Daily GK Update 01st September 2017

1. Swiss President on 3-Day Visit to India

i. President of Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard is on the three-day visit to India. A number of agreements are expected to be signed in several areas after the talks.

ii. India and Switzerland enjoy robust economic ties, with Switzerland being seventh largest trading partner and eleventh largest foreign investor for India.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Bern is the Capital of Switzerland.
• Swiss franc is the currency of Switzerland.

2. Arunachal Pradesh and J&K are Fastest Growing Economies

i. Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh were the fastest expanding State economies in 2015-16, according to a new series of gross State domestic product data with 2011-12 as the base year published by the Central Statistics Office.

ii. The two States also reported the fastest rise in per capita income in the same year. Arunachal Pradesh’s gross State domestic product (GSDP) expanded 16.5 per cent and that of Jammu and Kashmir 14.7 per cent at constant 2011-12 prices.

iii. Top 5 Largest state Economies are-

1. Maharashtra
2. Tamil Nadu
3. Gujarat
4. Uttar Pradesh
5. Karnataka

3. CSIR Ranked 9th Public Research Institution of the World

i. India's largest autonomous public organization Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been ranked ninth in the world. The institute has been ranked ninth amongst a total of 1,207 government institutions, according to the Scimago Institutions ranking World Report 2017.

ii. It is the only Indian organization which has found place amongst the Top 100 Global Institutions. The ranking (Government Institutions) was topped by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• CSIR was established by the Government of India in 1942.
• Girish Sahni was appointed as Director General of CSIR.

4. Ministry of Railways Signs two MoUs with Switzerland

i. India and Switzerland signed two MoUs in the field of Railways. The two MoUs were signed between Ministry of Railways and Swiss Confederation after high-level talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Doris Leuthard, President of Swiss Confederation during her visit to New Delhi.

ii. First MoU

The MoU was signed between Ministry of Railways and Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, and Communications of the Swiss Confederation for technical cooperation in Rail Sector. The MoU aims at cooperation in the following areas:

1. Traction Rolling stock
2. EMU and Train sets
3. Traction Propulsion Equipment
4. Tilting Trains

iii. Second MoU

The second MoU was signed between Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich. The MoU aims to help the Konkan Railway in establishing the George Fernandes Institute of Tunnel Technology (GFITT) at Goa, especially for assimilation and dissemination of knowledge in the field of tunneling.

5. SEBI bans Orion Capital, Orion Broking from Markets for 10 years

i. Markets regulator SEBI barred Orion Capital as well as Orion Broking and their partners from the securities markets for 10 years for failing to redress several investor grievances pertaining to non- settlement of funds due to the clients.

ii. The nature of investor complaints received against both the firms are predominantly on non-settlement of the funds and securities and balances due to their clients. The claim amount is more than Rs 6 crore against Orion Capital and over Rs 4 crore against Orion Broking.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Chairman of SEBI is Ajay Tyagi.
• SEBI was set up on 12th April 1988.

6. Konkani Writer Mahabaleshwar Sail Receives 2016 Saraswati Samman

i. Prominent Konkani writer Mahabaleshwar Sail was presented with the Saraswati Samman 2016 for his novel 'Hawthan'. The novel 'Hawthan', published in 2009, captures cultural lives of traditional potter community in Goa.

ii. He was awarded the Sahitya Akadami Award in Konkani language for his short story collection ‘Taranga’ in 1993. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh, a citation and a plaque of goddess Saraswati.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Mahabaleshwar Sail is a bilingual writer based in Goa.
• Harivansh Rai Bachchan was the first recipient of this award.

7. Reliance Foundation Awarded Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar

i. The Reliance Foundation was rewarded with the prestigious Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Award at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Chairperson of the foundation, Nita Ambani collected the award from President Ram Nath Kovind.

ii. For its contribution to the promotion of sports, the award went to Reliance Foundation. Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) also received the Rashtriya Khel Protsahana Purushkar for its ‘Identification and Nurturing of Budding and Young Talent’ (IDCO) program.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Nita Ambani is the chairperson and founder of Reliance Foundation and a non-executive director of Reliance Industries.
• Sri Ram Nath Kovind is the 14th President of India.

8. Rajiv Mehrishi is New CAG of India

i. The outgoing Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi was appointed Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

ii. Mr. Mehrishi completed his two-year stint as Home Secretary and handed over the charge to Rajiv Gauba.

9. Sunil Arora Appointed Election Commissioner

i. Former bureaucrat Sunil Arora was appointed Election Commissioner by the law Ministry. Mr. Arora’s appointment will be with effect from the day he assumes charge.

ii. After Nasim Zaidi retired as Chief Election Commissioner in July, there was a vacancy in the poll panel. While Achal Kumar Joti is the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Om Prakash Rawat is the other Election Commissioner.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) was established under India's Constitution in 1950.

10. Rajiv Kumar Takes Charge as Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman

i. Economist Rajiv Kumar took over as the vice-chairman of government think tank NITI Aayog. Mr. Kumar replaced Arvind Panagariya, an Indian-American economist who left the think tank to return to academia.

ii. Mr. Kumar was a senior fellow at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR). He was a member of the National Security Advisory Board between 2006 and 2008.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Amitabh Kant is the CEO of NITI Aayog.
• NITI stands for National Institution for Transforming India.

Daily GK Update 31st August 2017

1. 10th India-European Union Counter Terrorism Dialogue

i. India and the European Union have agreed to strengthen cooperation between their security and intelligence agencies to combat the threat of terrorism and check terror financing.

ii. During the 10th India-European Union Counter Terrorism Dialogue in New Delhi, the two sides deliberated extensively on combating terror financing and challenges posed by radicalization.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• The European Union is a unique economic and political union between 28 European countries.
• The European Economic Community (EEC), created in 1958, and initially increasing economic cooperation between six countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
• In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

2. ISRO All Set to Launch IRNSS-1H

i. The Indian Space Research Organisation is all set to launch PSLV-C39 carrying Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS-1H). The satellite will lift off from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, on board the rocket PSLV C39.

ii. The satellite IRNSS-1H is a part of the indigenous navigation system called ‘NavIC,’ that was initially planned to have a constellation of seven satellites. ISRO's most trusted work horse PSLV, in its forty-first flight (PSLV-C39), will carry and put the 1,425 kg IRNSS-1H into the required orbit.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• The current chairman of ISRO is A. S. Kiran Kumar. 
• ISRO was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Satish Dhawan Space Centre is located in Sriharikota Andhra Pradesh.

3. Important Cabinet Approvals- 30th August

i. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given the following set of approvals. The full list of Cabinet Approvals is given as follows.

ii. Cabinet has approved-

1. MoU on "India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund"- India and Israel will make a contribution of four million US Dollars each for the Fund, both equivalent amount, annually for five years. The Innovation Fund will be governed by a joint Board which will consist of four members from each country.
2. Promulgation of the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Ordinance, 2017- The approval would allow to increase the maximum rate at which the Compensation Cess can be levied from 15% to 25% on motor vehicles for transport of not more than thirteen persons, including the driver.
3. MoU with Myanmar for the Conservation of Earthquake-Damaged Pagodas at Bagan.
4. MoU between India and Brazil for cooperation in the fields of Zebu Cattle Genomics and Assisted Reproductive Technologies.

4. Unicity Launched World’s First ever Genomeceuticals Range of Products in India

i. Unicity International, headquartered in Orem, Utah, United States has launched world's first ever Genomeceutical (gene controlling) range of products to India.

ii. DNA contains the biological code that defines every single protein in the body. DNA undergoes a process called transcription or gene expression that creates a "messenger" molecule, telling the body to make a specific protein.

5. R.K. Raghavan is New High Commissioner of India to Cyprus

i. According to the External Affairs Ministry, Former CBI Director R.K. Raghavan has been appointed High Commissioner to Cyprus. His specialization is cybersecurity.

ii. He had been CBI Director from January 1999 to April 2001. The Supreme Court appointed him head of the Anti-Ragging Monitoring Committee in 2006.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus.
• Nicos Anastasiades is the President of Cyprus.
• The current Minister of External Affairs is Sushma Swaraj.

6. Rajiv Gauba Takes Over as Union Home Secretary

i. Mr. Rajiv Gauba took over as Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs. Mr. Gauba joined the Ministry of Home Affairs as Officer on Special Duty on June 27, 2017 and took charge as the Union Home Secretary upon the superannuation of Shri Rajiv Mehrishi.

ii. Mr. Gauba also served in the International Monetary Fund representing the country for four years on the Board of IMF.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Mr. Rajnath Singh is the Home Minister of India.

7. PV Sindhu, First Brand Ambassador for Bridgestone India

i. Badminton ace PV Sindhu, who recently won Silver at the World Championship, was appointed the first brand ambassador of tyre maker Bridgestone India.

ii. The shuttler has signed a three year deal with Bridgestone India, a subsidiary of Bridgestone which is one of the sponsors for the Olympics 2020 in Japan. The Padma Shri recipient became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver medal in the Olympic Games Rio 2016.

Important Takeaways From Above News-

• Registered Office of Bridgestone India Private Limited is in Pune, Maharashtra.

8. NTPC Signs Rs 3,000-cr Term Loan Agreement With ICICI Bank

i. State-owned NTPC has signed a term loan agreement for Rs. 3,000 crore with ICICI Bank for partially funding its capital expenditure.

ii. The loan which has a door-to-door tenure of 15 years will be utilized to part finance the capital expenditure of NTPC. NTPC had commissioned 3,845 MW capacity and added 2,190 MW to its commercial capacity during 2016-17.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Gurdeep Singh is the MD and Chairman of NTPC.

9. Gobindobhog Rice Gets Geographical Indication Status

i. Gobindobhog rice, a speciality from Burdwan district of West Bengal, has got the geographical indication (GI) status.

ii. The state government had applied for GI status for Gobindobhog rice on August 24, 2015. The region of Burdwan (now divided into the districts of east and west Burdwan) is known as the rice bowl of Bengal.

Important Takeaways From Above News-

• Mamata Banerjee is the CM of West Bengal.
• Keshari Nath Tripathi is the Governor of West Bengal.

10. Ujjivan SFB Received Scheduled Bank Status from RBI

i. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ujjivan Financial Services Ltd, has been given scheduled bank status by RBI.

ii. Currently, Ujjivan SFB has 65 full-fledged brick and mortar branches in eight states and two Union Territories. Ujjivan SFB commenced its operations as a Small Finance Bank with effect from February 1, 2017. 

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Samit Ghosh is the MD & CEO of Ujjivan SFB.
• It is Headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

11. Kuldip Kaura is new interim CEO of Vedanta Ltd

i. Metal and mining major Vedanta Ltd appointed Kuldip Kaura as its interim CEO. 

ii. Kaura succeeds Tom Albanese, who steps down as CEO. The company has a presence across India, South Africa, Namibia, Australia, and Ireland.

LIST OF ALL MUGHAL EMPERORS IN INDIAN HISTORY

LIST OF ALL MUGHAL EMPERORS IN INDIAN HISTORY :-

01. Babur (1526-1530)

02. Humayun (1530-1540,55-56)

03. Akbar (1556-1605)

04. Jahangir (1605-1627)

05. Shah Jahan (1627-1658)

06. Aurang Zeb (1658-1707)

07. Bahadur Shah 1 (1707-1712)

08. Jahandar Shah (1712-1713)

09. Furrukhsiyar (1713-1719)

10. Rafi-ul-Darjat (1719)

11. Rafi-ud-Daulat (1719)

12. Nikusiyar (1719)

13. Muhammad Ibrahim (1720)

14. Muhammad Shah (1719-1748)

15. Ahmad Shah Bahadur(1748-54)

16. Alamgir || (1754-1759)

17. Shah Jahan ||| (1759)

18. Shah Alam || (1759-1806)

19. Akbar Shah || (1806-1837)

20. Bahadur Shah Zafar (1837-57)

Quantitative Aptitude

1.A train of 320 m cross a platform in 24 seconds at the speed of 120 km/h. while a man cross same platform in 4 minute. What is the speed of man in m/s?

(a) 2.4

(b) 1.5

(c) 1.6

(d) 2.0

2.A car travel 1st 39 km distance in 45 km minute while nest 25 km distance in 35 minutes. What is its average speed?

(a) 45 Km/h

(b) 35 Km/h

(c) 48 Km/h

(d) 90 Km/h

3.A car starts with the speed of 70 km/h with its speed increasing every two hours by 10 km/h. In how many hours will it cover 345 km?

(a) 9/4 hours 

(b) 4 hours 5 minute

(c)  9/2 hours

(d) Cannot be determined

4. Aditya rides a cycle at the speed of 15 km/h but stops for 10 minute to take rest every 20 kms. How much time will he take to cover a distance of 150 kms?

(a) 11 hours 10 minutes

(b) 11 hours

(c) 12 hours 30 minutes

(d) 15 hours

5.A train 120 m in length passes a pole in 4 second and another train of length 225 m travelling in the same direction in 15 second. Find the speed of second train?

(a) 8 m/s

(b) 7 m/s

(c) 12 m/s

(d) 22 m/s

6.The ratio between the speed of bike and train is 15 : 27 respectively. Also a bus cover a distance of 720 km in 9 hours. The speed of the bike is 3/4th the speed of bus how much distance will the train cover in 7 hours?

(a) 756 km

(b) 760 km

(c) 740 km

(d) Cannot be determined

7.A 280 m long train moving with an average speed of 108 km/h cross a platform in 12 second. A boy crosses the same platform in 10 second. What is the speed of boy in m/s?

(a) 5 m/s

(b) 8 m/s

(c) 10 m/s

(d) Cannot be determined

8.A car covers a distance of 210 km in a certain amount of time at the speed of 35 km/h. What is the average speed of a truck that travel distance of 18 km less than the car in the same time?

(a) 64 km/h

(b) 66 km/h

(c) 65 km/h

(d) None of these

9.A truck cover 224 km in 4 hours the average speed of a bike is 1/4th the average speed of the truck how much distance will the bike cover in seven hour?

(a) 96 km

(b) 98 km

(c) 95 km

(d) 92 km

10.A bus started its journey from Bettiah and reached Motihari in 44 minute with its average speed  50 km/h if the average speed of bus is increased by 5 km/h. If the average speed of bus is increased by 5 km/h how much time will it take to cover the same distance?

(a) 31 min

(b) 36 min

(c) 38 min

(d) 40 min

Answers and Solution:

1.(d) Speed of train = 120*5/18=100/3 m/s

(320 + x) = 24 x  100/3

320 + x = 800

∴x = 480

So platform length = 480

So, speed of man = 480/(4*60 = 2 m/s

2.(c)Total distance = 39 + 25 = 64 km

Time taken = 45 + 35 = 80 minutes = 4/3 hours

So, average speed = 64/(4/3) = 48 km/h

3.(c)1st 2 hours =70 x 2 = 140

Next 2 hours = 80 x 2 = 160

After 4 hour total distance cover = 300

So next 45 km with speed of 90 km/h is 45/90=1/2 hour

So, total time taken = 4 1/2 hour

4.(a) For 150 km he take 150/15 = 10  hour

For 150 km he stop =  150/20=(7x10) = 70 minute

So total time taken = 11 hours 10 minutes

5.(b)Speed of train = 120/4 = 30  m/s

Total distance = 225 + 120 = 345 m

Relative speed = 345/15 = 23 m/s

But the speed of 1st train is 30 m/s.

So, speed of 2nd train = 30 – 23 = 7 m/s

6.(a)Speed of bike = 720/9*3/4 = 60 km/h

Speed of train = 60/15*27 = 108 km/h

So, train cover = 108 x 7 = 756 km

7.(b)Speed = 108 x 5/18 = 30 m/s

Length of platform = 30 x 12 – 280 = 80 m

Speed of boy = 80/10 = 8 m/s

8.(d)Time = 210/35 = 6 hours

Speed of truck = (210-18)/6 = 32 km/h

9.(b) 224/4*1/4*7 = 98 km

10.(d) (44*50)/(50+5)= 40 min.

Quantitative Aptitude

1. A train starts from A at 7 a.m. towards B with speed 50 km/h. Another train from B starts at 8 a.m. with speed 60 km/h towards A. Both of them meet at 10 a.m. at C. The ratio of the distance AC to BC is

(1) 5 : 6

(2) 5 : 4

(3) 6 : 5

(4) 4 : 5

2. Ram arrives at a Bank 15 minutes earlier than schedulted time if he drives his car a 42 km/h. If he drives car at 35 km/h he arrives 5 minutes late. The distance of the Bank, from his starting point is

(1) 70 km

(2) 210 km

(3) 72 km

(4) 60 km

3. A and B run a 5 km race on a round course of 400 m. If their speeds are in the ratio 5 : 4, the number of times, the winner passes the other is

(1) 1

(2) 2

(3) 3

(4) 5

4. If a train takes 6 seconds to cross a pole and if the length of train is 120 metres, then the speed of the train in km/hr will be

(1) 60

(2) 72

(3) 70

(4) 80

5. The ratio of cost price and selling price of an article is 8 : 9. The profit per cent is

(1) 20

(2) 15

(3) 12.5

(4) 10

6. A man buys pencils at the rate of 6 for Rs. 5 and sells them at 5 for Rs. 6. His profit per cent is

(1) 30

(2) 35

(3) 40

(4) 44

7. A coconut merchant finds that the cost price of 2750 coconuts is the same as the selling price of 2500 coconuts. The loss or gain per cent is

(1) 5% loss

(2) 15% loss

(3) 20% gain

(4) 10 % gain

8. A person buys 100 cups at Rs. 10 each. On the way 10 cups are broken. He sells the remaining cups at Rs. 11 each. His loss per cent is

(1) 1/2

(2) 1

(3) 11/2

(4) 2

9. By selling 144 hens Mahesh suffered a loss equal to the selling price of 6 hens. His loss per cent is

(1) 4

(2) 3

(3) 9

(4) 41/2

10. A car and a jeep were sold for Rs. 121000 each. The car was sold at a loss of 20% while the jeep at a gain of 20%. The entire transaction resulted in

(1) neither loss nor gain

(2) gain of Rs. 1000

(3) loss of Rs. 1000

(4) gain of Rs. 500

Answers Key
1.(2)
2.(1)
3.(3)
4.(2)
5.(3)
6.(4)
7.(4)
8.(2)
9.(1)
10.(3)

Quantitative Aptitude

1. By selling ball bearings at 32 a rupee, Suresh loses 40%. How many for a rupee should he sell in order to gain 20%?

(a) 28

(b) 22

(c) 16

(d) 12

2. Aman sells two cows for Rs. 39100 each, gaining 15% on one and losing 15% on the other. Find his total gain or loss.

(a) gain, Rs. 1800

(b) loss, Rs. 2700

(c) gain, Rs. 1300

(d) loss, Rs. 1800

3. By selling a pen for Rs. 19.50, Aman makes a profit of 30%. By how much should he increase his selling price so as to make a profit of 40%?

(a) Rs. 1.50

(b) Rs. 3.75

(c) Rs. 4.20

(d) Rs. 4.80

4. Kamal bought a certain quantity of potato at the rate of Rs. 1500 per quintal. 10% of the potato was spoiled. At what price should he sell the remaining to gain 20% of his outlay?

(a) Rs. 1800 per quintal

(b) Rs. 2000 per quintal

(c) Rs. 2200 per quintal

(d) Rs. 2400 per quintal

5. Seema sold her watch for Rs. 14400, and got a percentage of profit equal to the cost price. Find the cost price of the watch.

(a)  Rs. 13578

(b) Rs. 11680

(c) Rs. 9999

(d) Rs. 8000

6. Find the profit percent made by selling an article at a certain price, if by selling at 2/3 of that price there would be a loss of 20%?

(a) 5%

(b) 10%

(c) 20%

(d) 40%

7. The marked price of a mobile phone is Rs. 4800. The dealer gives a discount of 10% and gains 8%. If no discount is given, find the gain percent of the dealer.

(a) 10%

(b) 20%

(c) 30%

(d) 40%

8. Sapna bought a car a 20% discount on its original price. She sold it at a 40% increase on the original price. Find her profit percent.

(a) 75%

(b) 62%

(c) 49%

(d) 36%

9. Seema sold a cycle worth Rs. 9000 to Sapna at 10% loss. Sapna sells the cycle back to Seema at 10% gain. Who gains and who loses?

(a) Seema’s gain=9%, Sapna’s loss=10%

(b) Seem’s gain=10%; Sapna’s gain=10%

(c) Seema’s loss=9%; Sapna’s gain=10%

(d) None of these

10. Aman buys some potato. If he sells it at Rs. 5 a kg, he loses Rs. 200, but when he sells it at Rs. 6 a kg, he gain Rs. 150. How much potato did he purchase?

(a) 200 kgs

(b) 275 kgs

(c) 310 kgs

(d) 350 kgs

Answers Key
1.(c)
2.(d)
3.(a)
4.(b)
5.(d)
6.(c)
7.(b)
8.(a)
9.(c)
10.(d)