61. Which among the following committee is working on the revision of the Wholesale Price Index?
Recently, the government has extended the tenure of the Saumitra Chaudhuri committee on the revision of the Wholesale Price Index – used for calculating inflation – by six months to June 30. Faced with criticism over its WPI series, which was released about two years ago, the government had in April set up the committee to revise the index to take into account structural changes in the economy since 2004-05 to present a better picture of price situation. There were reports of error in the updated series. Economists as well as RBI have been critical of the WPI data. The 31-member group will suggest improvements for enhancing the reliability of the official series of WPI/PPI/ BSPI.
62. Currently, which among the following year’s population data is used for sharing Central tax revenues with States?
1971
63. Which among the following is the first State in India to come out with an exclusive Budget for Agriculture?
Karnataka
Karnataka had become the first State in the country to come out with an exclusive Budget for Agriculture. After Karnataka, it is Andhra Pradesh which is planning to have an exclusive Budget for Agriculture.
64. Who among the following is the head of the three-member committee of jurists, constituted to give recommendations on amending laws to provide speedier justice and enhanced punishment in sexual assault cases?
J.S. Verma
The committee was constituted after public protests erupted over the Delhi gang rape case, will look into possible amendments to the criminal law for faster trial and proper punishment for criminals accused of committing sexual assault of extreme nature against women. The panel has been given 30 days to give its report to the government. Under the existing law, the maximum punishment for rape is a life term.
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Current Affairs-December 2013
Very important questions for IAS, RAS, SSC CGL, UPSC, BANK PO, UPSC,RPSC, Bank exams and all other exams.If you like the post kindly give rating.
[important]This questions are useful for any competitive exam like IAS, bank PO, SSC CGL, RAS, CDS, UPSC exams and all state related exams. You can attempt them for fun too.[/important]
65. The Intelligence Bureau of India came into existence in ____________.
1887
Intelligence Bureau is completing 125 years of its existence in the year 2012.
66. Which among the following countries has hosted the first-ever direct talks between Taliban and other factions that make up the Afghanistan political landscape?
France
Two-day discussions among various Afghan factions including the Taliban, the Northern Alliance and government representatives was held in Chantilly, a chic suburb of Paris. The ultra-secret talks have been set up by the French government which would like to play a bigger role in Afghanistan. This is the first time that Taliban representatives are in direct talks with other factions that make up the political landscape. The talks have been organised under the auspices of the government-supported think tank, Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS). The talks focus on the future stability of Afghanistan once NATO forces withdraw in 2014, referred to as the “2020 Horizon for Afghanistan”.
67. Recently, who among the following scientists is awarded with Special Fundamental Physics Prize, which is the most lucrative academic prize in the world?
Stephen Hawking
The Fundamental Physics Prize is awarded by the Fundamental Physics Prize Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to awarding physicists involved in fundamental research which was founded in July 2012 by a Russian physicist and internet entrepreneur Yuri Milner. The prize is the most lucrative academic prize in the world and is three times bigger than the amount given to the Nobel Prize awardees. Stephen Hawking is awarded with Fundamental Physics Prize under special category. A team of scientists who led the hunt for the Higgs boson mass particle also received prize under special category.
68. Who among the following is the author of the book titled ‘My Tryst With Justice’?
P.N. Bhagwati
‘My Tryst With Justice’ was written by Former Chief Justice P N Bhagwati.
69. Which among the following expert panel has come up with an outlook on challenges and options in the implementation of the National Food Security Bill (NFSB), which promises food for all?
Ashok Gulati panel
An expert panel led by Ashok Gulati, chairman of the Commission of Agricultural Costs (CACP), has come up with an outlook on challenges and options in the implementation of the bill, which promises food for all. The panel said that addressing food security would be a great challenge as the central pivot of the bill is large- scale subsidised grain distribution to almost two-thirds of the country’s population of 1.2 billion. According to the panel, the large-scale subsidised grain distribution implies massive procurement of food grains and a large distribution network entailing a huge financial burden on the already burdened fiscal system. “The food subsidy alone will cost the exchequer about Rs 95,000 crore to start with. If one counts the other parts of the bill, and associated set up to get this moving through the existing channel of public distribution system (PDS), it may touch an expenditure of anywhere between Rs 1,25,000 crore to Rs 1,50,000 crore,” said Gulati.
70. . Recently, who among the following Indian-Americans has been named by the US President Barak Obama as member of the president’s Global Development Council, a key administrative post?
Smita Singh
The Council will inform and provide advice to the President and other senior US officials on American global development policies and practices and emerging issues in the field of global development. The Council was established in February through an executive order of the President. According to a brief bio released by the White House, Singh was the Special Advisor for Global Affairs and the founding Director of the Global Development Program at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, where she worked from 2001 to 2010. From 1998 to 2001, she was a scholar at the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies. Previously, Singh consulted for the World Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission on Africa. She was the first Program Officer for Higher Education Innovative Projects at the Commission on National and Community Service, now known as the Corporation for National and Community Service. Before joining the Commission, Singh worked at ABC News’ Nightline.