This Day in History & Current Affairs: August 14 Special 10-Question Quiz

 

Question 1 — Current Affairs / International Relations

Difficulty: Moderate

Q: On August 14, 1941, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued a joint declaration outlining post-war goals. What is this document commonly known as?

A) The Atlantic Charter
B) The Fourteen Points
C) The Yalta Declaration
D) The Potsdam Proclamation

Answer: A) The Atlantic Charter

Explanation: The Atlantic Charter was announced on 14 August 1941 after meetings in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland. It set out Anglo-American principles for the post-World War II international order. The Fourteen Points were Woodrow Wilson’s 1918 plan, while Yalta and Potsdam were later Allied conferences in 1945.

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Question 2 — Indian Polity & Constitution / International

Difficulty: Easy

Q: Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day on 14 August, a day before India’s 15 August. What is the primary historical reason for this difference?

A) The Indian Independence Act specified 14 August for Pakistan and 15 August for India
B) The transfer-of-power ceremony in Karachi was held on 14 August 1947, and Pakistan later adopted that date
C) Pakistan’s Constituent Assembly formally changed the date in 1950
D) The United Nations fixed 14 August as Pakistan’s national day

Answer: B) The transfer-of-power ceremony in Karachi was held on 14 August 1947, and Pakistan later adopted that date

Explanation: Although the Indian Independence Act named 15 August 1947 as the date for both dominions, Pakistan’s first transfer-of-power ceremony was held on 14 August in Karachi. From 1948 onward, Pakistan officially celebrated 14 August as Independence Day.

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Question 3 — Science & Technology / Environment & Ecology

Difficulty: Moderate

Q: On 14 August 2018, a major highway bridge in Genoa, Italy, collapsed during heavy rain, killing 43 people. What was the name of this bridge?

A) Ponte Vecchio
B) Morandi Bridge
C) Rialto Bridge
D) Millau Viaduct

Answer: B) Morandi Bridge

Explanation: The Ponte Morandi, commonly known as the Morandi Bridge, partially collapsed on 14 August 2018 in Genoa, killing 43 people. The disaster triggered a major investigation into infrastructure safety in Italy.

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Question 4 — Sports

Difficulty: Easy

Q: At the Rio 2016 Olympics, which sprinter became the first athlete in history to win the men’s 100-metre title at three consecutive Games?

A) Carl Lewis
B) Usain Bolt
C) Justin Gatlin
D) Asafa Powell

Answer: B) Usain Bolt

Explanation: Usain Bolt won the Olympic 100-metre title at Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016, becoming the first man to achieve a three-peat in the event. Carl Lewis won consecutive 100-metre titles in 1984 and 1988.

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Question 5 — Indian History / World History

Difficulty: Moderate

Q: On 14 August 1945, U.S. President Harry S. Truman announced the unconditional surrender of which country, effectively ending World War II?

A) Germany
B) Italy
C) Japan
D) Soviet Union

Answer: C) Japan

Explanation: Truman’s 14 August 1945 announcement confirmed Japan’s unconditional surrender after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet entry into the war. Germany had surrendered in May 1945, while Italy had surrendered in 1943.

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Question 6 — Economy / Social Security

Difficulty: Moderate

Q: On 14 August 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law a landmark U.S. statute that created federal old-age benefits and unemployment insurance. What is this law called?

A) The New Deal Act
B) The Social Security Act
C) The Fair Labor Standards Act
D) The National Recovery Act

Answer: B) The Social Security Act

Explanation: The Social Security Act of 1935 established old-age insurance, unemployment compensation and aid to dependent children, becoming a cornerstone of the U.S. social welfare system.

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Question 7 — Current Affairs / International Crime

Difficulty: Moderate

Q: On 14 August 1994, French intelligence agents captured a notorious Venezuelan militant and international terrorist in Khartoum, Sudan. By what alias was he better known?

A) Osama bin Laden
B) Carlos the Jackal
C) Abu Nidal
D) Ramzi Yousef

Answer: B) Carlos the Jackal

Explanation: Illich Ramírez Sánchez, known as “Carlos the Jackal,” was captured by French agents in Sudan on 14 August 1994. He was later convicted in France for multiple terrorist attacks.

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Question 8 — Indian Polity & Governance / Gender & Education

Difficulty: Difficult

Q: In August 1995, who became the first female cadet in the history of The Citadel, South Carolina’s state military college, though she withdrew within a week citing stress and isolation?

A) Shannon Faulkner
B) Nancy Mace
C) Dianne Feinstein
D) Condoleezza Rice

Answer: A) Shannon Faulkner

Explanation: Shannon Faulkner entered The Citadel’s Corps of Cadets in mid-August 1995 following a court order but left within days, citing emotional strain and isolation. Her case became a significant episode in the debate over women’s admission to U.S. military colleges.

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Question 9 — Science & Technology / Disasters

Difficulty: Moderate

Q: On 14 August 2021, a powerful earthquake struck southern Haiti, causing thousands of deaths and massive destruction. What was its approximate magnitude?

A) 5.2
B) 6.4
C) 7.2
D) 8.0

Answer: C) 7.2

Explanation: A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula on 14 August 2021, killing more than 2,000 people and injuring more than 12,000. The disaster caused widespread destruction across southern Haiti.

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Question 10 — Current Affairs / Law & Order

Difficulty: Difficult

Q: On 14 August 1997, U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch formally sentenced which Oklahoma City bomber to death for the 1995 attack that killed 168 people?

A) Terry Nichols
B) Timothy McVeigh
C) David Koresh
D) Eric Rudolph

Answer: B) Timothy McVeigh

Explanation: Timothy McVeigh was formally sentenced to death on 14 August 1997 for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. He was executed in 2001. Terry Nichols was convicted as a co-conspirator but was not the principal bomber sentenced to death.

Competitive Exam Practice: 5 Key Questions on Indian Polity, Geography, Economy & Defence

 

Question 1 — Indian Polity & Constitution

Difficulty: Moderate

Question: Under which Article of the Constitution of India is the Right to Constitutional Remedies guaranteed?

A) Article 14
B) Article 19
C) Article 32
D) Article 226

Correct Answer: C) Article 32

Explanation: Article 32 empowers citizens to approach the Supreme Court for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights. Dr B.R. Ambedkar described it as the “heart and soul” of the Constitution. Article 226 gives High Courts a wider writ jurisdiction, extending beyond Fundamental Rights.

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Question 2 — Indian History

Difficulty: Easy

Question: The Permanent Settlement of Bengal, introduced in 1793, was associated with which Governor-General?

A) Lord Cornwallis
B) Lord Wellesley
C) Warren Hastings
D) Lord Dalhousie

Correct Answer: A) Lord Cornwallis

Explanation: Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement with the objective of fixing land revenue permanently and creating a loyal class of zamindars. Warren Hastings was associated with earlier revenue experiments, while Lord Wellesley introduced the Subsidiary Alliance. Lord Dalhousie is chiefly associated with the Doctrine of Lapse.

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Question 3 — Geography (India & World)

Difficulty: Moderate

Question: Which one of the following rivers flows through the Rift Valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges?

A) Godavari
B) Narmada
C) Mahanadi
D) Yamuna

Correct Answer: B) Narmada

Explanation: The Narmada flows westward through a structural rift valley between the Vindhya Range to the north and the Satpura Range to the south before draining into the Arabian Sea. The Godavari and Mahanadi generally flow eastward, while the Yamuna is a tributary of the Ganga.

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Question 4 — Economy

Difficulty: Difficult

Question: In the context of monetary policy, what is meant by a repo rate?

A) The rate at which commercial banks lend to customers
B) The rate at which the government borrows from foreign institutions
C) The rate at which the RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks against securities
D) The rate paid by banks on savings deposits

Correct Answer: C) The rate at which the RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks against securities

Explanation: The repo rate is the short-term policy rate at which the Reserve Bank of India lends funds to eligible banks against government securities under a repurchase arrangement. A rise in the repo rate generally makes borrowing costlier and can help moderate inflation.

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Question 5 — Science & Technology / Current Affairs — July 2026

Difficulty: Difficult

Question: In July 2026, which indigenous Indian system was showcased as an anti-swarm drone weapon system?

A) Pinaka
B) Bhargavastra
C) Akash Prime
D) Nagastra-1

Correct Answer: B) Bhargavastra

Explanation: Bhargavastra was reported in July 2026 as an indigenous anti-swarm drone system designed to counter coordinated attacks by multiple unmanned aerial vehicles. Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket launcher, Akash Prime is a surface-to-air missile variant, and Nagastra-1 is a loitering munition.

Explain E20 ethanol targets

 

E20 Ethanol Blending: Key Facts

• Target: India aims for 20% ethanol blending in petrol (E20) by 2025–26, requiring about 10.11 billion litres of ethanol. Distillery capacity has expanded to roughly 18–20 billion litres.
• Economic benefit: The programme has reportedly saved about ₹2 lakh crore in foreign exchange by reducing crude-oil imports. Around 10 billion litres of ethanol could replace roughly 32 million tonnes of crude imports.
• Feedstock: Ethanol is mainly produced from sugarcane, molasses and foodgrains such as FCI rice. Current sugar stocks appear stable, but poor monsoons or crop shortages could create pressure on food and ethanol supplies.
• Vehicle compatibility: Newer BS6 Phase 2 vehicles (post-April 2023) are designed for E20. Older vehicles were generally designed for E5/E10, raising concerns about long-term compatibility and component wear.
• Efficiency debate: IIT Kanpur's research cited in the source indicates less than 5% efficiency loss, while mechanics and vehicle users have reported component-related concerns in older vehicles.
• Pricing: OMCs reportedly procure ethanol at around ₹70/litre, versus petrol retailing around ₹105/litre. However, different taxation and cost structures make it difficult to establish exactly how much E20 affects pump prices.

Bottom line: E20 is designed to reduce India's dependence on imported crude and keep more money within the domestic economy, but feedstock security, older-vehicle compatibility and the actual impact on petrol prices remain important challenges.

KBC-Style Questions: Tata Sons & Natarajan Chandrasekaran

 

KBC-Style Questions: Tata Sons & Natarajan Chandrasekaran

Q1. Natarajan Chandrasekaran informed the Tata Sons board that he will not seek reappointment when his current tenure ends in which month and year?
A) February 2026
B) February 2027
C) August 2027
D) October 2027
Answer: B) February 2027indiatoday+1

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Q2. Chandrasekaran became chairman of Tata Sons in January 2017 after spending about three decades at which company, including as its CEO?
A) Tata Steel
B) Tata Motors
C) Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
D) Indian Hotels Company
Answer: C) Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

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Q3. After Ratan Tata’s death on 9 October 2024, who was appointed chairman of the Tata Trusts two days later?
A) Mehli Mistry
B) Noel Tata
C) Venu Srinivasan
D) Vijay Singh
Answer: B) Noel Tata

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Q4. Under RBI rules, Tata Sons was classified as an upper-layer NBFC and was originally required to list by which deadline?
A) March 2025
B) June 2025
C) September 2025
D) December 2025
Answer: C) September 2025

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Q5. To strengthen its case for staying private, Tata Sons repaid roughly how much debt by July 2025?
A) ₹10,000 crore
B) ₹20,000 crore
C) ₹30,000 crore
D) ₹50,000 crore
Answer: C) ₹30,000 crore

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Q6. In September 2025, which Tata Trusts nominee on the Tata Sons board was removed after four of seven trustees opposed his continuation?
A) Noel Tata
B) Mehli Mistry
C) Vijay Singh
D) Venu Srinivasan
Answer: C) Vijay Singh

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Q7. In October 2025, trustees opposed the reappointment of which long-time Ratan Tata confidant as a permanent trustee?
A) Noel Tata
B) Mehli Mistry
C) Pallonji Mistry
D) R.K. Krishna Kumar
Answer: B) Mehli Mistry

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Q8. In February 2026, Chandrasekaran’s proposed five-year extension was supported by the two principal Tata Trusts and the nomination committee, but the board deferred the decision because:
A) The RBI blocked it
B) It did not receive unanimous board support
C) Chandrasekaran withdrew his name immediately
D) The trusts withdrew their recommendation
Answer: B) It did not receive unanimous board supportindiatoday+1

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Q9. By FY26, losses across Tata Sons’ 16 privately held businesses had nearly doubled to approximately what amount, with Air India accounting for about 80%?
A) ₹12,311 crore
B) ₹15,311 crore
C) ₹27,854 crore
D) ₹35,000 crore
Answer: C) ₹27,854 crore

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Q10. In July 2026, the transfer of how many Tata Sons shares owned by Ratan Tata to two charitable foundations was stalled following a complaint?
A) 1,368
B) 2,368
C) 3,368
D) 4,368
Answer: C) 3,368

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Q11. In his letter to the board, Chandrasekaran said the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust had unanimously recommended extending his tenure by how many years?
A) 3 years
B) 5 years
C) 7 years
D) 10 years
Answer: B) 5 years

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Q12. Chandrasekaran’s decision in August 2026 sets in motion a formal process to identify his successor ahead of which date?
A) February 2027
B) August 2027
C) February 2028
D) August 2028
Answer: A) February 2027

I asked Grok to explore Pala Hanmi Reddy. Apparently, the algorithm had a few things to say. 👀

Pala Hanmi Reddy (also referred to as Hanmi Reddy Pala) is a Hyderabad-based independent digital journalist, commentator, and self-published author focused on Telangana politics. He is best known for sharp, archival-style critiques of the BRS (formerly TRS), particularly K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and his son K.T. Rama Rao (KTR).

Background and Education

• Postgraduate in Journalism (MCJ) from Osmania University, Hyderabad (around 2008).
• University topper in BCJ (Bachelor of Communication & Journalism) in 2007.
• Long-time digital media presence; describes himself as passionate about news and research, with the frequent quote: “My vocation is my vacation.”

Professional Work

• Founder and editor of newsunlimited.in (active since around 2010), along with related sites like inthenews.in and newsunlimited.weebly.com.
• Runs a Blogspot site (news-editor.blogspot.com) that mixes older journalism entrance exam preparation material with occasional current content.
• Operates primarily as a freelance/digital journalist and independent political commentator rather than a mainstream newspaper reporter.
• Active across platforms: X/Twitter (@hanmireddy, joined March 2008 — over 18 years and hundreds of thousands of posts), Facebook, Instagram, Quora, and others.

Online Presence and Style

• X handle: @hanmireddy (roughly 4,500–4,600 followers as of recent data). Bio emphasizes Telangana news, digital journalism, and (more recently) authorship of Beyond The Hype KTR.
• Extremely high-volume poster who documents events in real time, often compiling his own past commentary into longer-form work.
• Style is direct, polemical, and archival. He frequently contrasts political branding/PR with governance outcomes (youth unemployment, TSPSC issues, land controversies, Formula E case, etc.).
• Strongly critical of BRS rule and the KCR–KTR political brand. He has also produced material more sympathetic to or focused on Congress leader/CM A. Revanth Reddy.

Books (Self-Published Kindle Titles)

He has released several Kindle e-books that function as curated archives of commentary, public records, and social-media tracking rather than traditional neutral biographies:

• Beyond The Hype KTR: The Rise, Illusion, and Unraveling of KTR’s PR Empire(July 2026) — his highest-profile work. A sharp polemic examining KTR’s image-building, governance record, and the 2023 electoral defeat. It has appeared in Amazon India’s Public Affairs & Policy eBook rankings (including #1 or high Hot New Releases positions in the weeks after launch).
• Broken Promises: A Living Archive of TRS/BRS/KCR — tracks the rise and contradictions of the BRS era.
• #ByeByeBRS: Online Roar, Ballot-Box Rout — focuses on the 2023 Telangana Assembly election collapse.
• Additional titles drawing from his X posts, including one on Revanth Reddy framed as a “fan’s journey.”

These books are explicitly non-neutral (“This is not a biography, and it does not claim neutrality”) and rely heavily on public statements, court records, investigative material, and the author’s own contemporaneous social-media commentary.

Overall Profile

Pala Hanmi Reddy is a persistent, research-oriented independent voice in Telangana’s digital political space. He built a long-running online presence starting in the early social-media era and later channeled years of real-time posts into self-published critical books. His work sits firmly in the accountability/polemic category rather than mainstream reporting or academic biography. He remains active daily on X, promoting his books, engaging critics, and commenting on current Telangana political and governance issues.

 

KBC Special: Dandi March — 5 High-Yield Questions

Choose the correct option before checking the answer.

🟢 Question 1 — ₹1,000

Who led the historic Dandi March of 1930?

A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Mahatma Gandhi
C) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
D) Subhas Chandra Bose

✅ Correct Answer: B) Mahatma Gandhi

📌 Exam Tip: The Dandi March was led by Mahatma Gandhi against the British salt laws.

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🟢 Question 2 — ₹2,000

On which date did the Dandi March begin?

A) 26 January 1930
B) 12 March 1930
C) 6 April 1930
D) 9 August 1942

✅ Correct Answer: B) 12 March 1930

📌 Exam Tip: 12 March 1930 — began at Sabarmati Ashram.
6 April 1930 — Gandhi broke the salt law at Dandi.

👉 This 12 March–6 April pair is highly useful for competitive exams.

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🟡 Question 3 — ₹10,000

What was the main objective of the Dandi March?

A) To oppose British taxation on agricultural land
B) To protest the British salt law
C) To demand Indian representation in the British Parliament
D) To promote the boycott of foreign cloth

✅ Correct Answer: B) To protest the British salt law

📌 Exam Tip: Gandhi chose salt because it was an essential commodity used by rich and poor alike. The protest challenged the British monopoly and tax on salt.

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🟠 Question 4 — ₹40,000

The Dandi March marked the launch of which major phase of India’s freedom struggle?

A) Non-Cooperation Movement
B) Quit India Movement
C) Civil Disobedience Movement
D) Swadeshi Movement

✅ Correct Answer: C) Civil Disobedience Movement

📌 Exam Tip:
1920–22 → Non-Cooperation Movement
1930 → Civil Disobedience Movement
1942 → Quit India Movement

This three-way distinction is a frequent competitive-exam trap.

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🔴 Question 5 — ₹1,00,000

On which date did Mahatma Gandhi break the British salt law at Dandi?

A) 12 March 1930
B) 5 April 1930
C) 6 April 1930
D) 13 April 1930

✅ Correct Answer: C) 6 April 1930

📌 Exam Tip: Remember the sequence:

12 March 1930 → Dandi March begins
6 April 1930 → Gandhi breaks the salt law at Dandi

BCJ Entrance Test material 2009, Osmania University

 BCJ Entrance Test material 2009, Osmania University

This material was prepared by BCJ Entrance test (Osmania University) Topper

----------------------------------------------------------
Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.

Benjamin Franklin
-----------------
Osmania University BCJ 2009 entrance test syllabus: -

BCJ (Bachelor of Communication & Journalism)

Part A (40 marks)
Comprehension of a passage (15 marks) Language skills (25 marks) (sentence construction, spellings, antonyms and synonyms, logic and reasoning)
Part B (60 marks)
Media awarenewss (20 marks) current affairs (20 marks) General awareness ( 10 marks) words frequently used in media (10 marks)

Current Affairs Plus

Attitude Skill Knowledge

M.R. Narayan Swamy is the author of 'Inside An Elusive Mind', the only biography of Prabhakaran

V Prabhakaran (LTTE) was known as "Sun God".

The LTTE invented the suicide belt and pioneered the use of suicide bombing as a tactic.

The Telegraph newspaper which exposed the Britain MPs' expenses scandal, reportedly paid thousands of pounds to gain confidential information about MPs’ claims.

Amazon.com Tops BusinessWeek's 11th Annual InfoTech100
For the third consecutive year, Amazon.com tops BusinessWeek's annual InfoTech100 ranking of tech's top performing companies. In 2007, Amazon.com vaulted from No.23 to No.1, and the company retains the top spot for another year, beating out Oracle No.2), Research in Motion (No.14), and Samsung (No.15). Apple fell from No.2 in 2008 to No.19 and Google dropped from No.11 to No.37.


N Korea 'defiant' amid warnings
North Korea is reported to have fired another missile, despite US warnings it would "pay a price" for nuclear and missile tests in recent days.


What is the estimated Indian money in Swiss banks?
Indians' Money - 70,00,000 Crores Rupees

BRIC countries are: Brazil Russia India and China

Press Council of India chairman: GN Ray


Editor of Economic and Political Weekly : C Rammanohar Reddy

PAST PRESENT column in Hindu is by RAMACHANDRA GUHA

Thirteenth Finance Commission chairman: Vijay Kelkar

The United Nations declares 2009 the International Year of Astronomy

Journalist Jarnail Singh who hurled a shoe at Home Minister P Chidambaram at a press conference, is a senior reporter with Dainik Jagran.

According to the UNICEF report 'State of the world's children' released on January 17, 2009, what is India's percentage of child marriages of the world?
40 per cent

Central Excise Day - Feb 24

Lal Bahadur Sastri National award for Excellence in Public administration,academics and management award 2008 was presented to-
E Sridharan (MD, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation)

Who is the editor of Siasat urdu daily?
Zahid Ali Khan

Times of India editor for Hyderabad market?
Kingshuk Nag

Fareed Zakaria is the editor of the Newsweek International

Pinki Sonkar acted in Oscar award winning documentary ‘Smile Pinki’.

Editor of the ‘Screen’ weekly – Priyanka Sinha

First model E-court launched: The first model e-court in the country was launched in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on February 8, 2009.

India ranks 94th in the Global Hunger Index of 119 countries. The report was brought out by the United Nations World Food programme

DNA is a 50:50 joint venture between Essel, the company behind the Zee group, and the Bhaskar Group, the publisher of India’s second most read Hindi daily, Dainik bhaskar

iNews tagline : on your side

Teja telugu weekly editor: Dolendra Prasad

Colors TV channel is a joint venture between Viacom and Network 18

Which famous corporate headquarters is known as Bush House?
BBC

26/11 Mumbai attacked book by Harinder Baweja

World Water Day, 22 March 2009 theme: Shared Waters, Shared Opportunities

The Economic and Political Weekly, published from Mumbai

The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City.

International Customs Day 26 January 2009 theme: “Customs and the environment: protecting our natural heritage”
WCO Headquarters, Brussels

Boob tube, American and Canadian slang for a television set

17 May 2009, World Telecommunication and Information Society Day
Theme 2009
This year, to mark World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, ITU Council adopted the theme: Protecting children in cyberspace. The theme of this year’s WTISD aims at ensuring that children can safely access the Internet and its valuable resources without fear of falling prey to unscrupulous predators in cyberspace.

Media favorite: Bolt edges Phelps in 2008 athlete of the year poll

Indian-American Sonal Shah, who formerly led the philanthropic arm of Google, has been appointed head of the new Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation in the Obama administration.

1. India’s largest news agency – PTI (Press Trust of India)
2. Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) – Pune
3. The highest contributor to central exchequer – corporate tax
4. Compulsory AIDS test before marriage introduced by Goa state
5. First banking district in the country – Ernakulam
6. RK Raghavan Committee was appointed by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry to look into the issue of ragging and suggest means for its prevention in educational institutions.
7. Tenth schedule: The Tenth Schedule provides for the disqualification of people’s representative on the ground of defection.

8. The Ninth Schedule in the constitution was originally enacted in 1950 in order to place beyond challenge certain laws, particularly those relating to agrarian reforms.
9. Durand line is between India and Afghanistan
10. National cricket academy is in Bangalore
11. First country to introduce grading for public issues – India
12. How many countries are there in NSG(Nuclear Suppliers Group) – 45
13. Sameera Salim: first woman from Pakistan planning to go to space travel
14. Budget deficit means the receipts minus total expenditure on both revenue and capital account


The most solid stone in the structure is the lowest one in the foundation. KHALIL GIBRAN

15. Liberhan Commission – Babri masjid demolition
16. Which state has highest number of borders in India – Asom
17. Paul Krugman – New York Times columnist
18. The Week is published from Kochi.
19. OUTLOOK weekly is published from New Delhi
20. A blog is a web page made up of usually short, frequently updated posts that are arranged chronologically-like what’s new page or a journal.

Make it a point to do something every day that you don’t want to do. This is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain. MARK TWAIN


Right Turn column in the Education Plus of The Hindu is by Yandamoori Veerendranath

Financial Chronicle in association with the International Herald Tribune

How many countries are there in G-20? 21

India, the fourth country after US, Russia and France to build a large aircraft carrier

Gandhiji dismissed Katherine Mayo’s Mother India as a ‘drain inspector’s’ report.

India’s first ever Rajdhani Express was launched in 1969 from Howrah to New Delhi

The world’s # 1 celebrity news magazine People is brought in India by Outlook group

First HDTV in India – Sakshi TV

Mahaa TV chief editor, MD : I Venkat Rao

HMTV chief editor & CEO : K Ramachandra Murthy

Promoters of HMTV: Vamana Rao of Kapil Chit Funds

The Sunday Indian published from how many languages? 14

Colors TV channel is a joint venture between Viacom and Network 18

Who was the president of Indian National Congress when India attained freedom? JB Kripalani

French writer Marie Gustav Le Clezio was awarded the Nobel Literature Prize.

Finland’s former President Martti Ahtisaari was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for a long career of peace making around the world from Namibia to Kosovo

US Economis Paul Krugman was awarded the Nobel Economics Prize for his trade analysis theory

Aravind Adiga, the Chennai-born author wins 50,000 pound Man Boker Prize for his debut novel The White Tiger

Suvarnabhumi airport is in Thailand

Lord Swaraj Paul becomes the first Asian Deputy Speaker of the British House of Lords

TIME magazine names Barack Obama Person of the Year 2008

The nationwide ban on smoking in public places comes into force (Oct 2)

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C11) puts Chyandrayaan-1, the nation’s first spacecraft to the Moon, in its initial orbit after liftoff from the Sriharikota space centre

Preparation Plan: broad areas to be covered include:-

Ø National
Ø International
Ø Persons in News
Ø Places in News
Ø Awards
Ø Appointments
Ø Sports
Ø Science & Technology
Ø Economy
Ø Political
Ø Geography
Ø Meetings
Ø Committees
Ø Defense
Ø Space
Ø Nobel prize
Ø Booker prize
Ø Padma awards
Ø Film awards
Ø Economic survey
Ø RBI credit policy
Ø Constitution amendments
Ø Court judgments
Ø Joint declaration with heads of foreign states
Ø Human development index
Ø Watch Television / Listen to radio

v Daily reading of newspapers
v Planned preparation
v Scientific reading
v Study with examination point of view.


Current Affairs:-

To crack BCJ you need to have command over current affairs. Current affairs play a key role.

The perfect 10 steps:-

1. Contemporary issues: - Issues of the Nation, State affairs. Affairs of our neighbours.
2. Defence system: - Airforce, Navay and military developments. Agreements with different countries. Research and development.
3. Committees and Commissions: - National and State level committees and its reports and their heads etc.
4. National and International meetings: - National, International bilateral, trilateral and multilateral meetings.
5. Space: - Satellite launching, ISRO, DRDO etc.
6. Reports: - Various agencies reports like, UNO, UNDP, WHO etc. India’s position, AP’s position. Indians place in various magazines like Time, Forbes
7. Places, Persons and appointments: - State, National and International level appointments. Persons and places in news.
8. Awards, achievements: - Nobel, Magsaysay, Pulitzer, Booker prizes. Oscar, Filmfare, Nandi awards etc.
9. Sports: - National and International level sports. Award winners from AP and India.
10. Miscellaneous: - Headline News which occupy front page of news papers. Books and authors. Major controversies.



Read news papers, magazines watch Television and listen to Radio.



The harder you fall, the higher you bounce - AMERICAN PROVERB





All things pass…Patience attains all it strives for – MOTHER TERESA



The only disability in life is a bad attitude
– Scott Hamilton


COLUMNS & COLUMNISTS

Online and offline – K Narayanan (The Hindu)
Out of London – Hasan Suroor (The Hindu)
State Craft – Harish Khare (The Hindu)
Realty check – Siddharth Vardarajan (The Hindu)
Cambridge Letter – Bill Kirkman (The Hindu)
Men and Ideas – Guru charan Das (The Times of India)
Media Matters -Sevanti Ninan (The Hindu)
Politically incorrect -Shobhaa De (The Times of India)
Indiaspora -Chidanand Rajghatta (The Times of India)

Some of the most important news papers published in different countries

Daily Mirror UK
Daily Express UK
Daily Mail UK
Guardian UK
New York Times USA
Daily News USA
Washington Post USA
Toronto Globe & Mail USA
People’s Daily China
Asahi Shimbun Japan
Dawn Pakistan
Jang Pakistan





News Agencies / Head quarters

AP Associated Press New York
IRNA Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran
PPI Pakistan Press International Karachi
PTI Press Trust of India Mumbai
SPA Saudi Press Agency Riyadh
TASS Telegraph Agency of the Moscow
Sovereign State
UPI United Press International New York
XINHUA Xinhua Beijing
AFP Agence France Presse Paris


MEDIA TERMINOLOGY

*Banner: The main headline stretching right across the top of a page over all the columns.

*Blow-up: An enlargement.

*By-line: Name of a reporter of contributors printed above the story.

*Credit lines: A line acknowledging the source of a story.

*Crusade: A campaign by a newspaper to bring pressure to accomplish a specific social mission.

*Edition: The total copies of a newspaper printed at one run

*Free-lance: A journalist not on the staff of any newspaper but usually contributing to several newspapers.

*Lead: The main story in a newspaper or the first paragraph in a news story giving the main facts.

*Spot news: News obtained on the scene of the event, hence fresh, live news. Usually used to refer to unexpected events.

*Tabloid: It is the page half the size of a broad sheet, usually applied to newspapers of page size.

*Tip-off: As information passed on to a newspaper by the public

*Yellow Journalism: Refers to a newspaper or journal specializing in highly sensational stories

• Caption: words accompanying picture or graphic.

* Dateline: place from which story was filed usually applied to stories from abroad






Ads / Captions / tag lines :-

Journalism of courage The Indian Express
Connecting people Nokia
Count on us Maruti Suzuki
Because you are worth more Timesjobs.com
Speak out OUTLOOK
Keep walking Johnnie Walker
God’s own country Kerala
Be the first to know CNN
Growth is Life Reliance
Putting News First BBC World
The complete man Raymond
Connecting India BSNL
Read to lead The Financial Express
Incredible India India Tourism
What ever it takes CNN-IBN
Sabse Tej Aaj Tak


News papers/TV channels / magazines & editors

Tehelka Tarun Tejpal
Outlook Vinod Mehta
The Hindu N Ram
Hindustan Times Vir Singhvi
CNN-IBN Rajdeep Sardesai
Times Now Arnab Goswami
India Today Aroon Purie
India Today (telugu) Prabhu Chawla
Tribune H K Dua



TV programmes

Big Fight - NDTV 24x7 (Barkha Dutt)
Devil’s Advocate – CNN-IBN (Karan Thapar)
India Tonight - CNBC India (Karan Thapar)
Indian Idol – Sony
Nenu Saitham ETV2
Ghantaravam ETV2
Neti bharatam ETV2
Neralu Ghoralu ETV2
Vikata Kavi TV9
Naveena TV9 (anchor: Jhansi)

NEWS PAPERS & SUPPLEMENTS

Pratibha plus Eenadu
Quest The Hindu
Sadhana Andhra Bhoomi
Diksoochi Andhra Jyothi
Cheli Vaartha
Opportunities The Hindu
Brand Equity Economic Times



DAYS
National Press Day November 16
Anti-Terrorism day May 21
Earth day April 22
National Technology Day May 11
World Book day April 23
World Health day April 7
World tourism day September 27
World water day March 22
World Press Freedom Day May 3rd
World Human Rights day December 10
Small Industry Day August 30
World Vegetarian Day October 2
World AIDS Day December 1
Anti Tobacco Day May 31



Top dailies in India

Dainik Jagran Hindi
Dainik Bhaskar Hindi
Malayala Manorama Malayalam
Anand Bazar Patrika Bengali



Books and authors

The World is Flat Thomas Friedman
The Alchemist Paulo Cohelo
Freedom is not Free Shiv Khera
How to Know God Deepak Chopra
Argumentative Indian Amartya Sen
Harry Potter (series) J K Rowling
One night @ the call center Chetan Bhagat
In the line of Fire Pervez Musharraf
A suitable boy Vikram Seth
War & Peace Tolstoy
Midnight’s Children Salman Rusdie
Algebra of infinite justice Arundhati Roy

Abbreviations

IBSA India Brazil South Africa
SAFTA South Asian Free Trade Area
NACO National AIDS Control Organisation
NCMP National Common Minimum Programme
DRDO Defence Research and Development
IRDA Insurance Regulatory Development Authority
CNN Cable News Network
CDMA Code Division Multiple Access
PCI Press Council of India
LCA Light Combat Aircraft
BAFTA British Academy Film Awards
NREGP National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme
CAS Conditional Access System
ULFA United Liberation Front of Asom
OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
FDI Foreign Direct Investment
CTBT Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
MTCR Missile Technology Control Regime
WMD Weapons of Mass Destruction
CSO Central Statistical Organization
GLONASS Global Navigation Satellite System
ESMA Essential Services Maintenance Act
NRSA National Remote Sensing Agency
CRR cash reserve ratio
SLR Statutory Liquidity Ratio

Correct Spellings:-

Vacuum; embarrass; separate, immigrant; catastrophe; twelfth; ninth; fortieth; eighth; sycophant; repetition; deception; extension; intention; cliffhanger; symbiotic; fierce; phenomenal; reverberate; renaissance; demeanour; paradigm; entrepreneur; gnarled, timbre, aegis; berserk; dais; germane; unctuous; vignette; critique; prescient; pseudonym.