APRIL

Appointments; Elected; Etc.

Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha: He has been appointed as the Chief Justice of India. He will
have a brief tenure of five months as he is scheduled to retire on 27September 2014.
Admiral R.K. Dhowan:He has been appointed as Chief of Indian Navy.
R. Chandrasekaran:Executive Vice-Chairman of Cognizant India, he has appointed as the
Chairman of the IT body National Association of Software and Services Companies
(NASSCOM), for 2014-15.
Devendra Kumar Pathak: He has taken over as the Director General of the
BorderSecurity Force.
Brazil Senate passes Internet Bill of Rights
Brazils Senate unanimously approved groundbreaking legislation, on 23 April 2014, that
guarantees equal access to the Internet and protects the privacy of Brazilian users in the
wake of US spying revelations.
RESIGNED
Chung Hong-won: Prime Minister of South Korea. He resigned amid criticism of the
governments handling of the sinking of a passenger ferry.

DIED

Gabriel Garcia Marquez: The Nobel laureate whose novels and short stories exposed
millions outside Latin America to its passions, violence and social inequality, died on 18 April
2014. He was 87. His novel One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) changed the way the
world read and wrote fiction.

MILESTONES

Baldev Raj: A former director with the Indira Gandhi Atomic Centre for Atomic Research
(IGCAR), Kalpakkam, he has been conferred the "Eminent Engineer Award by the
Engineering Council of India. The Engineering Council of India, formed in 2002, is an
autonomous body supported by the government of India, comprising members of various
engineering associations. The council is meant to raise the standards of the engineering
profession and recognize persons who have excelled in the field.
Koyal Rana: She has been selected as Miss India 2014.
Lupita Nyongo: She has been named world's most beautiful woman.
CURRENT INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

World Bank ranks India as third largest economy
In a matter of six years, India emerged as the worlds third-largest economy in 2011 from
being the 10th largest in 2005, moving ahead of Japan, while the US remained the largest
economy closely followed by China, as per latest figures released by the
International Comparison Program (ICP), hosted by the Development Data Group at the
World Bank.

EVENTS

April
4Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launches IRNSS-1B, using PSLV-
C24. IRNSS-1B is the second navigation satellite among the seven satellites that will
eventually constitute the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
5Afghans vote in large numbers to choose a successor to President Hamid Karzai.
Elections mark the first democratic transfer of power since the fall of Taliban regime in
2001.
7The first phase of high-stakes political battle in the General Election starts with voting in
six parliamentary constituencies of Assam and Tripura.
7Arunachal Pradesh capital Itanagar is put on the Indias railway map with the first
passenger train of about 400 commuters arriving at Naharlagun station. Itanagar has
become the second State capital among the eight north-eastern States after Guwahati to be
put on the railway map of India.
18A massive avalanche strikes Mount Everest, killing 13 Nepalese Sherpa guides in the
deadliest mountaineering accident on the worlds highest peak.
30Iraq votes in the first general election since US troops withdrew in December 2011.
IN BRIEF . . .

World AutismAwareness day is observed every year on 2 April.

On 2 April 2014,Reserve Bank of India granted banking licences to infrastructure financing
firm IDFC and microfinance institution Bandhan Financial Services Private Ltd, which is the
first microfinance firm to get a bank licence. The in-principle approval will be valid for a
period of 18 months during which the applicants have to comply with the requirements
under the guidelines and fulfil the other conditions as may be stipulated by the RBI.

On 1 April 1933 the first flying outfit of Indian Air Force, No.1 Squadron, was raised with
four Westland Wapiti aircraft.

The indelible ink on the finger, which is put on the finger after voting, is no ordinary ink.
It cannot be removed by any chemical, detergent or oil. Once it is applied on the finger, it
remains there for a few monthstill new skin cells grow. The credit of producing the ink
goes to Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited (MPVL), a government of Karnataka Undertaking,
which supplies it in India and also exports it to 28 nations.
It was in 1962 that the company was made its sole authorised supplier in India, having an
exclusive licence granted by National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), New
Delhi. The ink was developed in association with the Election Commission, National Physical
Laboratory and NRDC.
CURRENT INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Social Progress Index
New Zealand has been ranked first in the Social Progress Index (SPI) that ranks countries
by social and environmental performance rather than economic output, in a drive to make
social progress a priority for politicians and businesses.

IN BRIEF . . .

The Global Commissionon the Economy and Climate and the Indian Council for Research
on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) has launched the research for the new climate
economy project in India. The project is a new international initiative to analyse the
economic benefits and costs of acting on climate change.

HDFC Bank has set aGuinness World Record by conducting a blood donation drive (multiple
venues) involving 61,902 participants, in 1,115 blood donation camps held across 709
locations in India, on 6 December 2013.

International Mother Earth Day is observed every year on 22 April. It was established in
2009 by the UN General Assembly. It recognizes that "the Earth and its ecosystems are our
home and that "it is necessary to promote harmony with nature and the Earth.
URRENT INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Antibiotic resistance a worldwide occurrence: WHO
The life-threatening phenomenon of antibiotic resistance is no longer a prediction for the
futurebut is happening right now across the world and can affect anyone, anywhere,
according to the WHOs first global report, Antimicrobial Resistance: Global Report on
Surveillance.

The report focuses on antibiotic resistance in nine different bacteria responsible for
common, serious diseases such as bloodstream infections (sepsis), diarrhea, pneumonia,
urinary tract infections and gonorrhea.
IN BRIEF . . .

The biennial conference of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) was held in the
eastern Chinese port of Qingdao, from 22 April 2014. India and 21 other countries adopted
an agreement aimed at ensuring that miscommunication between naval vessels does not
develop into conflict in the Pacific Ocean, which is increasingly becoming a centre of conflict
due to escalating disputes between China and its neighbours and some ASEAN nations.

April 25 has been named as World Malaria Day, to remind the public and the world that
malaria is both preventable and curable. Malaria remains one of the worlds biggest health
challenges, with efforts across the world to eliminate the mosquito-borne disease failing so
far. According to the World Health Organisation the disease killed more than 600,000 people
in 2012.
BUSINESS NEWS

Mumbai-based Sun Pharma will acquire troubled Indian drug maker Ranbaxy in a $4
billion deal. The total equity value of the deal is pegged at $3.2 billion. The merger between
the two companies will create Indias largest pharmaceutical company and the worlds fifth
largest generics company.


With Microsoft deal of USD 7.2 billion officially coming to a close by the end of April 2014,
the Nokia mobile will be renamed Microsoft Mobile. Nokias handset and services business
will be known as Microsoft Mobile Oy.

Cadbury India has changed its name to Mondelez India Foods Limited. The change in
name of Cadbury is in line with the gradual changeover of the name of all subsidiaries of the
$35 billion Mondelez International globally.
BUSINESS NEWS

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Indias top software services provider, has announced
a new IT services entity in Japan in a joint venture with Mitsubishi. The new company, TCS
Japan, will be formed by merger of TCSs current Japan unit with IT Frontier Corporation
(ITF), a wholly owned IT subsidiary ofMitsubishi, and another joint venture, Nippon TCS
Solution Center. TCS will hold a 51% stake in the new entity, which may be raised to 65%
over five years, while Mitsubishi will hold the remaining 49%. TCS is investing $50 million in
the venture. The JV will have 2,400 associates largely comprising locals from Japan, and is
expected to generate revenues of $600 million per annum.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), has won the prestigious "Internal Initiative award at
the Association of Management Consulting Firms (AMCF) 2014 Spotlight Awards, for its
project entitled, "Consulting in a Global Network Delivery ModelA Paradigm Shift. The
annual Spotlight Awards honour specific consulting teams for excellence and value in
management consulting, and their work in helping clients thrive amidst changing and
challenging markets across the business landscape.
March 2014 Current Affairs for Competitive Exams
CURRENT NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Supreme Court sets deadline for completion of trial of MPs, MLAs
Supreme Court of India has directed the trial courts to complete trial against MPs and MLAs
facing charges of corruption and serious criminal charges within one year from the framing
of charges against them. If a trial court cannot complete the trial within one year, it has to
explain the reasons for this to concerned chief justice of the High Court.
Appointments; Elected; Etc.


Michelle Bachelet: She has been elected as the President of Chile, eight years after she
became first female to assume the post. Returning to Chiles top job after a spell with the
United Nations, Bachelet heads a coalition that ranges from moderate leftists to
communists.
Andrej Kiska: Philanthropist and former businessman, he has been elected as the
President of Slovakia.
Manuel Valls: He has been appointed as the Prime Minister of France.
Sheila Dikshit: Former Chief Minister of Delhi, she has been appointed as the Governor of
Kerala. She succeeded Nikhil Kumar, a former Delhi Police Commissioner, who had tendered
his resignation.
Ajay Shriram: Chairman and senior Managing Director of DCM Shriram Ltd, he has been
elected President of CII for the year 2014-15.
CURRENT NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Union Cabinet clears reservation for Jats
On 2 March 2014, the Union Cabinet cleared the proposal to make the Jat community in
nine StatesGujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Bihara part of the OBC list to enable them to get
reservation in central government jobs and educational institutions.

Jats are mainly spread over Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, UP, Delhi, MP and Uttarakhand.
The communitys population is over 8 crore. In Haryana, Jats have a sizeable 22% vote
share. Justice K.C. Gupta, as the Haryana State Backward Classes Commissions head, had
called for 10% quota for five castes, including Jats. In Rajasthan, the community comprises
11% of the population. In western UP, the community is 17% of the population.
Resigned


Jean-Marc Ayrault:Prime Minister of France.
Nandan Nilekani:Chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India.
Nancy Powell: US Ambassador to India.
CURRENT INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Crimea votes to join Russia
On 16 March 2014, in a referendum, about 93% of Crimean voters backed joining Russia
and seceding from Ukraine, exit polls have suggested. However, many Crimeans loyal to
Kiev boycotted thereferendum, and the EU and US condemned it as illegal.

On the ballot paper, voters were asked whether they would like Crimea to rejoin Russia. A
second question asked whether Ukraine should return to its status under the 1992
constitution, which would give the region much greater autonomy. There was no option for
those who wanted the constitutional situation to remain unchanged.

Ethnic Russians make up 58.5% of the regions population, and many of them were
expected to vote for joining Russia. Ethnic Tatars, who make up 12 per cent of the
population, mostly boycotted the election
Milestones


Laxmi: A victim of acid attack and a standard-bearer for the movement to end acid attacks,
she has been selected by the US for the prestigious International Women of Courage Award.
She received the award from US First Lady Michelle Obama.
Arvind Mishra: Assistant Professor at Graphic Era University, Dehradun, he has set a world
record by delivering a marathon non-stop lecture that lasted over 130 hours. He beat the
previous record held by Errol Tapiwa Muzawazi of Poland, who had lectured for 121 hours at
a stretch at the Jagiellonian University of Poland in 2009.
Pankaj Mishra: Award-winning Indian author, he is among eight writers from seven
countries who have won a $1,50,000 Yale University prize each in recognition of their
literary achievements. Essayist and novelist Mishra was selected for the prestigious
Windham Campbell Literature prize in the non-fiction category. In addition to a novel, "The
Romantics, he has published four works of non-fiction, including "From the Ruins of
Empire: The Intellectuals Who Remade Asia.