JANUARY

INTERNATIONAL
Colorado
Becomes
First
US
state
To
Allow
Marijuana
Sale
Colorado has on 1 January become the first U.S. state to license the sale of the drug for recreational use.
In November 2012, Colorado voters approved the sale of recreational marijuana, as did voters in
Washington state. Under the new state law, residents are now able to buy marijuana like alcohol.
US
Senate
Passed
USD
1.1
Trillion
Spending
Bill
The US Senate has passed the USD 1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill that eliminates the threat of another
government shutdown at least until October 2014 and puts conditions on Pakistan for continuation of aid.
Passed by the House of Representatives on 16 January, the bill now goes to the White House for
President Barack Obama to sign it into law, thus preventing another shutdown.
Bolivian
President
Evo
Morales
Assumes
G77
Chairmanship
Bolivian president Evo Morales has assumed the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 nations.Bolivia was
chosen head of the G-77, which actually groups 133 developing nations, by consensus, and Morales was
at the United nations on 8 January to take over the chairmanship from outgoing Fiji. The organization was
created in June 1964 with the purpose of formulating and promoting the new economic interests of
southern countries within the United Nations system.
South
Sudan
Government
and
Rebels
Signed
Ceasefire
Agreement
South Sudans Government and Rebels have signed a ceasefire agreement .The agreement was signed
in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa by representatives of South Sudans President Salva Kiir and rebel
delegates loyal to ousted vice president Riek Machar on 23 January . As per the deal, the government
has agreed to release 11 officials close to Machar, who were detained after the fighting broke in the
country.

INDIA & WORLD

India
and
Maldives
Signed
3
MoUs
India and the Maldives on 2 January agreed to amicably resolve all differences, including over
cancellation of Indian company GMRs contract to run Male International Airport. Maldivian President
Abdulla Yameen held talks in New Delhi with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the two sides signed
three Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs).Two agreements are related to health and human resource
development and one on the diplomatic front.
India and Canada
Signed LOI
for Co-operation in Iron and Steel Sector
India and Canada have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for co-operation in Iron and Steel Sector. The
letters were signed on 13 January in New Delhi by Beni Prasad Verma, the Union Minister of Steel and
Minister of Natural Resources, Government of Canada, Joe Oliver.
India
and
South
Korea
Signed
Nine
Agreements
India and South Korea have signed 9 agreements in different areas to boost bilateral ties between the two
countries.The agreements were signed on 16 January after delegation level talks between Manmohan
Singh, the Prime Minister of India and Park Geun-hye, the President of South Korea in New Delhi.

India
and
Japan
Signed
8
Agreements
India and Japan have agreed to boost defence ties and signed eight agreements with Japanese Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe, pledging another tranche of infrastructure loans worth 200 billion yen, during his
talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on 25 January.
Pakistan
and
India
Ranked
97th
In
Global
Food
Index
2014
According to the Global Food Index 2014 released on 17 January , Pakistan ranked 97th in a list of 125
countries with regard to availability, quality and affordability of food and dietary health.The listing means
Pakistan is one of the countries with the most unhealthy and scarce food. India got the same rank as
Pakistan.The Netherlands emerges as the country with the most nutritious, plentiful and healthy food
leaving France and Switzerland behind at the joint second place.The Index namely Good Enough to Eat
has been compiled by the UK-based international relief and development organization Oxfam.

NATIONAL
Government Launched Indias First Comprehensive Adolescent Health Programme
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad on 7 January launched the nations first
comprehensive adolescent health programme named Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK)
in New Delhi.The programme will include a sharp focus on adolescents sexual health.The RKSK defines
an adolescent as a person within 10-19 years of age, in urban and rural areas, includes both girls and
boys, married and unmarried, poor and affluent, whether they are in school or out of school.
Government
Notified
New
Natural
Gas
Pricing
Formula
The Government of India on 10 January notified the new natural gas pricing formula, which will be in
effect from 1 April 2014. As per the newly issued notification, the rate of all domestically produced fuel will
be almost doubled to 8.2 to 8.4 dollar per unit.
Government
Grants
CBI
greater
Financial
Autonomy
The Central Government on 14 January relaxed its control over the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
and granted the CBI director a rank equal to a Secretary.
Ghulam
Nabi
Azad
Launches
National
Urban
Health
Mission
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad on 20 January launched the National
Urban Health Mission (NUHM) in Bangalore to provide timely quality health services to the urban
poor.The scheme will now be introduced as a sub-mission under the National Health Mission (NHM).The
mission will be implemented in 779 cities and towns, each with a population of more than 50,000, and
cover over 7.75 crore people.

STATES
Manmohan
Singh
Launched
Total
E-literacy
Project
In
Kerala
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has launched the total E-literacy project implemented by PN Panicker
Vigyan Vikas Kendra in Thiruvanathpuram on 4 January.This would act as the corner-stone of the Kerala
model of development.The programme was aimed at achieving total e-literacy in the state in 33 months,
marching from total literacy to complete-literacy.

Maharashtra
Govt.
Launched
Unique

Blood
On
Call

Scheme
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on 7 January rolled out Jeevan Amrut Yojana (blood-oncall scheme) across the state.The ambitious plan is aimed at facilitating blood supply to patients
scheduled to undergo surgeries and medical procedures, at cheaper rate by dialling a dedicated helpline
number 104. Under the scheme, the request for blood will have to be placed by hospitals.
Chhattisgarh
Govt.
Launched
Toll
Free
Number
1100
For
Graft
Complaints
Chhattisgarh government has on 7 January launched a toll free helpline number 1100 where people could
lodge graft-related complaints against the state government officials.The facility will help provide better
governance to the people.Now, the people can just dial 1100 to lodge complaints regarding corruption.
Anu
Vidyut
Pariyojana
Launched
In
Haryana
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation of 2,800 Megawatt nuclear power plant in Fatehabad
district of Haryana on 13 January.The project named as Anu Vidyut Pariyojna, will have four units of 700
MWes each and it will be built at a cost 23502 crore rupees. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India
Limited (NPCIL) will build these reactors. This is the first time Haryana will have a nuclear project.

CONFERENCES
12th
Pravasi
Bharatiya
Divas
Held
in
New
Delhi
The 12th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) was held in New Delhi from 7 9 January 2014 at
Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The theme of the event was Engaging Diaspora Connecting across
Generations .The convention was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 7 January.
Malaysias Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Y B Datuk Seri Palanivel ,was the Chief
Guest. On 9 January President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards and
addressed the closing session of the Convention.

AWARDS & HONOURS

President
Pranab
Mukherjee
Conferred
Pravasi
Bharatiya
Samman
Awards
President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards on 9 January during the
12th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD). Peace activist Ela Gandhi, who is a grand-daughter of
Mahatma Gandhi, was among the 13 non-resident Indians (NRIs), persons of Indian origin (PIOs) and
organizations honoured with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards. Ela Gandhi was given
the award for public service and for enhancing Indias image and for promoting ties between India and
South Africa. Lisa Maria Singh is the first member of Australian Parliament of South Asian descent and
has held several ministerial portfolios in the past. She is a senator from Tasmania. Singh was given the
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for public service and fostering friendly relations between India and Australia.
Ramkrishna Mission, serving in Fiji since 1937, was honoured for community service and philanthropic
activities and enhancing Indias prestige abroad.
Three
Security
Personnel
Selected
For

Kirti
Chakra

Award
Three personnel of the armed forces have been selected for the year 2014 Kirti Chakra award , the
second highest peace time gallantry award, for their acts of bravery on the Line of Control (LoC), antimaoist operation and relief operation in flood-hit Uttarakhand, respectively. The three are among 368
gallantry award winners this year including 10 Shaurya Chakra awardees.

Indian-American
Wins
Top
US
Teaching
Award
India-born Meera Chandrasekhar, professor of physics and astronomy and Curators Teaching Professor
of Physics at the University of Missouri, has on 18 January won Baylor Universitys 2014 Robert Foster
Cherry Award for Great Teaching.
Mohinder
Singh
,
Radhakrishnan
Selected
For
Communal
Harmony
Awards
National Communal Harmony Award for Mohinder Singh for his work done in restoring peace after the
1984 anti-Sikh riots and noted academician N Radhakrishnan for his promotion of Gandhian values were
announced on 25 January. Singh, along with Gandhian Radhakrishnan of Kerala, have been selected for
the coveted award in the individual category while the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism,
Mumbai has been selected in the organisation category.

SPORTS & GAMES

Rafael
Nadal
Won
Qatar
ExxonMobil
Open
Title
Rafael Nadal of Spain won the Qatar ExxonMobil Open title on 4 January.He defeated Frances Gael
Monfils in the Mens Singles final at Doha.It was his 61st ATP title.
Brisbane
International
Tennis
Tournament
Winners

2014
Womens Singles :- Serena Williams of the U.S. on 4 January won the Brisbane International Tennis
Tournament Womens Singles title after defeated Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the final in Brisbane,
Australia.
Williams
has
now
won
58
tour
singles
titles.
Mens Singles :- Australias Lleyton Hewitt won the Mens Singles Title. He defeated Roger Federer of
Switzerland in the Brisbane International final. It was Hewitts 29th title on the ATP tour but his first since
2010, when he also beat Federer in the final at Halle.
Ana
Ivanovic
Won
Auckland
Open
Tennis
Title
Ana Ivanovic of Serbia won the Auckland Open Tennis Title on 4 January. She defeated Venus Williams
(U.S) in the final at Auckland, New Zealand.It is the 12th title for the Ivanovic and second seed but her
first success since victory in Bali in 2011.
Anju
Bobby
George
Declared
World
Athletics
Gold
Medalist
For
2005
Indian Long jumper Anju Bobby George on 13 January became the first Indian track and field athlete to
win a gold medal in a major world event after international governing body International Association of
Athletics Federation (IAAF) upgraded her second place finish at the 2005 Monaco World Athletics
Championships final to the top spot , following a dope violation by a Russian competitor Tatyana
Kotova.Anjus fifth place finish at the 2005 Helsinki World Championships long jump event was also
upgraded to fourth.
Netherlands
Won
Hockey
World
League
2014
The Netherlands on 18 January won the first ever Hockey World League final after defeating New
Zealand by 7-2 in New Delhi. Belgium retained his fifth place , while India secured sixth place.

ECONOMY
Government
Retains
100
Per
cent
FDI
in
Existing
Pharma
Units
Government of India on 8 January decided to retain the policy of allowing 100 per cent foreign

investments in the existing pharma firms, brushing aside concerns about non availability of affordable
drugs in view of MNCs takeovers.India permits 100 per cent FDI in pharma through automatic approval
route in the greenfield, or new projects.
Indias
Growth
Projected
To
Rise
To
7.1
Percent
By
2016-17
According to the World Banks Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report released on 16 January , Indias
growth is projected to rise to over six percent in fiscal 2014-15, increasing to 7.1 percent by fiscal 2016-17
with the world economy expected to strengthen this year.
Indian
Economy
Projected
To
Grow
At
5.35%
In
2014
According to the UN World Economic Situation and Prospects 2014 (WESP) report released on 24
January , Indias economy is projected to grow at a slower-than-expected rate of 5.3 per cent in 2014.
Full-year growth decelerated to 4.8 per cent in 2013 from 5.1 per cent in the calendar year 2012.
RBI
raised
Repo
Rate
By
25
Basis
Points
To
8
Percent
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised the Repo rate under Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) by 25 basis
points from 7.75 percent to 8 percent. Besides, it kept the cash reserve ratio (CRR) of scheduled banks
unchanged at 4 percent of net demand and time liability (NDTL). The decision to raise the repo rate and
keep the CRR unchanged was announced by the RBI in its Third Quarter Monetary Policy Review on 28
January. As a result, the reverse repo rate under the LAF stands adjusted at 7 percent, and the marginal
standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 9.0 percent.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

GSLV-D5 Rocket Carrying Communication Satellite GSAT-14 Successfully Launched
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 5 January successfully launched its heavy-duty rocket
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Development 5 (GSLV-D5) having indigeneous cryogenic
engine that placed a 1,982 kg GSAT-14 communication satellite into the orbit. The 49.13-metre tall rocket
GSLV-D5 lifted off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota , Andhra Pradesh .The launch
vehicle successfully injected the GSAT-14 communication satellite into the intended orbit.With the
successful launch of GSLV-D5 flight India has now become the sixth nation to possess the cryogenic
engine technology, and has joined the elite club of the United States, Russia, France, Japan and China.
India
Successfully
Test
Fired
Nuclear
Capable

Prithvi

II

Missile
India on 7 January successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable surface to surface
Prithvi II missile , which is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads and has a strike range of
350 km, from a test range at Chandipur near Balasore (Odisha).The launch was part of a user trial by the
Army.Prithvi-II missile is already inducted into the Indian Armed forces.The last trial of Prithvi-II was
successfully carried out from the same base on 3 December 2013.
Astronomers
Discovered
Two
New
Exoplanets
In the month of January 2014 A team of Astronomers from Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
(CfA), have discovered two new extrasolar planets circling a dim, red dwarf star about 200 light-years
away from our planet.One of the planets, dubbed KOI-314c, weighs the same as Earth, but around 60
percent larger in diameter.The second planet, named KOI-314b, is about the same size as KOI-314c but
significantly denser, weighing about 4 times as much as Earth.The team discovered the planet using data
from NASAs Kepler spacecraft.
Worlds
Fastest
Organic
Transistor
Developed
In the month of January 2014 Scientists claim to have developed the worlds fastest thin-film organic
transistor that could operate more than five times faster than previous examples of this

technology.Researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and Stanford University explained
that this experimental technology has the potential to achieve the performance needed for high-resolution
television screens and similar electronic devices. Engineers created the thin-film organic transistors that
could operate more than five times faster than previous examples of this experimental technology.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
R
Chandrashekhar
is
new
NASSCOM
President
Former Telecom Secretary (Government of India), R Chandrashekhar on 5 January took over as the
President of Information Technology trade body Nasscom (National Association of Software and Services
Companies).He succeeds Som Mittal, who served as President from 2007-2013.This is the first time that
NASSCOM has appointed a former bureaucrat as the president.
US
Senate
Confirmed
Janet
Yellen
as
new
Federal
Reserve
Chairperson
The US Senate has on 6 January confirmed Janet Yellen as new leader of the Federal Reserve. She is
the first woman to lead the central bank in its 100-year history. She succeeds the Chairman Ben
Bernanke as the next head of Americas central bank.
Sheikh
Hasina
Sworn
In
As
Bangladesh
Prime
Minister
Sheikh Hasina was on 12 January sworn in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the third time. She
had won an overwhelming majority in the Bangladesh general election held on 5 January 2014 by
defeating opposition party, Jatiya party.The Awami League has secured absolute majority in the 10th
Parliament elections by bagging 232 seats 105 contested and 127 uncontested.

B)RESIGNS
Tunisia
Prime
Minister
Ali
Larayedh
Resigned
Tunisias Islamist Prime Minister Ali Larayedh has resigned from his office on 9 January . With his
resignation, the country will be led by the caretaker Government of technocrats led by led by new Prime
Minister Mehdi Jomaa. He resigned following a deal between the Islamist Ennahda Party of Ali Larayedh
and the secular opposition for a transition to the democracy in the country.

C)DEATHS
Israels
Former
Prime
Minister
Ariel
Sharon
Died
Israels former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon died on 11 January .The former general of Israeli Army had
been in coma since 4 January 2006. He served as the 11th Prime Minister of Israel until he was
incapacitated by a stroke. Sharon was a commander in the Israeli Army from its creation in
1948.Nicknamed The Bulldozer, the veteran soldier fought in all of Israels major wars before beginning
a turbulent political career in 1973.

D)VISITORS
Bhutan
King
Jigme
Khesar
Namgyel
Wangchuck
Visited
India
Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Visited India from 6 10 January 2014. During his visit ,
Bhutan King held extensive talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi. The two leaders
exchanged views on bilateral relations and on regional and international issues of mutual interest. The

prime minister and other Indian leaders reiterated their full commitment and support to Bhutans socioeconomic development and to further development of Bhutans hydropower resources. This is King
Wangchucks second visit in 12 months. He was also the chief guest at Indias Republic Day celebrations
in January 2013.

E)MISCELLANEOUS
Sachin
Tendulkar
5th
Most
Admired
Person
In
The
World
Microsoft founder Bill Gates has been named as the most admired person on the planet with cricketing
legend Sachin Tendulkar fifth on a list of 30 people compiled after a poll in 13 countries, including
India.The Worlds most admired people poll was conducted by YouGov for The Times by surveying
almost 14,000 people.

PLACES IN NEWS
Odishas
Chilika
Lagoon
Named
Destination
Flyways
By
UNWTO
Chilika lagoon in Odisha was named Destination Flyways by the United Nations World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO) on 21 January .The lagoon was named so for its sustainable and resilient
destination for migratory birds. Chilika is the only site to be selected from Asia by the UNWTO and was
included in a list of eight such sites. The Destination Flyways initiative of UNWTO aims at promotion of
sustainable tourism.

ABBREVIATIONS
GPS Global Positioning System
TCS Tata Consultancy Services
NASSCOM National Association of Software and Services Companies
GSLV Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
FSLRC Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission
NBFC Non Banking Finance Companies

BOOKS IN NEWS

Incredible
Opportunities
Back
Home

Book
Released
The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh released the book entitled Incredible Opportunities Back Home on
8 January during the 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi .This book will provide access to credible
information, essential for meaningful engagement.

COMMITTEES
Nachiket
Mor
Committees
Report
on
Financial
Inclusion
The committee constituted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBIs) on 23 September 2013 to suggest steps
for promoting financial inclusion headed by veteran banker and ex-ICICI Bank executive director Nachiket
Mor. The committee on 7 January 2014 suggested setting up of specialised banks to cater to low income
households to ensure that all citizens have bank accounts by January 1, 2016.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

World
Braille
Day
was
Observed
on
4th
January
World Braille Day is celebrated today (4th January) across the world to observe the Birthday of Louis
Braille. Louis Braille, born in 1809, was the inventor of braille, a system of reading and writing used by
people who are blind or visually impaired. Braille became blind after an accident at the age of three. He
created a language based on the patterns of raised dots on paper, which could be felt and one can read
anything that is unable to see. He did this to have an access to works of literature.
National
Girl
Child
Day
Observed
on
24
January
National Girl Child Day observed on 24 January 2014 across India by the Government. This day is
observed every year to raise awareness and consciousness of the society towards girl children. The day
is being observed every year on 24 January since 2008. Government of India has started National Girl
Child Day as a national girls development mission. The mission raises the awareness among people all
over the country about the importance of girls promotion. It helps in enhancing girls meaningful
contribution in decision making processes by active support of the parents and the community members.

FEBRUARY
INTERNATIONAL
Libya
Destroyed
All
Chemical
Weapons
Libya has completely destroyed the chemical arsenal it inherited from Moamer Kadhafi, 10 years after the
now slain dictator signed the Chemical Weapons Convention, Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdelaziz
announced on 5 February.Now the Libya has become totally free of usable chemical weapons that might
present a potential threat to the security of local communities, the environment and neighbouring areas.
Matteo
Renzi
Named
new
Italian
Prime
Minister
The leader of Italys centre-left Democratic Party (PD), Matteo Renzi, was appointed as the countrys new
prime minister on 17 February. Renzi, who at 39 would be the countrys youngest-ever prime minister,
was summoned by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano at Quirinale presidential palace and given a

mandate to try to form a new cabinet after the resignation of Enrico Letta as prime minister on 14
February.
Ugandan
President
Signed
Anti
Gay
Law
Ugandas President Yoweri-Museveni has signed a controversial anti-gay bill on 24 February that allows
harsh penalties for homosexual offences, calling them mercenaries and prostitutes.Yoweri Museveni
signed the bill, which holds that homosexuals be jailed for long terms, outlaws the promotion of
homosexuality and requires people to denounce gays.
Arseniy
Yatsenyuk
Elected
As
Ukrain
Interim
PM
The Ukrainian parliament has on 27 February elected former opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk as the
countrys Interim Prime Minister.He was backed by 371 of 417 participating deputies in the Parliament.

INDIA & WORLD

India and Germany Signed Two Agreements On Financial and Technical Co-operation
India and Germany have signed two umbrella agreements for financial and technical co-operation under
Indo German bilateral Development Cooperation framework.The Umbrella Agreements were signed by
Finance Minister P Chidambaram and German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and
Development Gerd Mueller during their bilateral meeting on 5 February in New Delhi.
India
and
China
Held
17th
Round
Of
Border
Talks
India and China held their 17th round of border talks on 10 11 February 2014 .Special representatives
National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon and Chinese State Councillor and top diplomat Yang Jiechi
met in New Delhi on 10 February and 11 February for talks on the boundary question.The talks between
both sides have crossed the first stage on agreeing to settlement of the boundary question. The second
stage talks on the framework for resolution of the boundary question has been continuing for the past
eight years.
India
and
Canada
Signed
Three
MoUs
India and Canada have signed three MoUs for cooperation in health sector, audio-visual co-production
and skill development.The MoUs were signed after talks between Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh
and Govenor General of Canada David Johnston in New Delhi on 24 February.
India
and
Israel
Signed
Homeland
Security
Agreement
India and Israel have on 27 February signed a slew of agreements on cooperation in legal assistance and
public and homeland security.These agreements were signed by Additional Secretary (Home Ministry)
Rajiv Sharma and Israeli Ambassador Alon Ushpiz.

NATIONAL
Union
Cabinet
Approved
National
Policy
On
Agroforestry
The Union Cabinet on 6 February approved National Policy to promote Agroforestry by facilitating credit
and insurance to farmers, besides strengthening market access.The national policy assumes importance
as the sector is currently affected by adverse policies, legal constraints, inadequate investments, weak
markets and a dearth of institutional finance.


Maulana
Azad
Taleem-e-Balighan
Scheme
Launched
Minister of State for HRD, Dr Shashi Tharoor on 18 February launched Maulana Azad Taleem-eBalighan under Sakshar Bharat at New Delhi.The programme aims to impart functional literacy,
vocational skill development and continuing education to one crore Muslim adults with an outlay of Rs 600
crore.
CCEA
approved
Green
India
Mission
The National Mission for Green India has received approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs (CCEA) on 20 February as a Centrally-sponsored scheme.The project, which has a planned
investment of about Rs.13,000 crore during the 12th Plan Period.
Parliament
Passed
Whistleblower
Protection
Bill
Whistleblower Protection Bill was passed by Parliament on 21 February.The bill aims to provide a regular
mechanism to encourage persons to disclose information on corruption or willful misuse of power by
public servants and ministers.The bill was passed by Lok Sabha in 2011 and was taken up by the Upper
House in 2012 for consideration.

STATES
Indias
First
Monorail
Service
Inaugurated
In
Mumbai
Indias first monorail service was inaugurated by the Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj chavan on 1
February in Mumbai.The monorail service that will link the city to major stations will begin its first phase of
8.93 km between Wadala and Chembur in the eastern fringes of the Commercial Capital.
Odisha
Lokayukta
Bill
2014
Passed
In
Assembly
Odisha Legislative Assembly on 14 February passed the Odisha Lokayukta Bill 2014, with provision of
keeping Chief Minister, ex-Chief Ministers, other ministers and public servants under the purview of a sixmember anti-corruption panel. The Bill has provisions similar to that of the Central Act which was passed
in Parliament in December, 2013.
Presidents
Rule
Imposed
in
Delhi
President Pranab Mukherjee has imposed Presidents rule in Delhi and accepted the Arvind Kejriwal
governments resignation.This information was on 17 February published in a press release by Lt
Governor Najeeb Jungs office.With this imposition of the President Rule, the Delhi Assembly will be kept
under suspended animation.
Chhattisgarh
Government
To
Set
Up
A
Law
Commission
Raman Singh, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh on 25 February announced that a new Law Commission
will be set-up in the state to suggest changes in laws as per the geographical and social requirements of
the state. This announcement was made in the state Assembly.

CONFERENCES
101st
Session
of
Indian
Science
Congress
101st Session of Indian Science Congress (ISC) held at Jammu University, Jammu from 3-7 February
2014. The theme of ISC 2014 is Innovations in Science and Technology for Inclusive Development.
Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated the session on 3 February.This was the tenth

time Manmohan Singh had the privilege to address the inaugural address at the Indian Science
Congress.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Sachin
Tendulkar
and
CNR
Rao
Received
Bharat
Ratna
Renowned scientist C.N.R. Rao and former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar were on 4 February conferred the
Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the country for exceptional contribution in any field of human
endeavour.The award was presented by President Pranab Mukherjee at a brief ceremony in the historic
Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Malala
Nominated
For
Childrens
Nobel
Prize
Pakistani teenage rights activist Malala Yousafzai is among three persons nominated for an award known
as the Childrens Nobel Prize.Malala Yousafzai has been nominated for the 2014 Worlds Childrens
Prize with John Wood from the US and Nepalese child rights worker Indira Ranamagar.
VV
Dongre
and
Guocheng
Zhang
Won
International
Gandhi
Award
2013
Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India on 15 February presented the International Gandhi Award for
the year 2013 to Dr. Vijaykumar Vinayak Dongre (VV Dongre) and Prof. Guocheng Zhang at Rashtrapati
Bhawan, New Delhi. They were awarded for making outstanding contributions in the field of leprosy to
eradicate the disease through treatment, training and research.
Sikkim
Won
National
Tourism
Award
2012-13
Sikkim has been declared as best state in the country in implementation of Rural Tourism Projects by
Ministry of Tourism Govt of India .Union Minister for Human Resource Development Dr. Shashi
Tharoor,presented the National Tourism Award 2012-13 to Sikkim tourism minister Sh Bhim Dhungel in a
function at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on 18 February.

SPORTS & GAMES

Vijay
Amritraj
Honoured
with
Davis
Cup
Commitment
Award
Vijay Amritraj, a former Indian tennis player was on 1 February presented the Davis Cup Commitment
Award .Previously Four Indian tennis icons Ramanathan Krishnan, Ramesh Krishnan, Anand Amritraj
and Mahesh Bhupathi were honoured with the Davis Cup Commitment awards.The award was
instituted by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Joshna
Chinappa
Won
Winnipeg
Open
Title
Indias Squash player Joshna Chinappa won the Winnipeg Winter Club Open trophy on 3 February. She
defeated Heba El Torky of Egypt in the final.The triumph of Chinappa marked the second consecutive
year of an Indian winning the trophy with Dipika Pallikal being the first to clinch it before her in 2013.
Deepika
Kumari
Named
FICCI

Sportsperson
Of
The
Year

Indias top archer Deepika Kumari was on 13 February named the Sportsperson of the Year at the India
Sports Awards, presented by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Former
India captain Rahul Dravid was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement award. P.V Sindhu, bronze
medallist at the badminton World Championships, was named the Breakthrough Sportsperson of the
Year , while cricketer Yuvraj Singh was named the Most Inspiring Sportsperson of the Year .

Delhi
Waveriders
Won
Hockey
India
League
Title
Delhi Waveriders defeated Jaypee Punjab Warriors in the penalty shoot-out to emerge as the champions
in the second edition of Hero Hockey India League (HIL) at the packed Astroturf Hockey Stadium at
Ranchi on 23 February.
Somdev
Devvarman
Won
Delhi
Open
ATP
Challenger
Title
Indias Somdev Devvarman won his third ATP Challengers title as he defeated Aleksandr Nedovyesov of
Russia in the Delhi Open ATP Challenger Mens singles final on 23 February at New Delhi .Somdev last
won a Challenger level title in 2010 at the Izmir event in Turkey.

ECONOMY
Rajasthan
Bans
FDI
in
Multi-brand
Retail
Rajasthan on 1 February cancelled its approval for the foreign direct investment in multi-brand
retailing.The approval was given earlier by the previous Congress state government led by former Chief
Minister, Ashok Gehlot.With this decision of cancelling the approval over FDI made Rajasthan the second
state after Delhi to withdraw approval for FDI in multi-brand retail.
Indian
Economy
To
Grow
At
4.9
Percent
In
2013-14
Central Statistics Office (CSO) in its release on 7 February estimated that Indias economic growth in the
current (2013-14) fiscal will be 4.9 percent as compared to the growth rate of 4.5 percent in 2012-13.The
countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at factor cost at constant (2004-05) prices in 2013-14 is likely to
be Rs.57.5 lakh crore as compared to Rs.54.8 lakh crore in the previous year, registering year-on-year
increase of 4.9 percent.
Tata
Group
Indias
Most
Valuable
Brand
According to the list released on 18 February of worlds 500 most valued brand, Brand Finance Global
500 , Tata group was declared Indias most valuable brand with a value of US$ 21.1 billion, while USbased technology giant Apple has retained its top position globally with about US$ 105 billion.Apple is
followed by Samsung (US$ 79 billion) at second place globally.Tata has retained its top place among
Indian brands and its global ranking has also improved from 39th in 2013 to 34th now.
Indias
First
Post
Office
Savings
Bank
ATM
Inaugurated
In
Chennai
Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on 27 February inaugurated the countrys first post office savings
bank ATM at the Head Post Office in Thyagaraya Nagar in Chennai.The ATM was part of an Information
Technology (IT) modernisation project of the Department of Posts.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

BrahMos
Missile
Successfully
Test
Fired
In
Salvo
Mode
The 290km-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully fired on 6 February from a naval
warship INS Trikand in salvo mode in the Arabian Sea.For the first time, the BrahMos cruise missile was
fired in salvo mode off the Russian-built warship off the coast of Karnataka with an interval of three
seconds off the coast of Goa.
Australian
Astronomers
Discovered
Oldest
Known
Star
In
Universe
A team of scientists at the Australian National University has on 11 February discovered the oldest known

star in the Universe.The star known as SMSS J031300.36-670839.3, is in the Milky Way galaxy and
some 6000 light years from the Earth. The star was formed shortly after the Big Bang 13.7 billion years
ago.The star was discovered using the ANU SkyMapper telescope at the Siding Spring Observatory.
Indian-origin Boy Shubham
Banerjee
Invents
Braille
Printer Using
Lego
Set
A 12-year-old boy of Indian Origin Shubham Banerjee has on 23 February designed a low-cost Braille
printer using toy construction Lego pieces.Banerjee developed the Braille printer called Braigo, which is
short for Braille with Lego.It was created from the Lego Mindstorms EV3 set, which retails for USD 349.
India
Successfully
Test
Fired

Akash

Missile
India on 26 February successfully test-fired its Akash medium-range surface-to-air missile from a defence
base in Odisha, for the third time. Akash was earlier successfully tested from the same defence base on
21st and 24th February 2014. The indigenously-developed missile, with a 27-km range and an effective
ceiling of 15 km, was test-fired from the Integrated Test Range of Chandipur in the coastal district of
Balasore, 230 km from Bhubaneswar.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
N.
Ramachandran
Elected
IOA
president
World Squash Federation (WSF) chief N. Ramachandran was elected unopposed as the president of the
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on 9 February.Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) president Rajeev
Mehta and All India Tennis Association (AITA) president Anil Khanna were also elected unopposed
respectively as the secretary general and treasurer.
R.K.Tiwari
Appointed
as
new
Chairman
of
CBDT
R.K.Tiwari has been appointed as the as the new chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on 9
February.He will succeed Chairperson Sudha Sharma who is scheduled to retire on 28 February
2014.Tiwari is a 1976-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer. He is currently working as the Member
of Legislation and Computerisation Department in the CBDT.

B)RESIGNS
Jammu
and
Kashmir
Minister
Shabir
Ahmad
Khan
Resigned
Jammu and Kashmir Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan on 7 February resigned as Minister
from the Omar Abdullahs cabinet in an alleged molestation case while the Governor N N Vohra has
accepted the resignation.

C)DEATHS
Noted
Hindi
Writer
Amar
Kant
Died
Noted Hindi writer and Jnanpith Award winner Amar Kant died on 17 February .Kants prominent novels
are Inhin Hathiyaron Se, Katili Raah ke Phool, Sookha Patta, Kale Ujle and Beech ki Deewar.He
received several awards, including Jnanpith award in 2009, Sahitya Acdemy Award in 2007, Uttar
Pradesh Hindi Sansthan Award, Maithli Sharan Gupta Award, Amarkant Keerti Samman from Madhya
Pradesh government among others.

D)VISITORS

Bahrains
King
Hamad
Al
Khalifa
Visited
India
The King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa visited India from 18 20 February 2014.During his three
day visit, King Hamad met Indian President Pranab Mukherjee , Vice-president Hamid Ansari and held
delegation-level discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on bilateral, regional and global
issues. After delegation-level talks between the two leaders , both nations signed three agreements to
boost bilateral ties between the two countries.

E)MISCELLANEOUS
Indra Nooyi and Chanda Kochhar In Fortunes Most Powerful Businesswomen List
PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi and ICICI Bank Managing Director Chanda Kochhar are among Fortune
magazines list of 50 most powerful women in business: Global edition.The list, which was released on 7
February, has been topped by General Motors CEO Mary Barra, the first woman to run a global
automaker.

PLACES IN NEWS
Delhi
Ranked
22nd
In
Global
Fashion
Capital
List
New York has topped the list of global fashion capitals leaving Paris and London behind. In an annual
ranking survey report by Global Language Monitor (GLM) released on 19 February, Delhi stands at the
22th spot and Mumbai at 45th.

ABBREVIATIONS
ASEAN

Association of South East Asian Nations

NAFDAC National Agency for Food & Drug Administration and Control
IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency
BCSBI Banking Codes and Standards Board of India
TARC Tax Administration Reform Commission
CBDT Central Board of Direct Taxes

BOOKS IN NEWS
Penguin Decided To withdraw a Book entitled The Hindus: An Alternative History
Penguin India, the publisher of book entitled The Hindus: An Alternative History on 11 February agreed
to withdraw the book from the Indian market. This book is written by Wendy Doniger, an American Scholar
and Indologist. The decision was made by the publisher following a legal wrangle against it.The decision

was made between the publisher and Delhi based complainant organisation called Shiksha Bachao
Andolan, who moved to court alleging distortion aimed at denigrating Hindu traditions. The organisation
has found that the book is insulting Hindus.

COMMITTEES
Bimal Jalan Committee On Bank Licences Submits Recommendations To RBI
The Bimal Jalan committee which is scrutinising applications for new bank licences submitted its report to
the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 25 February.The committee led by former Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) Governor Dr Jalan held its third and final meeting before submitting its recommendations to the
central bank.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

International
Mother
Language
Day
Observed
Across
The
World
International Mother Language Day (Bhasha Divas) was observed across the world, with Bangladesh
leading on 21 February 2014. This day is observed with an aim to promote awareness of linguistic,
multilingualism and cultural diversity.International Mother Language Day was announced by UNESCO on
17 November 1999 and was formally recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution
establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages.
National
Science
Day
Observed
Across
India
On
28
February
India on 28 February 2014 observed National Science Day to mark the discovery of the Raman Effect by
Indian physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (CV Raman).In 2014, the theme of the day is Fostering
Scientific Temper and Energy conservation. This day is celebrated every year on this day to spread a
message about the significance of scientific applications in the daily life of the people.The National
Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) in 1986 asked the Government of India to
designate 28 February as National Day.

MARCH

INTERNATIONAL
World
Bank
Pledges
$3Bln
Loan
To
Ukraine
For
Reforms
The World Bank announced on 11 March that it will provide up to $3 billion to support reforms in Ukraine,
which is struggling to put its economy back on track amid political turbulence.The lender explained that
restoring economic stability, strengthening the banking sector, reforming the energy sector, tackling
corruption, enhancing investment and improving social assistance were key priorities for Ukraine.The
pledged assistance comes on top of existing cooperation between Ukraine and the bank.
Sanchez
Ceren
Elected
As
El
Salvadors
President
Former leftist rebel commander Salvador Sanchez Ceren has won El Salvadors presidential election by a
razor-thin margin. His conservative opponent, Norman Quijano, has vowed to challenge the official
results.The El Salvadors Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) on 17 March 2014 officially declared Sanchez

Ceren the winner of the Central American nations presidential election by a margin of just 7,000 votes.
He secured 50.1 percent of the ballot compared to 49.9 percent for Quijano.
Russia
Recognizes
Crimea
As
A
Sovereign
State
President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on 17 March recognizing Crimea as a sovereign state after the
Ukrainian region declared itself independent and applied to join Russia following a weekend
referendum .The decree posted on the Kremlins website appeared to be a first step toward integrating
Crimea as a part of the Russian Federation.G-8 nations (Group of the eight Countries) on 18 March 2014
suspended Russia from elite club of world powers. It has been suspended amid heightened tensions over
its incursion in Crimea of Ukraine.
EU
signed
Landmark
Political
Deal
with
Ukraine
The European Union and Ukraine signed the core elements of a political association agreement on 21
March 2014.Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk, EU leaders Herman Van Rompuy and Jose
Manuel Barroso, and the leaders of the blocs 28 nations signed the core chapters of the Association
Agreement on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels.

INDIA & WORLD

USAID
To
Provide
USD
2.7
million
For
Clean
Energy
To
India
Nisha Desai Biswal, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, on 4 March
announced that the United States Agency for International Aid (USAID) will provide USD 2.7 million for
increasing clean energy access to India. USAID awarded a USD 200,000 grant for SELCO Foundation to
help establish six innovation labs that will develop and test sustainable energy solutions. The agency is
also supporting a USD 2.5 million loan guarantee to Orb Energy, a clean energy service provider.
China And India Signed Agreement For Greater Cooperation In IT And Software
India and China have signed an agreement to work together in software, information technology and
infrastructure.The agreement was signed during the Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing on 18
March.
India
Abstains
From
Voting
Against
Sri
Lanka
at
UNHRC
India on 27 March abstained from voting on the US-backed resolution seeking probe into Sri Lankan war
crimes at the UN Human Rights Council. Even as India refrained from voting against its neighbour, the
resolution was passed with the support of 23 nations.
India
Officially
Declared

Polio
Free

India was officially declared Polio Free by the World Health Organisation (WHO). India is one of the 11
countries in the South East Asian region which have been certified as being free of the wild polio
virus.The Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad received the official certificate at a function in New
Delhi on 27 March.

NATIONAL
Union
Cabinet
Cleared
Reservation
For
Jats
Under
OBC
category
The Union Cabinet on 2 March cleared reservation for Jat community under the central list of OBC (other
backward castes quota) category in nine northern states.The decision would pave the way for the

community members to avail benefits of reservation in central government jobs and central education
institutions as per the existing norms.
Union
Ministry
of
Minority
Affairs
Launched
Maulana
Azad
Sehat
Scheme
Union Ministry of Minority Affairs launched a new initiative Maulana Azad Sehat Scheme on 4 March for
the benefits and welfare of minorities of India.Under the scheme, Sehat Card will be issued to every
student of the Institution financially aided by Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF).
EC
creates
Intelligence
Grid
To
Curb
Black
Money
In
Polls
The Election Commission has on 11 March created a multi-agency grid of revenue and security
intelligence agencies to regularly update it about suspected financial movements as part of measures to
curb use of blackmoney in Lok Sabha and assembly polls.

STATES
Delhi-Mumbai
Industrial
Corridor
Launched
In
UP
The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Uttar Pradesh Government launched the DelhiMumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on 2 March.With the launch of DMIC in
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh is poised to go through a transformation in terms of industrialisation and
generation of employment. This is because Uttar Pradesh is the meeting point of the Eastern and the
Western Corridors.
Kerala
Govt.
Launched

Dial
a
Doctor

Project
Kerala government on 3 March launched a novel scheme Dial a doctor which will enable the public to
seek health-related advice over phone round-the-clock from doctors by dialling a toll-free number.Under
the programme, a person can dial 1056 and avail the advice of doctors especially regarding first aid,
vaccination and health problems.
GVKs
Srinagar
Hydel
Power
Plant
Inaugurated
Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on 4 March inaugurated the Srinagar hydroelectric power
project of GVK Power & Infrastructure, in Uttarakhand.The project, with 330 MW capacity, has been
developed across river Alaknanda in the Tehri Garhwal and Pauri Garhwal districts of Uttarakhand. The
company has invested Rs 4,192 crore in the project.Of the total power generated from the project, 88 per
cent will go to Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL), as per the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
The remaining 12 per cent is expected to be allotted to the government of Uttarakhand free of cost.
Arunachal
Pradesh
Assembly
Passed
Lokayukta
Bill

2014
The Arunachal Pradesh Assembly on 5 March passed the Lokayukta Bill 2014 by voice vote after a long
discussion, paving the way for constitution of Lokayukta on the lines of the Central Act, with the provision
of keeping the Chief Minister, other Ministers, MLAs, heads of Panchayats and Municipalities, Trusts and
public servants under the purview of a six-member anti-corruption panel.

CONFERENCES
Third
BIMSTEC
summit
2014
Held
In
Myanmar
The Third BIMSTEC (Bay of Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical Economic Cooperation ) summit was
held from 1 4 March 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw, capital of Myanmar.The Summit was attended by leaders of

the BIMSTEC Member Countries, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and
Special Envoy from Thailand.The Summit issued a five-page declaration, seeking cooperation and
collaboration among themselves in the sectors of trade, energy, health, climate change among others.The
declaration has noted that the Summit decided to move forward towards finalisation of the draft
Agreement on Trade in Goods with agreed General Rules of Origin and Product Specific Rules.

AWARDS & HONOURS

86th
Annual
Academy
Oscar
Awards
2014
The 86th Annual Academy Oscar Awards 2014, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences (AMPAS), honored the actors, technical achievements, and films of 2013 and took place on 2
March
2014,
at
the
Dolby
Theatre
in
Hollywood,
Los
Angeles.
List
of
Winners
at
86th
annual
Academy
Awards
:Best
Picture :12
Years
a
Slave.
Best
Actor :Matthew
McConaughey,
Dallas
Buyers
Club.
Best
Actress :Cate
Blanchett,
Blue
Jasmine.
Best
Supporting
Actor :Jared
Leto,
Dallas
Buyers
Club.
Best
Supporting
Actress :Lupita
Nyongo,
12
Years
a
Slave.
Best
Directing :Alfonso
Cuaron,
Gravity.
Best
Foreign
Language
Film :The
Great
Beauty,
Italy.
Best
Adapted
Screenplay :John
Ridley,
12
Years
a
Slave.
Best
Original
Screenplay :Spike
Jonze,
Her.
Best
Animated
Feature
Film :Frozen.
Production
Design :The
Great
Gatsby.
Best
Cinematography :Gravity.
Best
Sound
Mixing :Gravity.
Best
Sound
Editing :Gravity.
Best
Original
Score :Gravity,
Steven
Price.
Best
Original
Song :Let
It
Go
from
Frozen.
Best
Costume :The
Great
Gatsby.
Best
Makeup
and
Hairstyling :Dallas
Buyers
Club.
Best
Animated
Short
Film :Mr.
Hublot.
Best
Documentary
Feature :20
Feet
from
Stardom.
Best Documentary (short subject) :- The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life.
Best
Film
Editing :Gravity.
Best
Live
Action
Short
Film :Helium.
Best Visual Effects :- Gravity.
Indian
Author
Pankaj
Mishra
Won
Windham
Campbell
Literature
Prize
Award-winning Indian author Pankaj Mishra 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 has been selected on 9 March for the prestigious Windham Campbell Literature prize in the nonfiction category.
German
Honours
Three
Indians
with
Cross
of
the
Order
of
Merit
Germany has conferred three Indians with its Cross of the Order of Merit award for their contribution in
strengthening Indo-German relations over the past decades.The awards were bestowed on Anand Singh
Bawa, Kalyan Sachdev and Syed Hasnain by German Ambassador Michael Steiner in New Delhi at a
function on 11 March.

Tomas
Halik
Won
2014
Templeton
Prize
Tomas Halik, a Roman Catholic priest and philosopher, onetime Czech political activist and an advocate
for religious freedom and interfaith dialogue, won the 2014 Templeton Prize on 13 March for religious and
spiritual progress.The prize, valued at about $1.8 million, is one of the largest awards given annually to a
single individual. Founded in 1972.

SPORTS & GAMES

Mexican
Open
Tennis
Tournament
Winners

2014
Womens Singles :- Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia won the Mexican Open Tennis tournament Womens
Singles title.She defeated American Christina McHale in the final at Mexico on 1 March. It was her fourth
career
title
and
first
since
Stanford
in
2013.
Mens Singles :- Bulgarias Grigor Dimitrov won the Mens Singles title after defeated South African Kevin
Anderson in the final.
South
Africa
Captain
Graeme
Smith
Announced
Retirement
South African captain Graeme Smith has announced on 4 March that he will retire from international
cricket . Smith is the longest serving captain for South Africa in international cricket. He has played 117
test matches as an opener of which 109 was as a captain too. His total 109 test captaincies is 16 more
than the previous record held by Allan Border of Australia.
Pankaj
Advani
Won
National
Snooker
Title
World champion Pankaj Advani (PSPB) won his sixth Mens National Snooker title after defeated Kamal
Chawla of Railways in the 81st national snooker championship, in Lucknow on 7 March.This was Advanis
overall 24th national snooker title.
Mizoram
Won
Santosh
Trophy

2014
Mizoram won the 68th edition of National Football Championship of Santosh Trophy after defeated
Railways 3-0 in the final on 9 March in Siliguri, West Bengal.This is the maiden Santosh Trophy for
Mizoram also this was the first appearance for them in the final match.
Nico
Rosberg
Won
Australian
Grand
Prix
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany won the Australian Grand Prix on 16 March at Melbourne in
Australia.Kevin Magnussen of Denmark (McLaren) was declared second after Red Bulls Daniel Ricciardo
was disqualified after finishing second in the race. Ricciardo was disqualified for breach of fuel
regulations. Jenson Button of Great Britain also representing McLaren finished the podium with third
place.

ECONOMY
Mukesh
Tops
List
of
Indias
70
Billionaires
According to China-based research firm Huruns 2014 global rich list released on 3 March, India is home
to the fifth largest group of billionaires in the world and Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries ,
is the countrys richest man with a personal fortune of $18 billion.Mukesh Ambani was ranked 41st in the
list that was topped by Bill Gates, whose personal networth stood at a whopping $68 billion.In the global
rich list, Bill Gates was followed by Berkshire Hathaways Warren Buffett (2nd) with a personal wealth of
$64 billion .

Bill
Gates
Tops
Forbes
Billionaire
List
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has regained the title of the worlds richest man in the Forbes magazines
annual billionaire list released on 3 March that includes 56 India based billionaires led by RIL chairman
Mukesh Ambani.With a net worth of $76 billion, Bill Gates reclaimed the top spot after a four-year hiatus,
toppling Mexicos telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim Helu, who placed second at $72 billion.With a
networth of $18.6 billion, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) chief Mukesh Ambani leads the pack of 56
billionaires based in India featured on the list.
India
To
Have
4th
Highest
Number
Of
Billionaires
By
2023
According to the 2014 Wealth Report , an annual global perspective on prime property and wealth by
property management firm Knight Frank released on 6 March, India is projected to be home to the fourth
highest number of billionaires in the world by 2023.As per the report, projected that the number of
billionaires in India will grow by an exponential 98 per cent to 119 in the year 2023 from 60 billionaires last
year.India will rank fourth after US, China and Russia in 2023 and will have more billionaires than the UK,
Germany and France.
SBI
Launches

SBIePay

To
Facilitate
Electronic
Transactions
State Bank of India (SBI), the largest bank in the country has on 13 March launched SBIePay a
payment aggregator service to facilitate electronic (e-commerce /m-commerce) transactions between
merchants, customers and various financial institutions in the country. Indias largest lender is the first
bank in India to start its own online aggregator services.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Indian
Navy
Inducted
Offshore
Patrol
Vessel

INS
Sumedha

The Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel INS Sumedha was formally commissioned into the Indian Navy at
Goa on 7 March .Sumedha is the third ship of the indigenous Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV)
Project to be inducted into the Indian Navy.The ship has been designed and built by Goa Shipyard
Limited.
Astronomers Discovered Hypergiant Star 1300 Times The Size of Our Sun
In the month of March 2014 A hypergaint star which is 1300 times wider than wider than the sun has
discovered. This is the biggest yellow star ever spotted. It is named as HR 5171. This star is 12,000 light
years away. The star was studied by a team lead by Oliver Chesneau of the Cote dAzur Observatory in
Nice, France with the Very Large Telescope in Atacama, Chile. This star can be about one million times
brighter than the Sun.
Ludhian
and
Kanpur
Among
Worlds
Top
10
Most
Polluted
Cities
According to a 2011 World Health Organisation (WHO) report on World Most Polluted Cities, released on
17 March, Ludhiana and Kanpur are among the 10 most polluted cities in the world.Ludhiana made it to
the fourth position along with Quetta in Pakistan.Kanpur made it to the ninth position. The most polluted
city in the world was Ahvaz in Iran.
India
Successfully
Tested
Nuclear
Capable
Prithvi-II
Missile
India successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missile from a military base in
Odisha on 28 March.The indigenously-developed ballistic missile with a maximum range of 350 km was
fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Balasore district, about 230 km from
Bhubaneswar.The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Army conducted the test as part of a
regular training exercise.Prithvi is Indias first indigenously-built ballistic missile.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Sheila
Dikshit
Sworn
In
As
Kerala
Governor
Veteran Congress leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was sworn in as Kerala Governor
on 11 March. Kerala High Court Chief Justice Manjula Chellur administered the oath of office. She was
appointed as the 22nd Governor of Kerala on 4 March. She has succeeded Nikhil Kumar, who in the past
has served as the Police Chief of Delhi. Her appointment to the post came following resignation of Nikhil
Kumar. Dikshit has served Delhi three times, as its Chief Minister from 1998 to 2013.She had represented
the Kannauj Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh during 1984 to 1989.
Former
SC
Judge
Srikrishna
Appointed
as
FPSB
chairman
Justice (Retd.) BN Srikrishna has been appointed as the Chairman of Financial Planning Standards
Board India (FPSB) on 11 March. He takes over from Dhirendra Swarup, who was the chairman of the
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

B)RESIGNS
Nandan
Nilekani
Resigned
as
UIDAI
chairman
Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani resigned as Chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India
(UIDAI) on 13 March. Nilekani joined the Congress Party on 10 March 2014 and he is contesting from the
Bangalore South constituency in Lok Sabha polls. After his exit as CEO of Bangalore headquartered
Infosys in 2007, Nilekani had taken charge as head of UIDAI, Aadhar programme.

C)DEATHS
Noted
Indian
Author
Khushwant
Singh
Died
Noted English author and journalist Khushwant Singh died on 20 March in New Delhi at the age of 99. He
was the founder-editor of Yojana and editor of the Illustrated Weekly of India, the National Herald and the
Hindustan Times. Khushwant Singh was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1974 but returned it in 1984 to
protest the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar by the Indian Army. In 2007, he was awarded the
Padma Vibhushan, the second highest Indian recognition.

D)VISITORS
Prime
Minister
Manmohan
Singh
Visited
Myanmar
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Myanmar on 3 4 March 2014. During his two day visit,
Manmohan Sing attended the third BIMSTEC summit in Nay Pyi-Taw, the capital of Myanmar. In the visit,
Myanmar President U Thein Sein met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the president office,
agreeing further cooperation between the two countries.

E)MISCELLANEOUS
14
Indians
In
WEFs
Young
Global
Leaders
Class
of
2014
World Economic Forum (WEF) on 11 March released Young Global Leaders 2014 list .The WEF
recognised 214 Young Global Leaders (YGLs). Among them 109 are woman who were recognised for
leadership and service to society.There were 17 young global leaders in South Asia, out of which 14 were
from India.

PLACES IN NEWS
Tata
HQ
Becomes
First
Heritage
Building
To
Get
Gold
Rating
Bombay House, the Headquarters of the Tata group in Mumbai, has become Indias first heritage building
to get gold rating by Indian Green Building Council(IGBC) on 3 March . Built in 1923, Bombay House
has been given the rating for implementing measures for energy savings of over 20 per cent, use of
renewable energy, occupant well being and comfort, use of car pools and public transport, and
contribution to the maintenance of neighbouring areas.

ABBREVIATIONS
APEDA -

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority

BIMSTEC Bay of Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical Economic Cooperation

ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States
FIFA Federation Internationale de Football Association
CSIR - Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

BOOKS IN NEWS
Jaswant
Singh
Released
His
Book

India
at
Risk

Jaswant Singh, Former Minister in the NDA government on 3 March released a book entitled India at
Risk Mistakes Misconceptions and Misadventures of security policy. In his book, he had discussed the
issues, the conflicts and the consequences of the security related policy of India.

COMMITTEES
Shyamala
Gopinath
Committee
Recommendations
The Union Government on 4 March 2014 decided to hike interest rates on fixed deposit schemes offered
by post offices by up to 0.2 %. The decision to hike interest rates is taken on the recommendations of
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Shyamala Gopinath Committee.As per the Shyamala
Gopinath Committees recommendations - The interest rate on fixed deposits for one and two years has
been increased to 8.4% from the present 8.2%. Fixed deposits of three and five years will earn 0.1%
higher rate at 8.4% and 8.5%. The rate on National Savings Scheme (NSC) with 5 and 10 year maturities
also remain unchanged at 8.5 % and 8.8 %. The new interest rates on small savings schemes will come
into effect from April 1, 2014.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

World
Poetry
Day
Observed
Across
The
World
World Poetry Day was observed across the world on 21 March 2014. The day was observed to support
linguistic diversity through poetic expression and to offer endangered languages the opportunity to be
heard within their communities.The decision to observe 21 March as World Poetry Day was adopted at
the 30th session of UNESCO held in Paris in 1999.
World
Water
Day
Observed
Across
The
World
World Water Day was observed on 22 March 2014 with the theme Water and Energy to raise awareness
of the inter-linkages between water and energy. World Water Day is observed to preserve and ration
consumption of water.The United Nation is observed annually on 22 March to draw attention on the
importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of fresh water resources.
UN
observed
International
Day
of
Forest
International Day of Forests was observed across the world on 21 March 2014. The theme of the
International Forest Day was Celebrating Forests for Sustainable Development.
APRIL

INTERNATIONAL
Karim
Massimov
Named
as
new
Prime-Minister
of
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev named his chief of staff Karim Massimov as the new prime
minister on 2 April. His appointment came following the resignation of Serik Akhmetov from the post,
which was accepted by the President as per the Constitutional provision.
Viktor
Orban
Re-elected
As
Prime
Minister
of
Hungary
Viktor Orban was re-elected to a third term as Prime Minister of Hungary .The results of general elections
were announced on 8 April 2014. The General parliamentary elections were held on 6 April 2014.Out of
the total votes casted, Orbans Fidesz party won 133 of 199 parliament seats.
China
Recruits

Guardian
Angels

To
Protect
Embattled
Doctors
Chinas capital Beijing is on 9 April taking a novel approach to protecting doctors from growing levels of
violence from angry patients: volunteer Guardian Angels.The campaign will recruit students, medical
workers and other patients to act as middlemen between doctors and those in their care to defuse
disagreements and smooth over tensions.
Sale
of
HIV
Self-Testing
Kits
Legalised
In
The
UK
A new law legalizing sale of self-testing kits for HIV came into force in United Kingdom (UK) on 6 April
2014. The new law allows individuals to buy the self-testing kits available on shops and self-diagnose for
HIV at home itself.

INDIA & WORLD

Bangladesh
To
Provide
Transit
Facility
For
Indian
Power
Line
Bangladesh on 3 April agreed to provide transit facility for a 6000 megawatt Indian power transmission
line. This decision was taken in a joint steering committee meeting on India-Bangladesh power sector
cooperation.
Canada
Suspends
Voluntary
Commonwealth
Funds
Over
Sri
Lanka
Issue
The Government of Canada on 14 April announced that the country will suspend its voluntary funds to the
Commonwealth Secretariat and reallocate the funds for the next two years.The Commonwealth of
Nations is an intergovernmental organisation of 53 member states that were mostly territories of the
former British Empire. The most populous Commonwealth country is India, with nearly 1.1 billion people.
India
and
Bhutan
Signed
Agreement
For
Developing
Hydropower
Projects
India and Bhutan on 22 April signed an agreement for the development of joint hydropower projects in a
bid to further strengthen their bilateral strategic partnership.The framework Inter-Governmental
Agreement between Bhutan and India for the development of Joint Venture Hydropower Projects through
the Public Sector Undertakings of the two governments was signed in Thimphu, capital of Bhutan.
Indian-Americans
Form
3rd
Largest
Asian
Population
In
US
According to the report on demographics of the Asian-American population released on 24 April by the
Center for American Progress, Indian-Americans numbering 3.34 million is the third largest Asian
community in the United States, after China and Philippines.The Indian-American population shot up 76
per cent in the first 12 years of the 21st century.While the Chinese-Americans form the largest group of
Asian-American population with 4.

NATIONAL
Women
To
Be
Inducted
As
Officers
In
SSB
for
First
Time
The Union Home Ministry on 13 April for the first time approved the recruitment of young women as
combat officers in Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Young women under and up to the age of 25 years will be
recruited as direct entry officers in the rank of assistant commandants (ACs). SSB is the second largest
border guarding force.
IMA appeals Doctors To Give 25 per cent Discount On Fees For Voters
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has on 11 April appealed to its 2.75 lac doctor-members across
India to give 25 per cent discount in doctors fees for one week to all patients who visit them with their
fingers bearing the voting ink mark.
India
Supreme
Court
Recognizes
Transgender
As
Third
Gender
Indias Supreme Court in a landmark judgment on 15 April 2014, created the third gender status for
transgenders. In its judgment the Apex Court claimed transgenders as socially and economically
backward.The court also directed union & states government to adopt measures for bringing the
community into the mainstream by providing adequate healthcare, education and employment.
Election
Commission
Launched
Online
Media
Channel
The Election Commission has launched on 17 April its own internet-based media arm called Voter
Education Channel for voter awareness . Numerous video clips featuring iconic personalities urging
citizens to vote have been uploaded on the channel and can be viewed on social media platform
YouTube.This is the official channel of the Election Commission of India.

STATES
Shompens of A & N islands Casted Votes For The First Time For Lok Sabha
Shompens of Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) islands for the first time casted their votes in Great Nicobar on
10 April. Shompens one of the stone-age tribes casted the votes for the Lok Sabha constituency of
Bay Islands for Lok Sabaha election 2014.
Mizoram Government Refused To Repatriate
Bru Refugees
Within 3 Months
Mizoram Government on 12 April refused to repatriate all the Bru refugees lodged in six Tripura relief
camps within three months.Earlier on 8 April 2014, the state government had agreed to the demand of the
NGO Coordination Committee to repatriate the Bru refugees within three month. It agreed that they would
repatriate all the Bru refugees after the end of the ongoing election process. The Bru Refugees also
called Reang refugees are the original inhabitants of Mammit Sub-Division of Aizawl District of Mizoram.
They started arriving in North Tripuras Kanchanpur sub division since 29 October 1997.
High
Content
of
Manganese
Detected
In
Selaulim
Reservoir
of
Goa
High content of manganese was detected by the State Public Works Department (PWD) in Selaulin
reservoir of Goa on 19 April .The level of manganese detected in the reservoir was 0.1 mg. This is less
than the level of manganese content detected earlier and is within safe limit.The reservoir has production
capacity of 214 MLD of water, which is supplied to entire South Goa and some parts of North district.
Supreme
Court
Lifts
Mining
Ban
In
Goa
The Supreme Court (SC) on 21 April lifted a 19 month old ban on mining in Goa.The iron ore mining will
be restricted to 20 million tonnes annually.The ban was imposed in September 2012 as part of a drive to
curb illegal mining in Goa.

CONFERENCES
World
Green
Economy
Summit-2014
Held
In
Dubai
The World Green Economy Summit (WGES) -2014 was held in Dubai from 15th and 16th of April 2014.
The theme of the summit was Global Partnership, Sustainable Future .The World Green Economy
Summit (WGES), the first Summit focused on green business in the region, concluded on 16 April , with
a closing session which provided a platform for determining the way for Dubai to become capital of the
worlds green economy in line with the goals of the UAEs Vision 2021.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Veteran Film Lyricist and Director Gulzar Selected For Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2013
Veteran film lyricist, director, screen writer, producer and poet Gulzar has been conferred the Dadasaheb
Phalke Award for the year 2013. He is the 45th Dada Saheb Phalke Award Winner.The ministry of
information and broadcasting announced on 12 April. The Dadsaheb Phalke award is Indias highest
award for an individual for their contribution towards Indian cinema. It is annually given by the
Government of India.He was born in 1934 in Punjab in pre-independence India. Sampooran Singh Kalra
was his original name and he took the pen name of Gulzar Deenvi after becoming an author.

61st
National
Film
Awards
The 61st National Film Awards for 2013 was announced in New Delhi on 16 April by the Directorate of
Film Festivals. Ship of Theseus directed by Anand Gandhi has won the Golden Lotus for Best Feature
Film. The Best Actor award is shared between Shahid star Rajkummar Rao and Malayalam actor Suraj
Venjaramudu.
Geetanjali
Thapa
won
Best
Actress
for
Liars
Dice.
Following
is
the
listing
of
Winners
for
important
Categories
:* Best
Feature
Film

Ship
of
Theseus

(Anand
Gandhi)
* Best
Director
Hansal
Mehta
for

Shahid

* Best Actor Raj Kumar for Shahid in hindi and Suraj Venjaramoodu for Perariyathavar in
Malyalam
* Best
Actress
Geetanjali
Thapa
for
Hindi
film

Liars
Dice

* Best
Non
Feature
Film

Rangbhoomi

(Hindi
film
by
Kamal
Swaroop)
* Best
Film
on
Social
Issues

Tuhya
Dharma
Koncha

(Marathi)
* Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration Thalaimuraigal (Tamil)
* Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film Nagraj Manjule for Fandry (Marathi)
* Best
Non
Feature
Film
on
Social
Issues

Gulabi
Gang

* Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment Bhaag Milka Bhaag (Rakeysh
Omprakash Mehra)
Indian-American Rajendra Singh Named White Houses Solar Champions Of Change
Indian-American professor Rajendra Singh was on 18 April named by the White House as the Solar
Champions of Change in recognition of his immense contribution towards developing alternate source of
energy and promoting solar deployment in residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
Indian
Activist
Honoured
with
Goldman
Environmental
Prize

2014
Indian environment activist Ramesh Agrawal has on 28 April won the prestigious Goldman Environmental
Prize 2014 for helping villagers fight coal mining in Chhattisgarh and success in shutting down one of the
largest planned coal mines in the area.

SPORTS & GAMES

MS
Dhoni
Won
United
Kingdoms
2014
Asian
Award
Indian Cricket Captain MS Dhoni has won United Kingdoms 2014 Asian award for outstanding
achievement in sports.The award was announced on 4 April at Londons at The Grosvenor House
Hotel.Dhoni is widely regarded as one of the greatest finishers in limited over cricket tournament and in
2013 he emerged as the first captain to win all three ICC trophies.
Punjab
Won
Junior
National
Hockey
Title
2014
Punjab won the 4th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2014 (Division A) by defeating
Hockey Odisha 6-2 in the finals on 6 April at Chennai, Tamil Nadu.With this win, Punjab had retained the
championship title.
Sri
Lanka
Won
ICC
Twenty20
World
Cup

2014
Sri Lanka won the fifth edition of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2014 title after defeated India by six
wickets in the finals on 6 April at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka. Earlier, Sri Lanka last won
the first world title in the World Cup (50-over tournament) in 1996.
Andrea
Petkovic
Won
Family
Circle
Cup
Title
Andrea Petkovic of Germay won the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament title.She defeated Jana
Cepelova (Slovakia) in the final on 6 April in Charleston, United States.It was her first WTA title in last
three years.Overall, this is the third WTA title for Petkovic and first since her come back from the string of

injuries in recent years. Petkovic last won in Strasbourg in 2011 and her first title came in 2009 in Bad
Gastein.
Nour
El
Sherbini
Won
Texas
Open
Squash
Title
Indias Dipika Pallikal was defeated by Egyptian Nour El Sherbini in the title clash of the Womens
Champion Fiberlass Texas Open squash tournament on 14 April at Houston, United States.

ECONOMY
Election
Commission
Allows
RBI
to
Issue
new
Bank
Licences
The Election Commission (EC) on 1 April allowed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to issue licences for
setting up new banks.The approval came after the RBI missed the March-end deadline for issuing the first
bank licence in almost a decade.The RBI on 12 March 2014 approached the Election Commission (EC)
seeking its approval for granting bank lincences as the model code of conduct had come in place after the
general elections announcement on 5 March 2014.
RBIs
First
Bi-monthly
Monetary
Policy
Statement
2014-15
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 1 April released it first Bi-monthly Monetary Policy statement 2014-15
.According to the statement , RBI has kept the policy repo rate unchanged at 8.0%.Other policy
instruments such as cash reserve ratio (CRR) also remain unchanged at 4%.
RBI
grants
in-principle
Approval
To
IDFC,
Bandhan
For
Bank
Licences
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 2 April granted in-principle approvals to IDFC Ltd and Bandhan
Financial Services Pvt. Ltd to start new banks in India.These approvals have been granted under the
guidelines on licensing of new banks in the private sector. The two have been granted the permission to
set-up banks from a field of 25 aspirants.
Dilip
Shanghvi
Among
Asias
Top
10
Richest
Self-made
Billionaires
The Wealth-X Asias top ten wealthiest self-made billionaires list released on 30 April. According to the
list, Dilip Shanghvi, founder and managing director of Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries, has been named
in the list , topped by Hong Kong business tycoon Li Ka-Shing. Shanghvi, ranked seventh, is the only
Indian on the list with a net worth of $13.5 billion, while Li Ka-Shing topped the chart with a fortune of
$29.4 billion.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISROs PSLV-C24 Successfully Launched Indias Second Navigation Satellite IRNSS-1B
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched Indias second navigation satellite,
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System 1B ( IRNSS-1B), into the space. The satellite was launched
through ISROs Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C24 (PSLV-C24) rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space
Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on 4 April 2014. PSLV-C24 injected the IRNSS-1B into a
preliminary orbit.
Scientists
Discovered
Gene
Behind
Brain
Development
Key gene for the development of human brain has been discovered by Scientists from the University of
Adelaide on 6 April.The study shows how mutations in the gene called USP9X are linked to intellectual
disability.

Solar
Impulse
2
Plane
Unveiled
In
Switzerland
The upgraded solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2 was unveiled on 13 April at Payerne Air Force Base
of Switzerland. The solar plane can fly around the world for five consecutive days without using any fuel.
Swiss pilots Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard have developed the solar powered aircraft
Unique
Pair
of
Super-Massive
Black
Holes
Found
Scientists have discovered on 23 April the first pair of super-massive black holes in orbit around one
another in a non-active galaxy. The European Space Agencys X-ray Multi Mirror Mission, XMM Newton
had discovered these black holes.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
N
B
Singh
Assumes
Charge
As
BDL
director
Air Vice Marshal N B Singh, AVSM, VSM (retd) on 1 April assumed charge as Director (technical) of
Bharat Dynamics Limited, a Hyderabad-based Mini-ratna category-1 company under the Ministry of
Defence.Prior to this appointment, AVM Singh served as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (communication) in
the Indian Air Force.
Justice
RM
Lodha
Sworn
In
As
41st
Chief
Justice
of
India
Justice Rajendra Mal Lodh was on 27 April sworn in as the 41st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on 27 April.
He was administered the oath of office by President Pranab Mukherjee.Chief Justice Lodha succeeds
Chief Justice P Sathasivam who demitted office on completion of his term on 26 April 2014.Justice Lodha
will have a brief tenure of five months as the Chief Justice as he will retire on 27 September 2014.
Former
IAF
chief
Appointed
Indias
Ambassador
To
Norway
Former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Norman Anil Kumar Browne has been appointed Indias next
Ambassador to Norway on 29 April.He will succeed R. K. Tyagi as Indias envoy in Norway.Browne had
served as IAF chief between 31 July 2011 and 31 December 2013.

B)RESIGNS
Kazakhstan
Prime-Minister
Serik
Akhmetov
Resigned
Kazakhstans Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov, has announced his resignation on 2 April, a development
that will lead to the dissolution of the government.The resignation was accepted by the President as per
the Constitutional provision.Akhmetov was appointed as the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan in September
2012.

C)DEATHS
Renowned
Cinematographer
VK
Murthy
Died
Renowned cinematographer and Dada Saheb Phalke awardee V K Murthy,died on 7 April in
Shankarapuram. He was 91 and was famous for his camera work in Guru Dutts classics like Pyaasa and
Sahib, Bibi Aur Ghulam. He was the first cinematographer to be chosen for the prestigious Dada Saheb
Phalke award for 2008. He received the hounour on 19 January 2010. For his contribution to Indian
cinema, he received the International Indian Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.In 1959,
he won the Filmfare Best Cinematographer award.

D)VISITORS
U.S.
Vice
President
Joe
Biden
Visited
Ukraine
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Ukraine on 21 22 April 2014. In the most high-level visit of a U.S.
official since crisis erupted in Ukraine, Biden met privately with acting Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatsenyuk
and acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov, as well as with democracy activists.In the visit,
Biden also announced the United States will provide an additional $50 million to help Ukraines
beleaguered government with political and economic reforms.

E)MISCELLANEOUS
Koyal
Rana
Won
Miss
India
2014
Title
Koyal Rana was crowned as the new Miss India in the 51st Femina Miss India 2014 contest on 5 April at
Mumbai.The winner will represent India at Miss World 2014 while 19 year old Jhataleka Malhotra was first
runner up who will represent India at Miss Earth and second runner up Gail Nicole Da Silva at Miss
Supranational.

PLACES IN NEWS
Google
Launches
360
Degree
Online
View
Of
Angkor
Wat
In
Cambodia
Google on 3 April launched 360 degree online view of Angkor Wat in Cambodia under Streetview project.
The Angkor Wat project was developed with the help of the Apsara Authority of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
APSARA National Authority is an organisation created for the protection and maintenance of Angkor. In
Angkor Wat, arguably the largest temple complex in the world, Streetview has been used to patch
together over 90,000 high resolution 360-degree images of the monument.

ABBREVIATIONS
IABF -

Indian Amatuer Boxing Federation

NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization

BSF Border Security Force
IMF International Monetary Fund
IRNSS Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System
CITU Centre of Indian Trade Unions

BOOKS IN NEWS

 The Accidental Prime Minister The Making and Unmaking Of Manmohan Singh Book Released
A book entitled The Accidental Prime Minister The Making and Unmaking Of Manmohan Singh
written by Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs former media advisor Sanjaya Baru was released on 11
April .

COMMITTEES
Anand
Sinha
Committee
Recommends
Benchmark
For
Floating
Interest
Rate
A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) committee headed by former RBI Deputy Governor Anand Sinha
suggested a benchmark floating interest rate, especially for home loans, to bring greater transparency in
the pricing of credit.The committee on 10 April released Draft Report on Working Group on Pricing of
Credit. As per the report, the Indian Banks Association (IBA) may develop a new benchmark for floating
interest rate products, namely, the Indian Banks Base Rate (IBBR), which may be collated and published
by IBA on a periodic basis.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

World
Health
Day
2014
Observed
Across
The
World
World Health Day 2014 was observed across the world on 7 April 2014. The day provides an opportunity
for individuals to get involved in activities that can lead to better health. The theme for World Health Day
2014 is vector-borne diseases. World Health Organisation (WHO) is highlighting the serious and
increasing threat of vector-borne diseases with the slogan Small bite, big threat.
World
Malaria
Day
Observed
Across
The
World
World Malaria Day (WMD) was observed on 25 April 2014 across the world. The day was observed to
highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and
control.The theme for 2013-2015 is: Invest in the future. Defeat malaria.

MAY

INTERNATIONAL
President
Jacob
Zuma
of
South
Africa
Re-elected
For
Second
Term
South Africa President, Jacob Zuma of African National Congress (ANC) was re-elected for second term.
African National Congress (ANC) won the elections held on 7 May for the National Assembly. Results for
the same were announced on 9 May. African National Congress (ANC) won 63% of the votes while the
Democratic Alliance (DA) fell behind with 22% of the votes.This victory is ANCs 5th consecutive win in
national elections.
Swiss
Voters
Rejected
Worlds
Highest
Minimum
Wage
Swiss voters rejected the Minimum Wage Initiative on 18 May.The initiative was rejected by 77 percent of
the Swiss voters.The Minimum Wage Initiative, if passed, would have introduced highest minimum wage
in the world at 25 US dollars for an hour (or 22 francs an hour).Twenty-five dollars an hour seems like a
lot, but Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world.

Petro
Poroshenko
Elected
As
Ukraine
President
Petro Poroshenko was elected as the new President of Ukraine in Presidential Elections held on 25 May
2014. Poroshenko won a convincing victory after winning around 54.7% of the votes from 21 candidates
on the ballot. His closest competitor was Yulia Tymoshenko, who emerged with 12.81% of the votes.
Russia,
Kazakhstan,
Belarus
Signed
Treaty
Creating
Economic
Union
Presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus Vladimir Putin, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Alexander
Lukashenko have on 29 May signed a treaty on setting up the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

INDIA & WORLD

India
Ranked
83rd
In
Networked
Readiness
Index
A World Economic Forum (WEF) on 5 May released its 13th edition of Global Information Technology
Report. In the reports networked readiness index Scandinavian countries dominated the top 10, with
Finland grabbing the top spot, followed by Singapore, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the
United States, Hong Kong, Great Britain and the Republic of Korea. In the developing world, China fell
four spots to No. 62, Brazil fell nine spots to No. 69 and India dropped 15 spots to No. 83 in terms of
leveraging information and communications technologies for growth and well being.
Switzerland
Among
47
Nations
To
Agree
On
Tax
Data
Exchange
47 nations including Switzerland and India, have agreed upon automatic exchange of information on tax
matters.The endorsement of the Declaration on Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters by 47
countries under the aegis of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on 6 May
will come as a boost for India, which is stepping up pressure on Switzerland to share details on alleged
illicit funds stashed away by Indians there.
Indians
Form
2nd
Largest
Group
of
International
Students
In
US
According to the report released by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on 7 May, India
accounts for second largest number of international students in this country. China with 290,133 students
is at the top in the report on international students.
Odisha
Signed
MoU
with
TiE
Silicon
Valley
The Odisha government has on 14 May signed an agreement with the TiE Silicon Valley as part of its
efforts to develop the state as an IT hub and attract US investment. Under the agreement, Odisha
government would have a professional stationed at the headquarters of Silicon Valley in Santa Clara,
California.

NATIONAL
SC
upheld
Validity
of
Right
To
Education
Act
The Supreme Court on 6 May upheld the Constitutional validity of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. In its
decision, the apex court explained that the Act is not applied to unaided minority institutions. The fivejudge Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court in its decision also upheld the provisions of the Right of
Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory
Education Rules, 2010.

Govt
Extends
Ban
On
LTTE
by
5
Years
The government has extended by five years the ban imposed on LTTE, a terror group that was behind the
assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and was decimated by the Sri Lanka military in 2009. India had banned
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after the assassination of Gandhi in 1991. The declaration of
LTTE as an Unlawful Association has been extended for a further period of five years with effect from 14
May 2014.
16th
Lok
Sabha
Elections
Results
Declared
The Indian general election of 2014 was held to constitute the 16th Lok Sabha, electing members of
parliament to all 543 parliamentary constituencies of India. Running in nine phases from 7 April to 12 May
2014, this was the longest election in the countrys history. The results of the 2014 Lok Sabha election
were declared on 16 May 2014. In the Elections 2014, The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by
the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), won a sweeping victory, taking 336 seats. The BJP itself won 282
seats, the first time since Rajiv Gandhis landslide victory in 1984 that an Indian party has won enough
seats to govern without the support of other parties. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA), led by the
Indian National Congress (INC), won 59 seats, 44 of which were won by the Congress.
President
Pranab
Mukherjee
Dissolves
15th
Lok
Sabha
President Pranab Mukherjee dissolved the 15th Lok Sabha on 18 May. President dissolved the Lok
Sabha on the advice of outgoing Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who resigned on
17 May 2014. Union Cabinet recommended the President to dissolve the 15th Lok Sabha as a follow up
to the election results of 16th Lok Sabha election. This will make way to the formation of new government.

STATES
Supreme
Court
Bans
Tamil
Nadus
Bullfight
Game
Jallikattu
The Supreme Court has on 7 May banned centuries-old Jallikattu- bullfights and bullock-cart racingorganised during festivals in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states.Significantly, the bench headed by
Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan favoured elevating the rights of the animals to constitutional rights.
BJD
won
Odisha
Assembly
Elections

2014
The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
established a landslide victory in the 2014 election leaving opposition Congress and BJP reduced to a
miniscule. The results for the elections were announced on 16 May 2014 in which BJD claimed more than
two-third majority by winning 117 of the total 147 seats.
Congress
Party
Won
Arunachal
Pradesh
Assembly
Elections

2014
Congress had won a clear majority in the Assembly elections by winning 42 of the total 60 seats. BJP won
11 seats and was followed by Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) with 5 seats. Remaining seats were
shared by independent candidates. The results for states Assembly elections were announced on 16 May
2014.
SDF
won
Sikkim
2014
Assembly
Elections
Fifth
Time
Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling -led Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) won 18 of the 22 seats in the
32-member state assembly.The assembly election results were declared on 16 May. SDF won its fifth
consecutive term in the assembly elections. The Opposition, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, has got the
remaining 10 seats.

CONFERENCES
47th
Annual
Meeting
of
the
Board
of
Governors
of
ADB
The 47th Annual Meeting of Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors was held from 2-5 May
2014 in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The meeting was attended by Finance Ministers/their
representatives of 67 Member Countries. Discussions were conducted on economic development
forecasts of the Asia-Pacific region, new economic challenges for the region and other issues, and
significance of interaction in solution of problems important for the continent was emphasized at the
event.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Indian
Scientist
Ravinder
Dahiya
Won
British
Research
Fellowship
Ravinder Dahiya, an Indian scientist in Britain, has been granted a prestigious fellowship worth 1,068,000
pounds (around $1.8 million) on 2 May by a top British agency that funds research in engineering and the
physical sciences.
Two
Indian-American
Chefs
Won
James
Beard
Food
Awards

2014
Two Indian-origin chefs Vikram Sunderam and Vishwesh Bhatt have been conferred with the prestigious
James Beard Food Awards for 2014, considered as the Oscars of the US food and beverage industry.
Sunderam and Bhatt were awarded the Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic and Best Chef in South
respectively. The James Beard Food Awards, which were presented during a ceremony at the Lincoln
Centre at the James Beard Foundations annual awards ceremony in New York on 5 May, are widely
considered the top honours in American cooking.
Six
Indo-Americans
Felicitated
with
Ellis
Island
Medal
of
Honor
Six Indian Americans have been felicitated on 10 May with the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor for
the year 2014.The Ellis Island Medals of Honor by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organization is given
annually to US citizens who have distinguished themselves within their own ethnic groups while
exemplifying the values of the American way of life. Among the recipients of the award are Yash Paul Soi ,
Narpat Bhandari , Samir Desai , Arun Kumar Pramanik , Ketki Sharadkumar Shah , Abdul M Suleman,
were also felicitated with the prestigious award.
Winter
Sleep
Won
Palme
dOr
Award
At
67th
Cannes
Film
Festival
Winter Sleep, a film by Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, was honoured with Palme dOr Award at the
67th Cannes Film Festival held in Cannes from 16 May to 25 May 2014. Julianne Moore won the Best
Actress prize for Maps to the Stars , while Turner star Timothy Spall was named Best Actor.

SPORTS & GAMES

Sania
Mirza
and
Cara
Black
Won
Portugal
Open
Title
Indias Sania Mirza and her Zimbabwean partner Cara Black won their first WTA title of the season
beating Eva Hrdinova (Czech) and Valeria Solovyeva (Russia) in the womens doubles final of the
Portugal Open in Oeiras (Portugal) on 3 May 2014.

Lewis
Hamilton
Won
Spanish
Grand
Prix

2014
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain won the Spanish Grand Prix on 11 May. This was Lewis
Hamiltons fourth consecutive victory in 2014 F1 season for his team Mercedes.
Italian
Open
Tennis
Tournament
Winners

2014
Mens Singles :- Novak Djokovic of Serbia won the Italian Open mens singles tennis title (Rome Open
Tennis) on 18 May in Rome, Italy. He defeated Rafael Nadal of Spain in the final. It was his third Italian
Open
title.
Womens Singles :- Serena Williams of US won the womens singles title after defeated Sara Errani of
Italy in the final. It was her 3rd Italian Open title.
China
Won
Uber
Cup
2014
China won the Badmintons Uber Cup 2014 on 24 May. China successfully defended its title by scoring an
emphatic 3-1 win over Japan. It was Chinas 13th Uber Cup title, the most by any team.Uber Cup is often
known as the World team championship for womens badminton.

ECONOMY
RBI
Allowed
Minors
Above
10
years
To
Open
Savings
Bank
Accounts
Minors above 10 years of age can open and operate independently savings bank account and use other
facilities like ATM and cheque books. The Reserve Bank on 6 May issued the guidelines allowing minors
to operate bank accounts independently with a view to promote financial inclusion and bring uniformity in
opening of such accounts in banks.
India
Has
54
of
Worlds
Largest
and
Most
Powerful
Public
Companies
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) leads the pack of 54 Indian companies on Forbes 11th
annual list of the worlds 2000 largest and most powerful public companies. The list was released on 7
May. India has 54 of the worlds biggest companies. RIL is ranked 135, with a market value of $50.9
billion and $72.8 billion in sales as of May.
President
of
India
Dedicates
RUPAY
To
The
Nation
President Pranab Mukherjee has dedicated RuPay Indias own card payment network to the nation on 8
May. The system has been developed by National Payment Corporation Ltd (NPCL). RuPay is Indias
own card payment network just like Visa and Master Card and provides an alternative system for banks to
provide debit card service.
Nine
Indian
Firms
In
Forbes
Most
Innovative
Growth
Companies
List
Nine Indian firms have made it into the Forbes list of the Worlds 100 most innovative growth companies.
New Zealand software accounting firm Xero topped the list. Among the nine Indian companies, Godrej
Consumer Products leads the pack and was ranked 31st globally with an enterprise value of $4.25 billion.
The list was released on 22 May 2014.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India
Successfully
Test
Fired

Astra

Missile
India on 4 May successfully test-fired its first indigenously-developed air-to-air missile Astra from a
Russian-built Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet over the Arabian Sea off Goa. Astra is Indias first Beyond

Visual Range (BVR) Air-to-Air missile. It was designed and developed indigenously by the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) .
Shanthas
Paediatric
Pentavalent
Vaccine
Prequalified
By
WHO
Paediatric pentavalent vaccine Shan5, developed and manufactured by Hyderabad based Shantha
Biotechnics, an affiliate of French pharmaceutical company Sanofi, has regained prequalification (PQ)
status on 5 May from the World Health Organisation (WHO). This status qualifies the vaccine, which
provides protection for children against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib and hepatitis B, for purchase by
United Nations agencies, governments and other organisations.
Indian-Origin
Scientist
Vivek
Reddy
Developed
Leadless
Pacemaker
The worlds first wireless pacemaker, developed by Indian-origin scientist Dr Vivek Reddy, Director of
Arrhythmia Services at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. The device is only a few centimeters in
length, making it less than ten per cent the size of a traditional pacemaker.
Green
Jet
Fuel
From
Sunlight
Developed
A research project named Solar-Jet funded by the European Union has produced the worlds first jet fuel
from water and carbon dioxide.In the Solar-Jet Project, researchers used concentrated light-stimulated
sunlight-to convert carbondioxide and water to synthesis Gas in a high temperature solar reactor
containing metal-oxide based material developed at ETH Zurich.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Nabam
Tuki
Sworn
In
As
CM
of
Arunachal
Pradesh
For
Second
Term
Veteran Congress leader Nabam Tuk was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the
second consecutive term at the Raj Bhavan in Itanagar on 18 May. He is the 8th (seventh as person)
Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
Jitan
Ram
Manjhi
Sworn
In
As
Bihar
CM
Janata Dal (United) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi was on 20 May sworn in as Bihars 23rd Chief Minister.
Manjhi was SC/ST welfare minister under former CM Nitish Kumar who resigned owning responsibility for
the poor performance of JD (U) in the parliamentary polls.
Naveen
Patnaik
Sworn
In
As
4th
Time
CM
in
Odisha
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik was on 21 May sworn in as Odisha chief minister for the
fourth straight term. He is the 14th Chief Minister of Odisha. Naveen Patnaik won a huge victory in both
the 2014 Indian General Elections and the Legislative Assembly of Odisha elections in 2014.
Anandiben
Patel
Sworn
In
As
First
Woman
Chief
Minister
of
Gujarat
Anandiben Patel was sworn-in on 22 May as Gujarats first woman and overall 15th Chief Minister in a
ceremony chaired by state Governor Kamala Beniwal. Anandiben Patel was appointed as the new Chief
Minister of Gujarat after Narendra Modi resigned from the office on 21 May 2014.
Narendra
Modi
Sworn
In
As
Indias
15th
Prime
Minister
Narendra Damodardas Modi was sworn-in as the 15th Prime Minister of India on 26 May 2014.The
swearing-in ceremony was held in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhawan and President Pranab
Mukherjee administered the oath of office and secrecy to Modi and his council of ministers. 23 cabinet

ministers, 10 Ministers of State (MoS) with independent charge and 12 MoS took oath along with
Narendra Modi. With this Narendra Modis council of ministers presently comprises of 45 ministers.

B)RESIGNS
Nagaland
Chief
Minister
Neiphiu
Rio
Resigned
Three-time Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio on 23 May resigned from the chair along with his
council of ministers. Neiphiu Rio, who has been chief minister of Nagaland for over 11 years, tendered his
resignation following his landslide victory in the 16th Lok Sabha polls.

C)DEATHS
Nobel
Laureate
Economist
Gary
Becker
Died
Gary Becker, whose work applying the principles of economics to a wide range of human behavior won
the Nobel Prize in 1992, has died on 3 May in Chicago. He was professor of economics and sociology at
the University of Chicago. American economist, Becker received the Nobel Prize in 1992 in economics for
using economics to analyse human behaviour and interaction topics such as crime (why people commit
it), discrimination against minorities and family life.

D)VISITORS
Turkmenistan
President
Berdymukhamedov
Visited
China
Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov visited China from 11 14 May 2014. During his
four day visit, Berdymukhamedov met China Prime Minister Li Keqiang in Beijing, capital of China. Both
nations signed a number of deals to develop a stronger strategic partnership. The two heads of states
also witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements in areas such as natural gas, agriculture,
transportation, finance, culture and local exchanges.

E)MISCELLANEOUS
11
Year
Old
Boy
In
UK
with
Higher
IQ
Than
Einstein
Joins
Mensa
An 11-year-old boy in the UK has achieved the highest possible score of 162 on a Mensa IQ test, making
him brainier than physicist Albert Einstein. Ramarni Wilfred, of Loom Grove, Romford, took the Mensa IQ
test at Birbeck University and achieved a score of 162. Although Einstein never took an IQ test as none of
the modern intelligence tests existed during the course of his life, experts believe he had an IQ of around
160.

PLACES IN NEWS
Worlds
Highest
Railway
Tunnel
Opens
In
China
The worlds highest tunnel for high-speed trains in northwest China at an altitude of 3,607.4 metres
became operational on 1 May. The 16.3-km-long was completely linked up, operationalising the line
linking Gansu Province and Xinjiang provinces. With altitudes of up to 3,607.4 metres, the tunnel passes
through the Qilian Mountains with two sections and a bridge. The construction of the highest tunnel
started in 2009.

ABBREVIATIONS
AGOC - Asian Games Organisation Committee
FIPB - Foreign Investment Promotion Board
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
AAPI - Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

BOOKS IN NEWS
Vice
President
Released
The
Book

A
Stamp
Is
Born

The Vice President of India, M. Hamid Ansari released a book entitled A Stamp is Born authored by C.
R. Pakrashi, a renowned stamp designer, at a function on 6 May. The author Pakrashi, who is also a
renowned Stamp designer in the book, has described his first-hand experiences with all stages of
production of the stamp right from conception to final execution and printing. The book includes 56
commemorative stamps.

COMMITTEES
P. J Nayak Committee For Diluting Govt Stake In Public Sector Banks To Below 50 percent
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) committee report has recommended on 13 May that the government
should divest its stake in state-owned banks to less than 50%, allow private equity houses to own 40% in
distressed banks, and strip managers of private sector banks of their bonuses and Esops if they are
caught ever-greening sticky loans. The report covers 27 state-controlled lenders. The committee was led
by P. Jayendra Nayak, the former chief executive of Axis Bank Ltd. and former India country head of
Morgan Stanley.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

Anti-Terrorism
Day
Observed
Across
India
On
21
May
Anti-Terrorism Day observed Across India on 21 May 2014. The day is celebrated as 23rd Death
Anniversary of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi.The day is marked by a pledge taking
ceremony among other activities.The objective behind the observance of Anti-Terrorism Day is to wean
away the people from terrorism and violence. On the occasion, debates, discussions, symposia,
seminars, lectures, etc. are held in schools, colleges and universities on the dangers of terrorism and
violence.The Day is observed to generate awareness in the country among all sections of people, about
the danger of terrorism.
World
Press
Freedom
Day
Observed
Across
The
World
World Press Freedom Day was observed on 3 May 2014 across the world. The theme of 2014 year is:

Media Freedom for a Better Future: Shaping the post-2015 Development Agenda.The focus this year is
on three inter-related themes: the medias importance in development; the safety of journalists and the
rule of law; and the sustainability and integrity of journalism.

JUNE

INTERNATIONAL
US
President
Proposed
1
billion
dollar
Plan
For
Eastern
Europe
The US President Barack Obama on 3 June proposed a 1 billion US dollar (about 730 million Euros) US
security plan for Eastern Europe to finance extra US troop and military deployments to new allies in
Eastern Europe.
Reuven
Rivlin
Is
Elected
Israels
10th
President
Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin, Knesset member of Likud Party, was on 10 June 2014 elected as 10th president of
Israel. Reuven Rivlin has defeated a long-time MP Meir Sheetrit by 63 to 53 in a secret run-off ballot. He
will succeed Shimon Peres. Rivlin will sworn-in on 24 July 2014.
Russia
Cuts
Off
Gas
Supplies
To
Ukraine
Russia on 16 June cut off all gas supplies to Ukraine over the due payment. Energy Minister of Ukraine
Yuri Prodan confirmed that the Gas supplies to Ukraine have been reduced to zero.After a while, both
Gazprom and Naftogaz filed lawsuits against each other at the International Council Commercial
Arbitration (ICCA) in Stockholm.
Sri
Lanka
and
Seychelles
Signed
Six
Agreements
Sri Lanka and Seychelles on 28 June signed six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with a view of
further integrating and deepening the existing relationship between the two countries.The six agreements
were signed between Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and President of Seychelles, James
Michael in the capital, Victoria.

INDIA & WORLD

EU
lifts
Drug
Export
Ban
From
Ranbaxys
Toansa
Plant
The European health regulator, on 5 June, lifted the suspension imposed on export of drugs produced at
the Ranbaxys Toansa plant to the EU, stating medicines produced at the site posed no risk to public
health despite having a number of manufacturing deficiencies. The European Medicines Agency (EMA)
announced that assessment of reported non-compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) at
Ranbaxy Laboratories at Toansa, India has been finalised by the European regulatory authorities.
India
Becomes
Permanent
Signatory
To
Washington
Accord
India has on 13 June become a permanent Signatory to Washington Accord (WA), which will enable
global recognition of Indian degrees in engineering and technical education. With India becoming the
permanent signatory, India joined a select group of 17 countries who are permanent signatories of the
Washington Accord (WA).
India
and
Russia
Bilateral
Talks
In the first high-level interaction between India and Russia after Narendra Modi Government took over at
the Centre, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry O

Rogozin on 18 June discussed crucial bilateral issues, including matters related to trade and energy
security. Besides issues related to economic cooperation and energy security, the deal for the third and
fourth reactors of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) also figured in the talks.
India
Relaxes
Visa
Norms
For
Bangladeshi
Nationals
India has relaxed visa rules for a category of Bangladeshi nationals planning to cross into its borders.This
was decided in a meeting between Indias external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and her Bangladeshi
counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali in Dhaka on 26 June 2014.

NATIONAL
Narendra
Modi
Scrapped
Four
Standing
Committees
of
Cabinet
Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India on 10 June decided to discontinue four Standing Committees
of the Cabinet. The discontinued standing committees included Cabinet Committee on Management of
Natural Calamities, Cabinet Committee on Prices, Cabinet Committee on World Trade Organisation
Matters and Cabinet Committee on Unique Identification Authority of India related issues.
Pradhan
Mantri
Gram
Sinchai
Yojana
To
Be
Launched
To boost agricultural yield, the Union Agriculture Ministry is going to launch Pradhan Mantri Gram Sinchai
Yojana in the country. The statement was announced by Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh
on 14 June . The motive of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sinchai Yojana will be to take irrigation water to each
and every agricultural field in the country.
Union
Government
Reconstituted
Six
Cabinet
Committees
Union Government on 19 June reconstituted six important Cabinet Committees of these four will be
headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and remaining two by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The six
Cabinet Committees include Security, Political Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, Economic Affairs,
Accommodation and Appointments.
India
To
Be

Land
Degradation
Neutral

By
2030
Government of India on 17 June announced an ambitious programme to combat the challenge and make
the country Land Degradation Neutral by 2030.Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar explained that
the objective of the land degradation neutrality is to maintain or improve the condition of land resources
through the sustainable management of soil, water and biodiversity.

STATES
Telangana
Becomes
Indias
29th
State
Telangana became the 29th State of India with Hyderabad as its capital on 2 June 2014. With this
formation, ten districts of the then Andhra Pradesh will now become a part of the Telangana.
Retirement
Age
of
J&K
Govt.
Employees
Raised
To
60
The Jammu & Kashmir government on 3 June enhanced the retirement age of government employees
from 58 to 60 years.The cabinet also raised the upper age limit for youths to obtain government jobs from
37 to 40 years.

Tamilnadu
Chief
Minister
Launched
Amma
Salt
Jayalalithaa, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 11 June launched Amma Salt, a product of Tamil Nadu
Salt Corporation limited (TNSC) under the State Industries Department.
Gujarat
CM
Announces
33
Percent
Quota
For
Women
In
Police
Force
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on 24 June announced 33 percent reservation for women in the
police force. With this announcement, the women of the state can enjoy 33 percent reservation in new
recruitment in the police force.

CONFERENCES
G77
plus
China
Summit
Held
In
Bolivia
The Group of 77 (G77) plus China summit was held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on 15 June 2014. More than
100 delegations of the G77 block attended the summit, presided over by Bolivian President Evo Morales.
The summit concluded with the adoption of a declaration calling for a new world order that is equitable,
stable and peaceful. With the theme of New World Order for Living Well, the two-day summit also marks
the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the G77, which has grown into a coalition of 133 UN
developing member states.The G77, the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries,
is aimed at promoting collective economic interests and gaining leverage within the international
community.

AWARDS & HONOURS

RGIA
gets
ACI
award
The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), operated and managed by GMR Group, has become the
first Indian airport to be awarded the ACI Director Generals Roll of Excellence accolade. The award
recognises the airports ranking among the worlds top three airports for five consecutive years in the ACI
Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey.
IGI
Named
Worlds
Second
Best
Airport
For
Service
Quality
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) of Delhi was ranked as second best airport in the world in service
quality among airports that handle 25 to 40 million passengers per annum (MPPA). For this achievement,
IGI received Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Award by Airport Council International (ACI) in South Korea.
IGI received the ASQ award for third time in row. Apart from this, IGI was placed at sixth position among
the best airport in the world against fourth in 2013.
Indian-Origin
Physicist
Tejinder
Virdee
Awarded
Honorary
Knighthood
Indian-origin physicist Tejinder Virdee has been awarded with an honorary knighthood by Queen
Elizabeth II on 14 June. He was awarded for his work on the Higgs Boson theory. Professor Virdee is one
of the creators of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) Experiment. The CMS experiment is a part of the
Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva.
Noted Hindi Poet Kedar Nath Singh Selected For Jnanpith Award 2013
Noted Hindi poet Kedarnath Singh on 20 June 2014 was chosen for the prestigious Jnanpith award for
2013. He is the 10th Hindi writer to receive the honour and joins the likes of Sumitra Nandan Pant,
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar among others. He will be the recipient of 49th Jnanpith award.

SPORTS & GAMES

Kolkata
Knight
Riders
Won
IPL
2014
Title
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on 1 June 2014 won the seventh edition of Indian Premier League (IPL)
2014 by defeating Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by three wickets in the final played at Chinnaswamy Stadium,
Bangalore. This is the second title triumph for KKR after their maiden win back in 2012. Chennai Super
Kings Mohit Sharma won the Purple Cap while KXIPs Akshar Patel took the Emerging Player honour.
French
Open
Tennis
Tournament
Winners

2014
Womens Singles :- Maria Sharapova of Russia won womens singles title of French Open 2014. She
defeated Romanias Simona Halep in the final at Roland Garros, Paris on 7 June 2014. This was
Sharapovas second French Open singles title and fifth grand slam singles title.
Mens Singles :- Spains Rafael Nadal won the mens singles title of 2014 French Open on 8 June 2014
by defeating Serbias Novak Djokovic in the final. This was Nadals 9th singles title win at the French
Open .
Daniel
Ricciardo
Won
The
Canadian
Formula
One
Grand
Prix
Red Bull Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia won the Canadian Grand Prix on 8 June in Montreal.
This was the first GP win for Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Mercedes was beaten for the first time in
this season.
Netherlands
Won
Womens
Hockey
World
Cup

2014
Netherlands won the 2014 edition of Womens Hockey World Cup after defeating Australia 2-0 in the final
at the Kyocera Stadium in The Hague (Netherlands) on 14 June. This is Netherlands seventh title.
Pankaj
Advani
Won
IBSF
6-Red
World
Snooker
Championship
Indian player Pankaj Advani created history by becoming the first player in the world to win world titles in
the long and shorter formats of both billiards and snooker by pocketing the IBSF World 6-Red snooker
Championship on 29 June in Sharm el-Sheikh, Eygpt. Advani defeated Polands Kacper Flilpiak in the
final to win his first 6-Red World title and ninth overall.

ECONOMY
RBI
Announced
Second
Bi-Monthly
Monetary
Policy
Statement
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced second Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Statement on 3 June.
RBI in its second bi-monthly monetary policy statement has kept the policy rates unchanged. RBI
Governor Raghuram G Rajan announced that the apex bank has kept the policy repo rate under the
liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) unchanged at 8.0 per cent. The cash reserve ratio (CRR) of scheduled
banks unchanged at 4.0 percent of net demand and time liabilities (NDTL). The reverse repo rate under
the LAF remained unchanged at 7.0 percent and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank
Rate at 9.0 percent.
India
Ranks
15th
with
175,000
Millionaire
Households
The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) latest report titled 14th Annual Study of the Global WealthManagement Industry was released on 10 June 2014. According to the report , India had 1.75 lakh
millionaire households in 2013 which ranks it as the 15th in the world in terms of countries with highest
number of millionaire households.

World Bank Lowered Growth Forecast For Developing World To 4.8 percent
The World Bank on 11 June released Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report and revised down the
economic growth forecast for developing world in 2014 to 4.8 percent from 5.3 percent estimated in
January 2014. It also highlighted that the growth in 2015 and 2016 at 5.4 and 5.5 percent, respectively.
India
Became
Home
To
1.56
lakh
Millionaires
In
2013
According to the World Wealth Report 2014, released by Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management on 20
June, India became home to 1.56 lakh millionaires with 3,000 more joining the elite club in 2013, making
the country 16th most populous in terms of population of super-rich people worldwide.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Astronomers
Discovered
New
Planet
Mega-Earth
US Astronomers from Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CFA) have discovered a new type of
rocky planet beyond the solar system that weighs more than 17 times as much as Earth while being just
over twice the size. The so-called mega-Earth circles a very old star called Kepler-10, which is located
about 560 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Draco.
Two
New
Planets
Orbiting
Ancient
Star
Discovered
Scientists have discovered two new planets orbiting an ancient star near our Sun and one of them may
have liquid water on its surface, a key ingredient to support life. Researchers explained one of the
planets, called Kapteyn b, is orbiting the star at the right distance to allow liquid water to exist on its
surface.The second planet, Kapteyn c is a more massive super-Earth in comparison. Kapteyns Star is
the 25th nearest star to the Sun only 13 light years away from Earth.
PM
Narendra
Modi
Dedicates
INS
Vikramaditya
To
The
Nation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 June dedicated Indias largest warship aircraft carrie INS
Vikramaditya to the nation. During his visit to warship INS Vikramadtya off Goa coast in Arabian Sea, the
Prime Minister was given a ceremonial guard of honour by the Navy and was briefed about the warship.
ISRO Successfully Launches PSLV-C23 Rocket carrying Five Foreign Satellites
ISRO(Indian Space Research Organisation)s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C23 was launched
on 30 June 2014 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The PSLV C23
carried five satellites belonging to four countries namely France, Germany, Canada and Singapore.All
these five satellites were launched under commercial arrangements that ANTRIX (ISROs commercial
arm) has entered with the respective foreign agencies.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Sumitra
Mahajan
Elected
As
Speaker
Of
16th
Lok
Sabha
Veteran BJP leader Sumitra Mahajan was 6 June unanimously elected Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha,
becoming the second woman to occupy the prestigious position after her predecessor Meira Kumar.

Ranjit
Kumar
Takes
Charge
As
Solicitor
General
of
India
Senior Supreme Court advocate Ranjit Kumar took charge as Solicitor-General of India on 9 June. He
replaced senior advocate Mohan Parasaran, who had tendered his resignation in May 2014 after the
formation of a new government at the Centre.
Mukul
Rohatgi
Is
New
Attorney
General
of
India
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi on 19 June took charge as the new Attorney General (AG) of India and
will have a tenure of three years. Rohatgi had also served as an Additional Solicitor General during
previous NDA regime.

B)RESIGNS
Uttar
Pradesh
Governor
BL
Joshi
Resigned
Uttar Pradesh Governor BL Joshi was resigned from his post on 17 June. Joshi who was serving the
state as its Governor for second term sent his resignation to Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India.BL
Joshi a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer was serving Uttar Pradesh as governor since 2009.

C)DEATHS
Union
Rural
Development
Minister
Gopitnath
Munde
Died
Union Rural Development Minister, Gopinath Munde died in a road accident in Delhi. Munde was sworn-in
as the Cabinet Minister for Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation and Rural Development on 26
May 2014.

D)VISITORS
China
Foreign
Minister
Wang
Yi
Visited
India
China Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited India from 8 9 June 2014. During his two day visit, he met Union
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi and discussed a wide range of issues related to
trade, economy, border and people to people exchanges. In the visit Wang also met President Pranab
Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 June 2014. This was the first contact between the two
governments after the Indian general election and after the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic
Alliance government assumed office.

E)MISCELLANEOUS
Dhoni
Only Indian In Forbes List Of
Worlds 100 Highest Paid Athletes
Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the lone Indian sportsman to figure on Forbes list of
worlds 100 highest paid athletes. The list is being been topped by American boxer Floyd Mayweather and
includes golfer Tiger Woods and tennis stars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Dhoni is ranked 22nd on
the list with total earnings of USD 30 million and endorsements worth USD 26 million.His salary and
winnings total USD four million as of June 2014.

PLACES IN NEWS
Mumbai
Is
Noisiest
City
In
The
World
Mumbai is hostage to air and water pollution at dangerous levels, and is probably the noisiest city in the
world, ahead of Delhi and Kolkata. Maharashtras economic survey, released a day before World
Environment Day (On June 5 2014), paints a grim picture for the rest of the state as well.

ABBREVIATIONS
FIFA Federation International de Football Association
RGIA Rajiv Gandhi International Airport
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
KNPP Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant
TRAI Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

BOOKS IN NEWS
Prime Minister Modi Launches Book Titled Getting India Back on Track An Action Agenda For
Reform
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 June released a book titled Getting India Back on Track An Action
Agenda For Reform edited by Bibek Debroy, Ashley J. Tellis & Reece Trevor .

COMMITTEES
Saumitra
Chaudhuri
Committee
Suggest
Cess
Levy
On
Petrol
and
Diesel
A Government panel headed by former Planning Commission member Saumitra Chaudhuri has
suggested levying cess amounting to 75 paise a litre on petrol and diesel in order to cover the cost of
upgrading refineries across the country to produce higher grade of auto fuel for the future in other words
achieve Bharat Stage (BS) V level norms by the year 2020 which comes to around Rs 80,000 crore.
The Chaudhuri panel had recently submitted its report titled Auto Fuel Vision and Policy 2025 to the
MoPNG.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

World
Blood
Donor
Day
Observed
On
14
June
2014
World Blood Donor Day was observed across the world on 14 June 2014. Theme for the years World
Blood Day campaign is Safe blood for saving mothers.The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness
about why timely access to safe blood and blood related products is essential for all countries as part of a
comprehensive approach to prevent maternal deaths. According to World Health Organization, every year
around 800 women dies due to pregnancy or childbirth-related complications. The major cause for
mortality, morbidity and long-term disability is severe bleeding during delivery and after childbirth.

World
Day
Against
Child
Labour
Observed
On
12
June
2014
World Day Against Child Labour was observed across the world on 12 June 2014. For the year 2014 the
theme is Extend social protection: combat child labour.Each year on 12 June, this Day brings together
governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from
around the world to highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them.

JULY

INTERNATIONAL
Pakistans
Approves
Protection
of
Pakistan
Bill
2014
Pakistans National Assembly on 2 July passed the Protection of Pakistan Bill (PPB) 2014. Following the
National Assemblys approval, the PPB will now be applicable for a period of two years.
Japan
Eased
Sanctions
Against
North
Korea
The Japanese government has decided to eased several sanctions against North Korea on 3 July.The
decision was taken in response to North Korea reopening the investigation to probe decades-old
kidnappings of Japanese nationals.
U.S
and
E.U
Announced
Tougher
Sanctions
Against
Russia
The United States and the European Union (EU) have significantly strengthened sanctions on Russia
over Ukraine, with Washington for the first time directly targeting Russias banking, military, and energy
sectors.U.S. President Barack Obama announced the new sanctions on 16 July.
Bolivia
Becomes
First
Nation
To
Legalise
Child
Labour
Bolivia has become the first country to legalise child labour after a law was signed by Vice- President
Alvaro Garcia Linera on 17 July 2014.The bill was approved by Bolivian Congress in June 2014.

INDIA & WORLD

India
and
Canada
Signed
Audiovisual
Co-production
Treaty
India and Canada have signed an India-Canada Audiovisual Co-production Treaty that aims to create jobs
in both countries and boost tourism.This audiovisual treaty is the first of its kind for India and was signed
in Delhi.The treaty came into force on 1 July 2014.
India
Becomes
Worlds
Largest
Consumer
of
Antibiotics
According to the Global Trends in Antibiotic Consumption, 2000-2010,study report released on 14 July,
India has emerged as the worlds largest consumer of antibiotics with a 62% increase in popping habits
over the last decade.
India
Slips
10
Positions
On
Global
Innovation
Index

2014
India slipped 10 notches on the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2014. India fell from the 66th position to the
76th on the index. Switzerland topped the GII rankings like 2013 while the UK took the second position.
The annual rankings are jointly published by Cornell University, INSEAD, and the World Intellectual
Property Organisation on 18 July 2014.
India
Ranked
135
In
Human
Development
Index

2014
The United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) 2014 Human Development Report was released
on 24 July in Tokyo. A UN study ranked India at 135 out of 187 countries in terms of Human Development

Index (HDI). Indias HDI value for 2013 is 0.586 . Between 1980 to 2013, Indias HDI value increased from
0.369 to 0.586 .

NATIONAL
CCEA Approved Inclusion Of Onion and Potato Under Essential Commodities Act, 1955
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 2 July 2014 approved the inclusion of onion and
potato under the purview of stock holding limits under the Essential Commodities Act 1955. The inclusion
will remain in force for a year.
Number
of
Child
Labourers
In
India
Has
Declined
The Union government on 7 July announced the number of working children in the age group of 5-14 has
declined in the country. The total number of working children in the country has declined from 1.26 crore
as per Census 2001 to 43.53 lakh as per Census 2011.
President
Gave
Assent
To
National
Institute
of
Design
Bill2014
The National Institute of Design Bill, which will permit the institute to award degrees to students, has now
become an Act with President Pranab Mukherjee giving his assent. The President gave his assent to the
National Institute of Design Bill, 2014, on 17 July 2014. The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 7 July
2014, it was vetted by the Lok Sabha on 9 July 2014. The Ahmedabad-based institute, which has a
branch in Gandhinagar and also a satellite centre in Bangalore, will now be an institute of national
importance.
Employment
Rises
34%
To
12.7
crore
In
8
years
To
2013
According to the Sixth Economic Census report released on 30 July, the number of employed persons in
the country grew by 34.35 percent to 12.77 crore in eight years to 2013.

STATES
PM
Narendra
Modi
Inaugurates
240
MW
Uri-II
Hydropower
Project
In
J&K
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 July inaugurated the 240 megawatt Uri-II hydropower project in the
mountains of Jammu and Kashmir. The Uri-II project is the second power project on the Jhelum River in
Uri area and is close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramullah district of the state.
Assam
Decided
To
Implement
National
Food
Security
Act
Assam Government has decided to implement National Food Security Act from 1 September 2014. The
decision to implement the Act in the state was taken on 14 July at a meeting of senior officials of Food
and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department convened by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in
Guwahati. During the meeting, the state government also decided to bring onions and potatoes in the list
of essential commodities to curb hoarding.
CMSA
Scheme
Launched
In
Meghalaya
For
Widows
and
Pensioners
Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on 23 July launched a mass enrolment drive under the Chief
Ministers Social Assistance (CMSA) Scheme for widows and persons with disabilities at Patharkhmah in
Ri Bhoi District in Meghalaya. Each beneficiary shall be given a financial assistance of 500 rupees per
month under the scheme.

Tamil
Nadu
Govt
To
Issue
Industrial
Licences
Online
Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on 23 July announced that the process of issuing licenses to the
new industries will be done online henceforth. The step was taken in order to simplify the process
involved for registration of new industries in the state.

CONFERENCES
Sixth
BRICS
Summit

2014
Held
In
Brazil
The 6th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit was held in Fortaleza, Brazil on 15
16 July 2014. The theme of the summit was Inclusive growth: sustainable solutions . At the end of the
summit, the participating countries jointly issued the Fortaleza Declaration. The $100 billion development
bank launched during the summit in Fortaleza is aimed at funding infrastructure projects in developing
nations. The bank will be called the New Development Bank (NDB), a name suggested by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Shah
Rukh
Khan
Received
Knight
Of
The
Legion
Of
Honor
Bollywood Actor Shah Rukh Khan was conferred with top French civilian award Knight of the Legion of
Honor (National Order of the Legion of Honour) on 1 July for his outstanding contribution to cultural
diversity across the world.
Indian Mathematician Named Joint Winner Of 2014 George Polya Prize
Nikhil Srivastava, a young Indian mathematician, on 10 July became the first joint winner of the
prestigious 2014 George Polya Prize for finding a solution to a problem that had eluded mathematicians
for more than half a century.
Environmentalist
Chandi
Prasad Bhatt Received
Gandhi
Peace
Prize
2013
Eminent Gandhian and environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhatt on 15 July was awarded with the
prestigious Gandhi Peace prize for 2013. He was awarded by the President of India Pranab Mukherjee at
a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
2014
Ramon
Magsaysay
Awards
Announced
The prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Awards for year 2014 were announced on 31 July and it included six
winners. Education is a big theme in this years awards, with two individuals who have dedicated their
lives to educating indigenous communities a Filipino and an Indonesian and a Pakistani organization
that builds schools for girls, among the 6 awardees. The 2014 Awardees are:i)
Saur
Marlina
Manurung
(Indonesia)
ii)
Randy
Halasan
(The
Philippines)
iii)
Hu
Shuli
(China)
iv)
Omara
Khan
Masoudi
(Afghanistan)
v)
Wang
Canfa
(China)
vi) The Citizen Foundation (Pakistan)

SPORTS & GAMES

Russian
Federation
Friendship
Order
Awards
To
Anand
and
Gelfand
Chess greats Viswanathan Anand (India) and Boris Gelfand (Israel) have been selected for the Russian
Federations Order of Friendship award, according to a FIDE release on 4 July.
Lewis
Hamilton
Won
British
Grand
Prix
2014
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of British has won the British Grand Prix 2014 title on 6 July.This was
Hamiltons 27th career victory, his fifth of the season.
Germany
Won
2014
FIFA
Football
World
Cup
Germany created history by winning the FIFA World Cup 2014 on 13 July 2014 at the Maracana Stadium
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Germany defeated Argentina by 1-0. With this win, Germany lifted the trophy for
the fourth time in the history of FIFA world Cup and first since 1990. The following awards were given
at
the
conclusion
of
the
tournament
:* Golden
Ball
Lionel
Messi
of
Argentina
* Golden
Boot
James
Rodriguez
of
Colombia
* Golden
Glove
Manuel
Neuer
of
Germany
* Best
Young
Player
Paul
Pogba
of
France
* FIFA Fair Play Trophy Colombia
Daniel
Ricciardo
Won
2014
Hungarian
F1
Grand
Prix

2014
Red Bulls Daniel Ricciardo of Australia won the Hungarian Formula One (F1) Grand Prix on 27 July.
Fernando Alonso (Spain) claimed the second spot for his Ferrari team while Mercedes Lewis Hamilton
(Great Britain) won the third place.

ECONOMY
Bill
Gates
Is
Wealthiest
Living
US
Entrepreneur
According to the Wealth-x, Microsoft founder Bill Gates is the wealthiest living US entrepreneur, with an
estimated net worth of US$ 80.2 billion.The list of 10 billionaires was released on 2 July dominated by
technopreneurs as six of them made their fortunes from technology or technology-related businesses.
Eight
Indian
Companies
In
Fortune
500
List
Eight Indian companies, led by state-run IOC, have made it to the latest Fortune Global 500 list of worlds
biggest firms which has been topped by US-based retailer Wal-Mart after a gap of two years.
Union
Railway
Budget
2014-15
Union Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on 8 July 2014 presented his first Railway Budget in
Parliament.This is the first rail budget presented by any Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister and it is
also
Sadanand
Gowdas
first
rail
budget.
Highlights
From
Railway
Budget
2014-15
:*
No
new
increase
in
passenger
fares
and
freight
charges.
* Next generation e-Ticketing system, capable of supporting 7200 tickets per minute as against 2000
tickets per minute and allow 1,20,000 simultaneous users at any point in time, will help in the revamp of
railway
reservation
System.
* Railway Ministry will develop 10 major stations in the country to global standards.It will provide Wi-Fi in
A-1
and
A
category
stations
and
in
select
trains.
*
Office-on-wheels:
Internet
and
workstation
facilities
on
select
trains
* Paperless office of Indian railways in 5 years. Digital reservation charts at stations
* Women RPF Constables to escort ladies coaches; 4,000 women constables to be inducted
* 17000 Railway Protection Force (RPF) constables to provide safety to passengers
* Setting up of Railway University for technical and non-technical subjects, tie-up with technical

institutions
* Indian Railways need around Rs 40,000 crore improving rail safety. Rs 1785 crore will be provided for
road under bridges and over bridges.Ultra sonic devices to detect rail fractures and automatic closing of
doors
both
in
mainline
&
suburban
coaches
are
being
considered.
*
Cleanliness
budget
up
by
40
pc
over
last
year
* Private investment in Rail Infrastructure through Domestic and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
*
FDI
in
railway
projects,
except
in
operations
*
FDI,
domestic
investments
in
rail
infrastructure
* Per capita contribution to Staff Benefit Fund increased from Rs.500 to Rs.800.
* Loss per passenger per kilometre up from 10% in 2000-01 to 23% in 2012-13
High
Speed
Rail
Network
and
Bullet
Trains:*
Bullet
trains
will
be
introduced
in
the
Mumbai-Ahmedabad
sector.
* Diamond Quadrilateral network of high speed rail linking major metros and growth centres is being
worked
out.
* Increasing train speeds between several cities to 160-200 km/hour. Railways will spend Rs 100 crore for
high speed trains between metros.The government needs Rs 9 lakh crore for funding Diamond
Quadrilateral.
New Trains In Rail Budget:- 5 Jansadharan Trains, 5 Premium Trains, 6 AC express trains, 27 express
trains, 8 passenger trains, 2 MEMU services and 5 DEMU will be introduced this year. Special trains to
meet the holiday and festival rush would continue to operate.
Economic
Survey
of
India
2013-14
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely on 9 July presented Economic Survey of India 2013-14 in the Lok
Sabha.
Following
are
the
highlights
of
the
Economic
Survey
Report
2013-14
:* Economy to grow in the range of 5.4 5.9 per cent in 2014-15 overcoming sub-5 percent growth.
* Aided by favourable monsoons, agricultural and allied sector registered a growth of 4.7 per cent in 201314.
* The Indias balance-of-payments position improved dramatically in 2013-14 with current account deficit
at
US
$
32.4
billion
as
against
US$
88.2
billion
in
2012-13.
* Indias foreign exchange reserves increased from US$ 292.0 billion at end March 2013 to US$ 304.2
billion
at
end
march
2014.
* World trade volume which decelerated to 2.8 per cent in 2012 has shown signs of recovery in 2013,
albeit
slow
with
a
3.0
per
cent
growth.
* The sharp fall in imports and moderate export growth in 2013-14 resulted in a sharp fall in India`s trade
deficit
by
27.8
per
cent.
* Record food grains and oilseeds production of 264.4 million tonnes (mt) and 32.4 mt is estimated in
2013-14.
* The latest gross domestic product (GDP) estimates show that industry grew by just 1.0 per cent in 201213 and slowed further in 2013-14, posting a modest increase of 0.4 per cent.
* India ranked 12th in terms of services GDP in 2012 among the worlds top 15 countries in terms of GDP
(at
current
prices).
* In 2013-14, FDI inflows to the services sector (top five sectors including construction) declined sharply
by 37.6 per cent to US$ 6.4 billion compared to an overall growth in FDI inflows at 6.1 per cent resulting in
the share of the top five services in total FDI falling to nearly one-sixth.
* According to HDR 2013, India has slipped down in HDI with its overall global ranking at 136 (out of the
186 countries) as against 134 (out of 187 countries) as per HDR 2012. It is still in the medium human
development category.
Union
Budget
2014-15
Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley on 10 July 2014 presented Union Budget 2014-15.
Highlights
of
the
Union
Budget
2014-15:* The tax bracket has been increased to 2.5 lakh rupees from previous 2 lakh rupees, whereas, for senior
citizen it has been raised to 3 lakh rupees from previous 2.5 lakh rupees
* Tax relief for interest on housing loan rose from 1.5 lakh rupees to 2 lakh rupees

*
Deduction
under
80C
increased
from
1
lakh
rupees
to
1.5
lakh
rupees
* 1000 crore rupees proposed for Pradhanmantri Krishi Seechai Yojana to improve irrigation facility
* 14389 crore rupees announced for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, PMGSY
*
100
crore
rupees
allotted
for
Beti
bachao-beti
padhao
yojna
* Minimum pension of 1000 rupees to meet the expenditure to all subscribers of EPFO scheme
*
50000
crore
rupees
for
SC/ST
schemes
*
FDI
cap
in
Defence
sector
has
been
raised
to
49
percent
* The finance minister in the budget announced steps for sustained growth of 7-8 percent within the next
three-four
years
*
PSU
247944
crore
capex
to
create
industrial
cycle
*
Shyama
Prassad
Mukherjee
Rozgar
mission
to
be
launched
*
Excise
duty
on
footwear
reduced
from
12
percent
to
6
percent
*
Excise
duty
concessions
to
continue
till
31
December
2014
*
No
change
in
surcharge
*
No
change
in
Direct
Tax
rates
*
War
Memorial
will
be
set
up
at
Princess
Park,
New
Delhi
* Composite cap on FDI in insurance proposed to be raised to 49 percent from 26 percent
* 15 Model Rural Health Research centers for rural health issues.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

NASA
Launched
Orbiting
Carbon
Observatory-2
Satellite
U.S. space agency NASA on 2 July launched Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2),a satellite
designed to track carbon dioxide (CO2) which is responsible for global warming. The satellite was
launched aboard Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.OCO-2 is the first of its kind
mission of NASA dedicated to study the atmospheric carbon dioxide over several seasons.
Indias First Indigenous Anti-Submarine Warship INS Kamrota Handed Over To Indian Navy
Indias first indigenous anti-submarine warship (ASW) Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kamorta was handed over
to Indian Navy on 12 July. INS Kamrota is the first in its class of four ASW corvettes being built by GRSE
under Project-28 for the Navy.
Indias
Indigenously
Built
Research
Ship

Sindhu
Sadhna

Launched
Indias first ever indigenously built research ship Sindhu Sadhna was launched and dedicated to the
nation on 13 July. Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office Jitendra Singh dedicated Sindhu
Sadhana to the nation at Marmugao Harbour of Goa.
Worlds
Largest
Aquatic
Insect
Discovered
In
China
In the month of July 2014 the worlds largest flying aquatic insect has been discovered in China.This was
found in the the mountains of Chengdu in Chinas Sichuan province.It boasts a wingspan of 8.3
inches.That breaks the previous record held by a species of South American helicopter damselfly, with a
wingspan of 7.5 inches.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS

Sujit Choudhry Became The First Indian-American Dean of Top US Law School
Sujit Choudhry, an international constitutional law expert, has become the first Indian- American Dean of
the Berkeley School of Law of the University of California , one of the major law schools in the US.
Om
Prakash
Kohli
Sworn
In
As
Gujarat
Governor
Om Prakash Kohli took oath of office as Governor of Gujarat on 16 July.His oath of the office and secrecy
was administered by Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court Bhaskar Bhattacharya.
Padmanabha
Balakrishna
Acharya
Sworn
In
As
Nagaland
Governor
Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya was sworn in as the 19th governor of Nagaland on 19 July. Acharya
has been given the additional charge of Tripura also.
Ram
Naik
Sworn-In
As
UP
Governor
Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Ram Naik was sworn-in as the 27th Governor of Uttar
Pradesh on 22 July. Ram Naik was sworn in at the Raj Bhavan by Allahabad High Court Chief Justice
D.Y. Chandrachud.

B)RESIGNS
Goa
Governor
B
V
Wanchoo
Resigned
Goa Governor BV Wanchoo resigned from his post on 4 July. He was questioned by the Central Bureau
of Investigation (CBI) as a witness in connection with alleged irregularities in the purchase of 12
helicopters meant for VVIP use from AgustaWestland, an Anglo-Italian defence manufacturer.

C)DEATHS
Veteran
Actress
Zohra
Sehgal
Died
Veteran actor Zohra Sehgal, who acted in Bollywood classics and Doctor Who adventures, died on 10
July in New Delhi.She was called as the grand old lady of Bollywood. In 2010, Zohra was awarded with
the Padma Vibhshan. She was also a recipient of other two of Indias four civilian awards Padma Shri
(1998), Padma Bhushan (2002).

D)VISITORS
Indian
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
Visited
Brazil
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Visited Brazil to attend the 6th BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil
from 15 16 July 2014. During the visit , Prime Minister Narendra modi met with other leaders of BRICS
nation. In the visit, India and Brazil decided to expand trade and investment flows while deepening
collaboration in the fields of renewable energy, defence and cyber security as they signed three pacts
including one on cooperation in the environment sector.

E)MISCELLANEOUS
Mahatma
Gandhis
Bust
Unveiled
In
South
Korean
City
The first ever bust of Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of non-violence, has been inaugurated in the South
Korean metropolis of Busan on 21 July.

PLACES IN NEWS

Pakistan
Declares
Dilip
Kumars
Ancestral
Home
as
National
Heritage
Pakistan on 11 July declares the ancestral home of veteran Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar as National
Heritage. The house, located in Peshawars Qisa Khawani Bazaar area, will be converted into a museum.

ABBREVIATIONS
BRICS Brazil, Russia, India, China And South Africa
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
AIIMS All India Institute of Medical Sciences
CRAC Cyber Regulation Advisory Council
FIPB Foreign Investment Promotion Board
NABARD National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development

BOOKS IN NEWS
Coffee-Table Book On President Titled First Citizen : Pranab Mukherjee In Rashtrapati Bhavan
Released
A coffee-table book titled First Citizen: Pranab Mukherjee in Rashtrapati Bhavan was released on 2
July at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. The books first copy was received by Pranab
Mukherjee, the President of India. The book has been published by The Week Magazine.

COMMITTEES
Rangarajan
Committee
Submits
Report
On
Poverty
To
Planning
Commission
C Rangarajan, former chief of the Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC), has submitted a
report on Tendulkar Committee methodology for estimating poverty to Planning Minister Rao Inderjit
Singh on 1 July. According to an expert panel headed by C Rangarajan those spending over Rs 32 a day
in rural areas and Rs 47 in towns and cities should not be considered poor. The panels recommendation,
however results in an increase in the below poverty line population, which is estimated at 363 million in
2011-12, compared to the 270 million estimate based on the Tendulkar formula. This means 29.5% of the
India population lives below the poverty line as defined by the panel against 21.9% according to
Tendulkar.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

World
Population
Day
Observed
Across
The
World
World Population Day was observed across the world on 11 July 2014. The theme of World Population
Day 2014 was Investing in Young People.World Population Day is observed to bring awareness to people
about importance of small families and living healthy lives. The day is celebrated with several programs
that are initiated to educate people about family planning methods.
International
Tiger
Day
Observed
Across
The
World
The World on 29 July 2014 observed the International Tiger Day. The day is celebrated as an awareness
day. The goal of the Tiger Day is to promote protection and expansion of the wild tiger habitats and also to
gain support awareness for tiger conservation.

AUGUST

INTERNATIONAL
China
Decided
To
Ban
All
Coal
Use
In
Beijing
By
2020
Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau on 4 August announced the plans to ban coal use in
Beijing and five other districts by the end of 2020. The purpose of the ban is to fight increasing levels of
air pollution in Chinas major cities.
Russia
Bans
U.S.,European
Union
Food
and
Agricultural
Imports
Russian President Vladimir Putin on 6 August signed a decree that bans imports of agricultural products
from all countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia over the crisis in Ukraine. Major sanctions were
made by the US and European Union (EU). Ban on the food imports, should continue for up to one year.
Haider
al-Abadi
Named
As
New
Iraqi
Prime
Minister
Iraqi President Mohammed Fuad Masum named Haider al-Abadi as the new Iraqi Prime Minister on 11
August 2014. Before being nominated for the post of Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi was deputy
parliament speaker.
Ukrainian
President
Dissolved
Parliament
Ukraines president Petro Poroshenko on 25 August dissolved parliament. A snap election to the Ukraine
will be held on 26 October 2014.The date of the election was announced by President Petro Poroshenko.

INDIA & WORLD

India
and
Nepal
Signed
3
Agreements
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 3 August met Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala in Kathmandhu, the
captital of Nepal. Later, three agreements were signed between India and Nepal, in the presence of the
two Prime Ministers. Under the first agreement, India will provide a grant assistance worth NRs 69 million
to supply iodated salt to curb goitre and other diseases related with iodine deficiency. The second
agreement was regarding the amendment of Articles 17 and 18 of the Pancheswor Multiple Project. The
third agreement is about cooperation between Nepal Television and Doordarshan, the state-owned
television stations of both the countries.
India
Ranked
5th
Amongst
Top
10
Wind
Power
Producers
The Renewables 2014 Global Status Report released on 18 August. According to the report, India
ranked fifth amongst top ten wind power producers in the world by adding 1,700 MW capacity in 2013.

With 16,100 MW wind power produced in 2013, China was ranked World top wind power producing
country.
India and Czech Republic Signed MoU On Technical Cooperation In Railways
India and Czech Republic on 19 August 2014 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on
technical cooperation in railway sector. This MoU was signed between the Union Ministry of Railways and
Czech Railways (Ceske Drahy) of the Czech Republic and Association of Czech Railway Industry (ACRI)
of the Czech Republic.
Indo-Nepal
Joint
Military
Training
Exercise
Concluded
The militaries of India and Nepal was jointly conducted a Combined Training Exercise, known as Surya
Kiran-VII, from 18 31 August 2014 near Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand.

NATIONAL
Union
Cabinet
Approves
Amendments
To
Juvenile
Justice
Act
The Union Cabinet on 6 August approved the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2014
to amend the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2000. The bill will place minors above the age of 16, accused of
heinous crimes like rape and murder, in the adults category.
PM
Narendra
Modi
Announced
Pradhan
Mantri
Krishi
Seenchayi
Yojana
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 19 August announced the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Seenchayi Yojana to
meet the irrigation needs of all farmers across the country. Sum of 1000 crore rupees has been allocated
for implementation of the scheme.
Union
Cabinet
Approved
Rs
1
lakh
crore

Digital
India
Project

The Union Cabinet has approved the Digital India project on 20 August. The project, which has a total
overlay of Rs 1 lakh crore, aims to ensure that government services are available to citizens electronically
and help people gain benefits from the latest information and communication technology.
PM
Narendra
Modi
Launched

Pradhan
Mantri
Jan
Dhan
Yojana

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28 August launched Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) in
New Delhi. The scheme intends to accomplish the objective of housing for all by providing basic banking
accounts with a debit card with inbuilt accident insurance. The government aims to open as many as 1
crore bank accounts on the first day itself.

STATES
Uttarkhand
Govt
Constituted
Committee
On
Industries
Using
Silica
Dust
A high level committee has been constituted by the Uttarakhand government on 8 August with a view to
conduct a detailed survey of the industries using silica dust in the state. The panel would conduct its study
and submit its report within 2 months. The health examination of those working in industries using silica
dust would be carried out to find out if they are suffering from silicosis or other respiratory diseases
caused due to coming in contact of silicia dust.
Delhi
Police
Launched
Whatsapp
Helpline
To
Curb
Corruption
Delhi Police on 10 August launched Whatsapp helpline to curb corruption. Under the facility, a person can

just call and register the complaint and also send a recorded audio or video clips if any policeman
harasses or a person demands bribe.
Tamilnadu
Chief
Minister
Announced

Amma
Baby
Care
Kit

Scheme
Tamilnadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on 12 August announced ambitious welfare scheme called Amma
Baby Care Kit. It is aimed at new born infants. This scheme only applies to the infants born in
government hospitals.
Uttarakhand
Govt
Launched
Food
Security
Scheme
The Uttarakhand government on 16 August introduced a food security scheme on the pattern of the
National Food Security Act. This was decided at the Cabinet meeting. The scheme will cater to the Below
Poverty Line and Above Poverty Line families across the State.
Kerala
Cabinet
Ratified
New
Liquor
Policy
Kerala state cabinet cabinet on 27 August 2014 ratified the new liquor policy. The policy was
contemplated to shut down bars attached to hotels below the five-star category .It was a part of
governments plan to reduce availability of liquor.

CONFERENCES
47th
ASEAN
Foreign
Ministers
Meeting
Held
In
Nay
Pyi
Taw
The 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) was held on 8 August 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
under the theme Moving forward in Unity to a Peaceful and Prosperous Community. The Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers issued a joint statement urging the issues of Korea
Peninsular and Ukraine including seven points that concerned the international affairs and South China
Dispute. ASEAN comprises ten member countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Jaitley, Karan Singh, Sharad Yadav Conferred with Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley ( for 2010), Congress leader Karan Singh (2011) and JD(U) President
Sharad Yadav (2012) are conferred with Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards by the President Pranab
Mukherjee on 12 August in New Delhi. The awards were given for their invaluable contribution in
discharge of their parliamentary duties.
Indian-origin
Professor
Manjul
Bhargava
Won
Nobel
Prize
of
Maths

Two Indian-origin professors have won global prizes in the field of mathematics with one of them being
awarded the Fields Medal, known as the Nobel Prize of mathematics. Manjul Bhargava won the Fields
Medal while Subhash Khot won the Rolf Nevanlinna Prize, awarded by the International Mathematical
Union (IMU), at the International Congress of Mathematicians 2014 held in Seoul on 13 August.
Army
Major
Mukund
Varadarajan
Honoured
with
Ashok
Chakra
Indias highest peacetime gallantry award Ashoka Chakra has been awarded posthumously to Major
Mukund Varadarajan of 44th Battalion of the Rastriya Rifles (22 Rajput). 55 gallantry awards (peacetime)
were announced on the eve of 68th Independence Day on 14 August 2014. There have been one Ashoka
Chakra, 12 Shaurya Chakras, 39 Sena Medal, one Nao Sena Medal and two Vayu Sena Medal this year.

Pakistani
Journalist
Asma
Shirazi
Won
2014
Peter
Mackler
Award
Asma Shirazi, Pakistans first female war correspondent and host of popular TV talk shows, was named
2014 Winner of Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism on 22 August. Shirazi is the
second woman to win the award since its creation in 2008, after Honduran radio news editor Karla Rivas
won in 2011.

SPORTS & GAMES

India
Finishes
Fifth
At
20th
Commonwealth
Games
India finishes 5th with 64 medals (15 gold, 30 silver and 19 bronze) at the 20th Commonwealth Games
(CWG) 2014. Indias total medal tally was thus 64, which is far less than the 19th Commonwealth Games
of 2010 at New Delhi, where India won a total of 101 medals. England topped the medal table for the first
time in 28 years with 58 golds, 59 silvers and 57 bronzes. Australia was on second position, Canada on
third and Scotland was on 4th position. The 2014 Commonwealth Games (officially the XX
Commonwealth Games) were held in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July to 3 August 2014. Its the 3rd time
that Scotland is hosting this event; the previous two being in Edinburgh (1970 & 1986). The 21st
Commonwealth Games will be held in Gold Coast City, Queensland, Australia between 4 to 15 April 2018.

Katie
Ledecky
Sets
World
Record
In
1,500-Meter
Freestyle
Katie Ledecky, an American distance swimmer on 23 August created a World Record in Womens 1500
Meter Freestyle at the 2014 Pan Pac Championships on the Gold Coast, Australia. To create the new
record Ledecky swam the distance in 15 minutes 28.36 seconds. She crushed her own previous 1500metre freestyle record of swimming the distance in 15 minutes 34.23 seconds at an untaqpered meet in
The Woodlands, Texas in June 2014. Ledecky won her fifth gold medal at the Gold Coast meet after
defeating Lauren Boyle of New Zealand by more than 27 seconds.
Jammu
and
Kashmir
To
Host
Football
Federation
Cup
In
August
2015
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on 18 August that Jammu and Kashmir will host
Football Federation Cup in August 2015.
Himachal
To
Host
First
Paragliding
World
Cup
In
India
Indias northern state of Himachal Pradesh has been selected as venue to host Paragliding World Cup
2015. This will be the first para-gliding World Cup to be hosted in India. The tournament will be organized
under the auspices of Para-gliding World Cup Association, France.The World Cup will be hosted in
Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh from 24 October 2015 and will see around 150 top ranked pilots of
the world besides 500 free flying pilots as participants.

ECONOMY
RBI
Third
Bi-monthly
Monetary
Policy
Statement
2014-15
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its third Bi-monthly Monetary Policy statement 2014-15 announced on 5
August, has kept the Short-term lending (repo) rate unchanged at 8%. The Reverse Repo rate has also
been left unchanged at 7% and the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) is also the same at 4%. The only major
change is in Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) which has been slashed by 50 basis points (bps) to 22% from
previous 22.50%.Estimates GDP growth at 5.5% for current fiscal(2014-15).

Union
Cabinet
Approves
FDI
in
Defence
and
Railways
The Union Cabinet on 6 August allowed foreign investment in the Railways for the first time and raised
limit for such investment in the defence sector, steps intended to raise funds for expansion of the
Railways and encourage domestic manufacture of arms. Under this proposal the government is to
increase the FDI limit in the defence industry to 49% from 26% and from nil to 100% in railway
infrastructure of the country.
RBI
issued
Draft
Guidelines
For
Anytime
Anywhere
BBPS
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 7 August issued draft guidelines for the implementation of Bharat Bill
Payment System (BPPS), an anytime anywhere bill payment system.The draft mentions the requirements
and the basic framework of operating the BBPS, and stipulates the eligibility criteria, standards for
settlement model and customer grievance redressal, roles and responsibilities and scope for entities
seeking to be part of BBPS.
Mukesh
Ambani
Is
Indias
Richest
Man
The wealth research firm Wealth-X of Indias richest individuals latest study report released on 13 August.
According to the report, the top five Indian billionaires led by Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh
Ambani collectively control $85.5 billion (about Rs 5,23,897 crore) in personal wealth, accounting for
nearly half of the countrys total billionaire wealth. Mukesh Ambani remains the richest man in the country
with an estimated net worth of $24.4 billion (about Rs 1,49,474 crore).

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

China
Successfully
Launched
Remote
Sensing
Satellite
China on 9 August successfully launched the Yaogan XX a remote-sensing satellite to carry out
scientific experiments and provide early alerts natural disasters. The Yaogan XX satellite blasted off on
the back of a Long March 4C carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the countrys
northwestern Gobi desert. The launch marked the 190th mission for the nations long march rocket family.
IBM
Develops
A
New
Chip
That
Functions
Like
A
Brain
IBM researchers have announced on 9 August the development of a new computer chip that is inspired
by the brain, mimicking the way that the mind can recognize patterns utilizing a web of interconnected
transistors to simulate neural networks. The chip or processor is named TrueNorth, and it contains more
than 5.4 billion transistors, yet requires no more power to function than a hearing aid (just 70 milliwatts of
power versus the minimum of 35 watts required by current Intel processors, with have 1.4 billion
transistors).
PM
Narendra
Modi
Dedicates

INS
Kolkata

To
The
Nation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 16 August dedicated Indias indigenously designed warship INS
Kolkata to the nation. With this, INS Kolkata was commissioned in Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard in
Mumbai, Maharashtra. The 6800-tonne Kolkata class warship has been constructed by the Mazagon
Docks Ltd, Mumbai and designed by the Navys Design Bureau.
NASAs
Scientists
Developed
SMAP
Satellite
To
Combat
Drought
NASA scientists, including one of Indian-origin, developed Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite
that can predict the severity of droughts worldwide and help farmers maximize the crop yield.The mission
is scheduled to launch in November 2014 and will collect the local data of agricultural and water
managers that are needed worldwide.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
K
V
Chowdary
is
new
CBDT
chairman
Senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer K V Chowdary (full name Kosaraju Veeraiah Chowdary)
has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the top policy
making body of the Income Tax department. K.V. Chowdary, a 1978-batch officer, on 1 August took
charge of his office. He will have tenure of three months.He succeed R K Tewari. He retired on 31 July
2014.
President
Appointed
New
Governors
of
Four
States
President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on 26 August appointed new Governors of four states, namely
Maharashtra,
Goa
,
Karnataka
and
Rajasthan.
The
Governors
names
are:1) Kalyan
Singh
Rajasthan
Governor
2) Vajubhai
Rudabhai
Vala
Karnataka
Governor
3) Ch.
Vidyasagar
Rao
Maharashtra
Governor
4) Mridula Sinha Goa Governor

B)RESIGNS
Maharashtra
Governor
K
Sankaranarayanan
Resigned
Maharashtra governor K Sankaranarayanan resigned from his office on 24 August.He tendered his
resignation in the backdrop of being transferred to Mizoram. He refused to take charge of his new
assignment.

C)DEATHS
Legendary
Cartoonist
Pran
Kumar
Sharma
Died
Legendary cartoonist Pran Kumar Sharma, popularly known as Pran, who created the comic book
character like Chacha Chaudhary and Sabu, died on 5 August in Gurgaon at the age of 75. He was 75.
He was born on 15 August 1938 in Kasur near Lahore (now Pakistan). He created the character Dabbu
for a Delhi-based newspaper Milap.

D)VISITORS
Indian
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
Visited
Nepal
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Nepal on 3-4 August 2014. During the visit, Narendra Modi
met Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala in Kathmandhu, the captital of Nepal. The two leaders discussed
various issues including Nepals peace process and constitution-drafting process as well as economic
issues. After the talks, Modi and Koirala witnessed the signing of three agreements.

E)MISCELLANEOUS
Edward
Snowden
Granted
Three-year
Residence
Permit
In
Russia
Former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has received a residence permit in Russia on 7
August 2014, which is valid for three years. Earlier in 2013, Snowden was granted a one-year temporary
asylum, which ended on 1 August 2014.

PLACES IN NEWS
Two
Ancient
Mayan
Cities
Found
In
Mexico
Jungle
In the month of August 2014 Archaeologists have found two ancient Mayan cities Lagunita and Tamchen
hidden in the jungle of south-eastern Mexico. They discovered the two cities of Lagunita and Tamchen on
the Yucatan peninsula by examining aerial photographs of the region.

ABBREVIATIONS
ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations
IFTU -

International Federation of Trade Unions

WFI

Wrestling Federation of India

CERSAI Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction and Security

BOOKS IN NEWS

One
Life
is
Not
Enough:
An
Autobiography

Released
An autobiography of the former External Affairs Minister and veteran Congress Party leader Natwar Singh
was released on 1 August. The book titled One Life is Not Enough is penned by Kunwar Natwar
Singh.This book has been in news and controversy since past few days because it discloses much
information about Sonia Gandhi, the President of the Congress Party.

COMMITTEES
Hari
Gautam
Committee
To
Review
The
Status
Of
UGC
A four-member Committee under the chairmanship of former UGC chairman Hari Gautam has been
constituted by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) on 3 August with a view to
review the present status of Universities Grants Commissions (UGC). The committee will suggest ways
to restructure and reorganise the panel to attain better performance in order to meet desired objectives.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

World
Humanitarian
Day
Observed
Across
The
World
World Humanitarian Day was observed across the world on 19 August 2014. The day is observed to
recognise humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes.
The theme for the year 2014 is The World Needs More Humanitarian Heroes.World Humanitarian Day is
also an opportunity to celebrate the spirit that inspires humanitarian work around the globe. The events of
the day included wreath-laying ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York to honour aid workers killed in
the line of duty. The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly to coincide with the
anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq. The bombing
killed 22 people, including UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello. The Day is observed annually on 19 August.
August
29
Is
Celebrated
As
The
National
Sports
Day
August 29 is celebrated as the National Sports Day in dedication to the great hockey player Dhyan
Chand.This day is celebrated by organizing friendly matches between different Indian hockey teams at
the Dhyan Chand National stadium in New Delhi.The National Stadium was constructed in the respect
and honor of Dhyan Chand. Major Dhyan Chand was Indias greatest hockey player. He has scored over
1000 goals between 1926 and 1948. He helped India win 3 Olympic Gold medals including the first in
1928 (Amsterdum Olympic games) and then in 1932 ( Los Angeles Olympic games) and 1936 (Berlin
Olympic games).

SEPTEMBER

INTERNATIONAL
EU
Imposed
New
Economic
Sanctions
On
Russia
Over
Ukraine
The European Union (EU) on 12 September 2014 imposed new economic sanctions on Russia over
Ukraine. The restrictions include financing for some Russian state-owned companies and asset freezes
on leading Russian politicians.
John
Key
Re-elected
As
The
PM
Of
New
Zealand
For
A
3rd
Term
John Key was re-elected as the Prime Minister of New Zealand for a third term. John Key-led National
Party (NP) scored a huge victory in countrys Parliamentary elections. In the 2014 General Elections of
New Zealand held on 20 September 2014, the centre-right National Party led by John Key won 48
percent of the vote.
Scotland
Rejects
Independence
From
UK
In a historic referendum held on 18 September 2014 the voters of Scotland rejected its independence
from the United Kingdom.The result of this referendum was declared early on 19 September 2014.
Ashraf
Ghani
Ahmadzai
Is
New
President
Of
Afghanistan
Afghanistans election commission on 21 September has named Former Finance minister Ashraf Ghani
Ahmadzai as the winner of the countrys Presidential election.

INDIA & WORLD

India
and
Germany
Agreed
To
Cooperate
In
Skill
Development
India and Germany on 8 September agreed to prepare a roadmap for cooperation in skill development,
solid waste management and cleaning of rivers.This decision was taken during the meeting between
German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8
September in New Delhi.

India
and
Australia
Signed
Civil
Nuclear
Cooperation
Agreement
India and Australia have signed the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (CNCA) that will allow Australia
to export uranium to India as well as three other agreements, including on water resources and in sports.
The four agreements were signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime
Minister Tony Abbott in New Delhi on 5 September.
India
and
Bangladesh
Signed
MoU
on
Traditional
Medicines
India and Bangladesh have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of traditional
medicines and homeopathy. The MoU was signed on 9 September in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
India-Vietnam
Signed
Seven
Agreements
India and Vietnam on 15 September signed seven agreements, including one for direct flights between
their capitals, for scouting for oil, and an extended line of credit for purchase of defence equipment. The
seven agreements were signed in the presence of Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Vietnam
President Truong Tan Sang in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

NATIONAL
Civil
Aviation
Ministry
Launched
Know
Your
Rights

Portal
Union Civil Aviation ministry on 9 September launched a new portal namely Know your rights for
passengers. The portal was launched to mark 100 days of the new government.
Union
Cabinet
Approved
National
AYUSH
Mission
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 September approved launching of
National Ayush Mission (NAM) to address the gaps in health services through promotion of ancient and
traditional systems of medicine like Ayurved, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy.
Union
Cabinet
Approved
Swachh
Bharat
Mission
The Union Cabinet on 24 September gave its approval for restructuring of Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan into
Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission).The programme is aimed at creating a clean India by
2019 with peoples participation. The sanitation mission was launched on 2 October 2014 in all 4041
statutory towns.
PM
Narendra
Modi
Launched
Make
in
India
Campaign
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Make In India (MIN) campaign with a high-pitch event held
at New Delhis Vigyan Bhawan on 25 September. The campaign aims at reviving the job-creating
manufacturing sector, which is being seen as the key to taking the Indian economy on a sustainable high
growth path.

STATES
Uttarakhand
Govt
Declared
9th
September
As
Himalaya
Diwas
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat officially declared September 9th as Himalaya Diwas.The state
will celebrate Himalaya Diwas to spread the message of conservation of the Himalayan ecosystems.
Harish Rawat in his declaration announced that from 2015 onwards, the state government would
celebrate the day.

Bihar
Govt
Recognised
Transgender
As
Third
Gender
The Bihar government on 9 September 2014 recognised eunuch and transgender as third gender. This
was done to extend the quota benefit as eunuch and transgender were declared as backward class
annexure II category.
West
Bengal
Cabinet
Approved
Farmer-Friendly
Project
The West Bengal cabinet on 12 September cleared a farmer-friendly project (Sech-Bandhu Prakalpa)
offering 46,000 new pump sets with power connectivity to the farmers to boost irrigation in the state.
Presidents
Rule
Imposed
In
Maharashtra
Presidents rule was imposed on 28 September in poll-bound Maharashtra after Chief Minister Prithviraj
Chavan resigned following the break-up of 15-year-old Congress-NCP alliance in the state.President
Pranab Mukherjee signed the proclamation for imposition of central rule in Maharashtra, a day after the
Union Cabinet recommended clamping of Presidents rule in the state.

CONFERENCES
G20
Finance
Ministers
and
Central
Bank
Governors
Meeting
The G-20 Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors was held at Cairns, Australia on 2021 September 2014. Meeting of G20 finance ministers in Australia endorses plan to automatically
exchange information on a reciprocal basis by end of 2018. The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier
forum for its members international economic cooperation and decision-making. Its membership
comprises 19 countries plus the European Union.

AWARDS & HONOURS

South
Africa-based
Organization
Awarded
The
Gandhi
Prize
A South Africa-based outfit involved in conflict resolution has been awarded the Mahatma Gandhi
International Award for Reconciliation and Peace for its efforts in promoting peace and addressing
disputes globally. Graca Machel, chairperson of The African Centre for Constructive Resolution of
Disputess (Accord) Board of Trustees and former First Lady when her late husband Nelson Mandela was
President, accepted the award on behalf of the institution at the Annual Gandhi Awards Celebration,
hosted by the Gandhi Development Trust in Durban.
MS
University
Chancellor
Mrunalinidevi
Conferred
with
Best
Manager
Award
Dr Mrunalinidevi Puar, Chancellor of Maharaja Sayajirao University, has been conferred with the Best
Manager award by the Oxford Summit of Leaders (Science and Education) in UK on 2 September.
Indian
Scientist
Kamal
Bawa
Won
Midori
Prize
In
Biodiversity
2014
Indian scientist Kamal Bawa, an eminent professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts in
Boston, has won the prestigious Midori Prize in Biodiversity 2014 for his research that included climate
change in the Himalayas.
Snowden
and
Rusbridger
Won
Swedens
Alternative
Nobel
Prize
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and Guardian editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger on 24 September won
Right Livelihood Award. The award was shared between the two.The Right Livelihood Award is also
known as Alternative Nobel prize of Sweden.

SPORTS & GAMES

US
Open
Tennis
Tournament
Winners

2014
Womens Singles :- Serena Williams of US won the US Open Tennis Tournament womens singles title
on 8 September in New York. She defeated Caroline Wozniazki of Denmark in the final.
Mens Singles:- Croatias Marin Cilic won the U.S. Open mens singles title on 8 September to become
the newest winner of this coveted Grand Slam title. He defeated Japans Kei Nishikori in the final.
Lewis
Hamilton
Won
Italian
F1
Grand
Prix

2014
Mercedes driver Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton of Britain won the Italian F1 Grand Prix on 7 September.
USA
Won
2014
FIBA
Basketball
World
Cup
USA won FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014 by defeating Serbia. The World Cup was held on 14
September at Madrid, Spain.
Lewis
Hamilton
Won
Singapore
F1
Grand
Prix
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain won the Singapore F1 Grand Prix on 21 September to take a
slender 3-point lead over his teammate Nico Rosberg (Germany), who was leading the 2014 season till
now.

ECONOMY
SBI
Launched
First
Multi-Currency
International
Debit
Card
Launched
State Bank of India (SBI) on 8 September launched its first multi-currency international debit card to allow
consumers to use a single card to pay in multiple currencies. This card launched in a tie-up with
MasterCard would, at present, enable customers to load four international currencies in this card.
Mukesh
Ambani
Tops
Richest
Indian
List
Reliance Industries (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani has again topped the list of richest Indian while Adani
Group Chairman Gautam Adani has made it to the 10th spot. As per the Hurun India Rich List for 2014
released on 16 September, Mukesh Ambanis wealth has risen 37 percent to Rs 1.65 lakh crore this year.
India
Ranks
6th
In
Billionaire
Numbers
According to the Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014, released on 17 September, India has
retained its sixth position in the number of billionaires residing in the country. It is home to 100 such
people, with a collective net worth of $175 billion. There are 2,325 billionaires worldwide, with the addition
of 155 new ones in 2014. On the top 40 list of billionaire countries/territories, the US maintained its
position as the first, with a population of 571 billionaires in 2014.
Alibaba
Becomes
Worlds
Largest
IPO
The IPO of Chinas largest e-commerce outfit, Alibaba Group, has become the worlds biggest ever on
strong demand, raising $US25.03 billion after bankers exercised an option to boost the deal size by 15
per cent. Agricultural Bank of China previously held the world record, with a $US22.1 billion IPO in 2010.
The record was achieved after the underwriters of the previously announced Initial Public Offering (IPO)
exercised in full the option to purchase an additional 48,015,900 American depositary shares on 22
September, from Alibaba Group and certain shareholders.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India
Successfully
Test
Fired
N-capable
Agni-I
Missile
India on 11 September successfully test-fired indigenously developed nuclear-capable surface -to-surface
Agni-I missile from Wheeler Island off Odisha coast.The Agni I has a range of 7001250 km.
NASA Unveils Worlds Largest Welder To Build Worlds Most Powerful Rocket
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden officially unveiled the worlds largest welder to start construction of
the worlds most powerful rocket NASAs Space Launch System (SLS) rocket at NASAs Michouds
Vertical Assembly Center (VAC) on 12 September.
Nasas
Maven
Spacecraft
Successfully
Enters
Mars
Orbit
Nasas Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft on 22 September 2014 entered orbit
around Mars, completing an interplanetary journey of 10 months and 442 million miles (711 million
kilometers). Maven is a space probe designed to study the Martian atmosphere while orbiting Mars.
Mission goals include determining how the Martian atmosphere and water, presumed to have once been
substantial, were lost over time.
ISROs
Mars
Orbiter
Spacecraft
Successfully
Inserted
into
Mars
Orbit
The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also called Mangalyaan Mars-craft is a Mars orbiter launched into
Earth orbit on 5 November 2013 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was successfully
inserted into Mars orbit on 24 September 2014. It is Indias first interplanetary mission and ISRO has
become the fourth space agency to reach Mars, after the Soviet space program, NASA, and the
European Space Agency. This was also Indias first attempt to reach Mars orbit historically, only
Europes ESA made it to Mars on its first attempt.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
P
Sathasivam
Sworn
In
As
Kerala
Governor
Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Palaniswamy Sathasivam was on 5 September sworn in as Kerala
Governor. He is the 23rd Governor of the state. He is the first Chief Justice of India to be appointed to the
post which is lower in warrant of precedence to the CJI.
Justice
H.L.
Dattu
Sworn
In
As
42nd
Chief
Justice
of
India
Justice Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu was sworn in as the 42nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on
28 September 2014. Justice Dattu succeeds Chief Justice R M Lodha who retired on 28 September 2014.
He will have a tenure of 14 months and will retire on 2 December 2015.

B)RESIGNS
Maharashtra
CM
Prithviraj
Chavan
Resigned
Prithviraj Chavan on 26 September resigned as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra after his government
was reduced to a minority. Chavan submitted his resignation to governor of the state C Vidyasagar Rao.

C)DEATHS
Former
Attorney
General
GE
Vahanvati
Died
Former Attorney General of India GE Vahanvati (Goolam Essaji Vahanvati) died on 2 September in
Mumbai. Vahanvati was first Muslim to become Attorney General of India and he was 13th Attorney
General of India. He was appointed the 13th attorney general in June 2009 for a three-year term after
UPA government was re-elected. In 2012, the term was extended by another two years. He resigned from
the position of Attorney General on 27 May 2014 following the regime change at the Centre.

D)VISITORS
Indian
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
Visited
U.S
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Visited U.S from 26 30 September 2014. During his five day visit,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 69th session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
in New York on 27 September. In his speech addressing Indian-Americans at Madison Square Garden in
New York, Narendra Modi announced lifetime visas for PIOs (Persons of Indian origin). India and US has
issued a joint vision statement declaring cooperation in energy, economic growth, science, technology
health and education. The Vision Statement titled Chalein Saath-Saath: Forward Together We Go was
issued after the Summit-level meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack
Obama at White House in Washington DC. In the meeting, the two sides had decided to take steps for
extension of the pact besides agreeing to enhance cooperation in joint production and development of
defence equipment.

E)MISCELLANEOUS
Kira
Kazantsev
Crowned
Miss
America
2015
Miss Kira Kazantsev was crowned Miss America 2015. She belongs to New York. This is the third year in
a row that the contestant from New York has won. Kazantsev received the crown on 14 September at
Atlantic Citys Boardwalk Hall from outgoing Miss America and Miss New York Nina Davuluri.

PLACES IN NEWS
London
Ranked
As
Worlds
Most
Expensive
City
London has overtaken Hong Kong as the worlds most expensive place to live and work. This fact was
revealed in the 5th edition of the Savills Live/Work Index that was released on 26 September 2014. At the
other end of the scale, Mumbai remained the cheapest world city in which to locate employees.

ABBREVIATIONS
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
ESCAP Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
FICCI Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry

NCERT National Council of Education Research and Training

BOOKS IN NEWS
M
S
Swaminathan
In
Conversation
with
Nitya
Rao
Book
Released
The book entitled M S Swaminathan, in conversation with Nitya Rao The Ethics and Politics of
Science was released on 10 September by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu was in New Delhi.This book
is in continuation of the earlier book released in August 2013.

COMMITTEES
Finance Ministry Sets Up H R Khan Committee On Unclaimed PPF, Small Savings Deposits
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has set up a committee on 3 September under Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Deputy Governor H R Khan to assess the amount of unclaimed deposit in the popular Public Provident
Fund (PPF) and Post Office saving schemes, and suggest steps for utilisation of funds for the benefit of
senior citizens.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

World
Tourism
Day
Observed
Across
The
World
World Tourism Day (WTD) was observed across the world on 27 September 2014. The theme of the
World Tourism Day 2014 is Tourism and Community Development. The 2014 WTD is focused to highlight
the ability of tourism to empower people and provide them with skills to achieve change in their local
communities.
World
Heart
Day
Observed
Across
The
World
World Heart Day was observed across the world on 29 September 2014. The objective of the day is to
inform people around the world of the danger of heart disease and stroke. 2014 theme for World Heart
Days is Heart Choices NOT Hard Choices. The World Health Organization on the occasion said that
there is a need to reduce the consumption of salt that is linked to death of people from cardiovascular
diseases.

OCTOBER

INTERNATIONAL
Mauritius
Parliament
Dissolved
For
Elections
The Mauritius parliament was dissolved on 6 October, paving the way for elections that could lead to
changes in the countrys constitution. The ruling Labour party, led by Prime Minister Navinchandra
Ramgoolam, wants to split powers between the president, now a largely ceremonial position, and the
prime minister. That would require changes to the constitution.

Bolivian
President
Evo
Morales
Re-elected
For
A
Third
Term
Bolivian President Evo Morales was re-elected for a third term with more than 60 percent of the vote
according to the election results declared on 12 October. As per the results, Evo Morales got 60 percent
while his closest competitor Samuel Doria Medina could secure only 25 percent.
United Nations Elected Five New Non-permanent Members To Security Council
Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Venezuela and Spain on 16 October were elected as the new nonpermanent members of the Security Council for a two years term by the UN General Assembly. These
five countries replace retiring members Argentina, Australia, Luxembourg, South Korea and Rwanda.The
newly elected members term will be begining from January 1, 2015.
Dilma
Rousseff
Re-elected
As
Brazil
President
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was re-elected in the Presidential Elections held in the country on 26
October 2014. She belongs to the center-left Workers Party and her second term will finish in December
2018. Rousseff took 51.6% of the votes while her centre-right challenger Aecio Neves representing
Brazilian Social Democracy Party (BSDP) got 48.4% votes.

INDIA & WORLD

UK
and
Ireland
Signed
Single
Visa
Deal
Britain and Ireland on 6 October Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on visa cooperation to
allow Chinese and Indian visitors to travel to the two island nations on a single visa. The agreement was
signed at the Irish Embassy in London by UK home secretary Theresa May and Irish Justice Minister
Frances Fitzgerald.
India
Ranks
18th
On
Most
Desirable
Place
To
Work
According to the consulting giant Boston Consulting Group latest report released on 7 October, India has
been ranked 18th globally on the list of most desirable destinations to work, even as 70-80% of Indians
are willing to work in an overseas location.The US has been ranked on the top, followed by the UK,
Canada, Germany and Switzerland.
India
Ranked
55th
In
Global
Hunger
Index
The 2014 Global Hunger Index (GHI) was released on 13 October by the International Food Policy
Research Institute (IFPRI), Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. According to the report, India
improved its position in the Global Hunger Index in 2014 as it climbed to 55th position among 76
emerging economies from 63rd position in 2013. Mauritius holds the top place alongwith Thailand.
India
Ranked
142
On
WEFs
Gender
Gap
Report
Global Gender Gap Report 2014, which was published on 28 October by World Economic Forum (WEF)
India was ranked 114 out of 142 countries on Gender Gap index. Iceland has the narrowest gender gap
in the world, followed by Finland, Norway and Sweden.

NATIONAL
PM
Narendra
Modi
Launched
Swachh
Bharat
Abhiyan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 October launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India
campaign in New Delhi. The campaign was launched on the occasion of 145th birth anniversary of

Mahatma Gandhi.The total expected cost of the programme is Rs. 62,009 crore, out of which the
proposed central assistance will be of Rs. 14,623 crore.
PM
Narendra
Modi
Launched
Sansad
Adarsh
Gram
Yojana
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna (SAGY) on the occasion of the birth
anniversary of renowned Socialist leader Jai Prakash Narayan on 11 October. SAGY will be implemented
under the overall supervision of Union Ministry of Rural Development. The programme is an ambitious
village development project under which each Member of Parliament will take the responsibility for
developing physical and institutional infrastructure in three villages by 2019.
Prime
Minister
Launched
Deendayal
Upadhyay
Shramev
Jayate
Karyakram
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Karyakram on 16
October in New Delhi.The scheme is aimed at creating conducive environment for industrial development
and doing business with ease.
Union
Govt
Launched
Vanbandhu
Kalyan
Yojana
Union Government has launched Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY) on 28 October for welfare of Tribal
people and particularly to lift human development indices of tribal people.

STATES
Gujarat Govt Set Up SPV To Promote Vadodara As Cultural Capital
Gujarat government on 10 October set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to promote Vadodara as the
cultural capital of Gujarat and encourage tourism in Vododara. The SPV set up will be known as
Vadodara International Art and Culture Festival Authority and it will be headed by State Tourism and
Finance Minister Saurabh Patel. Thus, Gujarat became the first state in India to set up the authority for
promoting tourism.
Union Home Ministry Announced To Renamed 12 Cities and Towns of Karnataka
Union Home Ministry on 17 October announced to rename 12 cities and towns of Karnataka. According to
the proposal, the 12 cities whose names were sought to be changed are:- Bangalore as Bengaluru;
Mangalore as Mangaluru ; Bellary as Ballari ; Bijapur as Vijayapura or Vijapura ; Belgaum as Belagavi ;
Chikmagalur as Chikkamagaluru ; Gulbarga as Kalaburagi ; Mysore as Mysuru ; Hospet as Hosapete ;
Shimoga as Shivamogga ; Hubli as Hubballi, and Tumkur as Tumakuru.
Bharatiya
Janta
Party
Won
The
2014
Assembly
Elections
of
Haryana
Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) won the state assembly elections of Haryana. The results of the elections
were announced by the Election Commission of India on 19 October 2014. BJP by securing 47 seats
emerged as the largest party, with clear majority. The elections were held for total 90 seats on 15 October
2014.
BJP emerged As The Largest Party In Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2014
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party in Maharashtra assembly elections of
2014, the results for which were declared on 19 October 2014. The elections were held on 15 October
2014 for total 288 seats. Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) by winning 122 seats emerged as the largest party
but none of the parties succeeded in securing a secure clear majority.

CONFERENCES
12th
Meeting
of
the
Conference
of
the
Parties
(COP
12)
The 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 12) to the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD COP-12) was held in Pyeongchang, South Korea from 6 17 October 2014. Biodiversity for
Sustainable Development was the theme for the COP 12 summit. The conference was attended by more
than 2000 delegates from 193 countries. The meeting concluded on a disappointing note that biodiversity
targets agreed upon in 2010 at Nagoya are far from being met with most nations continuing on a business
as usual track. The 13th meeting of the parties to the convention takes will take place October 2016 in
Los Cabos, Baja California South, Mexico. The Conference of the Parties is the governing body of the
Convention, and advances implementation of the Convention through the decisions it takes at its periodic
meetings.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Indian
American
Thomas
Won
US
National
Medal
of
Science
Thomas Kailath, a Pune educated Indian-American engineering professor at Stanford University, is one of
the recipients of the US National Medal of Science announced by President Barack Obama on 3 October.
Nobel
Prize
Winners
2014
Announced
The Nobel Prize winners of 2014 in the different categories were announced in the month of October
2014. Nobel Prizes are announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences every year in the memory
of Alfred Nobel.The categories were the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the Nobel Prize in
Physics, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences, The Nobel
Literature
Prize
and
The
Nobel
Peace
Prize.
The Nobel Prize Winners of 2014 in the different categories were as follows:* Physiology (or) Medicine :- U.S.-British scientist John OKeefe and Norwegian couple May-Britt
Moser, Edvard Moser won the 2014 Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering the inner Global Positioning
System (GPS) that helps the brain navigate through the world.
* Physics :- Three Japanese-born researchers Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura won
the 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics. They were honoured for inventing efficient blue Light-Emitting
Diodes(LED) lamps that worked as a bright and energy-saving white light sources.
* Chemistry :- American scientists Eric Betzig and William Moerner and Germanys Stefan Hell won the
2014 Nobel prize for chemistry. The trio of Betzig, Moerner and Hell were conferred for their contribution
in the area of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy which helped in bringing optical microscopy into
the nano-dimension.
* Literature:- The Nobel Prize in Literature 2014 was awarded to French author Patrick Modiano for the
art of memory with which he has evoked the most ungraspable human destinies and uncovered the lifeworld of the occupation. He is the 14th French writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in literature (one,
Jean Paul-Sartre, declined to accept it).
* Peace :- Indian childrens rights activist Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistani child education activist Malala
Yousafzai have been jointly awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for their struggle against the
suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.

* Economics :- French economist Jean Tirole won the 2014 Economics Nobel Prize for his analysis of
market power and regulation.It was the second Nobel Prize for a French national this year after author
Patrick Modiano won the literature award.
Australian
Author
Richard
Flanagan
Won
2014
Man
Booker
Prize
Australian author Richard Flanagan was on 15 October awarded the 2014 Man Booker Prize for his
wartime novel The Narrow Road to the Deep North. The novel narrates story of a love and war during
the construction of the Thailand Burma Death Railway in World War II. Flanagan is the third Australian to
win
the
prize
after
Thomas
Keneally
and
Peter
Carey.
Malala
Won
2014
Worlds
Children
Prize
Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan won the 2014 Worlds Children Prize on 29 October 2014 after a global vote
involving millions of children. She received the prize at a ceremony in Mariestad near Stockholm. World
Childrens prize was created in 2000 and is run by the Worlds Childrens Prize Foundation (WCPF),
based in Mariefred, Sweden.

SPORTS & GAMES

Chennai
Super
Kings
Won
Champions
League
Twenty-20
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) 2014 title of Cricket. CSK
lifted the title by defeating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 8 wickets in the final match in Bengaluru on 4
October. P.Negi of the Chennai Super Kings was named the Player of the Match.This is the second
Champions League win for the Chennai Super Kings, who won earlier in 2010.
India
Finish
Incheon
Asiad
In
8th
Place
India ended the 17th Asian Games 2014 with 57 medals to finish in eighth place. India won 11 gold, 10
silver and 36 bronze but failed to emulate their 2010 exploits at Guangzhou, where they won 65 medals
14 gold, 17 silver and 34 bronze. China has topped the medal table for the ninth successive times in the
17th Asian Games. With a total of 342 medals including 151 gold, 108 silver and 83 bronze, China
dominated the medal tally in the 17th edition of Asian Games. Hosts South Korea were second with 79
golds while Japan finished third with 47 gold medals. The 17th Asian Games also known as XVII Asiad,
was held from 19 September 2014 to 4 October 2014 in Incheon, South Korea. The theme of the 2014
Asian Games is Meet Asias Future. Diversity Shines Here was the motto of 17th Asian Games.The
moscot of the Asian Games Incheon 2014 was three spotted Harbour Seal siblings named Barame,
Chumuro and Vichuon meaning wind, dance and light in Korean language.The 2019 Games will be held
in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Here are all the Gold Medal Winners from India:* Jitu Rai Mens 50 metre Pistol Shooting
* Sandeep Kumar, Rajat Chauhan, Abhishek Verma Mens compound team Archery
* Saurav Ghosal, Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu, Mahesh Mangaonkar, Kumar Kush Mens team
squash
* Yogeshwar Dutt Mens Freestyle 65 kg Wrestling
* Seema Punia Womens Discus throw athletics

* Sania Mirza, Saketh Myneni Mixed doubles Tennis

* M.C. Mary Kom Womens 48-51 kg Boxing
* Priyanka Panwar, Tintu Luka, Mandeep Kaur, M. Poovamma Womens 4X400m relay athletics
* Indian team Mens Hockey
* Indian team Womens Kabaddi
* Indian team Mens Kabaddi
India
Won
Sultan
of
Johor
Cup
Under-21
Hockey
Title
India on 19 October successfully defended its Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) Under-21 Hockey title at
Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, Johor Bohru, Malaysia. In the finals, Indian team defeated Great Britain, 21. With this win, India became the first team to win the title twice since the inception of the tournament in
2011. India won its first title in 2013.
Pankaj
Advani
Won
World
Billiards
Point
Format
Championship
Indian player Pankaj Advani won the World Billiards Point Format Championship on 24 October. This was
Advanis 11th World title and third of the year in different formats of the game. In 2014, Advani has won
three different world titles the IBSF World 6 Red Snooker, World Team Billiards and World Billiards
Championship (point format), which is an unprecedented record in itself.

ECONOMY
India
To
Grow
5.6%
In
2014
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast 5.6 percent growth rate for India this year and a
higher 6.4 percent in 2015. According to the IMF latest World Economic Outlook report released on 7
October, In China growth will remain at 7.4 percent this year and is projected to be of 7.1 per cent in
2015.
Tatas
Land
Rover
Is
Top
Indian
Brand
Tata groups Land Rover is the only Indian brand in worlds 100 most valuable brands. Tata Group-owned
iconic British car brand Land Rover has been ranked 91st with a brand value of $4.47 billion (Rs. 27,267
crore) and is one of the five new entrants to this annual list compiled by leading brand consultancy
Interbrand. US company Apple has retained its top slot with a valuation of nearly $119 billion.
Asian Countries Signed MoU For Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
21 Asian countries, including India, have signed an agreement to become founding members of the
China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to aid the infrastructure development in the
Asian region and reduce the dependence on Western-dominated World Bank and IMF. The Joint
Secretary of the Economic Affairs division of the Ministry of Finance signed the MoU on behalf of India at
Beijing on 26 October. The MoU specifies that the authorised capital of AIIB is $100 billion and the initial
subscribed capital is expected to be around $50 billion. The Headquarters of the AIIB will be at Beijing,
and the bank is expected to be operational in 2015. Chinas Vice Finance Minister Jin Liqun, who was
also the former Vice-President of the Asian Development Bank, has been appointed as the Secretary
General of AIIB.The 21 members of the AIIB are China, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the
Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Myanmar, Mongolia,
Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

India Ranked 142 In World Banks Ease of Doing Business 2015 Report
India has been placed at 142 among 189 countries in the latest World Banks Ease of Doing Business
2015 report released on 29 October. India was ranked 134th in the last years edition of the list.
Singapore topped this list with 88.27 points and is followed by New Zealand, Hong Kong, Denmark and
South Korea.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Worlds
First
Solar
Battery
Developed
By
US
Scientists
Scientists at Ohio State University, US developed the worlds first solar battery which recharges itself
using air and light. The developed solar battery is in fact a hybrid device that is party rechargeable battery
and part solar cell.
Japan
Launches
Weather
Satellite

Himawari-8

Japan successfully launched the nations next-generation Himawari-8 weather satellite on 7 October from
the Tanegashima Space Center aboard an H-2A rocket.
ISROs PSLV-C26 Successfully Launched Indias Third Navigation Satellite IRNSS-1C
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched Indias third navigation satellite,
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System -1C ( IRNSS-1C), into the space. The satellite was launched
through ISROs Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C26 (PSLV-C26) rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space
Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on 16 October 2014. PSLV-C26 injected the IRNSS-1C satellite,
weighing 1425 kg, into the designated orbit.This was the 27th consecutive successful flight of PSLV.
Researchers
Develop
Worlds
Thinnest
Electric
Generator
Researchers from Columbia Engineering and the Georgia Institute of Technology report on 15 October
that they have made the first experimental observation of piezoelectricity and the piezotronic effect in an
atomically thin material, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), resulting in a unique electric generator and
mechanosensation devices that are optically transparent, extremely light, and very bendable and
stretchable.
Argentina
Successfully
Launches
Its
First
Communication
Satellite
Argentina successfully launched its first geostationary communications satellite named ARSAT-1 from
the spaceport near Kourou in French Guyana on 16 October.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Jens
Stoltenberg
Becomes
NATOs
Secretary
General
Former two-term Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg took up his post as North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) Secretary General on 1 October. He succeeds Fogh Rasmussen. Stoltenberg was
previously Prime Minister of Norway from 2000-2001 and from 2005-2013.

Aamir
Khan
Appointed
As
UNICEFs
Goodwill
Ambassador
Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has been appointed as UNICEFs Goodwill Ambassador for South Asian
region on 9 October. Aamir Khan will focus on supporting child nutrition to end stunting across the region.
Manohar
Lal
Khattar
Sworn
In
As
New
Chief
minister
Of
Haryana
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manohar Lal Khattar was on 26 October sworn in as new Chief
Minister of Haryana, where BJP has formed government for the first time on its own. Khattar is also the
first Punjabi to become the Chief Minister of the state. Khattar a first time MLA, represents Karnal
constituency in the Haryana assembly. He is Haryanas first non-jat chief minister in 18 years. Khattar is
the 10th chief minister of the state, which was created November 1, 1966.
Devendra
Fadnavis
Sworn
In
As
Maharashtra
Chief
Minister
Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra on 31 October 2014.
Devendra Fadnavis became the Mayor of Nagpur in 1997 when he was just 27 year old. He thus became
the second youngest Mayor in India. He also was the youngest municipal corporator of the Nagpur
Municipal Corporation (NMC) at the age of 21 in 1992. He has been elected Member of the Legislative
Assembly of Maharashtra State, representing Nagpur, since, 1999.

B)RESIGNS
US
Secret
Service
Director
Julie
Pierson
Resigned
Julie Pierson, the director of the US secret service has resigned on 1 October amid mounting criticism of
her handling of security breaches at the White House and allegations of misleading public statements.

C)DEATHS
Veteran
Journalist
M
V
Kamath
Died
Former chairman of Prasar Bharati and veteran Journalist Madhav Vittal Kamath, popularly kmown as MV
Kamath, died on 9 October. He was 93. He was awarded Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Indian
journalism in 2004 and he has written over 50 books.

D)VISITORS
President
of
India
Pranab
Mukherjee
Visited
Norway
President of India Pranab Mukherjee visited Norway on 13 14 October 2014. During his visit, Pranab
Mukherjee held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Erna Solberg. Pranab Mukherjee also met King Harald
in Oslo, the capital of Norway. During the visit, India and Norway signed 13 agreements to promote
bilateral relations. These include agreement between Defence sector of two countries and an agreement
on exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official passports. He became the first
Indian head of state to visit Norway and first president to cross the Arctic Circle.

E)MISCELLANEOUS
MS
Dhoni
Ranks
5th
On
Forbes
Most
Valuable
Athlete
Brand
List
India cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the only Indian sportsman to figure on Forbes List of
the Worlds Most Valuable Athlete Brands, a list that has been topped by American basketball player
LeBron James and includes golfer Tiger Woods and tennis stars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Dhoni
is ranked fifth with a brand value of USD20 million in 2014, slightly down from USD21 million in 2013. The
top 10 Most Valuable Athletes list was released on 9 October 2014.

PLACES IN NEWS
India
Among
Five
Nations
To
Build
Worlds
Biggest
Telescope
India, along with four other countries will start work on the worlds biggest telescope in the United States.
The 30-metre telescope, also known as Thirty Minutes Telescope (TMT), will be constructed near the
summit of the Mauna Kea volcano on Hawaii Island in United States. It will cost around $1.4 billion and
the construction is expected to be completed by March 2022. The diameter of this telescope will be a
mammoth 30 meter. This will enable to identify an object as small as coin from a distance of 500 km. The
other four countries involved in this project include the U.S., Japan, China and Canada.

ABBREVIATIONS
UNICEF United Nation International Childrens Emergency Fund
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
IRNSS Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System
TADA - Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act
WIPO - World intellectual property Organisation

BOOKS IN NEWS
Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace Book Released
A book titled Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace authored by Leon Panetta, and
Jim Newton was released on 7 Octobe. Panetta is a former Defence Secretary and ex-CIA Director and
Newton is an editor of the Los Angeles Times. Panetta through the book for the first time came in a
different tone in relation to ISI links with terror outfit. Leon Panetta served as the Director of the Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 20092011, and as Secretary of Defense from 20112013.

COMMITTEES
Madhava
Menon
Committee
Announced
Guidelines
For
Govt
Ads
The Supreme Court appointed high-powered committee headed by Professor NR Madhava Menon
submitted its report to the court on 6 October. The committee in its report has framed guidelines to
regulate expenditure and contents of advertisements paid out of tax payers money. The three-member
committee has recommended that names and pictures of political parties and their office bearers like
presidents should not be mentioned in government advertisements.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

World
Food
Day
Observed
Across
The
World
World Food Day was observed across the world on 16 October 2014 with the theme Family Farming:
Feeding the world, caring for the earth.The UN General Assembly has designated 2014 as the
International Year of Family Farming. This is a strong signal that the international community recognizes
the important contribution of family farmers to world food security.The aim of World Food Day 2014 is to
focus world attention on the significant role of family farming in eradicating hunger and poverty, providing
food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the
environment, and achieving sustainable development, in particular in rural areas.
International
Internet
Day
Observed
Across
The
World
International Internet Day was observed across the world on 29 October 2014 to mark the anniversary of
the first usage of the Internet to send a message electronically in 1969. International Internet Day is
celebrated worldwide on 29 October every year. Since 2005, the International Internet Day has been
celebrated to commemorate a momentous day in the history of telecommunications and technology.

NOVEMBER

INTERNATIONAL
China
and
Russia
Signed
Energy
Cooperation
Agreements
China and Russia signed energy cooperation agreements on 9 November. The agreements were signed
by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of China Xi Jinping at the annual Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Beijing.The deals include a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) to develop a second major supply route to supply Russian natural gas to China along a western
route.
US
and
China
Signed
Climate
Change
Agreement
In a historic climate change deal, U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping on 12
November announced both countries will curb their greenhouse gas emissions over the next two
decades. Under the agreement, the United States would cut its 2005 level of carbon emissions by 2628% before the year 2025. China would peak its carbon emissions by 2030 and will also aim to get 20%
of its energy from zero-carbon emission sources by the same year.It is the first time China, the worlds
biggest polluter, has set an approximate date for emissions to peak.
Klaus
Iohannis
Elected
As
New
President
Of
Romania
Klaus Iohannis was elected as the fifth President of Romania on 16 November. The Mayor of Sibiu Klaus
Werner Iohannis won the Presidential elections in Romania by defeating Prime Minister Victor Ponta of
Social Democratic Party. Klaus Iohannis belongs to Christian Liberal Alliance of Romania. He got 54.81
percent of votes and Victor Ponta got 45.18 percent.
UN
General
Assembly
Adopted
Resolution
On
Child
Marriages
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) rights committee on 21 November adopted the first-ever
resolution calling on governments to stop child marriages. The resolution was presented by Canada and
Zambia.

INDIA & WORLD

India
and
Bhutan
Signed
MoU
on
Establishment
Of
Nalanda
University
India and Bhutan on 7 November signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop Nalanda
University in Bihar as an international centre of excellence. The two sides signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) in this regard in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, after President of India Pranab
Mukherjee held talks with the Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
Global
Slavery
Index

2014
Second Edition of Global Slavery Index was released on 17 November by the Australia-based Walk Free
Foundation. The Index ranks 167 countries in terms of the percentage of a national population and the
total number of people living in modern slavery country by country, region by region. In absolute terms,
the index was topped by India followed by China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Russia. Index highlighted that
estimated 35.8 million people are in modern slavery globally. Out of this, 61% people are living in top five
countries.
India
and
Australia
Siged
Five
Agreements
India and Australia on 18 November signed five agreements on social security, transfer of sentenced
prisoners, combating narcotics trade, tourism, and Arts and Culture.The agreements were signed after the
bilateral talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in
Canberra, Australia.
India
Votes
Against
UN
General
Assembly
Resolution
On
Death
Penalty
India has voted on 25 November against a UN General Assembly draft resolution calling for moratorium
on the use of death penalty. The draft resolution on Moratorium on the use of the death penalty was
approved in the General Assemblys Third Committee, which deals with social, humanitarian and cultural
issues.India was among the 36 nations that voted against the resolution, which got 114 votes in favour
and 34 abstentions.

NATIONAL
Commemorative
Stamp
on
Liver
Transplantation
In
India
Released
The Department of Posts released a commemorative postage stamp on Liver Transplantation in India on
4 November on the occasion of 15 years of Liver Transplantation in India. The patient who had undergone
first successful liver transplantation in India in 1998 Sanjay Kandaswamy was also present on the
occasion.
21
New
Ministers
Inducted
Into
The
Union
Cabinet
Prime Minister Narendra modi on 9 November 2014 expanded his cabinet and added 21 more ministers
to his government. The 21 new ministers include four Cabinet Ministers, three Minister of State
(Independent Charge) and 14 Minister of State. With this expansion, the total number of ministers under
different ranks including the Prime Minister has gone up to 66 from previous 45. It is also the first
expansion of the Union Council of Ministers since the Modi government took office on 26 May 2014. The
Portfolios of Cabinet Ministers:- Manohar Parrikar (Goa) Defence Minister ; Suresh Prabhu
(Maharashtra) Rail Minister ; J P Nadda (Himachal Pradesh) Health and Family Welfare Minister ;
Birender Singh (Haryana) Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister.
PM Narendra Modi Launches Jeevan Pramaan Digital Life Certificate For Pensioners
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 10 November launched Jeevan Pramaan an Aadhar-based
Digital Life Certificate for pensioners.The digital certification will do away with the requirement of
submitting a physical Life Certificate in November each year by pensioners for getting pension.

Union
Government
Approved
Launch
Of
DUGJY
The Union Government on 21 November approved the launch of the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti
Yojana (DUGJY) to provide access of electricity to rural households across the country. A decision in this
regard was taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The
Union Cabinet also decided to merge the ongoing Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY)
with DUGJY scheme.

STATES
Uttar
Pradesh
Chief
Minister
Launched
Samajwadi
Pension
Scheme
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on 5 November launched the Samajwadi Pension Scheme
for 40 lakh families, including those belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and
minorities.
PM
Narendra
Modi
Adopts
Jayapur
Village
In
Varanasi
Jayapur was adopted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5 November under the Sansad Adarsh Gram
Yojana (MP Model Village Plan). Narendra Modi chose Jayapur village in Varanasi district (Uttar Pradesh)
under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY).
Assam Zoo Set To Become First Zoo To Have The Endangered Pygmy Hog
Assam State Zoo in Guwahati in the month of November 2014 decided to have the critically endangered
pig Pygmy Hog (Porcula salvania). Pygmy Hog is the rarest and smallest wild pig in the world. With this
decision, Assam State Zoo is set to become the first and only zoo of the world to have this critically
endangered species of pigs.
Namsai
Becomes
Arunachal
Pradeshs
18th
District
Namsai on 25 November 2014 officially became the 18th district of Arunachal Pradesh. The Chief Minister
of Arunachal Pradesh Nabam Tuki made the declaration.

CONFERENCES
Ninth G20 Summit Held In Brisbane
The 2014 G-20 Australia summit was the ninth meeting of the G-20 heads of government. It was held on
15-16 November 2014 in Brisbane, Australia. At the conclusion of the Summit, the G20 leaders released
the final communiqu known as the Brisbane Action Plan. The Action Plan contains a package of more
than 800 reforms to boost global growth, shore up financial institutions and improve economic resilience.
If these are implemented, then global growth will see an increase of 2.1 percent. After recovery from the
global financial crisis the G20 agreed on the need for bold and coordinated push to generate strong,
sustainable economic growth across the bloc. It set an ambitious goal to lift G20 growth by more than 2
percent to 2018 and millions of additional jobs. China will play host to the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit
of the emerging economies in 2016. Turkey took over the presidency from Australia and will host the
event in Antalya in 2015.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Manmohan
Singh
Received
Japans
Top
National
Award
Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was conferred with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the
Paulownia Flowers Award on 5 November. The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers is
perceived as the second highest civilian award of Japan after Order of the Chrysanthemum. The award
was presented to Manmohan Singh by Japanese Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. He was
given this award for his significant contribution to the enhancement of relations and promotion of
friendship between Japan and India. He became the first Indian to receive this prestigious award.
West
Bengals
Darjeeling
Zoo
Selected
For
Earth
Heroes
Award
2014
The Darjeeling Zoo or the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park was on 1 November selected for
the prestigious International Award The Earth Heroes Award 2014. It has become the first zoo in India. It
has competed with 300 zoos across the world. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is largest high
altitude zoo of India. It is located in West Bengal.The Earth Heroes award is annually awarded by the
Royal Bank of Scotland in collaboration with the Government of United Kingdom.
Neha
Gupta
Received
International
Childrens
Peace
Prize
2014
Indian-American student Neha Gupta has won the 2014 International Childrens Peace Prize Award for
her exceptional work to raise money for underprivileged children around the world. Nobel Peace Laureate
Desmond Tutu the patron of the Dutch childrens rights organization presented her with the award on 18
November in The Hague, Netherlands. She is the first American to be awarded with this prize.
ISRO
selected
For
Indira
Gandhi
Prize
For
Peace

2014
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been selected for the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace,
Disarmament and Development for 2014 in recognition of its path-breaking achievements including the
Mars Orbiter Mission and contribution in strengthening international cooperation in peaceful use of outer
space. ISRO was selected for the award by a jury chaired by Vice President Hamid Ansari on 19
November 2014.

SPORTS & GAMES

Central
Zone
Won
Duleep
Trophy
2014-15
Central Zone won the 2014-15 Duleep Trophy title on 2 November. They won by defeating South Zone in
the finals played at Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi with 9 runs. This was the first Duleep title for Central
zone in ten seasons and the narrowest win in the tournaments history, in terms of runs. K Rahul was
adjudged as the Man-of-the-match for his knocks of 185 and 130 in the final.
Salgaocar
FC
Won
Durand
Cup
2014
The 2014 Durand Cup , the 127th edition of the Durand Cup which is the third oldest association football
competition in the world, was won by the Salgaocar FC. Salgaocar FC defeated Pune FC in the final by 10 to claim their 3rd Durand title.They were Durand Cup champions in the year 1999 and 2003 as well.
127th
Durand
Cup
played
at
the
Raia
Sports
Complex,
Goa.
India
Won
3rd
SAFF
Womens
Championship
India won the 2014 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Womens Championship at the Jinnah
Stadium in Islamabad on 21 November. Indian team won 6-0 over Nepal to register their first series win
on Pakistan soil.With this win, the Indian team has won all the three SAFF women finals against Nepal.
Magnus
Carlsen
Won
FIDE
World
Chess
Championship
2014
Magnus Carlsen of Norway won the FIDE World Chess Championship 2014 on 23 November at Sochi

(Russia). He defeated Viswanathan Anand of India with a score of 6.5 4.5. Out of a total of 12 games
played, he won the Game 2, Game 6 and Game 11. With this he retained the FIDE World Championship
which he had won in Chennai in 2013.
Karnataka
Won
Vijay
Hazare
Trophy
Karnataka won the Vijay Hazare Cricket Trophy on 25 November by defeating Punjab by 156 runs in the
final at Ahmedabad.Karnataka had won the title earlier this year in March 2014 to complete a historic
treble (Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup and Vijay Hazare Trophy) under R Vinay Kumar.

ECONOMY
WEF
Recognizes
17
Indian
Companies
As
Global
Growth
Companies
17 companies from India were recognised as Global Growth Company by World Economic Forum (WEF)
as notified by it on 5 November. Ratnakar Bank Limited (RBL), headquartered at Kolhapur (Maharashtra),
is the only banking entity out of these 17 companies from India, which have been described as regions
most dynamic and high-growth companies by the WEF. The Global Growth Companies community
comprises over 370 companies around the world.
Government
of
India
and
World
Bank
Signed
$200
Million
Agreement
The Government of India (GoI) and the World Bank on 10 November signed a $200 million loan
agreement to enhance the productivity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by expanding
and upgrading Technology Centers across India. The Technology Center Systems Program (TCSP) will
develop the technological and skills base of MSMEs in selected manufacturing industries.
Kerala
Becomes
First
State
with
Bank
Accounts
For
All
Families
Kerala has become the first state in the country with bank accounts for all families under Pradhan Mantri
Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY). A formal declaration to this effect was made by Kerala Finance Minister K M
Mani at the State-Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on 11 November.
Indias
Growth
Forecast
Raised
To
6.6
percent
By
OECD
For
2015-16
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on 19 November raised Indias growth
forecast to 6.6 percent for the financial year 2015-2016.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Russia
Successfully
Test
Fired
Topol-M
Intercontinental
Ballistic
Missile
Russian Strategic Missile Troops (RVSN) on 1 November successfully test fired a Topol-M Inter
Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) to test its technical features. The Topol-M, a silo-based ICBM, was
launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in Russias northern Arkhangelsk region.
Nuclear
Capable
Agni-II
Missile
Successfully
Test
Fired
India on 9 November successfully test-fired its medium-range nuclear-capable Agni-II missile with a strike
range of more than 2000 km from the Wheeler Island off Odisha coast as part of a user trial by the
army.The 20-metre long Agni-II missile is a two-stage, solid-propelled ballistic missile. It has a launch
weight of 17 tonnes and can carry a payload of 1000 kg over a distance of more than 2,000 km.

Pakistan
Successfully
Test
Fires
Shaheen-II
and
Shaheen
1A
Pakistan has successfully test fired Shaheen-II (Hatf-VI) Ballistic Missile on 13 November 2014. ShaheenII Missile is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 1500 kilometers.
China
Launched
Yaogan-23
Remote
Sensing
Satellite
China launched remote sensing satellite Yaogan-23 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre on 15
November. This satellite was carried by the Long March 2-c rocket. This is the 198th mission of the Long
March rocket project. The Yaogan-23 will be deployed mainly for scientific experiments, crop yield
estimates, national resource surveys and disaster relief.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Anita
Kapur
is
CBDT
new
Chairperson
Senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Anita Kapur has been appointed as the new Chairperson of
the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on 5 November. CBDT is the topmost authority of the IncomeTax Department. Anita Kapur will be serving as the Chairperson of CBDT till November 2015. She
succeeded K V Chowdhary who has retired on 31 October 2014.
Laxmikant
Parsekar
Sworn
In
As
Goas
New
Chief
Minister
Laxmikant Parsekar sworn-in as the new Chief Minister of Goa. Parsekar was elected the leader of the
Goa BJP Legislative Party on 8 November 2014 and was administered the oath of office on the same day.
He replaced Manohar Parrikar, who took oath as Union Cabinet Minister on 9 November 2014. Laxmikant
Yashwant Parsekar is the member of the Goa Legislative Assembly from Mandrem constituency.

B)RESIGNS
Goa
Chief
Minister
Manohar
Parrikar
Resigned
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar on 8 November 2014 resigned from his
position. He took oath as Union Cabinet Minister on 9 November 2014. Manohar Parrikar is a member of
the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India. He has been Chief Minister of Goa first from 2000 to 2005 and
later from March 2012 to November 2014 and represented the Panaji constituency in the Legislative
Assembly of Goa.

C)DEATHS
Former
Union
Minister
Murli
Deora
Died
Murli Deora, Senior Congress leader from Maharastra and Former Petroleum Minister, was died on 24
November in Mumbai. Deora was Indias longest serving Petroleum Minister, completing exactly five
years in office in a tenure that began in January 2006 and was spread between UPA-1 and II. He first
contested the Lok Sabha polls from Mumbai South constituency in 1980 . He was first time elected to the
Rajya Sabha in 2002 from Maharashtra and since then had completed two terms. At present, he was
serving his third term.

D)VISITORS
Indian
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
Visited
Myanmar
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi visited Myanmar to attend the 25th ASEAN summit, 12th ASEAN-

India Summit and 9th East Asia Summit in Naypyidaw,the capital of Myanmar from 12-13 November
2014. During the visit, many decisions were taken and on the sidelines of the summit, the Prime Minister
also met with other leaders of ASEAN countries. Narendra Modi also met Myanmar President U Thein
Sein in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar. This was the first meeting between the two leaders, and
focus was on connectivity, cultural contacts and commercial ties.

E)MISCELLANEOUS
Narendra
Modi
Ranks
15th
On
Forbes
Most
Powerful
People
List
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been ranked 15th in the Forbes list of Worlds Most Powerful People
for the year 2014. Forbes worlds most powerful people -2014 list was released on 5 November. Russian
President Vladimir Putin retains his numero uno seat just above his American rival Barack Obama (2nd)
for the second consecutive year.

PLACES IN NEWS
Worlds
2nd
Tallest
Power
Transmission
Towers
In
West
Bengal
The worlds second tallest power transmission towers, built by Haldia Energy Limited (HEL), has come up
in West Bengal.The 236-metre-long twin towers, located at HELs 600-MW capacity plant at Haldia and
Raichak across the river Hooghly, are the tallest in the country. Covering a span of 1.5 km, the twin towers
weigh 1,800 tonnes.The worlds highest transmission tower (370 metres) is located at Mount Damaoshan
in China.

ABBREVIATIONS
AAFI Amateur Athletics Federation of India
APEC Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
CDRI - Central Drug Research Institute
SAARC - South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations

BOOKS IN NEWS
2014:The Election That Changed India Authored By Rajdeep Sardesai Released
A book titled 2014:The Election that Changed India authored by senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai was
released on 1 November. The book follows through the major stories of the 2014 Loksabha elections
which affected the fate of Narendra Modi, Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi.

COMMITTEES
Justice Mudgal Committee Submitted Its Final Report on IPL Spot Fixing
The Supreme Court (SC) appointed Mukul Mudgal committee on 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL)-6
spot-fixing submitted its final report to the court on 3 November 2014. The report of Justice Mukul Mudgal
committee on match fixing in IPL-6 was made public on 17 November 2014.The report gave a major relief
to the stepped down BCCI president N. Srinivasan observing that it could not be proved that he was
involved with betting activities. The Mudgal Committee submitted two reports to the Supreme court on 9
February 2014.The Mukul Mudgal panel was constituted by the Supreme Court in October 2013 to probe
the allegations of spot-fixing in IPL-6 matches. The committee is headed by Justice (Retd.) Mukul Mudgal,
former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

National
Education
Day
was
Observed
on
11
November
National Education Day (NED) was observed on 11 November 2014 to mark of the birth anniversary of
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. This NED was 125th birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.National
Educational Day was observed on the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, first Education
minister of Independent India.In 2008, Government of India declared that Azads birth anniversary will be
celebrated as the National Education Day.
World
Fisheries
Day
Observed
Across
The
World
On
21
November
World Fisheries day on 21 November 2014 was observed across the world by the fisher folk communities.
The day will remind the world to ensure sustainable stocks of fisheries and healthy oceans
ecosystems.The day also helps to highlight the problems like over fishing and mechanization and moves
towards finding solutions to the increasingly inter-connected problems that world facing and in the longer
term, to sustainable means of maintaining fish stocks.Fishing communities across the world celebrated
through rallies, workshops, public meetings, cultural dramas, exhibition, music show, and demonstrations
to highlight the importance of maintaining the fisheries of world. As a part of World Fisheries Day
celebrations, Union Government of India announced to launch Blue Revolution to increase in fish
production and productivity in India.

DECEMBER

INTERNATIONAL
Tabare
Vazquez
Re-elected
As
Uruguay
President
Tabare Vazquez was re-elected as Uruguay President. He won the 2014 presidential elections held in
Uruguay on 30 November 2014. The Presidential election results was announced by Uruguays Electoral
Court on 1 December. Vazquez belongs to the leftist Broad Front coalition party of Uruguay.
China
Launched
Mega
Water
Supply
Project
In
Sri
Lanka
The Beijing-based China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) has on 6 December launched
another mega project in Sri Lanka to construct a water supply system in Gampaha district.The US$ 230
million water supply project is the largest ever undertaken by the Sri Lankan government.

Pakistan
8th
Most
Dangerous
Country
In
The
World
US based think tank IntelCenter on 9 December released Country Threat Index (CTI) ranking 45
countries in terms of terrorist and rebel threat to a country. Pakistan is placed eighth in the list of the most
dangerous countries in the world which is led by Iraq.
Global
Arms
Trade
Treaty
Came
Into
Force
The global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) that lays down international rules for the 85 billion US dollars global
arms trade came into effect on 24 December 2014. The Treaty was negotiated at a global conference
under the auspices of the United Nations from July 227, 2012, in New York. Later the UN adopted it on 2
April 2013. It has been signed by 130 countries while 61 countries ratified it.
Shinzo
Abe
Re-elected
Third
Term
As
Japan
Prime
Minister
Shinzo Abe on 14 December re-elected third term as Japan Prime Minister. He was re-elected after
Japans ruling coalition (Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito) won a two thirds majority in the Snap
elections held for the Lower House (House of Representatives) of the Bicameral legislature, the National
Diet.

INDIA & WORLD

India
Ranked
85th
On
Global
Corruption
Perception
Index
2014
India was ranked 85th out of 175 countries on Global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2014, which was
released by Transparency International on 3 December 2014. Indias score stood at 38 as compared to
36 in 2013. Sri Lanka was ranked 85th with India. The index was topped by Denmark with a score of 92.
At the bottom of the list are South Sudan (171), Afghanistan (172), Sudan (173) and North Korea and
Somalia shared the last place at 174 with a score of 8 each.
United
Nations
Declared
June
21
As

International
Yoga
Day

The United Nations General Assembly adopted an India-led resolution declaring June 21 as International
Day of Yoga. It was introduced by Indias Ambassador to the United Nations Asoke Mukerji on 11
December and had 175 nations joining as co-sponsors, the highest number ever for any resolution in the
193-member UN Genral Assembly. This is also for the first time that such an initiative has been proposed
and implemented by any country in the UN body in less than 90 days. Through the resolution, adopted
under the agenda of Global Health and Foreign Policy, the 193-member General Assembly decided to
proclaim June 21 every year as International Day of Yoga.
India
and
Russia
Signed
20
Agreements
India and Russia signed 20 agreements during the 15th India-Russia Annual Summit held in New Delhi
on 11 December. The agreements were signed in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
and Russian President Vladimir Putin. India and Russia also agreed to jointly explore for oil and gas, build
petrochem plants, lay pipelines and cooperate in infrastructure development and smart cities to treble
bilateral trade to USD 30 billion by 2025.
India
Ranks
Third
On
World
Black
Money
List
The Global Financial Integrity (GFI) on 15 December released the Global Illicit Financial Flows Report
2014 titled Illicit Financial Flows from the Developing World: 2003-2012. According to the report, India has
ranked third in the world with an estimated USD 94.76 billion (nearly Rs 6 lakh crore) illicit money outflows
in 2012. Reportedly the cumulative illicit money moving out of the country from 2003 to 2012 has risen to
USD 439.59 billion (Rs 28 lakh crore). Russia is on the top with USD 122.86 billion, followed by China at
the second position (USD 249.57 billion) in terms of black money moving out of a country for 2012 the
latest year for which these estimates have been made.

India
Banned
ISIS
Terror
Group
The Union Government on 16 December 2014 banned Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) under
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The aim of the ban is to limit the activities of the West Asia group
which has carved out swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.

NATIONAL
Atal Bihari Vajpayees Birthday To Be Observed As Good Governance Day
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees birthday on December 25 will be observed as National
Good Governance Day. The decision has been taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 December
in New Delhi.
Union
Govt
Launched
Sukanya
Samriddhi
Account
Scheme
The Union Government has on 4 December notified Sukanya Samriddhi Account , a new small savings
instrument for the girl child that could be operated by her after the age of 10.
Government
Decided
To
Remove
Section
309
From
IPC
The government has on 10 December decided to delete/strike off Section 309 (attempt to commit suicide)
from the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on the recommendation of the Law Commission of India. Section 309 of
IPC makes the act punishable with jail term of up to one year and fine.
Union
Govt
Launched
Mission
Indradhanush
For
Children
Vaccination
The Union government has launched Mission Indradhanush to achieve full immunization coverage for all
children by 2020.The Mission Indradhanush aims to cover all those children who are either unvaccinated
or are partially vaccinated against seven vaccine preventable diseases including diphtheria, whooping
cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B.

STATES
Uttar
Pradesh
Govt
Launched
Women
Entrepreneurship
Scheme
2014-15
Uttar Pradesh government on 2 December launched the Women Entrepreneurship Scheme 2014-15 to
empower women and ensure their participation in the process of industrialization. Under the scheme, the
state government is encouraging micro-level and individual traditional industries and handicraft units to
form a special purpose vehicle (SPV).
Assam Govt Launched Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Concrete Road Nirman Scheme
The Assam government on 5 December launched a new road construction scheme named Lokpriya
Gopinath Bordoloi Concrete Road Nirman. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi laid foundation stone for the
scheme at Mirza in Kamrup district of Assam.
Jammu
and
Kashmir
Assembly
Election
2014
Results
Election Commission of India on 23 December declared the results of Assembly elections of Jammu and
Kashmir (J&K). Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP) of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed with
28 seats emerged as the largest party in the house of 87 seats.Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 25
seats (all seats came from the Jammu region) stood at the second position. Jammu and Kashmir is going
to witness a hung assembly, as no party was able to garner a full majority.

Jharkhand
Assembly
Election
2014
Results
Election Commission of India (ECI) on 23 December declared the results of Assembly elections of
Jharkhand. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 37 seats emerged as the largest party in the house of 81
seats.Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) with 19 seats stood at the second position.

CONFERENCES
United Nations Climate Change Conference 2014
The UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC), known also as Conference of the Parties (COP 20),
was held in Lima, Peru, from 1 12 December 2014. The conference concluded its 12-day meeting on 12
December having brought together the 196 Parties to the UNFCCC in an attempt to hammer out a new
universal treaty which would enter force by 2020. The final agreement is expected to be hashed out in
Paris at the end of next year. The decisions adopted in Lima, including the Lima Call for Climate Action,
pave the way for the adoption of a universal and meaningful agreement in 2015.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Narendra
Modi
Named
The
Straits
Times
Asian
Of
The
Year
2014
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on 5 December named Asian of the Year 2014 for being a
development-focused leader by editors of Singapores leading daily, The Straits Times. Last years award
was shared by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinas President Xi Jinping.
Time
Magazine
Named
Ebola
Fighters
As
Person
of
the
Year
2014
The countless doctors, nurses and caregivers at the forefront of battling one of the worst ever outbreaks
of the deadly Ebola virus, were on 10 December collectively named as Time magazines 2014 Person of
the Year. The Ebola fighters have been awarded for their tireless acts of courage and mercy and for
risking, persisting, sacrificing and saving.
Fidel
Castro
Awarded
Chinas
Confucius
Peace
Prize

2014
Cubas former leader Fidel Castro has been awarded the Confucius Peace Prize -2014, Chinas
alternative to the Nobel. He did not attend the Confucius Peace Prize award ceremony on 9 December. A
Cuban exchange student accepted the award on his behalf. The Confucius Peace prize was established
in 2009 as an eastern alternative to the Nobel Peace Prize following the proposal of Chinese
businessman Lui Zhiqin.
Atal Bihari Vajpee and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya To Be Awarded Bharat Ratna
The Union Government on 24 December 2014 made announcement to award the Bharat Ratna, countrys
highest civilian honour to Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, and educationist and social
reformer Madan Mohan Malviya(posthumously). The announcement coincides with Vajpayees birthday
on December 25 which the government has already declared as Good Governance Day. Malviya is the
11th person to receive the award posthumously, while Vajpayee is the sixth Prime Minister to receive the
award. Till now 43 people have been honoured with the Bharat Ratna. Educationist Madan Mohan
Malviya and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee are the 44th and 45th distinguished personalities
who have been conferred with countrys highest civilian award. In 2013, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and
scientist C N R Rao were awarded Bharat Ratna for their contribution in their respective fields.

SPORTS & GAMES

East
Zone
Won
201415
Deodhar
Trophy
East Zone won the 2014-15 Deodhar Trophy of cricket on 3 December by defeating West Zone by 24
runs. The final match was played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This was the first Deodhar Trophy
win for East Zone after 11 seasons.
India
Won
Blind
Cricket
World
Cup
2014
Indian Blind Cricket team under the captaincy of Shekhar Naik won the fourth edition of the Blind Cricket
World Cup (BCWC) 2014 by defeating defending champions Pakistan in the final match played at Cape
Town (South Africa) on 7 December. It was the first time India won the event.
Germany
Won
2014
Champions
Trophy
Hockey
Germany defeated Pakistan 2-0 on 14 December to win the 35th Champions Trophy Hockey (Mens) in
Bhubaneswar for the 10th time. Germany had last won the tournament in 2007.Australia has won Mens
Champions Trophy for the highest 13 times followed by Germany (10 times).
Indian
Men
and
Women
Teams
Won
5th
Kabaddi
World
Cup
2014
India won the Men and Women title of Kabaddi World Cup 2014. This was the fifth Kabaddi World
Cup.The final match of the cup was played on 20 December at Guru Gobind Singh Multipurpose Stadium
in Jalandhar, Punjab, India. The Indian mens team defeated Pakistan 45-42 for the fourth time, while the
women team beat New Zealand 36-27 for the second time in a row.
Sunil
Chhetri
Named
2014
AIFF
Player
of
the
Year
Indian national team captain Sunil Chhetri was on 27 December declared All India Football Federation
(AIFF) Player of the Year for the third time in four years while Bala Devi has been declared the Woman
Player of the Year.

ECONOMY
Indias
Economic
Growth
Is
Expected
To
Improve
To
6.3%
in
2016
The United Nations latest report titled The UN World Economic Situation and Prospects 2015 (WESP)
was released on 11 December. According to the report, Indias economic growth is expected to improve to
6.3 per cent in 2016 with the country leading economic recovery in South Asia.
ICICI
Bank
Launched
Indias
First
Transparent
Credit
Card
Private sector lender ICICI Bank on 12 December launched Indias first credit card with a transparent
design.The credit card named ICICI Bank Coral American Express Credit Card.
Alibabas
Jack
Ma
Becomes
Asias
Richest
Person
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index new list of the worlds billionaires released on 12
December, the founder of Chinese internet giant Alibaba, Jack Ma, is now the richest person in Asia. With
an estimated wealth of 28.6 billion dollars, Ma overtook the Hong Kong property tycoon Li Ka-shing at
28.3 billion dollars.
IOC
tops
Fortune
India
500
List
The global business magazine Fortunes Indian edition released its annual list of Fortune 500 Indian

companies for 2014 on 14 December. According to the list, State-run Indian Oil Corp (IOC) topped this list
with an annual revenue of Rs 5,00,973 crore, while Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltds (RIL)
full-year revenue is Rs 4,44,021 crore.
India
Ranks
93rd
In
Forbes
List
Of
Best
Nations
For
Business
Business publication Forbes has ranked India 93rd on its list of Best Countries for Business for 2014,
which was released on 19 December. Denmark tops the list, followed by Hong Kong. India ranked 122 on
the trade freedom index, 135 in monetary freedom, 120 in technology, 122 in tax burden and 128 in red
tape. It fared well on market performance index, ranking third, and 7th on investor protection. It ranked
78th on corruption and 55 on property rights.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India
Successfully
Test
Fired
N-capable
Agni-IV
Missile
India on 2 December successfully test fired its 4,000 km Nuclear Capable Agni-IV missile from a defence
base in Odisha.The missile is a two-stage, weighing 17 tonne and 20-metre tall.This test was the fourth
trial of Agni-IV missile. The first was in November 2011, the second in September 2012 and the third in
January 2014. Agni-IV has already been inducted into the army.
Japan
Successfully
Launched
Asteroid
Explorer
Hayabusa
2
Japan has successfully launched its second-generation asteroid explorer Hayabusa 2 from Tanegashima
Space Center on 3 December in Japans southwestern Kagoshima prefecture. The Hayabusa 2 was
launched aboard the H-2A Launch Vehicle No.26 (H-2A F26) and it is the second mission of Japan after
Hayabusa (MUSES-C) launched in 2003 to collect asteroid samples. Hayabusa 2 will explore one of the
C-type asteroids called 1999 JU3 in space, retrieve materials and bring them to Earth.
ISROs
Communication
Satellite
GSAT-16
Launched
Successfully
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) communication satellite GSAT-16 was successfully launched
on 7 December by the Ariane-5 launch vehicle VA221 of Arianespace from Kourou, French Guiana. India
satellites co-passenger DIRECTV-14, built by SSL (Space Systems/Loral) for operator DIRECTV to
provide direct-to-home television broadcasts across the US, was also launched by Ariane 5 VA221,
marking 63rd successful mission in a row for the rocket. Ariane 5 delivers DIRECTV-14 and GSAT-16 to
orbit on Arianespaces latest mission success.
China
Successfully
Launched
Yaogan
Weixing-25
Mission
China on 10 December successfully launched the Yaogan Weixing-25 mission consisting of three
satellites from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The launch took place from the 603 launch pad of
the LC43 launch complex utilizing a Long March-4C (Chang Zheng-4C) launch vehicle.The Yaogan
Weixing-25 mission is composed of three satellites, with Chinese media referring to the new satellite as a
new remote sensing bird that will be used for scientific experiments, land survey, crop yield assessment,
and disaster monitoring.
ISRO
successfully
Launched
GSLV
Mark-III
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched Indias heaviest rocket GSLV
Mark-III-X carrying Crew module Atmospheric Reentry Experiment (CARE) from Sriharikota in Andhra
Pradesh on 18 December 2014. It weighs 630 tonnes. Objective behind the test of the 155 crore rupees
mission was to check the atmospheric stability around four tonne luggage and study the re-entry
characteristics of the crew module.The GSLV Mark-III-X lifted off from the second launch pad of the
Satish Dhawan Space Centre carrying the human crew module CARE and separated the crew module at
an altitude of 126 km for re-entry into the earths atmosphere. The module controlled by 3 parachutes

safely splashed down into the Bay of Bengal off Andaman and Nicobar Islands and was recovered by
coast guards near Indira Point, the southernmost point of India.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Anil
Kumar
Sinha
Takes
Charge
As
new
CBI
director
Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Anil Kumar Sinha (A.K.Sinha) took charge as the new director of
the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 3 December. Sinha, a 1979 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre,
succeeds Ranjit Sinha, a fellow Bihar cadre officer, who retired on 2 December 2014. Sinha is the third
consecutive chief of the agency from Bihar following Ranjit Sinha and A.P. Singh. This is the first time that
the Prime Minister -led panel has selected the CBI director.
Richard
Rahul
Verma
Sworn
In
As
US
Ambassador
To
India
Indian-American Richard Rahul Verma has been sworn in as the US Ambassador to India by Secretary of
State John Kerry on 20 December.46-year-old Verma is the first ever Indian-American to be the top US
diplomat in New Delhi. He will replace Nancy Powell, who resigned in March 2014 after a damaging row
over the treatment of diplomat Devyani Khobragade over visa fraud charges.
Raghubar
Das
Sworn
In
As
First
Non-tribal
CM
of
Jharkhand
BJP leader Raghubar Das on 28 December was sworn-in as 10th Chief Minister of Jharkhand, becoming
the first non-tribal leader to rule a state, which was carved out in 2000 of Bihar, to serve the tribal and
reserved constituencies.Raghubar Das becomes the sixth individual after Babulal Marandi (once), Arjun
Munda (thrice), Shibu Soren (thrice), Madhu Koda (once) and Hemant Soren (once) to be the CM of
Jharkhand.

B)RESIGNS
Haitis
Prime
Minister
Laurent
Lamothe
Resigned
Haitis Prime minister Laurent Lamothe has resigned on 13 December, after violent anti-government
protests over delayed elections. He was appointed as Prime Minister by the President Michel Martelly in
2012.

C)DEATHS
Former
Maharashtra
Chief
Minister
AR
Antulay
Died
Former Union Minister and Maharashtras first Muslim Chief Minister, AR Antulay was died on 2
December in Mumbai. He was 85. Antulay belonged to the Congress party. Abdul Rahman Antulay, widely
known as AR Antulay was 8th and first and only Muslim Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 1980 to 1982.
He also served as the Union Minister of Minority Affairs in the UPA-I government lead by Dr. Manmohan
Singh.

D)VISITORS
Russian
President
Vladimir
Putin
Visited
India
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India on 11-12 December 2014. During his two day visit, Putin
held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to boost cooperation between the two strategic
partners in sectors like defence, energy and trade. After bilateral talks, India and Russia signed 20

agreements in areas including armed forces training, nuclear energy, oil exploration, infrastructure,
medical research. These agreement include Russias help in building at least 12 nuclear reactors and a
plan to manufacture advanced Russian military helicopters and defence spare parts in India.

E)MISCELLANEOUS
India
Sets
New
World
Record
For
Largest
Human
Flag
India on 7 December 2014 set the Guinness Record for largest human formation of a national flag in the
world. To set the record around 50000 volunteers from Chennai gathered at YMCA Grounds to form the
human Tricolour with Chakra, the National Flag of India.The previous world record was in the name of
Sports Club of Lahore, Pakistan wherein 28957 people were involved in forming the national flag of
Pakistan.

PLACES IN NEWS
Worlds
Largest
Cruise
Ship
Terminal
Opened
In
Dubai
The worlds largest cruise ship terminal has opened in Dubai.The third cruise terminal at Port Rashid in
Dubai was on 12 December unveiled by the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan. The Hamdan bin
Mohammed Cruise Terminal is spread over 28,000 square meters and can handle14,000 cruise
passengers a day.

ABBREVIATIONS
1) IIIT - Indian Institute of Information Technology
2) ECIL - Electronics Corporation of India Limited
3) IFCI - Industrial Finance Corporation of India
4) IRDA - Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
5) ITF International Tennis Federation
6) ONGC Oil and Natural Gas Corporation

BOOKS IN NEWS
President Mukherjees Book Titled The Dramatic Decade : The Indira Gandhi Years Released
President Pranab Mukherjees book titled The Dramatic Decade : The Indira Gandhi Years was released
on 11 December. The book tells the story of the 1970s, which saw emergency being imposed and the
beginning of coalition politics in the country. The book published by Rupa & Co. The Dramatic Decade is

the first of a three-part volume; the second one will be on the years between 198188 and the third
volume will be from 1988 to 2012.

COMMITTEES
Subramanian
Committee
On
Leveraging
The
Post
Office
Network
Subramanian Committee on Leveraging the Post Office Network submitted its report to the Union Ministry
of Communications and Information Technology on 4 December. The objective of the Committee was to
transform the Post Office Network in keeping with changing market trends and competition.Committee
has suggested creation of a Postal Bank of India (PBI), which would work independently within the postal
department with banking professionals.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

National
Consumers
Right
Day
was
Observed
On
24
December
National Consumers Right Day was observed across India on 24 December 2014. The day provides an
opportunity to highlight the importance of the consumer movement and the need to make every consumer
more aware of their rights and responsibilities.The Consumer Protection and Action Committee (CPAC)
celebrated the day by distributing complaints forms, information brochures and other consumer rights
literature freely to the public. The CPAC rewarded the 5000 applicant with a sum of Ten rupees who with
their names, addresses provide the names and addresses of the consumer courts in the particular region.
World
AIDS
Day
was
Observed
Across
The
World
On
1
December
World AIDS Day was observed across the world on 1 December 2014. The day is observed to raise
awareness to the Aids pandemic caused by the spread of the HIV infection. The theme is Focus, Partner,
Achieve: An AIDS-free generation to highlight the need to for governments and health officials, NGOs
and individuals to address Aids prevention and treatment.As a part of World AIDS Day, The United
Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) pushed for more investment and access to treatment for children
saying that more infections among children under age 15 need to be averted.UNICEF released data that
AIDS-related deaths are not decreasing in the age group 10-19 and still other groups have experienced
about a 40 percent decline between 2005 and 2013.The idea for World Aids Day was conceived by
James Bunn and Thomas Netter, who are the public information officers for the Global Programme on
Aids at the World Health Organisation in 1987.