Rajasthan has the highest percentage of wasteland in India at 25% of its geographical area. The Supreme Court ruled that co-operative societies do not fall under the Right to Information Act. The government plans to bring all post offices under core banking by January 2014. A committee will study demands for a High Court bench in Thiruvananthapuram. The new Land Acquisition Act will come into force on January 1st, 2014.

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Daily Current Affairs
(16th October 2013)
More than 460 lakh hectares wasteland in India: Rajasthan tops
The national land area of 3,166 lakh hectares, 14.8 % (467 lakh hectares) is categorized as wasteland.
Rajasthan tops the chart with 25% of its geographical area being wasteland, accounting for 18% of the
wasteland nationally. States with geographical area being wasteland are Jammu and Kashmir (75%),
Maharashtra (12%), Andhra Pradesh (13.6%), Odisha (10%), Jharkhand (14%) Chhattisgarh (8.5%), Kerala
(6.3%), Haryana (5%), Punjab (2%) etc
The Supreme Court of India Ruled That Co-Operative Societies do not fall within the ambit of RTI
Co-operative societies do not fall within the ambit of Right to Information Act, the Supreme Court has
said while quashing a Kerala government circular to bring all such societies within the scope of the
transparency law. A bench of justices KS Radhakrishnan and AK Sikri said mere supervision or regulation
of a body by government would not make that body a public authority and quashed the Kerala High
Court's order holding the circular valid.
Union Government of India Decided to Bring All Post Offices under Core Banking System
The Union Government of India on 15th October 2013 decided to bring all the post offices across India
under the core banking solution system to cover more people of rural areas with AADHAAR seeded
accounts. This will help the people to avail the benefits of various schemes including old age pension
and MGNREGA through direct benefits transfer.
Panel to study demand for High Court Bench in Thiruvananthapuram
The constitution of a committee comprising five senior judges by Chief Justice Manjula Chellur to study
the demand for setting up a High Court Bench in Thiruvananthapuram has revived hopes of establishing
a circuit Bench in the State capital. The committee, headed by Justice K.M. Joseph, will look into all
aspects of the long-stand demand for the Bench in Thiruvananthapuram.
Land Acquisition Act to come into force from 1 st Jan 2014
The government has said that the historic Land Acquisition Act replacing a 119-year-old legislation to
provide justice and fair compensation to farmers will come into force from 1st January 2014.
Indian Navy inducts largest offshore patrol vessel ‘INS Sunayna’ into service
Indian Navy inducted its largest offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna into service at Kochi on 15th October
2013. The vessel will be deployed for anti piracy operations in Gulf of Aden. INS Sunayna will be more
helpful for Indian Navy in its continuous efforts in securing national interest in the Indian Ocean Region,
Vice Admiral Satish Soni told media after the commissioning of INS Sunayna.
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Temple stampede: 89 killed, over 100 injured in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh
Nearly 89 people were killed and over 100 injured in a stampede near a temple at Ratangarh in Madhya
Pradesh's Datia district on 13th October 2013. The stampede was caused by rumours that a bridge they
were crossing was about to collapse.
India and Finland Signed an Agreement to produce ethanol
India signed an agreement with Finland on 15 October 2013 to produce indigenous ethanol and reduce
country’s dependence on its import. It is a first-of-its-kind initiative to promote use of clean technology
in India. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Finnish clean technology firm Chempolis will set up
a pilot project to produce ethanol, bio-chemicals and bio-coal from biomass residual matters.
Switzerland signs agreement with OECD, puts an end to banking secrecy
Switzerland, the country most noted for its anonymous numbered bank accounts and tight banking
secrecy became the world’s 58th nation on 15th October 2013 to sign the Multilateral Convention on
Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters with Paris-based Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) which has pushed for the agreement has called it the end of
Swiss Banking Secrecy. Switzerland is the world's biggest centre for offshore financial assets and
unnamed bank accounts which have often been hidden from the tax authorities.
International White Cane Day observed on 15th October
International White Cane Day observed on 15th October 2013 all over the world. The day is celebrated to
let people know the importance of the white cane and to promote a safe environment for its users. The
cane also known as Hoover cane named after Dr Richard Hoover is designed primarily as a mobility tool
to detect objects in the path of the user.
7.1 magnitude quake hits Cebu, Philippines; more than 100 killed
More than 100 people were killed, when a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Cebu city, Philippines on 15th
October 2013, the country's second most important trading and economic city.
Rafael Nadal topped the ATP Ranking
Spain’s Rafael Nadal on 14th October 2013 topped the ATP rankings, while Serbian Novak Djokovic
finished 2nd. It is the first time Nadal has topped the ranking since July 2011. Association of Tennis
Professionals (ATP) top 5 as of 7th October 2013: 1. Rafael Nadal (Spain), 2. Novak Djokovic (Serbia), 3.
Andy Murray (Britain), 4. David Ferrer (Spain), 5. Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina).
The Women's Tennis Association’s (WTA) top 5 as of 14th October 2013: 1. Serena Williams (USA), 2.
Victoria Azarenka (Belarus), 3. Maria Sharapova (Russia) 4. Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland), 5. Li Na
(China).
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Fourth India-US Economic and Financial Partnership Meeting held
The 4th annual meeting of the India-US Economic and Financial Partnership was held at the IMF
headquarters in Washington DC on 13th October 2013. During the meeting, India and the US agreed to
further strengthen bilateral economic ties and work towards a greater understanding of investment
related issues.
International Day of Rural women observed on 15th October
International Day of Rural women was observed on 15th October 2013 across the world to recognize the
critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and
rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty. This day was established by
the General Assembly on 18 December 2007. The first International Day of Rural Women was observed
on 15th October 2008 by the United Nations.
Cuban-American Writer Oscar Hijuelos passes away
Oscar Hijuelos, the Cuban-American writer died on 13th October 2013 in New York City at the age of 62,
he was the first Latino to win the Pulitzer Prize.
Syria Joined UN Chemical Weapons Convention
Syria on 14th October 2013 officially joined the United Nations Chemical Weapons Convention, which
outlaws production and use of chemical weapons. Syria is the 190th country to join the convention. Only
six countries have yet to sign the international treaty are 1.Israel, 2.Myanmar, 3.Angola, 4.Egypt, 5.North
Korea and 6.South Sudan.
Model Questions:
1. Which the following Indian States accounting for highest percentage of wasteland?
1. Jammu and Kashmir
2. Rajasthan
3. Madhya Pradesh
4. Uttar Pradesh
2. The constitution of a committee comprising five senior judges to study demand for High Court
Bench in Thiruvananthapuram, headed by
1. B. Radhakrishnan
2. K.M. Joseph
3. K. T. Sankaran
4. V. Chitambaresh
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3. The government has said that the historic Land Acquisition Act replacing a 119-year-old legislation
to provide just and fair compensation to farmers will come into force from
1. 1st November 2013
2. 1st December 2013
3. 1st January 2014
4. 1st February 2014
4. Indian Navy inducted its largest offshore patrol vessel _________ at Kochi on 15th October 2013 for
anti piracy operations in Gulf of Aden?
1. INS Sunayna
2. INS Sumedha
3. INS Sumitra
4. INS Saryu
5. Which of the following Countries has signed an agreement with India to produce indigenous
ethanol and reduce country’s dependence on its import?
1. Russia
2. Finland
3. Canada
4. Australia
6. Which of the following countries became the world’s 58th nation on 15th October 2013 to sign a
agreement (end of Swiss Banking Secrecy) Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD)?
1. Sweden
2. Switzerland
3. Luxemburg
4. Denmark
7. International White Cane Day is celebrated to let people know the importance of the white cane
and to promote a safe environment for its users, observed on
1. 14th October
2. 15th October
3. 16th October
4. 17th October
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8. _____________on 14th October 2013 topped the ATP rankings first time since July 2011.
1. Novac Djokovic
2. Andy Murray
3. David Ferrer
4. Rafael Nadal
9. The 4th annual meeting of the India-US Economic and Financial Partnership to further strengthen
bilateral economic ties and work towards a greater understanding of investment related issues was
held in
1. New Delhi
2. New York
3. Washington DC
4. Bangalore
10. On which date International Day of Rural women was observed across the world to recognize the
critical role and contribution of rural women
1. October 14th
2. October 15th
3. October 16th
4. October 17th
11. Which of the following countries officially joined (190th Member) the United Nations Chemical
Weapons Convention, which outlaws production and use of chemical weapons?
1. Egypt
2. Angola
3. Syria
4. Israel
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