General Awareness - Current Affairs & GK (2005-2006)

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed annually on June 26th, as established by the United Nations. This day aims to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving the goal of a world free of drug abuse.

According to the Brand Equity Survey of India for 2005, Colgate was ranked as the top brand. This survey measured brand equity across various categories in the Indian market, and Colgate's strong market presence and brand recall in the oral care segment secured the top position.

SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area) is the correct trade agreement among SAARC nations that came into effect from January 2006. It was signed in 2004 to promote trade and economic cooperation in South Asia by reducing tariffs and trade barriers. SCUBA is a diving term, ASEAN includes Southeast Asian nations, and ASSOCHAM is an Indian industry association.

Correct Answer: London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange was founded in Sweeting's Alley in London in 1801.

LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) is correct. The Sri Lankan government held peace talks with the LTTE during various periods in the early-to-mid 2000s to resolve the decades-long civil war. Naxalites and Maoists are leftist groups in India, while GNLF and DGHC are political organizations related to Darjeeling region in India, not Sri Lanka.

Full form of PURA is Provision of Urban Amenities to Rural Areas

Afghanistan is correct. After the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 and the establishment of a new democratic government, Afghanistan got its Parliament in 2005 after a gap of approximately 30 years. Nepal, Bhutan, and Maldives all had functioning parliaments throughout this period and did not have such a long gap.

Afghanistan is correct as the youngest member of SAARC. It joined the organization in April 2007, much later than the founding members (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) and other early members. The other options were all founding members from 1985.

15 years is correct. Lalu Prasad Yadav served as Chief Minister of Bihar from 1990 to 1997, followed by his wife Rabri Devi who served from 1997 to 2005. Together they ruled Bihar for approximately 15 years before Nitish Kumar took over in 2005. This period is often cited for the state's stagnation and decline.

L.K. Advani is correct. He served as BJP President from 2004 to 2005, immediately before Rajnath Singh took over in 2006. Atal Behari Vajpayee was never BJP President (he was Prime Minister), while Uma Bharati and Pramod Mahajan held other positions but not the presidency immediately before Rajnath Singh.

South Korea is correct. In 2005, South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk claimed to have created human embryonic stem cells through cloning, though this was later exposed as fraudulent. However, at the time this question was written, it was considered correct. Japan has had notable achievements in cloning, but the major human cloning controversy of that era centered on South Korean scientists.

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw is correct. As the founder and Chairman of Biocon, India's largest biotechnology company, she earned the title 'Biotech Queen of India' from The Economist in recognition of her pioneering work in the biotechnology sector. The other options are not primarily associated with the biotechnology industry.

Delhi is correct. Kolkata was the first Indian city to get Metro Railway Service in 1984. Delhi Metro began operations in 2002, making it the second city. The question refers to this historical sequence in India's urban transportation development.

Agriculture sector is correct. During 2005-06, India performed well in banking, industry, and services sectors, but agriculture was the weak link with slower growth. The agricultural sector grew at only around 2-3% during this period, lagging behind the broader 8-9% GDP growth, largely due to monsoon failures and stagnating productivity.

Japan is correct. Samurai Bonds are yen-denominated bonds issued in Japan by foreign borrowers. They are named after the legendary Japanese warriors. These bonds allow foreign governments and companies to raise capital in the Japanese market. The name Samurai specifically references Japanese cultural heritage.

The 2005 Kashmir earthquake is correct. On October 8, 2005, a massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck parts of Jammu & Kashmir, causing widespread devastation. Both India and Pakistan came together to coordinate relief efforts, with India sending aid and rescue teams to Pakistan-administered Kashmir - a rare moment of cooperation between the traditionally hostile neighbors during a humanitarian crisis.

Arcelor is a multinational steel manufacturing corporation that was formed in 2002 through the merger of Aceralia (Spain), Usinor (France), and Arbed (Luxembourg). It was the world's largest steel producer before merging with Mittal Steel in 2006 to form ArcelorMittal, which remains the dominant player in the global steel industry.

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty adopted in 1997 that commits industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It took effect in February 2005 and is directly aimed at combating global warming and climate change by setting binding emission reduction targets for developed nations.

A thermostat is a temperature-regulating device that maintains a system at a desired temperature by automatically switching heating or cooling equipment on and off. It works by sensing the current temperature and comparing it to a setpoint, then activating or deactivating equipment to maintain the target temperature level.

Swati Ghate is a former Indian chess player who won the National Women's Chess Championship. She represented India in international chess competitions and was one of the notable female chess players from India during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Mark Tully, the former BBC correspondent for India, is the author of 'The Heart of India.' The book is a collection of essays that reflects his deep understanding and observations of Indian society, politics, and culture during his extensive time living and reporting from India.

The 93rd Session of the Indian Science Congress was organized in Hyderabad in 2006. This annual scientific conference brings together scientists, researchers, and policymakers to discuss advancements in various fields of science and technology, with Hyderabad being a major hub for scientific institutions in India.

MPLADS stands for Member of Parliament's Local Area Development Scheme, launched in 1993 to enable MPs to recommend developmental works in their constituencies. Each MP is allocated funds annually for creating infrastructure like roads, schools, and hospitals in their local area, directly benefiting their constituents.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is headquartered in Manila, Philippines, established in 1966 to promote economic and social development in Asian and Pacific countries. It provides loans, technical assistance, and grants for development projects in its member countries across Asia and the Pacific.

The Sardar Sarovar Dam primarily benefits Gujarat (main beneficiary), Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra through water sharing and electricity generation. Rajasthan is not a direct beneficiary as it doesn't receive water from the Narmada river system, though it may receive some indirect benefits through power sharing arrangements.