GENERAL AWARENESS

NOVEMBER 2019
Vol. 8, Issue 05

A PUBLICATION OF GYANM EDUCATION &

TRAINING INSTITUTE PVT. LTD.
SCO 13-14-15, 2ND FLOOR, SEC 34-A, CHANDIGARH

Contents NATIONAL NEWS

CURRENT AFFAIRS
03-44 SEPTEMBER
July to September 2019
BULLET NEWS
45-53
INDIA WELCOMES PRESIDENT OF MONGOLIA
April to June 2019 President of Mongolia
LATEST 100 GK MCQs 54-60 Khaltmaagiin Battulga arrived in
IBPS CLERK - PRELIMS
New Delhi on a five day State
61-76 visit. The two sides reviewed
Model Test Paper
ongoing cooperation in the fields
CURRENT GK BYTES 77-100
of infrastructure, energy, disaster
management, defence, security,
FIGURES TO REMEMBER culture and capacity building. He
took part in an India-Mongolia
REPO RATE (07.08.2019) 5.40%
Business Forum in New Delhi.
REVERSE REPO RATE 5.15% During his stay, he visited Agra,
MARGINAL STANDING 5.65% Bodh Gaya and Bengaluru.
FACILITY RATE Capital: Ulaanbaatar Currency: Mongolian Tugrik
STATUTORY LIQUIDITY RATIO 18.75%
(w.e.f 06-07-2019)
CASH RESERVE RATIO 4.00% PRESIDENT MAKES 9 DAYS TRIP TO EUROPE
BANK RATE 5.65% President Ram Nath Kovind embarked on an official nine-day (8 to 16 Sep) visit
BASE RATE(s) 8.95 to to Iceland, Switzerland and Slovenia to enhance India's political and economic
(of various banks) 9.40% ties with the three European countries. The tour started with visit to Iceland.
From there he moved to Switzerland and finished the tour with a visit to
INDIA’s RANK IN Slovenia, the first by any Indian President.
Global Happiness Index 9th Iceland President: Guðni Th. Jóhannesson Capital: Reykjavik
World Travel & Tourism Index 34th Currency: Icelandic Krona
Henley Passport Index 86th Switzerland President: Ueli Maurer
Capital: none (Bern is regarded as capital) Currency: Swiss Franc
Global Innovation Index 52nd
Slovenia President: Borut Pahor Capital: Ljubljana Currency: Euro
End of Childhood Index 113th
S.D.G. Gender Index 95th MODI MAKES A HIGH VOLTAGE US TOUR
IMD World Competitiveness Rankings 43rd With an agenda to boost
Global Peace Index 141th bilateral ties and present
India as a ‘vibrant land of
Start-up Ecosystem Rankings 17th
opportunities and a global
World Press Freedom Index 140th
leader’, Prime Minister
Global Energy Transition Index 76th Narendra Modi made a week-
Inclusive Internet Index 47th long visit to the United States
UN World Happiness Report 140th from Sep 21 to 27.
International IP Index 36th He, along with President
Digital Civility Index 7th Trump addressed a record
Bloomberg's Innovation Index 54th gathering of over 50,000
Global Corruption Index 78th
people at the "Howdy Modi"
event at NRG stadium in
Global Trust Index 2nd
Houston. On Sep 23, he addressed the Climate Action Summit hosted by the UN
Global Talent Competitive Index 80th
Secretary General. Later, on September 27, he concluded his trip by an address
EIU Global Democracy Index 41st
to the United Nations 74th General Assembly session in New York.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 3
PM MODI MAKES A TWO DAY VISIT TO RUSSIA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a two day (Sep 4-
5) visit to Russia to attend the 20th India-Russia Annual
Summit and the 5th Eastern Economic Forum (as chief
guest) in Vladivostok, a metro port city in East end of
Russia. This was the first visit by an Indian prime
minister to the Far East Region of Russia. India
announced a line of credit of Dollar one billion for the
development of the Far East region of Russia as part of
her “Act Far-East” policy.
He visited the Zvezda shipbuilding complex along with
Russian President Vladimir Putin. India seeks to take
Russian support in the supply of oil and gas and benefit
of Russia’s deep expertise in ship building. The two
countries signed a number of agreements for
strengthening cooperation in the strategic fields of
defence, civil nuclear energy and peaceful uses of space.
An MoU was also signed to have a full-fledged maritime
route between Chennai and Vladivostok.
President: Vladimir Putin Capital: Moscow
Currency: Russian ruble
4 NEW JUDGES IN SUPREME COURT
President Ram Nath Kovind on Sep 18 signed warrants
of appointment of four judges for their elevation to the
Supreme Court. This created a history of sorts as the
apex court will have 34 judges for the first time since it
came into being in 1950. The new judges include Punjab
and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Krishna Murari,
Himachal HC Chief Justice V Ramasubramanian,
Rajasthan HC Chief Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Kerala
HC Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
INDIANS FORM LARGEST DIASPORA
United Nations latest report says that India is the
leading country of origin of international migrants in
2019 with a 17.5 million-strong diaspora from among
the total number of migrants, globally estimated at 272
million. Country wise, the USA is home to the largest
number of migrants (5.1 crore).The International
Migrant Stock 2019 report was released by the
Population Division of the UN Department of Economic
and Social Affairs. The report was prepared with the
help of population censuses, population registers and
nationally representative surveys.
INDIA JOINS ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE HUB
India, which is among the countries with the highest
bacterial disease burden in the world, has become a part
of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Research and
Development Hub. India’s first National Antimicrobial
Resistance (AMR) Hub was inaugurated in Kolkata. The
centre would be the hub for research on antibiotic
resistance, not only for the country but for the entire
South Asia. According to the WHO data, more than
700,000 people die from AMR infections and the
number is expected to spike to more than 10 million
deaths each year, if proper action is not taken.
INDIAN FILM RANKED 59th IN TOP 100
The film “Gangs of Wasseypur” by Anurag Kashyap
became the only Indian film to feature in “The Guardian”
list of the 100 Best Films of the 21st century. The film
was placed at the 59th position. The two film “Gangs Of
Wasseypur” series was released in 2012 and narrated
the saga of a coal mafia family in the town of Wasseypur
in Dhanbad district of Jharkhand.
DOORDARSHAN COMPLETES 60 YEARS
On September 15, Doordarshan, India’s only general TV
channel, celebrated 60 years of its existence. Over the
years, Doordarshan has grown into a network operating
34 satellite channels, besides providing free-to-air DTH
service. Entertainment shows like Chitrahaar,
Mahabharat, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Fauji, Malgudi Days,
among others, captured the imagination of the Indian
public in the late 80s and early 90s, and still remains
etched in people's minds as pure entertainment that
brought people together.
4
INDIA HOSTS COP14 TO UNCCD INDIA’s FIRST PRIVATELY RUN TRAIN
In the history Indian Railways, for the first time, a train
will not be operated by the Railways, instead, the Indian
Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a
government of India undertaking, has been asked to run
two trains - the Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express will be the
first, and the second, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Tejas
Express. To make the travel attractive, the IRCTC will
offer free travel insurance worth Rs. 25 lakh, on-board
infotainment services, doorstep baggage collection, local
food and no tatkal quota and several other facilities and
amenities as are available in airlines.

INDO-NEPAL PETRO PIPELINE INAUGURATED

South Asia’s first cross-border petroleum pipeline was
inaugurated in Nepal. It runs from Motihari in Bihar to
Amlekhgunj in Nepal, covering a length of 69 kms,
India hosted over 3000 participants from 196 nations having a capacity of 2 million metric ton per annum.
for moving towards Sustainable Development for the The pipeline will considerably reduce the transportation
next two years in the 14th Conference of Parties, COP14, cost of petroleum. Nepal is keen to name the pipeline
to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification “Ram Janaki Petroleum Pipeline”.
(UNCCD) held in Greater Noida, adjoining New Delhi,
from Sep 2 to 13. The main objective of the convention INDIA RANKS 9th IN HAPPINESS
is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of
drought in countries experiencing serious drought or
desertification. The Conference provides a framework
for countries to restore the land and protect human
health. It will present sustainable solutions for better
land management.

THE WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS

The London based Times Higher Education society
released the World University Ranking 2020 on
September 11. No Indian institute figured in the top 300
rankings. From India, the Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT) Ropar, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Bengaluru are the best institutes and stand at among the
top 301-350 universities of the world. The rankings are According to a "Global Happiness Survey" by Ipsos,
topped by the University of Oxford for the fourth time in Indian has been ranked 9th on the happiness index
a row. The California Institute of Technology stands at among 28 global markets. Australia and Canada have
the second place and the University of Cambridge fell to emerged as the happiest nations of the world. Living
the third rank this year. conditions, physical well-being, personal safety and
security, friends, emerged as some of the top
determinants of happiness. Ipsos, a Paris based global
market research firm.

INDIA RANKED 34th IN TOURISM

As per the World Travel & Tourism Competitiveness
Index 2019 released by the World Economic Forum
(WEF), India has jumped 6 places to claim 34th spot.
Over 1.5 crore international tourists arrived in India in
the year. Spain topped the ranking index followed by
France and Germany. The Index ranked 140 countries
on their relative strengths in global tourism and travel.
 A new bus service between Kathmandu and Siliguri in
West Bengal has been started. The 44-seater AC
deluxe bus will complete 650 km journey in 18 hours.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 5
 With the removal of Article 370, Article 35A that
provided special rights and privileges to ‘permanent
residents’, also stands scrapped. Article 370 gave Jammu
and Kashmir its own constitution and decision-making
rights for all matters barring defence, communications
and foreign affairs. It made it necessary for the centre to
get the state legislature's approval for introducing any
policies or constitutional powers to the state. The
removal of this part of the constitution ends special
status for Kashmir, which was key to its accession to
India in 1947.
 Film “Gully Boy” by Zoya Akhtar, has been selected as As a precautionary measure, internet and phone lines
India’s official entry in the International Feature Film were shut down in parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The
category at the 92nd Academy Awards (Oscars). Amarnathji Yatra was suspended and pilgrims, tourists
 The 5th International Ramayana Festival organized and outsiders were asked to leave the state. Thousands
by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations was held of additional paramilitary troops were deployed to deal
in New Delhi. effectively with any untoward incident that might
 The UNESCO has decided to translate and publish an occur.
anthology of the writings of Guru Nanak Dev in world
languages to mark his 550th birth anniversary.
 The 72nd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for
South-East Asia held in New Delhi. The committee is
the highest decision making and governing body of
WHO in the region.
 A documentary film titled ‘Moti Bagh’, based on the
life of an Uttarakhand farmer, has been nominated
for Oscars.
 India's first-ever helicopter summit was held in
Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The Indian Air Force talked
about role of IAF helicopters in medical evacuation at MAJOR CHANGES
the national level. Then - Before August 05, Now - After abrogation of
2019 Article 370
Jammu & Kashmir was a state Now Jammu & Kashmir is a
AUGUST with special status. Union Territory.
DAWN OF A NEW ERA IN KASHMIR Only citizens of Jammu and People from anywhere in India
In a far reaching historical move, the Kashmir were allowed to buy will be able to buy a property.
Parliament revoked Article 370 and the special status of land in the state.
Kashmir on August 5. The President gave his assent to No ‘outsider’ could settle in the Now any citizen of the country
state. can settle in J&K.
the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 on
RTI could not be filed No restriction on filing RTI
August 9. Period of Legislative assembly Now, it will not be for six years.
Now, people from other states may also buy or was 6 years
purchase land and settle there. Consequent to passage Jammu & Kashmir had a Only the National Flag will be
of the act, India now has 28 states and 9 Union separate flag. there.
Territories (from 29 states and 7 UTs earlier). J&K had a separate constitution. No separate constitution, law &
Now Jammu & Kashmir is no longer a state, order will be under central
government.
instead it has been made a Union Territory with a
Ladakh was a part of Jammu & Ladakh is a separate Union
legislature while Ladakh will be a Union Territory Kashmir Territory, without a legislature.
without legislature w.e.f. October 31, 2019, the 144th The constitutional head was Now, state head will be
birth anniversary of the 'Iron Man of India' Sardar Governor Lieutenant Governor.
Vallabhbhai Patel. Both the UTs will have their own Lt.
Governor. PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA VISITS INDIA
Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu arrived in
India on a three-day official visit. The two countries
signed six MoUs in several areas including geology,
defence, arts and culture. Republic of Zambia is a
landlocked country in South Africa.
Capital: Lusaka Currency: Zambian Kwacha
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 6
PM ATTENDS G-7 SUMMIT IN FRANCE
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a three nation
visit from Aug 22 to 26, covering France, United Arab
Emirates and Bahrain. The tour began with meeting
with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
Later he attended the 45th G7 summit in Biarritz,
France. From France he moved to UAE where he was
conferred their highest civilian honour 'Order of Zayed'.
The trip ended with a visit to Bahrain, a first visit by any
Indian Prime Minister. King of Bahrain honoured him
with "The King Hamad Order of the Renaissance." There
he inaugurated the renovated Krishna Temple in
Manama.
DRIVE AGAINST MISUSE OF STATION PARKING
Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched a special drive
code named "Operation Number Plate” from Aug 9 to 11
at 466 major railway stations to identify and verify all
vehicles parked in Railway premises, circulating area,
and parking and even in the ‘No Parking’ areas for a
longer duration. The drive was aimed at removing
encroachments and avoiding security risks associated
with unclaimed vehicles. Around 4,000 vehicles were
found violating the norms.
FIRST INDIAN FLIGHT OVER THE NORTH POLE
On August 15, Air India became the first Indian airline to
fly over the North Pole while connecting New Delhi to
San Francisco in south west USA. Before this, the flights
took the route passing over Bangladesh, Myanmar,
China and Japan before crossing the Pacific Ocean to
enter USA.
Passengers will benefit from the reduced flight times,
the airline by conserving fuel, reduce travel times,
improve aircraft utility and reduce carbon emission.
Flights over Polar region face certain typical challenges
like the area of magnetic unreliability, limited choices
for diversion to alternative airports, solar radiation, fuel
freezing, etc.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
STERN LAW TO DEAL WITH TERRORISM
The Parliament passed the Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Amendment (UAPA) Bill, 2019. The Bill
amends the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The amendment gives special powers to the government
to deal with terrorist activities in the country. The main
contentious issue of this bill is the power to designate a
person as a terrorist.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON E-GOVERNANCE
The Department of Administrative Reforms & Public
Grievances (DARPG) in association with Ministry of
Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) and
Meghalaya government hosted the 22nd National
Conference on e-Governance at Shillong on August 8- 9.
THE TRIPLE TALAQ BILL BECOMES LAW
The President of India gave his consent to the recently
passed the Triple Talaq Bill or the Muslim Women
(Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019. The bill
has now become a law. It makes instant triple talaq or
talaq-e-biddat illegal and void. It makes the practice of
instant triple talaq punishable by a jail term of 3 years.
The law will come into force from September 19, 2019.
WORLD YOUTH CONFERENCE
The UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for
Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) organised
the first-ever World Youth Conference in New Delhi.
The theme of the conference was ‘Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam: Gandhi for the Contemporary World:
Celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma
Gandhi.
INDIA: LARGEST PRODUCER OF SO2
According to an analysis of a NASA data released by
environmental watchdog NGO Greenpeace, India is the
world's largest emitter of anthropogenic sulphur
dioxide, which is produced from coal burning, and
greatly contributes to air pollution. India forms more
than 15 percent of all anthropogenic sulphur dioxide
(SO2) hotspots in the world detected by OMI (Ozone
Monitoring Instrument) satellite.
7

 Prime Minister Modi visited Bhutan on a two-day (17-
18 August) state visit to promote the “time-tested
friendship” between the two countries.
 Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu made a visit to
three Baltic countries - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia
to advance India’s outreach to these countries.
 The 7th Community Radio Sammelan was held in
New Delhi (27-29 August). The theme of this year’s
Sammelan was ‘Community Radio for SDGs’.
 The 3rd edition of India's largest education
brainstorming event, the ScooNews Global Educators
Fest was held in Udaipur, Rajasthan, August 9-10.
JULY
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BANGLDESHI STUDENTS
Government of India will provide 10,000 scholarships
for heirs of the liberation war fighters of Bangladesh
called 'Muktijodhas' (freedom fighters) over the next
five years under the Nutan India-Bangladesh Maitree
Muktijodha Sontan Scholarship Scheme.
ECONOMIC CENSUS BEGINS FROM TRIPURA
The 7th Economic Census started from Tripura on July
29. The census, conducted by the Ministry of Statistics
and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is held every
five years under the provisions of Collection of Statistics
Act, 2008.
As per the last Economic Census conducted in 2013, there
were 58.5 million establishments employing around 131
million workers.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
S C ORDERS FOR SETTING OF POCSO COURTS
The Supreme Court ordered the central government to
make a special court in each district having more than
100 cases pending under the Protection of Children
from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The apex Court was
anguished with high number of pending cases of sexual
offences against children. It may be noted that around
1.5 lakh cases under POCSO Act are pending in 670
designated courts.
INTERNATIONAL POLICE EXPO HELD IN DELHI
The 5th International Police Expo was held at Pragati
Maidan, in New Delhi on July 19-20. Over 25 countries
showcased advanced firearms, combat or armoured
vehicles and a plethora of disruptive technologies in
cyber security, drones, and safety and rescue equipment
at the Expo.
S C FORMS PANEL TO SAVE BIRDS
Taking serious note of alarming extinction of two Indian
birds -- Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican --
the Supreme Court has constituted a high powered
committee to urgently frame and implement an
emergency response plan for the protection of these
species. The two birds have suffered a decline of around
80 percent over the past few decades.
INDIA JUMPS 5 SPOTS IN INNOVATION INDEX
India has improved its rank in the Global Innovation
Index to 52nd, making a significant jump of 5 places
from the previous year. The Index ranks innovative
performances of 129 economies around the world on 80
indicators including political environment, education,
infrastructure and business sophistication.
Switzerland retained its number-one spot on the index,
followed by Sweden and USA at second and third rank,
respectively. The theme this year is Creating Healthy
Lives - The Future of Medical Innovation, which aims to
explore the role of medical innovation as it shapes the
future of healthcare.
WORLD BANK FUNDS FOR TB AND ANDHRA
India has signed a $ 400 million loan agreement with the
World Bank to help treat and eliminate Tuberculosis
from the country. Another loan agreement of $ 328
million was signed for improved health services in
Andhra Pradesh.
8
NF RAILWAY WINS INNOVATION AWARD
A unique strategy adopted by Northeast Frontier
Railway (NFR) called ‘Plan Bee’ to keep wild elephants
away from train tracks has won the ‘Best Innovation
Award’ in Indian Railways. The plan bee is a sound
amplifying system that imitates the buzz of a swarm of
honey bees to keep wild elephants away from railway
tracks.
US GRANTS INDIA NATO ALLY STATUS
The United States Senate has passed a legislative
provision that gives India status of ally of America’s
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for
increased defence cooperation. The new status provides
for increased US-India defence cooperation in the Indian
Ocean in areas of humanitarian assistance, counter-
terrorism, counter-piracy and maritime security.
 India signed an agreement with Sri Lanka for
upgradation of over 100 year old railway tracks in
the northern part of the country.
 The Golden Jubilee Edition of International Film
Festival of India will be held from 20-28 November in
Panaji, Goa. Russia will be partner country this year.
NEWS FROM STATES
SEPTEMBER
HP LAUNCHES SERVICE NUMBER 1100
Himachal Pradesh launched the Mukhyamantri Seva
Sankalp Helpline number ‘1100’ to provide timely help
to the residents of the state. The helpline aims to enable
people to resolve their complaints and problems by
calling on this helpline.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
5 STATES GET NEW GOVERNORS
Bhagat Singh Koshyari Maharashtra
(Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister)
Arif Mohammed Khan Kerala
(Former Union Minister)
Bandaru Dattatreya Himachal
(Former Union Minister) Pradesh
Kalraj Mishra Rajasthan
(Former Governor of HP)
Dr Ms. T Soundararajan Telangana
(Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief)
J&K TOPS IN AYUSHMAN BHARAT
Jammu and Kashmir has become the first state to
distribute the highest number of golden cards under
Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
(AB-PMJAY). More than 11 lakhs of golden cards have
been issued under the scheme within 90 days of the
launch of the scheme. Around 60 percent of families are
having at least one golden card which is highest in the
country.
SHONDOL DANCE CREATES WORLD RECORD
Shondol dance, which is known as the royal dance of
Ladakh, has created history by entering into the
Guinness Book of World Records as the largest Ladakhi
dance. As many as 408 women attired in traditional
dresses and beautiful headgears performed the dance,
which broke the previous record of 299 artists in the
2018 festival. The event was held on the concluding day
of the Buddhist carnival Naropa festival held near the
Hemis Monastery in Ladakh.
INDIA’s TALLEST ATC TOWER
India’s tallest ATC (air traffic control) tower started
functioning at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International
Airport. With a height of 102 metres, it will enhance the
safety and boost the efficiency of air transport
management services.
GUJARAT JOINS HANDS WITH DELAWARE, USA
Gujarat Government and Delaware State of America
signed MoU for sister state. Sectors like Biotechnology
University, bio sciences, financial services, animal
husbandry and dairy, port services have been
shortlisted for future cooperation.
9
INDIA’s HIGHEST SKY CYCLING TRACK
The highest sky cycling track of the country has been
built at an altitude of 9,000 feet at Gulaba, a tourist
destination at Manali, Himachal Pradesh. This track has
been made by Atal Bihari Vajpayee Mountaineering
Sports Institute.
MEGA SOLAR POWER PLANT IN LADAKH
The Centre has finalised the site for a 7,500 MW mega
solar project at Pang, about 117 km from Leh, Ladakh.
The Rs 50,000 crore grid-connected solar photo-voltaic
project spread across Leh and Kargil districts is the
single biggest investment proposal in the region, after it
became UT. The renewable energy ministry plans to
eventually scale it up to 23,000 MW grid-connected
Ultra Mega Solar PV - Photovoltaic project.
‘WALK TO WORK’ LAUNCHED IN MEGHALAYA
Meghalaya state launched the ‘Walk to Work’ campaign
in the state as a part of ‘Fit India Movement’ launched in
the country by the Prime Minister. The campaign has
multiple benefits like cost cutting of fuel including
reduction of CO2 emission, reduction in congestion in
the cities and the most important "health and fitness"
for the citizens.
 UNESCO has tied up with the Rajasthan government
to promote music, art and craft forms, and other
intangible cultural heritage of the state to spur socio-
economic growth of several local artist communities.
 Kerala Tourism has won three prestigious Pacific
Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold awards in Nur-
Sultan (Astana), Kazakhstan.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
 Tamil Nadu government launched its exclusive 24x7
education channel 'Kalvi Tholaikkatchi' for school
students of classes I to XII.
 Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul locks and Kandangi sarees
have been granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags.
 Madhya Pradesh government has appointed film star
Govinda as brand ambassador to promote the state’s
traditions and tourist places.
 Asian Development Bank approved a $ 200 million
loan for upgrading rural roads in 34 districts of
Maharashtra to improve road safety.
AUGUST
KARNATAKA TOPS IN SOLAR POWER
Karnataka has topped the SARAL index, which evaluates
the Indian states on the basis of their attractiveness for
rooftop solar development. Other states Telangana,
Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh were ranked 2nd, 3rd and
4th respectively. The State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness
Index (SARAL) was released by Power and New &
Renewable Energy Ministry.
The index aims to incentivise rooftop solar power plants
by creating healthy competition among the states.
COMPOSITE WATER MANAGEMENT INDEX 2.0
The NITI Aayog released the Composite Water
Management Index 2.0 for 2017-18 to rank the states &
UTs on the basis of their performance in efficient
management of water resources. Lead by Gujarat (first)
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were
ranked as top performers in various categories.
The index is an important tool to assess and improve the
performance of States/ UTs in efficient management of
water resources.
BUNKER MUSEUM OPENED IN MUMBAI
A one of its kind underground Bunker Museum has been
opened at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai. The British-era bunker
was discovered in 2016 and has 13 rooms such as Shell
Store, Gun Shell, Cartridge Store and Central Artillery
Store. The museum has virtual reality booths in which
visitors can "time travel" to the 19th century.
A bunker is a heavily fortified structure, usually
underground, made to protect people from bombings
during war time.
10

“AADI MAHOTSAV” HELD IN LEH
A 9 day National Tribal Festival “Aadi Mahotsav” was
held in Leh, Ladakh to showcase traditional art and
handicrafts and cultural heritage of the country. The
theme of the festival was “A celebration of the spirit of
Tribal Craft, Culture and Commerce”.
UP CREATES WORLD RECORD IN PLANTATION
In Uttar Pradesh, a series of world records were made
on August 9 in the massive plantation drive
‘Vriksharopan Mahakumbh’ on the occasion of 77th
anniversary of Quit India Movement. More than 22.59
crore saplings were planted at 12.2 lakh locations under
the drive in state.
GI TAG FOR PALANI ‘ABHISHEKAM PRASADAM’
The ‘abhishekam prasadam’ Panchamirtham of
Murugan temple, Palani, Tamil Nadu has been bestowed
with the Geographical Indication tag. The
panchamirtham is prepared with five natural items —
bananas, jaggery, cow ghee, honey and cardamom.
GI TAG FOR PATHAMADAI MATS
Tamil Nadu’s Pathamadai mats have been granted
Geographical Indication (GI) tag. These mats are made
especially for wedding ceremonies and have the bride's
and groom's names as well as the wedding date woven
in it.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
MAKRANA MARBLE GETS HERITAGE STATUS
Renowned worldwide for its fine quality that glorifies
the Taj Mahal and the Victoria Memorial, Kolkata,
marble from Makrana in Rajasthan is now Asia’s first
Global Heritage Stone Resource. This has been
confirmed by the International Union of Geological
Sciences, an international non-governmental
organisation devoted to international cooperation in the
field of Geology.
GI TAG FOR ODISHA RASAGOLA
The Chennai-based GI Registry issued a formal
certification for the ‘Odisha Rasagola’ also, less than two
years after West Bengal won its own GI tag for the
similar sweet in Nov. 2017. This mouthwatering
culinary delight made of cottage cheese, softer and
juicier than Bengali Rasgulla, is offered to Lord
Jagannath as part of bhog since centuries.
WORLD’s LONGEST DOCUMENTARY
A documentary titled "100 Years of Chrysostom" based
on life of Padma Bhushan awardee 101 year old
Philipose Mar Chrysostom has been selected for the
Guinness Award in the category of longest documentary,
running for 48 hrs and 8 minutes. He is a Metropolitan
Emeritus of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church of
Malabar, Kerala.
 Indian Railways started its second double-decker
train “Uday Express” (Utkrisht Double-Decker Air
Conditioned Yatri) that will run between
Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.
 India’s first Central Institute of Chemical Engineering
& Technology will be set up in Gujarat. It will
facilitate the chemical industry with research and
innovations.
 Rajasthan state won the “best innovation and
initiative leadership award” in the World Education
Summit-2019 held in New Delhi, for its achievements
in higher education.
 Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $200
million loan for improving road infrastructure in 34
districts of Maharashtra.
11
 JULY
JAIPUR DECLARED WORLD HERITAGE SITE
The world famous ‘Pink City’ Jaipur has been inducted
by the UNESCO in its World Heritage Site list. The
historic city was founded in 1727 AD under the
patronage of Sawai Jai Singh II, and hence the name
Jaipur.
With Jaipur's inclusion, the number of heritage sites
across India that are on the UNESCO World Heritage list,
has grown to 38. Ahmedabad was the first city to be
declared heritage city of India in 2017.
TELANGANA STARTS ‘ONE-NATION-ONE-CARD’
Telangana has become the first state to implement
Central government’s proposal for introducing “one-
nation-one-card” project that aims for universal delivery
ration across the country. Now the people can get the
ration supplied through the Public Distribution System
from anywhere across the state through the same ration
card, provided it is linked with Aadhaar card.
‘KALU’ DECLARED BEST POLICE STATION
In Rajasthan, Kalu police station in the Bikaner district
has set an example towards crime control and
preventive action. It bagged the first rank in an
assessment by the Union Home ministry of 15,666
police stations across the country. Due to preventive
action, effective crime detection, crime control, quick
response, humanitarian behaviour and high-tech
working made this police station best in the country.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
COUNTRY’s FIRST SPACE PARK IN KERALA
The Kerala Government will set up a state-of-the-art
Space Systems Park, claimed to be the country's first, at
Knowledge City in Thiruvananthapuram to attract
global start-ups working in the space sector and also
develop it as a major manufacturing hub for space-
related technology, research and development.
A major attraction at the park will be the Dr APJ Abdul
Kalam Knowledge Centre and Space Museum, to be
developed by the ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
MAHARASHTRA TOPS IN AGRI MARKETING
Maharashtra achieved first rank in the “Agricultural
Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index”
(AMFFRI) released by NITI Aayog. It ranks the states on
the basis of level of reforms they have undertaken in
agricultural marketing. Gujarat was ranked second,
closely followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
RATAPANI SANCTUARY MADE TIGER RESERVE
The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to declare
the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve for
better conservation of tigers. Spread over 1500kms, the
sanctuary already has more than 40 tigers.
U’KHAND HOSTS HIMALAYAN CONCLAVE
A first ever conclave of Himalayan states was held in
Mussoorie, the queen of hills Uttarakhand on July 28 to
deliberate on the typical problems faced by the hill
states. It was attended by the chief ministers of all
Himalayan states besides administrators and experts.
The conclave discussed methods to protect the
Himalayan ecosystem from global warming and
measures to be adopted for water conservation.
DRAGON TREE DISCOVERED IN ASSAM
A team of researchers in Assam has discovered
Dracaena cambodiana, a dragon tree species in West
Karbi Anglong district of state. The tree whose sap
turns bright red after coming in contact with air, called
dragon’s blood, has been discovered in India for the first
time. The bright red resin is used from ancient times as
medicine, body oil, varnish, incense and dye.
12
MEGHALAYA FORMULATES WATER POLICY
Meghalaya became the first state in India to ensure the
conservation of water and to have its own water policy.
It seeks to protect and improve the management of
water resources while actively involving the community.
It also aims at ensuring protection and conservation of
catchment areas of all water sources to prevent
degradation of the quantity and quality of available
water sources.
ANDHRA RESERVES 75% JOBS FOR LOCALS
Andhra Pradesh has become the first state in the
country to reserve 75% jobs for locals across all
categories in industrial units, factories, joint ventures as
well as the project that are in public-private partnership
(PPP) mode.
COUNTRY’S FIRST JUMBO REHAB CENTRE
Kerala government plans to open the country's first-
ever elephant rehabilitation centre at Kottoor, an
ecotourism village near its capital city
Thiruvananthapuram. The centre will take care of
jumbos, which are either orphaned or abandoned or
sick or injured. It will have the latest medical facilities
accommodation for trained Mahouts.
KARNATAKA AWARD FOR SOLAR ENERGY
In order to promote solar energy across the world, the
Karnataka government has decided to award the
Karnataka Visvesvaraya Solar Award in the name of
Bharat Ratna M. Visvesvaraya. This award will be given
every year to a country in the world for doing
outstanding work in the field of floating solar project.
COUNTRY’s LONGEST ELECTRIFIED TUNNEL
The South Central Railway commissioned the country’s
longest electrified tunnel, running 6.6 km between
Cherlopalli and Rapuru stations on the Obulavaripalli-
Venkatachalam new railway line in Andhra Pradesh.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
WORLD BANK AID FOR KERALA
The World Bank approved a loan $ 250 million for the
funding of “First Resilient Kerala Program”. The
program will focus on strengthening the state's
institutional and financial capacity to protect the assets
and livelihoods of poor and vulnerable groups.
MEGHALAYA FINED Rs. 100 CRORE
The Supreme Court of India has directed the Meghalaya
government to deposit the Rs 100 crore fine with
Central Pollution Control Board. The fine was imposed
by the National Green Tribunal as the state failed to curb
illegal coal mining.
 The Lok Sabha on June 28 approved the extension of
President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir for another
six months, beginning July 3.
 The Parliament passed the Central Universities
(Amendment) Bill, 2019 for the establishment of a
Central University and Tribal University in Andhra
Pradesh.
 Ministry of Home Affairs has extended The Armed
Forces (Special Powers) Act - AFSPA for another six
months in Nagaland, till December end.
 Gujarat topped in the installation of rooftop solar
projects with an installed capacity of 261.97
megawatts. Total rooftop solar installation in India
at present is 1,700.54 MW.
 Andhra Pradesh to create a natural calamity fund of
Rs. 2,000 crore to mitigate drought conditions and
tackle drinking water scarcity in the state.
 A third century A.D Buddhist relic was found on the
right bank of river Gundlakamma at Anamanaluru
village in Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh.
 The Madhya Pradesh State Cooperative Seed
Federation has decided to produce quality seeds
under the brand name ‘Sah-Beej’ for distribution to
farmers.
 The World Bank to provide $250 million loan for the
Resilient Kerala project for enhancing the state’s
capability to deal with natural disasters and climate
change.
 Asian Development Bank has sanctioned 1,925 crore
rupees for upgradation of power generation and
distribution in Tripura.
13

GOVERNMENT
INITIATIVES
SEPTEMBER
AWARD FOR UNITY AND INTEGRITY
The union government has instituted the highest civilian
award in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, for
rewarding the outstanding contribution to the unity and
integrity of India. The “Sardar Patel Unity Award” seeks
to recognize notable and inspiring contributions in
promoting the cause of national unity and integrity and
to reinforce the value of a strong and united India. No
cash reward would be attached to the award and not
more than three awards will be given in a year.
‘UMMID’ TO FIGHT GENETIC DISEASES
Govt launched a new health initiative named ‘UMMID’
(Unique Methods of Management and treatment of
Inherited Disorders) to tackle inherited genetic diseases
of newborn babies. The initiative will help the future
generations in treating and preventing the diseases
caused by genetic disorders. Further, National Inherited
Diseases Administration (NIDAN) kendras have been
established under UMMID scheme to create awareness
about normalizing the life of children suffering from
genetic disorders.
“BETI BACHAO BETI PADHAO” SHOWS RESULTS
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign has shown
encouraging results in improving sex ratio and
awareness generation in the country. The national sex
ratio made remarkable 13 points jump from 918 to 931
in last 5 years. The campaign was launched on Jan 22,
2015, initially in 100 districts having most adverse sex
ratio. Later, it was extended to cover entire India.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
SWACHHTA HI SEVA 2019 CAMPAIGN
The nationwide mass campaign against the use of ‘single
use plastics’ was launched from Mathura on Sep 11. The
theme of the campaign is ‘plastic waste awareness and
management’ and it will continue till October 2, 2019.
During the campaign, several activities will be organised
to create mass awareness on plastic waste management.
‘SHAGUN’ TO IMPROVE SCHOOL EDUCATION
HRD ministry launched one of the world’s largest
Integrated Online Junction for School Education
‘Shagun’ in New Delhi. The term Shagun has been coined
from two different words- Sha from ‘Shala’ meaning
Schools and gun from ‘Gunvatta’ meaning quality.
"BUILD FOR DIGITAL INDIA” LAUNCHED
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
(MeitY) has partnered with Google to roll out a
programme that will give engineering students a
platform to develop market-ready, technology-based
solutions that address key social problems. The
programme will cover areas like healthcare, agriculture,
education, smart cities and infrastructure, women's
safety, smart mobility and transportation, environment,
accessibility and disability and digital literacy.
'FIT INDIA MOVEMENT' LAUNCHED
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Fit India
Movement' on the occasion of National Sports Day -
August 29. It is a nationwide campaign and it aims to
encourage people to inculcate physical activity and
sports in their everyday lives.
APP LAUNCHED FOR HIRING FARM MACHINERY
Ministry of Agriculture launched a multilingual mobile
app 'CHC Farm Machinery' to allow farmers to avail the
services of CHCs (Custom Hiring Service Centres)
located in a radius of 50 km. Now the farmers can
custom hire various latest farm machinery and
equipment from the CHCs. The app can be downloaded
on any android phone from Google Play Store.
14
SEPTEMBER IS THE ‘POSHAN MAAH’
Ministry of Women and Child Development has decided
to observe the entire month of September as the
Rashtriya Poshan Maah (month). POSHAN (Prime
Minister's Overreaching Scheme for Holistic
Nourishment) Abhiyaan is devoted to improve
nutritional outcomes for children, adolescents, pregnant
women and lactating mothers by leveraging technology
and a targeted approach. This year the theme is
“Complementary Feeding”.
SAILORS TO GET BIOMETRIC IDENTITY
India has become the first country in the world to issue
a Biometric Seafarer Identity Document (BSID) to its
seafarers. The new document will give a foolproof
identification to our seafarers which will facilitate their
movement, provide ease of getting jobs and help in
identifying them from any location in the world. There
are about two lakh sailors from India working in
different locations.
NITI AAYOG SEEKS McKINSEY SUPPORT
Niti Aayog has selected McKinsey & Company to set up
India’s first Digital Capability Centre. It is a unique
digital manufacturing learning centre that offers
company leaders and their workforces hands-on
experience and workshops in next-generation
technology to help them advance their operations,
design and productivity.
COUNTRY’s FIRST POLICE UNIVERSITY
The Union home ministry plans to set up country’s first
central police university in Greater Noida, Uttar
Pradesh. The university will help in improving police
personnel training, skills, research and policymaking
with regard to policing in India.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
FAMILY PENSION HIKED TO 50%
The government has decided that the government
servant, who dies within seven years of joining service,
his family will now be eligible for family pension at an
enhanced rate of 50 per cent (from earlier 30 percent)
of last pay drawn during the last 10 years. The
enhanced rates will be effective with effect from 1st of
October, 2019.
INDIA TO FUND RESEARCHERS FROM ASEAN
India formally launched an initiative to fund 1,000
scholars from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian
Nations) countries to pursue PhD at its 23 Indian
Institutes of Technology (IITs). It is a joint initiative of
the HRD and the ministry of external affairs. Under the
Rs. 300 crore project, students from the 10 ASEAN
countries will get funding for the entire cost of study
and living expenses for up to 5 years of their PhD
programme.
STEEP HIKE IN TRAFFIC VIOLATION PENALTIES
The government has notified that the provisions of the
Motor Vehicles Act 2019 will be implemented from
September 1. Change in penalties, licences, registration
and National Transport Policy are part of the 63 new
clauses that will become effective from Sep 01.
The penalty for drunken driving has been increased to 6
months imprisonment and/or Rs 10,000 fine for the
first offence and 2 years imprisonment and/or fine of Rs
15,000 for second offence. The current penalty is Rs
2,000. Racing and speeding will attract imprisonment of
up to 1 month and/or fine up to Rs 500 for first offence
and imprisonment of up to 1 month and/or a fine of up
to Rs 10,000 for second offence.
BAN ANNOUNCED ON E-CIGARETTES
Finance Minister announced that the government has
decided to put a complete ban on e-cigarettes. This
means that import/export, transport, sale, distribution,
storage and advertising related to e-cigarettes are
banned. E-cigarettes are generally known as battery-
operated devices that produce vape by heating nicotine
mixed solution, which is the addictive substance in
combustible cigarettes.
15
FIRST FUN ZONE AT PLATFORM BY RAILWAYS
With an aim to cut down the monotony of prolonged
waiting periods on railway stations and to make it an
enjoyable experience, particularly for children, in a first
of its kind initiative, a fun zone has been set up by the
Railways at the Visakhapatnam railway station in
Andhra Pradesh. Setup by the South Coast Railway Zone,
it has all the high-tech gaming activities at par with
other video game parlours.
‘INSTITUTE OF EMINENCE’ STATUS TO 5
The HRD Ministry has awarded the ‘Institute of
Eminence’ status to 5 public institutions. The Ministry
took the decision based on the recommendations from
the University Grants Commission (UGC). The five
institutions are:
IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, Delhi University, Benares
Hindu University and University of Hyderabad.
All these institutions will sign an MoU with the HRD
Ministry and will lay out its plan to achieve the objective
of becoming a world-class institution. Every institute
will then be eligible for a government grant of Rs 1,000
crore each.
PROGRAMME LAUNCHED FOR ANIMALS
The National Animal Disease Control Programme was
launched from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. The
programme aims at vaccinating over 500 million
livestock including cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and pigs
against foot and mouth disease.
The programme also aims at vaccinating 36 million
female bovine calves annually in its fight against
Brucellosis disease.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SKILLS AT MUMBAI
Government plans to establish Indian Institute of Skills
(IIS) at Mumbai to provide skill training in highly-
specialised areas to students who want to pursue
technical education after completing Class X and XII.
The IIS will be a tertiary care institute in the skills
ecosystem and offer best of required courses in
emerging and high demand areas such as deep
technology, aerospace, among others.
 Government has set up a three-member panel headed
by Former Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra to oversee
the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union
Territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
AUGUST
PROGRAMME FOR TEACHERS ADVANCEMENTS
The HRD ministry launched the Integrated Teachers
Training Programme, NISHTHA-National Initiative for
School Head’s and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement to
build and improve the capacities of around 42 lakh
participants covering all teachers and Heads of the
school at the elementary level in all government schools.
“JAL JEEVAN MISSION” FOR PIPED WATER
The Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech
announced the launch of “Jal Jeevan Mission” to provide
piped water supply to every house by 2024. The
mission also aims to create local infrastructure for
rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and
management of household wastewater for reuse in
agriculture. The government will spend more than Rs.
3.5 Lakh crore in coming years on this project.
ATAL COMMUNITY INNOVATION (AIM) CENTRE
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) at Niti Aayog launched
the Atal Community Innovation Centre Programme in
New Delhi to encourage the spirit of innovation at the
community level through solution-driven thinking. The
programme aims at spurring community innovation in
underserved and unserved areas of the country. It will
focus on the 484 backward districts where the
innovation infrastructure is very weak.
16
DTC TASK FORCE SUBMITS ITS REPORT
The Task Force headed by Akhilesh Ranjan for review of
Income Tax Act and drafting of new Direct Tax Code -
DTC, submitted its report to Union finance minister
Nirmala Sitharaman. It is reported that the Taskforce
has recommended a substantial cut in personal income
taxes and corporate tax rate.
NEW WARNING FOR TOBACCO PACKS
Centre has notified new sets of health warnings for all
tobacco products by making an amendment in the
Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and
Labeling) Rules, 2008. With effect from Sep 01, the text
message that will be printed on the packs is - “Tobacco
causes painful death”. A national toll-free number -
1800-11-2356 will also be printed on packs to assist the
users to quit.
ARMY EXPERIMENTS WITH GREEN CARS
The Indian Army launched electric cars on August 1 for
use of its officials in New Delhi with a view to avoid air
pollution.combat intense air pollution. The e-car
initiative has been launched in partnership with Energy
Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) in a joint venture of the
Central PSU’s under the Ministry of Power. Air
pollution has been a major challenge in Delhi.
RAILWAYS TO BAN SINGLE USE PLASTIC ITEMS
Ministry of Railways has directed all its units to enforce
ban on single use plastic material (disposable items,
bottles), with less than 50 micron thickness from
October 2nd this year. The move came in the wake of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's clarion call to eliminate
single use plastic in the country. All vendors and staff
across will be encouraged to use reusable bags to
reduce plastic footprint.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
PINK COLOUR COACHES FOR WOMEN
The Northeast Frontier Railway zone has started a
unique initiative to earmark a special portion of the SLR
coach with pink colour with a view to provide better
safety and security to women passengers.
SLR-Seating cum Luggage Rake: These compartments
are divided into two sections - one for sitting portion (for
differently abled persons) and another for luggage.
LOK SABHA TO GO PAPERLESS
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has announced that the Lok
Sabha will become paperless from the next session by
converting almost all the proceedings of the house in the
digital mode. However, if any member needed hard
copy, he or she will be provided. The move is expected
to save crores of rupees to the exchequer.
HELMETS MADE MANDATORY FOR CHILDREN
Central government has made "Headgear" (wearing a
helmet) mandatory for children above 4 years while
travelling on a motorcycle/scooter in public place.
Necessary provisions have been included in the Motor
Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, section 129, for this
purpose. However, Sikhs wearing turban have been
exempted from this provision.
 ‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha’ mission launched by
the HRD ministry to create awareness about Water
Conservation among all school students.
 Government launched mobile app “Janaushadhi
Sugam” that will enable people to easily search for
Janaushadhi generic medicines and the stores.
JULY
HIGH POWERED PANEL FOR FARMERS’ INCOME
Government has formed a high powered Committee of
Chief Ministers for ‘Transformation for Indian
Agriculture’. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra
Fadnavis will be the Convenor and the Committee will
be serviced by NITI Aayog. The Committee will discuss
measures for the transformation of agriculture and
raising farmers’ income.
17
MSP HIKED FOR KHARIF CROPS SWADHAR GREH SCHEME FOR WOMEN
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is
implementing the Swadhar Greh Scheme which targets
the women victims of difficult circumstances who are in
need of institutional support for rehabilitation so that
they could lead their life with dignity. The Scheme
envisages providing shelter, food, clothing and health as
well as economic and social security for these women.

‘EQUIP’ TO IMPROVE HIGHER EDUCATION

The Department of Higher Education of HRD Ministry
has finalized and released a five year vision plan named
Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion
In a major boost to the farmers’ income, the Cabinet
Programme - EQUIP.
Committee on Economic Affairs approved the increase The programme aims to upgrade the overall quality of
in the Minimum Support Prices, MSP for all Kharif crops
education to global standards with a focus on promoting
for 2019-20 season. The increase has been done to
research in higher education and doubling the
ensure that MSPs are at least 1.5 times of the all India
employability of the students passing out of higher
weighted average cost of production. education.
(Rs. per quintal)
CROP 2019-20
Paddy (Common) 1815
GoM TO PREVENT SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Jowar (Hybrid) 2550
Bajra 2000
Maize 1760
Tur (Arhar) 5800
Moong 7050
Urad 5700
Groundnut 5090
Sunflower Seed 5650
Cotton (Medium Staple) 5255

‘ONE NATION, ONE RATION CARD’ BY 30/6/20

The Centre has given a one year deadline till June 30,
2020 to states and Union Territories for rolling out the
‘one nation, one ration card’ system, under which
beneficiaries can buy subsidised foodgrains from ration
shops in any part of the country.
The system will also help remove fake ration card holders
as it will link ration card with Aadhaar number. 89%
ration cards have already been linked with Aadhaar.
STRIDE TO BOOST RESEARCH
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved
a new initiative - Scheme for Trans-disciplinary
Research for India’s Developing Economy (STRIDE) to
boost research culture in the country. It will help
students and faculty to contribute towards India’s
developing economy with the help of collaborative
research.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
Government has reconstituted the Group of Ministers
(GoM) looking after the issues on how to prevent sexual
harassment at workplace and strengthen legal
frameworks. The GoM will be headed by the Home
Minister Amit Shah.
NATIONAL DIGITAL HEALTH BLUEPRINT
Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family
Welfare released the National Digital Health Blueprint
(NDHB) report in the public domain for inputs from
various stakeholders. The blueprint aims to reach each
individual of the country providing health services at
their doorstep to ensure Universal Health Coverage
supported by a robust digital platform.
BILL TO MAKE AADHAAR USE VOLUNTARY
The Parliament passed the Aadhaar and Other Laws
(Amendment) Bill, 2019 to make use of Aadhaar
number as proof of identity for opening bank accounts,
getting mobile phone connections, voluntary and not
mandatory. It also provides stiff penalties of fine up to
Rs. one crore for unauthorised use of Aadhaar related
data. The Bill provides an option to children to
withdraw from Aadhaar database after attaining the age
of 18.
18
MISSION RAKSHA GYAN SHAKTI
Defence Ministry has signed an MoU with the
Intellectual Property Facilitation Cell and National
Research Development Corporation to implement its
mission Raksha Gyan Shakti. The MoU aims to bridge
the capacity shortfall and provide a major fillip to the
ongoing efforts of the Defence Ministry towards
promoting a culture of Innovation and Intellectual
Property Rights in the Defence industry.
AADHAAR CAN BE USED IN PLACE OF PAN CARD
Government has announced that persons, who do not
have PAN card, can now use Aadhaar card in its place. In
order to curb black money, quoting of PAN is mandatory
for cash transactions, such as hotel or foreign travel
bills, exceeding Rs 50,000. In all such cases, Income Tax
authorities will issue them Pan Card of their own.
FSSAI LAUNCHES LOGO FOR TRANS FATS
For the benefit of customers and to make informed
choices, FSSAI has launched a logo to indicate Trans-Fat
Free food items. Now sweet shops, bakeries, other food
outlets can use this logo to showcase their healthier fat
or oil options.
ONLY FASTAG TOLL PLAZA FROM DEC 1
To ensure seamless traffic and prevent congestion at toll
plazas, the government has decided to declare all lanes
at the toll plaza on national highways as 'FASTag lanes'
from December 1, 2019.
FASTag is a prepaid digital tag issued by the NHAI -
National Highway Authority of India that enables
automatic deduction of toll charges and lets the vehicle
pass through the toll plaza without stopping for the cash
transaction.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
AADHAAR SEVA KENDRA FROM UIDAI
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has
opened its first 'Aadhaar Seva Kendra' in Delhi and
Vijayawada. The new Aadhaar centres, which will soon
be rolled out across 53 cities of India, are similar to
Passport Seva Kendras run by the Ministry of External
Affairs. Each centre has the capacity to handle upto
1,000 Aadhaar-related requests daily.
WORKING GROUP FOR REVIEW OF WPI
The Government has constituted a Working Group
headed by Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member, Niti Aayog for
the revision of the current series of Wholesale Price
Index. The working group will work to select the most
appropriate Base Year for the preparation of a new
official series of Index Numbers of Wholesale Price
(WPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) in India.
It will also review commodity basket of the current
series of WPI and suggest additions / deletions of
commodities in the light of structural changes in the
economy witnessed since2011-12.
The current series of Wholesale Price Index with 2011-12
as the base year was introduced in May 2017.
UNIQUE DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
Certain unscrupulous individuals posing as Chartered
Accountant / Company Secretary forge signatures for
issuing certificates etc. with the intent of cheating.
To check this malpractice, the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India (ICAI) and Institute of Company
Secretaries of India – ICSI have developed Unique
Document Identification Number (UDIN) that will be
generated for each genuine document issued by them.
TERM EXTENDED FOR FINANCE COMMISSION
Cabinet has approved the extension of the term of 15th
Finance Commission up to 30th November this year. It
will enable the Commission to examine various
comparable estimates for financial projections in view
of recent reforms to finalise its recommendations for
the period 2020-2025. It was formed in November,
2017 under the chairmanship of N K Singh.
 Health Ministry has signed an MoU with Ministries of
Ayush, Defence and Railways to strengthen the efforts
towards a TB-Free India by 2025.
19

ECONOMY & INDUSTRY
SEPTEMBER
GDP GROWTH SINKS DOWN TO 5%
Sharp deceleration in manufacturing output and
subdued farm sector activity pulled down India's gross
domestic product (GDP) growth to a seven-year low of 5
per cent in the April-June quarter of 2019-20, according
to official data released on August 30 by the National
Statistical Office - NSO.
The gross value added (GVA) growth in the
manufacturing sector tumbled to 0.6 per cent in the first
quarter of this fiscal from 12.1 per cent expansion a year
ago. Similarly, farm sector GVA growth remained
subdued at 2 per cent as compared to 5.1 per cent in the
corresponding period of the previous fiscal.
ADB LOWERS GROWTH RATE TO 6.5%
The Asian Development Bank sharply cut down India’s
growth forecast to 6.5 per cent, from an earlier forecast
of 7 percent made in July this year, for the current fiscal,
2019-20. The rate has been lowered weighed down by
the GDP growth rate dipping to 5 percent in the June
2019 quarter.
CORPORATE TAX CUT TO BOOST GROWTH
In a major bonanza for corporate and as part of
measures to promote growth and investment, on Sep 20
Finance Minister announced to slash corporate tax rate
from 30 percent to 22 percent, without any exemption
or incentives, for domestic companies and from 25
percent to just 15 per cent for new domestic
manufacturing companies. Also, such companies shall
not be required to pay Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) @
18 percent. This reduction is estimated to cost Rs.
1,45,000 crore revenue loss to the government.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
Rs. 60,000 CRORE BOOST FOR THE ECONOMY
Union Finance Minister announced a set of measures to
boost the export sector in the form of provision of Rs
50,000 crore for various incentives for exporters mainly
from the small and medium segment.
In a relief for around 3.5 lakh dwelling units that have
not been completed but whose builders are not in non-
performing asset category and not before the NCLT, the
government will set up a special vehicle with a
contribution of Rs 10,000 crore to ensure early
completion of these houses.
INDIA AT 10th SPOT FOR GOLD RESERVES
According to the World Gold Council, India with gold
reserves totalling 618.2 tonnes, has surpassed the
Netherlands to move into the list of top 10 countries in
terms of total gold reserves. USA leads the list with total
gold reserves of 8,133.5 tonnes followed by Germany
with 3,366.8 tonnes.
HORTICULTURE TO CROSS 313 MN TON
The total horticulture production in the country is
estimated to be over 313 million tonnes which is 0.69
per cent higher than the production in 2017-18. The
production covers fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers and
honey, plantations and aromatics and medicinal crops.
PETRONET TO IMPORT 5 MN TON LNG
India’s largest LNG (Liquefied natural gas) importer
Petronet LNG Ltd announced investment of $2.5 billion
to acquire nearly 20 per cent equity stake in the
Driftwood project of US energy major Tellurian Inc to
support the purchase of 5 million tonne of gas per
annum from them, for the next 40 years.
MULTI MODAL TERMINAL AT SAHIBGANJ
India’s second riverine Multi Modal Terminal was
inaugurated at Sahibganj on River Ganga in Jharkhand.
The terminal facilitates convergence of road, rail and
river waterways. The terminal has been developed
under the Jal Marg Vikas Project. It will open up
industries in Jharkhand and Bihar to the global market.
20
AIR INDIA TO STOP USE OF PLASTICS NEW COMPANY FOR CRITICAL MINERALS
Government has set up a joint venture company “Khanij
Bidesh India Limited” - KABIL with the participation of
three Central Public Sector Enterprises, to ensure
supply of 12 critical minerals to Indian domestic market.
The three CPSEs are National Aluminium Company Ltd,
Hindustan Copper Ltd, and Mineral Exploration
Company Ltd. To begin with, KABIL will focus on
Lithium and Cobalt minerals.

SEBI TO REWARD INSIDER TRADING INFO

The Securities and Exchange Board of India-SEBI has
announced a new mechanism to reward insider trading
informants to uncover insider trading cases. The
reward amount will be 10 percent of the money
Air India will completely ban the use of plastic in collected, subject to a maximum amount of Rs 1 crore.
Alliance Air and Air India Express from 2nd October. These benefits would only be available to individuals
Plastic tea cups will be replaced with sturdy paper cups and corporates and not applicable for professionals like
and plastic tumblers will be replaced with paper auditors who are duty-bound to report any
tumblers. Wherever feasible, wood based alternatives wrongdoing.
will be used for cutlery. Insider trading refers to the illegal practice of trading on
 Honda Cars India launched car leasing services in the stock exchange to one's own advantage by having
association with transportation solutions provider access to some confidential information.
Orix to enable customers to enjoy the use of the latest
cars without having to purchase it. RELIANCE TO RECEIVE $75 BILLION FDI
 National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC)
plans to set up a 5-gigawatt solar park in Gujarat,
which would be the largest in the country.
 The World Bank has approved Rs 3,000 crore fund to
finance mini and mega food parks across the country,
mainly in the Northeastern part of India.
 Bharti Airtel launched the Airtel Xstream Fibre that
will offer users access to broadband services a speed
of 1 GBps for Rs. 3,999 a month.

AUGUST
INDIAN ECONOMY SLIPS TO 7th PLACE
World’s largest Petro giant - Saudi Aramco, national
In a recent report released by the World Bank on the
petroleum and Oil Company of Saudi Arabia, is set to
global GDP rankings of 2018, India has slipped down to
acquire a 20 percent stake in Reliance oil refinery and
the 7th place from fifth place last year. According to the
chemical business at a value of $75 billion or over 5.3
2018 data, the UK and France have once again moved
lakh crore. It would be one of India’s largest ever
ahead of India to reclaim their 5th and 6th spots
foreign direct investment deals to date.
respectively in the global GDP rankings.
The top seven economies in terms of trillion dollars are -  E-commerce major Amazon inaugurated its largest
USA - 20.49, China 13.61, Japan 4.97 Germany 4.0 UK campus in the world, in Hyderabad. Spread over three
2.82 France 2.78 India 2.7 million sqft, it has 15,000 work points.

JULY
3 INSURANCE COMPANIES TO BE MERGED
Government has announced the merger of three public
sector insurance companies - National Insurance
Company Limited, United India Assurance Company
Limited and Oriental India Insurance Company Limited,
into a single insurance entity. The combined entity will
become the largest non-life general insurance Indian
company with value of around Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 21
TATA STEEL PLANT IN WEF LIST
The Kalinganagar plant of Tata Steel in Jaipur district of
Odisha has been included in World Economic Forum's
Global Lighthouse Network. It is the first and the only
Indian manufacturing plant to be included in the
Network.
The Global Lighthouse Network is a community of
manufacturers showing leadership in applying Fourth
Industrial Revolution technologies to drive financial and
operational impact.
 Hyundai India launched the country’s first all-electric
premium crossover – Kona, priced at Rs 25.30 lakh
(ex-showroom, India).
 Reliance Industries ltd has jumped 42 places to
become the highest-ranking Indian firm on the
Fortune Global 500 list, at 106th rank.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that
government wants a strong financial system to make the
country a five trillion economy. She also clarified that
no retrenchment will take place and the staff will be
redeployed suitably. After the merger of banks, the
country will now have 12 public sector banks instead of
27 some two years ago.
Among the 12 PSUs, 8 will be the national level banks
while 4 will be strengthened to operate as regional
banks. The merger is to be effective from April 01, 2020.
NOTEBANDI FAILED TO CURB CASH: RBI
The Annual Report of RBI for 2019 reveals that despite
the enormous efforts to shift to digital payments and
usher in a digital payment economy, the currency in
circulation has jumped by a hefty 17 per cent to Rs
21.10 lakh crore as of March 31, 2019. There was 6.2 %
jump in the number of pieces to 1,08,759 million.

BANKING & FINANCE

SEPTEMBER
10 PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS MERGED
The government announced the merger of ten public The demand for the Rs. 500 note, soared the highest and
sector banks into four banks. now accounts for over 51 per cent of the value of
Sr. Anchor Bank Amalgamating Business PSB rank CBS currency in circulation.
No. banks (s) size by size However, there was a sharp fall in the instance of fake
As on 31-03- currency detections in FY19 to 3.17 lakh pieces down
19 from 7.62 lakh in 2016-17.
1 Punjab Oriental Bank of Rs. 17.94 lakh 2nd Finacle by
National Bank Commerce cr largest Infosys RBI ASKS BANKS TO FOLLOW REPO RATE
United Bank of India The RBI has made it mandatory for banks to link
2 Canara Bank Syndicate Bank Rs. 15.20 lakh 4th iFlex interest on all their new loan products, be it personal,
cr. largest housing or auto to an external benchmark like the policy
3 Union Bank of Andhra Bank Rs. 14.59 lakh 5th Finacle repo rate with effect from 1st October 2019. RBI
India Corporation Bank cr. largest
mentioned that transmission of policy rate benefits
4 Indian Bank Allahabad Bank Rs. 8.08 lakh 7th BaNCS by
cr. largest TCS
under the current framework has not been satisfactory.
Banks merged earlier
The move is likely to cheer borrowers ahead of the
5 SBI Amalgamated Rs. 52.05 BaNCS
festive season as banks will now be forced to pass the
earlier lakh cr. entire rate cut benefit announced by RBI in recent
6 Bank of Amalgamated Rs. 16.13 lakh Finacle months and offer lower interest rates.
Baroda earlier cr.
To strengthen national presence ‘NIRVIK’ LOAN SCHEME LAUNCHED
7 Bank of India Rs. 9.03 lakh cr. Ministry of Commerce & Industry has introduced a new
8 Central Bank of India Rs. 4.68 lakh cr. Export Credit Insurance Scheme called NIRVIK - “Niryat
To strengthen regional focus Rin Vikas Yojana” in tie up with the Export Credit
9 Indian Overseas Bank Rs. 3.75 lakh cr. Guarantee Corporation to enhance loan availability to
10 UCO Bank Rs. 3.17 lakh cr. exporters and to ease the lending process. Under the
11 Bank of Maharashtra Rs. 2.34 lakh cr. scheme, up to 90 per cent of the principal amount and
12 Punjab and Sind Bank Rs. 1.71 lakh cr. interest will be covered through insurance.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 22
INDIA TO GET INFO ON SWISS ACCOUNTS
India will start getting details of bank accounts held by
its citizens in Switzerland from September, ending the
era of Swiss bank secrecy. This is being seen as a major
success of the government's fight against black money
ever since 2014. The first automatic exchange of
financial account information (AEOI) under Common
Reporting Standard (CRS) would start from next month.
RETURN OF ‘LOAN MELAS’ FOR MSME SECTOR
Union Finance Minister announced a country-wide loan
disbursement initiative from public sector banks (PSBs)
with a view to facilitate easy credit availability to the
MSME sector. The PSBs will hold public meetings with
non-banking-finance companies and retail borrowers in
400 districts.
The meetings will be held in two phases, both a week
long. First meet will be held from Sep 24 to 29 in 200
districts while second meet will be held in remaining
200 districts from Oct 10 to 15. Further, to provide relief
to the stressed MSMEs, their sticky loans will not be
declared non-performing assets till the end of the
current fiscal (March 31, 2020).
ANY BANK CUSTOMER CAN USE IPPB SERVICES
India Post Payments Bank, IPPB, launched Aadhaar
Enabled Payment System (AEPS) Services for expanding
access to financial services for millions of unbanked and
underbanked customers. Now, IPPB has become single
largest platform in the country for providing
interoperable banking services to customers of any
bank by leveraging the last mile unprecedented reach of
the Postal network.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
AUGUST
RBI TO TRANSFER 1.76 LAKH CRORE RUPEES
The RBI has decided to transfer 1.76 lakh crore rupees
as dividend and surplus reserve to the government. The
amount includes over 1,23,000 crore rupees of surplus
for the year 2018-19 and 52,637 crore rupees of excess
provisions identified as per the revised Economic
Capital Framework.
The decision has been taken by accepting the
recommendations of a high-level panel headed by
former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan on transfer of excess
reserves to the government.
RBI ALLOWS E-MANDATE ON CARD PAYMENTS
The Reserve Bank has permitted processing of e-
mandate on credit and debit cards and e-wallets for
recurring transactions (merchant payments) with a cap
of Rs 2,000 per transaction. The transactions will be
carried out with Additional Factor of Authentication
(AFA) during e-mandate registration and first
transaction.
No charges would be levied or recovered from the
cardholder for availing the e-mandate facility. E-
mandate refers to standing instructions to the bank for
making recurring payments such as fees, rent, insurance
premiums, etc.
REPO RATE SLASHED BY 35 BPS TO 5.40
The Monetary Policy Committee of RBI in its third bi-
monthly policy review on August 7, decided to reduce
the policy repo rate by 35 basis points (bps) from 5.75
per cent to 5.40 per cent with immediate effect, in order
to give a boost to the slowing economy. Consequently,
the reverse repo rate stands revised to 5.15 per cent,
and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the
Bank Rate to 5.65 per cent. The rate cut is expected to
have a lower rate of interest on bank loans, thereby
facilitating more funds for the businesses.
23
REGISTRY TO TRACK ONLINE FRAUDS
The RBI plans to set up a central payment fraud registry,
which will monitor digital payment frauds on real-time
basis. The move is expected to boost customer
confidence in the payments systems. Payment system
participants like Paytm, Google Pay, Bhim will be
provided access to this registry for near-real time fraud
monitoring. The aggregated fraud data will be published
to educate customers on emerging risks.
REVISED GUIDELINES FOR ATM TRANSACTIONS
RBI has asked banks that transactions failed due to
technical reasons at ATMs or due to non-availability of
cash, should not be included in the "free ATM
transactions" permitted every month. Similarly, use of
ATMs for balance enquiry and fund transfers too, should
not be part of the free transactions facility given to a
customer.
Banks provide five free transactions at ATMs to their
customers and beyond that impose charges. At ATMs of
other banks, three free transactions are allowed in metro
centres and five in all other centres.
NEFT TO BE AVAILABLE 24X7
The RBI has decided to allow round-the-clock fund
transfers through National Electronic Funds Transfer
(NEFT) from December this year in order to promote
digital transactions. Currently, this facility is available
for customers from 8 am to 7 pm on all working days
with the exception of the second and fourth Saturdays of
the month. There is no restriction of any minimum or
maximum amount for use of NEFT.
MASTERCARD LAUNCHES ID SOLUTION
Mastercard has launched a next-generation, mobile-first
authentication solution, “Identity Check Express” that
aims to redefine the e-
commerce journey for Indian
consumers. It combines the
latest technology, including
device intelligence and -
behavioural biometrics, with
the latest EMV 3-D Secure
and FIDO (Fast ID online)
authentication standards to
deliver an uninterrupted mobile payment experience.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
POST BANK TO BECOME SMALL FINANCE BANK
The Department of Posts has decided to convert the
India Post Payments Bank into a Small Finance Bank,
enabling it to offer small loans to customers. Necessary
permission for this purpose shall be obtained from the
RBI. (Payment banks cannot give loans, while Small
Finance Banks are allowed to do so)
 Bandhan Bank launched a co-branded credit card in
association with Standard Chartered Bank.
JULY
RBI TO FOLLOW THREE YEAR PLAN
The Reserve Bank finalised a three- year roadmap
named “Utkarsh 2022” to improve regulation and
supervision, and other functions of the central bank. It
lays out the goals and objectives that the bank plans to
achieve in the next three years.
Worldwide, all central banks strengthen the regulatory
and supervisory mechanism by formulating a long-term
plan and a medium-term plan.
RRBs EXAMS IN REGIONAL LANGUAGES
The recruitment examination of Regional Rural Banks,
RRBs will now be conducted in 13 regional langu13
ages, in addition to English and Hindi. The 13 regional
languages are Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada,
Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi,
Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. At present, there are 45
Regional Rural banks functioning in the country having
total staff strength of around 90 thousand employees.
RBI LOWERS LEVERAGE RATIO
The Reserve Bank relaxed the leverage ratio (LR) to 4%
for Domestic Systemically Important Banks (DSIBs) and
3.5% for other banks, wef October 1, 2019. This has
been done to help them boost their lending activities.
The leverage ratio, as defined under Basel-III norms, is
Tier-I capital as a percentage of the bank's exposures
(loans).
ARCs ALLOWED TO BUY NPAS FROM ARCs
The Reserve Bank has allowed Asset Reconstruction
Companies (ARCs) to buy financial assets from other
ARCs. The transactions must be settled in cash between
the 2 entities. ARCs are the companies which are
authorised to buy stressed assets (bad loans or NPAs)
from the banks and other financial institutions
24
SBI WAIVES FEE ON ONLINE TRANSACTIONS
After RBI decided to do away with the charges on online
transactions to move the country towards a cashless
economy, State Bank of India announced that it will not
levy transaction charges on RTGS and NEFT for YONO,
net banking and mobile banking customers from 1 July.
L&T INFRA GETS FUNDING FROM AIIB
L&T Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd, has become
first NBFC in India to receive a $100-million loan from
the Beijing based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(AIIB). The loan amount shall be used exclusively to
finance mid and large scale solar and wind power
projects in India.
DEFENCE, SCIENCE
& TECHNOLOGY
SEPTEMBER
AEWC NETRA INDUCTED IN AIR FORCE
The DRDO handed over the second Airborne Early
Warning and Control (AEWC) aircraft - ‘Netra’ to the
Indian Air Force. It is useful for surveillance, tracking,
identification and classification of airborne and sea
surface targets and is useful in detecting incoming
ballistic missile threats.
INS KHANDERI JOINS INDIAN NAVY
India's second Scorpene-class attack submarine INS
Khanderi was commissioned into the Indian Navy on
September 28, at Mumbai. The diesel-electric
submarine has been manufactured by Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders, Mumbai.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
"ARRESTED LANDING" DONE BY TEJAS
In a major milestone in the development of a naval
version of the Tejas aircraft, the Indian Navy
successfully carried out the first ever "arrested
landing"— a key performance demonstrating its ability
to land on board an aircraft carrier. The test was
carried out at the INS Hansa in Goa. The Indian Air Force
has already inducted a batch of Tejas aircraft.
ICGS ‘VARAHA’ INDUCTED IN COAST GUARD
The Indian Coast Guard commissioned the offshore
patrol vessel (OPV) ‘Varaha’ at the Chennai Port Trust. It
also has some of the most advanced sensors and
machinery as well as a 33-millimetre (mm) gun. Built
indigenously by Larsen and Toubro, the ship will be
based at New Mangalore.
NAVY’s BIGGEST DRY DOCK INAUGURATED
The Indian Navy’s biggest dry dock with capacity for
accommodating even an aircraft carrier, was
inaugurated in Mumbai. Built at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore,
it can accommodate India’s aircraft carriers INS
Vikramaditya and the under-construction INS Vikrant.
Dry docks are mainly used for the repair and
maintenance of ships.
AH-64E APACHE HELICOPTERS JOIN AIR FORCE
In a major boost to India's air defence capabilities, the
Indian Air Force (IAF) inducted eight AH-64E Apache
helicopters at the Pathankot Air Base in Punjab. Apache
is the most advanced attack helicopter in the world.
FIRST BATCH OF WOMEN SOLDIERS
The Indian Army has announced that the first batch of
100 women soldiers in the Army is likely to be
commissioned by March 2021. They will be
commissioned into the Corps of Military Police to take
up the duties of policing cantonments and other Army
establishments.
Wing Commander Shalija Dhami has become the first
female officer in the country to become Flight
Commander of a flying unit. She will head a Chetak
helicopter unit at Hindon airbase, near Delhi, in Uttar
Pradesh.
25

 The Indian Air Force (IAF) recreated its 17 Squadron
'Golden Arrows' based at the Air Force Station
Ambala Cantt, Haryana. It will operate the first
squadron of Rafale fighter jets in the near future.
 Indian Air Force has successfully flight-tested air-to-
air missile Astra off the coast of Odisha. The missile
was launched from a Sukhoi Su-30 MKI combat
aircraft as a part of user trials.
 The DRDO successfully flight tested indigenously
developed Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile
(MPATGM) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
 A multilateral military exercise TSENTR 2019 was
held in Central Russia from September 9-23. Apart
from several neighbouring countries of Russia,
contingents from India, China and Pakistan took part
in the exercise.
 India and Thailand conducted Joint Military Exercise
MAITREE-2019 at Foreign Training Node, Umroi
(Meghalaya) from 16-29 Sep 2019.
 The Indian Army conducted a massive rare exercise
‘Chang Thang’ in Eastern Ladakh bordering China.
 A naval exercise SITMEX was held near Port Blair,
involving navies of Singapore, Thailand and India to
enhance the overall maritime security in the region.
 SLINEX 2019: The annual Joint Indo-Lanka maritime
fleet exercise was held off the coast of
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
 Exercise "Yudh Abhyas 2019" was held between
army units of India and USA at Joint Base Lewis
McChord, Washington, in the far north west USA from
05-18 September.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
JOLT TO CHANDRAYAAN 2 MISSION
In a major setback to India’s Chandrayaan 2 mission, the
lander Vikram lost contact with the command center
just minutes before its planned softlanding near the
moon's South Pole in the wee hours of Sep 7. The
lander’s normal performance was observed up to an
altitude of 2.1 km from the moon’s surface. However,
since the orbiter is still functioning normally, 90 percent
of mission is still safe. The Rs 978 crore Chandrayaan-2
mission was launched on July 22. On September 2,
Vikram separated from the orbiter. It was expected
programmed to launch rover "Pragyan" - the 6 wheeled
robotic vehicle on to the surface of Moon for conducting
various experiments.
‘SAMUDRAYAAN’ TO STUDY DEEP OCEAN
India’s is planning to explore the deep sea region with
the 'Samudrayaan' project by 2021-22. The project
undertaken by the National Institute of Ocean
Technology proposes to send men into the deep sea in a
submersible vehicle for conducting ocean studies.
DRONES TO MAP THE COUNTRY
The Survey of India, the country's official mapping
agency, has decided to use, for the first time, drones to
map the country. The mapping will create high-
resolution maps of the land in villages facilitating the
digitisation of land titles in villages.
LARGEST FLYING BIRD REMAINS DISCOVERED
Paleontologists have identified a new species, named
Cryodrakon Boreas, and declared that it could be one of
the largest flying animals that lived some 77 million
years ago in what is western Canada today. With a
wingspan of over 10 metres, it is believed to have flown
over the heads of dinosaurs.
 Indian Institute of Petroleum has set up a plant in
Dehradun that can turn plastic waste into diesel. The
plant has the capacity to produce 800-litre diesel
from one tonne of plastic.
26

AUGUST
NAVY GETS LANDING CRAFT UTILITY SHIP
Indigenously built INS LCU L-56, the sixth of the Landing
Craft Utility (LCU) MK IV class ships, was commissioned
into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
This is the 100th ship built by the Garden Reach
Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata.
CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF FOR ARMED FORCES
The Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech
announced that the country will now have a Chief of
Defence Staff, CDS, who will ensure synergy among the
three Services and provide effective leadership to them.
He is the highest-ranked officer of the country’s armed
forces. The CDS effectively coordinates the three
services during the war, emergency situations or
anything crucial.
ARMY SIGNS MoU WITH TATA HOUSING
The Indian Army and Tata Realty & Housing signed a
Memorandum of Understanding as per which the Indian
Army personnel will immediately take over dwelling
units in 13 ‘Ready to Move in’ pan-India projects of Tata
Realty spread across 10 cities including Gurugram,
Chennai, Bengaluru and Pune at a discount ranging from
11%-27%.
R-27 AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES FROM RUSSIA
India has signed a deal worth around Rs 1,500 crore to
acquire R-27 air-to-air missiles from Russia. These
missiles will be loaded on the Su-30MKI combat aircraft.
The R-27 missile is a medium-to-long-range air-to-air
missile having a strike range of 60 to 110 kms with
hypersonic speed of 4.5 mach.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
FIRST WINGSUIT SKYDIVE JUMP
Wing Commander Tarun Chaudhri has become the first
Indian Air Force pilot to perform a wingsuit skydive
jump. The jump was accomplished from a Mi-17
helicopter from an altitude of 8,500 feet during the
Kargil Diwas celebrations at Air Force Station in
Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
ARMY SCOUT MASTERS COMPETITION
The 5th International Army Scout Masters Competition
was held at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan from July 24 to August
17. The show facilitated sharing of best practices and
developed military and technical cooperation between
the participating nations.
 The Army launched "Mission Reach Out" in J&K to
ensure the availability of basic necessities and
essential services there in wake of the recent
reorganisation of the state.
RUSSIA LAUNCHED HUMANOID ASTRO ROBOT
Russia launched an unmanned rocket carrying a life-size
humanoid robot named Fedor (Final Experimental
Demonstration Object Research) that will work with
astronauts in the International Space station. It is a
silvery anthropomorphic robot that stands 5 foot 11
inches tall and weighs 160 kilogrammes.
THINNEST EVER GOLD CREATED
Scientists at the University of Leeds, UK have created a
new form of gold which is just two atoms thick – the
thinnest unsupported gold ever created, measuring just
0.47 nanometres – one million times thinner than a
human fingernail. It could have wide-scale applications
in the medical device and electronics industries, and
also as a catalyst to speed up chemical reactions in a
range of industrial processes.
JULY
NAVY LAUNCHES MISSION “SAGAR MAITREE”
Indian Navy’s Marine and Acoustic Research Ship INS
Sagardhwani set sail from Kochi on a scientific mission
named ‘Marine and Allied Interdisciplinary Training and
Research Initiative’ (MAITRI). Conceptualised by the
DRDO, mission ‘Sagar Maitri’, is a step towards
enhancing the research and strengthening relationship
with Southeast Asian countries.
27

 DRDO successfully tested anti tank Nag missiles in
Pokhran ranges in Rajasthan.
 Indian Army has placed an order for Israeli anti-tank
Spike missiles. This missile is known for its ability to
pierce even bunkers, up to four kilometers.
 The Border Security Force (BSF) has launched a
massive exercise, code named ‘Sudarshan’, to fortify
the ‘anti-infiltration grid’ along the Pakistan border
in Punjab and Jammu.
 Israel Aerospace Industries of Israel to supply
complementary Naval MRSAM (medium range
surface-to-air missile) systems to the Indian Navy.
 A bilateral exercise named Exercise ‘Garuda-VI’ was
held between Indian and French Air Force in France
from July 1 to 12.
 The first lot of four Boeing AH-64E Apache attack
helicopters arrived in India from USA. They will be
stationed at Pathankot Airbase in Punjab.
 The Indian Navy commissioned its new Dornier
Aircraft Squadron in Chennai.
NASA DEVELOPS NEW ATOMIC CLOCK
NASA of USA has developed a Deep Space Atomic Clock
in their Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It is an ultra-precise
device that uses mercury ions and is about 50 times
more stable than average GPS satellite clock.
RUSSIA LAUNCHES SPACE TELESCOPE
The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, in a joint effort
with Germany, launched a space telescope named
Spektr-RG. The satellite will later be parked at L2
Lagrange point.
Located some 1.5 million kilometres from Earth,
Lagrange points are unique positions in the solar system
where objects can maintain their position relative to the
sun and the planets that orbit it.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
YOUTUBE LAUNCHES “LEARNING PLAYLISTS”
Targeting teenagers, YouTube is bringing a new
education feature called “Learning Playlists” with
dedicated landing pages for educational videos on topics
like maths, science, music and language, free from
algorithmic recommendations, so that viewers -
students can watch videos without any distractions.
HAYABUSA LANDS AGAIN ON ASTEROID
Japan’s Hayabusa-2 spacecraft, which made its second
touchdown on asteroid Ryugu on July 12, became the
first ever space probe to gather material from beneath
the surface of an asteroid. Ryugu, just about a kilometer
in diameter, is about one lakh kms away from earth.
 Kaiga Atomic Energy station (North Karnataka) set a
world record for continuous operation as its unit-1
functioned un-interrupted for 962 days.
 ISRO signed a contract with Russia’s Glavkosmos to
seek their expertise in selection, medical examination
and space training of Indian astronauts.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
SEPTEMBER
GLOBAL PROTESTS AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
Millions of people around the world held a global
climate strike on Sep 20, inspired by Swedish student
activist Greta Thunberg. Protesters across continents
waved placards and chanted slogans in what could be
the biggest ever demonstration over global warming
caused by humans. It comes ahead of a UN climate
summit on Sep 23 in Manhattan. Ms Thunberg first
started skipping school to protest against inaction on
climate change in 2018. Her actions have inspired
schoolchildren and adults around the world to take up
the fight.
FRANCE TO DOWNSIZE PARLIAMENT BY 25%
France has decided to reduce the country's parliament
by 25 per cent as part of an overhaul of the country's
institutions. As a result, the number of seats in the
lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, will
be reduced to 433 from 577ent. The Senate would go
down from 348 to 261 members.
28
EXTRADITION BILL WITHDRAWN IN HK USA TO HAVE ‘SPACE FORCE’
The U.S. President announced the formation of “Space
Command” or SpaceCom, a force that will combine skills
and assets from all U.S. military branches. It would be a
new, sixth branch of the U.S. armed forces. Although
there is already an Air Force focused on space warfare,
the new command will be developing specialised
systems and preparation for "Star Wars"-type
showdowns.

ABU DHABI HOSTS WORLD ENERGY CONGRESS

The 24th World Energy Congress was held in Abu Dhabi,
UAE from Sep 9 to 12. The Congress brought together
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on
international energy stakeholders, including
Sep 4 the scrapping of an extradition bill that triggered
governments, private and state corporations, academia
months of unrest and threw the Chinese-ruled city into
and the media, from around the world.
its worst crisis in decades. The protests against the bill
in the former British colony began in March but
snowballed in June and have since evolved into a push S. ASIA’s TALLEST TV TOWER IN COLOMBO
for greater democracy. The bill would have allowed South Asia’s tallest tower,
extraditions to mainland China where courts are standing 350 meter high
controlled by the Communist Party. ‘Lotus Tower’ was thrown
open to public in Colombo,
THOMAS COOK ENDS ITS JOURNEY Sri Lanka. Costing over
The world's oldest travel firm Thomas Cook UK $100 million, 80% of which
collapsed (declared bankrupt) on Sep 23, stranding has been funded by China
hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers around the under the controversial
globe. The tour operator's failure puts 22,000 jobs at Belt and Road Initiative,
risk worldwide. the tower comprises of a
One major factor stated behind failure is that now-a- television tower, a hotel, a
days anybody can easily play the role of travel agent due telecommunications
to easy online access to availability of all the airline museum, restaurants,
seats, availability of hotel beds, various tariffs, car auditorium, an observation
rentals etc. They can put things together themselves, deck, a shopping mall and a
thereby sidelining the travel agents. conference centre.

JAPAN TO START POLICING OF EAST CHINA SEA PLAIN CIGARETTE

Japan has decided to launch a special police unit PACKAGING IN
equipped with submachine guns and helicopters to THAILAND
patrol disputed isles in the East China Sea. The Thailand became the first
uninhabited islets are at the centre of a festering row Asian nation to unveil plain
between Tokyo and Beijing, considering instances of cigarette packaging to
illegal landings on remote islands by armed groups. reduce the appeal of
smoking and to comply
with the WHO guidelines.
In 2012, Australia became
the first country to require
tobacco products to be sold without colourful brand
logos to discourage their consumption.

JAIPUR LITERATURE FESTIVAL IN USA

The second edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF)
was held in Houston, USA from September 13-14 as part
of the larger umbrella of the literary event in the US.
Hailed as one of the greatest literary shows globally, the
JLF after Houston was held in New York from
September 17-18 and in Colorado from Sept. 21-22.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 29
TOKYO RANKED AS SAFEST CITY
According to a report of the Economist Intelligence Unit,
London, the “Safe Cities Index (SCI) 2019” ranked Tokyo
at the top spot, while Singapore and Osaka came 2nd
and 3rd in the list. The Index ranks 60 countries
worldwide and measures the multi-faceted nature of
urban safety, with parameters categorised as digital,
infrastructure, health and personal security. In India,
Mumbai has been ranked as the 45th while Delhi stood
at the 52nd position.
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became the 79th
country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA),
an initiative by India aimed at combating the threats
of climate change and global warming. The ISA is a
group of 121 solar resource-rich countries located
between the tropics, and has its headquarters in
Gurugram (Haryana), India.
 Indonesia’s president announced that the country’s
capital will move from overcrowded, sinking and
polluted Jakarta to a site in sparsely populated East
Kalimantan province on Borneo island.
AUGUST
BRAZIL SUFFERS WORST EVER WILDFIRES
Hundreds of wildfires flared up in the rain forests of the
Amazon in Brazil. The government has deployed huge
military cargo aircraft to dump water over hard-hit
areas. Smoke choked Port Velho city as fires raged in the
northwestern state of Rondonia.
Widespread fires are devouring large chunks of world's
largest rain-forest, which is seen as crucial to keeping
climate change in check as it contributes roughly 20
percent of world’s total Oxygen. It (Amazon forests) is
often referred to as the “Lungs of the Earth”.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
PAKISTAN BLACKLISTED BY FATF
Pakistan has been placed on the blacklist of the
Financial Action Task Force’s (Paris) Asia Pacific Group
for non-compliance and non-enforcement of safeguards
against terror financing and money laundering. Now,
this will make it difficult for Pakistan to receive financial
aid from various international agencies such as World
Bank, IMF, ADB, etc. Of total 40 parameters set by the
regional grouping, Pakistan failed on around 36, while it
passed on only one of the total 11 'effectiveness'
parameters.
BANGLADESH ATTACKED BY DENGUE
The Bangladesh suffered widespread outbreak of
Dengue as the number of people infected with dengue
this year reached almost 25,000 across the country by
the first week of August. The disease claimed several
lives in the country. Government has made extensive
arrangements to cope up with the calamity.
LONDON IS THE BEST CITY FOR STUDENTS
The QS Best Student Cities Ranking compiled by the
London based global education consultancy QS-
Quacquarelli Symonds has ranked London as the
world’s best city for students for the 2nd consecutive
year, beating Tokyo and Melbourne that came 2nd and
3rd, respectively.
BURQA/NIQAB BANNED BY NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands banned face-covering clothing, such as
a burqa or niqab, in public buildings and on transport as
a contentious law on the garment came into force. The
law also applies to other face coverings such as full-face
helmets, balaclavas or ski mask.
SAUDI WOMEN ALLOWED FREE MOVEMENT
Saudi Arabia passed new laws to remove age old
restrictions on independent movement of women. Now
Saudi women will be allowed to obtain passports and
travel abroad without approval from a male "guardian".
The new changes are part of a modernization drive
initiated by Saudi Arabia’s liberal Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman.
30

Turmoil in Hong Kong
Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region of the People's Republic of China, is located on the
South Eastern coast of China, surrounded by the South China
Sea on three sides. With over 7.4 million people in a 1,104-
square-kilometre territory, it is one of the most densely
populated places in the world. It represents an island of
opulence which is highly advanced and very strong
financially and wields wide influence in the financial world.
Britishers acquired this territory from the local Qing dynasty
in 1842 after victory in the First Opium War. After
remaining a British colony for over 150 years, it was handed
over to China in July 1997 as a “special administrative
region” of Republic of China. The recent protests are a
culmination of more than a decade of popular frustration
over repeated encroachments by Beijing on Hong Kong’s
special status.
After 22 years of transfer, protests once again began in
March, 2019 to oppose a bill “Fugitive Offenders and Mutual
Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation
(Amendment) Bill 2019” that would have allowed
extraditions of locals to mainland China.
On July 1, a crowd of protesters smashed their way into the
central chambers of Hong Kong’s parliament. Once inside,
they spray-painted graffiti critical of Hong Kong’s
government and placed the old colonial flag of Hong Kong
over the city’s official emblem. They feel that Hong Kong’s
system of law and order was becoming subservient to
Beijing’s harsher rules. It posed one of the strongest
challenges to Chinese control of Hong Kong.
Alarmed by the rising mass uprising, on July 9, the Chief
Executive Carrie Lam suspended the extradition bill, to be
treated as ‘withdrawn’ for the time being. However, pending
a final decision, the protesters are continuing their massive
agitation.
The increasingly violent protests have plunged Hong Kong
into its most serious crisis in decades, presenting a serious
challenge to Beijing.
JULY
JAPAN AND SINGAPORE HAVE BEST PASSPORTS
Henley Passport Index
2019 released recently
shows that Japan and
Singapore hold first
position jointly as the
most powerful pass-
ports in the world as
they allow visa-free or
visa-on-arrival travel to
189 countries. The index covered 199 passports. South
Korea along with Finland and Germany share the second
spot as they enjoy visa free access to 187 destinations
around the world. India stands at 86th position, having
visa free access to only 58 countries.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
WHO TAKES NOTE OF EBOLA IN CONGO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the
Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo a
public health emergency of international concern. More
than 1,600 people have died since August 2018 in the
second-deadliest Ebola outbreak in history.
Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by ebola virus
and is extremely contagious with very high mortality rate.
LARGEST HOSPITAL FOR BURN VICTIMS
The world's largest burn and plastic surgery institute
started functioning in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Named Sheikh
Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, the
500-bed hospital with 50 ICU and 12 operation theatres
will provide advanced treatment to burn patients in
Bangladesh.
TOURISTS IN UAE TO GET FREE SIM CARDS
United Arab Emirates (UAE) has decided to offer to its
incoming tourists free mobile phone SIM cards with 20
MB data as a gift without providing any documentation.
The SIM cards will also include free international calling
minutes and text messages. The cards will be valid for a
month and will get automatically renewed if the tourists
extend their visa.
CHINA’s GDP GROWTH SINKS TO 6.2%
Latest data released by the Chinese government showed
that country's economic growth slowed to a record low
of 6.2 per cent in the second quarter of this year. This is
the weakest growth rate in nearly three decades for the
world's second-largest economy, primarily due to
ongoing trade war with the United States and
weakening global demand.
HONG KONG IS THE COSTLIEST CITY
Hong Kong has been named the world’s most expensive
city for expatriates for the second year running,
according to an annual report by consulting firm
Mercer. Tokyo came in second, followed by Singapore.
The ranking looks at 209 cities around the world,
measuring the comparative cost of more than 200 items
in each location, including housing, transport, food,
clothing, household goods and entertainment. The
cheapest cities are lead by Tunis, followed by Tashkent.
31
UKRAINE UNVEILS WORLD’s LARGEST DOME
The world's largest movable metal structure has been
unveiled as the dome covering for the destroyed reactor
at Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The New
Safe Confinement is 354 feet high, weighs 39,600 tons
and is able to withstand a tornado.
CARBON TAX INTRODUCED IN SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa has passed a law to impose carbon tax to
cut down emissions of greenhouse gases in the country.
The tax, a rare step for an emerging economy, is
effective from June 1 on greenhouse gases from fuel
combustion and industrial processes and emissions.
. N Tiwari.
JUNE 2019 WAS HOTTEST EVER RECORDED
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, a
European climate agency, June 2019 was recorded as
the hottest June ever with temperatures soaring up to
nearly 10 degree Celsius above the average temperature
recorded this time of the year, breaching 50 degrees
celsius at many places.
FACEBOOK FINED $ 5BILLION IN USA
The US Federal Trade Commission imposed a record-
breaking $5 billion fine on Facebook Inc as it violated
the law by failing to protect users data from third
parties, serving ads through the use of phone numbers
provided for security, and lying to users that its facial
recognition software was turned off by default.
FRANCE TO TAX OUTGOING FLIGHTS
The French government has decided to impose a tax of
up to 18 Euros ($20) on plane tickets for all flights,
domestic as well as international, taking off from
airports in France. The incoming flights will be
exempted from this tax.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
 Palau, a tiny country in the Micronesia region in the
western Pacific Ocean, signed International Solar
Alliance Framework to become 76th country to join
the International Solar Alliance.
 The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared
that Sri Lanka has become the fifth country in the
Southeast Asia region to eliminate measles disease.
PERSONS IN NEWS
SEPTEMBER
Narendra Modi: Indian Prime Minister crossed the
mark of 50 million followers on his twitter account,
becoming the third most followed world leader after
Barack Obama (108.2 million) and Donald Trump (64
million).
Rajnath Singh: The Defence
Minister on Sep 19 flew in the
Tejas fighter aircraft from the
HAL airport in Bengaluru,
becoming the first defence
minister to fly in the indigenously-built light combat
aircraft (LCA). He was accompanied by Air Vice Marshal
Wing Commander Anjali Singh: She became India's
first female military diplomat to be posted in any of the
Indian missions abroad. A trained MiG-29 fighter
aircraft pilot, she joined the Indian Embassy in Russia as
the Deputy Air Attache.
Rohit Sharma: Indian Cricket team vice-captain
launched “Rohit4Rhinos” campaign, in partnership with
WWF India and Animal Planet to build awareness for
the need to conserve the Greater One-Horned
Rhinoceros or the Indian Rhino. It is listed as
Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The state animal of
Assam, Indian rhino faces several threats, including
poaching, habitat loss and mass mortality from in-
breeding and disease.
Jack Ma: Founder of Chinese e-commerce giant -
Alibaba, stepped down as chairman of the world’s
biggest e-commerce company on Sep 10, his 55th
birthday. This was as per his succession plan
announced a year ago.
Greta Thunberg: Teenage climate campaigner school
girl from Sweden sailed from Plymouth in the UK to
New York on a zero-emissions yacht in order to
minimize the carbon footprint of her travel. Later she
addressed the participants of the Climate Action Summit
in the UN General Assembly.
Sarah Thomas: American breast cancer survivor
became the first person to swim across the English
Channel four times in a non-stop 54-hour feat of
endurance. She was diagnosed with cancer a year ago.
32
 AUGUST
Justice Madan B Lokur: Retired Supreme Court judge
APPOINTMENTS
has been appointed a judge of the nonresident panel of SEPTEMBER
the Supreme Court of Fiji, a tiny island nation in the
South Pacific Ocean. This is a rare honour for the Indian 5 STATES GET NEW GOVERNORS
judiciary. He will hold office for three years. Bhagat Singh Koshyari Maharashtra
(Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister)
Akshay Kumar: As per Forbes' list of highest-paid Arif Mohammed Khan Kerala
actors, Bollywood star secured the fourth position with (Former Union Minister)
earnings of $65 million (about Rs 450 crore). He is the Bandaru Dattatreya Himachal
only Bollywood actor to figure in the list. Dwayne (Former Union Minister) Pradesh
Johnson of Hollywood (popularly known as The Rock) Kalraj Mishra Rajasthan
topped the list with earnings of $ 89.4 million, from June (Former Governor of HP)
1, 2018 to June 1, 2019. Dr Ms. T Soundararajan Telangana
(Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief)
Scarlett Johansson: Hollywood star has topped the
Forbes’ list of highest-paid female actors in the world. Air Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria will be
Spurred by the success of her summer Marvel film the next chief of Indian Air force wef Sep 30, 2019 in the
Avengers: Endgame, the 34-year-old actor’s earnings rank of Air Chief Marshal.
reached $ 56 million. Pradeep Kumar Sinha: Appointed as the Principal
Taylor Swift: As per the Forbes list of highest paid Advisor to Prime Minister. He is a former Cabinet
women in music, the 29 year old American singer has Secretary.
been ranked at the top, with earnings of $ 185 million Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra: Appointed as the Principal
(over Rs 1,300 crore). Secretary to the Prime Minister
V K Johri: Senior IPS officer appointed as the new
JULY Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF)
Zaira Wasim: The young actress from Srinagar, Sunil Arora: India’s Chief Election Commissioner
Kashmir who rose to fame with her debut in Aamir elected as the Chairman of Association of World Election
Khan's film Dangal and later with film ‘Secret Superstar, Bodies (AWEB) for the term 2019-21. AWEB is a global
shocked the film fraternity and her fans by announcing body of Election organisations of the world, based in
her decision to quit films as it interfered with her Song-do, South Korea.
religious values.
Priti Patel: The 47 year old British MP of Indian origin Kristalina Georgieva: Noted economist from Bulgaria
took charge as Britain’s first Indian-origin Home has been selected as the new head of the International
Secretary in the newly unveiled Boris Johnson Cabinet. Monetary Fund (IMF). A former chief executive of the
She was first elected as a Conservative party MP from World Bank, she succeeds Christine Lagarde as
Essex in 2010. Managing Director for a five-year term from October
this year.
Benjamin Netanyahu: He has become Israel's longest-
serving prime minister, surpassing the record set by the
country's founding father and first Prime Minister,
David Ben Gurion. He has led the country for 4,876 days
(over 13 years, four months) - one more than Israel's,
and still continuing his fifth term as Prime Minister.
Angela Merkel: German chancellor was in the news as
she experienced three episodes of tremors at public
events in recent times, though she tried to control them
with dignity and poise. Her staff blamed dehydration for
this, though people are suspecting some other health
issue. The 65 year old leader is regarded as one of the
most influential women of the world.
Christine Lagarde: The managing director of the
International Monetary Fund, IMF has resigned ahead of
a decision on her nomination to become President of the
European Central Bank, ECB, at Frankfurt, Germany.

GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 33

 AUGUST
B S Yeddyurappa: Sworn in as the 19th chief minister
of Karnataka, for the fourth time.
Rajiv Gauba: Appointed as the next Cabinet Secretary
by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by
the Prime Minister. CS is the top-most executive official
and senior-most civil servant of the Govt of India.
Ajay Kumar Bhalla: Appointed as the new Union Home
Secretary.
Rajiv Kumar: Senior IAS officer appointed as the new
Union Finance Secretary.
Madhur Deora: Appointed as the President of Paytm,
India’s largest digital payment company.
Abdalla Hamdok: Prominent economist has been
sworn in as Sudan's new prime minister.
Alejandro Giammattei: Elected as the President of
Guatemala, a tiny country South of Mexico.
JULY
NEW GOVERNORS APPOINTED FOR TEN STATES
Anandi Ben Patel
Lal Ji Tandon
Uttar Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Phagu Chauhan Bihar
Jagdeep Dhankhar West Bengal
Ramesh Bais Tripura
R.N. Ravi Nagaland
Anusuiya Uikey Chhattisgarh
Kalraj Mishra Himachal Pradesh
Acharya Devvrat Gujarat
Biswa Bhusan Harichandan Andhra Pradesh.
V K Johri: Sr. IPS officer has been appointed as the next
Director General of Border Security Force.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury: The leader of the Congress
party in Lok Sabha, was appointed as the Chairman of
the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The PAC reviews the reports of CAG. It has 15 members
from Lok Sabha and seven from Rajya Sabha.
Dr. Ajay Bhalla: IAS officer of 1984 batch appointed as
the new Union Home Secretary
Vivek Kumar: A senior officer of Indian Foreign Service
was appointed as private secretary to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
Justice A K Sikri: Former Supreme Court judge has
been appointed as an international judge at the
Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC).
Anshula Kant: A former MD of State Bank of India has
been appointed as the next MD and CFO of the World
Bank. She will report to President, David Malpass.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
P K Purwar: Appointed new Chairman-cum-Managing
Director of BSNL - Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.
Arun Kumar: Appointed as the Director General of
aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation,
New Delhi.
B Harideesh Kumar: Appointed as the new Director of
the IBPS - Institute of Banking Personnel Selection,
Mumbai.
Amish Tripathi: Famous author has been appointed as
the Director of London’s Nehru Centre, the cultural
outfit of Indian High Commission
N S Vishwanathan: Current Deputy Governor of the RBI
has been given extension for a further period of one
year from July 4, 2019.
Karnam Sekar: Takes over as MD and CEO of Indian
Overseas Bank
Boris Johnson: A leader of Conservative party, elected
as the new Prime Minister of Britain.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Elected as the new Prime
Minister of Greece.
AWARDS & HONOURS
SEPTEMBER
Global Goalkeeper Award: Prime Minister Narendra
Modi will be honoured with a special award by Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation, USA for his outstanding work
in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The award will be given
in the USA.
Dada Saheb Phalke Award: Veteran actor Amitabh
Bachchan has been named for this most prestigious
award for his outstanding contribution to the Indian
film industry. This is the highest award conferred by
the Government for outstanding contribution to the
growth and development of Indian Cinema. It consists of
a Swarn Kamal and a cash prize of ten lakh rupees.
The SASTRA Ramanujan Prize-2019: Awarded to
Adam Harper, an Assistant Professor with the University
of Warwick, England. The prize is conferred annually on
mathematicians from across the world who is less than
32 years of age and working in an area influenced by the
genius Srinivasa Ramanujan. The prize carries a citation
and an award of $10,000.
The 2oth IIFA (International Indian Film Academy)
Awards ceremony was held on Sep 18 for the first time in
India, in Mumbai.
Best Actor (Male): Ranveer Singh for Padmaavat
Best Actor (Female): Alia Bhatt for Raazi
Best Film: Raazi by Meghna Gulzar
Best Director: Sriram Raghavan for Andhadhun
Lifetime Achievement Award: Legendary actor and
comedian Jagdeep Jaffery
34
SKOCH Governance Gold Award: Presented to
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban
Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) for its initiative
"Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention
Access (PAiSA)". DAY-NULM is a flagship mission under
the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Magnificent Performing Arts Award: Given to
popular Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam in
London.
1st Gauri Lankesh National Award for Journalism:
Given to senior TV journalist Ravish Kumar
Eminent Engineers Award: Vinod Kumar Yadav,
Chairman of Railway Board was felicitated with this
award on the occasion of the 52nd Engineers’ Day.
Dr Kalam Smriti International Excellence Award-
2019: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh was
conferred this award in Dhaka. The award has been
instituted in the memory of former Indian President Dr.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Breakthrough Prize 2020
Popularly known as the "Oscars of science”, they are
awarded by the US based Breakthrough Prize
Foundation, every year, in three fields for disciplines
that ask the biggest questions and seek the deepest
explanations. Considered as the world’s most generous
science prize, each Breakthrough Prize carries an award
of $ 3 million.
Fundamental Physics: Awarded to 347 Members of
the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration who
collectively produced the world's first image of a black
hole.
Life Sciences (4): Awarded to Jeffrey M. Friedman, F.
Ulrich Hartl and Arthur L. Horwich, David Julius, and
Virginia Man-Yee Lee, each for different achievements.
Mathematics: Awarded to Alex Eskin, University of
Chicago, USA, for revolutionary discoveries in the
dynamics and geometry of moduli spaces of Abelian
differentials.
Right Livelihood Award 2019: Conferred upon
Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg for her
activism against climate change. Besides her, three more
persons were given the award.
AUGUST
Vir Chakra: India’s third highest wartime gallantry
award was conferred upon Wing Commander
Abhinandan Varthaman who became the face of a tense
military confrontation between India and Pakistan
when he downed an F-16 fighter of Pakistan on Feb. 27
in a straight dog fight in which his MiG-21 was shot
down and he was captured by the Pakistani forces,
though released later.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
The 66th National Film Awards were announced on
August 9 by the jury headed by veteran film director
Rahul Rawail. The awards are given in 31 categories.
The award for most film friendly state was given to
Uttarakhand.
Best Feature Hellaro, a Gujarati film directed by
Film: Abhishek Shah
Best Popular Badhaai Ho by Amit Sharma
Film:
Best Film on Padman by R Balki
Social Issues:
Best Hindi Film: Andhadhun by Sriram Raghavan
Best Director: Aditya Dhar for Uri-The Surgical
Strike
Best Actor: Ayushmann Khuranna for
Andhadhun and Vicky Kaushal for
Uri : The Surgical Strike
Best Actress: Keerthy Suresh for Mahanati
(Telugu and Tamil)
Vidisha Baliyan: Uttar Pradesh girl was crowned the
Miss Deaf World 2019 title at the international beauty
pageant held in Mbombela, South Africa.
Priyam Chatterjee became the 1st Indian chef to be
awarded the 'Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole' by
the government of France to recognise his contribution
towards reinventing the gastronomic scene in India.
Ramon Magsaysay Award-2019: Senior Indian
journalist Ravish Kumar was one of the five persons
selected for the prestigious award, regarded as the
Asian version of the Nobel Prize.
Kumar, 44, NDTV India’s senior executive editor, is one
of India’s most influential TV journalists, and is known
for his sober, incisive and well-informed reporting of
generally undercovered social issues in his Hindi TV
programme ‘Prime Time’.
Indians win 4 medals in World Skills 2019
The Indian team created history by winning one gold,
one silver and two bronze medals at the 45th World
Skills 2019 competition in Kazan, Russia. It is the world
championship of vocational skills, held every two years.
Miss England-2019: Bhasha Mukherjee, an Indian-
origin doctor won the title in a pageant held in London.
Miss World Diversity 2019: Naaz Joshi, India's
transsexual woman won the crown at a pageant held in
Port Louis, Mauritius.
JULY
NALCO gets President award for CSR
National Aluminium Company Limited - NALCO, an
Odisha based Navratna Company, has been selected for
President's award for best utilisation of Corporate Social
Responsibility funds. NALCO started a scheme "Aliali
Jhia" to promote the education of girls of BPL families.
35
PATA Gold Award: The "Find the Incredible You"
campaign of the Tourism Ministry won the Pacific Asia
Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award, 2019. The
campaign focuses on digital and social media and the
promotion of niche tourism products of the country.
Indian entry “Nagarkirtan”, a Bengali film directed by
Kaushik Ganguly bagged the Best Feature Film and Best
Director award at the 9th SAARC Film Festival held in
Colombo, Sri Lanka.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
SEPTEMBER
Being Gandhi by Paro Anand
Savarkar: Echoes from a forgotten past by Vikram
Sampath, noted historian
Loktantra Ke Swar and The Republican Ethic : Both
the books are a compilation of speeches of the President
Ram Nath Kovind
A Short History of Indian Railways by Rajendra B
Aklekar.
India's Lost Frontier by Raghvendra Singh, veteran
civil servant
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
The Institute by Stephen King
Here to Stay by Mark Edwards
Obama: The Call of History by Peter Baker
AUGUST
Whispers of Time by Dr. Krishna Saksena
Sridevi: Girl Woman Superstar by Satyarth Nayak
The Diary of Manu Gandhi by Dr Tridip Suhrud
Big Billion Startup: The Untold Flipkart Story by
Mihir Dalal
The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
JULY
A Prime Minister to Remember- Memories of a
Military Chief by former Navy Chief Admiral Sushil
Kumar, a book based on the works of late Prime
Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Chandra Shekhar- The Last Icon of Ideological Politics
by Harivansh and Ravi Dutt Bajpai.
Kargil: Untold stories from the War by Rachna Bisht
Rawat
Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta by Amish Tripathi
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
Those People by Louise Candlish
Bunny by Mona Awad
Recursion by Blake Crouch
Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner
OBITUARY
SEPTEMBER
Ram Jethmalani: Veteran lawyer and former Union
Law Minister passed away in New Delhi at the age of 96.
He fought many important cases and hit national
headlines when he decided to represent the killers of
former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
Robert Mugabe: Zimbabwe’s former president died
aged 95 in Singapore, where he had often received
medical treatment in recent years. He ruled the country
as Prime Minister and as President for 37 long years.
AUGUST
Arun Jaitley: Former Union minister and top BJP leader
passed away after prolonged illness. He was 66. He
served the Vajpayee government as Minister of
Information and Broadcasting and later as Law Minister,
and then during 2009-2014 as the Leader of the
Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
He served as Finance Minister and as Defence Minister
in Modi government. A brilliant strategist and
communicator with a worldview on all issues, he was
among the best spokespersons in the BJP.
Khayyam: Veteran Bollywood composer and music
director, best known for his music in classic films such
as Kabhi Kabhie and Umrao Jaan, Noorie, Trishul, passed
away after a prolonged illness at the age of 92. His actual
name was Mohammed Zahur Hashmi and Khayyam was
his popular name. He was honoured with Padma
Bhushan in 2011 for his glorious contribution to Indian
cinema.
Subir Vithal Gokarn: Noted economist and former RBI
Deputy Governor (2009-12)passed away at the age of
60, after a brief illness. He was appointed by the
government as Executive Director on the board of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) in November 2015.
36
Sushma Swaraj: Former External Affairs Minister and
former Chief Minister of Delhi, one of the BJP’s most
popular women leaders, passed away in New Delhi on
August 6 after suffering a massive cardiac arrest. She
was 67. In 1977 she became the youngest cabinet
minister at the age of 25.
She will always be remembered for excellent oratory
skills and her eveready helpful nature. With 1.31 crore
followers on Twitter, she was the most popular of
women politicians.
V G Siddhartha: Founder of the Café Coffee Day chain,
was in the news due to his mysterious suicide. His body
was fished out from the backwaters of the Netravati
River near Ullal, Mangalore in Karnataka, his home
state. He was instrumental in popularising Indian coffee
worldwide.
Vidya Sinha: Veteran Bollywood actress passed away
after a brief lung-cum-heart disease. She was 72. She
was well known for her roles in Basu Chatterjee's film
"Rajnigandha" (1974) and “Choti si Baat”.
J Om Prakash: Veteran director and maternal
grandfather of actor Hritik Roshan, passed away in
Mumbai at the age of 93. He produced several box office
hits like Ayee Milan Ki Bela, Aaye Din Bahar Ke, Aya
Sawan Jhoom Ke, Aap Ki Kasam, and Aandhi.
Toni Morrison: The first Afro-American Nobel laureate
in literature (1993), passed away in New York. She was
the author of several novels, children’s books and
essays. Her famous books include The Bluest Eye,
Beloved, Paradise and Love.
Russi Taylor: The voice of Minnie Mouse since the mid-
1980s, died in Glendale, California, USA. She was 75.
Other prominent Disney roles assumed by her included
Nurse Mouse, Donald Duck's nephews Huey, Dewey and
Louie; and characters on Disney television show like
"Kim Possible" and "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.
JULY
Jaipal Reddy: Senior Congress leader and former Union
Minister passed away in Hyderabad age of 77. He was
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Urban
Development, Petroleum and Natural Gas and Science
and Technology in different governments. He was 7-
time MP and four-term MLA.
Sheila Dixit: Three-time Delhi Chief Minister and senior
Congress leader passed away in New Delhi, at the age of
81. She was Delhi's chief minister for 15 years.
Basant Kumar Birla: Eminent industrialist and Birla
Group patriarch passed away in Mumbai. He was 98.
The youngest son of legendary industrialist and
philanthropist GD Birla, he joined business at an early
age of 15.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
Lee Iacocca: A leader in the American automobile
industry, died in California at the age of 94. In his 32-
year career, he helped launch some of the country’s
best-selling and most important vehicles that included
the Ford Escort, the Ford Mustang and the minivan. But
he will be remembered mostly as the businessman who
saved the Chrysler Corporation and made it profitable.
PLACES IN NEWS
SEPTEMBER
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine
In a list released by the Department of Drinking Water
and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti to select the best
‘Swachh Iconic Place’ Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine
near Katra in Jammu and Kashmir has been adjudged as
the "Best Swachh Iconic place" in the country.
Qutb Minar, Delhi: UNESCO World Heritage Site, the
historic Qutb Minar in the Mehrauli area of Delhi
witnessed its 1st ever architectural LED illumination on
August 31. The Minar is a 73-metre (239.5 feet) tall
tapering tower of five storeys, having a spiral staircase
of 379 steps inside it.
Typhoon Faxai: One of the strongest storms to hit
Tokyo in the last several years, with winds of up to
210km/h. About 100 bullet trains and 100 flights were
cancelled in the region paralysed by the storm.
Hurricane Dorian slammed into the Bahamas on Sep 1,
the strongest on record to hit the northwestern part of
the archipelago, located in southeast of Florida. The
islands were smashed with torrential rains and wind
gusts up to 350 km per hour.
AUGUST
'Statue of Unity' and 'Soho House' have been featured
in the Time’s list of the 100 greatest places in the world.
The 597-ft tall 'Statue of Unity' is located in Gujarat and
the Soho House is located in Mumbai. The list selected
places in the world that are new and noteworthy
destinations to experience.
Virasat-e-Khalsa Museum, Anandpur Sahib: The sikh
museum in Punjab became the most visited museum in
the Indian subcontinent, attracting 20,569 visitors on a
single day on March 20.
Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium: Famous cricket stadium in
Delhi will be renamed as Arun Jaitley Stadium in
memory of its former president who passed away on
August 24. Jaitley was the president of the Delhi and
District Cricket Association, DDCA. It is the second
oldest cricket stadium of India, the first being the Eden
Gardens, Kolkata.
37
Typhoon Lekima: In the eastern coastal China, a severe
typhoon packing winds of nearly 190 kilometres per
hour and generating waves several metres high along
the coast, devastated the city of Wenling. The storm
triggered a landslide forcing the evacuation of more
than a million residents.
JULY
Connaught Place, New Delhi: The commercial business
district (CBD) of Delhi is the 9th most expensive office
markets around the globe, according to a report by
CBRE, a Los Angeles based real estate consulting firm.
The office occupancy cost in Connaught Place is valued
at $ 143.97 per sq. ft per annum. Hong Kong’s Central
district is the most expensive with the prime office
occupancy costs valued at $ 322 per sq.ft. per annum .
SPORTS WORLD
SEPTEMBER
Pankaj Advani clinched a record 22nd world title by
winning the IBSF World Billiards Championship in
Mandalay, Myanmar.
Pankaj Advani and Aditya Mehta won the IBSF World
Snooker Team title at Mandalay, Myanmar, making it
record 23rd world title for Pankaj.
Ronaldo Laitonjam won four gold in the Track Asia
Cup cycling championship in New Delhi. Overall, India
topped the medals tally, with 10 gold, 8 silver and 7
bronze.
Sourabh Verma clinched the Vietnam Open Super 100
badminton title, defeating China’s Sun Fei Xiang at the
Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
Kaushal Dharmamer of India clinched the Myanmar
International Badminton Series beating Indonesia's
Karono Karono in Yangon, Myanmar.
Lakshya Sen stunned Victor Svendsen of Denmark to
clinch men's singles title at the Belgian International
Badminton Challenge in Leuven, Belgium.
V K Vismaya clinched the gold medal in the 400m run
at the Josef Seckar Memorial International Athletic Meet
- in Brno, Czech Republic.
Koneru Hampi from Andhra Pradesh clinched Fide
World Grand Prix (Chess) 2019 title held in Skolkovo,
Russia.
Mayank Vaid became the first Indian origin person to
complete Enduroman triathlon in a new record time of
50 hours and 24 minutes. 42 year old Mayank is a
lawyer by profession and lives in Hong Kong. It is one of
the toughest endurance competitions around the world.
It starts in London with 140 km of running, followed by
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
34 km swimming for crossing English Channel to reach
France to undertake 290 km cycling to finish the race in
Paris.
WORLD WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Indian wrestlers for the first time won five medals in the
World Wrestling Championships held in Nur-Sultan,
capital of Kazakhstan. Deepak Punia settled for a silver
medal while four other - Rahul Aware, Bajrang Punia,
Ravi Dahiya and Vinesh Phogat, won the bronze.
WORLD BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Amit Panghal (52kg), Asian Games gold medallist,
created history at the World Boxing Championships in
Ekaterinburg, Russia by winning India’s first ever silver
medal in men’s boxing at the international level. He lost
gold to Uzbekistan's reigning Olympic gold medallist
Shakhobidin Zoirov. Further, for the first time, two
Indian boxers finished on the podium at a single edition
of the World Championships as Manish Kaushik also
won a Bronze medal, placing team India at 6th rank.
ISSF WORLD CUP RIFLE/PISTOL CHAMPIONSHIP
India finished at the top of the ISSF Championship in Rio
De Janeiro (Brazil) with 5 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze
medals. Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Choudhary, Abhishek
Verma, Yashswini, Apurvi Chandela and Deepak Kumar
were the top performers at the meet.
India clinched the U-19 Asia Cup title with a thrilling
five-run win over Bangladesh in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
India lifted the SAFF Under-15 Football title at
Kolkata, West Bengal with a 7-0 win over Nepal.
Manipur defeated Railways team to win the 25th
Senior Women’s National Football Championship held in
Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh.
Duleep Trophy: India Red beat India Green to lift the
trophy in the finals played in Bengaluru.
Virat Kohli surpassed Mahendra Singh Dhoni to
become India’s most successful captain in test matches
after the team recorded its 28th win under his
leadership, against the West Indies.
Deepti Sharma created history on September 24 by
becoming the first Indian cricketer to bowl 3 maiden
overs in T20Is. She reached the milestone playing
against South Africa in Surat, Gujarat.
P T Usha, India's iconic track queen was awarded the
prestigious International International Association of
Athletics Federation (IAAF) Veteran Pin Award.
Jasprit Bumrah created history by becoming the third
Indian cricketer to take a hat-trick in Test cricket during
India’s second Test against West Indies at Sabina Park.
Rishabh Pant broke MS Dhoni’s wicket-keeping record
for India by becoming the fastest Indian wicket-keeper
to claim 50 dismissals in Test cricket.
38
Mithali Raj, former India T20 captain, announced her
retirement from T20 internationals. However, she will
continue to be India’s ODI captain.
Rani Rampal, India’s ace hockey star will lead the 18-
member Indian Women's team which will take on
England in a five-match series.
The 8th edition of Ladakh Marathon (42km race) was
held in Leh. It is the highest marathon in the world, held
at over 11,000 feet above the mean sea level.
The DDCA (Delhi and Districts Cricket Association)
unveiled a new pavilion stand named after Virat Kohli in
the recently renamed Feroz Shah Kotla stadium as Arun
Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi.
INTERNATIONAL
LOGO OF 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP RELEASED
The official logo of Qatar 2022 FIFA
world cup was unveiled in the
capital Doha. It is based on 3D
symbol of infinity in a vertical
position. The design is based on a
stylised Arabic white unisex shawl
with maroon patterning. The
swooping curves of the emblem
represent the undulations of desert
dunes and the unbroken loop depicts
both - the number eight - highlighting
the eight stadiums that will host the
World Cup matches - and the infinity
symbol, which reflects the
interconnected nature of the event.
MASCOTS FOR BEIJING WINTER OLYMPICS
A smiling panda and a walking Chinese lantern will be
the mascots for the 2022 Winter Olympics and
Paralympics in Beijing, China. The mascot, named Bing
Dwen Dwen, a chubby giant panda wearing a suit of ice,
will be the mascot for Winter Olympics 2022 while the
Chinese lantern Shuey Rhon Rhon was declared as the
official mascot for Winter Paralympics 2022.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
Sebastian Vettel of team Ferrari won the Singapore
Grand Prix F1 championship.
Charles Leclerc (from Monaco) won the Belgian Grand
Prix F1 race for team Ferrari in Stavelot, Belgium. He
also won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Italy.
Rory McIlroy, noted golfer from Ireland was named
the PGA Tour Player of the Year for a third time, in
London.
US Open Grand Slam Tennis Championship held in
New York, USA
Men's singles: Rafael Nadal of Spain won the title by
beating Daniil Medvedev of Russia
Women's singles: 19-year-old Bianca Andreescu of
Canada defeated the six-time champion 38 year old
Serena Williams of USA.
China Open Badminton Championship at Shanghai,
China
Women’s singles won by thrice world champion
Carolina Marin
Men’s singles won by Kento Momota of Japan
FIFA Best Player 2019 Awards
Best Men's Player Award: Football legend Lionel
Messi,(of Argentina) for 6th time
Best Women's Player Award: Megan Rapinoe of USA,
first time
Spain defeated Argentina to win the Basketball World
Cup held in Beijing, China
Sri Lanka paceman Lasith Malinga became the highest
wicket-taker in T-20 internationals with his 99th scalp
in the first match against New Zealand.
AUGUST
BWF - WOLRD BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIP
P V Sindhu scripted history as she became the first
Indian to win badminton’s World Championships as she
defeated arch-rival former world champion Nozomi
Okuhara of Japan in finals played at Basel, Switzerland.
359 players from 45 countries competed for the title.
Kento Momota of Japan won the men’s singles title.
39
THE NATIONAL SPORTS AWARDS 2019 Manasi Joshi, India's para badminton star won the gold
The Selection Committee headed by Justice in para badminton category. Joshi lost her left leg in an
Mukundakam Sharma, Retired Judge, Supreme Court accident in 2011.
announced the awards on August 19. Indian sprinters Hima Das and Mohammad Anas
RAJIV GANDHI KHEL RATNA AWARD won gold in 300m races in women and men’s category,
Sh. Bajrang Punia Wrestling respectively, at the Athleticky Mitink Reiter event in
Ms. Deepa Malik Para Athletics Czech Republic.

DRONACHARYA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COACHES

Komalika Bari defeated Sonoda Waka of Japan to
become the recurve cadet world champion at the World
Sh. Vimal Kumar Badminton
Sh. Sandeep Gupta Table tennis
Archery Youth Championships in Madrid, Spain.
Sh. Mohinder Singh Dhillon Athletics Jerlin Anika, 15 year Tamil Nadu girl won the gold
Sh. Merzban Patel Hockey medal in the World Deaf Youth Badminton
Sh. Rambir Singh Khokhar Kabaddi Championships held in Taipei. She also won two silver
Sh. Sanjay Bhardwaj Cricket
and one bronze in other events.
ARJUNA AWARD
Sh. Tajinderpal Singh Toor Athletics Deepak Punia, the 20 year old wrestler from Haryana,
Mohammed Anas Yahiya Athletics became India’s first junior World Champion in last 18
Sh. S. Bhaskaran Body Building years, claiming a gold medal at the Junior World
Ms. Sonia Lather Boxing Championships at Tallinn, Estonia.
Sh. Ravindra Jadeja Cricket
Aishwarya Pissay became the first Indian to claim a
Sh. Chinglensana Singh Kangujam Hockey
world title in motorsports, winning the FIM World Cup
Sh. Ajay Thakur Kabaddi
Sh. Gaurav Singh Gill Motor Sports
in Varpalota in Hungary.
Sh. Pramod Bhagat Para Sports (Badminton) Ace wrestler Bajrang Punia won the fourth gold of the
Ms. Anjum Moudgil Shooting season by defeating Mehran Nasiri of Iran at Tbilisi
Sh. Harmeet Rajul Desai Table Tennis Grand Prix in the capital of Georgia.
Ms. Pooja Dhanda Wrestling
Sh. Fouaad Mirza Equestrian
Vinesh Phogat, star Indian grappler bagged gold in
Sh. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Football women's 53kg category in Poland Open wrestling
Ms. Poonam Yadav Cricket tournament in Warsaw. This is her third international
Ms. Swapna Barman Athletics gold in past one month.
Sh. Sundar Singh Gurjar Para Sports (Athletics) Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty created
Sh. Bhamidipati Sai Praneeth Badminton history by becoming the first Indian pair to win a BWF
Sh. Simran Singh Shergill Polo Super 500 badminton tournament, stunning reigning
DHYANCHAND AWARD (Life Time Achievement) world champions Li Jun Hui and Liu Yu Chen in the final
Sh. Manuel Fredricks Hockey of the Thailand Open in Bangkok.
Sh. Arup Basak Table Tennis
Sh. Manoj Kumar Wrestling Indian Sumit Nagal, 22 year old tennis prodigy created
Sh. Nitten Kirrtane Tennis a sensation when he defeated the 20 grand slam winner
Sh. C. Lalremsanga Archery 38 year old Roger Federar in first round match in US
RASHTRIYA KHEL PROTSAHAN PURUSKAR Open Grand Slam in New York. Though, finally, Roger
(i) Gagan Narang Sports Identification and Nurturing of
won the match after four sets.
Promotion Foundation(ii) GoSports Budding and Young Talent’ Virat Kohli became the first ever batsman in the world
Foundation to score 20,000 international runs in a single decade.
Rayalaseema Development Trust Sports for Development He achieved the feat on August 14 playing against the
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award West Indies in Port of Spain.
Land Adventure Aparna Kumar, Shri Dipankar P V Sindhu: India’s badminton star is the only athlete
Ghosh, Shri Manikandan K from the country to find a place in the Highest-Paid
Water Adventure Prabhat Raju Koli Female Athletes 2019 list released by Forbes of USA.
Air Adventure Rameshwer Jangra With total earnings of 5.5 million dollars, she is at 13th
spot in the list topped by tennis great Serena Willams
Life Time Achievement Wangchuk Sherpa
with earnings of 29.2 million dollars.
B Sai Praneeth won the Bronze in men’s singles, a first Durand Cup 2019: In the oldest Football Tournament
after a gap of 36 years, when Prakash Padukon won of Asia, Gokulam Kerala FC defeated Mohun Bagan in the
bronze in 1983. finals played in Kolkata.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 40
Indian men's hockey team won the Olympic Test event
beating New Zealand 5-0 in Tokyo. Women’s team also
won their Olympic Test event beating Japan.
Indian cyclists team won the gold medal in the Team
Sprint event at World Junior Track Cycling
Championships held in Frankfurt, Germany.
India defeated England to win the inaugural T20
Physical Disability World Cricket Series 2019 held in
England.
India defeated China to win the gold medal at the
Under 12 Asian Tennis Team championship held in
Kazakhstan.
India's junior women boxers clinched 12 medals at
the third Nation's Cup in Vrbas, Serbia. The team won
four gold, four silver and four bronze medals and
claimed the runners-up trophy.
Ravi Shastri was re-appointed as the head coach of the
Indian men's cricket team by the Cricket Advisory
Committee of BCCI.
Former opener Vikram Rathour has been selected as
the new batting coach for the Indian Cricket team.
Legendary Football club East Bengal Club celebrated
its 100 years of existence on August 01 in Kolkata.
INTERNATIONAL
American gymnast Simone Biles made history with a
never-before-seen “triple-double” floor exercise landing.
She performed the landing featuring "two flips and
three twists" in U.S. Gymnastics Championships held in
Kansas City, USA.
Britisher Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand
Prix for Team Mercedes for a record-extending seventh
time in Budapest.
Ellyse Perry, the 28 year old Australian woman all-
rounder became the first cricketer of either gender in
the world to reach the rare milestone of scoring 1000
runs and taking 100 wickets in the T20 format.
Dalilah Muhammad, 2016 Olympic champion from
USA shattered one of the longest standing records in
women’s athletics in the 400m hurdles by clocking
52.20 seconds at US Athletics Championships, to beat
Russian Yuliya Pechonkina's 2003 mark of 52.34
seconds.
The First ICC World Test Championship started on
August 1 in Birmingham, UK with the first match being
played between Australia and England. Played by top
nine teams, the finals will be played in June, 2021.
Hashim Amla, South African batsman announced his
retirement from all formats of international cricket.
In a historic move, the International Cricket Council
and Commonwealth Games Federation confirmed the
inclusion of women's T20 cricket in the Birmingham
2022 Commonwealth Games.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
JULY
Indian sprint runner Hima Das
won the women's 200m gold at the
Star Poznan Athletics Grand Prix in
Poland, clocking 23.56 seconds.
Already a world champion, she is
popularly known as ‘Dhing Express’
as she hails from Dhing, Assam.
Later, she won four more gold
medals as under:
200 m Kutno Athletics Meet in Poland.
200 m Kladno Memorial Athletics Meet in Czech
Republic
200 m Tabor Athletics Meet in Czech Republic.
400 m Nove Mesto in the Czech Republic.
National record holder Muhammed Anas won the
gold in the men's 200m race while MP Jabir won the
gold in the men's 400m hurdles at the Kutno Athletics
Meet in Poland.
MC Mary Kom claimed the gold medal in the 23rd
President's Cup Boxing Tournament in Labuan Bajo,
Indonesia. Simranjit Kaur also won the Gold, in 60 kg
category.
Veer Chotrani of India won the Gold at the Asian Junior
Squash Championship in Macau, China.
Ravinder Kumar Malik: Indian bodybuilder clinched
Mr. South Asia title at 12th South Asian Bodybuilding
and Physique Sports Championship in Kathmandu.
Shiva Thapa became India’s first gold-medalist at the
President’s Cup boxing tournament held in Astana,
Kazakhstan.
Dutee Chand, National record holder clinched a gold
medal in the World Universiade in 100 m dash event at
Napoli in Italy.
Vinesh Phogat and Divya Kakran claimed Gold in 53
kg and 68 kg category, respectively, in the Wrestling
Grand Prix for females held in Madrid, Spain.
Vinesh also won her second consecutive international
gold in 53kg, at the Yasar Dogu International in Istanbul,
Turkey. Rahul, Manju and Seema also won gold in
their respective categories.
M. Sreeshankar won the long jump gold at the Tatyana
Kolpakova International athletics in Bishkek
(Kyrgyzstan).
Sunil Chhetri, the charismatic footballer was named as
the AIFF Men’s Footballer of the Year for a record sixth
time.
Virat Kohli became the fastest batsman to reach 20,000
international runs, eclipsing batting greats Sachin
Tendulkar and Brian Lara. Kohli crossed the milestone
at Manchester, England playing against West Indies.
41
Sachin Tendulkar, the God of Indian cricket was
inducted into the prestigious International Cricket
Council's Hall of Fame. Sachin remains the top run-
accumulator in both Tests and ODIs. He is the sixth
Indian to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.
Sharath Kamal, star tennis player, national champion
for record nine times, was voted the Sportsperson of
the Year in the annual Indian Oil Sports Conclave.
Rohit Sharma became the first batsman in the world to
score five hundreds in a single World Cup, after scoring
a magnificent 103 against Sri Lanka in Leeds, England.
P V Sindhu lost the final of the BWF Tour Super 1000
tournament to Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in Jakarta,
Indonesia.
India secures 35 medals in weightlifting
In the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in
Apia, Samoa, a tiny island country in the South Pacific
Ocean, India secured a rich tally of 35 medals.
Jeremy Lalrinnunga smashed three records in a
power-packed performance in the snatch category.
Rakhi Halder, Davinder Kaur, Mirabai Chanu, Ajay Singh,
Gulam Navi and L Sadananda Singh, Pradeep Singh, each
won a gold medal while Achinta Sheuli won two gold
medals.
Hero Intercontinental Cup football tournament: North
Korea won the Cup by defeating Tajikistan in the finals
played at Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
21st Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships,
Cuttack, Odisha: India completed a clean sweep,
claiming all the seven gold medals at the meet.
Harmeet Desai and Ayhika Mukherjee won the men's
and women's singles titles while both men and women
team won their titles by beating England and Singapore,
respectively.
International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF)
Junior World Cup Tournament held at Suhl,
Germany: India topped the medal tally with 10 gold,
nine silver and five bronze for a total of 24 medals.
BCCI has appointed Rahul Dravid as Head of Cricket at
its National Cricket Academy at Bengaluru.
The third edition of Khelo India Youth Games will be
held in Guwahati in January, 2020.
INTERNATIONAL
Kristof Milak, Hungarian teenager shattered Michael
Phelps' 2009 world record of 1:51.51 minutes in the 200
metres butterfly at the World Aquatics Championships
in Gwangju, S Korea by clocking a timings of 1:50.73
minutes.
Adam Peaty, the British swimmer became the first
person in the world to complete men’s 100 metre
breaststroke in under 57 seconds. He finished the race
in 56.88 seconds at the World Championships in
Gwangju, South Korea.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
Egan Bernal became the first person from Colombia to
win the challenging Tour de France cycle race in Paris.
He retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey. 22-year-
old Bernal is also the youngest rider to win the race in
110 years.
Red Bull's driver Max Verstappen (of Netherland)
clinched the German Grand Prix F1 race at Hockenheim,
Germany. He also won the won the Austrian Grand Prix
at Spielberg, Austria.
Lewis Hamilton (Britain) of team Mercedes made his
seventh victory in ten races in 2019 by winning the
Briish Grand Prix at the Silverstone circuit in
Northamptonshire, England.
ICC WORLD CUP CRICKET
England lifted their maiden trophy
beating New Zealand in a nerve-
wracking final that was decided after
a dramatic Super Over in Lord’s
stadium in London. When Super overs
also ended in a draw, the team with
more boundaries- 26, England was
declared winner as New Zealand
scored only 17 boundaries.
Kane Williamson, New Zealand's skipper was adjudged
"Player of the Tournament" for his excellent returns
with the bat and inspiring leadership.
Rohit Sharma scored highest - 648 runs and Mitchell
Starc of Australia claimed highest number of wickets -
27, in the tournament.
Tennis Grand Slam Wimbledon concludes in London
Novak Djokovic of Serbia won his fifth title after
defeating Swiss player Roger Federer.
Women’s title was won by Simona Halep of Romania by
defeating Serena Williams of USA.
Women’s FIFA World Cup: United States secured a
record-extending fourth win by beating the Netherlands
2-0 in the finals played at Lyons, France.
The 2019 Homeless World Cup, a football tournament
for non professional poor or homeless persons was held
in Cardiff, Wales from July 27 to August 3. Teams from
50 countries participated.
Copa América Football Championship: Brazil
defeated Peru 3-1 to win their ninth title in the finals
played in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
ICC cancels Zimbabwe membership
The ICC has suspended Zimbabwe from its membership
as the Zimbabwe Cricket failed to provide free and
democratic elections and could not stop government
interference in its administration.
The International Cricket Council - ICC has granted
the hosting rights for 13th ICC Cricket World Cup 2023
to India. This is for the first time that India will be
hosting this event all alone.
42

DAYS & DATES
SEPTEMBER
September 5: International Day of Charity
The United Nations observes this day with the objective
of sensitizing and mobilizing people, NGOs all around
the world to help others through voluntary
philanthropic activities. The date commemorates the
death anniversary of Saint Mother Teresa, the Nobel
Peace Prize awardee of 1979.
September 5: Teachers’ Day
The day marks the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli
Radhakrishnan. He was the first Vice President of India
(1952–1962) and second President of India (1962–
1967). He was a staunch believer of the value of
education. The day honours the contribution of teachers
and educators for their significant role in students’ lives.
September 8: International Literacy Day
Celebrated all over the world with UN support. The
issue of literacy is a key component of the UN's
Sustainable Development Goals and the UN's 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development. The theme for
this year is “Literacy and Multilingualism”.
September 10: World Suicide Prevention Day
Supported by the WHO and International Association
for Suicide Prevention , it is a day dedicated to raising
awareness of the risks of suicide and the challenges
faced in trying to prevent suicide. It is among the top 20
leading causes of death globally. It is responsible for
over 800,000 deaths every year. The theme for this
year is “Working together to prevent sucide”.
September 14: Hindi Divas
Hindi Diwas commemorates the adoption of Hindi as an
official language of India. On this day in 1949, Hindi
written in Devanagari script was adopted as the official
language of India by the Constituent Assembly of India.
September (14): World First Aid Day
Observed on every second Saturday of September to
raise awareness about how first aid can prevent injuries
and save lives in everyday situations. The theme for this
year is "First Aid and Excluded People".
September 15: International Democracy Day
The day provides an opportunity to recall that
democracy is about people. The theme for this year is
'Participation'. According to UN, democracy is built on
inclusion, equal treatment and participation.
September 15: Engineer’s Day
The day is observed to mark the birth anniversary of
acclaimed civil engineer M Visvesvaraya. Decorated
with Bharat Ratna, he had extraordinary skills for
designing dams and several water related projects.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
September 16: World Ozone Day
Also known as the International Day for the
preservation of the Ozone Layer, it is observed annually
to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol
on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, in 1987.
The theme for this year’s celebrations is “32 Years and
Healing”
The ozone layer is a fragile shield of gas that protects the
Earth and its ecosystem from the harmful ultraviolet rays
of the sun, thus helping preserve life on the planet.
September 18: World Bamboo Day
It is observed every year by the World Bamboo
Organization to generate awareness about conserving
and promoting the bamboo industry. Also known as
poor man’s timber, bamboo is omnipresent in tribal
cultures and community living. India is the world’s
second-largest cultivator of bamboo after China.
September 21: International Day of Peace
Observed around the world as a day devoted to
strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and
among all nations and peoples.
The theme for this year is “Climate Action for Peace”.
The theme draws attention to the importance of
combating climate change as a way to protect and
promote peace throughout the world.
September (22) World Rivers Day
It is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September to
highlight the importance of waterways in our life. This
day encourages people to improve and save water,
rivers around the world. This year's theme is "Day of
Action for Rivers".
September 23: International Day of Sign Languages
The day is observed to raise awareness of the
importance of sign language in the full realization of the
human rights of people who are deaf or dumb. The
theme of the day for 2019 is - Sign Language Rights for
All!
September 26: World Maritime Day
It is observed to celebrate the maritime industry’s
contribution in supporting and promoting the global
economy. It emphasizes the importance of maritime
security, marine environment and shipping safety. The
theme for this year’s day is “Empowering Women in the
Maritime Community”
September 27 - World Tourism Day
Observed to highlight the importance of tourism which
helps in generating employment and build future for
millions of people around the world. This year’s theme
is "Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future for All".
September 29 – World Heart Day
Observed to spread awareness about heart disease and
stroke which is the world's leading cause of death. The
day promotes preventative measures to reduce the risk
of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
43
 AUGUST
August 6: Hiroshima Day
The day focuses on creating awareness for anti-war and
anti-nuclear discussions and demonstrations. The
United States detonated two nuclear bombs over the
Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6
and 9, 1945, respectively, bringing an end to World War
II, though at a terrible price – the two big cities were
completely destroyed with lakhs left to suffer for
generations to come.
August 7: National Handloom Day
Celebrated to honour the handloom weavers in the
country and to highlight their outstanding skills and
craftsmanship. This year’s main celebrations will be
held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. On this day in
1905, Swadeshi movement was launched to promote
indigenous craftsmen. To honour the artisans and
weavers, they are presented with ‘Sant Kabir’ awards
for excellence in handiwork and crafts.
August 8: August Kranti Diwas
On this date in 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave a clarion call
to end the British rule and launched the Quit India
Movement at the session of the All-India Congress
Committee in Mumbai. The day is considered as one of
the important milestones in the history of freedom
struggle of our country.
August 9: World Tribal Day
Also called as the International Day of the World’s
Indigenous Peoples, it is observed every year with UN
support to promote and protect the rights of the world’s
indigenous population and acknowledging their
achievements and contributions.
August 10: World Biofuel Day
Observed to create awareness about the importance of
non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil
fuels. On this day in 1893, Sir Rudalph Diesel, inventor
of the diesel engine, for the first time successfully ran
mechanical engine with Peanut Oil, marking a beginning
of biofuels. The theme for this year is - “Production of
Biodiesel from Used Cooking Oil”.
August 10: National Deworming Day
Observed across the country to tackle worm Infections,
targeting more than 11 crore children in the age group
of 1 to 19 years. The children are administered anti
worm tablets Albendazole, free of cost.
August 12: World Elephant Day
The day is dedicated to the preservation and protection
of elephants. It aims to create awareness about the
plight of elephants.
August 12: International Youth Day
Observed across the world to recognize the role of
young people in bringing about change and to raise
awareness regarding the problems and challenges faced
by them.efforts put in by the youth for the betterment of
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
the society. The 2019 theme of the day is “Transforming
education” to emphasize on the efforts to make
education more accessible and inclusive to the youth.
August (15): World Sanskrit Divas
It is celebrated every year on last Shravana Purnima
according to the Hindu calendar to highlight the
importance and positive points about Sanskrit.
August 19: World Humanitarian Day
Observed across the world with UN support to pay
tribute to workers who risk their lives in humanitarian
services and to gather support for people affected by
crises around the world. This year’s campaign theme is
#WomenHumanitarians.
August 19: World Photography Day
The day is dedicated to the art, craft, science and history
of photography. It aims to inspire photographers across
the planet to share their photos with a simple purpose
of sharing their world with the world.
August 20: Sadbhavna Diwas (Harmony day)
Observed across India to promote national integration
and communal harmony among people of all religions
and languages. It commemorates the birthday of Rajiv
Gandhi who served as Prime Minister from 1984 -89.
August 21: World Senior Citizens Day
Supported by the UNO, it is observed to raise awareness
about the condition of older people and to support them
throughout the aging process.
August 26: Women's Equality Day
Observed every year to celebrate the passage of the
19th Amendment in the United States of America in
1878 that provided voting rights to women.
August 29: National Sports Day
The day is celebrated every year to mark the birthday of
Major Dhyan Chand, wizard of Hockey. On this occasion,
President gives away the National Sports Awards.
ALL THE NEWS ITEMS IN THIS MAGAZINE HAVE BEEN SOURCED
FROM VARIOUS NEWS PAPERS AND GOVT. PRESS RELEASES.
44
 Bullet News
(April – June 2019)
For details visit – www.gyanm.in
NATIONAL NEWS
JUNE
 Mr. Modi reached the Japanese city of Osaka to
attend the G20 Summit on June 28-29.
 Mr. Modi made his first foreign tour in his new
tenure to Maldives, June 8-9 and received
Maldives' highest award, the Order of the
Distinguished Rule of Izzudeen.
 Prime Minister Modi attended the meeting of
Council of Heads of States of Shanghai
Cooperation Organization -SCO in Bishkek, the
capital of Kyrgyzstan.
 India’s first specialised hydrotherapy centre for
elephants suffering from arthritis, joint pain and
foot ailments was opened in Mathura, Uttar
Pradesh.
MAY
 India was re-elected as Observer to the Arctic
Council, an intergovernmental forum based at
Tromso, Norway.
 India has been selected to the Consultative Group
(CG) of Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and
Recovery (GFDRR) for the fiscal year 2020.
 The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. partnered with
Google to increase access to its WiFi footprint in
the country.
 India's first engineless train, 'Vande Bharat
Express', completed 1 lakh running kms on May
16, without missing a single trip in just 3 months.
 A postage stamp was released to commemorate
the 750th birth anniversary of Sri Vedanta
Desikan, a great 14th century saint from Tamil
Nadu.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
APRIL
 World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief
report says that India is world’s top recipient of
inward remittances from its diaspora.
 April 13 this year marks the 100 years of the
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre that claimed over
1,000 lives and left over 1200 wounded.
 Ministry of HRD released the National
Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) report.
Overall best Institute Indian Institute of Technology,
Madras
Best University Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
Best Engineering Indian Institute of Technology,
Institute Madras
Best Management I I M, Bengaluru
Institute
Best Medical Institute AIIMS, New Delhi
 The Deptt. of Posts has tied up with Tata
Consultancy Services to transform its 1,50,000
offices into a multi-service digital hub.
 Indonesia released a commemorative stamp on
the theme of Ramayana to mark the 70th
anniversary of the establishment of its diplomatic
ties with India.
NEWS FROM STATES
JUNE
 In the health index report released by the Niti
Aayog, Kerala topped on overall health
performance, while U P and Bihar were the worst
performer.
 Meghalaya's ruling National People's Party (NPP)
became the first party from the Northeast to be
given national status by the Election Commission.
45
 Bihar has decided to take punitive action against  India’s first exotic bird park ‘Essel World Bird
those who fail to take care of their elderly Park’ has been launched by EsselWorld Leisure
parents. Pvt. Ltd, in Mumbai.
 A new dinosaur museum and fossil park, located  'Kandhamal Haldi', a variety of turmeric
in Raiyoli village of Gujarat's Mahisagar district indigenous to southern Odisha, got the GI tag
has been thrown open to public. from Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai.
 Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar airport in Indore, Madhya
Pradesh was officially declared as an
international airport by the Central government. GOVT INITIATIVES
 The WHO selected Rajasthan’s Medical & Health
Deptt. for its award in recognition of its JUNE
achievements in the field of tobacco control.
 The Union Cabinet approved the extension of
MAY Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-
 Kerala became the first state to issue masala KISAN) scheme to all the farmers in the country.
bond worth of $312 million in London Stock  Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana to provide
Exchange. a min pension of Rs 3,000 pm after the age of 60
 The Chhattisgarh police inducted an all women years. Marginal farmers (18 to 40 years) are
platoon of 30 commandos in its frontline anti- eligible.
Naxal force.  P M Laghu Udyami Maandhan Yojna to provide a
 The force is named 'Danteshwari Ladaake' min pension of Rs 3,000 pm after the age of 60
(fighters of Goddess Danteshwari) years.
 Results For 4 State Assembly Elections  All shopkeepers, retail traders and self employed
State Chief Minister Party aged 18-40 years with annual GST turnover
Odisha Naveen Patnaik Biju Janata below Rs 1.5 crore are eligible.
(re-elected) Dal  Govt formed a new ‘Jal Shakti’ (water power)
Ministry by merging the erstwhile Ministries of
Water Resources and Drinking Water and
Sikkim Prem Singh Golay Sikkim
Sanitation.
(Tamang) Krantikari
 Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched to ramp up rainwater
Morcha
harvesting and conservation efforts in 255 water-
Andhra Jagan Mohan Reddy YSR Congress
stressed districts from July 1 to Sep 15.
Pradesh
 Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964 amended to
Arunachal Pema Khandu (re- BJP
Pradesh elected) empower district magistrates in all States/ UTs to
set up tribunals to decide whether a person
 The Geological Survey of India, GSI, has revealed staying illegally in India is a foreigner or not.
that 35 per cent of the country's Graphite  The government has developed a National
deposits are available in Arunachal Pradesh. Strategic Plan that aims to end Tuberculosis (TB)
 Mangaluru City Police in Karnataka has by 2025.
launched an all-women police patrol unit named
‘Rani Abbakka Force’ MAY
 The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
APRIL launched the 'Malaria Elimination Research
 The Guwahati Railway Station has become the Alliance to eliminate Malaria from India by 2030.
first ever railway station to get an ISO  Government has asked the state transport
certification for Environment Management departments to make it mandatory for all EVs
System. (electric vehicles) to use the green number plates.
 5 varieties of coffee – 3 from Karnataka - Coorg  The UGC has directed universities and higher
Arabica, Chikmagalur Arabica and Baba education institutions to introduce hologram and
Budangiri Arabica; Wayanad Robusta, Kerala and
Araku Valley Arabica, Andhra granted GI tag. QR code in certificates and degrees issued by
them.

GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 46

 APRIL
 The Rural Dev. Ministry revised the wages under
the MGNREGA scheme from April 1 for 2019-20.
 Wages in Haryana are highest at Rs. 284/day
and lowest in Bihar and Jharkhand at Rs. 171
per day.
ECONOMY
JUNE
 As per CSO data, country’s per-capita income for
2018-19 is estimated at Rs 1,26,406.
 Kirit Parikh committee formed to review the
existing marketing structure of LPG to examine
the scope for entry of new players.
 The Ministry of Agriculture has estimated food
grains production for the agricultural year 2018-
19 at over 283 million tonnes.
 ONGC replaced IOC to regain the crown of being
the country's most profitable public sector
company, earning a profit of Rs.26,716 crore in
2017-18.
MAY
 For the second year in a row, Iraq remained
India’s top crude oil supplier, meeting over 20%
of our oil needs in 2018-19.
 Reliance Industries toppled govt owned Indian
Oil Corporation to become the country’s biggest
company in terms of revenue.
APRIL


 Apple has announced to start the assembling of
iPhone 7 in India. The phones will be assembled
at its supplier Wistron’s facility in Bengaluru.
 As per a report by LinkedIn, online marketeer
Flipkart emerged as the most sought after
employer where Indians want to work and stay.
BANKING & FINANCE
JUNE
 With a view to boosting digital transactions, RBI
has decided to do away with charges levied on
RTGS and NEFT transactions.
 RBI has decided to reduce banks’ exposure to a
group of connected parties to 25% of its capital
base. Exposure to a single party has been capped
at 20%.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
 RBI has extended timings for customer
transactions through RTGS from 4:30 PM to 06
PM, wef June 1, 2019. Now RTGS can be done
from 8AM to 6PM.
 The RBI constituted Harsh Vardhan committee to
review the existing housing finance securitisation
market in India.
 The RBI has allowed banks to offer cheque book
facility and other services like ATM card in
the Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) Accounts.
 RBI has directed banks to ensure that their ATMs
are grouted to a wall, pillar, or floor by
September-end, to enhance their security.
 From July 01, SBI has decided to link home loan
interest rates to the repo rate of RBI.
 RBI formed V G Kannan committee to review the
ATM interchange fee structure.
MAY
 RBI enhanced the housing loan limits for RRBs
and Small Finance Banks for eligibility under
priority sector lending.
Revised limits are -- up to Rs 35 lakh in metro
centres (with population of 10 lakh and above)
and up to Rs 25 lakh in other centres.
 The RBI has asked all shadow banks (read
NBFCs) with asset size of over Rs. 5,000 crore to
appoint Chief Risk Officers (CROs)
 State Bank of India launched India’s first ‘Green
Car Loan’ to encourage customers to buy electric
vehicles.
 The RBI to issue Rs. 20 denomination notes in
greenish yellow colour with the motif of Ellora
Caves on the reverse.
APRIL
 RBI divested its entire stake in National Housing
Bank and the National Bank for Agriculture and
Rural Development and transferred it to the
Government.
 RBI has come out with guidelines for banks to set
up new currency chests, which include minimum
area of 1,500 square feet for strong room.
 According to data released by the Association of
Mutual Funds in India, HDFC Asset Management
Co. Ltd has secured the top spot among mutual
funds.
 In a survey by the Forbes magazine to select the
best bank, HDFC Bank emerged as India's No. 1
bank.
47
 Canara Bank has become first Indian bank to
successfully roll out EMV (Europay-Mastercard-
Visa) card acquiring across its ATM network.
 The IDBI Bank has launched the ‘NRI-Insta-
Online’ account-opening process for NRIs to
facilitate account opening without submitting
paper documents.
 The merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with
the Bank of Baroda became operational wef April
1. All branches of the former two banks will now
function as Bank of Baroda branches.
 Emirates Islamic, bank in Dubai has become first
Islamic bank in world to offer Chat Banking
services to its customers via WhatsApp.
 HDFC Bank has been adjudged as the 'Best Digital
Bank' in the country at the Asiamoney Best Bank
Awards 2019.
DEFENCE, SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY
JUNE
 Indian Navy signed a contract with Bharat
Dynamics Ltd for supply of heavyweight torpedo
Varunastra.
 DRDO has developed herbal drug 'lukoskin' for
treatment of Leucoderma.
 Govt approved setting up of a new “Defence
Space Research Agency” headed by a senior
defence scientist.
 Ministry of Shipping signed a MoU with IIT
Kharagpur for setting up the Centre for Inland
and Coastal Maritime Technology at the institute.
 The National Geographic Society has established
world's highest operating weather station near
Mount Everest.
 The Balcony weather station is the first one
to be installed at an elevation above 8,000
metres.
 Indian Navy launched Operation Sankalp in the
Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman to ensure safety of
Indian flagged ships passing through the area.
 NASA’s robot named Bumble became the first
Astrobee robot to fly under its own power in
space.
 Russia launched the world's largest and most
powerful nuclear icebreaker ship named Ural.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
 Facebook has announced a digital currency called
‘Libra’ that will allow its billions of users to make
financial transactions across the globe.
MAY
 The Indian Army is observing 2019 as the ‘Year of
Next of Kin’ to reach out to the next of kin of
battle casualties, ex-servicemen and serving
soldiers.
 For the first time in the history of the Indian Air
Force, an all women crew flew a Mi-17 medium
lift helicopter at Chandigarh base.
 The DRDO successfully flight tested the drone
ABHYAS, a High-speed Expendable Aerial Target
(HEAT).
 The Indian Navy’s 4th stealth Scorpene class
submarine, named ‘INS Vela’, was launched at
Mazagon Dock Limited at Mumbai.
 Lt. Bhawana Kanth became the first woman pilot
of the Indian Air Force to qualify to undertake
missions by day on a fighter aircraft, flying MiG-
21 Bison.
 Researchers at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi,
have developed an ultrasensitive quantum
thermometer using graphene quantum dots.
 It can precisely measure temperatures changes
from 27 degree C to –196 degree C in extreme
quick response time of just about 300
milliseconds.
APRIL
 The Ordnance Factory Board handed over the
first batch of six Dhanush artillery guns to the
Army at a special ceremony held at Jabalpur,
Madhya Pradesh.
 Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd
(GRSE), Kolkata became the 'first Indian
shipyard' to build and deliver 100 warships to
the Indian Navy.
 USA to sell 24 multi-role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ Seahawk
advanced attack helicopters built by the
Lockheed Martin Corporation to India.
 They would replenish India’s ageing fleet of
Britain made Sea King helicopters.
 The Indian Navy launched guided missile
destroyer war ship named ‘Imphal’ at Mazagon
Dock in Mumbai.
 India successfully test-fired its first indigenous
long-range subsonic cruise missile 'Nirbhay' from
a test range in Odisha. It has a strike range of
1,000-kilometre.
 ISRO on April 1 put into orbit the Emisat, an
electronic intelligence satellite for the DRDO.
48
 ISRO has launched a special programme named
“Young Scientist Programme” or Yuva Vigyani
Karyakram (YUVIKA) for school children.
 The world's largest aircraft took to the air for the
first time on April 13. Named Stratolaunch, its
wingspan is 385 feet and weighs over 3,40, 000
kg.
 China has successfully tested the world's first
armed amphibious drone boat named ‘Marine
Lizard’ which can be used in land assault
operations.
 The Japanese Hayabusa-2 spacecraft successfully
dropped an explosive charge on the asteroid
Ryugu to create an artificial crater there.
 China successfully launched Tianlian II-01- the
first of its new-generation data relay satellites
into orbit.
 South Korea became first nation to launch 5G
mobile networks in the country. The 5G's hyper
speed can connect one million devices within a
one square kilometre zone, simultaneously.
 Russia successfully tested the world’s first
floating nuclear power plant- ‘Akademik
Lomonosov’. Reactors of this ship were launched
in Nov. 2018.
 YouTube has confirmed that India has become its
largest and fastest growing market with more
than 265 million monthly active users in India.
 Nepal successfully launched its first satellite
NepaliSat-1 into space from Virginia in the United
States.
 Sri Lanka’s first satellite ‘Raavana-1’ was
launched into space from NASA’s Flight Facility in
Virginia, USA.
INTERNATIONAL
JUNE
 Saudi Arabia has become the first Arab country to
be granted full membership of the Paris based
Financial Action Task Force.
 Russia launched its first tourist train travelling
through Arctic region and on to Norway.
 As per the ‘100 Top BrandZ Report’ by Kantar,
Amazon has become the world’s most valuable
brand with a brand value of $315 billion.
 The World Health Organization has identified
addiction to video games on smartphones and
other devices as a “disorder”.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
 The meeting of Finance Ministers of G20
countries was held in the Japanese city of
Fukuoka.
 The 14th summit of the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) was held in Mecca, Saudi
Arabia. OIC is a group of 57 Islamic countries.
 The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) held its annual summit in
Bangkok, Thailand on June 23.
MAY
 France and New Zealand launched a new
initiative named "Christchurch Call” aimed at
curbing extremism online.
 The WHO has certified Algeria and Argentina as
malaria-free as no new cases of the deadly
disease have been reported there for 3
consecutive years.
 Emperor Akihito of Japan formally stepped down
on April 30, marking the end of ‘Heisei’ era in
Japan.
 His son Naruhito took over the Chrysanthemum
Throne to usher in a new era, named ‘Reiwa’.
 USA exited from the UN Arms Trade Treaty, in
response to concerns from gun rights activists
that it could impinge on Americans’ right to bear
arms.
 Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, on
May 9 passed a landmark law to make reporting
sex abuse obligatory.
 Ireland has declared climate emergency in their
country, to be the second country after Britain
did so on May 1.
 Singapore has passed a controversial bill that
equips the government with extensive powers to
police online media and free speech.
 A report from Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute ranked India as the world’s
fourth biggest military spender in 2018.
APRIL
 Brunei became the first nation in South East Asia
to introduce harsh new Sharia laws that make
offences such as rape, adultery and homsexuality
punishable by stoning to death.
 European Parliament voted to ban single-use
plastic products such as plastic cutlery, cotton
buds, straws and stirrers, etc. to avoid beach and
ocean pollution.
49
 India was made the Guest of Honour country at
the 2019 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
(ADIBF) held in UAE from April 24-30.
 Saudi Arabia announced that it will be hosting the
G20 summit in November 2020 in its capital
Riyadh. This would be the first G20 summit in the
Arab world.
 New Zealand ban all types of semi-automatic
weapons and assault rifles following the
Christchurch attacks wherein 50 persons were
killed by a fanatic gunman.
 Bolivia signed the framework agreement to join
the International Solar Alliance as its 74th
member.
PERSONS IN NEWS
JUNE
Viral Acharya: RBI’s youngest deputy governor
announced his resignation from his post, seven
months before the end of his tenure.
Nirmala Sitharaman: A prominent BJP leader, the 60
year old Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka has been
made first full time woman Finance Minister of India.
Chandrani Murmu: A tribal woman from Odisha
made history after winning the Lok Sabha seat from
Keonjhar in Odisha as the youngest MP at the age of
25 years and 11 months.
Azim Premji: IT Industry icon, Executive Chairman
of Wipro announced his resignation with effect from
30th July 2019.
MAY
Kapil Sharma: Popular comedian-actor has been
acknowledged as the most viewed stand-up
comedian in India and abroad by the World Book of
Records, London.
Victor Vescovo: 53 years old diver and deep sea
explorer from USA dived to the deepest point in the
ocean, 10,927 meters in the Challenger Deep in
Mariana Trench in Western Pacific ocean.
Kami Rita Sherpa: 49 year old sherpa reached the
top of Mt Everest for the 24th time, creating a new
world record for scaling the world’s highest point at
8,850-metre for maximum number of times.
Saray Khumalo: Mountaineer from South Africa
became the first black woman to scale Mount Everest.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
APRIL
Amartya Sen: The London School of Economics and
Political Science (LSE) has announced the creation of
the Amartya Sen Chair in Inequality Studies in his
honour. The India-born economist is a Nobel
laureate.
Prof. Gagandeep Kang: She has become the first
Indian female scientist to be elected as a Fellow of the
Royal Society (FRS) in the UK fellowship's 358-year-
history.
Julian Assange: Wikileaks co-founder was arrested
by the London police from the Ecuadorian embassy in
London where he had taken refuge seven years ago to
avoid extradition to Sweden over a sexual assault
case.
APPOINTMENTS
JUNE
Om Birla: Unanimously elected as the Speaker of
17th Lok Sabha. He is a BJP MP from Kota, Rajasthan.
Samant Goel: Appointed as the new head - Secretary
of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), foreign
intelligence agency of India.
Arvinda Kumar: Appointed as the new head,
Director of the Intelligence Bureau, internal
intelligence agency of India.
K Natarajan: Appointed as the new Director General
of the Indian Coast Guard.
National Security Advisor: Sh. Ajit Doval has been
re-appointed as the National Security Advisor
Admiral Karambir Singh Nijjar took charge as the
24th Navy chief on May 31
Sun Weidong: Veteran diplomat from China
appointed as its new envoy to India.
Gianni Infantino: 49 year old sports professional re-
elected as the President of FIFA, football's global
governing body.
MAY
Sanjiv Puri: Managing Director of ITC (Indian
Tobacco Company), Kolkata, has been appointed as
the new Chairman of the company with the
designation as the Chairman and Managing Director.
Mueenul Haq: Pakistan appointed the senior
diplomat as the High Commissioner to India.
50
Prof. Tijjani Mohammed Bande: Appointed as the
new President of the United Nations General
Assembly for 2019-20. He is a senior statesman and
diplomat from Nigeria.
APRIL
Karnam Sekar: Appointed as the new Managing
Director and CEO of Indian Overseas Bank
Prof. Najma Akhtar: Appointed as the first woman
vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. It is a
central university formed under an act of parliament.
Vikram Kirloskar: CMD of Kirloskar Systems Ltd.,
and vice-chairman of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, elected
as President of the Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII).
Keshav Murugesh: CEO of WNS Global Services
Group appointed as the Chairman of NASSCOM - The
National Association of Software and Services
Companies.
Vipin Anand: Appointed as the Managing Director of
Life Insurance Corporation of India. It may be noted
that Chairman of LIC is M R Kumar.
Manu Sawhney: Appointed as the CEO of the
International Cricket Council, Dubai
David Malpass: Elected as the President of the World
Bank, Washington DC, USA.
AWARDS & HONOURS
JUNE
Suman Rao was crowned Femina Miss India 2019
while Shivani Jadhav and Shreya Shanker were
crowned Femina Miss Grand India and Miss India
United Continents, respectively.
"Orden Mexicana del Aguila Azteca": Highest
civilian award of Mexico was conferred upon former
President of India, Pratibha Patil.
MAY
Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize: Awarded to
author Rana Dasgupta for his 2010 novel "Solo". The
prize carries cash reward of $10,000, a Tagore statue
and a certificate.
Chevalier de l'Ordre national de la Legion
d'Honneur: Former ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar
was conferred with France's highest civilian honour
for his contribution to India-France space
cooperation.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star:
Japan’s second highest national award conferred
upon Shyam Saran, former Foreign Secretary of India.
Palme d'Or: The prize for the best film at the 72nd
Cannes Film Festival in France was won by the South
Korean director Bong Joon Ho's film "Parasite".
Man Booker International Prize: Jokha Alharthi, an
author from Oman won the prestigious literary award
for "Celestial Bodies". She is the first Arabic-language
writer to take the 50,000 pounds prize, half of which
will go to her UK-based translator, Marilyn Booth.
APRIL
The Order of St Andrew the Apostle: The highest
civil honour of Russia conferred upon Prime Minister
Modi for his exceptional services in promoting
privileged strategic partnership between the two
countries.
The Order of Zayed: The highest civilian decoration
of United Arab Emirates was conferred upon Prime
Minister Narendra Modi for recognising his
outstanding contribution to international leadership
and strengthening relations with the UAE.
Saraswati Samman 2018: Telugu poet K Siva Reddy
selected for this prestigious literary award for his
collection of poetry titled ‘Pakkaki Ottigilite’.
AIMA Managing India Award: Won by Indian Oil
Corporation for outstanding PSU of the year.
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman: Swiss-based NRI
scientist Dr Rajendra Joshi was conferred with the
Award by the President of India for his valuable
contribution in promoting the honour and prestige of
India abroad
The 64th Filmfare awards were declared on March
23 at Jio Garden, Mumbai.
Best Film: Raazi by Meghna Gulzar
Best Actor (Female): Alia Bhatt, Raazi
Best Actor (Male): Ranbir Kapoor, Sanju
Best Director: Meghna Gulzar, Raazi
Vyas Samman 2018: Hindi writer Leeladhar Jagudi
(from Uttarakhand) selected by the KK Birla Foundation
for this prestigious award for outstanding work in Hindi
literature, for his collection of poems “Jitne Log Utne
Prem”. It carries a cash prize of Rs 4 lakh.
The Pritzker Architecture Prize: Japanese architect
Arata Isozaki won the prize for 2019.
51
Templeton Prize: Awarded to Marcelo Gleiser, a
college professor from USA who says he is a religious
agnostic but whose work has focused on the links
between science and the mysteries of creation.
Abel Prize: University of Texas professor Karen
Uhlenbeck has become the first woman to win this
prestigious prize.
Global Teacher Prize 2019: Peter Tabichi, 36, a
science teacher from remote village in Kenya’s Rift
Valley has been crowned the world’s best teacher and
awarded a $1million prize.
OBITUARY
JUNE
Girish Karnad: The 81-year-old veteran actor and
playwright died in Bengaluru after multiple organ
failure. He was known for his critically-acclaimed
plays like "Yayati", "Hayavadana" and "Tughlaq". He
was decorated with Padma Sri, Padma Bhushan and
prestigious literary award Jnanpith.
Dinyar Contractor: Veteran Parsi comedian and
actor died in Mumbai fighting with several age
related ailments. He was 79.
Jaspal Inder Singh Kalra: Popularly known as Jiggs
Kalra, famous restaurateur who was known as the
czar of Indian cuisine, died in Mumbai after fighting a
long illness. He was 72.
MAY
Y C Deveshwar: Noted industry leader and ITC
chairman, passed away on May 11 after a brief illness
in a hospital in Gurugram, Haryana. He was 72.
Veeru Devgan: Bollywood’s famous stunt and action
choreographer, father of popular actor Ajay Devgan
passed away in Mumbai at the age of 77.
Niki Lauda: The former Formula One driver and
three-time world champion from Austria, passed
away at the age of 70. He was hugely admired,
respected and liked within F1 circles.
APRIL
Pradeep Choubey: Renowned Hindi poet and
humorist died of a cardiac arrest in his hometown
Gwalior, MP. He was 70.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
PLACES IN NEWS
JUNE
Muzaffarpur: City in Bihar was in news as over 160
children lost their lives due to outbreak of the Acute
Encephalitis Syndrome, locally known as ‘chamki
bukhar’.
MAY
Surat: In a tragic incident, at least 23 students of a
private coaching class were killed — several of them
literally jumping to their death — in a devastating fire
in a four-storeyed commercial complex in Sarthana
locality of Surat on May 24.
Cyclone Fani: Extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani
made landfall on the eastern coast wreaking havoc in
Odisha on morning of May 03.
APRIL
Tashigang: The Himachal Pradesh village at an
altitude of 15,256 feet became the highest polling
station in the world, covering just two villages,
Tashigang and Gate.
Sri Lanka: Around 300 people were killed and more
than 400 injured in a series of bomb blasts targeting
churches across the country and three five-star hotels
in Colombo during Easter services on April 21.
Notre-Dame Cathedral: A massive fire consumed
the 850 year old ancient Cathedral in Paris on April
15, stunning France and the world.
Phayeng: The village in Imphal West district of
Manipur has become India’s first carbon-positive
settlement.
Singapore's Changi Airport has been crowned the
world's best aviation hub for the seventh time in a
row, according to the Skytrax World Airport Awards.
SPORTS WORLD
JUNE
P U Chitra, Asian champion ran her season's best to
win the women's 1500 mtr gold at the Folksam Grand
Prix in Sollentuna, Sweden.
Joshna Chinappa created a new record for winning
the most number of national titles in Squash.
52
Yuvraj Singh, the 37 year old charismatic hard
hitting batsman and all-rounder announced his
retirement from international cricket.
Sunil Chhetri became the most capped Indian
football player by playing 108 international matches.
INTERNATIONAL
French Open Tennis Tournament held in Paris
Women’s singles title: Australian Ashleigh Barty
won her first Grand Slam singles title after defeating
Czech teenager Marketa Vondrousova
Men’s singles title: Rafael Nadal (Spain) lifted the
title for the 12th time, beating Dominic Thiem of
Austria
Lee Chong Wei: Cancer-hit Malaysian badminton
star announced his retirement after remaining at the
world number one position for a total of 348 weeks
during his playing career of 19 years.
The IAAF (International Association of Athletics
Federations) Council approved its new name as
‘World Athletics’.
MAY
Saurav Ghoshal and Joshna Chinappa won their
respective Asian Individual Squash Championship
titles in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Bajrang Punia won the gold medal in 65kg freestyle
in the Ali Aliyev Wrestling Tournament in Kaspiysk,
Russia.
Pankaj Advani, India’s ace cueist won the Asian
Snooker Tour title in Bengaluru.
World’s first exclusive women's cricket magazine
'Criczone' was recently released in India. Published
from Pune, the magazine features only women
cricketers.
INTERNATIONAL
Brooks Koepka: 29 year old American reached the
top of world rankings in professional golf after
winning the US PGA Championship victory at
Bethpage Black.
Sana Mir: Pakistani off-spinner has become the most
successful women's ODI spinner in history after she
took her 147th wicket, highest ever by any spinner in
One-day International (ODI) cricket.
Australia's Claire Polosak has become the first
female umpire to officiate in a men's one-day
international at the ICC World Cricket League match.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
Sudirman Cup: China won the world mixed team
badminton championship at Nanning, China by
defeating Japan.
APRIL
Bajrang Punia, 25 year old wrestler regained the
world number one spot in the men's 65 kg freestyle
category, as per the latest rankings issued by United
World Wrestling on April 17.
Meena Kumari Maisnam won gold in the 54 kg
category in the Boxing World Cup at Cologne,
Germany.
WISDEN CRICKETERS’ ALMANACK - 2019
Cricketer of the year (men): Virat Kohli.
Cricketer of the year (women): Smriti Mandhana
Santosh Trophy: The Services team emerged as
winner of the popular Football trophy after defeating
Punjab team in the finals played in Ludhiana, Punjab.
Asian Athletics Championships, Doha: India ended
at the fourth spot in the medals tally with 3 Gold, 7
Silver and 7 Bronze. Bahrain topped the table with 11
Gold, 7 Silver and 4 Bronze.
Graham Reid, veteran Australian hockey player
named as the new chief coach of the Indian men's
hockey team by Hockey India.
Saurav Ghosal became the first Indian squash player
in the men’s category to enter the top 10 in latest
Professional Squash Association (PSA) world
rankings, being placed at 10th spot.
INTERNATIONAL
Malaysia Open (Badminton), Kuala Lumpur
Men’s title won by Chinese badminton ace Lin Dan
Women’s title won by Taiwanese top seed Tai Tzu-
ying
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: South Korea won the hockey
tournament by defeating India in the finals played at
Ipoh, Malaysia.
Belgium topped the world football rankings
released by FIFA, closely followed by France on
second spot, while Brazil was placed at third spot.
India rose two points and got 101st rank.
53
 Model Test For
General / Economy /
Banking Awareness
SEPTEMBER GK TEST - 01 a) import b) industry
c) export d) textiles
e) automobile
1) Which international day is observed for making
8) India clinched the U-19 Asia Cup title with a
efforts for the preservation of the Ozone layer?
thrilling five-run win over Bangladesh. This
a) International Ozone Day
final match was played at which place?
b) World Ozone Day
a) Vishakhapatnam b) Dhaka
c) Ozone Protection Day
c) Bangalore d) Colombo
d) Global Ozone Day
e) Mumbai
e) None of these
9) Bodhgaya, the place where Lord Budhha
2) Name the Indian player who clinched a record
attained enlightenment, is located in which
22nd world title by winning the IBSF World
Indian state?
Billiards Championship in Mandalay,
a) Chhattisgarh b) Madhya Pradesh
Myanmar?
c) Bihar d) Uttar Pradesh
a) Pankaj Advani. b) Geet Sethi.
e) Jharkhand
c) Ashok Sandilya. d) Michael Ferreira.
10) India's first Union Budget after attaining
e) Wilson Jones.
freedom was presented on November 26, 1947.
3) Which apex national broadcasting organization
Who presented this budget?
celebrated 60 years of its existence on
a) H K Mookerjee
September 14?
b) R K Shanmukham Chetty
a) All India Radio b) Vivid Bharti
c) V T Krishnamachari
c) Doordarshan d) DD National
d) Sachchidananda Sinha
e) Lok Sabha
e) Vallabhbhai Patel
4) Government declared 66th National Film
11) India celebrates Sept 15 as the Engineer's Day
Awards in August 2019. Which film won the
to commemorate the birth anniversary of
National Award for the Best Feature Film?
which legendary civil engineer of India?
a) Chaal Jeevi Laiye b) Hellaro
a) M Visvesvaraya b) E Sridharan
c) Rosogolla d) Byomkesh Gotro
c) Satish Dawan d) Dr. Homi Bhabha
e) Vada Chennai
e) None of these
5) Who is the author of the famous novel "One
12) Name the Indian player who clinched the
Indian Girl"?
Vietnam Open Super 100 badminton title,
a) Chetan Bhagat b) Vikram Seth
defeating China’s Sun Fei Xiang at the Ho Chi
c) Aravind Adiga d) Amish Tripathi
Minh City in Vietnam?
e) Arunadhati Roy
a) Lakshya Sen b) Sourabh Verma
6) India and Thailand conducted a Joint Military
c) Kaushal Dharmamer
Exercise at Umroi (Meghalaya) from 16-29 Sep
d) Srikanth Kidambi e) Prannoy Kumar
2019. What was its name?
13) The London based Times Higher Education
a) SAHYOG-2019 b) MAITREE-2019
society released the World University Ranking
c) PRAKRAM-2019 d) HAND-IN-HAND
2020 on September 11. Which university
e) None of these
topped the rankings for the fourth time in a
7) Union Finance Minister announced on Sep 14 a
row?
set of measures to boost the _________ sector in
a) Oxford University
the form of provision of Rs 50,000 crore for
b) Cambridge University
various incentives.
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 54
 c) London School of economics 22) Which of the following bureaucrats has been
d) Massachusetts Institute of Technology appointed as the Principal Advisor to Prime
e) Harvard Business School Minister?
14) Which Indian city is also known as Scotland of a) Pramod Kumar Mishra
India? b) Nripendra Mishra
a) Kodagu b) Wayanad c) Pradeep Kumar Sinha
c) Ooty d) Kodaikanal d) Sunil Arora
e) Munnar e) Rajiv Gauba
15) With which of its neighbouring country India 23) From which place the Prime Minister recently
signed the famous agreement of "Panchsheel" launched The National Animal Disease Control
(Five principles of peaceful co-existence)? Programme for vaccination of over 500 million
a) Pakistan b) Bhutan livestock?
c) Nepal d) China a) Gorakhpur b) Mathura
e) Myanmar c) Patna d) Ranchi
16) In which city Government plans to establish e) Gwalior
India's first Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) to 24) Blue Revolution is related to promotion of
provide skill training in highly-specialised which commercial activity?
areas to students who want to pursue technical a) River Solar Power Plants
education after completing Class X and XII? b) Fisheries
a) Kota b) Pune c) Water Harvesting
c) Mumbai d) Chennai d) Commercial Water Ways
e) Bengaluru e) River Water Ways
17) Recently, a news line in the papers read, "On 25) The famous classical dance art form
Gandhi Jayanti, 1,070 special POCSO courts will "Kathakali" is associated primarily with which
be set up all over the country". What is the state?
purpose of setting up these courts? a) Karnataka b) Tamil Nadu
a) To try sexual offences against children c) Kerala d) Uttar Pradesh
b) To prevent corruption cases in offices e) Telangana
c) To move against Police offences 26) Typhoon Faxai was one of the strongest storms
d) To expedite pollution control cases that hit __________ in the last several years, with
e) None of these winds of up to 210km/h.
18) The Indian Navy successfully carried out the a) Singapore b) Hongkong
first ever "arrested landing" of which aircraft c) Tokyo d) Osaka
for its later use on aircraft carrier warship? e) Fiji
a) Harrier b) Hansa 27) India’s second riverine Multi Modal Terminal
c) Tejas d) Kiran was inaugurated at Sahibganj on River Ganga in
e) Sea Hawk which state?
19) On which of the following dates the Constituent a) Uttar Pradesh b) Jharkhand
Assembly of India officially adopted "Jan Gan c) West Bengal d) Bihar
Man" as the national anthem? e) Uttarakhand
a) January 24, 1950 b) August 15, 1947 28) Govt. announced a scheme in 2015 to offer
c) January 26, 1950 d) August 15, 1950 accidental insurance cover of Rs. 2 lakh to the
e) January 21, 1949 people at a very low cost of premium of Rs. 12
20) Matatila Hydroelectric Project has been only. What is the name of this scheme?
constructed on the Betwa River in Matatila a) Pradhan Mantri Durghatna Bima Yojana
village of Lalitpur district. It is in which state? b) Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana
a) Bihar b) Uttarakhand c) Prime Minister Accident Insurance Scheme
c) Madhya Pradesh d) West Bengal d) Prime Minister Accidental Insurance Scheme
e) Uttar Pradesh e) Pradhan Mantri Durghatna Suraksha Yojana
21) In a first of its kind initiative, a fun zone has 29) To compete with high speed broadband
been set up by the Railways at which of its services offered by Jio, Airtel launched which
railway stations? scheme?
a) New Delhi b) Vishakhapatnam a) Airtel Extreme Fiber
c) Bhopal d) Hyderabad b) Airtel Giga Fiber
e) Kochi c) Airtel Xstream Fiber
d) Airtel Super Fiber
e) Airtel Hi-fi Fiber
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 55
30) The DRDO successfully flight tested c) He stepped down as chairman of Alibaba
indigenously developed Man Portable Anti-tank d) He was diagnosed with a serious fatal disease
Guided Missile (MPATGM) recently at which e) None of these
place: 38) South Asia’s first cross-border petroleum
a) Pokharan b) Chandipur pipeline was inaugurated recently between
c) Sri Perambadur d) Kurnool which two countries?
e) Balasore a) Nepal and India
31) Ministry of Agriculture launched a multilingual b) India and Bangladesh
mobile app to enable farmers to hire farm c) India and Bhutan
equipment from nearby sources. What is the d) Nepal and Bhutan
name of this app? e) Bangladesh and Myanmar
a) My tractor b) Hiretractor 39) Government has set up a three-member panel
c) Agri Machihire headed by Former Defence Secretary Sanjay
d) CHC Farm Machinery Mitra for what purpose:
e) CHF Machinery a) To investigate high value defence deals
32) What is the logo of the "Make in India" b) To suggest measures to improve technology
campaign? in defence
a) Figure of Lion c) To suggest measures for curbing cases of mob
b) Figure of Lion made up of machine parts lynching
c) A mechanical tiger figure d) To oversee the bifurcation of J & K into two
d) Figure of tiger made up of machine parts UTs
e) None of these e) None of these
33) Union Finance Minister recently announced 40) Which of the following sectors of economy
allowing of 100% FDI in which of the following contributes maximum share in the GDP of
sectors? India?
a) Coal mining
a) Agriculture b) Services
b) Hydropower Project
c) Atomic Energy c) Crude Oil and Mining d) Manufacturing
d) Private Banks e) Power and Energy
e) Insurance 41) The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Bill 2016
34) The Prime Minister recently launched Pradhan aims to provide benefit to which of the
Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana for providing following?
pension facility to the farmers. What is the a) Bank Borrowers b) Industrialists
minimum amount of pension assured under c) Bankers d) Start-ups
this scheme? e) All of them
a) Rs. 1000/- b) Rs. 2000/- 42) The international airport in which city is
c) Rs. 3000/- d) Rs. 4000/-
known as Rajiv Gandhi International Airport?
e) Rs. 5000/-
35) What is the amount of the cash award a) Hyderabad b) Amritsar
associated with the highest civil award of India c) Guwahati d) Bhubaneswar
- Bharat Ratna? e) Ahmedabad
a) Rs. 1 lakh b) Rs. 5 lakh 43) The Indian Air Force recreated its 17 Squadron
c) Rs. 10 lakh d) Rs. 50 lakh 'Golden Arrows' based at the Air Force Station
e) None of these Ambala, Haryana. It will fly which air craft?
36) Who is the chairman of the India's elite space
agency - Indian Space Research Organization a) Tejas b) Dornier
(ISRO)? c) Rafale d) Sukhoi
a) K N Vyas b) S K Sharma e) Mirage
c) Dr. K. Sivan 44) What is the name of the highest marathon in
d) Dr. Satheesh Reddy the world, held at over 11,000 feet above the
e) Dr. Tessy Thomas mean sea level?
37) Jack Ma, founder of Chinese e-commerce giant -
a) Ladakh Marathon
Alibaba, was in news recently for what reasons?
a) He celebrated his 55th birthday in a very b) Kargil Marathon
grand style c) Shangrila Marathon
b) He was honoured with highest civil award of d) Kilimanjaro Marathon
China e) McKinley Marathon
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 56
45) As per the Indian constitution, what is the SEPTEMBER GK TEST - 02
minimum age to be eligible for the post of
Governor? 1) Popularly known as the "Oscars of science”, the
a) 30 b) 35 Breakthrough Prizes are given in three fields.
c) 25 d) 37 Which of the following is not one of them?
e) 28 a) Fundamental Physics
46) UNESCO has tied up with which Indian state b) Life Science
c) Chemistry
government to promote its music, art and craft d) Mathematics
forms, and other intangible cultural heritage e) None of these
forms? 2) As per the World Travel & Tourism
a) Madhya Pradesh b) Rajasthan Competitiveness Index 2019 released by the
c) Uttarakhand d) Kerala World Economic Forum (WEF), India has
e) Karnataka jumped 6 places to claim which spot?
a) 34th b) 33rd
47) Name the 19 year old tennis star from Canada
c) 32nd d) 31st
who shocked the tennis world by defeating six- e) 30th
time champion 38 year old Serena Williams to 3) With a height of 102 metres, India’s tallest ATC
win the US Open? (air traffic control) tower started functioning at
a) Bianca Andreescu b) Eugenie Bouchard international airport in which city?
c) Rebecca Marino d) Gabriela Dabrowski a) Amritsar b) New Delhi
e) Aleksandra Wozniak c) Mumbai d) Chennai
e) Bengaluru
48) President Ram Nath Kovind embarked on an
4) If we subtract the amount of "interest
official nine-day (8 to 16 Sep) visit to three payments" from the amount of fiscal deficit of
countries. Which of the following is not one of the government, what would be the remaining?
them? a) Physical Deficit b) Primary Deficit
a) Iceland b) Sweden c) Net Deficit d) Capital Deficit
c) Switzerland d) Slovenia e) None of these
e) None of these 5) In the cheque truncation system, what is
truncated?
49) Name the senior diplomat of India who is our
a) Clearing of the cheque
Permanent Representative at the UNO?
b) Size of the cheque
a) Syed Akbaruddin b) Devyani Khobragade
c) Duration of the cheque
c) S Jaishankar d) Vikas Swarup
d) Physical movement of the cheque
e) None of these
e) Processing of the cheque
50) Which of the following is the currency of
6) According to the World Gold Council report,
Russia?
India with gold reserves totalling 618.2 tonnes
a) Riyal b) Krona
occupies ______ rank among countries in the
c) Ruble d) Yuan
world.
e) Kyat
a) 10th b) 11th
c) 12th d) 13th
ANSWER KEY - SEPTEMBER GK TEST - 1
e) 14th
7) In a list released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to
Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. select the best ‘Swachh Iconic Place’ which
1 B 2 A 3 C 4 B 5 A shrine has been adjudged as the "Best Swachh
6 B 7 C 8 D 9 C 10 B Iconic place" in the country?
11 A 12 B 13 A 14 A 15 D a) Shri Shirdi Sai Shrine
16 C 17 A 18 C 19 A 20 E b) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine
21 B 22 C 23 B 24 B 25 C c) Tirpuathi Temple
d) Swarn Mandir
26 C 27 B 28 B 29 C 30 D
e) None of these
31 D 32 B 33 A 34 C 35 E 8) The RBI has made it mandatory for banks to
36 C 37 C 38 A 39 D 40 B link interest on all their new loan products, be
41 E 42 A 43 C 44 A 45 B it personal, housing or auto to an external
46 B 47 A 48 B 49 A 50 C benchmark. Which could be benchmark rate?

GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 57

 a) Repo Rate b) Reverse Repo Rate 16) _________ is a trade and economic initiative which
c) Marginal Standing Facility advocates replacing foreign imports with
d) Bank Rate domestic production.
e) Base Rate a) Import reduction
9) ‘Teaser Loan Rates’ fall under which type of b) Reduction in import
interest rates charged by the banks? c) Decrease in export
a) Fixed rate of interest charged by banks d) Import substitution
b) Floating rate of interest charged by banks e) Import exemption
c) Rate of interest that is low initially and goes 17) The ‘Nifty 50’ or ‘Nifty’ is benchmark stock
up subsequently market index of ________.
d) Rate of interest that is in initially high and a) NASDAQ of New York
goes down subsequently b) National Stock Exchange
e) None of these c) Bombay Stock Exchange
10) We generally come across a term CAR in the d) Shanghai Stock Exchange
context of banking. What is the full form of e) Taiwan Stock Exchange
CAR? 18) The tax levied on import of goods is known as:
a) Capital Adequacy Ratio a) Import tax b) Trade tax
b) Current Account Ratio c) Custom duty d) Excise duty
c) Currency Account Ratio e) Import duty
d) Capital Account Ratio 19) Which South East Asian country has decided to
e) None of these shift its sinking and highly polluted capital to a
11) In the business news we come across that "the new better place?
company has raised money through ECB". What a) Indonesia b) Malaysia
does ECB stands for? c) Brunei d) Thailand
a) External Country Borrowing e) Myanmar
b) External Commercial Banking 20) At which place Indian Institute of Petroleum
c) Extra Commercial Borrowing has set up a plant that can turn plastic waste
d) External Commercial Borrowing into diesel?
e) None of these a) Chamouli b) Dehradun
12) The official logo of Qatar 2022 FIFA world cup c) Uttarkashi d) Gadhwal
was unveiled in the capital Doha. It is based on e) Kumaon
3D symbol of which arithmetical symbol? 21) Which state launched the ‘Walk to Work’
a) Omega b) Infinity campaign in the state as a part of ‘Fit India
c) Theta d) Pie Movement’ launched in the country by the
e) Square root Prime Minister?
13) In a major boost to India's air defence a) Meghalaya b) Assam
capabilities, the Indian Air Force (IAF) inducted c) Bihar
eight advanced attack helicopters at the d) Madhya Pradesh e) Maharashtra
Pathankot Air Base in Punjab. What is the name 22) RBI has directed banks to pay interest in
of these helicopters? savings bank accounts at ___________ or shorter
a) Mi-24 b) Kamov Ka-50 intervals:
c) AH-64E Apache d) CH-47 Chinook a) Weekly b) Fortnightly
e) Agusta A129 c) Monthly d) Quarterly
14) Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a two day e) Half Yearly
(Sep 4-5) visit to Russia to attend the 20th 23) The Head Office of the National Bank for
India-Russia Annual Summit and the 5th Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
Eastern Economic Forum (as chief guest) in is located in:
which city? a) New Delhi b) Hyderabad
a) Moscow b) Saint Petersburg c) Mumbai d) Lucknow
c) Kazan d) Chelyabinsk e) None of these
e) Vladivostok 24) India has different categories of commercial
15) The stock exchanges are also known as_______? banks. Which of the following is NOT a
a) Bourse commercial bank?
b) Market Infrastructure Institution a) Nationalised Banks
c) Share Dealing Institution b) Co-operative Banks
d) Both a & b e) Only c c) Payment Banks d) Foreign Banks
e) Commodity Banks
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 58
25) V K Johri, senior IPS officer has been appointed e) Germany
as the new Director General of which of the 33) The total horticulture production in the
following paramilitary forces? country is estimated to be over _____ million
a) CRPF b) BSF tonnes which is 0.69 per cent higher than the
c) CISF d) RPF production in 2017-18.
e) ITBP a) 250 b) 551
26) Bhagat Singh Koshyari, former Uttarakhand c) 313 d) 416 e) 120
Chief Minister has been appointed Governor of 34) The government announced the merger of ten
which state? public sector banks into four banks. After this
a) Maharashtra b) Kerala exercise, the country will have how many
c) Himachal Pradesh d) Telangana public sector banks?
e) Rajasthan a) 11 b) 12
27) Ministry of Women and Child Development has c) 13 d) 14
decided to observe the entire month of e) 15
September as which of the following? 35) Which of the following two banks have been
a) Matritava Suraksha Maah recently merged with Punjab National Bank?
b) Rashtriya Poshan Maah 1) Syndicate Bank 2) Andhra Bank
c) Shishu Suraksha Maah 3) United Bank
d) Mahila Kalyan Maah 4) Oriental Bank of Commerce
e) None of these 5) Canara Bank
28) Which of the following is NOT a credit rating a) 1 and 2 b) 2 and 3
agency? c) 2 and 4 d) 3 and 4
a) CARE b) CIBIL e) 1 and 4
c) CRISIL 36) Which country has decided to reduce the
d) Standard & Poor e) Fitch Ratings country's parliament by 25 per cent as part of
29) Which of the following is NOT a banking related an overhaul of the country's institutions?
term? a) Germany
a) Portfolio Management b) Overdraft b) United Kingdom
c) Treasury Operations c) France d) Japan
d) Merchant Banking e) Proclamation e) China
30) A lot of Banks in India these days are offering 37) Loktantra Ke Swar and The Republican Ethic,
M-Banking facility to their customers. What is both the books are a compilation of speeches of
the full form of ‘M’ in M-Banking? which Indian statesman?
a) Money b) Marginal a) Ram Nath Kovind
c) Message d) Mutual b) Narendra Modi
e) Mobile (Phone) c) Pranab Mukherjee
31) India hosted the 14th Conference of Parties, d) Indira Gandhi
COP14, to the UNCCD in Greater Noida. What e) Atal Behari Vajpayee
was its objective? 38) What is the name of India's second Scorpene-
a) To check climate change class attack submarine that was commissioned
b) To fight melting of glaciers into the Indian Navy on September 28, at
c) To combat desertification Mumbai.
d) To meet challenges of rising sea level a) INS Arihant b) INS Chakra
e) To suggest measures for water conservation c) INS Kalvari d) INS Khanderi
32) Which country recently announced the e) INS Sindhughosh
formation of “Space Command” or SpaceCom, a 39) Which bank recently launched a co-branded
force that will be devoted to counter "Star credit card in association with Standard
Wars"-type showdowns? Chartered Bank?
a) USA b) Russia a) IDFC First Bank
c) China d) UK b) Bandhan Bank
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 59
 c) IDBI Bank a) Fixed Deposit Account
d) HDFC Bank b) Current Account
e) AU Small Finance Bank c) Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account
40) Name the tennis prodigy who created a d) Small Savings Bank Account
sensation when he defeated the 20 grand slam e) Cash Credit Account
winner 38 year old Roger Federar in first round
match in US Open Grand Slam in New York? 47) Which international day is observed on August
a) Sumit Nagal b) Leander Paes 21 to raise awareness about the condition of
c) Rohan Bopanna older people and to support them throughout
d) Mahesh Bhupathi e) Yuki Bhambri the aging process?
41) The conventional banking style where the a) World Day for Older Persons
customer is required to visit the branch of a b) International Old People Day
bank to conduct banking transactions, is known c) World Day for Senior Citizens
as: d) World Senior Citizens Day
a) Branch Banking e) Global Day for Old Age People
b) Brick and Mortar Banking 48) What is the name the oldest Football
c) Brick and Wall Banking Tournament of Asia played in India?
d) Lobby Banking a) Durand Cup b) Subroto Cup
e) None of these c) Duleep Trophy
42) Which govt. owned Indian organization was in d) Mohammedan cup e) None of these
news recently for announcing transfer of 1.76
lakh crore rupees as dividend and surplus 49) Which Asian country has been placed on the
reserve to the government? blac klist of the Financial Action Task Force’s
a) Life Insurance Corporation (Paris) Asia Pacific Group for non-compliance
b) Reserve Bank of India and non-enforcement of safeguards against
c) Indian Oil Corporation terror financing and money laundering?
d) Oil and Natural Gas Corporation a) Iraq b) Iran
e) Coal India Ltd. c) Pakistan d) Syria
43) Which country was in international news e) Afghanistan
headlines on account of massive wildfires that 50) What is the maximum rate of interest that a
flared up in the rain forests of the Amazon? bank is allowed to pay on Savings Bank
a) Brazil b) Venezuela account?
c) Colombia d) Ecuador a) 3% b) 4%
e) Bolivia c) 5% d) 6%
44) The second oldest cricket stadium of India, e) No limit
Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi was
renamed as _______ Stadium. ANSWER KEY - SEPTEMBER GK TEST - 2
a) Gautam Gambhir b) Viredra Sehwag
c) Arun Jaitley d) Amit Shah Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A.
e) Virat Kohli 1 C 2 A 3 B 4 B 5 D
45) Which state topped the Composite Water 6 A 7 B 8 A 9 C 10 D
Management Index 2.0 for 2017-18 for its 11 B 12 B 13 C 14 E 15 D
outstanding performance in efficient 16 D 17 B 18 C 19 A 20 B
management of water resources? 21 A 22 D 23 C 24 E 25 B
a) Maharastra b) Gujarat 26 A 27 B 28 B 29 E 30 E
c) Karnataka d) Tamil Nadu 31 C 32 A 33 C 34 B 35 D
e) Andhra Pradesh 36 C 37 A 38 D 39 B 40 A
46) Which of the following is the only account that 41 B 42 B 43 A 44 C 45 B
can be opened with partial fulfillment of ‘KYC’ 46 D 47 D 48 A 49 C 50 E
norms?
GYANM GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 60
IBPS CLERK – PRELIMS
(MODEL TEST PAPER)
REASONING ABILITY opposite to the centre) what is the position
of A with respect to E?
(Note: Facing the same direction means, if one
Directions - These questions consists of a question
is facing the centre then the other also faces the
and two statements numbered I and II given below
centre and vice versa. Facing the opposite
it. You have to decide whether the data given in the
directions means if one is facing the centre then
statements are sufficient to answer the questions.
the other faces outside and vice versa)
Read both the statements and choose the most
I. C stands second to the right of E. E faces
appropriate option.
outside. C is an immediate neighbour of
both D and B. F stands second to the left of
1) How many people are standing between L
D. D faces the same direction as E.
and K in the line of 19 people (Note: All are
II. Only two people stand between B and E.
standing in a straight line facing north)?
Both B and E face outside. E is an immediate
I. Y stands to the extreme left end of the line.
neighbour of both D and F. B is an
Only five people stand between Y and K.
immediate neighbour of both C and A. A is
Only six people stand between K and R. Only
not an immediate neighbour of D.
four people stand between R and L.
a) The data in both statements I and II together
II. J stands exactly in the centre of the line.
are necessary to answer the question
Only two people stand between I and J. Only
b) The data in statement II alone is sufficient to
five people stand between I and L. I stands
answer the question, while the data in
to the left of L. K stands third to the left of J.
statement I alone is not sufficient to answer the
a) The data given in both statements I and II
question
together are not sufficient to answer the
c) The data given in both statements I and II
question
together are not sufficient to answer the
b) The data in both statements I and II together
question
are necessary to answer the question
d) The data either in statement I alone or
c) The data in statement II alone is sufficient to
statement II alone is sufficient to answer the
answer the question, while the data in
question
statement I alone is not sufficient to answer the
e) The data in statement I alone is sufficient to
question
answer the question, while the data in
d) The data either in statement I alone or
statement II alone is not sufficient to answer
statement II alone is sufficient to answer the
the question
question
3) How is X related N?
e) The data in statement I alone is sufficient to
I. X is mother of J. T is married to Z. N is the
answer the question while the data in
daughter of T. Z is the brother of J.
statement II alone is not sufficient to answer
II. X is married to Y. Y is the father of J. J is
the question
married to M and Z is the uncle of N.
2) Among six people – A, B, C, D, E and F
standing around a circle some facing the
centre while some facing outside (i.e.
GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 61
 a) The data given in both statements I and II
together are not sufficient to answer the
question
b) The data in statement I alone is sufficient to
answer the question while the data in
statement II alone is not sufficient to answer
the question
c) The data either in statement I alone or
statement II alone are sufficient to answer the
question
d) The data in both statements I and II together
are necessary to answer the question
e) The data in statement II alone is sufficient to
answer the question, while the data in
statement I alone is not sufficient to answer the
question
4) Among mobiles R, S, T, U, V and W which is
costlier?
I. T is costlier than only two mobiles. S is
costlier than R but not the costliest. V is costlier
than only W.
II. R is cheaper than only two mobiles. V is
costlier than W but cheaper than T. T is cheaper
than R. S is cheaper than U.
a) The data in statement II alone is sufficient to
answer the question, while the data in
statement I alone is not sufficient to answer the
question
b) The data given in both statements I and II
together are not sufficient to answer the
question
c) The data either in statement I alone or
statement II alone is sufficient to answer the
question
d) The data in statement I alone is sufficient to
answer the question while the data in
statement II alone is not sufficient to answer
the question
e) The data in both statements I and II together
are necessary to answer the question
5) In a six story building (consisting of floors
numbered 1 to 6, wherein the topmost floor
is numbered 6 and the ground floor is
numbered 1) each of the six friends namely
M, N, O, P, Q and R lives on a different floor
(Not necessarily in the same order). Who
amongst them lives on the lower most floor?
I. M lives on floor numbered five. Only two
people live between M and N. Q lives
immediately above P.
GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
II. P lives on floor numbered three. Only two
people live between P and O. N lives
immediately above R. N lives on even
numbered floor.
a) The data given in both statements I and II
together are not sufficient to answer the
question
b) The data in statement II alone is sufficient to
answer the question, while the data in
statement I alone is not sufficient to answer the
question
c) The data in statement I alone is sufficient to
answer the question while the data in
statement II alone is not sufficient to answer
the question
d) The data either in statement I alone or
statement II alone are sufficient to answer the
question
e) The data in both statements I and II together
are necessary to answer the question
Directions – In these questions there are given four
statements followed by five conclusions, one of
which definitely does not logically follow (or is not a
possibility or occurrence) from the given
statements. That conclusion is your answer.
(Note: You have to take the four given statements to be
true even if they seem to be at variance from the given
statements disregarding commonly known facts.)
6) Statements:
No toy is a doll.
All guns are toys.
All houses are dolls.
All dolls are baskets.
Conclusions:
a) All baskets are toys
b) No gun is a house
c) All guns being baskets is a possibility
d) All houses are baskets
e) No doll is a gun
7) Statements:
Some logics are reasons.
All reasons are arguments.
All arguments are fights.
No fight is a discussion.
Conclusions:
a) All discussions being logics is a possibility
b) No discussion is an argument
c) All logics being discussion is a possibility
62
 d) All reasons are fights The one who likes Cars has a presentation on Biology. M
e) No reason is a discussion has a presentation on Physics and does not like up. The
8) Statements: one who likes Up does not have a presentation on
All references are mails. chemistry. O likes Lion King. R does not have a
All mentions are references. presentation on History and does not like Up. P does not
All comments are mentions. like Up.
No mail is a declaration.
Conclusions: 11) On which of the following subjects P has a
a) No reference is a declaration presentation?
b) All comments are mails. a) Chemistry b) English
c) No mention is a declaration c) Biology
d) All declarations being comments is a d) Other than those given as options
possibility e) Geography
e) Atleast some mails are mentions 12) Four of the following five form a group as
9) Statements: per the given arrangement. Which of the
Some moments are flashes. following does not belong to that group?
All moments are seconds. a) R – Cars b) Q – Shrek
All flashes are instances. c) N – Up d) M – Frozen
No instance is an hour. e) P – Rio
Conclusions: 13) Which of the following combinations is
a) All hours being second is a possibility definitely correct?
b) No second is a flash a) N – Chemistry b) R – History
c) No hour is a flash c) L – English
d) Atleast some moments are instances d) All the give combinations are definitely
e) Atleast some seconds are instances correct
10) Statements: e) P – Geography
All circles are spheres. 14) Which of the following combinations of
All spheres are rectangles. movie and subject is definitely correct with
No rectangle is a pyramid. respect to N?
No pyramid is a triangle. a) Up – Chemistry
Conclusions: b) Other than those given as options
a) Atleast some circles are pyramids c) Shrek – Geography d) Up – Geography
b) All triangles being circles is a possibility e) Finding Nemo – History
c) All rectangles being triangles is a possibility 15) Four of the following five form a group as
d) Atleast some rectangles are circles per the given arrangement. Which of the
e) No pyramid is a sphere following does not belong to that group?
a) Biology – cars
Directions – Study the following information and b) Chemistry – Lion King
answer the question. c) Civics - Shrek d) English – Frozen
Seven friends namely L, M, N, O, P, Q and R like e) Geography – Up
the different animated movies namely, Finding Nemo, 16) Which of the following movies does Q like?
Rio, Frozen, Up, Lion King, Shrek and Cars but not a) Shrek
necessarily in the same order. Each friend also has a b) Other than those given as options
presentation on topics of different subjects namely c) Finding Nemo d) Lion King
Civics, History, English, Geography, Chemistry, Physics e) Cars
and Biology but not necessarily in the same order.
Q has a presentation on Civics and likes neither Directions – In the given question assuming the
Frozen nor Up. The one who likes Finding Nemo has a given statements to be true, find which of the given
presentation on History. L likes Rio and has a four conclusion I, II, III and IV is true and give your
presentation neither on Geography nor on Chemistry. answer accordingly.

GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 63

17) Statements: 22) Statements:
S>M≥D>H≤R≤T<W P≥Q≤C≤B=M>D
Conclusions: Conclusions:
I. S > H II. W > H I. M > Q II. D ≤ P
III. R < W IV. M > T III. M = Q IV. C > D
a) Only I, II and III are true a) None is true
b) Only II is true b) Only IV is true
c) Only I and II are true c) Only either I or II are true
d) Only I and either II or IV are true d) Only II and II are true
e) All I, II, III and IV are true e) Only either I or III is true
18) Statements:
M > U > L ≤ N; L ≥ Y > A Directions – Study the following information
Conclusions: carefully and answer the given question.
I. Y < N II. M > N A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting around a
III. N = Y IV. M > A square table in such a way that four of them sit at four
a) Only either II or III is true corners of the square while four sit in the middle of
b) Only IV and either I or III are true each of the four sides. The ones who sit at the four
c) Only IV is true corners face the centre of the table while those who sit
d) Only II is true in the middle of the sides face outside. Each one of them
e) Only III is true likes a different subject viz. Mathematics, Hindi, English,
19) Statements: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History and Geography.
J ≥ A > D = E; L < A < M (None of the information given is necessarily in the
Conclusions: same order).
I. M < J II. J > L C sits third to the left of the one who likes
III. D > L IV. E < M Geography. The one who likes Geography faces outside.
a) Only II is true Only two people sit between C and H. The one who likes
b) Only I and II are true Mathematics sits to immediate right of H.
c) None is true The one who likes Chemistry sits second to
d) Only II and IV are true right of G. G is neither an immediate neighbour of H nor
e) Only I and II are true C. G does not like the Geography.
20) Statements: Only one person sit between A and the one who
Y > F ≤ O ≤ P; F ≥ U < T likes Chemistry.
Conclusions: D sits to immediate left of the one who likes
I. Y > P II. T < F Physics. G does not like Physics.
III. O > T IV. P < U E likes History. E is not an immediate
a) Only I is true b) Only II is true neighbour of A.
c) Only III is true d) None is true The one who likes Hindi is an immediate
e) Only I and IV are true neighbour of E.
21) Statements: The one who likes Biology is an immediate
M≥N≤Y≤R<U=Z≥E neighbour of F.
Conclusions:
I. M > R II. Z ≤ R 23) Who among the following sits diagonally
III. R > E IV. Z > Y opposite the one who likes Mathematics?
a) Only I and II are true a) The one who likes Hindi
b) Only IV is true b) D
c) None is true c) A
d) Only II and IV are true d) The one who likes English
e) Only II and III are true e) The one who likes Biology

GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 64

24) Who among the following represent the c) 15 m d) 5 m
immediate neighbours of the one who likes e) 9 m
Chemistry?
a) B, F b) C, E Directions – Study the following information to
c) B, E d) D, F answer the given question.
e) F, H A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting in a straight
25) Who amongst the following sits exactly line equidistant from each other (but not necessarily in
between H and B? the same order). Some of them are facing south while
a) C some are facing north.
b) The one who likes Hindi (Note: Facing the same direction means. If one
c) The one who likes English is facing north then the other also faces north and vice
d) G e) A versa. Facing the opposite directions means. If one is
26) Which of the following is true regarding B? facing North then the other faces south and vice versa).
a) B is one of the immediate neighbours of D H faces north. C sits at one of the extreme ends
b) The one who likes Geography is an of the line. A sits third to the left of C. D is not an
immediate neighbour of B immediate neighbour of C. G sits third to the right of A.
c) B sits second to left of H B sits to the immediate right of G. B does not sit at any
d) B likes History of the extreme ends of the line. Only one person sits
e) B is an immediate neighbour of the one who between F and D. G sits second to the left of F. E sits
likes Mathematics second to the right of B. Both the immediate neighbours
27) What is the position of the one who likes of G face the same direction. Both the immediate
Physics with respect to G? neighbours of A face the opposite directions. E faces the
a) Second to the left b) Third to the right same direction as B.
c) Fourth to the left d) Second to the right 32) Who among the following sits second to the
e) Third to the left right of F?
28) Which of the following subjects does D like? a) H b) D
a) Biology b) Mathematics c) C d) G
c) Hindi d) Chemistry e) A
e) English 33) Which of the following is true with respect
29) Who amongst the following likes to the given information?
Geography? a) G sits at one of the extreme ends of line
a) B b) F b) B sits exactly between A and F
c) H d) A c) B sits third to the right of E
e) D d) A faces north
e) A sits second to the left of B
Directions – Read the given information carefully 34) How many persons in the given
and answer the given question. arrangement facing North?
Point N is 8 m to the west of Point O. Point P is a) Four b) One
4 m to the south of Point O. Point Q is 4 m to the east of c) Three d) Two
point P. Point R is 6 m to the north of Point Q. Point S is e) More than four
8 m to the west of Point R. Point T is 2 m to the south of 35) Four of the following five are alike in a
Point S. certain way and so form a group. Which of
30) How far and in which direction is Point T the following does not belong to the group?
from Point N? a) B, A b) D, C
a) 4 m to the east b) 8 m to the west c) E, B d) A, E
c) 4 m to the west d) 6 m to the east e) G, F
e) 6 m to the south
31) If Point T is 4 m to the north of Point E, then
what is the distance between E and Q?
a) 11 m b) 8 m

GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 65

 QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE 40) Total number of foreign tourists who visited
all the three places on Tuesday together is
what per cent of the total number of foreign
Directions (Q. 36-40): Study the following graph
tourists who visited Wagha Border on
carefully to answer the questions –
Monday and Wednesday together?
Number of foreign tourists who visited three
a) 168 b) 124
different places in five different days
c) 112 d) 224
e) 212
41) The present ages of Vishal and Shekhar are
in the ratio of 14 : 17 respectively. Six years
from now, their ages will be in the ratio of
17 : 20 respectively. What is Shekhar’s
present age?
a) 17 years b) 51 years
c) 34 years d) 28 years
e) None of these

Directions (Q. 42 – 46): Study the following table

carefully to answer the questions that follow-
Number of Units Manufactured (in thousands) by
Six different Companies over the Years
36) What is the average number of foreign
tourists who visited Wagha Border on all
the days together?
a) 184 b) 172
c) 186 d) 174
e) None of these
37) On which day was the difference between
the number of foreign tourists who visited
Taj Mahal and Golden Temple, second
42) What is the respective ratio of total number
highest?
of units manufactured by company A and B
a) Monday b) Tuesday
together in the year 2009 to those
c) Wednesday d) Thursday
manufactured by companies C and D
e) Friday
together in the same year?
38) What is the respective ratio between the
a) 312 : 329 b) 317 : 311
number of foreign tourists who visited Taj
c) 329 : 312 d) 311 : 317
Mahal on Thursday and the number of
e) None of these
foreign tourists who visited Golden Temple
43) The number of units manufactured by
on Friday?
company E in the year 2005 is
a) 14 : 9 b) 8 : 13
approximately what per cent of the total
c) 13 : 8 d) 13 : 7
number of units manufactured by it in all
e) None of these
the years together?
39) On which day was the total number of
a) 31 b) 27
foreign tourists who visited all the three
c) 7 d) 15
places together second lowest?
e) 23
a) Monday b) Tuesday
c) Wednesday d) Thursday
44) What is the average number of units
e) Friday
manufactured by company D in the years
2004 and 2007 together?

GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 66

 a) 14650 b) 15750 Directions (Q. 51–55): What should come in place of
c) 13750 d) 16470 the question mark (?) in the following questions?
e) None of these
45) What is the total number of units 51) {(52)2 + (45)2} ÷ ? = 8
manufactured by Company C over all the a) 611.345 b) 487.225
years together? c) 591.125 d) 372.425
a) 783 b) 7830 e) None of these
c) 783000 d) 78.3 52) 14.2% of 5500 + 15.6% of ? = 1795
e) None of these a) 6500 b) 6200
46) What is the per cent increase in the number c) 5600 d) 5800
of units manufactured by company F in the e) None of these
year 2008 from the previous year? 53) (5696 ÷ 4 - ?) x 5 = 1020
(rounded off to two digits after decimal) a) 1180 b) 1200
a) 3.73 b) 3.62 c) 1240 d) 1220
c) 4.35 d) 4.16 e) None of these
e) None of these 54) 118963 – 107958 – 9589 = ?
47) Population of a village increases every year a) 1420 b) 1404
by 15%. If its population in January 2015 c) 1416 d) 1412
was 2,60,000, what will be its population in e) None of these
January 2016? 12.5  2.4  5.5  0.8
a) 2,99,000 b) 2,86,000 55) 8
?
c) 3,43,850 d) 3,38,000
a) 3.4 b) 4.8
e) None of these
c) 3.8 d) 4.3
48) Shelly could get equal number of Rs. 25 per
e) None of these
piece, Rs. 40 piece and Rs. 65 per piece
bangles. She spends a total of Rs. 1,560 for
Direction (Q. 56- 60): In each of the following a
all the bangles. How many of each type did
number series is given. Below it a number is given
she buy?
followed by (a) (b) (c) (d) & (e). You have to
a) 12 b) 14
complete the series starting with the number given
c) 16
according to the sequence for the given series?
d) Cannot be determined
56)
e) None of these
5 12 60 340
49) What is the approximate total surface area
7 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
of a right circular cone of height 14 cm and
Which of the following number will come in
base radius 7 cm?
place of (d)?
a) 510 b) 511
a) 172 b) 5044
c) 490 d) 505
c) 1012 d) 20164
e) 499
e) 28
50) Two stations A and B are 110 km apart on a
57)
straight line. One train starts from A at 7 am
11 15 38 126
and travels towards B at 20 kmph. Another
7 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
train starts from B at 8 am and travels
towards A at a speed of 25 kmkph. At what Which of the following number will come in
time will they meet? place of (c)?
a) 9 am b) 11 am a) 102 b) 30
c) 11:30 am d) 10 am c) 2140 d) 80
e) 12:30 pm e) 424
58)
2 3 8 27
5 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 67

 Which of the following number will come in II. y1/3- 55 + 376 = (18)2
place of (e)? a) x > y b) x  y
a) 184 b) 6 c) x < y
c) 925 d) 45 d) relationship between x and y cannot be
e) 14 determined
59) e) x  y
12 28 64 140 12 8
37 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) 65) I.   ( x)
( x) ( x)
Which of the following number will come in
place of (e)? 2 (18) 5 / 2
a) 1412 b) 164 II. y  0
y
c) 696 d) 78
e) 340 a) x > y b) x  y
60) c) x < y
2 3 9 40.5 d) relationship between x and y cannot be
4 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) determined
e) x  y
Which of the following number will come in
place of (b)? 66) I. (36) x  (64)  0
a) 486 b) 81
c) 3645 d) 18 II. (81) y  (4) 2  0
e) 6 a) x > y
61) The difference between a two-digit number b) x  y
and the number obtained by interchanging c) x < y
the digits is 36. What is the difference d) relationship between x and y cannot be
between the sum and the difference of the determined
digits of the number if the ratio between the e) x  y
digits of the number is 1 : 2? 25 9
a) 10 b) 9 67) I.   17 ( x)
( x) ( x)
c) 11 d) 8
e) 7 ( y) 5 ( y) 3
62) In a lottery, there are 15 boys and 10 girls. II.  
3 6 ( y)
Three students are selected at random.
What is the probability that 1 girl and 2 a) x > y b) x  y
boys are selected? c) x < y
31 21 d) relationship between x and y cannot be
a) b) determined
47 46
e) x  y
22 31 68) Three taps A, B and C can fill a tank in 12, 15
c) d)
47 46 and 20 hours respectively. If A is open all
21 the time and B and C are open for one hour
e)
47 each alternately, in what time will the tank
63) I. x2 – 10x + 21 = 0 be full?
II. y2 – 16y + 63 = 0 a) 9 hours b) 7 hours
a) x > y b) x  y c) 8 hours d) 10 hours
c) x < y e) 11 hours
d) relationship between x and y cannot be 69) A and B started a business in partnership
determined investing Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 15,000
e) x  y respectively. After six months, C joined them
with Rs. 20,000. What will be B’s share in
64) I. x2 – (16)2 = (23)2 – 56
GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 68
 total profit of Rs. 25,000 earned at the end This illustrates what is wrong with the World
of 2 years from the starting of the business? Bank. The World Bank has often forgotten the most
a) Rs. 8,000 b) Rs. 8,500 basic lessons of development, preferring to lecture the
c) Rs. 9,000 d) Rs. 7,500 poor and force them to privatise basic infrastructure,
e) Rs. 9,500 which is untenable, rather than to help the poor to
70) A boatman goes 2 km against the current of invest in infrastructure and other crucial sector. The
the stream in 1 hour and goes 1 km along Bank’s failure began in the early 1980s when under the
the current in 10 minutes. How long will it
ideological sway of then American President and British
take to go 5 km in stationary water?
a) 80 minutes b) 75 minutes Prime Minister it tried to get Africa and other poor
c) 70 minutes d) 72 minutes regions to cut back or close down government
e) 84 minutes investments and services. For 25 years, the bank tried
to get governments out of agriculture, leaving
impoverished peasants to fend for themselves. The
ENGLISH LANGUAGE result has been a disaster in Africa, with farm
productivity stagnant for decades. The bank also
Directions (71-80): Read the following passage
pushed for privatization of national health systems,
carefully and the questions given below it. Certain
water utilities, and road and power networks, and has
words/phrases are given in bold to help you locate
grossly underfinanced these critical sectors. This
them while answering some of the questions.
extreme free-market ideology, also called “structural
China’s rising power is based on its remarkable
adjustment”, went against the practical lessons of
economic success. Shanghai’s overall economy is
development successes in China and the rest or Asia.
currently growing at around 13% per year, thus
Practical development strategy recognises that public
doubling in size every five or six years. Everywhere
investments – in agriculture, health education, and
there are start-ups, innovations, and young
infrastructure – are necessary complements to private
entrepreneurs hungry for profits. In a series of high-
investments. The World Bank has instead wrongly seen
level meetings between Chinese and African officials,
such vital public investments as an enemy of private
the advice that the African leaders received from the
sector development. Whenever the bank’s ideology
Chinese was sound, and more practical than they
failed, it has blamed the poor for corruption,
typically get from the World Bank. Chinese officials
mismanagement, or lack of initiative. Instead of focusing
stress the crucial role of public investments, especially
its attention on helping the poorest countries to
in agriculture and infrastructure, to lay the basis for
improve their infrastructure, there has been a crusade
private sector-led growth. In a hungry and poor rural
against corruption. The good news is that African
economy, as China was in the 1970s and as most of
governments are getting the message on how to spur
Africa is today, a key starting point is to raise farm
economic growth and are getting crucial help from
productivity. Farms need the benefits of fertilizer,
China and other partners that are less wedded to
irrigation and high-yield seeds, all of which were a core
extreme free-market ideology than the World Bank.
part of China’s economical take off. Two other equally
They have declared their intention to invest in
critical investments are also needed: roads and
infrastructure, agriculture modernization, public health,
electricity, without which there cannot be a modern
and education. It is clear the Bank can regain its
economy. Farmers might be able to increase their
relevance only if it becomes practical once again, by
output, but it wont be able to reach the cities, and the
returning its focus to financing public investments in
cities won’t be able to provide the country-side with
priority sectors. If that happens, the Bank can still do
inputs. The government has taken pains to ensure that
justice to the bold vision of a world of shared prosperity
the electricity grids and transportation networks reach
that prompted its creation after World War II.
every village in China. China is prepared to help Africa
in substantial ways in agriculture, roads, power, health
71) The author’s main objective in writing the
and education. And that is not an empty boast. Chinese
passage is to
leaders are prepared to share new high-yield rice
a) make a case for the closure of the World
varieties, with their African counterparts and, all over
Bank since it promotes US interests over those
Africa, China is financing and, constructing basic
of other countries.
infrastructure.
GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 69
 b) illustrate how China can play a more
concrete role in Africa.
c) criticize the World Bank for playing a crucial
role in China’s development but neglecting
Africa.
d) recommend that China adopt the guidelines
of the World Bank to sustain growth.
e) use China’s success as an example of the
changes required in World Bank ideology.
72) What advice have African leaders received
from their Chinese counterparts?
a) Focus primarily on innovation, start-ups and
urban development.
b) To ensure all citizens benefit from economic
development, investment, not the private
sector.
c) Improve agricultural output through
government investment to stimulate economic
growth.
a) None b) Only (C)
c) Only (B) d) Both (A) & (B)
e) None of these
73) What effect has the World Bank policy had
on African nations?
a) The African government has restricted
private sector investment in agriculture.
b) Africa has focused more on health and
education rather than on agriculture.
c) The agriculture sector in these countries is
not as productive as it could be.
d) US and Britain have volunteered substantial
aid to Africa as Africa has complied with World
Bank ideology.
e) None of these
74) What is the difference in the Chinese and
World Bank approach to development?
a) Unlike the World Bank, China favours the
public sector and restricts private sector
participation in crucial sectors.
b) Contrary to China’s strategy of dependence
on the private sector, the World Bank
pressurises governments to take the lead in
investing in agriculture.
c) While the World Bank has focused on
agriculture, China’s priority has been rooting
out corruption so that investment in
infrastructure is utilised appropriately.
d) The Chinese government has retained
control over essential services like transport
GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019
while the World Bank favours private sector
involvement.
e) None of these
75) What is China’s view on the development of
the transportation and power networks?
a) Development in these sectors is not as
important as investing in agriculture.
b) Resources need to be diverted from the rural
to the urban areas to meet the needs of the
growing population in cities.
c) The government should be solely responsible
for developing these services so all citizens
have access to them.
d) It is more important to develop and maintain
transportation networks and power grids in
rural areas.
e) None of these
76) Which of the following cannot be said about
structural adjustment?
a) It is the World Bank’s free market ideology
adapted by Asian countries.
b) Under this strategy public sector investment
in priority sectors is discouraged.
c) As a development strategy it has failed in
Africa.
d) With this strategy there has been a lack of
adequate investment in critical sectors.
e) It is an ideology advocated by the World
Bank which needs to be modified to facilitate
economic growth.
77) Which of the following is NOT true in the
context of the passage?
a) China’s involvement in Africa so far has been
restricted to advising its leaders.
b) The World Bank was created by the US and
Britain for the sole purpose of furthering their
interest.
c) China’s economy was once in the same state
as many African countries are today.
a) None b) Only (B)
c) Only (A) d) Both (A) & (B)
e) None of these
78) What has/have been the outcome/s of
Shanghai’s economy prospering?
a) The World Bank has changed its
development strategy.
b) China’s importance globally has been
enhanced.
c) Rural areas are being neglected to promote
development of cities.
70
 a) Only (B) b) Both (A) & (B) 84) untenable
c) Both (B) & (C) d) All (A), (B), & (C) a) viable b) unsound
e) None of these c) consistent d) superior
79) Why is the author optimistic about Africa’s e) attractive
future? 85) empty
a) The World Bank has committed itself to a) full b) objective
invest huge sums in Africa’s development. c) meaningful d) occupied
b) Africa has decided to adopt a structural e) intelligent
adjustment ideology which has benefited many
nations. Directions (86-89): Read each sentence to find out
c) Africa has committed itself to adopting whether there is any error in it. The error, if any,
China’s strategy for economic growth. will be in one part off the sentence. The number of
d) China has urged the World Bank to waive the that part is the answer. If there is no error, the
interest on its loans to Africa. answer is (e). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any).
e) None of these
80) What advice has the author given the World 86) It is not worthy(a)/the company’s
Bank? reputation(b/to compromise on quality(c)/ for
a) Support China’s involvement in developing the sake of profit. (d) No error (e)
Africa
b) Reduce the influence of the US and Britain in 87) The company which has (a) /won the
its functioning government contract (b)/ also plans to invest
c) Adopt a more practical ideology of structural (c)/ with the power sector. (d)/ No error (e)
adjustment
d) Change its ideology to one encouraging both 88) Implementing these measures (a) / will help
public and private sector investment in basic the government (b)/ to save more of (c)/ 400
infrastructure crores each year. (d)/No error (e)
e) Focus on fighting corruption rather than
interfering in the governance of developing 89) You have failed to produce (a)/ no evidence to
countries support (b)/ the charge that he (c)/ is
responsible for the error. (d) /No error (e)
Directions (81-83): Choose the word which is most
nearly the SAME in meaning as the word printed in Directions (90-93): Which of the phrases (a), (b), (c)
bold as used in the passage. and (d) given below should replace the phrase given
in bold in the following sentences to make the
81) sway sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is
a) fluctuate b) influence correct as it is and there is no correction required,
c) govern d) dependence mark (e), i.e. ‘No correction required’ as the answer.
e) unsteady
82) core 90) The minimum eligibility age shall be less to
a) centre b) heart sixty years to allow more senior citizens to
c) adequate d) intermediate avail of the benefits of the scheme,
e) essential a) should be lowered b) should be lower
83) stress c) being lesser d) must be lessen
a) highlight b) strain e) No correction required
c) taxing d) tension 91) The latest study by Nasscom indicates possibly
e) emphasis short of five lakh qualified engineers in the IT
industry.
Directions (84-85): Choose the word which is most a) the possible shortage off
OPPOSITE in meaning of the word printed in bold as b) possibly short by
used in the passage. c) possibility of shortage

GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 71

 d) a possible shortage of (F) In recent years, however, economic changes have
e) No correction required brought business sense and professionalism to the
92) China has to be prepared to meet many age- sector.
related social and financial challenges in the 96) Which of the following should be the FIFTH
coming years. sentence in the paragraph?
a) is been preparing b) was prepared a) A b) B
c) have been prepared d) has preparations c) C d) D
e) No correction required e) E
93) It is necessary to ascertain that we can do to 97) Which of the following should be the SIXTH
attract investment to the manufacturing sector. (LAST) sentence in the paragraph?
a) how we can do b) what we can do a) B b) C
c) more can be done d) that has been done c) D d) E
e) No correction required e) F
98) Which of the following should be the
Directions (94-95): In each of the following SECOND sentence in the paragraph?
sentences there are two blank spaces. Below each a) B b) C
five pairs of words have been denoted by numbers c) D d) E e) F
(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e). Find out which pair of words 99) Which of the following should be the FIRST
can be filled up in the blanks in this sentence in the sentence in the paragraph?
same sequence to make the sentence meaningfully a) A b) B
complete. c) C d) D e) E
100) Which of the following should be the THIRD
94) The Chairman in his speech stated the _____ sentence in the paragraph?
in company profits was _____ to team a) A b) B
building. c) C d) D e) E
a) incline, owing b) rise, liable
c) slump, accountable d) surge, due ANSWER KEY
e) plunge, response
95) The main _____ of Healthcare reforms is _____ Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A.
medical care to every citizen. 1 B 2 E 3 B 4 A 5 B
a) purpose, available b) cause, providing 6 A 7 C 8 D 9 B 10 A
c) challenge, accessing 11 D 12 E 13 C 14 D 15 D
d) assurance, qualified
16 A 17 A 18 B 19 D 20 D
e) focus, extending
21 B 22 E 23 A 24 C 25 E
26 E 27 E 28 A 29 B 30 A
Directions (96-100): Rearrange the following six
31 B 32 B 33 E 34 A 35 B
sentences (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) in the proper
36 B 37 E 38 D 39 A 40 E
sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then
answer the questions given below them. 41 C 42 C 43 D 44 B 45 E
(A) In fact, today, social entrepreneurship is no different 46 A 47 A 48 A 49 E 50 D
from starting a profit-motivated company. 51 C 52 A 53 D 54 C 55 D
(B) The major challenge they face is employee selection 56 B 57 A 58 C 59 A 60 D
and retention. 61 D 62 B 63 E 64 E 65 A
(C) For decades social development in India meant 66 A 67 C 68 B 69 D 70 B
charity. 71 E 72 E 73 C 74 E 75 E
(D) However, the challenges social organizations 76 A 77 D 78 E 79 C 80 D
experience are tougher. 81 B 82 E 83 A 84 A 85 C
(E) This is because while volunteering for social work is 86 A 87 D 88 C 89 B 90 A
not new, attracting talented people and tapping their 91 D 92 E 83 B 94 D 95 E
potential at lower costs is difficult. 96 B 97 2 98 2 99 C 100 A
GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 72
 SOLUTIONS
1) b): From statement I and II, we get

2) e): Hint – From Statement I 6) a):

‘A’ is second to the left of ‘E’ and fourth right of E.

From Statement II

7) c):

Or
Two possibilities come. So answer is ‘A’ is second to
right of E or A is second to the left of E.
Hence we cannot decide the result.

3) b): From Statement I

8) d):

Hence ‘X’ is grandmother of N.

From Statement II

9) b):

Can’t say about ‘N’.

4) a): By combining both the statements mobile is

costliest.
U>S>R>T>V>W

5) b): From statement II ‘R’ lives on the lower most

floor.
GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 73
10) a): Solution:

i) M<J (x)
ii) J>L ()
iii) D>L (x)
∵ (opposite sign)
iv) E < M ()
Hence ‘D’ is true.
20) d):
11 – 16): Statement: Y > F ≤ O ≤ P; F ≥ U < T
Name of the Movie Subject Solution:
Friends
L Rio English
M Frozen Physics
N Up Geography
i) Y > P (x)
O Lion King Chemistry
ii) T < F (x)
P Finding History
iii) O > T (x)
Nemo
iv) P < U (x)
Q Shrek Civics
Hence, ‘D’ is true.
R Cars Biology
21) b):
Hint – Statement: M ≥ N ≤ Y ≤ R < U = Z ≥ E
17) a): Hint – Statement:
Solution:
S>M≥D>H≤R≤T<W
i) M > R (x)
Conclusions:
ii) Z ≤ R (x)
I. S > H  True
iii) R > E (x)
II. W > H  True iv) Z > Y ()
III. R < W  True Hence ‘B’ is true.
IV. M > T  False 22) e):
Hence, only I, II and III are true. Hint – Statement: P ≥ Q ≤ C ≤ B = M > D
Hence ‘A’ is true. Solution:
18) b): Hint – Statement: i) P ≥ Q ≤ C ≤ B = M > D
M > U > L ≤ N; L ≥ Y > A
Solution: Same sign
 M > Q ()
ii) P ≥ Q ≤ C ≤ B = M > D

opposite sign
D ≤ P (x)
i) Y < N False iii) M = Q ()
ii) M > N False M ≥ Q ()
iii) N = Y False Either I or III true.
iv) M > A (same sign) True iv) P > Q ≤ C ≤ B = M < D
Hence ‘C’ is true.
19) d): opposite sign
Hint – Statement: J ≥ A > D = E; L < A < M C > D (x)
Hence ‘E’ is true.
GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 74
23 – 29): 16.7  16.1
46. (a)  100 = 3.73
16.1
115
47. (a) 2,60,000  = 299000
100
48. (a) Total Expenditure for Rs. = 25+40 + 65
Rs. 130
1560
No. of Pcs. = = 12 Pcs
130
50. (d)
30 – 31):

32 - 35): After one hour one train covered

distance = 20 km
Remaining Distance = 110 – 20 = 90
km
Relative speed = 20 + 25 = 45 km/hr
90
They will meet After = = 2 hrs
130  190  120  200  220 860 45
36. (b)   172 Meeting Time = 8 am & 2 hrs = 10 am
5 5
51. (c) (2704 + 2025)  ? = 8
37. (a) Monday
38. (d) 260 : 140 4729
?= = 591.125
13 : 7 8
39. (a) Monday 52. (a) 781 + 15.6% of ? = 1795
537 ? = 6500
40. (e)  100 = 212% 53. (d) (1424 - ?)  5 = 1020
250
? = 1220
54. (c) 1416
30  4.4
55. (d) =?
8
4.3 = ?
56. (b) The series is x8 – 28, x7 – 24, x6 – 20, …

57. (a) The series is x1 + 4, x2 + 8, x3 + 12 …….

41. (c) 58. (c) The series is x1 + 1, x2 + 2, x3 + 3, …..

1:2 59. (a) The series is x2 + 4, x2 + 8, x2 + 12 …….
S’s percentage = 17  2 = 34 years 60. (d) The series is x1.5, x3, x4.5, ………
42. (c) 32.9 : 31.2 36
61. (d) Always divided by 9, =4
329 : 312 9
14.1  Difference between two digits = 4
43. (d)  100 = 15.3  15%
91.2 Difference between their ratio = 1
16200 15300 1=4
44. (b) = 15750
2  No is 48
45. (d) 78.3 (4 + 8) – (8 – 4) = 8

GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 75

 15  14 x y
10
C 1 15 C 2
10  x<y
62. (b) 2  1 = 10 15 7 2 18 / 7
25 25  24  23 25 24  23
C3 x<y
3  2 1
68. (b) A  12 hrs 5l
21
=
46
B  15 hrs 4l
63. (e) x2  10x + 21 = 0
60 l
y2 – 16y + 63 = 0
C  20 hrs 3l
7, 3 7, 9
x = 7, 3 y = 7, 9
A + B, A+C
x y 1st hour 2nd hour
7 7 5 + 4 = 9l 4 + 3 = 8l
3 9 In 2 hours tanker filled = 17
x=y 51 + 9 = 60
x<y 6hrs next hour 7 hrs
x<y 69. (d) A B C
x<y 20,00024 15,000  24 20,000  18
xy 4 : 3 : 3
64. (e) x2 – 256 = 529 – 56 B’s share = 2500  3
y1/3 + 321 = 324 10 = 25,000
x2 = 729 = 7500/- 1 = 2500
y1/3 = 3 70. (b) Upstrem (US) = 2 km/hr
x =  27 y = 27 Downstrem = (DS) = 1 km per 10 mins
x y or 6 km/hr
27 27 D  US 2  6
S of man = S  = 4 km/hr
 27 2 2
x=y Time taken by him for 5 km in
x<y D
stationary water =
xy S
20 18 5 / 2 5 5
65. (a) = x y2 =  y2  y = hr =  60 = 75 minutes
x y 4 4
81. In the given sentence 'Sway' means 'influence'
= 185/2
1
82. Here, 'core' means 'important' so 'essential' is
5 2
2 
x = 20 y 2  185 / 2  y = 18 2 5 = 18 the right option
83. Here, 'stress' refers to 'highlight'
 y = 18 x>y
84. 'untenable' means 'indefensible' so the
66. (a) 6x + 8 = 0
opposite should be 'viable'
9y + 16 = 0
85. in the sentence, 'empty' refers to 'meaningless'
x = 8/6 = 4/3 y = 16/9
so opposite should be 'meaningful'
x y
x>y 86. Add ‘of’ after ‘worthy’
 4 / 3  16 / 9 87. Replace ‘with’ by ‘in’
x>y 88. Replace ‘of’ by ‘than’
34 89. Replace ‘no’ by ‘any’
67. (c) = 17 x
x 90. 'Shall be less' should be replaced by 'should be
2 y 5 y 3
lowered'
= 91. 'A possible shortage of' is the right option
6 y
92. No error
x=2 7y = 18 93. 'what we can do' should be used
y = 18/7

GENERAL AWARENESS – NOVEMBER 2019 76

 Latest G.K.Bytes
SEPTEMBER 2019
1) Name the joint maritime exercise that was held by
navies of India, US and Japan, off the coast of
Japan from Sept 27 to Oct 4: Malabar
2) Name the winner of this year's SASTRA
Ramanujan Prize: Adam Harper, England
3) World Rivers Day is observed on which Sunday of
September? 4th
4) Which international day promotes preventative
measures to reduce the risk of cardiovascular
diseases (CVDs): World Heart Day, Sept 29
5) What is the theme for this year's World Tourism
Day celebrated on September 27: Tourism and
Jobs: A Better Future for All
6) _______ created history on September 24 by
becoming the first Indian cricketer to bowl 3
maiden overs in T20Is: Deepti Sharma
7) What is the name of the civilian award to be given
for promoting unity and integrity of India? Sardar
Patel Unity Award
8) What is the amount of cash award of Sardar Patel
Unity Award? Nil
9) Name the noted economist from Bulgaria who has
been selected as the new head of the IMF:
Kristalina Georgieva
10) ________ has become the first state to distribute the
highest number of golden cards under Ayushman
Bharat: J & K
11) The Indian Navy’s biggest dry dock with capacitiy
for accommodating an aircraft carrier was
inaugurated recently at which place: Mumbai
12) Which naval force commissioned the offshore
patrol vessel (OPV) ‘Varaha’: Indian Coast Guard
13) Name the veteran actor honoured with this year's
Dada Saheb Phalke award: Amitabh Bachchan
14) What is the amount of cash prize given in the
Dada Saheb Phalke award? Rs. 10 lakh
15) Who won 2019 FIFA best player women's award?
Megan Rapinoe of USA
16) Who won 2019 FIFA best player men's award?
Lionel Messi
17) Name the royal dance of Ladakh that created
history by entering into the Guinness Book of
World Records as the largest Ladakhi dance:
Shondol
18) Govt launched a new health initiative named
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
‘UMMID’ for what purpose? to tackle inherited
genetic diseases of newborn babies
19) What is the full form of UMMID? Unique
Methods of Management and treatment of
Inherited Disorders
20) The multilateral military exercise TSENTR 2019
was held in which country? Russia
21) India’s Petronet LNG Ltd announced investment
of $2.5 billion to acquire nearly 20 per cent equity
stake in the Driftwood project of which country?
USA
22) The record breaking "Howdy Modi" programme
was held at which place in Houston, USA? NRG
Stadium
23) Name the world's oldest travel firm that collapsed
(declared bankrupt) on Sep 23, stranding
hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers around
the globe: Thomas Cook UK
24) Name the only Indian wrestler who won silver in
the World Wrestling Championships held in Nur-
Sultan, Kazakhstan: Deepak Punia
25) Name the star Indian boxer who created history
by winning 1st silver medal in boxing at World
Boxing Championship: Amit Panghal
26) Besides Amit, another boxer won a bronze medal
at the same championship. Name him: Manish
Kaushik
27) Which film has been selected as India’s official
entry in the International Feature Film category
at the 92nd Academy Awards (Oscars)? Gully Boy
28) Who is the director of the film Gully Boy? Zoya
Akhtar
29) Which apex energy giant plans to set up a 5-
gigawatt solar park in Gujarat, the largest in the
country? National Thermal Power Corporation
Limited (NTPC)
30) The International Day of Peace is observed
around the world on which date? September 21
31) What is the theme of this year’s International Day
of Peace? Climate Action for Peace
32) The Union home ministry plans to set up
country’s first central police university in which
city? Greater Noida, UP
33) Which International Day is observed on
September 18 to highlight promotion and
conservation of bamboo industry? World
Bamboo Day
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34) The Indian Army conducted a massive rare
exercise ‘Chang Thang’ in which area? Eastern
Ladakh
35) World Wrestling Championship was held in
_______, capital of Kazakhstan: Nur-Sultan
(Kazakhstan)
36) The World Boxing Championship was held in
Ekaterinburg. It is in which country? Russia
37) Loktantra Ke Swar and The Republican Ethic,
both the books are a compilation of speeches of
which Indian statesman? President Ram Nath
Kovind
38) Who is the author of the book “Obama: The call of
History”? Peter Baker
39) The 25th Senior Women’s National Football
Championship was held in which city? Pasighat
in Arunachal Pradesh
40) Name the India's second Scorpene-class attack
submarine that was commissioned into the Indian
Navy on September 28, at Mumbai. INS Khanderi
41) Millions of people around the world held a global
climate strike on Sep 20, inspired by Swedish
student activist. What is her name? Greta
Thunberg
42) In a major bonanza for corporates as part of
measures to promote growth and investment, on
Sep 20 Finance Minister announced to slash
corporate tax rate from 30 percent to ______
percent for domestic companies : 22
43) The 5th International Ramayana Festival
organized by the Indian Council for Cultural
Relations was held in which city? New Delhi
44) Vinod Kumar Yadav, Chairman of Railway Board
was honoured with the Eminent Engineers Award
on which special occasion? 52nd Engineers’ Day
45) Name the American breast cancer survivor who
became the first person to swim across the
English Channel four times in a non-stop 54-hour
feat of endurance? Sarah Thomas
46) South Asia’s tallest tower, standing 350 meter
high, was thrown open to public in Colombo, Sri
Lanka. What is it’s name? ‘Lotus Tower’
47) What is the name of the mascot of the 2022
Beijing Winter Olympics? Bing Dwen Dwen
48) The mascot Bing Dwen Dwen has been created
based on which animal? A chubby giant Panda
49) A mascot based on the Chinese lantern Shuey
Rhon Rhon was declared as the official mascot for
which big sports event? 2022 Beijing Winter
Paralympics
50) Union Finance Minister announced a country-
wide loan disbursement initiative from public
sector banks (PSBs) with a view to facilitate easy
credit availability to which segment of economy?
MSMEs – Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
51) The public sector banks have been asked to hold
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
special public meetings for loan disbursals to the
MSME sector in how many districts? 400
52) Who will be the next chief of Indian Air force wef
Sep 30, 2019 in the rank of Air Chief Marshal? Air
Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria
53) Who became India's first female military diplomat
to be posted in any of the Indian missions abroad?
Wing Commander Anjali Singh
54) Wing Commander Anjali Singh has been posted
as the Deputy Air Attache in which Indian
Embassy? Russia
55) The World Bank has approved Rs 3,000 crore
fund to finance which activity across the country?
Mini and mega food parks
56) Where are the headquarters of the World Bank?
Washington DC, USA
57) Who is the current President of the World Bank?
David Malpass
58) India formally launched an initiative to fund 1,000
scholars from which group of countries to pursue
PhD at its 23 IITs? ASEAN (Association of
Southeast Asian Nations)
59) How many countries are the members of the
ASEAN group? Ten
60) Where are the headquarters of the ASEAN group?
Jakarta, Indonesia
61) Which global organization has decided to
translate and publish an anthology of the writings
of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in world languages to mark
his 550th birth anniversary? The United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)
62) Headquarters of the UNESCO are located in which
city? Paris
63) The 20th IIFA awards ceremony was held on Sep
18 for the first time in India, in which city?
Mumbai
64) What is the full form of IIFA? International
Indian Film Academy
65) Who won the IIFA Best Director award for the
film Andhadhun? Sriram Raghavan
66) Name the legendary actor and comedian who was
honored with the IIFA Lifetime Achievement
Award? Jagdeep Jaffery (Comedian)
67) Which film won the IIFA award for the best film?
Raazi by Meghna Gulzar
68) President Ram Nath Kovind on Sep 18 signed
warrants of appointment of how many judges for
their elevation to the Supreme Court? Four
69) What is the approved strength of the judges
(including Chief Justice) in the Supreme Court? 34
70) The Defence Minister Raj Nath Singh on Sep 19
flew in which fighter aircraft from the HAL airport
in Bengaluru? Tejas
71) What is the category of the fighter air craft Tejas?
78
 Light Combat Aircraft - LCA
72) President of _____ Khaltmaagiin Battulga arrived in
New Delhi on a five day State visit. Mongolia
73) President of Mongolia did not visit which of these
cities in India – Hyderabad, Agra, Bodh Gaya,
Bengaluru, New Delhi? Hyderabad
74) What is the name of the capital of Mongolia?
Ulaanbaatar
75) Finance Minister recently announced that the
government has decided to put a complete ban on
which type of cigarettes? E-cigarettes
76) United Nations latest report says that ____ is the
leading country of origin of international
migrants in 2019: India
77) Country wise, the _____ is home to the largest
number of migrants (5.1 crore): USA
78) Which state launched the Mukhyamantri Seva
Sankalp Helpline number ‘1100’ to provide timely
help to the residents of the state? Himachal
Pradesh
79) A maiden trilateral naval exercise SITMEX was
held near Port Blair, involving navies of which
three countries? Singapore, Thailand and India
80) Which ministry has introduced a new Export
Credit Insurance Scheme called NIRVIK to
facilitate easy availability of loan to exporters?
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
81) What is the full form of “NIRVIK”? Niryat Rin
Vikas Yojana
82) Which apex development financial organization is
promoting the NIRVIK scheme? ECGC
83) What is the full form of ECGC? Export Credit
Guarantee Corporation
84) India’s first National Antimicrobial Resistance
(AMR) Hub was inaugurated in which city?
Kolkata
85) A documentary film titled ‘____’, based on the life
of a Uttarakhand farmer, has been nominated for
Oscars: Moti Bagh
86) Indian Air Force has successfully flight-tested air-
to-air missile _____ off the coast of Odisha: Astra
87) Which Indian fighter jet aircraft recently
successfully flight-tested air-to-air missile Astra?
Sukhoi Su-30 MKI
88) Mayank Vaid has become the first Indian origin
person to complete which triathlon in a new
record time? Enduroman
89) What are the three physical activities included in
the Enduroman triathlon? Running, Swimming
and Cycling
90) Which country lifted the Basketball World Cup
held in Beijing, China? Spain
91) Name the film that became the only Indian film to
feature in “The Guardian” list of the 100 Best
Films of the 21st century: Gangs of Wasseypur
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
92) Who is the director of the film “Gangs of
Wasseypur”? Anurag Kashyap
93) Name the country's official mapping agency that
has decided to use, for the first time, drones to
map the country: The Survey of India
94) Dr Kalam Smriti International Excellence Award-
2019 was recently conferred upon Prime Minister
of which country? Bangladesh
95) Who is the Prime Minister of Bangladesh? Sheikh
Hasina
96) What is name of the capital of Bangladesh? Dhaka
97) Who is the President of Bangladesh? Abdul
Hamid
98) What is the name of the gas that protects the
Earth and its ecosystem from the harmful
ultraviolet rays of the sun? Ozone
99) The World Ozone Day is observed on which day of
September? 16 September
100) What is the theme for this year’s World Ozone
Day? 32 Years and Healing
101) Name the star Indian cueist who clinched a record
22nd world title by winning the IBSF World
Billiards Championship? Pankaj Advani
102) Name the Indian who clinched the Myanmar
International Badminton Series: Kaushal
Dharmamer
103) Which apex Indian broadcasting organization
celebrated on September 15 it’s 60 years of
existence? Doordarshan
104) Headquarters of Doordarshan are located in
which city? New Delhi
105) India and Thailand conducted Joint Military
Exercise MAITREE-2019 at which place? Umroi,
Meghalaya
106) Union Finance Minister announced a set of
measures to boost the _____ sector in the form of
provision of Rs 50,000 crore for various
incentives: Export
107) Which country won the U-19 Asia Cup finals
played in Colombo, Sri Lanka? India
108) The U-19 Asia Cup finals played in Colombo were
associated with which sports? Cricket
109) India celebrates the Engineer’s Day on which
date? September 15
110) The Engineer’s Day is observed to mark the birth
anniversary of which acclaimed civil engineer?
Bharat Ratna M Visvesvaraya
111) Lakshya Sen who won the Belgian International
Challenge in Leuven, Belgium is associated with
which sport? Badminton
112) Name the star Indian Badminton player who
clinched the Vietnam Open Super 100 badminton
title: Saurabh Verma
113) Which International Day is observed on every
second Saturday of September to raise awareness
79
 about how first aid can prevent injuries and save
lives in everyday situations? World First Aid Day
114) Around the world International Democracy Day is
observed on which day? September 15
115) The DRDO handed over the second Airborne Early
Warning and Control (AEWC) aircraft to the
Indian Air Force. Name the aircraft? Netra
116) The London based Times Higher Education
society released the World University Ranking
2020 on September 11 as per which _______
university secured top rank for the 4th successive
year: Oxford
117) Government plans to establish Indian Institute of
Skills (IIS) at ______ to provide skill training in
highly-specialised areas to students: Mumbai
118) Govt. announced that on Gandhi Jayanti, 1,070
special courts will be set up all over the country
for dealing with POCSO cases. This relates to
which type of cases? Sexual offences against
women and children
119) The Indian Navy successfully carried out the first
ever "arrested landing" of which indigenously
built air craft? Tejas
120) "Arrested landing" of an air craft is helpful for
what purpose? For landing of the aircraft on an
aircraft carrier warship
121) Name the India’s ace hockey star who will lead
Indian Women's team in England in a five-match
series: Rani Rampal
122) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became the
79th country to join the International Solar
Alliance (ISA). Where are the headquarters of
ISA? Gurugram, Haryana
123) On which railway station railways have
established their first ever fun zone?
Visakhapatnam
124) Name the senior bureaucrat who has been
appointed as the Principal Advisor to Prime
Minister: Pradeep Kumar Sinha
125) ______ became the first Asian nation to unveil plain
cigarette packaging to reduce the appeal of
smoking and to comply with the WHO guidelines:
Thailand
126) ________ became the first country in 2012 to
require tobacco products to be sold without
colourful brand logos: Australia
127) In the history of Indian Railways, for the first
time, a train will not be operated by the Railways.
Name this train: Tejas Express
128) Indian Railways has outsourced running of the
Tejas Express to which agency? IRCTC
129) What is the full form of IRCTC? Indian Railway
Catering and Tourism Corporation
130) The DDCA (Delhi and Districts Cricket
Association) unveiled a new pavilion stand named
after which cricketer in the Arun Jaitley Cricket
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
Stadium in New Delhi: Virat Kohli
131) The Centre has finalised the site for a 7,500 MW
mega solar project at which place in Ladakh
region: Pang
132) The nationwide mass campaign against the use of
‘single use plastics’ was launched from Mathura
on Sep 11. What is its name: Swachhta hi Seva
2019
133) Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra has been appointed as
the _________ to the Prime Minister: Principal
Secretary
134) Niti Aayog has selected which global management
consultancy to set up India’s first Digital
Capability Centre? McKinsey & Company
135) The National Animal Disease Control Programme
was launched from ______ in Uttar Pradesh:
Mathura
136) What was the name of one of the strongest storms
to hit Tokyo in the last several years, with winds
of up to 210km/h? Typhoon Faxai
137) India’s second riverine Multi Modal Terminal was
inaugurated at Sahibganj on River Ganga in which
state? Jharkhand
138) India's first multi modal terminal was opened up
in Nov 2018 at which place: Varanasi
139) Bharti Airtel launched which new broadband
service that will offer a speed of 1 Gbps for Rs.
3,999 a month: Airtel Xstream Fibre
140) Name the noted golfer from Ireland who was
named the PGA Tour Player of the Year for a third
time: Rory McIlroy
141) Name the Indian cyclist who won four gold in the
Track Asia Cup cycling championship in New
Delhi: Ronaldo Laitonjam
142) DRDO successfully flight tested indigenously
developed MPATGM in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
Expand the term MPATGM: Man Portable Anti-
tank Guided Missile
143) Ministry of Agriculture launched a multilingual
mobile app 'CHC Farm Machinery' to allow
farmers to hire farm equipment locally. Here CHC
stands for what? Custom Hiring Service Centres
144) Indian Prime Minister crossed the mark of 50
million followers on his twitter account, becoming
the third most followed world leader. Who is the
first ranked leader with 108.2 million followers:
Barack Obama
145) World Suicide Prevention Day observed on
September 10 is supported by which UN
organization? WHO-World Health Organization
146) The Ministry of Civil Aviation organised India's
first-ever helicopter summit in which city:
Dehradun
147) Which car major launched car leasing services in
association with transportation solutions
provider Orix: Honda Cars India
80
148) What was special about the 55th birthday of Jack
Ma, the founder of Chinese e-commerce giant -
Alibaba? He stepped down from the post of CEO
149) South Asia’s first cross-border petroleum pipeline
was inaugurated between which two countries?
India and Nepal
150) Government has set up a three-member panel
headed by Former Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra
for what purpose: To oversee the bifurcation of
Jammu and Kashmir into two Union
Territories
151) The Indian Air Force (IAF) recreated its 17
Squadron 'Golden Arrows' based at which Air
Force Station? Ambala Cantt, Haryana
152) The recently formed 17 Squadron 'Golden
Arrows' is likely to fly which air craft? Rafale
fighter jet
153) Charles Leclerc won the Italian Grand Prix at
Monza, Italy. What is this sport? F1 car racing
154) The world celebrates the International Literacy
Day on Sep 8. What is this year's theme? Literacy
and Multilingualism
155) What is the name of the highest marathon in the
world, held at over 11,000 feet above the mean
sea level? Ladakh Marathon
156) Asian Development Bank approved a $ 200
million loan for upgrading rural roads in 34
districts of _____ to improve road safety:
Maharashtra
157) Which payment bank recently launched Aadhaar
Enabled Payment System (AEPS) Services for
expanding access to financial services for millions
of unbanked and underbanked customers? India
Post Payments Bank
158) UNESCO has tied up with which state to promote
music, art and craft forms, and other intangible
cultural heritage of the state? Rajasthan
159) US Open Grand Slam Tennis Championship was
held in which city? New York
160) Name the player who won the Men's single titles
of the US Open Grand Slam: Rafael Nadal
161) Name the 19 year old Canadian girl who won the
Women's singles title of the US Open Grand Slam?
Bianca Andreescu
162) The 24th World Energy Congress was held in ____,
UAE from Sep 9 to 12: Abu Dhabi
163) Name the veteran lawyer and former Union Law
Minister who passed away in New Delhi at the age
of 96: Ram Jethmalani
164) President Ram Nath Kovind embarked on an
official nine-day (8 to 16 Sep) visit to which 3
countries? Iceland, Switzerland and Slovenia
165) Which science based awards are popularly
known as "Oscars of Science": Breakthrough
prizes
166) The Breakthrough prizes are given in how many
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
fields? 3
167) Name the 3 fields in which Breakthrough Prizes
are given? Fundamental Physics, Life Sciences
and Mathematics
168) Each Breakthrough Prize carries an award of
what amount? $3 million
169) As per the World Travel & Tourism
Competitiveness Index 2019 released by the
World Economic Forum (WEF), India has jumped
6 places to claim which spot? 34th
170) Which country was placed at no. 1 spot in the
World Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index
2019? Spain
171) As per the impact of "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao"
campaign, national sex ratio made remarkable 13
points jump from 918 to 931 in last 5 years. It
covers how many districts of India? All districts
172) India’s tallest ATC (air traffic control) tower
started functioning in which air port? Delhi’s
Indira Gandhi International Airport
173) Dr. Radha Krishnan's birthday on Sept 5, is
celebrated as the Teachers Day. He was the first
______ of India: Vice President
174) India recently surpassed which country to claim
10th rank in the world in terms of holding of gold
reserves? Netherlands
175) Which country in the world holds largest
quantity of gold reserves? USA
176) Which International Day is observed on
September 5 to encourage and promote
philanthropic activities? International Day of
Charity
177) Rohit Sharma, Indian Cricket team vice-captain
launched “Rohit4Rhinos” campaign. They are the
"state animal" of which state? Assam
178) Name the Zimbabwe’s former president / Prime
Minister for 37 years, who died aged 95: Robert
Mugabe
179) Which Indian state signed an MoU for sister state
with the Delaware State of America: Gujarat
180) What was the name of the annual Joint Indo-
Lanka maritime fleet exercise that was held off
the coast of Visakhapatnam? SLINEX 2019
181) In an official survey to select the best ‘Swachh
Iconic Place’ in the country, which place was
adjudged as the "Best Swachh Iconic place"? Shri
Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine near Katra, Jammu
182) The Indian Army has announced that the first
batch of 100 women soldiers will be
commissioned by March 2021. They will join
which corps? Corps of Military Police
183) Exercise "Yudh Abhyas 2019" was held between
army units of India and which other country? USA
184) Exercise "Yudh Abhyas 2019" was held at which
place? Washigton in NW USA
185) Chief of which country announced the scrapping
81
 of an extradition bill that had triggered months of
unrest in the country? Hong Kong
186) The RBI has made it mandatory for banks to link
interest on all their new loan products to which
policy rate of RBI? Repo Rate
187) The official logo of Qatar 2022 FIFA world cup is
based on 3D version of which arithmetical
symbol? Infinity
188) The Indian Air Force inducted eight AH-64E
Apache helicopters at which airbase? Pathankot,
Punjab
189) Which city in USA hosted the second edition of the
Jaipur Literature Festival on September 13-14:
Houston
190) Name the India’s Chief Election Commissioner
who has been elected as the Chairman of
Association of World Election Bodies? Sunil
Arora
191) Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a two day
(Sep 4-5) visit to Russia to attend which summit?
20th India-Russia Annual Summit
192) The 20th India-Russia Annual Summit was held in
which city? Vladivostok
193) What is the name of the President of Russia?
Vladimir Putin
194) Name the former India T20 captain who
announced her retirement from T20
internationals? Mithali Raj
195) Which Indian Cricketer recently broke MS Dhoni’s
wicket-keeping record for India by becoming the
fastest Indian wicket-keeper to claim 50
dismissals in Test cricket? Rishabh Pant
196) From September 1 Govt. has imposed steep hike
in the traffic violation fines. Which act has been
amended for this purpose? Motor Vehicles Act
2019
197) Which country in South-East Asia has decided to
shift it’s capital to a new site? Indonesia
198) What is the name of the capital of Indonesia?
Jakarta
199) The “Safe Cities Index (SCI) 2019” ranked ______ at
the top spot: Tokyo
200) According to a "Global Happiness Survey" by
Ipsos, Indian has been ranked ______on the
happiness index: 9th
201) As per the "Global Happiness Survey" by Ipsos,
which two countries have been ranked as the
happiest in the World? Australia and Canada
202) Virat Kohli surpassed which cricketer to become
India’s most successful captain in test matches?
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
203) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation honored which
Indian statesman for his outstanding work in the
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan? Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
204) India’s is planning to explore the deep sea region
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
with which project by 2021-22? 'Samudrayaan'
205) The highest sky cycling track of the country has
been built at an altitude of 9,000 feet in which
state? Himachal Pradesh
206) Indian Institute of Petroleum has set up a plant in
_______ that can turn plastic waste into diesel:
Dehradun
207) Which state launched its exclusive 24x7 education
channel 'Kalvi Tholaikkatchi' for school students
of classes I to XII? Tamil Nadu
208) HRD ministry launched one of the world’s largest
Integrated Online Junction for School Education
named ______ in New Delhi: ‘Shagun’
209) Dindigul locks and Kandangi sarees of which state
have been granted Geographical Indication (GI)
tags? Tamil Nadu
210) The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- NULM won the
SKOCH Governance Gold Award 2019. What is the
full form of NULM? National Urban Livelihoods
Mission
211) Which state launched the ‘Walk to Work’
campaign in the state as a part of ‘Fit India
Movement’ launched in the country by the Prime
Minister? Meghalaya
212) Name the strong hurricane that slammed into the
Bahamas on Sep 1 with torrential rains and wind
gusts up to 350 km per hour: Dorian
213) Where in the world can be find Islands of
Bahamas? Southeast of Florida, USA
214) V K Johri, senior IPS officer has been appointed as
the new Director General of which para-military
force? Border Security Force (BSF)
215) Which country lifted the SAFF Under-15 Football
title at Kolkata, West Bengal with a 7-0 win over
Nepal? India
216) Which country recently announced her decision
to patrol disputed isles in the East China Sea?
Japan
217) Who has been appointed as the new Governor of
Maharashtra? Bhagat Singh Koshyari
218) Arif Mohammed Khan has been made Governor of
which southern state? Kerala
219) What is the name of the new Governor of
Rajasthan? Kalraj Mishra
220) Name the former union minister who now is the
Governor of Himachal Pradesh: Bandaru
Dattatreya
221) Name the lady who has been appointed the
Governor of Telangana? Dr Ms. T Soundararajan
222) Which ministry has decided to observe the entire
month of September 2019 as the Rashtriya
Poshan Maah? Ministry of Women and Child
Development
223) What is the full form of ‘POSHAN’? Prime
Minister's Overreaching Scheme for Holistic
Nourishment
82
224) What is the theme of this year Rashtriya Poshan
Maah? Complementary Feeding
225) India recently hosted the 4th Conference of
Parties, COP14, to the UNCCD at which place?
Greater Noida, UP
226) What is the full form of UNCCD? United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification
227) Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched which
compaign to promote fitness on the occasion of
National Sports Day - August 29? 'Fit India
Movement'
228) The U.S. President announced the formation
of which new space force that will combine skills
and assets from all U.S. military branches? “Space
Command” or SpaceCom
229) According to official data released on August 30
by the NSO, what was India’s GDP growth in the
April-June quarter of 2019-20? 5%
230) The low GDP growth of 5% was mainly due to a
sharp decline of 11.5 points in which sector?
Manufacturing
231) What is the full form of NSO? National Statistical
Office
232) Name the teenage climate campaigner school girl
from Sweden who sailed from UK to New York on
a zero-emissions yacht to highlight the ecological
crisis earth is facing because of climate change:
Greta Thunberg
233) The total horticulture production in the country,
in million tones, is estimated to be around which
figure – 213 – 313 – 413? 313
234) Which Indian airline has announced to completely
ban the use of plastic in it’s catering operations?
Air India
235) The government announced the merger of ten
public sector banks into four banks. Now how
many public sector banks will be there? 12
236) Which two banks will now be merged with the
Punjab National Bank? Oriental Bank of
Commerce and United Bank
237) As per recent announcement by the Finance
Minister, which bank will be merged with Canara
Bank? Syndicate Bank
238) Government has decided to merge which bank
with the Indian Bank? Allahabad Bank
239) Under the recently announced bank merger plan,
which two banks are to be merged with the Union
Bank of India? Andhra Bank and Corporation
Bank
240) The Union Cabinet recently approved 100 percent
FDI under automatic route in which two sectors?
Coal mining and in contract manufacturing
241) Which European country has decided to reduce
the country's parliament by 25 per cent as part of
an overhaul of the country's institutions? France
242) India recently started a new bus service from
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
Siliguri in West Bengal to which place?
Kathmandu
243) India has become the first country in the world to
issue a Biometric Seafarer Identity Document.
What is the common word for Seafarer? Sailors
AUGUST - 2019
244) The 7th Community Radio Sammelan was held in
_______ from 27th to 29th August 2019: New Delhi
245) Government launched mobile app “Janaushadhi
Sugam” for what purpose: Toenablepeople to
search for Janaushadhi generic medicines
stores
246) As per the Forbes list of highest paid women in
music, who has been ranked no. 1 in world:
Taylor Swift, USA
247) Name the Hollywood star who topped the Forbes’
list of highest-paid female actors in the world:
Scarlett Johansson
248) Bandhan Bank launched a co-branded credit card
in association with which Bank: Standard
Chartered Bank
249) What is the name of the National Sports Awards
given for excellence in adventure sports: Tenzing
Norgay National Adventure Award
250) Name any two adventure sports categories for
which national sports award is given? Water
adventure, Air Adventure
251) Name the new Indian tennis super star who
recently won one set against ace tennis star Roger
Federar: SumitNagal
252) SumitNagal faced Roger Federar in which
international tennis event: US Open, New York
253) The RBI decided to transfer 1.76 lakh crore
rupees as dividend and surplus reserve to the
government. The decision is based on
recommendations of which committee: Bimal
Jalan Committee
254) Dense rain forest of which region are often
referred to as "Lungs of the Earth": Amazon
Forests in Brazil
255) Why Amazon forests are referred to as "Lungs of
the Earth": They contribute over 20 per cent of
world 's oxygen content
256) The Amazon forests were in news recently for
what reasons: They were stuck by hundreds of
wildfires causing wide spread devastation of
green cover
257) The Delhi and District Cricket Association, DDCA
has decided to rename the Feroz Shah Kotla
Stadium as what? ArunJaitely Stadium
258) How Mr. Jaitely was linked with Feroz Shah Kotla
stadium? He was president of DDCA
259) Abdalla Hamdok, a prominent economist has been
sworn in as Prime Minister of which African
country: Sudan
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260) Which apex national organization released the
Composite Water Management Index 2.0 for
2017-18: NITI Aayog
261) Which state has been ranked as No. 1 in the
Composite Water Management Index 2.0: Gujarat
262) Madhur Deora has been appointed as the
President of______, India’s largest digital payment
company: Paytm
263) Which International Day is observed on August
21 to raise awareness about the condition of older
people: World Senior Citizens Day
264) On August 26, which international day is
celebrated across the world to promote gender
equality: Women's Equality Day
265) What is the name of the oldest Football
Tournament of Asia, finals of which were played
recently in Kolkata: Durand Cup
266) Which team lifted the Durand Cup 2019 trophy?
Gokulam Kerala FC
267) The UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of
Education for Peace and Sustainable Development
(MGIEP) organised the first-ever World Youth
Conference in which city? NewDelhi
268) Komalika Bari became the recurve cadet world
champion in which sports? Archery
269) World Archery Youth Championships were
hosted by which city of Spain in August end?
Madrid
270) Name the India's para badminton star who won
the World Championship crown in para
badminton at Basel, Switzerland: Manasi Joshi
271) P V Sindhu scripted history as she became the
first Indian to win badminton’s World
Championships. She defeated which player?
Nozomi Okuhara of Japan
272) Who won the Men's singles title of the BWF-
World Badminton Championship at Basel,
Switzerland? KentoMomota of Japan
273) Which Indian player won the Bronze in men’s
singles at the World Badminton Championships?
B Sai Praneeth
274) The Indian Army has entered into an arrangement
with which real estate firm to take over dwelling
units in 13 ‘Ready to Move in’ pan-India projects?
Tata Realty & Housing
275) The Financial Action Task Force’s Asia Pacific
Group recently blacklisted which country for non-
compliance and non-enforcement of safeguards
against terror financing and money laundering?
Pakistan
276) Where are the headquarters of the Financial
Action Task Force? Paris
277) Which apex Indian organization has announced a
new mechanism to reward insider trading
informants to uncover insider trading cases? SEBI
- Securities and Exchange Board of India
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
278) Which country launched an unmanned rocket
carrying a life-size humanoid robot named Fedor?
Russia
279) The humanoid robot Fedor will function at which
place? International Space Station
280) Which two Indian places have been featured in
the Time’s list of the 100 greatest places in the
world? 'Statue of Unity' in Gujarat and 'Soho
House' in Mumbai
281) Who has been selected as the new batting coach
for the Indian Cricket team? VikramRathour
282) Which state topped the SARAL Index, which
evaluates the Indian states on the basis of their
attractiveness for rooftop solar development?
Karnataka
283) Which ministry launched the SARAL Index:
Power and New & Renewable Energy Ministry
284) What is the expansion of the acronym SARAL?
State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness
285) As per Forbes' list of highest-paid actors, which
Bollywood star secured the fourth position with
earnings of $65 million (about Rs 450 crore)?
Akshay Kumar
286) Indian Railways started its second double-decker
train “Uday Express”. It will run between which
two stations: Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada
in Andhra Pradesh
287) What is the full form of UDAY? Utkrisht Double-
decker Air conditioned Yatri
288) RBI has permitted processing of e-mandate on
credit and debit cards and e-wallets for recurring
transactions (merchant payments) with a cap of
Rs _______ per transaction: 2,000
289) The RBI has ruled that registration and first
transaction of e-mandate will require AFA. What
is AFA? Additional Factor of Authentication
290) The centre has notified new sets of health
warnings for all tobacco products. What it is?
Tobacco causes painful death
291) Ministry of Railways has directed all its units to
enforce ban on which type of plastic material
from October 2 this year: Single use plastics
292) Give some common examples of single use plastic
items? Disposable items, glasses, bottles, etc.
293) Which country conferred her highest civilian
honour 'Order of Zayed' on Sh. Modi? UAE- United
Arab Emirates
294) King of which country honoured our Prime
Minister with "The King Hamad Order of the
Renaissance": Bahrain
295) The 45th G7 summit was held in _________, France:
Biarritz
296) Which e-commerce major inaugurated its largest
campus in the world, in Hyderabad: Amazon
297) Who has been appointed as the next Cabinet
Secretary by the Appointments Committee of
84
 Cabinet: Rajiv Gauba
298) The Appointments Committee of Cabinet is
headed by which person? Prime Minister
299) Who has been appointed as the new Union Home
Secretary of India? Ajay Kumar Bhalla
300) The National Sports Awards 2019were
announced by Selection Committee headed by
retired judge Justice _______: Mukundakam
Sharma
301) Which is the highest recognition from the Govt. of
India for outstanding achievements in sports:
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
302) How many sports person were selected in 2019
for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award? Two
303) Name the star wrestler who won the Rajiv Gandhi
Khel Ratna Award 2019: Bajrang Punia
304) Paralympian Deepa Malik has been selected for
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for outstanding
achievements in which sports: Athletics - Shot-
put
305) The Govt. of India honours veteran sports coaches
with which award: Dronacharya Award
306) Which national sports award is given to honour
the veteran sports persons for their life time
achievement: Dhyan Chand Award
307) India celebrates National Sports Day on which
date? August 29
308) National Sports Day celebrates the birthday of
which legendary hockey player? Major Dhyan
Chand
309) India’s first Central Institute of Chemical
Engineering & Technology will be set up in which
state: Gujarat
310) According to an analysis of a NASA data released
by environmental watchdog NGO Greenpeace,
_________ is the world's largest emitter of
anthropogenic Sulphur Dioxide: India
311) What is the main source that releases Sulphur
Dioxide in the atmosphere? Coal burning
312) The HRD ministry launched the Integrated
Teachers Training Programme, NISHTHA:To
build and improve the capacities of around 42
lakh teachers across India
313) What is the full form of acronym NISHTHA?
National Initiative for School Head’s and
Teachers’ Holistic Advancement
314) Zambian ______ Edgar Chagwa Lungu arrived in
India on a three-day official visit: President
315) Which city is the capital of Republic of Zambia:
Lusaka
316) The Task Force headed by Akhilesh Ranjan for
review of Income Tax Act and drafting of new DTC
submitted its report. What is DTC? Direct Tax
Code
317) World Photography Day is celebrated on which
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
date: August 19
318) Which country won the inaugural T20 Physical
Disability World Cricket Series 2019 held in
England: India
319) Indian cyclists team won the gold medal in the
Team Sprint event at World Junior Track Cycling
Championships held in______, Germany: Frankfurt
320) A nine day National Tribal Festival “Aadi
Mahotsav” was held at which place: Leh, Ladakh
321) Biographical documentary "100 Years of
Chrysostom" was in news recently for what
reasons: It was selected for the Guinness
Award in the category of longest documentary,
running for 48 hrs and 8 minutes
322) Biographical documentary "100 Years of
Chrysostom" is related to life of which great saint:
Philipose Mar Chrysostom, Kerala
323) World Humanitarian Day is observed across the
world with UN support on which date to pay
tribute to workers who risk their lives in
humanitarian services: August 19
324) ________ defeated China to win the gold medal at
the Under 12 Asian Tennis Team championship
held in Kazakhstan: India
325) A one of its kind underground Bunker Museum
has been opened at Raj Bhavan of which state:
Maharashtra (Mumbai)
326) Name the veteran Bollywood composer and music
director, best known for his music in classic films
such as KabhiKabhie and UmraoJaan, Noorie,
Trishul, who passed away recently: Khayyam
327) What was the real name of Khayyam:
Mohammed Zahur Hashmi
328) August 20, the birthday of Rajiv Gandhi who
served as Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989 is
celebrated as which special day:
SadbhavnaDiwas (Harmony day)
329) The Prime Minister in his Independence Day
speech announced the launch of “Jal Jeevan
Mission” for what purpose: To provide piped
water supply to every house by 2024
330) Justice Madan B Lokur, retired Supreme Court
judge has been appointed a judge of the
nonresident panel of the Supreme Court of which
country: Fiji
331) Who has been re-appointed as the head coach of
the Indian men's cricket team by the Cricket
Advisory Committee of BCCI: Ravi Shastri
332) Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu made a visit to
three countries - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Put together these countries are known by which
other name: Baltic countries
333) The 5th International Army Scout Masters
Competition was held at ______ from July 24 to
August 17: Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
334) On August 15, ________ became the first Indian
85
 airline to fly over the North Pole while connecting
New Delhi to San Francisco in south west USA:
Air India
335) Which day is celebrated every year on last
Shravana Purnima according to the Hindu
calendar to highlight the importance and positive
points about Sanskrit: World Sanskrit Divas
336) _______ became India’s first junior World
Champion in last 18 years, claiming a gold medal
at the Junior Wrestling Championships at Tallinn,
Estonia: Deepak Punia
337) RBI has asked banks that transactions failed due
to technical reasons at ATMs or due to non-
availability of cash, should not be _________:
Included in the "free ATM transactions"
permitted every month
338) Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech
announced that the country will now have a CDS.
What is CDS? Chief of Defence Staff
339) The ‘abhishekamprasadam’ Panchamirtham of
Murugan temple, Palani has been granted GI-Tag.
It is in which state? Tamil Nadu
340) India’s third highest wartime gallantry award was
recently conferred upon __________: Wing
Commander AbhinandanVarthaman
341) Priyam Chatterjeebecame the 1st Indian to be
awarded the 'Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite
Agricole' by the government of France for
achievement in which field: Cookery
342) Which state won the “best innovation and
initiative leadership award” in the World
Education Summit-2019 held in New Delhi:
Rajasthan
343) American gymnast ________ made history with a
never-before-seen “triple-double” floor exercise
landing: Simone Biles
344) Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched a
special drive code named "Operation Number
Plate” for what purpose: To identify and verify
all vehicles parked in Railway premises
345) _________ became the first ever batsman in the
world to score 20,000 international runs in a
single decade: Virat Kohli
346) International Youth Day is observed on which
date: August 12
347) The 2022 Commonwealth Games will be held at
which place: Birmingham, UK
348) The International Cricket Council and
Commonwealth Games Federation have
confirmed the inclusion of which cricket event in
2022 Birmingham games? Women's T-20
349) Central government has made "Headgear"
(wearing a helmet) mandatory for children above
_____ years while travelling on a 369)
motorcycle/scooter in public place: Four
350) The Army launched "Mission Reach Out" in which
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
state to ensure the availability of basic necessities
and essential services in the region: Jammu &
Kashmir
351) In one of India’s largest ever foreign direct
investment deals to date, which company
invested $75 billion in Reliance Petro: Saudi
Aramco
352) Alejandro Giammattei has been elected as the
President of Guatemala. Give location of this
country: South of Mexico
353) Aishwarya Pissaybecame the first Indian to claim
a world title in which sports? Motorsports
354) Typhoon Lekima, a severe typhoon packing winds
of nearly 190 kilometres per hour, devastated a
part of which country: Eastern CoastalChina
355) On August 09, which day is observed around the
world to promote interest of indigenous people
and tribals? World Tribal Day
356) Ace wrestler_______won the fourth gold of the
season by defeating Mehran Nasiri of Iran at
Tbilisi Grand Prix: Bajrang Punia
357) Which country hosted the wrestling event Tbilisi
Grand Prix: Georgia
358) ‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha’ mission launched
by the _____ ministry to create awareness about
Water Conservation among all school students in
the country: HRD
359) Which Sikh museum in Punjab became the most
visited museum in the Indian subcontinent:
Virasat-e-Khalsa Museum, Anandpur Sahib
360) Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a
$200 million loan for improving road
infrastructure in 34 districts of _________:
Maharashtra
361) The 66th National Film Awards were announced
on August 9 by the jury headed by veteran film
director _______: Rahul Rawail
362) The national award for most film friendly state
was given to which state: Uttarakhand
363) Which film won the national award for best
feature film? Hellaro(Gujarati)
364) Hindi film "Badhaai Ho" won which top national
film award? Best Popular Film
365) Which film won the National award for the best
Hindi film: Andhadhun
366) Which state created a series of world records in
the massive tree plantation drive
‘VriksharopanMahakumbh’? UttarPradesh
367) The22nd National Conference on e-Governance
was hosted by which city: Shillong,Meghalaya
368) Which global card company launched a next-
generation, mobile-first authentication solution,
“Identity Check Express”? MasterCard
Which Indian transsexual woman won the crown
of Miss World Diversity 2019 at a pageant held in
Port Louis: Naaz Joshi
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370) Toni Morrison, the first Afro-American Nobel
laureate in _________ (1993), passed away in New
York: Literature
371) Which world day is observed on August 06 to
focus on creating awareness for anti-war and
anti-nuclear discussions and demonstrations:
Hiroshima Day
372) National Handloom Day is observed on which
date? August 07
373) Which apex body plans to set up a central
payment fraud registry, which will monitor digital
payment frauds on real-time basis? Reserve
Bank of India
374) The RBI has decided to allow round-the-clock
fund transfers through which channel from
December this year in order to promote digital
transactions: National Electronic Funds
Transfer (NEFT)
375) The day on which Mahatma Gandhi gave a clarion
call to end the British rule and launched the Quit
India Movement in 1942 is celebrated as which
day on August 8: August Kranti Diwas
376) Tamil Nadu’s Pathamadai mats have been granted
Geographical Indication (GI) tag. These mats are
used on which special occasions: Wedding
ceremonies
377) The 3rd edition of India's largest education
brainstorming event, the ScooNews Global
Educators Fest (SGEF) was held in _______ ,
Rajasthan: Udaipur
378) Who is the only athlete from the country to find a
place in the Highest-Paid Female Athletes 2019
list released by Forbes of USA: P V Sindhu, 13th
379) On August 07, RBI slashed repo rate by 35 basis
points. What is the new rate? 5.40
380) RBI slashed repo rate with a view to control the
inflation or to give a boost to the slowing
economy: Later, to boost economy
381) RBI takes account of inflation level by which
Index - CPI or WPI? CPI
382) What will be the impact of recent lowering of repo
rate on the EMI of Bank loans - they will go up or
they will come down? They will come down
383) Marble from Makrana in Rajasthan is now Asia’s
first Global Heritage Stone Resource. Name any
famous Indian monument made with this marble?
Taj Mahal
384) After re-organization of Jammu & Kashmir in 2
union territories, who will be their administrative
head: Lt. Governor
385) Which country honoured President of India, Ram
Nath Kovind with her highest civilian decoration -
National Order of Merit: Guinea
386) SatwiksairajRankireddy and Chirag Shetty
created history by becoming the first Indian pair
to win a ______ badminton tournament: BWF
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
Super 500
387) Which star Indian grappler bagged gold in
women's 53kg category in Poland Open wrestling
tournament: VineshPhogat
388) Which neighbouring country of India suffered
widespread outbreak of Dengue in first week of
August: Bangladesh
389) Government has set up a joint venture company
'KABIL' for what purpose? To ensure supply of
12 critical minerals to Indian domestic market
390) What is the full expansion of the acronym 'KABIL':
KhanijBidesh India Limited
391) Which Arabian country passed new laws to
remove age old restrictions on independent
movement of women? Saudi Arabia
392) What is the single most important feature of the
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment
(UAPA) Bill, 2019 recently passed by the
Parliament? Powerto designate a person as a
terrorist
393) In a recent report released by the World Bank on
the global GDP rankings of 2018, India has slipped
down to the ____ place from fifth place last year:
7th
394) What is the formal name of the recently passed
the Triple Talaq Bill: Muslim Women
(Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019
395) As per the Triple Talaq Bill, the practice of instant
triple talaq is punishable by a jail term of how
many years: Three
396) Which cricketer crossed a rare mile stone of
scoring 1000 runs and taking 100 wickets in the
T20 format: Ms.Ellyse Perry, Australia
397) Atal Innovation Mission at Niti Aayog launched
which programme to encourage the spirit of
innovation at the community level: Atal
Community Innovation Centre Programme
398) Name the senior Indian TV journalist who was
one of the five persons selected for the
prestigious Ramon Magsaysay award: Ravish
Kumar
399) Ravish Kumar is popular for anchoring which
Hindi TV news programme: Prime Time on
NDTV
400) Which legendary Football club celebrated its 100
years of existence on August 01 in Kolkata: East
Bengal Club
401) Who has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of
Karnataka, for the fourth time: B S Yeddyurappa
402) Which country passed a law to ban burqa or
niqab, in public buildings and on transport:
Netherlands
403) The first ICC World Test Championship started on
August 1 at which place: Birmingham, UK
404) The 1st match of the first ICC World Test
Championship was held between which two
87
 teams? Australia and England
405) India signed a deal worth around Rs 1,500 crore
to acquire which air-to-air hypersonic missiles
from Russia: R-27
406) Indian Navyrecently inducted indigenously built
INS LCU L-56. It is which type of ship: Landing
Craft Utility (LCU) MK IV class ships
407) VidishaBaliyan, young beauty queen from Uttar
Pradesh won which international beauty crown
recently? Miss Deaf World 2019
408) Jerlin Anika,15 year Tamil Nadu girl won the gold
medal in the World Deaf Youth _______
Championships held in Taipei: Badminton
409) UNO supports celebration of July 30 as a special
day devoted to raise awareness about the
situation of victims of human trafficking. Name
this day: World Day Against Trafficking
410) Dalilah Muhammad, 2016 Olympic champion
from USA shattered one of the longest standing
records in women’s athletics in which event? 400
metre hurdles
411) After giving GI-Tag to west Bengal for Rasagola in
Nov. 2017, which other state has now been given
GI-Tag for Rasagola: Odisha
412) Which house of Parliament - Lok Sabha or Rajya
Sabha - has decided to become paperless from the
next session: Lok Sabha
413) The Department of Posts has decided to convert
the India Post Payments Bank into which type of
bank: Small Finance Bank
414) V G Siddhartha, founder of the India's largest
coffee house chain, was in news due to his
mysterious suicide. What is the name of coffee
chain: Café Coffee Day - CCD
415) Rajiv Kumar, senior IAS officer has been
appointed as the new Union ________ Secretary:
Finance
JULY - 2019
416) The Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI) started the 7th
Economic Census on July 29 from which state?
Tripura
417) The Economic Census is held after how many
years? Five
418) The Global Tiger Day is celebrated on which date?
July 29
419) Which Indian state has largest number of tigers -
526, as per the Tiger Estimation Report 2018?
Madhya Pradesh
420) The World Hepatitis Day celebrations on July 28
are supported by which UN organization: WHO -
World Health Organization
421) What is the theme for this year's World Hepatitis
Day? Invest in eliminating hepatitis
422) Hepatitis has how many main variants? Five- A,
B, C, D, E
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
423) One of the most challenging and prestigious
sports event Tour de France is associated with
which sports: Cycle Race
424) Name the 22 years old Colombian who became
the youngest sportsman to win Tour De France in
its 110 years history: Egan Bernal
425) Name the Sr. IPS officer who has been appointed
as the next Director General of Border Security
Force-BSF? V K Johri
426) Which state secured first position in the
installation of rooftop solar projects with an
installed capacity of 261.97 megawatts? Gujarat
427) Which atomic power plant set a world record for
continuous operation as its unit-1 functioned un-
interrupted for 962 days? Kaiga
428) Kaiga Atomic Energy Station is located at which
place? NorthKarnataka
429) A first ever conclave of Himalayan states was held
on July 28 at which place? Mussoorie,
Uttarakhand
430) The first lot of four Boeing AH-64E Apache attack
helicopters was recently received from which
country? USA
431) The third edition of Khelo India Youth Games will
be held in______ in January, 2020: Guwahati
432) Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the leader of the
Congress party in Lok Sabha, was appointed as
the Chairman of the PAC. What is PAC? Public
Accounts Committee(of Parliament)
433) What is the function of PAC? To review the
reports of CAG- Comptroller and Auditor
General of India
434) Who is the present CAG of India? Rajiv Mehrishi
435) _________ has become the first state to implement
Central government’s proposal for introducing
“one-nation-one-card”: Telangana
436) What is the main purpose of the project "One
nation-one-card"? It aims for universal delivery
of ration across the country through Aadhaar
linked Ration Cards
437) Name the Hungarian teenagerwhoshattered
Michael Phelps’ 2009 world record of 1:51.51
minutes in the 200 metres butterfly swimming
event: Kristof Milak
438) For the benefit of customers and to make
informed choices, FSSAI has launched a logo to
indicate _______ food items: Trans-Fat Free
439) Which African country has passed a law to impose
carbon tax to cut down emissions of greenhouse
gases in the country: South Africa
440) The Supreme Court has ordered the central
government to make a special court in each
district having more than _______ cases pending
under POCSO Act: 100
441) What is the full form of POCSO? Protection of
Children from Sexual Offences
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442) In which state a dragon tree species has been
discovered for the first time: Assam
443) What is the special feature of Dragon tree? It
produces a thick sap that turns bright red
after coming in contact with air, looking like
blood
444) Which Indian company has become the highest-
ranking Indian firm on the Fortune Global 500 list
that ranks companies on the basis of revenue
generated by them: RelianceIndustries
445) As per the latest Fortune Global 500 list, which
company is at the top in terms of amount of
revenue generated in a year: Walmart, USA
446) The Group of Ministers (GoM) formed for looking
after the issues on how to prevent sexual
harassment at workplace is headed by whom?
Home Minister Amit Shah
447) Name the 47 year old British MP of Indian origin
who took charge as Britain’s first Indian-origin
Home Secretary: Priti Patel
448) The country celebrated which anniversary of
Kargil victory on July 26: 20th
449) What was the name given to the mission to
recapture Kargil from Pakistan? Operation Vijay
450) Which Indian organization celebrates July 24 as
Income Tax Day? Central Board of Direct Taxes
– CBDT
451) Who has been appointed as the new Union Home
Secretary? Dr. Ajay Bhalla
452) Federal Trade Commission of which country
imposed a record-breaking $5 billion fine on
Facebook Inc as it violated the law by failing to
protect users data from third parties? USA
453) India has improved its rank in the Global
Innovation Index to__________, making a significant
jump of 5 places from the previous year: 52nd
454) Which country topped the Global Innovation
Index 2019: Switzerland
455) In which state the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary has
been declared as a tiger reserve for better
conservation of tigers: Madhya Pradesh
456) Government of India has announced to provide
10,000 scholarships for heirs of the liberation war
fighters of which country? Bangladesh
457) __________ has become the first state in the country
to reserve 75% jobs for locals across all
categories in private sector: Andhra Pradesh
458) Who has been elected as the new Prime Minister
of Britain? Boris Johnson
459) Boris Johnson is a senior leader of which political
party? Conservative Party
460) The book titled “Kargil: Untold stories from the
War”has been written by which author? Rachna
Bisht Rawat
461) What is the title of a recent book written by
former Navy Chief Admiral Sushil Kumar, based
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
on the works of late Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee? A Prime Minister to Remember
462) The government has decided to declare all lanes
at the toll plaza on national highways as ‘FASTag
lanes’ from which date? December 1, 2019
463) Which organization in India manages issuance of
‘FASTag’? National Highway Authority of India
464) Country’s first state-of-the-art Space Systems
Park is expected to come up at which place:
Knowledge City in Thiruvananthapuram
465) Which country has launched a first of its kind
network of environmental journalists: Somalia
466) Name the British swimmer who became the first
person in the world to complete men’s 100 metre
breaststroke in under 57 seconds: Adam Peaty
467) Name the Indian bodybuilder who clinched Mr.
South Asia title at 12th South Asian Bodybuilding
and Physique Sports Championship in
Kathmandu: Ravinder Kumar Malik
468) India celebrates National Broadcasting Day on
which date: July 23
469) India’s second moon mission Chandrayaan-2
seeks to explore which part of the moon: South
Pole
470) What is the name of the space Lander which is
part of the Chandrayaan-2 mission: Vikram
471) What is the name of the lunar rover that will be
dropped on the moon surface by Vikram:
Pragyaan
472) 21st Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships
were hosted by which city: Cuttack
473) Which country won both, men and women team
event at the 21st Commonwealth Table Tennis
Championships? India
474) ______ won the Women’s singles titles at the 21st
Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships:
Ayhika Mukherjee
475) Name the paddler who won the men’s singles
titles at the 21st Commonwealth Table Tennis
Championships: Harmeet Desai
476) Name the senior Congress leader passed away in
New Delhi, at the age of 81: Sheila Dixit
477) Sheila Dixit remained the Chief Minister of Delhi
for a record _____ times: Three
478) India's star sprinter HimaDasscreated ripples in
the sports world by winning ______ gold medals in
the month of July: Five
479) What is the popular nick name for Hima Das:
Dhing Express
480) Who has been appointed as the new governor of
Uttar Pradesh: Anandi Ben Patel
481) Sh. _________ has been appointed Governor of
Bihar: Phagu Chauhan
482) Sh. Lal Ji Tandon has been appointed as the
Governor of which state: Madhya Pradesh
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483) Which ministry signed an MoU with Ministries of
Ayush, Defence and Railways to strengthen the
efforts towards a TB-Free India by 2025? Health
Ministry
484) India signed an agreement with ________ for
upgradation of over 100 year old railway tracks in
the northern part of the country: Sri Lanka
485) Around the world July 14th is celebrated as an
awareness day about the need to conserve which
big fish? Shark
486) The ICC recently suspended which country from
its membership? Zimbabwe
487) Why Zimbabwe Cricket's membership was
cancelled by ICC: For alleged interference of
govt in its elections
488) Taking serious note of alarming extinction of two
Indian birds, Supreme Court constituted a high
powered committee to into the matter. Name
these two birds: Great Indian Bustard and the
Lesser Florican
489) July 17 is celebrated as the World Day for
International Justice. It is a platform for
promoting work of which international body? ICC
- International Criminal Court
490) Where are the headquarters of the International
Criminal Court-ICC: The Hague, Netherlands
491) How many countries accept the jurisdiction of the
ICC: 122
492) Indian Navy launched "SagarMaitree" mission for
what purpose? For enhancing the research and
strengthening relationship with Southeast
Asian countries
493) Name the Indian Navy’s Marine and Acoustic
Research Ship that will undertake the mission
SagarMaitree: INS Sagardhwani
494) Name the legendry Indian Cricketer who was
recently inducted into the prestigious
International Cricket Council's Hall of Fame:
Sachin Tendulkar
495) Before Sachin, how many Indian Cricketers have
been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame: Five
496) Which international day is celebrated around the
world with UN support on July 18 to honour
Nelson Mandela? International Nelson Mandela
Day
497) Nelson Mandela, a great freedom fighter and
apostle of peace, was associated with which
country? South Africa
498) Name the former Supreme Court judge who has
been appointed as an international judge at the
Singapore International Commercial Court:
Justice A K Sikri
499) The Parliament passed the Central Universities
(Amendment) Bill, 2019 for the establishment of a
Central University and Tribal University in which
state? Andhra Pradesh
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
500) Indian navy inked a follow-up deal worth $50
million with which country to supply
complementary Naval MRSAM systems? Israel
501) What is the full form of MRSAM? Medium Range
Surface-to-air Missile
502) In which country World Health Organization
(WHO) has declared the Ebola crisis as a public
health emergency: Democratic Republic of
Congo
503) Ebola fever is caused by which virus: Ebola
504) The "Find the Incredible You" campaign that won
the PATA award, was launched by which
ministry? Tourism Ministry
505) Sharath Kamal is the national champion for
record nine times in which sports? Tennis
506) The Reserve Bank recently imposed a fine of Rs. 7
crore on which bank for non-compliance of
various RBI guidelines: State Bank of India
507) The World Bank provided $250 million loan to
Kerala for the Resilient Kerala project for what
purpose? Forenhancing the state’s capability to
deal with natural disasters and climate change
508) The managing director of the International
Monetary Fund, IMF resigned recently. Who is
she? Christine Lagarde,
509) Christine Lagarde has been nominated to become
President of which central bank? European
Central Bank
510) Where are the headquarters of the European
Central Bank? Frankfurt, Germany
511) BiswaBhusanHarichandan has been appointed
Governor of which state? Andhra Pradesh
512) Who has been appointed as the new governor of
Chhattisgarh: AnusuiyaUikey
513) Which film bagged the Best Feature Film and Best
Director award at the 9th SAARC Film Festival
held in Colombo, Sri Lanka? Nagarkirtan
514) Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare
released which report in the public domain
related with providing health facilities to all, for
inputs from various stakeholders? National
Digital Health Blueprint
515) Government has announced the merger of three
public sector insurance companies. Give their
names: National Insurance, United India
Assurance and Oriental India Insurance
516) The 13th ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will be
hosted by which country? India
517) July 15 is observed as World Youth Skills Day. It is
supported by which UN organization: UNESCO
518) In which event M. Sreeshankar won the gold at
the Tatyana Kolpakova International athletics in
Bishkek Kyrgyzstan: Long Jump
519) Which country launched a space telescope named
Spektr-RG in a joint effort with Germany? Russia
90
520) What is the name of the Russian Space Agency:
Roscosmos
521) The Spektr-RG telescope will be stationed at L2
Lagrange point in space. Where is this point?
Located some 1.5 million kilometres from
Earth
522) China recently suffered one of the weakest
growth rate in nearly three decades. Give one
main reason for this: Ongoing trade war with
the United States
523) Which state plans to open the country's first-ever
elephant rehabilitation centre? Kerala
524) Who has been appointed as the new Governor of
Gujarat? Acharya Devvrat
525) Jeremy Lalrinnunga, AchintaSheuli won gold
medal and created new records in their respective
category in which sports? Weightlifting
526) What is common among Rakhi Halder, Davinder
Kaur, MirabaiChanu, Ajay Singh, Gulam Navi and L
Sadananda Singh and Pradeep Singh? They all
won gold medal individually at the
Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship
in Apia, Samoa
527) Tennis Grand Slam Wimbledon is played in which
city: London
528) ________ won his fifth Wimbledon title after
defeating Swiss player Roger Federer: Novak
Djokovic
529) Name the Romanian Tennis star who lifted the
Women's Singles title at the Wimbledon: Simona
Halep
530) Who was adjudged "Player of the Tournament"
for his excellent returns with the bat and
inspiring leadership in ICC World Cup: Kane
Williamson
531) Name the batsman and the bowler who claimed
highest score in their respective category, in the
recently concluded ICC World Cup: Rohit
Sharma, Mitchell Starc
532) The nerve-wracking final of the ICC World Cup
was played in which stadium? Lord's, London
533) _______ became the first state in India to ensure the
conservation of water and have own water policy:
Meghalaya
534) The Golden Jubilee Edition of International Film
Festival of India will be hosted by which city:
Panaji, Goa
535) Which country is the partner in this year's
International Film Festival of India? Russia
536) What is the name of the space craft that is the first
one to land on a asteroid? Hayabusa-2
537) Space agency of which country launched
Hayabusa-2? Japan - JAXA
538) Name the asteroid on which landed the Japan's
space craft Hayabusa-2: Ryugu
539) Indian Army has placed an order for Israeli anti-
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
tank missiles. Give the name of these missiles:
Spike
540) Which state has announced for the creation of a
natural calamity fund of Rs. 2,000 crore? Andhra
Pradesh
541) Who has been appointed as the next MD and CFO
of the World Bank? Anshula Kant
542) The exercise 'Garuda-VI' was held in which
country? France
543) The world's largest movable metal structure has
been unveiled as the dome covering for the
destroyed reactor at Chernobyl nuclear power
plant. It is in which country? Ukraine
544) Defence Ministry launched which mission to
bridge the capacity shortfall and provide a major
fillip in the area of innovation in defence industry:
MissionRaksha Gyan Shakti
545) The Institute of Company Secretaries of India -
ICSI has launched UDIN initiative. What is the full
form of UDIN? Unique Document Identification
Number
546) India will host the 14th CoP-14 to the UNCCD
from Sept 2 to 13 in Greater Noida, UP. What is
the full form of CoP and UNCCD: Conference of
Parties; United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification
547) Karnataka has decided to institute solar award in
memory of Late Sh.Visvesvaraya. Who was he?
Legendary engineer and social worker from
Mysore, Karnataka and Bharat Ratna awardee
548) A unique strategy adopted by Northeast Frontier
Railway (NFR) called ‘Plan Bee’ won the best
innovation award. It is related to what? To keep
wild elephants away from train tracks
549) According to a report by CBRE, a Los Angeles
based real estate consulting firm, ______ is the
costliest office space in India: Connaught Place,
New Delhi
550) Hyundai India launched the country’s first all-
electric premium crossover. Can you name it:
Kona
551) Supported by the UNO, the World Population Day
is observed on which date? July 11
552) India shares just two percent of the world's land
but accounts for ____% of world population: 16
553) The WHO has declared that ______ has become the
fifth country in the Southeast Asia region to
eliminate measles disease: SriLanka
554) Which country has decided to impose a tax of up
to 18 Euros ($20) on plane tickets for all flights
taking off from its airports? France
555) ________, the charismatic footballer was named as
the AIFF Men’s Footballer of the Year for a record
sixth time: Sunil Chhetri
556) ________ became the first Indian to win a gold
medal in the World Universiade in 100 m dash
91
 event at Napoli in Italy: Dutee Chand
557) BCCI has appointed ________ as Head of Cricket at
its National Cricket Academy at Bengaluru: Rahul
Dravid
558) Finals of the Copa América Football
Championship were held in which city: Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil
559) Which country won their 9th title of the Copa
América Football Championship: Brazil
560) The Kalinganagar plant of Tata Steel is the first
Indian manufacturing plant to be included in the
Global Lighthouse Network. Where is this plant:
Jaipur district of Odisha
561) ISRO signed a contract with __________ to seek their
expertise in selection, medical examination and
space training of Indian astronauts: Russia’s
Glavkosmos
562) The Supreme Court has directed the ________
government to deposit the Rs. 100 crore fine for
failing to curb illegal coal mining: Meghalaya
563) DRDO successfully tested anti tank _______ missiles
in Pokhran ranges in Rajasthan: Nag
564) The Border Security Force (BSF) has launched a
massive exercise, code named ‘Sudarshan’, to
fortify the ‘anti-infiltration grid’ along which
border? Pakistan border in Punjab and Jammu
565) The Reserve Bank finalised a three- year roadmap
named “Utkarsh 2022” for what purpose: To
improve regulation and supervision, and
other functions of theRBI
566) Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been elected as the new
Prime Minister of which European country?
Greece
567) As per recent amendments in Aadhaar law, stiff
penalties of fine up to Rs. _______ have been
provided for un-authorised use of Aadhaar
related data: One Crore
568) Government has announced that persons who do
not have PAN card, can now use ________ card in its
place: Aadhaar
569) Who became the first batsman in the world to
score five centuries in a single World Cup? Rohit
Sharma
570) VineshPhogat and DivyaKakran, star sports
persons of India, are associated with which sport?
Wrestling
571) Which country lifted the Women’s FIFA World
Cup? USA
572) Which country hosted the Women’s FIFA World
Cup? France
573) Which country has decided to offer to its
incoming tourists free mobile phone SIM cards
with 20 MB data as a gift without providing any
documentation: UAE
574) UAE - United Arab Emirates is a federation of how
many emirates? Seven
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
575) Which is the capital of UAE? Abu Dhabi
576) Which Indian heritage city has recently been
inducted by the UNESCO in its World Heritage Site
list: Jaipur, Rajasthan
577) City of Jaipur was founded by which king of
Rajasthan: Sawai Jai Singh II
578) The Unique Identification Authority of India
(UIDAI) has opened its first 'Aadhaar Seva
Kendra' in which two cities? Delhi and
Vijayawada
579) Who has been appointed as the new Director of
the IBPS - Institute of Banking Personnel
Selection, Mumbai? B Harideesh Kumar
580) In which state the South Central Railway
commissioned the country’s longest electrified
tunnel, running 6.6 km: Andhra Pradesh
581) Henley Passport Index 2019 released recently
shows that ______ and ________ hold first position
jointly as the most powerful passports in the
world: Japan, Singapore
582) Indian passport has been placed at _______ position
in the Henley Passport Index 2019: 86th
583) The world's largest burn and plastic surgery
institute started functioning recently in country?
Bangladesh
584) Which apex body in India decides the MSP for
Kharif and Rabi crops? Cabinet Committee on
Economic Affairs
585) The CCEA announced MSP for crops of which
season in the month of July? Kharif
586) The recent increase in MSP of Kharif crops
ensures that MSP for a crop is atleast ____ times of
its all India weighted average cost of production:
1.5 times
587) The recruitment examination of Regional Rural
Banks, RRBs will now be conducted in ____
regional languages, in addition to English and
Hindi: 13
588) Amish Tripathi has been appointed as the
Director of London’s Nehru Centre, the cultural
outfit of Indian High Commission. Who is he?
Famous author of English novels
589) _________ achieved first rank in the “Agricultural
Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index”
(AMFFRI) released by NITI Aayog: Maharashtra
590) Which country has given India status of its ally in
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for
increased defence cooperation: USA
591) NALCO has been selected for President's award
for best utilisation of Corporate Social
Responsibility funds. Write the full form of
NALCO: National Aluminium Company Limited
592) Which Police station has been ranked number one
for the second year in running in India? Kalu,
Distt Bikaner, Rajasthan
593) Which Deputy Governor of the RBI has been given
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 extension for a further period of one year from
July 4, 2019? N S Vishwanathan
594) What is the name of the national professional
body which certifies the Chartered Accountants in
India: Institute of Chartered Accountants of
India (ICAI)
595) Name the scheme under which beneficiaries can
buy subsidised foodgrains from ration shops in
any part of the country: One Nation, One Ration
Card
596) Which global organization supports the
celebration of International Day of
Parliamentarism on June 30: UNO
597) Government has formed a high powered
Committee of Chief Ministers for ‘Transformation
for Indian Agriculture’. Who is the convener of
this committee? Devendra Fadnavis
598) Devendra Fadnavis is the chief minister of which
state? Maharashtra
599) Which apex body has approved a new initiative -
Scheme for Trans-disciplinary Research for
India’s Developing Economy (STRIDE) to boost
research culture in the country? University
Grants Commission - UGC
600) Headquarters of UGC are based in which city:
New Delhi
601) June 30 is observed as International Asteroid Day.
Asteroid orbit which heavenly body: Sun
602) Asteroids are generally found between the orbits
of ____ and _____: Mars and Jupiter
603) Veer Chotrani of India won the Gold at the Asian
Junior ______ Championship in Macau, China:
Squash
604) India celebrates National Doctors' Day on July 01
in the honour which legendary physician: Bharat
RatnaDr. B C Roy
605) RBI relaxed the leverage ratio to 4% for DSIBs
and 3.5% for other banks, w.e.f. October 1, 2019.
What is DSIB? Domestic Systemically Important
Banks
606) The leverage ratio indicates the percentage of
Tier-I capital to the total _____ of the bank. Loans
607) Which international day is observed on June 29 to
highlight the extraordinary diversity of the
tropical areas? International Day of the Tropics
608) What is the formal name of the two lines of
tropics? Tropic of Cancer; Tropic of Capricorn
609) India celebrates which day to mark the birth
anniversary of renowned statistician Prof. P C
Mahalanobis: National Statistics Day
610) National Statistics Day is celebrated on which
date? June 29
611) The RBI has allowed ARCs to buy financial assets
from other ARCs. What is ARCs: Asset
Reconstruction Companies
612) Which union ministry released a five year vision
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
plan EQUIP - Education Quality Upgradation and
Inclusion Programme? HRD Ministry
613) Which international day is devoted to recognize
and celebrate social media’s impact on global
communication: Social Media Day
614) Social Media Day is observed on which date: June
30
615) _______ has been named the world’s most
expensive city for expatriates for the second year
running by Mercer: Hong Kong
616) Mercer's ranking of cities on the basis of cost of
living, ranked ________ as the cheapest city to live?
Tunis, capital of Tunisia
617) The Government has constituted a Working
Group headed by __________ for the revision of the
current series of Wholesale Price Index: Prof.
Ramesh Chand, Member, Niti Aayog
618) _________ became the fastest batsman to reach
20,000 international runs, eclipsing batting greats
Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara: Virat Kohli
619) India has signed a $ 400 million loan agreement
with the _________ to help treat and eliminate
Tuberculosis from the country: World Bank
JUNE - 2019
620) The Central government launched which Abhiyan
(mission) to ramp up rainwater harvesting and
conservation efforts in 255 water-stressed
districts from July 1 to September 15: Jal Shakti
Abhiyan
621) What is the theme of this year's G20 Summit held
on June 28-29 in Osaka, Japan: Human-centred
future society
622) Which city hosted the 32nd Congress of the
International Seed Testing Association from June
26 to July 3: Hyderabad
623) The Reserve Bank has directed that all data
related to online payments must be stored in
systems located in _________: India only
624) International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking is observed on which date: June 26
625) SamantGoel has been appointed as the new head
of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). What
is his designation: Secretary
626) What is the function of Research and Analysis
Wing (RAW): It is the foreign intelligence
agency of India
627) Who has been appointed as the new director of
Intelligence Bureau: Arvinda Kumar
628) What is the function of Intelligence Bureau: It is
the internal intelligence agency of India
629) Which apex Indian organization has developed
herbal drug 'lukoskin' for treatment of
Leucoderma: DRDO
630) Leucoderma affects which part of the body: Skin
631) _________ became the first Indian film to win
93
 ‘Outstanding Artistic Achievement’ award at the
Shanghai International Film Festival:
VeyilMarangal
632) Which committee has recommended the creation
of a distressed asset fund with a corpus of Rs.
5,000 crore for MSMEs: UK Sinha Committee
633) K Natarajan has been appointed as the new
Director General of which paramilitary force of
India: Indian Coast Guard
634) The Niti Aayog released its second health index
report recently. Which state topped the index for
best performance: Kerala
635) Qu Dongyu has been elected as the first Chinese
head of which UN organization: Food and
Agriculture Organization- FAO (Rome, Italy)
636) _______ has become the first Arab country to be
granted full membership of the Paris based
Financial Action Task Force: Saudi Arabia
637) United Nations Public Service Day is observed
globally on which day of June: 23rd
638) Which organization launched a application -
“Complaint Management System” (CMS) on its
website to facilitate lodging of complaints against
banks and NBFCs: Reserve Bank of India
639) What is the title of the autobiography of Yoga
Guru Baba Ramdev: My Life, My Mission
640) "Bread, Cement, Cactus" is an award winning
novel by which author: Annie Zaidi
641) ‘The New Delhi Conspiracy’ is recent book written
byMeenakshi Lekhi. Who is she: BJP MP from
New Delhi
642) ‘Gun Island’ is a famous novel written by which
author: Amitav Ghosh
643) Which two states have recently been granted GI
tag for the famous Kolhapuri chappals:
Karnataka and Maharashtra
644) Where in India, country's first specialised
hydrotherapy treatment centre for elephants
suffering from arthritis, joint pain and foot
ailments was opened: Mathura, UP
645) Indian Navy launched Operation Sankalp in the
Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman for what
purpose: To ensure the safety of Indian flagged
vessels passing through the area
646) NASA launched first Astrobee robot which fly
under its own power in space. What is its name:
Bumble
647) The Indian women's rugby team claimed a
historic first-ever international Rugby 15s victory
in which tournament: Asia Women's - Division 1
Rugby XVs Championship, Manila
648) Which team won the women's hockey FIH Series
at Hiroshima, Japan by defeating Japan: India
649) Government has developed a National Strategic
Plan that aims to end Tuberculosis (TB) by which
year: 2025
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
650) Name the India's ace cueist who clinched the 35th
men's Asian Snooker Championship in Doha:
Pankaj Advani
651) Which international day is observed on June 20 to
focus on persons who have been forced to leave
their homes due to war, persecution and conflict,
across the world: World Refugee Day
652) The main event of the 5th International Day of
Yoga celebration was held in which city_______.:
Ranchi
653) Government constituted a committee headed by
economist ________ to review the existing
marketing structure of LPG in India: Kirit Parikh
654) Which nation recently faced massive protests
against controversial “Guthi Bill” that intends to
nationalise hundreds of guthis (socio-economic
trusts): Nepal
655) The armies of India and Myanmar launched
‘Operation Sunrise 2’ for what purpose: To flush
out terrorist hideouts in their respective
territories
656) What was the theme for this year's International
Yoga Day: Yoga for Climate Action
657) On which day of June the world celebrates World
Music Day: June 21
658) _________ became the fastest batsman in world to
score 11,000 runs in one-day internationals
cricket in just 222 innings: Virat Kohli
659) Which global body released the “World
Population Prospects Report 2019”: UNO
660) Om Birla has been unanimously elected as the
Speaker of 17th Lok Sabha. He represents which
constituency: Kota, Rajasthan
661) World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
is celebrated on which date: June 17
662) Final match of the FIH Men's Series Hockey
championship was hosted by which city:
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
663) Which country won the FIH Men's Series Hockey
championship: India
664) Who created a new record for winning the most
number of national titles in Squash:
JoshnaChinappa
665) India has committed to play an active role to curb
the circulation of ‘conflict diamonds’ or ‘blood
diamonds’ in the international market. What are
conflict diamonds: The diamonds,sale proceeds
of which are used to finance wars against
governments around the world, mostly in
African countries
666) Who has been crowned Femina Miss India 2019:
Suman Rao
667) On the recommendation of which committee RBI
has directed banks to ensure that their ATMs are
grouted to a wall, pillar, or floor to enhance their
security: D.K. Mohanty
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668) Zuzana Caputova,the anti-corruption campaigner
was sworn in as the first female President of
which country: Slovakia
669) What is the new name approved for the global
governing body for athletics - The IAAF
(International Association of Athletics
Federations): World Athletics
670) As per the Global Peace Index 2019, _________ is the
most peaceful nation in the world: Iceland
671) As per the Global Peace Index 2019, _________ is the
least peaceful nation in the world: Afghanistan
672) Which organization has announced the successful
installation of the world's highest operating
weather stations near Mount Everest: National
Geographic Society
673) Lexie Alford, the 21-year-old American woman
when stepped in North Korea on May 31, she
became the youngest person to achieve which
feat: Youngest women to travel to every
country on earth, covering 196 countries in all
674) In the Forbes list of the World's 100 Highest-Paid
Athletes, who has been named as the world’s
highest-paid athlete: Lionel Messi
675) The iconic football star Lionel Messi captains
football team of which country and of which
football club: Argentina, FC Barcelona
676) Which state has decided to take punitive action
against those who fail to take care of their elderly
parents, even up to imprisonment: Bihar
677) India and _________ will cooperate in the setting up
of a national maritime heritage museum at the
ancient city of Lothal in Gujarat: Portugal
678) What is the name of the ship-launched,
electrically-propelled most advanced automatic
underwater weapon which is capable of hitting
and destroying stealth submarines underwater,
recently ordered by Indian Navy: Varunastra
679) According to the annual report on internet trends
by venture capitalist Mary Meeker of USA, India
accounts for 12% of the world's internet users.
What is its rank in the world: Second
680) The government has reduced the rate of the
contribution made by employees and employers
under the ESI Act to 4 percent from previous 6.5
per cent. What is the full form of ESI: Employees'
State Insurance
681) Govt has decided to setup a new agency entrusted
with the task of creating space warfare weapon
systems and technologies. What is its name:
Defence Space Research Agency
682) Which Indian IT giant has surpassed US
technology giant IBM in terms of market
capitalization: TCS - Tata Consultancy Services
683) The DRDO launched a technology demonstrator
vehicle (missile) to test functioning of which
hypersonic engine: Scramjet
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
684) How many countries are the member of SCO:
Eight
685) Which is the only political party from the North
East that has been given the status of national
party by the Election Commission: National
People's Party
686) Who is the chief of the National People's Party:
Conrad Sangma
687) Conrad Sangma is the Chief Minister of which
state: Meghalaya
688) India's first dinosaur museum and fossil park was
recently thrown open to public in village Raiyoli
of which state: Gujarat
689) The World Food Safety Day was observed for the
first time on June 07. It is supported by which two
UN organizations: FAO and WHO
690) Which social media site launched its first
interactive game show, titled "Confetti" in India
that gives participants a chance to win Rs 3 lakh
as cash prize everyday: Facebook
691) As per the ‘100 Top BrandZ Report’ by global
market research agency Kantar ____________ has
become the world’s most valuable brand with a
brand value of $315 billion: Amazon
692) The Ministry of Jal Shakti has set a target of
providing clean drinking water to all by which
year: 2024
693) The World Day against Child Labour is celebrated
on which day of June: 12th
694) The RBI constituted a six-member committee
headed by ______ to review the entire gamut of
ATM charges and fees: V G Kanan
695) What was India's rank in the recently released
End of Childhood Index: 113th
696) The Ministry of Home Affairs has amended which
act to empower district magistrates in all States
and Union Territories to set up tribunals to decide
whether a person staying illegally in India is a
foreigner or not: The Foreigners (Tribunals)
Order, 1964
697) Prayuth Chan-ocha has recently been elected as
the Prime Minister of which Asian country:
Thailand
698) RBI has allowed banks to offer cheque book
facility and other services like ATM card in the
BSBD Accounts. What is the full form of BSBD:
Basic Savings Bank Deposit
699) This year's women's singles title in the French
Open Tennis Tournament was won by which lady:
Ashleigh Barty, Australia
700) _______ lifted the French Open Tennis
Tournament's men's singles title for the 12th
time: Rafael Nadal, Spain
701) What is the popular name of the French Open
Tennis Tournament: Roland Garros
702) Which country conferred its highest civilian
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 award, the Order of the Distinguished Rule of
Izzudeenon Prime Minister Modi: Maldives
703) What is the theme of this year's World Ocean Day:
Gender and the Ocean
704) The World Oceans Day is celebrated on ________
June: 8th
705) In a study of congestion levels in 403 cities in 56
countries, which city was ranked at the top with
congestion level of 65%: Mumbai
706) Executive Chairman of which Indian IT mega
company announced his resignation with effect
from 30th July 2019 after heading the company
for 53 years: Wipro, Azim Premji
707) Which International Day is observed every year
on June 7 to throw some light on the importance
of safe food: World Food Safety Day
708) Which bank has become first bank to link its
home loan interest rates to the repo rate of the
Reserve Bank of India: State Bank of India
709) Which country hosted the FIFA Women's World
Cup - 2019: France
710) After assuming office for the second term, Prime
Minister Modi embarked upon his first foreign
visit to which country: Maldives
711) Prime Minister Modi is a strong supporter of
SAGAR doctrine. What does it refer to: Security
And Growth for All in the Region
712) Which two countries jointly organised the 9th
Global Entrepreneurship Summit at the World
Forum in The Hague on 4 and 5 June: USAand
Netherlands
713) Who has been re-elected as the President of FIFA,
football's global governing body: Gianni
Infantino
714) Which Union Ministry launched the Swachh
Survekshan League 2020 for assessment of
cleanliness of Indian cities and towns on a
quarterly basis, ending December, 2019: Housing
and Urban Affairs Ministry
715) Which country launched its first tourist train
travelling through Arctic region and on to
Norway: Russia
716) With a view to boosting digital transactions, RBI
has decided to do away with charges levied on
which money transfer transactions: RTGS and
NEFT
717) Name the 60 year old Rajya Sabha MP from
Karnataka who has been made first woman
Finance Minister of India: NIrmalaSitharaman
718) The World Health Organization has selected the
______ government’s Medical & Health Department
for its award this year in recognition of its
achievements in the field of tobacco control:
Rajasthan
719) Which airport in Indore, Madhya Pradesh has
been declared as its first international airport:
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar airport
720) The World Environment Day is celebrated on
which day of June: 5th
721) The 14th summit of the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) was held in Saudi Arabia. OIC
is a group of _______ Islamic countries: 57
722) Who became the most capped Indian football
player by playing 108 international matches,
surpassing BhaichungBhutia's 107 matches: Sunil
Chhetri
723) Name the tribal woman from Odisha who made
history by becoming the youngest Member of
Parliament (MP) at the age of 25 years and 11
months: ChandraniMurmu
724) Which country topped the Sustainable
Development Goals Gender Index 2019:
Denmark
725) India was placed at which rank in the recently
released Sustainable Development Goals Gender
Index 2019: 95th
726) The World Milk Day is observed worldwide on
June 01 with the support of which UN
organization: Food and Agriculture
Organisation-FAO
727) Who has been re-appointed as the National
Security Advisor in the cabinet rank in for a
period of 5 years: AjitDoval
728) The Ministry of Agriculture has estimated food
grains production for the agricultural year 2018-
19 at over ______ million tonnes: 283
729) Under which scheme govt. provides six thousand
rupees per year in three installments(of rupees
two thousand each) to all the farmers: Pradhan
Mantri KisanSamman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
scheme
730) Central government has formed a new Ministry
by merging the erstwhile Ministries of Water
Resources and Drinking Water and Sanitation.
What is its name: ‘Jal Shakti’ (water power)
Ministry
731) Who is the cabinet minister heading the Jal Shakti
Ministry: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
732) According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO)
data released on June 1, the country’s per-capita
income at current prices during 2018-19 is
estimated at Rs _______ per annum: Rs.1,26,406/-
733) The central government recently announced a
pension scheme for farmers. What is its name:
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana -PMKPY
734) Under PMKPY what is the minimum amount of
pension that a farmer will get after attaining age
of 60 years: Rs. 3000/-pm
735) What is the eligible age group to enroll under the
PMKPY scheme: 18-40 years
736) Under the new pension scheme announced by the
govt. for all shopkeepers, retail traders and self-
96
 employed persons, what is the minimum amount
of pension payable: Rs. 3000/-
737) To be eligible under the pension scheme for
shopkeepers etc., the annual GST turnover of the
beneficiary should not exceed Rs. ________ crore:
1.5 crore
738) To be eligible under the pension scheme for
shopkeepers etc., the beneficiary should be in
which age group: 18-40
739) Admiral ____________ Nijjar took charge as the 24th
chief of Indian Navy on May 31: Karambir Singh
740) Which international day is observed on May 31
for highlighting the health and other risks
associated with tobacco use: World NoTobacco
Day
741) Which country recently launched the world's
largest and most powerful nuclear powered
icebreaker ship: Russia
742) The RBI constituted a committee headed
by___________, senior financial consultant, to review
the existing housing finance securitisation market
in India: Harsh Vardhan
743) The 2019 edition of the IMD World
Competitiveness Rankings ranked India as _____
most competitive economy in the world: 43rd
744) As per the 2019 edition of the IMD World
Competitiveness Rankings, __________ is country
with the most competitive economy: Hong Kong
745) Mumbai based writer Annie Zaidi won which
international prize for her book ‘Bread, Cement,
Cactus': Nine Dots Prize, UK
746) RBI constituted a task force headed by _______ to
suggest policy and regulatory interventions
required for development of secondary market in
corporate loans: T.N. Manoharan
747) The Reserve Bank has announced an extension of
timings for customer transactions through RTGS
by how much time: 1.5 hours,(new timings are
now 8 am to 6:00 pm)
748) The World Health Organization has identified
addiction to video games on smartphones and
other devices as:Disorder (disease)
MAY - 2019
749) Which authority directed the RBI to disclose the
list of 12 big loan defaulters that it had sent to
banks for resolution: The Central Information
Commission (CIC)
750) For the first time in the history of the Indian Air
Force, an all women crew flew a ______medium lift
helicopter at Chandigarh base: Mi-17
751) The University Grants Commission (UGC) has
directed universities and higher educational
institutions to introduce what type of
identification mechanisms in degrees issued by
them: Hologram of the institute and QR code
752) Which Indian shooter created a new world record
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
in May end in the 10 m air pistol category:
Saurabh Chaudhary
753) DRDO successfully test fired the Akash-1S missile
system recently. It is what type of missile:
Surface to air
754) Game Changer is an autobiography of which
famous cricketer: Shahid Afridi, Pakistan
755) The WHO recently declared which two countries
as free from Malaria: Algeria, Argentina
756) Name the Indian lady doctor who recently won
the Global Asian of the Year 2018-19 award:
Hema Divakar
757) Which country tested in May end a new floating
maglev bullet train capable of hitting speeds of
600 kilometers per hour: China
758) What is the expanded form of maglev: Magnetic
levitation
759) Sudirman Cup is associated with which sports:
Badminton
760) ________ won the world mixed team badminton
championship by defeating Japan: China
761) Narendra Modi led the National Democratic
Alliance - NDA to a historic majority by securing
_______ seats out of 542 seats for 17th Lok Sabha:
353
762) The prestigious Palme d'Or award is given for
what purpose: Best Film at the Cannes Film
Festival
763) Which film won the 2019 Palme d'Or: Parasite
764) Scott Morrison has been elected as the new Prime
Minister of which country: Australia
765) In which state, Prem Singh Golay has been elected
as the new Chief Minister: Sikkim
766) Who has been become the new Chief Minister of
Andhra Pradesh: Jagan Mohan Reddy
767) Which MP won the Navsari Lok Sabha seat in
Gujarat by a difference of 6.89 lakh votes — the
highest margin in the 2019 polls: CR Patil of BJP
768) Lt. Bhawana Kanth became the first woman pilot
of the Indian Air Force in what regard: To
undertake missions by day on a fighter
aircraft, flying MiG-21 Bison
769) Which country topped the kids rights index:
Iceland
770) Saray Khumalo, mountaineer from _________
became the first black African woman to scale
Mount Everest: South Africa
771) The World Bank teamed up with which bank to
enable recording of secondary market bond
trading using blockchain technology:
Commonwealth Bank ofAustralia
772) Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected as the
President of which country: South Africa
773) Name the Indian diplomat recently honoured
with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver
97
 Star award by Japan: Shyam Saran, former
Foreign Secretary of India
774) The International Day for Biological Diversity is
observed on which date: May 22
775) Man Booker International Prize is given for
outstanding work in which field: Best book
translated in to English and published in UK
776) Who won the Man Booker International Prize for
2019: JokhaAlharthi for her novel Celestial
Bodies
777) JokhaAlharthi hails from which country: Oman
778) The world body governing Badminton, BFA, has
launched ____ new formats of the game: Two
779) What are the 2 new formats of badminton
launched by the BFA: Air Badminton and
Triples
780) The World Metrology Day is observed on May
20th. What is metrology: The science of making
measurements and establishing various units
of measurements
781) Which International Day is celebrated to raise
awareness of the importance of pollinators (such
as bees, butterflies, bats and hummingbirds):
World Bee Day, May 20
782) _______ became the first state to tap into masala
bond market: Kerala
783) Kerala listed the Kerala Infrastructure Investment
Fund Board (KIIFB)’s masala bond worth of $312
million (Rs 2,150 crore) in which stock exchange:
London
784) Which popular measurement unit of weight was
recently re-defined in terms of unchanging
universal, physics constants: Kilogram
785) Sasakawa Award 2019 for Disaster Risk
Reduction is conferred by which international
organization: UN Office for Disaster Risk
Reduction (UNDRR), Geneva
786) Name the Indian civil servant recently honoured
with the Sasakawa Award 2019 for Disaster Risk
Reduction: Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra,
Additional Principal Secretary to P.M. (he is
now Principal Secretary)
787) The Indian Navy held a major bilateral naval
exercise with the Republic of Singapore Navy. Can
you name it: SIMBEX 19
788) Dengue, a viral disease caused by virus is
transmitted by the bite of _____ mosquito: Aedes
aegypti
789) _________ became 1st country in Asia to pass a law
that grants legal sanction to same-sex marriage:
Taiwan
790) Observation of the International Day of Light on
May 16 is supported by which UN organization:
UNESCO
791) Which global day is celebrated on May 17 to raise
awareness about high blood pressure in people
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
across the world: World Hypertension Day
792) Which big country has recently rolled out a merit-
based immigration system to grant residency
based on points for their age, knowledge, job
opportunities and civic sense: USA
793) Commandos of which premier counter-terror
force created history by scaling the Mount Everest
on May 16 in their maiden attempt: NSG -
National Security Guard
794) Which train was in news recently for competing 1
lakh running kilometres on May 16, without
missing a single trip in just three months of its
launch: Vande Bharat Express
795) Captain Aarohi Pandit, 23-year-old pilot from
Mumbai became the world's first woman in what
regard: To cross the Atlantic Ocean solo in a
Light Sports Aircraft
796) The RBI has asked all NBFCs with asset size of
over Rs. 5,000 crore to appoint chief risk officers
for what purpose: To minimize risk associated
with all the loan products
797) What name has been given to the recently created
recyclable plastic: Poly diketoenamine, or PDK
plastic
798) Victor Vescovo, 53 years old diver and deep-sea
explorer from USA broke the world record for
which item: Deepest dive in history, diving
down to 10,927 meters
799) Where is the deepest (in ocean) point on the
earth: The Challenger Deep in Mariana Trench
in Western Pacific ocean
800) The International Day of Families is observed on
which day of May: 15th
801) Name the sherpa who reached the top of Mt.
Everest for the 24th time, creating a new world
record: Kami Rita Sherpa
802) The Geological Survey of India, GSI, has revealed
that 35 per cent the country's Graphite deposits is
available in __________: Arunachal Pradesh
803) Graphite is used widely in which two ways in the
automobile industry: Lubricants and brake
linings
804) India extended a $1 billion Line of Credit to
Mongolia for what purpose: To set up its first-
ever petrochemical refinery
805) World’s first exclusive women's cricket magazine
was recently released in India. What is its title:
'Criczone'
806) Chhaya Sharma, an IPS officer was felicitated with
McCain Institute Award 2019 for courage and
leadership. She is known for investigation
of:Nirbhaya rape case, 2012
807) G S Lakshmi has become the first ever woman to
be appointed to the _______.: ICC International
Panel of Match Referees
808) The DRDO successfully flight tested the drone
98
 ABHYAS. What is it: a High-speed Expendable
Aerial Target (HEAT)
809) Department of Biotechnology under ministry of
science and technology recently launched human
tissue mapping project. What is its name:
“MANAV: Human Atlas Initiative”
810) Prof. Tijjani Mohammed Bandeof Nigeriahas been
elected as the president of which international
forum: UN General Assembly
811) Which women cricketer created world record of
securing highest number of wickets by a spinner
in ODI cricket: Sana Mir, Pakistan
812) Who has been appointed as the Coach for Indian
men’s football team: Igor Stimac, Croatia
813) World celebrates International Nurses Day on
May 12 to commemorate the birth anniversary of
which famous person: Florence Nightingale
814) Who was Florence Nightingale and she is famous
for what work: British social worker who
rendered outstanding nursing services during
the war of Crimea in late 19th century
815) _______ won the International Bowler of the Year
award in the CEAT Cricket Rating International
Awards 2019: JaspritBumrah
816) Which International Day is observed twice, on
2nd Saturday of May and October 2 to highlight
the need for the conservation of migratory birds
and their habitats: World Migratory Bird Day
817) Mumbai Indians became IPL champions for the
fourth time after defeating which team: Chennai
Super Kings
818) India celebrates May 11 as the National
Technology Day to commemorate which major
event: Conducting of Pokhran nuclear Tests
(Shakti Pokhran II) of 1998
819) Dia Mirza, the Indian actress has been appointed
as the Goodwill Ambassador for India for which
UN programme: UN Environment programme
820) Popular milk products brand Amul has decided to
be the principal sponsor of which international
cricket team for the upcoming world cup:
Afghanistan
821) Which country declared climate emergency in
2nd week of May: Ireland
822) What is the objective of declaring climate
emergency in a country: To achieve drastic
reduction in green house gas emissions
823) Which country recently reported the first ever
case of the MonkeypoxVirus, a rare virus similar to
the human smallpox: Singapore
824) Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) acquired one of the
oldest companies, British toy retailer __________ in
an all cash deal: Hamleys
825) Which state for the first time has inducted an all
women platoon of 30 commandos as anti-naxal
force: Chhattisgarh
GYANMGENERAL AWARENESS –NOVEMBER 2019
826) World over May 8 is celebrated as International
Thalassaemia Day. This is what type of decease:
An inherited blood disorder marked by
inadequate amount of Hemoglobin
827) JagjitPavadia has beenre-elected by the UN
Economic and Social Council to a five-year term
on which of its outfit: International Narcotics
Control Board
828) World Red Cross Day is observed on which date:
May 8
829) The World Red Cross Day is celebrated to
commemorate the birthday of founder of Red
Cross. Who was he: Henry Dunant
830) Where is the headquarters of Red Cross: Geneva,
Switzerland
831) What is the theme for this year's World Red Cross
Day: #Love
832) Vice President Venkaiah Naidu embarked on a
four-day official visit to _____ on May 9: Vietnam
833) Which organization distributed more than one
lakh bee boxes to the farmers and unemployed
people recently: KVIC-Khadi and Village
Industries Commission
834) Which state has notified a new act as per which
commercial establishments in certain specified
areas will now be allowed to operate 24 hours:
Gujarat
835) Which international body supports the
celebration of World Asthma Day: Global
Initiative for Asthma, USA
836) What is the theme for this year's World Asthma
Day: STOP for Asthma
837) What is the full form of STOP: Symptom
evaluation, Test response, Observe and assess,
Proceed to adjust treatment
838) Asthma effects which vital system of the human
body: Respiratory system
839) The Reserve Bank has decided to enhance the
housing loan limits for priority sector for which
banks: Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and Small
Finance Banks (SFBs)
840) As per new RBI guidelines, RRBs and SFBs can
give housing loan to individuals up to Rs. ____ lakh
in metropolitan centers: 35
841) As per new RBI guidelines, RRBs and SFBs can
give housing loan to individuals up to Rs. ____ lakh
in other than metropolitan centers: 25
842) Govt. has launched FAME scheme for boosting
promotion of electric vehicles in the country.
Expand the acronym FAME: Faster Adoption and
Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
843) Extremely severe cyclonic storm ______ made
landfall on the eastern coast wreaking
widespread destruction: Fani
844) King Maha Vajiralongkorn has been crowned as
the new king of which country: Thailand
99
845) King Maha Vajiralongkorn is the 10th king of
______ dynasty founded in 1782: Chakri ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FORM
846) Which city in Karnataka has launched an all- FOR SOFT COPY ONLY
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849) The Central government has asked the state
transport departments to make it mandatory for Address:…………………………………………………………….
all EVs (electric vehicles) to use only ______ colour ……………………………………………………………………
number plates: Green City:……………………………District:…………………….
850) Researchers at__________, New Delhi, have State: ………………..…………………..PIN:
developed an ultrasensitive quantum
thermometer using graphene quantum dots: Email: …………………………………………………………………..
Jamia MilliaIslamia
851) Which country became India’s top crude oil Ph./Mob…………………………………………………..…………
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852) U N Security Council designated Pakistan-based remitted to our following account:
Jaish-e-Mohammed chief as a "global terrorist".
What is his name: Masood Azhar
853) Which country has announced its plans to move
its capital as the present capital is very heavily
congested and is sinking at one of the fastest rates
in the world: Indonesia,(Capital Jakarta) ……………………………………………………………………………………………
854) As per the recent report from Sweden based PARTICULARS OF REMITTANCE:
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855) As per a report by SIPRI, ______ is the biggest
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856) Which country announced its withdrawal from (Magazine will be sent through Online Mode only)
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859) Coronation of Naruhito as the emperor of Japan
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860) Australia's _________has become the first female
umpire to officiate in a men's one-day
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Claire Polosak
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