Packaging Organisation at its 99th board meeting held in Rio de Geneiro, Brazil recently.

Explanation: Reliance General Insurance, a subsidiary of Reliance Capital, has signed a comprehensive bancassurance-corporate agency agreement with YES Bank. YES Bank with its network of 1,040 branches across all 29 States and seven Union Territories will enable Reliance General Insurance to reach a large base of retail and MSME clients.

Explanation: Moody’s Investors Service upped the long-term ratings of four Indian financial institutions by a notch to Baa2 following the upgrade of the country’s sovereign rating to the same level. The four institutions with revised rating are Export- Import Bank of India (EXIM India), HDFC Bank, Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited (IRFC) and State Bank of India (SBI)

Explanation: The Reserve Bank of India, RBI, has withdrawn the sale of Rs Ten thousand crore worth of government securities under Open Market Operations, OMO.

Explanation: The government advanced the roll out of BS-VI fuel in the national capital by two years to April 2018 due to growing air pollution in Delhi. . Earlier the deadline was April 1, 2020.

Explanation: The government has given the go-ahead for setting up India’s first mega coastal economic zone (CEZ) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Maharashtra as part of a plan to develop 14 such industrial clusters to spur manufacturing and generate jobs. The plan envisages a total investment of Rs 15,000 crore in the first phase and creation of more than 1.5 lakh jobs.

Explanation: Exercise “IMBAX-2017”, the five-day military exercise between Indian and Myanmar armies is slated to start on November 20 and will be held at the newly-inaugurated state-of-the-art Joint Training Node at Umroi Cantonment, about 25 km from Shillong, the state capital of Meghalaya.

Explanation: Hyderabad is all set to host the ‘Skill Seeds International MSME and Startup Expo 2017’ from November 25-26 at the National Small Industries Corporation Campus. It is an international Expo for trade, industry, MSMEs and startups.

Explanation: NASA launched a next-generation satellite into space designed to monitor weather around the world and help improve forecasts. The satellite, called the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 or JPSS-1, is a joint venture between the US space agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which provides weather reports and forecasts.

Explanation: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will receive the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development this year for his leadership of the country between 2004 and 2014 and for enhancing India’s stature globally.

Explanation: In August, the RBI had paid a dividend of Rs 30,659 crore for the fiscal ended June 2017. It was less than half the Rs 65,876 crore it had paid in 2015-16. The government had budgeted for a Rs 58,000 crore dividend from the RBI in its Budget for this fiscal year. Now, the government has seeked Rs 13,000 crore of surplus lying with the central bank.

Explanation: The first ever Namami Barak festival was held at Silchar in Assam. It was inaugurated by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The event was organised at 3 locations in Barak Valley also known as Southern Assam. Silchar is main event area while other two locations are Hailakandi and Karimganj district.

Explanation: An Interim Meeting of the Steering Committee of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) was held in New Delhi to assess the Center’s activities since its inauguration in February 2017 and to review the Fiscal Year 2018 Work Plan.

Explanation: India has moved up one position to 126th in terms of per capita GDP of countries, still ranked lower than all its BRICS peers, while Qatar remains the world’s richest on this parameter, as per International Monetary Fund (IMF) data.

Explanation: The 42nd World Congress of the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM) organised by the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) began in New Delhi. The theme of this 42nd World Congress is “Military Medicine in Transition: Looking Ahead.”

Explanation: The 12th Biennial International Conference & Exposition of Society of Petroleum Geophysicists (SPG) India was inaugurated by Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship at Jaipur, Rajasthan. Theme: “Energy trough Synergy”. The three days International Conference & Exposition of SPG India was organised from 17th to 19th November.

Explanation: The Indian government is the third most trusted government in the world, a survey by the World Economic Forum (WEF) has revealed. The list is topped by Switzerland, followed by Indonesia.

Explanation: Women’s Youth World Boxing Championship began in Guwahati, Assam which will be held from November 19 to 26. In the Ch’ship, 193 registered boxers from 39 countries would participate and the prestigious competition will be held in India for the first time.

Explanation: 13th Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting began in Myanmar’s capital city of Nay Pyi Taw with a total of 51 countries participating in the meeting.

Explanation: Bengali film and television actress Rita Koiral passed away after a three-month battle with liver cancer.

Explanation: The union government and the World Bank signed a guarantee agreement for USD 98 million and grant agreement for USD 2 million for the “Shared Infrastructure for Solar Parks Project.” The project will help establish large-scale solar parks and support the government’s plan to install 100 Gigawatts (GW) of solar power out of a total renewable-energy target of 175 GW by 2022.

Explanation: Mary Com is the Ambassador of 2017 AIBA youth women’s World boxing championship. Assam’s famed one-horned rhino – Guppy – is the official mascot, and ‘Make Some Noise’ its anthem.

Explanation: As per a notification from Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), in view of positive response from investors, the government has decided to increase the New Fund Offer (NFO) size of Bharat 22 ETF from Rs. 8,000 crore to Rs. 14,500 crore, to cater to the demand of retail investors and retirement funds.

Explanation: Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, who was in coma since 2008, has passed away. He had also served as the President of All India Football Federation (AIFF) for 20 long years since December 1988.

Explanation: Afghanistan U-19 cricket team thrashed Pakistan to bag the Under-19 Asia Youth Cup trophy in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The team inflicted a 185-run defeat on Pakistan, making it a history for the Afghanistan cricket.

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has decided to name the Gate No. 3 and 4 of the stadium after the cricketer-turned-commentator, who represented the country in six World Cups. The Gate No.2 has been dedicated to former India opener Virender Sehwag.

Explanation: Sarajevo Haggadah, the 14th- century richly illuminated Hebrew manuscript, which was brought to Sarajevo through the efforts of Jews fleeing persecution in Spain, has been included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register also include 3 documentary heritage namely The I.A.S. Tamil Medical Manuscript Collection, Saiva Manuscript in Puducherry and Rigveda

Explanation: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has arrived in Bengaluru on four-day visit to India. He will be taking part at the opening ceremony of the 5th Global Conference on Cyberspace which will take place on 23rd & 24th of November 2017 in New Delhi.

Explanation: Former chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court Bhagwati Prasad has passed away.

Explanation: India’s nominee Dalveer Bhandari was re-elected as the fifth judge to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) after the United Kingdom withdrew the nomination of Christopher Greenwood.

Explanation: Hockey Karnataka clinched the second edition of the Hockey India 5-a-side Senior Men’s National Championship 2017 title after beating Hockey Haryana 4-3 in a tense penalty shootout at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Stadium, Balewadi, Pune.

Explanation: In Test rankings announced, India’s captain Virat Kohli replaced Australian opener David Warner to grab the 5th spot in the rankings for Test batsmen. Australia captain Steve Smith leads the chart with his England counterpart Joe Root in second position.

Explanation: World’s biggest toilet pot model was unveiled at Marora, popularly known as the ‘Trump village’, in Gurugram, Haryanaon the World Toilet Day on Sunday in a bid to create awareness towards sanitation and use of toilets.

Explanation: India has improved its ranking by three notches to 51 globally in terms of ability to attract, develop and retain talent while Switzerland topped the list compiled by leading global business school IMD.

Explanation: The Union Cabinet approved India’s membership for European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a move which will help it obtain funding in various areas including services and manufacturing.

Explanation: The government today constituted a task force for redrafting the 50-year old income tax law in sync with the economic needs of the country. The six-member task force will have Arbind Modi, CBDT Member (Legislation) as the Convener.

Explanation: India has created history after it successfully flight-tested the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile ‘BrahMos’ from the Indian Air Forces (IAF) front-line fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30MKI against a sea based target in the Bay of Bengal.

Explanation: Basel, Switzerland will become the first city to jointly host the Badminton and Para Badminton World Championships after it was awarded the 2019 edition of the Para event.

Explanation:  Biju Phukan  was a prominent film actor of Assam.

Explanation: India is all set for the take-off of its maiden mission to the Sun by the year 2019. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman AS Kiran Kumar said, “Aditya-L1, India’s maiden mission to the Sun, will be launched in 2019”.

Explanation:  BrahMos is a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and NPOM of Russia.

Explanation: The Shanghai-based Brics New Development Bank (NDB) has approved two infrastructure and sustainable development projects in India and Russia with loans of $400 million.

Explanation: Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 and once proclaimed that “only God will remove me,” resigned as president shortly after lawmakers began impeachment proceedings against him.