18 September 2014 Current Affairs

Article Updated on 18 Sep, 2014 | RSS Feed for this Article

1) Chinese President Xi Jinping on 17 September 2014 commenced his three-day state visit to India from
Gujarat the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Before him, who was the last Chinese
President to visit India? Hu Jintao
Explanation: However, Hu Jintaos 2012 visit to India was to attend the BRICS Summit Meet during March
2012. Before him Chinese premier Wen Jiabao came to a state visit of India during 2010. Xi Jinpings state visit
is aimed at ramping up trade and investments. It will also be the occasion to have discussions on important
issues including the contentious border dispute between the two countries.

2) Despite numerous signs of recovery being seen in Indian economy, banking credit growth plunged to its
lowest level in last 5 years. What was the banking credit growth rate as on 31 August 2014, which was the
lowest in last 5 years? 10.9%
Explanation: The last time credit growth had dipped to similar levels was during November-December 2009,
after the 2008 financial crisis. Over the last two years, the credit growth of banks has slipped substantially. In
2012-13 and 2013-14, the credit growth slowed down to 13-14%, after growing at 22% annually since 2004-05.
Banking credit growth rate is one of the most powerful indicators of the countrys economic activity. It is a
function of growth in the gross domestic product (GDP). Over the last ten years, credit growth has been 2.5 to 3
times the real GDP growth in the economy. Thus, with the economic growth hitting a low of 4.7% in 2013-14,
the loan growth also slowed down to 14%.

3) Which Indian Institute of Management (IIM) of the country on 17 September 2014 launched
www.iboughtproperty.com, a crowdsourcing portal, with the objective of promoting transparency in the real
estate sector? IIM Bangalore
Explanation: The portal has been developed to create benchmarks for property values by collecting data
directly from buyers and validating the information using standard scientific practices. It will have the facility to
take information from the persons who have bought or sold properties in recent years about what they paid or
received after providing some basic details about the property. A market value report summarising information
across all respondents that will be shared with the public seeks to alleviate a key source of consumer anxiety.
Policymakers can utilise this data to study the effects of registration charges and stamp duty rates on disclosed
property prices and the impact of the parallel economy in this sector.

4) Shankar Barua, who allegedly committed on 17 September 2014, was the former Director General of Police
(DGP) of which state? Assam
Explanation: Baruas Guwahati residence was searched by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 28
August 2014 in connection with the multicrore Saradha chit-fund scam. He reportedly shot himself at his
residence. Barua headed the Assam Police as the DGP from July 2009 to January 2012.

5) What was the percentage drop in mortality rates for children under-five years worldwide as stated in the
pertaining report released by the United Nations Organisation on 16 September 2014? 49%
Explanation: The report titled Levels and Trends in Child Mortality 2014 revealed that in 2013, globally, 6.3
million children under five years of age died from mostly preventable causes. The neonatal period (0-27 days)
is the most vulnerable period for a newborn. It was therefore not surprising that in 2013, 2.8 million babies
across the world died during this period. The 2.8 million neonatal deaths account for 44% of all under-five
deaths in children.

6) Which country recorded the highest number of neonatal deaths in the world during 2012 as revealed in the
report released by the United Nations on 16 September 2014? India
Explanation: According to the report, of the three million neonatal deaths globally in 2012, 779,000 took place
in India. Over 300,000 newborn deaths in India were on the very first day of birth. Thus, India accounts for
about one-third of all babies dying globally on the first day of birth.