Current Affairs Mid-August ************************************ 1) What is the name of the controversial survey conducted by the Telangana Government throughout the state on 19 August 2014 and due to which various sections of the state were scared and apprehensive? – “Samagra Kutumbh Survey” or “Intensive Household Survey” ………………………………………………………………………… 2) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 18 August 2014 constituted a 15-member inter-regulatory committee to monitor the growing phenomenon of shadow banking. Who has been appointed as the Chairman of this committee? – P. Vijaya Bhaskar (Executive Director, RBI) ………………………………………………………………………… 3) A Manipur court on 19 August 2014 ordered the release of Manipuri woman Irom Sharmila, who has staged a 14-year hunger strike in protest at human rights abuses in Manipur. She began her fast on 4 November 2000 after witnessing the killing of 10 people by the army at a bus stop near her home in Manipur. Her protests against the abuses allegedly committed by security forces are subject of which law, which has been opposed in the state? – Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) ………………………………………………………………………… 4) What is the name of the Mission Director of the Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) Scheme, who resigned from the post during August 2014? – S. Sundareshan ………………………………………………………………………… 5) Who was appointed as the Team Director of the Indian cricket team by the BCCI on 19 August 2014 for the upcoming ODI series against England, a decision which virtually sidelined Chief Coach Duncan Fletcher? – Ravi Shastri, Former Indian cricketer and captain ………………………………………………………………………… 6) India on 18 August 2014 called off Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan slated to be held on 25 August 2014 at Islamabad. What was the reason given for calling-off these talks? – Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s meetings with Kashmiri separatist leaders belonging to the Hurriyat ………………………………………………………………………….. 7) According to information released by India’s power regulator Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), around what percentage of country’s total power generation capacity is contributed by diesel gensets (generators)? – Around 36% ………………………………………………………………………….. 8) Who was nominated as the Parliamentary Party leader of the AIADMK on 18 August 2014 following the election of M Thambidurai as Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha? – P Venugopal ………………………………………………………………………….. 9) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on 18 August 2014 said that he will soon leave the Ecuadorian Embassy he has been holed up for nearly two years to avoid his arrest. He has been living in which country’s Ecuadorian Embassy which he wants to leave now? – Britain ………………………………………………………………………….. 10) Who will head the Indian contingent as the Chef-de-Mission for the oncoming 17th Asian Games to be held at Incheon, South Korea during Sep-Oct 2014? – Adille Sumariwala ………………………………………………………………………….. 11) With 16,100 MW wind power produced in 2013, China was ranked World’ top wind power producing country in the recently released Renewables 2014 Global Status Report. What was India’s rank in this report? – 5th ………………………………………………………………………….. 12) Who was the founder of the Jharkhand Disom Party (JDP) which merged with the BJP on 18 August 2014? – Salkhan Murmu ………………………………………………………………………….. 13) The Department of Telecom (DoT) is considering merger of Mumbai and Kolkata circles with Maharashtra and West Bengal service areas. This step will end roaming charges on subscribers travelling from these two cities to other parts in respective states and vice versa. Which Telecom Minister had in 2004 started the discussion to merge certain circles like Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai into their respective states? – Dayanidhi Maran
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 10:10:29 +0000