Manjit Bawa, who died recently, was a(n)

Name the operation which was launched by Israel on Dec 27, 2008, saying it wanted to stop Hamas rocket attacks on southern Israel.

India on Jan 3 signed an agreement with_____aimed at improving the recruitment process of workers and their working conditions, besides promoting legal migration. This is expected to eliminate unscrupulous agents and provide workers a fair deal.

John Atta-Mills will be the next leader of_, as declared the electoral commission on Jan 3 as it announ­ced the outcome of a presidential run-off in the West African nation.

Name the country whose Parliament on Jan 3 gave the government of Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy a vote of confidence after his predecessor Yves Leterme was forced out. Leterme quit amid allegations that his aides had sought to influence a court ruling related to the break-up of Fortis bank.

Andy Murray defeated World No. 1 Rafael Nadal 6-4,5-7, 6-3 in the final of the Abu Dhabi exhibition tennis tournament on Jan 3 to score a crucial blow ahead of the Australian Open. Murray belongs to

Name the veteran Awami League leader who will be named Bangladesh's next President by the party.

Which of the following Jammu and Kashmir-based political party formally dissociated itself from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) on Jan 4,2009?

The RBI on Jan 2 cut the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) by 0.50 percentage point to

The RBI on Jan 2 cut the Repo rate by 100 basis points to

The current Reverse Repo Rate is

Name the Sri Lankan town which has been the Tamil Tigers' administrative and political headquarters and has been captured by the army recently.

The government, in tandem with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), on Jan 2 announced the much-awaited second stimulus package. Which of the following statements are true about this?

A. The package is aimed at reversing the economic slow-down through higher public spending, providing additional liquidity for onward lending at lower interest rates, boosting sagging sale of commercial vehicles and making easier credit availability for the export sector, housing and small industries.

B. The package—the second within a month and last for this fiscal—marks a clear shift from reining in inflation to spurring growth in the grim scenario of a crumbling financial system and recession in the West so as to minimise the slowdown impact, even as the government's total revenue loss in 2008-09 is officially expected to be Rs 40,000 crore with a fiscal deficit of about 6 per cent of the GDP (gross domestic product), as per Planning Commission estimates.

C. While the RBI slashed its key policy rates yet again to inject an additional Rs 20,000 crore into the banking system, the government has asked the public sec-tor banks (PSBs) to hike their credit targets for the fiscal so as to ensure optimal disbursal of funds at least cost. Inflationary pressures are easing and additional liquidity is being made available to PSBs at cheaper rates.

D. Since last October, the RBI has pumped over Rs. 3,20,000 crore into the monetary system to usher in a low-interest regime, especially when inflation was coming down in the wake of the fall in the prices of fuel, metals and farm commodities.

According to the Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the fiscal deficit in 2008-09 would be over

Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and Bishan Singh Bedi figure among the players in the ICC's inaugural Hall of Fame list. Launching cricket's Hall of Fame as part of the ICC's centenary celebrations, Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said the initiative, in association with Federation of International Cricketers' Association (FICA), would provide the chance for the game to recognise its greatest achievers.

16. Name the state government which has filed a civil and criminal defamation suit against former chief minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy for allegedly making defamatory statements against the Chief Minister of

With Pakistan apparently disinclined to cooperate with India and the international community in investigations into Mumbai terror strikes, the ruling Congress has urged the Government of India to "look at" the recently passed United Nations Security Council resolution 1851 authorising states to use land-based operations in

Overruling objection from Pakistan and asserting that the project was in compliance with the Indus Water Treaty of____, the Union Cabinet has given its approval to the implementation of the strategically located 300 mw Kishan Ganga hydro power project in Jammu and Kashmir, revising its cost to Rs 3642 crore.

In a landslide victory reminiscent of the historic 1970 election that led to the birth of Bangladesh, the Awami League led by___has secured a remarkable majority in the Parliamentary elections. This massive mandate will give the parry the power to rewrite the Constitution and bring about the promised reforms.

Name the state govt which has decided to offer non- 28. staple food items free of cost to a sizeable 1.96 crore ration card-holders covered under the public distribution system. The offer, which will start from Jan, has been taken to make the people's pot of sweet Pongal sweeter.

The leading anti-apartheid activist Helen Suzman, who for decades served as a lone voice of parliamentary dissent against white minority rule, died at the age of 91. He belonged to

India has strongly objected to Pakistan allowing its farmers' organisation to register as a trademark. Apart from moving the Sindh High Court, India has decided to put on hold ail initiatives with Pakistan for a joint registration of 'Geographical Indication' (GI) for _____in Europe, accusing its neighbour of breach of trust.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is set to expand its 'Interactive Personalised Television and Video Services' (IPTV) to 98 cities and towns across India by ______besides planning a big broadband rollout across the country.

UPA government has signed the biggest-ever defence deal with_____, a $2.1-billion contract for eight! Boeing P-81 maritime reconnaissance aircraft for the Navy. India will get the first P-81 towards 2012-end or early 2013, with the other seven following in a phased manner by 2015-2016.

With the Centre planning an ordinance to allow to provide security to private establishments, leading corporate houses like Tata, Oberoi, Reliance and Infosys have approached the home ministry for specialised protection to their companies.