current affairs 18 october 2013

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Daily Current Affairs

(18th October 2013)

Cabinet clears setting up of 6 additional benches of CESTAT

The Union Cabinet on 17th October 2013 approved the setting up of 6 additional benches of theCustoms, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) for speedy disposal of cases and pendencywill decrease benefitting government and tax payers. These include three at existing locations in NewDelhi, Mumbai, Chennai and three new benches at Chandigarh, Allahabad and Hyderabad.

MSP of wheat increased by Rs 50/quintal to Rs 1,400

The government on 17th October 2013 raised the minimum support price, MSP, for wheat by 50 rupeesto 1,400 rupees per quintal for crop year 2013-14. It will encourage farmers to cover more area underthe crop in the ongoing rabi season (October-March). This was recommended by the governmentadvisory body, Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP).

Government to set up intermediate go downs for foodgrains to check leakage

Government will set up intermediate go downs for foodgrains across the country to check leakage. Thiswill be set up at the block or Panchayat level, will help to checking un-necessary wastage of preciouscomponent of food meant for crores of people. With the estimated capacity of the intermediate foodgrain godowns will be 18 thousand to 20 thousand tonnes.

International Day for Poverty Eradication observed on 17th October

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty observed on 17th October 2013, this year's theme is‘working together towards a world without discrimination: Building on the experience and knowledge ofpeople in extreme poverty’. More than 1.2 billion people still live in extreme poverty worldwide. InIndia, according to the Planning Commission’s estimates, the percentage of persons Below Poverty Linein 2011-12 was 25.7 per cent in rural areas, 13.7 per cent in urban and 21.9 per cent for the country as awhole. Poverty has come down from 32.2 per cent to 21.9 per cent at the national level.

Terence Walsh appointed as Chief Coach of the Senior Men National Hockey Team

Hockey India on 15th October 2013 announced the appointment of Terence Walsh as Chief Coach of theSenior Men National Hockey Team.

Union Cabinet Approved a Committee on Babhli Barrage Project

The Union cabinet of India approved on 17th October 2013 the appointment of a three-membersupervisory committee headed by a representative of the Central Water Commission (Chairman: BibhasKumar) on construction of Babhli Barrage issue. The other two members of the committee wereincluding one representative from the state of Andhra Pradesh and one representative from the

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Maharashtra. The Babhli project / barrage is a controversial reservoir project being constructed byMaharashtra state across the river Godavari.

Ajit Agarkar announced Retirement from all forms of Cricket

Former India bowler Ajit Agarkar on 16th October 2013 announced Retirement from all forms of Cricket.His international career ran from 1998 to 2007, during which he featured in 26 Tests, 191 ODIs and 4Twenty20 internationals.

British Scientists solved the Mystery of Legendary Himalayan ‘Yeti’

British Scientists in their research have come to the conclusion that the legendary Himalayan yeti maybe a sub-species of brown bear. DNA tests on hair samples from Yeti revealed that they matched thosefrom an ancient polar bear. The Yeti or Abominable Snowman is said to be an ape-like cryptid taller thanan average human that inhabits the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet. The scientific communitygenerally regards the Yeti as a legend because of the lack of conclusive evidence.

New arapaima Species of Giant Amazon Fish Discovered in Brazil

Scientists from the State University New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry discovereda new species of arapaima - a giant torpedo-shaped fish - in the central Amazon waters of Brazil.

Brazilian Football Legend Pele launched a Book Titled ‘1283’

Brazilian football legend Pele on 16th October 2013 launched a new book titled 1283. It is the number ofgoals scored by Pele. It contains 1283 texts. The book documents his career. Edson Arantes doNascimento better known as Pele is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is regarded by many experts,football critics, former players, current players and football fans in general as the best player of all time.

Malala Yousafzai to be granted Honorary Canadian Citizenship

The government of Canada on 16th October 2013 announced honorary Canadian citizenship for Pakistaniteenage activist Malala Yousafzai. The government recognized Malala’s contribution in risking her lifepromoting education for young women. Besides Malala, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela and Myanmar’sAung San Suu Kyi have been given honorary citizenship by the Canadian government.

Greg du Toit was Named Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013

Greg du Toit named as winner of 2013 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition were announcedon 17th October 2013 at the awards ceremony held at Natural History Museum in London. From India 14year-old photographer from India Udayan Rao Pawar won the award as Young Wildlife Photographer ofthe Year 2013 for his image Mother’s little headful.

Sigrid Kaag Appointed as the Head of Joint OPCW-UN Mission in Syria

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United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed on 16th October 2013 Sigrid Kaag as head ofthe joint mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the UnitedNations.

Veteran social activist Sarojini Varadappan passes away

Sarojini Varadappan, veteran social activist passed away on 17th October 2013. She was recipient ofseveral honours and awards, she was conferred Padma Shri in 1973 and Padma Bhushan in 2009.

India has half the world’s modern slaves: Study

The first Global Slavery Index has estimated that 13.3 to 14.7 million people live like slaves in Indiaroughly equal to the population of Kolkata. The index, published by the Australia-based Walk FreeFoundation, ranked 162 countries. According to the index, there are 29.6 million people in modernslavery globally. India (4th in terms of modern-day slaves as a percentage of the population) leads theworld, followed by China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Russia, Thailand, Democratic Republic of Congo,Myanmar and Bangladesh. These 10 countries account for 76% of the world's modern slaves.

Internal migrants make up 1/3rd of India's population

Internal migrants in India are expected to touch 400 million in the 2011 census, over half the globalfigure of 740 million and almost twice as many as China's estimated 221 million. These internal migrants,comprising a third of India's population, are estimated to account for remittances anywhere between Rs70,000 crore and Rs 120,000 crore. The report estimated that about 30% of the migrants are youth aged15-29 years and another 15 million are children.

India, US agencies join hands to set up center to counter cyber attacks

The Center for Development and Advanced Computing (CDAC) on 17th October 2013 joined hands withthe US-based agency, International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), to set up aresearch institution named, Center for Excellence in DNS Security that will help tackle cyber attacks andonline security threats.

Model Questions:

1. The Union Cabinet on 17th October 2013 approved the setting up of 6 additional benches of theCESTAT, which means?

1. Centre for Economic & Statistics Research

2. Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal

3. Customs, Estate and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal

4. Centre for Soil Testing and Technology

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Model Questions:






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Model Questions:






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2. Government will set up intermediate go downs for foodgrains across the country to check leakage.This will be set up at the _____________

1. Block or Panchayat level

2. District Level

3. State Level

4. Division Level

3. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2013’s theme is ‘working together towards a worldwithout discrimination: Building on the experience and knowledge of people in extreme poverty’observed on ___________

1. October 15th

2. October 16th

3. October 17th

4. October 18th

4. Hockey India on 15th October 2013 announced the appointment of __________ as Chief Coach ofthe Senior Men National Hockey Team

1. M. K. Kaushik

2. Terence Walsh

3. Zafar Iqbal

4. Graham Reid

5. Which of the following countries Scientists in their research have come to the conclusion that thelegendary Himalayan ‘yeti’ (Abominable Snowman) may be a sub-species of brown bear?

1. USA

2. UK

3. Australia

4. Canada

6. Edson Arantes do Nascimento better known as Pele is a retired Brazilian footballer launched a newBook Titled _________

1. 1238

2. 2183

3. 1283

4. 1328

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2. District Level

3. State Level

4. Division Level


1. October 15th

2. October 16th

3. October 17th

4. October 18th


1. M. K. Kaushik

2. Terence Walsh

3. Zafar Iqbal

4. Graham Reid


1. USA

2. UK

3. Australia

4. Canada


1. 1238

2. 2183

3. 1283

4. 1328

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2. District Level

3. State Level

4. Division Level


1. October 15th

2. October 16th

3. October 17th

4. October 18th


1. M. K. Kaushik

2. Terence Walsh

3. Zafar Iqbal

4. Graham Reid


1. USA

2. UK

3. Australia

4. Canada


1. 1238

2. 2183

3. 1283

4. 1328

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7. Which of the following countries announced honorary citizenship for Pakistani teenage activistMalala Yousafzai for her contribution in risking her life promoting education for young women?

1. UK

2. Canada

3. Russia

4. Belgium

8. Who has been selected for the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013 for his imageMother’s little heedful at the awards ceremony held at Natural History Museum in London?

1. Udayan Rao Pawar

2. Bhumika Bhatia

3. Sudip Bhattacharya

4. Dipti Desai

9. Which of the following countries joined hands with India’s Center for Development and AdvancedComputing (CDAC) to set up a research institution named, Center for Excellence in DNS Security thatwill help tackle cyber attacks and online security threats?

1. Russia

2. USA

3. Australia

4. Japan

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1. UK

2. Canada

3. Russia

4. Belgium


1. Udayan Rao Pawar

2. Bhumika Bhatia


4. Dipti Desai


1. Russia

2. USA

3. Australia

4. Japan

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1. UK

2. Canada

3. Russia

4. Belgium


1. Udayan Rao Pawar

2. Bhumika Bhatia


4. Dipti Desai


1. Russia

2. USA

3. Australia

4. Japan

current affairs 18 october 2013

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