Daily Current Affairs - 4th October 2014

1) The rates of the tatkal tickets of Indian Railways went up from October 2014 with the railways deciding to sell 50% of the quota tickets using dynamic fare system. The ‘Premium Tatkal Ticket scheme’ became operational in how many trains from 1 October 2014? – Eighty

Explanation: Under this scheme Railways had asked all zones to identify five popular trains in their respective zone. The passengers will have to pay normal tatkal fare for 50% of the total tickets available. But for subsequent 10% tickets, 20% more will be charged which means after selling 50% of tatkal tickets, the Indian Railways will keep increasing the fare with the sale of tickets. The railways described the scheme as a preventive measure to deal with the menace of touts. However, this move was opposed by a large segment of passengers who see the scheme tailor-made to increase railways earnings. The Railways is also running three Premium trains on dynamic fare system.

2) The Indian contingent at 17th Asian Games concluded its campaign on 3 October 2014 as no Indian athletes would feature in any event on 4 October – the last day of the games. How many total medals were won by Indian the Indian contingent? – 57

Explanation: Indian aggregate tally of 57 medals included 11 gold medals, 10 silver and 36 bronze. India was currently at 8th position in the medals tally and its final position would be confirmed on 4 October. The aggregate tally was however lesser than the 65 medals India won in the last edition of Asian Games at Guangzhou in 2010. India won 14 gold medals, 17 silvers and 34 bronze to finish the games at 6th spot.

3) More than 40 persons were killed and hundreds injured in a stampede in Bihar’s capital Patna on 3 October 2014. The accident took place after people were returning after watching the “Ravan Vadh” ceremony on the occasion of Dussehra. The accident took place in which historic ground of Patna? – Gandhi Maidan

Explanation: Lakhs of people were assembled at main Dussehra event held annually at Patna’s famous Gandhi Maidan. Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manji was present at the place where people watched the effigy of Ravan consigned to flames. The accident took place after people were leaving the ground and allegedly some rumours were spread in the crowd.

4) What is the name of the British hostage who was shown being beheaded in a video released on 3 October 2014 by Islamic State militants? – Alan Henning

Explanation: However the authenticity of this video could not be verified by agencies though it was released in the same manner as other Islamic State group videos. This is the fourth such video released by the Islamic State militants. The three persons who were beheaded in the same manner include American reporters James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid worker David Haines.

5) Indian men’s Kabaddi team won the gold medal at the 17th Asian Games on 3 October 2014 in a tough final against Iran. India defeated Iran by 27-25 despite the fact that it was trailing by 13-21 at half time. This was India’s consecutive gold medal in these games – Seventh

Explanation: India has won all the gold medals in Kabaddi since it was introduced in the 11th Asian Games at Beijing in 1990. Since then India has won the gold medals in the games held in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and now in 2014. Earlier Indian women’s team also won the gold in Kabaddi on the same day by defeating Iran and thus giving India the golden double.