Current Affairs For Bank, IBPS Exams

• Iyer, who was among the team that launched the first mall in India- Crossroads in central Mumbai – in late nineties, takes over from interim CEO Ramnik Naresy.
• Naresy has been re-appointed as senior vice-president, Walmart International.
• Wal-Mart has roped in Krish Iyer , a veteran retailer with experience of setting up new ventures, for heading its India operations.  
• Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has been voted the BBC’s 60th Sports Personality of the Year, winning the accolade after becoming the first British man to lift the trophy at the All England Club in 77 years.
  The 26-year-old Scot ended one of the longest droughts in British sport by beating Novak Djokovic in straight sets in July.
• Costly vegetables, particularly potato and onion, pushed the November wholesale inflation to a 14-month high of 7.52 per cent, making it difficult for the Reserve Bank to ease key policy rate.
• Vegetable prices shot up by 95.25 per cent in November as compared to 78.38 per cent in the previous month.
• The overall inflation in the food segment comprising wheat, pulses, vegetables, milk, among others, was at 19.93 per cent, up from 18.19 per cent in October.
• The rise in WPI comes after the retail or consumer price inflation jumped to 11.24 per cent.
• Potato prices shot up by 26.71 per cent in November, as compared to a contraction in the previous month.
• The onions too were costly, but the price rise was low as compared to October. Onion inflation was at 190.34 per cent in November.
• The data further revealed that protein rich items like egg, meat and fish were costlier by 15.19 per cent while milk was dearer by 6.25 per cent in November.
• The WPI inflation for November 2013 is the highest since September 2012 when it was 8.1 per cent.

Exam Paper of IBPS Clerical Cadre Held On 15.12.2013 (General Awareness)

Q.1 ICC LG Choice Award?

Q.2. Export Credit ?

Q.3. Mayanmar old name?

Q.4 BSBDA ?

Q.5 CRR in the form of?

Q.6 Gaganjit Buller is a?

Q.7 issuing of bank credit card question?

Q.8 Micro Michenary Limit?

Q.9 Alice Manro?

Q.10 PAN Abbrivation?

Q.11 UN world tourism organization head Quarter?

Q.12 Dam?

General Awareness For IBPS Exam

Interest subvention and additional interest subvention in 150 districts

1. Union Cabinet has approved the provision of interest subvention to Women SHGs, enabling them to avail loans up to 3 lakh Rupees at an interest rate of 7 per cent per annum.
2. Women SHGs that repay loans in time will get additional 3 per cent subvention, reducing the effective rate to 4 per cent. The initiative, in the first phase, would focus on 150 districts, including the 82 IAP districts,
   affected by Left Wing Extremism. Change in the pattern of financial assistance - replacing Capital subsidy with a Community Investment Support fund
3. The Cabinet has approved to withdraw capital subsidy to S.H.Gs and instead provide financial support S.H.G federations and livelihoods organizations of the S.H.G members in the ‘intensive’blocks through a grant called Community Investment Support fund. Setting up of National Level Society under N.R.L.M for more effective implementation
4. The Cabinet also approved the setting up an autonomous, adequately staffed,professionally managed and empowered agency at the national level to implement the N.R.L.M, called the National Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (N.R.L.P.S) under the Societies Registration Act.
5. The NRLPS will act as the technical support unit of N.R.L.M. The setting up of such a Society is essential to implement the programme in a mission mode, as livelihoods programmes require a wide range of specialization and experience.
6. The Society structure would enable access to high quality professional support, provide flexibility to create partnerships and facilitate innovations and would serve as a knowledge center for rural livelihoods for the state missions.
7. Further it will provide an opportunity for formally involving State Governments in decision-making, by nominating them to the Executive Committee of the Society.

MoU for Improving Living Conditions of Destitute Women

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between National Commission for Women (NCW) and HUDCO in New Delhi. The MoU was signed by V P Baligar, IAS, Chairman & Managing Director(HUDCO) and K. Ratna Prabha, IAS, Member Secretary,National Commission for Women (NCW). The MoU was signed toimprove living conditions of destitute women.Major points of the MoU

• The importance of the MoU is that both the Ministries will be cooperating in elevating the condition and status of the marginalized and destitute women in India.
• This MoU is a part of Corporate Social Responsibility of HUDCO, under which focus will remain on providing better amenities of housing and other facilities such as drinking water, sanitation and electricity to poor and destitute women.
• HUDCO and NCW, under the MoU, agreed to co-operate and work together by utilizing their respective strengths for improvement of the living conditions of destitute women and also facilities like women hostels and remand homes.
• The two bodies entered into the MoU for improving the living conditions of destitute women on anything that is related to women welfare or development by enhancing the quality of their habitat.
• HUDCO and NCW shall cooperate in the areas of reconstruction of existing structures where women in distress are housed, providing for living quarters, kitchens and toilets, construction of living quarters, kitchens and toilets in pre-identified sites.
• Under the MoU, NCW shall identify the areas where the activity or project has to be undertaken and HUDCO shall provide financial assistance for implementation of these projects along with technical advice.

Life Saving Drugs to be Cheaper by up to 80%

The department of pharmaceuticals on 16 May 2013 notified the Drug Price Control Order 2013 and with its coming into effect prices of 348 essential medicines including life saving drugs will go down by up to 80 percent. As per the new Drug Price Control Order 2013, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) 2012 is authorized to regulate the prices of the 348 essential medicines as it is listed in the National List of
Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2011. The government has notified the Drug Prices Control Order (DPCO) 2013, with effect from 15 May 2013 and replaced the 1995 order. In its previous order prices of 74 bulk drugs were regulated and as per the new order all dosages and strengths specified in the NLEM will be under price control. The ceiling prices of the NELM drugs will also be decided as per the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy and the policy states that the ceiling price of an essential drug will be the simple average of all brands with a market share of at least 1 per cent.

India Unveiled its First Indigenously developed Rotavirus Vaccine

India unveiled its indigenously developed Rotavirus Vaccine named Rotavac after the Phase-III clinical trial of low cost rotavirus Vaccine. The Rotavac that has demonstrated strong efficacy and excellent safety profile; if gets its approval by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) than will be made available in the market at a rate of 54 rupees per dose. Approx 453000 child across the world dies every year due to Rotavirus diarrhea and following the recent reports every year approx one lakh children below five years in India die due to severe diarrhea that is caused due to Rotavirus bacteria. India accounts for 22 percent of the global deaths that occurs due to diarrhoea-causing rotavirus. Rotavac vaccine has been developed under a public-private partnership and is the third such vaccine that will hit the Indian market. The previous two vaccines cost more than 1000 rupees per dose and thus remain out of reach from the hands of millions in developing and third world nations. It is an oral vaccine that is administered in infants in three dose course at ages of six, ten and fourteen weeks, which is given to a child along with the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) vaccines recommended to be given to children.

IBPS: English Comprehension

Directions (Q.1–11): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are printed in bold in the passage to help you locate them while answering some of the questions. 

What is immediately needed today is the establishement of a Wrold Government or an International Federation of mankind. It is the utmost necessity of the world today, and all those persons who wish to see all human beings happy and prosperous naturally feel it keenly. Of course, at times we feel that many of the problem of our political, social, linguistic and cultural life would come to an end if there were one Govenment all ovet the world. Travellers, businessmen, seekers of knowledge and teachers of righteousness knowvery well that great impediments and obstructions are faced by them when they pass from one country to another, exchange goods, get information, and make an efforts to spread their good gospel among their fellow-men. In the past, religious sects divided one set of people against another, colour of skin or shape of the body set one against the other.

But today when philosophical light has exploded the darkness that was created by religious differences, and when scientific knowledge has flasified the superstitions, they have enabled human beings of all religious views and of all races and colours to come in frequent contactwith one another . It is the governments of various countries that keep poeple of one country apart from, those of another. They create artificial barriers, unnatural distinctions, unhealthy isolation, unnecessary fears and dangers in theminds of common menwho by their naturewant to live in friendshipwith their fellow-men.But all these evilswould cease to exist if there were one Government all over the world. 

1. What divides people of a country against another?(a) Different religions
(b) Different language
(c) Different social and political systems of different people
(d) Government of various countries
2. What is the urgent heed of the world today?(a) The establishment of an international economic order.
(b) The establishment of a world government.
(c) The creation of a cultural international social order.
(d) The raising of an international spiritual army.

3. Choose the word which is SIMILAR in meaning as the word "righteousness" as used in the passage.(a) rectitude (b) religiosity
(c) requirement (d) scrupulousness5. Which of the following problems has not been mentioned in the passage as likely to be solved with the establishment of world Government?
(a) Social Problems (b) Political Problems
(c) Cultural Problems (d) Economic Problems

4. What will the world Government be expected to do?(a) it will arrange for interplanetary contacts
(b) it will end all wars for all time to come
(c) it will bring about a moral regeneration of mankind
(d) it will kill the evil spirit inman

6. Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word 'implediments' as used in the passage. (a) handicaps (b) furtherance
(c) providence (d) hindrances
7. The most appropriate title of the above passage may be ...........(a) The evils of the world order.
(b) The man can make his destiny.
(c) The need of world Government.
(d) The role of Religion in theModern Times.
8. What was the factor, according to the passage, that set one man against another?(a) Material prosperity of certain people in the midst of grinding poverty.
(b) Superior physical strength of some persons.
(c) Colour of skin or shape of the body.
(d) Some people being educated and other illiterate.
9. The theory of racial superiority stands falsified today by ........(a) knowledge derived from scientific advances.
(b) the ascendancy of peoplewhowere here to fore considered of inferior racial stock.
(c) the achievements of the so called backward countries in every field of life.
(d) the precedence given to the physical powers of different races.
10. In the part religious sects .............(a) united the people with one another.
(b) Interfered in political affairs.
(c) did a good job by way of spreading message of
love and peace.
(d) divided one set of people from another.

IBPS: English Comprehension

The window offered a view of the house opposite. The two families did not speak to each other because of a property dispute. One day, Ruchira's textbooks lay untouched as the young girl's gaze was on the happenings in the house opposite. There were two new faces in the neighbouring household – that of an elderly widow and a girls aged sixteen. Some times the elderly lady would sit by the window, doing the young girl's hair. On other days she was absent.

The new young neighbour's daily routine could be seen through the window – she cleaned the rice paddy; split nuts, put the cushions in the sun to air them. In the afternoons while the men were all at world some of the women slept and others played cards. The girl sat on the terrace and read. Sometimes she wrote. One day there was hindrance. She was writing when the elderly woman snatched the unfinished letter from her hands. Thereafter the girl was not to be seen on the terrace. Sometimes during the day sounds came from the house indicating that a massive argument was going on inside.

A few days passed. One evening Ruchira noticed the girl standing on the terrace in tears. The evening prayer was in progress. As she did daily, the girl bowed several times in prayer. Then she went downstairs.
That night Ruchira wrote a letter. She went out and posted it that very instant. But as she lay in bed that night, she prayed fervently that her offer of friendship wouldn't reach its destination. Ruchira then left for Madhupur and returned when it was time for college to start. She found the house opposite in darkness, locked. They had left.

When she stepped into her room she found the desk piled with letters – one had a local stamp on it with her name and address in unfamiliar handwriting. She quickly read it. They continued to write to each other for the next twenty years.

1. Why did Ruchira write a letter to her new neighbour?
(1) She wanted to offer her, her help.
(2) She wanted to be friends with her.
(3) To apologize for her family's behaviour towards her family.
(4) To encourage her to continue learning to read and write.
(5) None of these

Answer: 2

2. Which of the following can be said about Ruchira?
(1) She used to spy on her neighbours because she didn't trust them.
(2) She was at home because she was studying.
(3) She did not speak to her neighbours because they did not own property.
(1) None
(2) Only (2)
(3) Both (1) & (2)
(4) Only (3)
(5) All of these

Answer:  2

3. How did the new young neighbour spend her days?
(1) She was busy writing letters to Ruchira.
(2) She used to daydream about her past experiences.
(3) She would attend to the needs of the widow.
(4) She spent her time learning to read and write.
(5) None of these

Answer: 4

4. Why was the young neighbour prevented from sitting on the terrace?
(1) She used to while away her time instead of working
(2) The old woman could no longer keep an eye on her.
(3) She had not finished writing the letter she was asked to.
(4) She had been writing a letter which she wasn't supposed to.
(5) None of these

Answer:  -

5. What was the major argument in the house about?
(1) There were too many people living there, which resulted in arguments.
(2) The young girl was insisting on attending college.
(3) The young girl had been wasting her time instead of working.
(4) The old woman did not guard the young girl closely.
(5) None of these

Answer:  3

6. Which of the following is TRUE in the context of the passage?
(1) The young girl was very devout and prayed everyday.
(2) Only two letters were exchanged between the two girls.
(3) The new young neighbour was a servant.
(4) The afternoon was a time to relax for everyone.
(5) None of these

Answer:  1

7. Why did the young girl wish that the letter would not reach its destination?
(1) She was going away and would not be able to see if her neighbour was glad to receive it.
(2) She was afraid that it would lead to a quarrel between the two families.
(3) She was afraid that her neighbour would be angry when she received her letter.
(1) None
(2) Only (1)
(3) Only (3)
(4) Both (2) & (3)
(5) All of these

Answer:  2

Directions (Q.8-10): Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the world printed in bold as used in the passage.
8. Hindrance
(1) handicapped
(2) delay
(3) interruption
(4) difficult
(5) None of these

Answer:  3

9. Offered
(1) forward
(2) willing
(3) volunteered
(4) provided
(5) None of these

Answer:  4

10. Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word piled as used in the passage.
(1) low
(2) empty
(3) blank
(4) nothing
(5) None of these

Answer:  2

14th December 2013 Current Affairs For Bank, IBPS Exams

ICC Test Cricketer, Player of the Year

Australian captain Michael Clarke has been announced as the winner of the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year and was also named as the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year.

Kumar Sangakkara, Cheteshwar Pujara, Kevin O'Brien, Suzie Bates, Sarah Taylor, Umar Gul, Mahela Jayawardena and Richard Kettleborough among other winners.

Clarke has been joined on the winners' list by Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, who was named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year, and India's Cheteshwar Pujara, who claimed his first-ever ICC award after being named the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year.

Also joining Pujara on the winners list for the first time are New Zealand captain Suzie Bates, who won the ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year award, Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul, whose five for six against South Africa won him the ICC T20I Performance of the Year award, Ireland's Kevin O'Brien, who won the Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year award, and Richard Kettleborough of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, who won the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year.

England's Sarah Taylor clinched the ICC Women's T20I Cricketer of the Year award for the second year in a row, while Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardena won his second ICC Spirit of Cricket award, this time for walking without waiting for an umpire's decision when batting on 91 against New Zealand in Galle in November 2012

Anand in London Classics quarters

Former world champion Viswanathan Anand found his way to the knockout stage in the London Chess Classic with an easy draw against tailender Andrei Istratescu of France in the fifth round of the preliminaries that concluded at the Olympia.

After scoring three wins in the first four games itself, Anand was destined to move to the quarterfinal stage in this 16-players event spilt in to four groups.

Traditionally a super tournament, the London Classic this time became a Rapid tournament as the world championship was held just two weeks before its commencement.

Anand will play as black against Adams in the decider for the first place in the last round having promoted himself to the knockout quarterfinals in the 16-players event split in to four groups.

Among other groups, Russians Vladimir Kramnik and Peter Svidler looked poised to qualify from the `B` group while in the `C` group Boris Gelfand of Israel and Hikaru Nakamura of United States already made the cut like Anand and Adams.

13 December 2013 Current Affairs For Bank, IBPS Exam

• Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan said the IIP and the CPI numbers were surprising, and the central bank would have to look at the details and then frame its policies.
• Pointing out that he would not like to give quick reactions without going into “the details of what went into it,’’ the central bank chief said, “We will wait for the WPI numbers, which are expected next week, but certainly the CPI is higher than the market expectation.”
• He, however, emphasised that no single piece of data would determine RBI’s policies, adding that while the IIP surprised on the downside, CPI surprised on the upside.
• “Clearly, growth is weaker than we would like, and inflation is higher than what we would like. In a situation like this, we have to calibrate our policies and make trade-offs based on all available data,” he said.
• The U.S. health regulator has approved the generic versions of Eli Lilly & Company’s Cymbalta, a drug to treat depression, paving the way for various Indian pharmaceutical companies to launch their products in the U.S. market.
• “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first generic versions of Cymbalta (duloxetine delayed-release capsules), a prescription medicine used to treat depression and other conditions,” the USFDA said in a statement.

IBPS: Numerical Ability/Quantitative Aptitude

1. If 2805 ¸ 2.55 = 1100, then 280.5 ¸ 25.5 is:
1. 111
2. 1.1
3. 0.11
4. 11
5. 1.11

2. The value of 213 + 2.013 + 0.213 + 2.0013 is:1. 217.2273
2. 21.8893
3. 217.32
4. 3.217.32
5. None of these

3. The numerator of a non-zero rational number is five less than the denominator. If the denominator is increased by eight and the numerator is doubled, then again we get the same rational number. The required rational number is:
1. 1/8
2. 4/9
3. 2/8
4. 3/8
5. 3/8

4. What will be the approximate value of 779.5 × 5 – 46.5 × 19 – 9?
1. 10800
2. 18008
3. 10080
4. 10008
5. 18080

5. A fraction becomes 2 when 1 is added to both the numerator and the denominator and it becomes 3 when 1 is subtracted from both numerator and denominator. The numerator of the given fraction is:1. 7
2. 5
3. 3
4. 8
5. 6

6. What approximate value should come in place of z in the following question? 242 + 2.42 + 0.242 + 0.0242 = z
1. 670
2. 575
3. 580
4. 585
5. 680

7. What should come in place of the question mark (?) in the following question?
248.8 – 190.48 + 68.08 = ?
1. 126.4
2. 127.4
3. 128.4
4. 124.6
5. 126.4

8. Find a fraction such that if 1 is added to the denominator it reduces to ½ and reduces to 3/5 on adding 2 to the numerator.1. 12/25
2. 13/25
3. 11/13
4. 11/25
5. 14/25

9. xy is a number that is divided by ab where xy < ab and gives a result 0. xyxyxy... then ab equals:1. 77
2. 33
3. 99
4. 66
5. 88