January Current Affairs Questions Answers: 25 January 2013

1. Eminent government scientist and head of the Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India, has been awarded a top Chinese science award for his contribution to scientific cooperation between the two countries. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the top government-affiliated research institution in natural sciences, gave the 2012 award to him besides two other scientists from Russia and Germany. Can you name him?
[Category: World Latest News Current Affairs]
[A] CNR Rao
[B] Vijay P. Bhatkar
[C] Sunil Mukhi
[D] Abhay Ashtekar


2. A one-man committee will probe whether US retail giant Walmart had indulged in lobbying activities by violating Indian laws to gain access to its market, the government announced on Thursday, 24th Jan 2013, more than a month after a major uproar over the issue. The Union Cabinet decided that the probe would be conducted by a retired judge of Supreme Court or Chief Justice of a high court. The committee will inquire into recent media reports on disclosures of Walmart before the US Senate regarding their lobbying activities and details (and) whether Walmart undertook any activities in India in contravention of any Indian law. As per the lobbying disclosure reports filed by Walmart with the US Senate, the company has spent close to ____________ since 2008 on its various lobbying activities, including on the issues related to "enhanced market access for investment in India".
[Category: Trade and Business Current Affairs]
[A] $5 million
[B] $15 million
[C] $20 million
[D] $25 million


3. The Centre on Thursday, 24 Jan 2013, asked Tamil Nadu government to reconsider its decision to ban the screening of KamalHaasan's film saying the Supreme Court had in a verdict held that the censor board's view on such matters was binding on all. The Supreme Court of India, in Prakash Jha's matter, had the occasion of considering the various provisions of the Cinematograph Act and juxtaposing them against the law and order powers which the state government has under the Constitution. The Supreme Court was very categorical that Article 246, seventh schedule, list one, entry sixty gives the central government the powers to certify films for exhibition and once the Central Board for Film Certification has taken a particular view, it binds all the other instrumentalities of the state. Can you name the film for which TN Govt has put the ban?
[Category: India January 2013 Current Affairs]
[A] Manmadan Ambu
[B] Vishwaroopam
[C] Dasavathaaram
[D] Unnaipol Oruvan


4. A US federal court on Thursday sentenced Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley aka Daood Gilani to _______ years in prison for his role in the ISI-LeT sponsored 26/11 attack on Mumbai, with the judge expressing unhappiness over the prosecution seeking a relatively light term given the magnitude of Headley's offences. The 52-year-old Headley had entered into a plea bargain with the US investigators under which he escaped death sentence.
[Category: World US Current Affairs]
[A] 25
[B] 30
[C] 35
[D] 40


5. Following permission by the Himachal Pradesh Assembly speaker to allow Doon MLA and Congress party general secretary, who has been accused in the Hoshiarpur girl murder case, to take oath, Chief Judicial Magistrate Bhawna Jain on Tuesday directed the jail authorities to produce the MLA on before the Speaker for the swearing-in January 24, 2013. He had not taken the oath on January 8 at Dharamshala as he surrendered in Panchkula that day for he was wanted by police for the murder of a 24-year-old dalit woman, Jyoti, whose body was found along the roadside in Sector 21 of Panchkula on November 22. Can you name the MLA?
[Category: Politics Current Affairs]
[A] Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu
[B] Kaul Singh Thakur
[C] Surinder Bairagi
[D] Ram Kumar Chaudhary