10 January 2014 – Current Affairs

Read this in Hindi

1) According to the Society of Indian Automobile Industry (SIAM), domestic car sales last year (2013) fell to 18,07,011 units from 19,98,703 units in the previous year (2012). This is the first time that annual car sales in India declined after how many years? – 11 years (The last year when annual car sales displayed negative growth was in year 2002. High inflation, fuel prices and interest rates – which resulted in high cost of ownership, are generally as the reason for this negative trend)

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2) What was India’s rank in the 2014 Nuclear Threat Initiative’s Nuclear Materials Security Index, which was released on 8 January 2014? – 23 (India’s 23 rank was among 25 countries included in this index, which basically throws light on the level of nuclear material security in the world. India has been ranked below its two nuclear-armed neighbours – Pakistan and China. India received 41 out of 100 points, which is improvement by one point from the 2012 score. China received 64 points and has been ranked at 20th spot, while Pakistan with 46 points stands at 22nd place. India and these countries are included in the list of 25 countries with one kilogram or more of these materials, which also includes all other nuclear-armed states)

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3) The RBI on 9 January 2014 allowed the relatives of non-resident Indians (NRIs) to become joint account holders in the savings bank account in the country. Such an account will be treated as resident bank account for all purposes and all regulations applicable to a domestic account will be applicable. The joint account holder facility will be extended to all types of resident accounts, including savings bank account. However, what facilities will not be provided for NRI’s relatives for this joint-account? – The relative cannot credit cheques, remittances, cash, card or any other proceeds to this account

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4) Al-Qaeda led forces recently took control of which strategic city of Iraq resulting in Iraqi government losing the control of this important town situated in Sunni-dominated region? – Fallujah (Fallujah is located just 65 kilometers west of capital Baghdad. This incident is being seen as yet another one to show that the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has not been able to maintain control of the country since the United States withdrew its troops in 2011)

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5) Former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on 9 January 2014 formally rejoined the BJP, more than a year after he deserted the party and floated his own outfit. What was the name of the party founded by him, which has now been merged with the BJP? – Karnataka Janata Paksha – KJP (Relegated to third position, the BJP had tasted the most humiliating defeat in the Assembly polls held on 8 May 2013 which saw the collapse of its first ever government in the south with KJP playing the spoiler garnering six seats with 10% vote share)

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6) According to data provided by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and Seafood Exporters Association of India on 9 January 2014, which country has recently overtaken South-East Asia as the largest market for Indian seafood exports? – The United States (Shipments to the US in April-November 2013 in rupee terms jumped 91% to Rs 5,392.3 crore, while the comparative number for South-East Asia was Rs 4,887.7 crore)