1) Who has been selected for the 2016 Amnesty International Human Rights Award?
Indian lawyer and human rights defender, Henri Tiphagne has been selected for the 2016 Amnesty International Human Rights Award for his exceptional commitment to human rights.
________________________________________2) Who has become the India’s first civil servant to successfully scale Mount Vinson Massif?
Aparna Kumar, a 2002-batch IPS officer from Uttar Pradesh cadre, has become the India’s first civil servant to successfully scale Antarctica’s highest peak Mount Vinson Massif.
________________________________________3) Who has been conferred with the V Shantaram Life Time Acheivement Award at MIFF 2016?
The noted wild life film maker Naresh Bedi has been conferred with the V Shantaram Life Time Acheivement Award at 14th edition of 2016 Mumbai International Festival (MIFF), Mumbai.
________________________________________4) Justice Sanjay Mishra is appointed as the Lokayukta of which state?
The Supreme Court of India (SCI) has appointed Justice Sanjay Mishra as the Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh.
________________________________________5) Ishika Shah is related to which sports?
Ishika Shah (14) has won the 12th Sub-Junior National Snooker championship title in Indore, Madhya Pradesh by defeating Anushi Sethby 50-2, 50-33 in the final match.
________________________________________6) Which pair has won 2016 Australian Open women’s double title?
Top ranked Indo-Swiss pair of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis has won the 2016 Australian Open women’s double title. They beat 7th seeded Czech duo of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka in the finals by 7-6, 6-3.
________________________________________7) Which of the following cities has topped the list of the first 20 cities to be developed as Smart Cities?
Recently, the government of India has announced the list of first 20 cities to be developed as Smart Cities. Bhubaneswar in Odisha topped the city challenge competition. Pune and Jaipur were second and third.
________________________________________8) Arindam Sengupta, who passed away recently, was related to which field?
Noted journalist and The Times of India’s Managing Editor Arindam Sengupta (61), passed away recently.
________________________________________9) Who is heading the one-man judicial commission to investigate Rohith Vemula suicide case?
A former Allahabad high court judge Ashok Kumar Roopanwal was appointed by the Centre to probe circumstances leading to suicide of Rohit Vemula, a Dalit scholar of Hyderabad Central University. The Commission has been asked to submit its report within 3 months.
10) Who of has won the 2015 Costa Novel Prize?
The British writer, Kate Atkinson has won the 2015 Costa novel award for her novel God in Ruins, the companion her previous novel to Life After Life.
________________________________________11) Vilmos Zsigmond, who passed away recently, belongs to which fields?
Hungarian-American cinematographer, Vilmos Zsigmond (85) passed away recently. He was best known for his work on ‘The Deer Hunter’ and ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’. Zsigmond also won an Oscar for his achievement on Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind’.
________________________________________12) Who has been appointed as the new CEO of Wipro Limited?
India’s third largest IT services exporter, Wipro Limited has appointed Abid Ali Neemuchwala as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and member of the board of the company.
________________________________________13) Which organisations has launched Jeevan Labh scheme?
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has launched Jeevan Labh scheme, a limited premium paying, non-linked, with-profits Endowment Assurance plan on January 4, 2016. The Plan is available from ages 8-59. The plan is designed to meet long-term saving with less premium paying term.
________________________________________14) Who is the author of the book titled ‘Jinnah Often Came to our House’?
Kiran Doshi is the author of the book &ndash Jinnah Often Came To Our House. He is an Indian Foreign Service Officer and former ambassador to Austria. The book is about Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The book has shed a light on his personal life which hasn’t been highlighted much before.
________________________________________15) On which date, the World Braille Day is observed?
The World Braille Day is observed every year on January 4 across the world to commemorate the birth anniversary of Louis Braille. Louis Braille invented the Braille language which helps blind people to read as well as write.
________________________________________16) Which state became the first state in the country to sign MoU for UDAY scheme?
Jharkhand has become the first state to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Union Government for the Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) reforms for state-owned power distribution companies.
17) The 14-km long Zojila tunnel will be constructed in which state?
The 14-km long Zojila tunnel will be constructed by the IRB Infrastructure Developers in Jammu & Kashmir state. After completion, it will be the longest tunnel of South Asia.
________________________________________18) In context to India’s defence system, “Pinaka II” refers which one of the following?
The Indian Army has successfully completed user-assisted trials of Pinaka II, a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system, at Pokhran field firing range in Rajasthan, India. The trials are conducted by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory. The system features six launcher vehicles with 12 rockets each.
________________________________________19) Which committee has submitted report to Supreme Court for reforms in BCCI?
The Supreme Court-appointed Justice R M Lodha panel had submitted its report to the Supreme Court registry.
20) In which state Kakatiya thermal plant is located?
The 600-MW Kakatiya thermal power plant Stage-II has been commissioned at Bhoopalapally in Warangal, Telangana. This is the first major power plant to be commissioned after the formation of the new State of Telangana in June 2014.
________________________________________21) Who has been appointed as new chief of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)?
Italian diplomat, Filippo Grandi has become the new chief of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He succeeded Antonio Guterres, who was high commissioner for refugees since 2005.
________________________________________22) Who has become the first batsman to score more than a 1,000 runs in an innings in any form of cricket?
The Mumbai cricketer, Pranav Dhanawade (15) has become the first batsman to score 1009 runs in an innings in any form of cricket in an officially recognised match. Dhanawade broked a 116-old cricketing record held by the English school boy A. E. J. Collins since 1899, of 628 not out.
________________________________________23) Who has won the gold in the women’s 10 metre air rifle event at the Swedish Cup Grand Prix?
Apurvi Chandela has won the gold in the women’s 10 metre air rifle event at the Swedish Cup Grand Prix with a score of 211.2 points. Chandela also broked the world record of Chinese gold medallist Yi Siling, who held the world record of 211 points. The silver and bronze went to Swedish shooters Astrid Steffensen and Stine Nielsen.
________________________________________24) In which state the Ganga Gram Yojana has been launched?
The Union Government has launched Ganga Gram Yojana at Village Puth in Hapur district, Uttar Pradesh. Under the programme, 1600 villages will be developed. In the first phase of the yojana, 200 villages have been selected.
________________________________________25) For what purpose, the Stand Up India Scheme has been launched?
The Union Government has launched the Stand Up India Scheme to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs through banks. In it, every bank branch, including private sector, has to provide credit facilities to at least one SC/ST and one women entrepreneur at lower rates.
________________________________________26) Who is the author of the novel titled &ndash Go Set a Watchman?
Harper Lee’s second novel &ndash Go Set a Watchman topped the US bestseller list in 2015, selling 1.6 million copies more than half a century after her Pulitzer-winning first book was published.
________________________________________27) Which company publishes Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)?
The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) is an economic indicator of business activity, is published by Markit Limited. The index is a survey-based measure in the manufacturing and services sectors.
________________________________________28) The “fountain of oneness” is located in which city?
The unique architectural structure “fountain of oneness” has been opened by the Sant Nirankari Mission in Nirankari Sarovar Complex at Burari Road, Nirankari Chowk in Delhi (North).
________________________________________29) Who is the creator of Star Wars?
Star Wars is a science fiction franchise comprised of movies, books, comics, video games, toys, and animated shows. It is a fictional universe created by George Lucas.
30) Who is the chairperson of the Economic Intelligence Council (EIC)?
The chairperson of the council is the Finance Minister of India. It was formed in 1990.The Economic Intelligence Council (EIC) is the apex forum which is responsible for coordination, strategy and information-sharing amongst the government agencies responsible for intelligence and control of economic offences like smuggling, money laundering tax evasion and fraud.
________________________________________31) In which country, the world’s largest blue star sappire has been found?
The world’s largest blue star sapphire stone has been found in the southern Sri Lankan city of Ratnapura, which is known as the city of gems. The 1,404.29-carat blue star sapphire is worth up to $100 million is nicknamed as the Star of Adam. The star sapphires get their name from the six-pointed star-shaped reflection that appears on their surface once they are polished.
________________________________________32) Labshankar Thakar, who passed away recently, hails from which states?
The well-known Gujarati poet, playwright and story writer, Labshankar Jadavji Thakar (80) passed away recently. He was modernist author of Gujarati literature with influence of existentialism challenging traditional literature styles. Excerpts of his works are Kalagranthi, Akasmat , Malela Jeevni Samiksha and Inner Life, etc.
________________________________________33) Siril Verma is related to which sport?
According to the recently released Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings, Indian Shuttler Siril Verma (16) has been ranked World No. 1 in the junior men’s singles category. He is followed by Toma Junior Popov (France) and Chirag Sen (India).
________________________________________34) Who is the author of the book titled ‘The Country of First Boys’?
The Country of First Boys is Amartya Sen’s intellectual journey through the past and present to seek an understanding of India’s history and the demands of its future.
________________________________________35) Who has been appointed as the President of the 105th Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) for 2017-18?
Dr. Achyuta Samanta has been appointed as the President of the 105th Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) for 2017-18. Presently, Dr. Samanta is also serving as member of ISCA’s executive committee.
________________________________________36) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the founder of which of the political party in Jammu & Kashmir?
The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (79) passed away recently. He was the founder of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (JKPDP) that he founded in 1999 to persuade the Indian government into an unconditional dialogue with the Kashmiri people.
________________________________________37) Which of the Indian cities have made it to a top 30 list of the world’s most powerful, productive and connected cities?
According to the study conducted by international real estate consultant JLL, Delhi and Mumbai are in the list of world’s top-30 most powerful, productive and connected cities. Mumbai has been ranked 22nd while Delhi is placed at No. 24.
________________________________________38) Who has became the first woman vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford?
Louise Richardson, a prominent academic specialising terrorism and security studies, has taken over as the first woman vice-chancellor in the 900-year history of the University of Oxford on January 1.
________________________________________39) In which of the state’s minimum educational qualification is required for candidates contesting local panchayat polls?
Rajasthan is the first state to brought minimum qualification of Class X for contesting the zilla parishad or panchayat samiti polls, Class VIII to contest sarpanch elections, and Class V for scheduled areas.
40) Who has been appointed as the new chairman of Competition Commission of India (CCI)?
The former Gujarat cadre IAS officer, Devender Kumar Sikri has been appointed as the new chairman of Competition Commission of India (CCI). He succeeded Ashok Chawla.
________________________________________41) In which of the following cities the world’s first slum museum will be set up?
The World’s first slum museum will be set up in Dharavi, Mumbai. The museum will showcase some of the myriad of objects that are produced every year in Dharavi, one of Asia’s biggest slums and the setting for Danny Boyle’s hit 2008 movie.
________________________________________42) Who has been conferred with the 2016 Global and Asia-Pacific Central Bank Governor of the Year?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan has been conferred with the 2016 Central Banker of the Year Award (Global and Asia Pacific) by the Financial Times Group’s monthly publication ‘The Banker’.
________________________________________43) Who has been honoured with the second Harikrishna Devsare Baalsahitya Award 2015?
Veteran poet Balkrishna Garg was honoured with the second Harikrishna Devsare Baalsahitya Award 2015 for his collection of poems for children, titled ‘BaalGeet’.
________________________________________44) Who has been appointed as Registrar General and Census Commissioner?
The senior IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Sailesh has been appointed as Registrar General and Census Commissioner for a period till July 28, 2017. He succeeded C Chandramouli. Prior to this, he was the additional secretary in the Home Ministry.
________________________________________45) Which of the following countries is the guest of honour country at the 2016 New Delhi World Book Fair?
China is the Guest of Honour country at the 2016 New Delhi World Book Fair.
46) The NABARD has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with which of the following organisations for web-based monitoring of watershed projects?
Recently, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) for web- based monitoring of watershed projects.
________________________________________47) Who has been reappointed as RBI deputy governor for 3 more years?
The Union Government has reappointed Urjit Patel as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a second time for a three-year term. He looks after the critical function of monetary policy at the central bank of India. Patel is a doctorate from Yale University, also had a stint at IMF.
________________________________________48) The Kohala Hydropower Project will be developed in which of the following countries?
Chinese state-owned power company Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC) will develop the Kohala Hydropower Project in Pakistan.
49) Jallikattu, a version of bull fighting is popular in which of the following states?
Recently, the union government has issued a notification to permit jallikattu, Tamil Nadu’s traditional bull-taming sport, ahead of the Pongal festival.
50) Which of the organisation publishes the report titled “Global Economic Perspectives”?
According to the recently released World Bank (WB) report titled “Global Economic Prospect”, Indian economy growth rate is projected at 7.8% in the Financial Year (FY) 17, while its outlook for China’s growth in 2016 is 6.7%.
________________________________________51) Shakti 2016, is the joint military exercise of India with which country?
The 8-day counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency joint exercise ‘Shakti-2016’ has started between India and France in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. This is the 3rd edition in the series of bilateral exercises under this banner.
________________________________________52) Which of the following is the India’s indigenously-built anti-submarine warfare corvette?
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R.K. Dhowan commissioned INS Kadmatt, the second of the four indigenous stealth anti-submarine warfare corvettes, at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam.
________________________________________53) Who is the first Indian to win a People’s Choice Awards?
Priyanka Chopra has won the Favourite Actress in a New TV series award at the People’s Choice Awards 2016 for her leading role in American TV thriller series ‘Quantico’. She is the first South Asian actress to win a People’s Choice Awards.
________________________________________54) On which date, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated in India?
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on January 9 every year in India. The day marks the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa in the year 1915 on January 9.
________________________________________55) According to the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2015, who is the most generous Indian of the year?
According to the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2015, Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro, is the most generous Indian of the year for the third time in a row. He is followed by Nandan Nilekani and wife, Rohini Nilekani, while Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy stood third.
________________________________________56) The IFSC Banking Units (IBUs) are allowed to open which of the bank accounts?
The Reserve Bank has relaxed norms for the units of banks operating from International Financial Services Centres (IFSC) and permitted them to open foreign currency current accounts.
________________________________________57) Martina Hingis, the famous tennis player, hails from which country?
Martina Hingis hails from Switzerland. Recently, the Indo-Swiss pair of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis clinched the women’s double title of the $1 million Brisbane International.
________________________________________58) Yadgar-e-Taqseem, or the Memories of Partition museum will be opened in which of the citiy?
Yadgar-e-Taqseem, or the Memories of Partition museum, is the brainchild of Kishwar Desai, writer and former media professional. It will be opened in Amritsar in early 2017, the 70th anniversary of Independence.
________________________________________59) Who is heading the high-level panel set up by the union government to sort out the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train issues with Japan?
For fast track implementation of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, the centre has set up a high-level panel headed by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya to sort out bilateral issues with a similar committee set up by Japan.
60) Maria Teresa de Filippis, who passed away recently, was related to which sports?
The first female Formula One driver, Maria Teresa de Filippis (89) passed away in Italy.
61) Which of the following is the first state in the country to make gender education compulsory at graduation level?
Telangana has become the first Indian state to make gender education compulsory at the graduate level and has introduced a bilingual textbook titled “Towards a World of Equals” on pilot basis in engineering colleges affiliated to the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU-Hyderabad).
________________________________________62) Ravindra Kalia, who passed away recently, was belongs to which field?
The renowned Hindi writer and journalist, Ravindra Kalia (78) passed away recently. He was known for his works like ‘Nau Saal Chotti Patni’ and ‘Ghalib Chutti Sharab’, etc.
________________________________________63) On which date, the World Hindi Day is observed?
The 11th World Hindi Day has been observed on January 10, 2016. Beside this day, the National Hindi Divas is celebrated in India on September 14 every year to mark the day on which the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi written in Devanagari script as the Official Language of the Union.
________________________________________64) The India International Kite Festival is celebrated in which Indian state every year?
Gujarat Chief Minister inaugurated the 28th edition of International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad. As many as 98 kite flyers and enthusiasts from 29 different countries have come to take part in this festival. The festival is celebrated every year in Gujarat.
________________________________________65) Who is the writer of the book titled “Maru Bharat Saru Bharat”?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released a book titled “Maru Bharat Saru Bharat “(My India Noble India) written by Jain Acharya Ratnasundersuriswarji Maharaj.
66) Which of the following domains has become the world’s most commonly used domain in the internet?
China’s country code domain “.cn” has become the world’s most commonly used in the internet by surpassing Germany’s ‘.de’ domain.
________________________________________67) Project Tango is associated with which of the following companies?
Google’s Project Tango, a technology platform first revealed in 2014, gives a form of computer vision to mobile devices.
________________________________________68) Which one of the following stock exchanges will get its own postage stamp?
Asia’s oldest stock exchange BSE will get its own postage stamp.
________________________________________69) Who is the chairman of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)?
Amid protests actor Gajendra Chauhan took charge as the chairman of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
70) In which Indian state, the Nati folk dance is celebrated?
The Nati folk dance of Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh had made it to the Guinness World Records Book as the largest folk dance in the world.
________________________________________71) Which of the state is the host for the National Youth Festival 2016?
The 20th National Youth Festival has started in Naya Raipur, the new capital city of Chhattisgarh. The mascot for the event is the state animal of Chhattisgarh &ndash Wild Buffalo, in famous dancing pose of Bastar tribals.
________________________________________72) Which state has become the first state to achieve 100 percent primary education status?
________________________________________Kerala has become the first Indian state to achieve 100% primary education. This has been achieved through the primary education equivalency drive of the state literacy mission “Athulyam”.
________________________________________73) Vijay Chaudhari is related to which of the following sports?
Wrestler Vijay Chaudhari has won the 2016 Maharashtra Kesri title by winning the 59th Maharashtra Kesri Wrestling Championship in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
________________________________________74) Who is the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Flipkart?
Sachin Bansal, who is the co-founder of Flipkart, has stepped down as CEO to take on the role of Executive Chairman of the company. Other co-founder Binny Bansal, will take the reins from Sachin as the Chief Executive Officer of Flipkart. He was earlier the COO of the company.
________________________________________75) Who has won the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or award?
Barcelona FC forward Lionel Messi has won the 2015 Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best football player for a record fifth time. Earlier, he won the award in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The USA’s World Cup-winning midfielder Carli Lloyd won the women’s world player of the year award.
________________________________________76) The Flamingo Festival-2016 is organised in which state?
Andhra Pradesh government has organised the Flamingo Festival from 9-10 January.
________________________________________77) Hopman Cup is associated with which sports?
The Hopman Cup is an annual international team indoor tennis tournament held in Perth, Western Australia in early January every year. It was founded in 1989. In the recently held tournament, Australia won the cup for the first time in 17 years.
________________________________________78) Who is the winner of the 2016 Chennai Open title of tennis?
Stan Wawrinka from Switzerland has won the 2016 Chennai Open title of tennis.
________________________________________79) Operation Cold, is launched by which forces?
Border Security Force (BSF) has launched ‘Operation Cold’ along the international border in Rajasthan covering Sriganganagar, Bikaner, Barmer and Jaisalmer.
80) On which day, the Indian Army Day is celebrated?
The Indian Army Day is celebrated on 15 January every year in India.
________________________________________81) What is the name of the new crop insurance scheme approved by the union cabinet?
The Union Cabinet has approved the crop insurance scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojna’ to boost the farming sector.
________________________________________82) Which organisation has won the National Award on e-Governance 2015-16 for launching the Universal Account Number (UAN)?
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has won the National Award on e-Governance 2015-16 for launching the Universal Account Number (UAN).
________________________________________83) Which panel has been set up to study 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations?
The union government has set up a high-powered panel headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha to process the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission which will have bearing on the remuneration of 47 lakh central government employees and 52 lakh pensioners.
________________________________________84) The Nagjee International Club Football Tournament will be held in which state?
The Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho Gaucho will inaugurate the Nagjee International Club Football Tournament in Kerala, which is being revived after a gap of 21 years. The tournament will kick off on February 5, 2016 and the final is scheduled to be on February 21.
________________________________________85) Jacob-Farj-Rafael, who passed away recently, was associated with which of the following events?
Indian Army Lieutenant General (retired) Jacob-Farj-Rafael (JFR) Jacob (92), who was one of India’s most celebrated military officers, passed away recently. He is best remembered for his role in India’s victory in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 and the liberation of Bangladesh. Later, he served as the governor of the Indian states of Goa and Punjab.
________________________________________86) Who has been bestowed with the Mohammedan Sporting Club life-time membership?
The Mohammedan Sporting Football Club has bestowed life-time membership to Amitabh Bachchan. The football club is one of the oldest and leading football clubs in India. It was founded in 1891 at Kolkata.
________________________________________87) Which city is the host for the 66th Senior National Basketball Championship for Men and Women?
The 66th Senior National Basketball Championship for Men and Women is hosted by Mysuru from 9-16 January. The championship returned to Mysuru after a gap of 29 years.
________________________________________88) Who has received the World Peace and Prosperity Foundation Award for the year 2016?
Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali received the World Peace and Prosperity Foundation Award for the year 2016 from Prince Mohsin Ali Khan, Founder-Chairman of World Peace and Prosperity Foundation, London.
89) Which country rated number one in A T Kearney’s 2016 Global Services Location Index (GSLI)?
A T Kearney’s 2016 Global Services Location Index (GSLI) rated India as number one out of the total 55 countries analysed. According to the study, India is the world’s biggest outsourcing destination in terms of financial attractiveness and business environment.
90) Which bank has launched India’s first start-up focussed bank branch?
State Bank of India (SBI) has become the first bank in the country to launch a start-up focused bank branch. The branch ‘SBI InCube’ is launched in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
________________________________________91) Who has become the first Russian to be inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame?
Marat Safin, the former World No.1 tennis player from Russia has been inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame.
________________________________________92) Who have won the 2016 WTA Apia International title in the women’s doubles category?
Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis have won the 2016 WTA Apia International title in the women’s doubles category in Sydney, Australia after clinching their 30th win a row.
________________________________________93) The 2016 Sahayog-Kaijin military exercise has been conducted between India and which country?
The Indian Coast Guard and its Japanese counterpart have conducted the 15th edition of joint exercise ‘Sahyog-Kaijin’ in the Bay of Bengal off the Chennai coast, Tamil Nadu.
________________________________________94) Who has won the 2016 Pritzker Architecture Prize?
The Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena has won the 2016 Pritzker Architecture Prize, who is best known for his work with “do tank” Elemental, an architecture group that aims to tackle poverty and eliminate slums using a participatory approach that engages local communities in early stages of the design process.
________________________________________95) Who has won the 2015 Lorenzo Natali Media Prize in Asia and the Pacific amateur category?
The Delhi-based Journalist-writer, Ankita Anand has won the prestigious 2015 Lorenzo Natali Media Prize in Asia and the Pacific &ndash Amateur category.
________________________________________96) Who has been selected for 2016 Prof MV Pylee Award?
The first woman Vice Chancellor of Kerala, Dr Jancy James has been selected for the prestigious 2016 Prof MV Pylee Award for the best academician of India.
________________________________________97) Anil Ganguly, who passed away recently, was related to which field?
The noted Indian filmmaker and screenwriter Anil Ganguly (82) passed in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
________________________________________98) Which organisation is providing loan for implementation of Neeranchal National Watershed Project?
The Indian government has signed a loan agreement with World Bank for the Neeranchal National Watershed Project.
________________________________________99) Magh Bihu festival is celebrated in which state?
Magh Bihu is a harvest festival of Assam and it marks the end of the harvesting season. Magh Bihu is observed on the first day of Magh month as per Bengali Panjika. Magh Bihu is also known as Bhogali Bihu and Maghar Domahi.
100) Who has won the 2016 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature?
Indian writer Anuradha Roy has won the prestigious 2016 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature for her novel ‘Sleeping on Jupiter’ at the Galle Literary Festival in Sri Lanka.
101) Who has been elected as the first female President of Taiwan?
Tsai Ing-wen (59) has been elected as the first female President of Taiwan.
________________________________________102) The theater festival ‘Nandi Natakotsavam’ is celebrated in which state?
Andhra Pradesh
________________________________________103) The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) is located in which state?
The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) is located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
________________________________________104) What is the India’s GDP growth forecast for 2016 as per the United Nations (UN)?
As per the report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), India’s GDP growth forecast for 2016 has been downgraded to 7.5 % from 8.2 % estimated earlier, due to slow progress in implementing reform policies.
________________________________________105) Who has won The Hindu Literary Prize 2015?
A poet, novelist and children’s writer, Easterine Kire from Nagaland has won The Hindu Literary Prize 2015 for her novel ‘When the River Sleeps’.
________________________________________106) Who has been elected from India to the board of directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)?
Dinesh Sharma, Additional Secretary of Union Ministry of Finance, has been elected to the 12-member board of the China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
________________________________________107) The NITI Aayog has collaborated with which organisation for conducting a survey of manufacturing firms?
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has collaborated with the IDFC Bank Ltd to conduct an enterprise survey of manufacturing firms including start-ups, across India to assess the ease of doing business.
________________________________________108) The Global Risks Report 2016 is published by which one of the following organisations?
The World Economic Forum says large-scale involuntary migration and extreme weather events are top two risks for world in 2016.
________________________________________109) The largest single-site solar power project in the world will come up in which Indian state?
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group has announced a tie-up with the Madhya Pradesh government to set up a 750-Mw Rewa ultra-mega solar power project.
110) Who has won the 2016 Lady Wigram Trophy motor race?
The Sahara Force India Academy racer, Jehan Daruvala has won the 2016 Lady Wigram Trophy motor race, which is one of New Zealand’s most prestigious events.
________________________________________111) The Kosi basin project is coming up in which state?
The Government of India (GoI) has signed financing agreement with World Bank for US$ 250 million for Bihar Kosi Basin Development Project.
________________________________________112) The Machia Biological Park is located in which state?
The Rajasthan government has inaugurated the state’s second biological park ‘Machia Biological Park’ in Jodhpur.
________________________________________113) Who is the author of the book titled “The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time”?
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently released a book named “The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time”. The book is the autobiography of Essel Group Chairman Dr. Subhash Chandra.
________________________________________114) Which of the following countries will host Exercise Force Eighteen?
India will host a seven-day military exercise “Exercise Force Eighteen” that to be held on March 2 to 8, 2016 in Pune, Maharashtra.
________________________________________115) Which of the following committees has been set up on Yoga Education in Universities?
The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry has set up a 12-member committee on Yoga Education in Universities, which is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Yoga guru Prof. H.R. Nagendra. Prof. Nagendra is the Chancellor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana, Samsthana, Bengaluru. The committee will identify Yoga courses to offer and the syllabus for conducting NET in Yogic Art and Science.
________________________________________116) Who has won the 14th Delhi International Open chess title?
The Russian chess grandmaster, Ivan Popov has recently won the 14th Parsvnath Delhi International Open Chess Title, after edging out on tiebreak Attila Czebe and Valeriy Neverov, after all three players finished on 8/10 points.
________________________________________117) The 2016 World Economic Forum (WEF) annual conference has been started in which city?
The 2016 World Economic Forum (WEF)’s 46th annual conference has been started at the Swiss ski resort of Davos, Switzerland.
________________________________________118) Mrinalini Sarabhai, who passed away recently, was related to which fields?
Noted danseuse and Padma Bhushan awardee, Mrinalini Sarabhai (97) passed away in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. She was the wife of renowned Indian scientist and the father of India’s space programme Vikram Sarabhai. She was a trained Bharatanatyam, Kathakali and Mohiniyattam dancer.
________________________________________119) Which of the following satellite vehicles has successfully put the Satellite IRNSS-1E in orbit?
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully put the IRNSS-1E in orbit using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-31.
120) Which is the highest peacetime gallantry award of India?
Indian Army’s elite Para Special Forces’ commando Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami has been awarded the country’s highest peace time gallantry honour, Ashok Chakra, posthumously for saving two colleagues during an encounter with militants in Kashmir last year.
________________________________________121) Who has been elected as the new President of Portugal?
The noted law professor, journalist, political analyst and pundit, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has won the Presidential Election of Portugal. Previously, he was a government minister and Member of Parliament.
________________________________________122) On which date, the National Girl Child Day is celebrated in India?
The National Girl Child Day is celebrated in India on January 24. ________________________________________
123) Who has been honoured with the 2016 National Yash Chopra Memorial Award?
The Veteran Bollywood actress Rekha has been honoured with the third National Yash Chopra Memorial Award 2016 in recognition of her talent and contribution to the film industry.
________________________________________124) Shankar Ghosh, who passed away recently, was related to which field?
The noted tabla player Pandit Shankar Ghosh (80) passed away in Kolkata, West Bengal. ________________________________________
125) On which date, the National Voters’ Day (NVD) is celebrated in India?
The 6th National Voters’ Day (NVD) has been celebrated across the country on January 25, 2016 by Election Commission of India (ECI).
________________________________________126) Which country soldiers have created history by participating in the Republic Day parade?
For the first time in the history of Republic Day parade, a 76-member French Army contingent took part. The French Army’s 35th Infantry Regiment traces its origin back to 1604 when it was raised in Lorraine in France.
________________________________________127) Who has been selected for the 2016 PEN/Allen Foundation Literary Service Award?
The free-speech organization PEN American Center announced that it is giving its 2016 PEN/Allen award to author J.K. Rowling. Previous recipients of the PEN/Allen Foundation Literary Service Award include Philip Roth, Toni Morrison and Salman Rushdie.
________________________________________128) Which is responsible for transmission of the Zika virus to humans?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease suspected of causing birth defects is likely to spread to all countries in the Americas except Canada and Chile. The virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947.
________________________________________129) Who has joined a task force of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to study the future of global financial system?
Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan has joined a task force of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to study the future of global financial system.
Current Affairs: 1st February, 2016 Current Affairs Round up December, 2015.
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