Current Affairs: October 2012

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

16th October 2012 Current Affairs

Sachin Tendulkar to be made member of Order of Australia

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard made the announcement on 16th October 2012 that the first Indian sportsperson to be conferred with the Membership of the Order of Australia, an honour “rarely” bestowed on non-Australians.

Hyderabad’s last Nizam named all-time richest Indian

Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam (or ruler) of Hyderabad is India’s all-time richest person.According to a new inflation-adjusted list of the world’s richest people of all time, the Nizam, who ruled Hyderabad between 1886-1967, was ranked sixth with $ 236 billion.

Jaspal Rana appointed junior pistol chief coach

Multiple Asian Games gold medallist, Jaspal Rana, has been appointed chief coach for junior pistol shooters by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on 16th October 2012.

Supreme Court lifts ban on tourism in core areas of tiger reserves

The Supreme Court allowed tourism in at least 20 per cent of what is known as core areas of tiger sanctuaries on 16th October 2012.

17th October 2012 Current Affairs

New planet discovered in Earth’s backyard

Astronomers have found a new planet called exoplanet in Alpha Centauri , the closest yet outside our solar system and just an astronomical stone’s throw away at four light years.Alpha Centauri is a three-star system consisting of two stars similar to our sun and a faint red star called Proxima Centauriand another one is the Alpha Centauri B.The Exoplanet orbits Alpha Centauri B.

IOC signs MoU with Korea Gas

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), on 17th October 2012, entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Korea Gas Corporation (Kogas) for jointly exploring opportunities in exploration of oil and gas and LNG business.

Bandya Kakade dead

andya Kakade, former India football goalkeeper, passed away here on 18th October 2012 evening. Kakade and Kuppuswami Sampath (MEG, Bangalore) were the two goalkeepers of the Indian team that won the bronze medal at the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games. Kakade was also part of the Indian team

Union Power Ministry gave its Nod to Implement Islanding Scheme in Delhi

The Union Power Minister Veerapa Moily on 17 October 2012 announced the implementation of Islanding Scheme for Delhi by January 2013 to protect it from massive disruptions caused due to grid failures in power supply. The scheme of Delhi is different to that of the existing ones in cities like Mumbai and Kolkata because the transmission lines of different states is routed through Delhi.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

07th October 2012 Current Affairs

Red Bull driver Vettel wins Japanese Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel ,the driver Red Bull won the Japanese Grand Prix 2012 on 7th Ocober 2012.

Indian navy successfully test-fires BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

The Indian Navy on 7th October 2012 successfully test-fired the 290-km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, capable of carrying a conventional warhead of 300 kg, from a warship off the Goa coast.

EC fiat to Himachal Pradesh

On 7th October 2012 The Election Commission (EC) stopped the BJP government in Himachal Pradesh from distributing free PDS bags carrying photographs of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The Barcode Turns 60 Years Old

October 7, 2012 marks the 60th anniversary of the registration of the first bar code patent. The original patent for what we know today as the modern barcode was granted on October 7, 1952 to Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver, its inventors.

Friday, October 12, 2012

2nd October 2012 Current Affairs

India, Austria signs MoU to strengthen bilateral cooperation

India and Austria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 1st October 2012 for strengthening long-term relationship and bilateral Cooperation on Road and Rail Infrastructure.The agreement was signed between the Minister of Railways and Road Transport and Highways, Dr. C.P.Joshi and visiting Federal Minister of Transport, Innovation and Technology of Austria, Mrs. Doris Burse in New Delhi.

FICCI urges Centre to ban bauxite exports

Trade body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has urged the Union ministry of commerce and industry to ban bauxite exports fearing closure of alumina refineries for shortage of the key raw material required to produce alumina.

In Goa Housewives with family income less than Rs 3 lakh to get Rs 1000 to fight inflation

Housewives in Goa just got a breather from rising inflation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government on 2nd October 2012 launched a scheme to provide an allowance of Rs 1,000 a month to housewives in households whose annual incomes are less than Rs 3 lakh.

India, Austria tie up to develop ‘smart cities’

India tie up with Austria to develop two ‘smart’ cities in all states with a host of modern features like intelligent transport and carbon neutral status in each of the states in the second phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal mission.Initially half a million to one million population cities will be developed as smart cities with the help of Austrian Institute of Technology who is expertise in this field.

03rd October 2012 Current Affairs

Congress selects Raja, Suresh Kalmadi and Kanimozhi as members of standing committee

The congress on 3 October 2012 nominated the former Union Minister, A. Raja, Kanimozhi and Suresh Kalmadi as the members of the Parliamentary Standing Committees on Energy, Home Affairs and External Affairs respectively.Raja was arrested in the 2G scam case on February 2 last year and is on bail since 15 May 2012. Suresh Kalmadi, who was accused in the Commonwealth Games scam case, spent about nine months in jail and was released on bail on 19 January 2012. DMK MP Kanimozhi, also an accused in some cases related to the 2G spectrum allocation, was nominated to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs.

Supreme Court directs Centre and states to provide basic facilities to students

The Supreme Court on 3rd October 2012 directed all schools across the country to provide basic infrastructure facilities like drinking water and toilets to school children within six months and failure to implement will be viewed seriously. The order was passed on a petition filed by an NGO Environmental and Consumer Protection Foundation.

EC announces dates for assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh

The Election Commission on 3rd October 2012 announced dates for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections. While Gujarat will have elections in two phases – December 13 and 17, Himachal Pradesh will vote on November 4. The counting for both the assembly elections will take place on December 20.

Scientists discover bacteria that can produce 24-carat gold

Researchers from the Michigan State University have found that the metal-tolerant bacteria ‘Cupriavidus metallidurans’ can grow on massive concentrations of gold chloride or liquid gold, a toxic chemical compound found in nature.

Banaras Hindu University VC wins MV Pylee award for best academician

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) vice chancellor and renowned molecular biology scientist Dr Lalji Singh has won the 7th MV Pylee award for the best academician. The MV Pylee award was constituted in year 1996 in honour of Cochin University’s former vice chancellor MV Pylee. The award includes Rs 2 lakh, a memento and citation for excellence in teaching and research and contribution to academic community. It is awarded once every three years.

UP government announces ban on gutka industry from April 2013

On 3rd October 2012 Uttar Pradesh government decided to impose a ban on gutka industry in the state with effect from April 2013.

India move up to 2nd spot in T20 rankings

India might have failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the ongoing ICC World Twenty20, but four wins out of five matches have pushed the Men in Blue by one place to the second spot in the latest T20 International team rankings released on 3rd October 2012.

Kejriwal forms political party, promises to change the system

Social activist Arvind Kejriwal added a new dimension to his movement against corruption as he formally launched his political party and said it belonged to the people of the nation.

01st October 2012 Current Affairs

President Confers Shastri awards to ISRO scientist Tessy Thomas

On 1st October 2012 President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the prestigious Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award 2012 to ISRO scientist Tessy Thomas at an award function in Rashtrapati Bhawan. Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award is conferred every year for doing excellent work in the field of Public Administration, Academics and Management.

Door-to-door cancer campaign in Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal sanctioned the “biggest ever” door-to-door campaign for a symptoms-based early detection and awareness about cancer.At least 50,000 personnel and volunteers would visit 54 lakh households in 12,603 villages and 217 census towns, for the exercise that begins in Faridkot district on October 2.

Shadman Chowk renamed as Bhagat Singh Chowk in Lahore

Pakistan government has finally renamed Shadman Chowk as Bhagat Singh Chowk in Lahore as a mark of respect to the martyr and an acknowledgement of his role in the struggle against British rule.

Indian judokas win 2 silver, 3 bronze in Asian Championship

Indian judokas bagged two silver and three bronze in the Asian Youth and Junior Championships held in Chinese Taipei.In the Youth Championships, Vijay Kumar Yadav and Besto Rani Devi won a silver each in boys’ 60kg and girls’ 48kg categories respectively.Preety and Mongjam Kabita Devi won a bronze each in gilrs’ 40kg and 44kg respectively in the September 28-30 event.Khaidem Rashi Devi bagged a bronze in 70kg category in the junior section.Indian judokas had won one gold, four silver and two bronze in the Asian Youth and Junior Championships in Lebanon last year.

Historian Eric Hobsbawm dies, aged 95

Eric Hobsbawm, one of Britain’s most eminent historians, has died at the age of 95, on 1st October 2012 at the Royal Free Hospital in London .Mr Hobsbawm, a historian in the Marxist tradition, wrote more than 30 books.He published his final book, How to Change the World, in 2011.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

04th October 2012 Current Affairs

India sucessfully test-fires Prithvi-II ballistic missile

On 4th October 2012 India successfully test-fired surface-to-surface Prithvi-II ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur of Balasore district off Odisha coast.

Govt approves 49% FDI in insurance & pension sectors

On 4th October 2012 The Union Cabinet approved necessary amendments to the Insurance Laws Amendment Bill, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill and the Companies Bill.

Ajit Saran Appointed as Secretary in National Commission for Women

Senior IAS officer Ajit M Sharan was appointed as Member Secretary in National Commission for Women (NCW). Ajit Sharan is a 1979 batch officer of Haryana cadre.

Govt approves 12th Five-Year Plan

On 4th October 2012 Government approved the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17) document that aims to achieve annual average economic growth rate of 8.2 per cent, down from 9 per cent envisaged earlier, in view of fragilerekh pa global recovery.

India 168th in FIFA rankings

Indian football team moved a place up to be 168th in the latest FIFA rankings, India, who last month won a hat-trick of Nehru Cup titles, have 114 points.

04th October 2012 Current Affairs

India sucessfully test-fires Prithvi-II ballistic missile

On 4th October 2012 India successfully test-fired surface-to-surface Prithvi-II ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur of Balasore district off Odisha coast.

Govt approves 49% FDI in insurance & pension sectors

On 4th October 2012 The Union Cabinet approved necessary amendments to the Insurance Laws Amendment Bill, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill and the Companies Bill.

Ajit Saran Appointed as Secretary in National Commission for Women

Senior IAS officer Ajit M Sharan was appointed as Member Secretary in National Commission for Women (NCW). Ajit Sharan is a 1979 batch officer of Haryana cadre.

Govt approves 12th Five-Year Plan

India 168th in FIFA rankings

Indian football team moved a place up to be 168th in the latest FIFA rankings, India, who last month won a hat-trick of Nehru Cup titles, have 114 points.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

26th September 2012 Current Affairs

Election Commission Ban the usage of animal and birds in poll campaign

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on 26th September 2012 issued an order banning the use of animals and birds by political parties during campaigns. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India said that following repeated requests by animal activist, the Election Commission asked political parties and candidates to refrain from using animals for their campaigns.

India got 3rd position in ICC T20 rankings

India got the third position in Reliance ICC T20 Championship table released by ICC on 26th September 2012 .South Africa and England got the 1st and 2nd positions respectively.

India ranks lower than China in global food security index

India has been ranked 66, much lower than neighbouring China, in the 2012 Global Food Security Index released by the American chemical company DuPont on 26th September 2012.India is ranked 66 , China (ranked 39) , Sri Lanka (ranked 62),Pakistan (ranked 75) and Bangladesh ( ranked 81) in the list of 105 countries.

27th September 2012 Current Affairs

NASA says Curiosity rover finds evidence of water on Mars

NASA scientist say the Curiosity rover has found evidence of a “vigorous” thousand-year water flow on the surface of Mars.

Sandeep Patil appointed as the Chief for BCCI Senior Selection Committee

Former Cricketer and all-rounder, Sandeep Patil was appointed as the Chairman of the five member senior selection committee of BCCI on 27 September 2012. The other four members of the committee include Saba Karim, Roger Binny, Vikram Rathour and Rajinder Singh Hans.

Ex-Navy chief Admiral Verma to be envoy to Canada

Nirmal Verma, the former navy chief on 27 September 2012 was appointed as India’s high commissioner to Canada.

28th September 2012 Current Affairs

Indian wrestler Babita wins world championship bronze

Babita Kumari (51kg) became the second Indian female wrestler to win a World Championship medal after she clinched a bronze in Edmonton, Canada on 28th September 2012.

Humpy wins Ankara Grand Prix-2012

Grandmaster Koneru Humpy won gold medal in FIDE Grand Prix in Turkey at Ankara on 28th September 2012

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, S.H. Kapadia, retired.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, S.H. Kapadia, retired on 28th September 2012.

Former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra dead

Brajesh Mishra, the country’s first National Security Adviser who played a key role in foreign policy matters and pushed for deeper engagement with the US, died in New Delhi on 28th September 2012 following a heart ailment.

29th September 2012 Current Affairs

Altamas Kabir sworn in as new Chief Justice of India

Justice Altamas Kabir, seniormost Judge of the Supreme Court, was sworn in as the 39th Chief Justice of India on 29th September 2012.

India’s heaviest satellite, GSAT-10 launched from Kourou launch pad in French Guiana

India’s advanced communication satellite GSAT-10 was successfully launched on board Ariane-5 rocket from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana on 29th September 2012.This is the India’s heaviest satellite of 3,400kg weight.

Geeta Phogat clinches bronze at World Wrestling Championships

Geeta Phogat clinches bronze medal in the 55 kg freestyle category of World Wrestling Championship in Canada at Edmonton on 29th September 2012.This is the first time India got two medals in the Senior World Wrestling Championships.

Ebrahim Alkazi awarded top French honour

Ebrahim Alkazi, the grand old man of Indian theatre has been conferred France’s highest cultural award for his contribution in nurturing and presenting modern theatre in India and preserving the treasures of photography and other art forms for posterity.Alkazi, was awarded Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) on 29th September 2012.

30th September 2012 Current Affairs

DRDO scientist G. Satheesh Reddy received IETE Award

G. Satheesh Reddy, outstanding scientist and associate director, Research Centre Imarat, a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Missile complex, was given IETE B.V. Baliga Memorial Award on 30th September 2012 at Bangalore.

Buddhist temples attacked in Bangladesh

Thousands of Bangladeshi Muslims set fire to at least 10 Buddhist temples and 40 homes in Ramu town and its adjoining villages — some 350 km from Dhaka in anger over a Facebook photo of a burned Quran on 30th September 2012.

32 killed in blasts across Iraq

A wave of bombings and shootings in Iraq on 30th September 2012 killed at least 32 people and wounded 104 .The violence was centred in Baghdad and the surrounding areas of Taji, Madain and Tarmiyah.

Friday, October 5, 2012

25th September 2012 Current Affairs

Ajit Pawar resigns as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar resigns as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister on 25th September 2012 due the allegations of an irrigation scam when he was the state’s water resource minister.

China launches its first aircraft carrier

China launched its first aircraft carrier on 25th September 2012. The 60,000 tonne carrier, a former Soviet ship brought from Ukraine and later refurbished locally is named ‘Liaoning’, after a Chinese province liberated from Japanese occupation in 1945, in what can be seen as another symbolic warning to Tokyo. The 300m long Liaoning carrier has the capacity to bring 33 airoplanes.

T.S. Subramanian among winners of nuclear society’s awards

T.S. Subramanian, Associate Editor, Frontline, Chennai, and R.K. Singh, Head, Media Relations and Public Awareness Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, have been selected for the Indian Nuclear Society’s “INS Outstanding Service Award” for 2011 for Science Communication.The awards will be presented on November 7 during the inaugural function of the 23 annual conference of the INS to be held in Mumbai.

Zardari, Hillary discuss India-Pak trade ties

Improving trade ties between Pakistan and India, terrorism and violent anti-U.S. protests were among a host of issues that Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari discussed with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when they met NewYork on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly session on 25th September 2012.

Woman of Pakistani origin becomes minister in Norway

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has appointed a Pakistani Muslim woman, Hadia Tajik as Norway’s culture minister.

Waheeda Rehman to get lifetime achievement award

Veteran actress Waheeda Rehman will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the forthcoming 14th Mumbai Film Festival, which starts on October 18. Mumbai Academy of Moving Image(MAMI) is organising the film festival.

CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY-JUNE 12

Nik Wallenda Successfully crossed Niagara Falls on a Tightrope

Current Affairs Week: 18 Jun 2012 to 24 Jun 2012

International Current Affairs 2012. American Stuntman Nik Wallenda became the first person to walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope on 15 June 2012

Beatles Classic- 1968 Animated Film Yellow Submarine re-launched on...

Current Affairs Week: 18 Jun 2012 to 24 Jun 2012

International Current Affairs 2012. The Beatles classic- 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine was re-launched for the first time on Blu-ray and iTunes in June 2012

Retail Inflation increased to 10.36% in May 2012 due to Rise in Veg...

Current Affairs Week: 18 Jun 2012 to 24 Jun 2012

Economy Current Affairs 2012. Retail inflation increased to 10.36 per cent in May due to rise in prices ofvegetables, edible oils and milk. Vegetable prices moved up by 26.59 per cent thereby recording the maximum spurt in prices

RBI kept Key Policy Rates Unchanged in its Mid-quarterly Monetary P...

Current Affairs Week: 18 Jun 2012 to 24 Jun 2012

Economy Current Affairs 2012. The Reserve Bank of India in its mid-quarterly monetary policy review on 18 June 2012, decided to keep the cash reserve ratio and the policy repo rate unchanged at 4.75 per cent and 8.0 per cent respectively

Indian American Professor Anjani Jain appointed Associate Dean at Y...

Current Affairs Week: 18 Jun 2012 to 24 Jun 2012

International Current Affairs 2012. Yale School of Management appointed Indian American professor & IIM alumnus Anjani Jain as senior associate dean for the full-time MBA programme

Fatou Bensouda appointed Chief Prosecutor of International Criminal...

Current Affairs Week: 18 Jun 2012 to 24 Jun 2012

International Current Affairs 2012. Gambian lawyer Fatou Bensouda was sworn in on 15 June 2012 as the International Criminal Court's new chief prosecutor

China launched its Fourth Human Spaceflight Shenzhou-9 into Space

Current Affairs Week: 18 Jun 2012 to 24 Jun 2012

Science and Technology Current Affairs 2012. China on 16 June 2012 launched its fourth human spaceflight Shenzhou-9 from the Jiuquan satellite launch centre in north-western Gansu province

Saina Nehwal beat China's Xuerui Li to win her Third Indonesia Open...

Current Affairs Week: 18 Jun 2012 to 24 Jun 2012

Sports Current Affairs 2012. Ace Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal clinched her third Indonesia Open Super Series title after beating China's Xuerui Li in title clash in Jakarta

Hong Kong stock exchange makes $2.2 billion offer to London Metal E...