23518942

Top Careers & You™ General Knowledge

GK Notes - April 1

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Current News (April)

ECONOMY/BUSINESS TVS Motor and BMW Motorrad tied-up to Develop Bikes in below 500 CC The TVS Motor Co. Ltd. and BMW Motorrad announced a deal to jointly develop bikes made in India below 500 CC. BMW signed a long term joint technical co-operation and manufacturing agreement with TVS. At present, BMW operates in the 600 to 1600 cc category of bikes, while TVS operates in the sub-250 cc category of bikes. The bikes developed in a joint collaboration of the two companies will be launched in the market in two distinct variants, one variant will be badged with BMW and sold in India and international market and the second variant will be badged with TVS and is to be sold in India and the global market as per the desire of TVS Motors. Products developed in the joint collaboration of the two giants will be rolled out in the market in 2015. India Trade Promotion Organisation Signed a MoU with Government of India India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of India for the year 2013-14. The MoU was signed between Rita Menon, Chairperson and Managing Director of ITPO and S. R. Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Highlights of the MoU • The major highlight of the MoU is the projected surplus of Rs. 100 crore by ITPO during 2013-14. • The MoU laid down target for investment proposal to be submitted for the redevelopment of Pragati Maidan into a modern and state of the art integrated exhibition cum convention centre, to the Union Cabinet for approval. • Certain other targets were also included in the MoU and these included 850 man-days of training to its both senior and other employees during 2013-14 and reduction of electricity and water consumption by 5 percent and 10 percent respectively. Yamaha to Develop Cheapest Bike of the World in India Yamaha, the Japanese two wheeler company announced that it will roll out the cheapest motorcycle of the world in India. The price of this bike would be around $500 or Rs. 27000 approximately. The fifth global research and development centre for this will be established in Greater Noida, India. Yamaha announced that India would be the global hub for low cost bikes development. The bike will then be exported to different countries in Latin America and Africa. The new entity of Yamaha, Yamaha Motor Research and Development India Pvt. Ltd. (YMRI) has started working for the development of this bike, which will first be launched in India.


GK Notes - April 2

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Yamaha also announced that the company would launch new scooter model every year till 2016 in order to strengthen the position in Indian markets. The second R&D centre will also be established by 2015 at upcoming Chennai facility. The bike will have the engine capacity of 100 cc or more. The first step of the plan is to develop the cheapest bike of the world followed by the India-specific model. Later, it will be followed by global model. The company planned to sell 7.1 lakh units of scooters as well as motorcycles in 2013, which will include 2.1 lakh exports. In 2012, Yamaha sold 4.9 lakh scooters and motorcycles. TCS to buy French IT firm for Rs.530 crore Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), announced that it had signed definitive agreements to acquire 100 per cent equity in Alti SA, an IT services company in France. The deal, valued at 75 million euros (around Rs. 530 crore), is an all-cash transaction. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions. Alti SA has strong expertise in IT Services, including enterprise solutions, assurance and CRM solutions. It is privately held and owned by its management and two private equity funds, CM-CIC LBO Partners and IDI. It reported revenues of 126 million euro in 2012. Its customers include top French corporations in the banking, financial services, luxury, manufacturing and utilities sectors. Alti has 1,200 employees based in France, Belgium and Switzerland. France is the third largest IT services market in Europe. Annual Auto Sales in India Dropped 6.7 Percent; First Time in 10 Years: SIAM The annual sales of car in India dropped down for first time in 10 years. In the time duration of 12 months up to 31 March 2013, the auto sales sank 6.7 percent from 2012, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). It is worth noticing that in the recent past, India was among the fastest growing car markets in the world. The analysts also predicted that the auto sales in India would touch the 9 million benchmark by 2020. But between March 2010 and October 2011, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increased the rate of interest 13 times. The economic growth of India too slowed down giving a blow to the consumer demand. The Indian economy grew by 5 percent in year till 31st March 2013, which is the slowest economic pace of India in 10 years time. WTO cuts 2013 global trade growth forecast to 3.3% The World Trade Organization cut its forecast for global trade growth again as the economic slowdown in Europe suppresses demand.


GK Notes - April 3

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Global trade probably will increase by 3.3 percent in 2013 instead of the 4.5 percent expected in September. WTO had previously forecasted 5.6 percent growth. International trade rose 2 percent in 2012, down from 5.2 percent in 2011. The events of 2012 should serve as a reminder that the structural flaws in economies that were revealed by the economic crisis have not been fully addressed, despite important progress in some areas. Repairing these fissures need to be the priority for 2013. Honda’s diesel car Amaze priced at Rs 5-7.6 lakh Honda Cars India launched its entry-level diesel car Amaze that will compete with the likes of Swift Dzire, Etios and Indigo of Maruti Suzuki India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Tata Motors respectively. The price range starts from Rs. 5.99 lakh to Rs. 7.60 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). India is the first country to launch the Amaze with Honda's latest i-DTEC diesel engine technology. EXCISE DUTY BENEFIT The entry-level Sedan also qualifies for the excise duty benefit as any car with a petrol engine capacity up to 1.2 L or diesel engine up to 1.5 L, and which is less than four metres in length attracts a lower excise duty of 12 per cent. Cars of similar engine capacity, but exceeding 4 metres attract 24 per cent excise duty. Honda Cars had already started bookings for the car in April, for which deliveries will be made from its 150 dealers across 97 cities. The company will expand its dealers’ network to 162 facilities and 102 cities by end of this financial year.

GENERAL AWARENESS

India and Mauritius Sign MoU on Electoral Cooperation India and Mauritius have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi, for cooperation in the field of election management and administration. The MoU was signed by the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Shri V.S. Sampath and the Electoral Commissioner of Mauritius, Mr. Mohammad Irfan Abdool Rahman. The major aims of MoU are: 1. Promotion of exchanges of knowledge and experience in electoral processes; exchange of information, materials, expertise and training of personnel. 2. Production and distribution of materials pertaining to electoral systems, voting technology, voters’ education and awareness and participation of women and minorities in electoral process. The MoU will help in strengthening and deepening mutual collaboration between ECI and the Electoral Commissioner’s Office of Mauritius. Further it would facilitate sharing of best practices, skills and experiences between the two institutions for mutual benefit. Election Commissioner, Mr. Brahma offered the available expertise and facilities in India for strengthening the


GK Notes - April 4

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electoral system in Mauritius. Election Commission of India has so far signed seventeen MOUs with Election Management Bodies and international organizations across the world. Some of the MoU signed recently are with Egypt, Venezuela, Republic of Korea and UNDP. Fourth meeting of India-Mongolia Joint Committee on Cooperation The 4th Meeting of the India-Mongolia Joint Committee on Cooperation was held in New Delhi. It was jointly chaired by E. Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs of India and Luvsannyam Gantumur, Minister for Education and Science of Mongolia. The Joint Committee reviewed the entire range of issues in India-Mongolia relations. The Indian side conveyed that Indian companies were interested in playing a larger role in the Mongolian mineral processing and mining industry and expressed the hope that a favourable environment for their operations could be created. The Indian side reiterated its support for Mongolia’s development processes and reaffirmed that it is modernising the Rajiv Gandhi Polytechnic College of Production and Art in Ulaan Bator. The Indian side is also considering setting up a milk processing plant in Mongolia. Implementation of the Line of Credit of US $20 million extended by India to Mongolia for setting up an India-Mongolia Joint Information Technology Education and Outsourcing Center in Ulaan Batar was discussed. India and Russia signed Regulation of Cooperation Agreement at Moscow

The Union Government of India and the Government of the Russian Federation signed a regulation defining the structure, functions and procedure of the Joint Commission. The regulation was established by an agreement, which was signed on 21st December 2010 in New Delhi in the field of Emergency Management. Importance of the agreement signed: • This will set an environment between the two countries to help each other at times of emergency in prevention and elimination of consequences. • It will strengthen the Indo-Russian cooperation as well as the bond of friendship between the two nations. The agreement will enhance cooperation in the field of emergency management and contribute in ensuring the safety and well-being of the people of both countries at times of disasters. Both the countries will also exchange technical and scientific information in areas of emergency management that is mutually beneficial for both sides. Indo-Russian Commission is the body that will look forward for proper implementation of the agreement to catalyze the cooperation between the two nations.


GK Notes - April 5

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Krishnakumar Natarajan is new Chairman of Nasscom Mindtree’s Managing Director and CEO Krishnakumar Natarajan took over as the Chairman of Nasscom for the year 2013-14. Mr. Natarajan succeeded N. Chandrasekaran, MD and CEO of TCS, who served as the Chairman for the year 2012-13. The body that represents the $100 billion Indian IT-BPO industry has also appointed Cognizant Group Chief Executive (Technology & Operations) R. Chandrasekaran as the Vice Chairman of the Executive Council. Nasscom has played a key role in propelling the Indian IT-BPO industry to reach its $100 billion milestone in 2012-13. Syria rejected UN Proposal to Probe Reports of Possible Chemical Weapon Use in the Country Syria rejected the proposal of United Nations to probe the reports of possible use of chemical weapons in the country. Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary General announced to look into the allegations of both sides of the conflict. In March 2013, Syria had asked United Nations to investigate the use of chemical weapons by the rebels in the village of Khan al-Assal. Whereas, United Nations declared that it wanted to investigate all the reports related to the use of chemical weapons in Syria not only the one that the government claimed to be used by the rebels. Syria rejected the proposal of United Nations because as per the rules of the country granting an access to the investigators from United Nations to the whole country meant violation of Syrian sovereignty but was ready to grant access to Khan al-Assal where it had reported the possible use of chemical weapons. Uhuru Kenyatta sworn in as Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta became the country's fourth President after a prolonged election dispute that ended up in the Kenyan Supreme Court. Tens of thousands of people packed a Nairobi stadium to watch the inauguration. Jackson, a former U.S. presidential candidate, attended the festivities as a private guest. Kenyatta, the 51 year old son of Kenya's founding leader, won the election with 50.07% of the vote. Pervez Musharraf out of Pakistan election race A Pakistani election tribunal barred former military dictator Pervez Musharraf from running for parliament in the only constituency where his nomination papers for the May 11 general election had been accepted. Musharraf's bid to enter parliament ended almost a month before the general election when an election tribunal rejected his candidature for a parliamentary seat in Chitral, the only constituency where his nomination papers had been accepted. Musharraf, 69, had plans to contest polls in four parliamentary seats in Chitral, Karachi, Kasur and Islamabad.


GK Notes - April 6

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P. J. Kurien new Chairman of Asian forum of Parliamentarians Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, P.J. Kurien was elected as the Chairman of the prestigious Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD). He replaced Yasuo Fukuda, former Prime Minister of Japan as the Chairman of AFPPD. P. J. Kurien is also the Chairman of the Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development. Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) The Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development established in 1981 as a regional NGO, serves as a coordinating body of 25 National Committees of Parliamentarians on Population and Development. Objective: To generate cooperation and support among the Asian Parliamentarians in different areas like

population and development issues. Initiate, promote and support exchange programs among the parliamentarians in Asia and the

Pacific. Promote other lawful acts which generate cooperation and support among the Asian

Parliamentarians.

Iran opens uranium mines, yellowcake plant Iran started extraction from two uranium mines and opened a yellowcake plant to mark the National Nuclear Technology Day. Operations began at the Saghand 1 and 2 mines in the central province of Yazd, and the Shahid Rezaeinejad yellowcake plant in the town of Ardakan in the same province by the order of the President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Shahid Rezaeinejad facility has the capacity to produce about 60 tons of yellowcake, the raw material for uranium enrichment. Iran and world powers held talks for two days in Kazakh city of Almaty to help resolve a decade-old dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program, but failed to reach any agreement. Iran’s higher-grade uranium enrichment program lies at the heart of the controversy. Iran denies Western accusations that it is seeking nuclear weapons capability and says its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful and insists that its right to uranium enrichment, as enumerated in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, must be recognized. During the ceremony, an electrostatic nuclear accelerator, which has medical and industrial applications, and five new domestically produced radioisotopes were also unveiled.


GK Notes - April 7

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Radioisotope is a radioactive isotope which is used in physical and biological researches and therapeutics. The radioisotopes which are produced in Iran are mainly used for diagnosis and treatment of various cancers or are used to alleviate cancer-related pains. President Ahmadinejad delivered a speech in which he said that Iran would push ahead with its nuclear program. “Today, Iran has gone nuclear, and no one can take it away from us,” he said, adding, “No one is able to put the brakes on the country’s nuclear achievements.” Iran to build new nuclear powers plants Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) director Fereydoun Abbasi also said in the ceremony that preparations had been made to start the construction of at least two 1000 megawatt nuclear power plants during the current Iranian calendar year, which started on March 21. Commenting on the proposal put forward by world powers in the previous round of talks in Almaty on February 26 and 27, Abbasi said that Iran would continue producing enriched uranium to a purity level of 20 percent as much as it needed. According to the New York Times, the major powers demanded that Iran suspend enrichment work at the Fordo facility - where it enriches uranium to 20 percent - and agree to unspecified conditions that would make it hard to quickly resume production. They also said Iran could continue to keep a small amount of uranium enriched to 20 percent for use in the Tehran research reactor, which produces medical isotopes for cancer treatment. “We produced 20 percent enriched uranium to keep the Tehran research reactor operational, and we will produce it as long as we need this fuel, and in view of the fact that we plan to build five new research reactors in the country, we need to continue producing this fuel,” Abbasi said.

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