Current Affairs e Book Englishmarch 2014

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 1 www.jagranjosh.
com
PREFACE 13
PICK OF THE MONTH 14
UN passed non-binding resolution de-recognising Russian annexation of Crimea 14

Crimea Crisis: Timeline 15
Supreme Court directed Centre not to make Aadhaar mandatory for citizens 24
12 Years A Slave won Annual Academy Oscar Awards 2014 for best picture 25
Khushwant Singh, the renowned author and journalist died 26
Aditya Puri Panel on Credit Information submitted its report to RBI 28
New Molecule HSP90 with potential to kill malaria parasite discovered 29
FIH introduced 4-quarter format in Hockey 30
7 million died in 2012 due to Air pollution: WHO 31
Chinese Insurance Company Ping An Insurance offered Smog Insurance 32
UNHRC passed a changed draft resolution on Sri Lanka 34
Third Nuclear Security Summit 2014 held in The Hague 36
WHO certified India as Polio Free country 37
Lok Sabha elections to be held from 7 April 2014 in 9-phases 40
RBI extended the timeline for full implementation of Basel III norms by 2019 42
Committee set up to assist banking sector to apply Basel III norms 43
Assam Government proposed trimming of Rhinos horn to prevent poaching 44
SEBI to release FATCA compliance norms in the fiscal year 2014-15 45
An artificial heart that beats in animals developed 45
Facebook decided to acquire virtual reality technology firm Oculus VR 47
IPL 2014 to be held in UAE, Bangladesh and India 47
Punjab Cabinet approved the Backward Status for Jats community 48
Govind Mishra, the Hindi writer selected for Saraswati Samman 2013 49
INTERNATIONAL 50
Deny access to websites infringing copyright: EU court to ISPs 50
Current Affairs eBook March 2014 2 www.jagranjosh.com

President Barack Obama announced NSA reform plans 51
Japan signed an agreement to hand over nuclear material to the US 51
529 supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi sentenced to death 52
Israeli diplomats launched indefinite strike over pay dispute 52
2400 km march over the demand to cancel Myitsone dam in Myanmar 53
Five Indian languages reinstated as official subjects in South African schools 53
Half of Syria’s chemical stockpile removed: OPCW 54
Libyan Prime Minister sacked by the Parliament after tanker escaped rebel-held port 56
UNSC voted on a resolution condemning illegal Libyan oil export 56
Thailand announced to lift State of Emergency 57
UNSC extended mandate of UNAMA till March 2015 58
Britain handed over two military bases to Afghan troops in Helmand province 58
European Parliament passed a law to introduce a Universal Mobile Device Charger 59
Syrian Parliament approved new Election Law 60
India and United States Energy Dialogue held in New Delhi 61
Supreme Court of Maldives sacked Election Commissioner Fuwad Thowfeek 62
Michelle Bachelet sworn-in as President of Chile for second term 63
China tested a domestically produced anti-smog drone 63
Jordan and Egypt signed MOU with Iraq for the Natural Gas 64
India pledged to provide 4500 crore rupees Assistance Package to Bhutan 65
Saudi Arabia declared Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organisation 65
China announced the extension of Qinghai-Tibet railway line 66
National Security Advisor-level meet on Maritime Security Cooperation held in New Delhi 67
China announced biggest hike of 12.2 percent in defence budget in last three years 68
Third BIMSTEC summit 2014 held in Myanmar 69
Rail link between Kilinochchi to Palai inaugurated in Sri Lanka 71
India and Iran agreed to take a decision on Chabahar Port 72
WORLD DAIRY 73

NATIONAL 80
Supreme Court seeks response from Centre on selection process of Lokpal 80

Supreme Court ordered sacking of incumbent BCCI chief N Srinivasan 82
SC uphold the age of juvenile at 18 years 83
Supreme Court directed all States and UTs to implement Manual Scavengers Act 84
EC guidelines on ex-gratia for kin of poll officials killed in line of duty 85
2.3% of tested drugs found to be of sub-standard nature: DGCI 85
Nagaland and Assam became first two states to get Plastic Photo Identity Card 86
DoT issued new guidelines to tackle the threats of Cyber attack 87
SC directed Law Commission to look into issue of hate speeches 88
Election Commission set up multi agency grid to curb Black Money 89
Complete trial in criminal cases involving lawmakers within one year: SC to Lower Courts 90
Medical Visa not required in cases of Surrogacy for OCIs & PIOs 90
New Guidelines on medical care to treat rape victims issued 93
Assembly polls to be held in Andhra, Odisha and Sikkim simultaneously with Lok Sabha polls 94
Union Cabinet approved a new rail coach manufacturing unit in Kolar 95
INDIA DAIRY 96
ECONOMY 103
President re-promulgated SEBI Ordinance 2013 for third time 103

BHEL signed contract of 125crore rupees of hydro power in Uttarakhand 104
Spices export of India increased 41 percent during April to December 2013 105
EPFO announced to provide Universal Account Number from October 2014 105
Bank of India launched Instant Money Transfer Scheme 106
Government of India divested its 9 percent stake in Axis Bank 108
FDI inflow grew in January 2014 by 1.5 percent: DIPP 108
RBI issued notice to banks concerning discontinuation of Windows XP 109
SEBI issued new norms to ease KYC details for investors 110
IOC sold 10% government stake to OIL and ONGC 110

RBI hiked trade related remittance from 2 to 5 lakh rupees per transaction 111
RBI extended 80:20 scheme to import gold to five private banks 111
CPSE-ETF new fund offer launched 112
Union Finance Ministry and SEBI finalized the norms for setting up CPSE-ETF 112
Union Government announced to build 200 low cost airports 113
India emerged as the largest non oil trading partner for Dubai in 2013-14 114
India’s exports contracted 3.67 percent to 25.7 billion dollar in February 2014 115
Indian Revenue Department tightened baggage rules to curb illegal Gold Import 115
Current Account Deficit declined to 0.9 percent of GDP in Quarter 3 of 2013-14 117
Interest rate on Post Office Fixed deposits hiked by 0.2% 118
Workdays for tribals under MNREGA raised from 100 to 150 119
ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT 121
ICJ ordered the Japanese Government to stop its Whaling Programme Jarpa II 121
IPCC released report titled Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability 123
GEAC revalidated 10-GM crops for field trails 125
Paris imposed a partial car ban to combat pollution 126
Panasonic announced pollution compensation for China workers 127
Nepal planned to lease Himalayan peaks to Private companies to boost tourism 127
Union MoEF accepted the Kerala Governments recommendations on ESA 128
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 129
Ambar Srivastava of IIT-Delhi developed TrueHb Hemometer to test haemoglobin 129

CERT-In detected Smartphone Virus Dendroid 130
Ebola Virus detected in Guinea 131
Andrew Marchese developed a Robot that can swim like fish 132
TERI developed cloud based open-source Web-GSI tool 133
New class of Antibiotics Oxadiazoles discovered 134
HR 5171 A, the largest ever yellow hypergiant star discovered 134

Indian-American engineer Abraham Pannikottu announced to develop Zero Pressure tyres for US
military 135
Indian-American Scientist Anil Jain developed First 3D model of human fingerprint called Phantom
138
Scientists to rebuild ear and nose with cartilage derived from Stem cells 138
CORPORATE 140
CCI imposed a fine of 1 crore rupees on Google 140

Tata Teleservices launched Wi-Fi business in Chennai 141
IBM unveiled SMAC solutions for telecom operators 141
GE Healthcare and CTSI announced to set up 25 cancer detection and treatment centres in India
142
CEO of Marico Saugata Gupta promoted as Managing Director 143
TCPSL launched white Label Automated Teller Machines 144
SEBI inaugurated its local office at Ranchi, Jharkhand 144
e-Commerce firm ibiboGroup acquired Bangalore-based bus tracking service YourBus 145
Indian Oil announced to build 30000 crore rupees refinery at Mundra in Gujarat 146
NTPC approved 14366-crore rupees investment for Jharkhand plant 146
CCI imposed Penalty of 18.38 Crore on Bengal Chemist and Druggist Association 147
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation sued 16 world largest banks 148
CBI to probe into ICICI Lombard alleged fraud in Government Schemes 148
Spice jet and Boeing signed a deal worth 4.4 billion dollar 149
SBI Life to appeal against the order of IRDA to refund 275 crore rupees 149
Tech Mahindra and Alstom Transport announced to set up a global development centre 150
Airbus launched subsidiary Airbus India 151
Tata Motors to set up assembly units in Southeast Asia and Africa 152
New India Assurance announced Asha Kiran a health insurance cover for girl child 153
Tom Albanese appointed as CEO of Vedanta Resources 153
Bharti Airtel and Etisalat signed a pact to set up regional network infrastructure 154
Spicejet appointed R. Neelakantan new CFO 154

SPORTS 156
Viswanathan Anand won the Candidates Chess Tournament in Khanty Mansiysk 156
Djokovic defeated Nadal to win fourth Miami Masters crown 157
Lewis Hamilton Won Malaysian Grand Prix 157
Simon Santoso, Indonesian Shuttler won Malaysia Grand Prix gold 158
Heena Sidhu won silver medal in 10m Air Pistol Women final of ISSF World Cup 158
West Zone won cricket’s Deodhar Trophy 2014 159
India won 3rd South Asian Handball Championship title 160
Rusi Dinshaw, Pakistan’s only Parsi cricketer died 161
RSPB won senior women hockey National Title 161
Stuart Oliver won 1st-ever Indian truck-racing championship 162
Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic lost the shortest match in 28 minutes and 20 seconds 164
Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai won BNP Paribas Open 2014 165
Novak Djokovic won Indian Wells final by defeating Roger Federer 165
Sachin Tendulkar voted Cricketer of the Generation 166
Karnataka won the Vijay Hazare Cricket Trophy 2013-14 167
Asian Grand Prix Archery Championship: Indian archers won 2 gold & silver in team events 167
Heena Sidhu and Chain Singh won Gold at 7th Asian Air Gun Championship 168
Virat Kohli reclaimed number one position on ICC ODI batsmen rankings 169
Mizoram won 68th Santosh Trophy of football by defeating Railways 170
Sri Lanka won Asia Cup 2014 171
Ragala Venkat Rahul won 2 Gold and 1 Silver at 16th Asian Youth Weightlifting Championships
171
Australia replaced India in second position in ICC Test Team rankings 172
Tamil Nadu and Railways won Federation Cup 2014 173
Sports Minister inaugurated National Cycling Academy in New Delhi 173
64th National Basketball Championship concluded 174
Hockey India accorded status of National Sports Federation 174
Graeme Smith announced retirement from cricket 175
Arvind Bhat won the German Open Grand Prix title 175

Hockey India to be the sole body for the promotion of Hockey 176
Roger Federer won Dubai tennis championship 176
South Africa won ICC under 19 World Cup 2014 177
STATE 179
SMS based service “Polling at your fingertips” launched in Shillong 179

Jammu and Kashmir became first state to show No Smoking Area in elections booths 180
Uttrakhand Government ordered deployment of SDRF on Char Dham route 180
Gurgaon has the highest first time voters in Haryana 181
Chhattisgarh Government ordered high-level inquiry in Sukma Maoist attack 182
Hailstorm in Maharashtra damaged Rabi crops worth 5000 crore rupees 182
NDMC launched Stri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana 183
Assam became the first state to observe Child Protection Day 183
National Food Security Act came into force in Madhya Pradesh 184
Reorganisation Committee constituted in Andhra to ensure smooth bifurcation of the state 185
HC ordered Delhi Police to set up unit to prevent racial profiling 185
NEWS CAPSULE 187
Person in news 187
SC commuted Bhullar’s death sentence to life imprisonment 187

Japan to start retrial of Longest serving death row inmate Iwao Hakamada 188
Arjun Kapoor named brand Ambassador of Earth Hour 2014 189
Person Appointed 190
Saudi King appointed half-brother Moqren as next heir to throne 190

Sunil Gavaskar appointed as Interim President of BCCI 190
Jens Stoltenberg appointed as Secretary General of NATO 191
General Sedki Sobhi sworn-in as Defence Minister and Army Chief of Egypt 192
Rajiv Takru appointed as the new Revenue Secretary 192
Varun Berry appointed as Managing Director of Britannia Industries 193

Aditi Khanna became first women President of Indian Journalist’s Association 194
Rakesh Sethi appointed as CMD of Allahabad Bank 194
Soma Mondal appointed first Women director of NALCO 195
FPSB appointed former SC Judge Srikrishna as its Chairman 195
Avaya appointed Priyadarshi Mohapatra as Managing Director for India and SAARC 196
Sheila Dikshit appointed as the new Governor of Kerala 197
Places in News 198
Bhavani Island in A.P. developed as new adventure sports 198

Malaysia Airlines MH370 disappeared in the South China Sea 198
Pro-Russian forces seized Ukraine’s Navy headquarters in Sevastopol 198
summit confrence 199
3rd Nuclear Security Summit 2014 199
Person Resigned 200
Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi resigned as Army Chief of Egypt to run for Presidential Elections 200
Managing Director of Britannia Industries Vinita Bali announced to retire 200
Acting CEO and CFO of Jet Airways Ravishankar Gopalakrishnan resigned 201
Bishop Franz-Peter Terbartz-van Elst of Germany resigned 201
KC Chakrabarty, Deputy Governor of RBI resigned before end of term 201
GK Pillai resigned as Chairman of MCX-SX 202
Nandan Nilekani resigned as chairman of UIDAI 202
CFO of Apple Inc. Peter Oppenheimer announced retirement 203
Person Died 204
Nanda, the Veteran actress died in Mumbai 204

Adolfo Suarez, the first elected Prime Minister of Spain, died 204
Former Brazilian international footballer Hilderaldo Luiz Bellini died 205
Former Sierra Leone President, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah died 206

Joe McGinniss, author of Fatal Vision died 206
Veteran Actress, Sheila MacRae died at 92 206
Awards | Honours 208
Zubin Mehta won special jury award of Times Now NRI Awards 2014 208
Indian-Origin student Gopal Rao won UK Twitter Prize 209
Shigeru Ban, Japanese architect won the Pritzker Architecture Prize 2014 209
President conferred Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards 210
Malala and Mishab-ul-Haq conferred with Pakistan Civil Awards on Pakistan Day 211
Physicist Rajesh Gopakumar selected for G D Birla Award 2013 211
Indian Journalist Shubranshu Choudhary won Google Digital Activism Award 2014 212
Ekhon Nedekha Nadir Xipaare won audience choice award in North Carolina film festival 213
Gyan Correa bagged the Gollapudi Srinivas National Award 2013 213
Tomas Halik won Templeton Prize 2014 214
President presented the Standard and Colours Award 214
President Conferred Stree Shakti Puruskar 2013 215
Indian Writer Pankaj Mishra won Windham Campbell Literature Prize 2014 217
Indian acid attack victim, Laxmi won International Women of Courage Award 218
Chandi Prasad Bhatt won Gandhi Peace Prize for 2013 219
Abbreviations | Terms 221
IRV 2020 to protect Vulnerable Rhinos 221

Hongkonger added into Oxford English Dictionary 221
PEACE-Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy 222
Report | Survey 224
Divide between the rich and poor in UK is Widening: Oxfam Research Report 224
Amnesty International report on death penalty worldwide released 225
Sharp rise in asylum industrialised countries: UNHCR report Asylum Trends 2013 226
Wipro and Tata Power among world’s most ethical firms 227

India is the world’s largest arms importer: SIPRI 228
FICCI-KPMG report on Indian Civil Aviation released 229
Annual Health Survey released 230
Mumbai least expensive city for expatriates: EIU Report 232
World Economic Forum released Young Global Leaders 2014 list 233
Malaysian Airlines plane with 239 aboard disappeared on South China Sea 234
Accident | Incident 234
C-130J Super Hercules aircraft of IAF crashed in Rajasthan: 5 killed on board 235
Defence | Security 236
Indo-Nepal joint military exercise started at Sailahandi 236
Books & Author 237
The book on Narendra Modi written by Andy Marino published 237

The book titled Lal Bahadur Shastri: Lessons in Leadership written by Pavan Choudary released
237
Book titled The Wrong Enemy revealed facts about 2008 Indian embassy attack in Kabul 238
Rationalised Roman for Kashmiri written by Dr. R L Bhat released 238
The Sahara Testaments written by Tade Ipadeola 239
Vice President released book entitled Akbar, The Aesthete 239
Exhibition | Fare 241
Rare Indian Artefacts to be auctioned in New York 241

Festival of India organised in Vietnam 241
Art | Culture 242
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag screened at seventh Asian Film Festival 2014 in Saudi Arabia 242
India nominated Rani-ki-Vav and GHNP for UNESCO’s World Heritage Site Status 242

Science | Space 244
Astronomers discovered first-ever miniature planet with two rings 244
Day | Week | Year 245
Earth Hour observed across the world 245

World Water Day observed across the World 246
World Poetry Day observed across the world 246
UN observed International Day of Forest 247
World Sparrow Day observed across the world 248
World Kidney Day observed across the World 248
International Women Day observed across the world 249
World Dentist Day observed across the World 250
Miscellaneous 251
University of Chicago opened an academic centre in Connaught Place, Delhi 251

Vandana Foundation launched AQUATM in Mumbai 251
Big Hoss, World Largest TV unveiled 252
UK decided to honour the Indian heroes of World War I 252
National Campaign titled U & Me Against Dengue launched 253
World Longest aircraft Airlander unveiled in Britain 254
Kush Sharma, Indian-American student won spelling bee 255
One Liner 256
Descriptive Questions 260

PREFACE
The Current Affairs March 2014 eBook covers the current events that happened in the month of
December. Current Affairs is a crucial component of any competitive exams including IAS|PCS, SSC,
Banking, MBA. The lack of preparation for current affairs by the aspirants and candidates often is a
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for the month of March 2014.
The March 2014 eBook is divided into different section keeping in mind the need of various exams.
The sections covered namely are International, National, Economy, Ecology and Environment,
Science & Technology, Corporate, Sports, States, and News Capsule. Every news item in each
section is arranged date wise with the most recent news being covered first and so on. Although
there might be some deviations but that is solely to give priority to the most important current affairs
in each section.
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a way that it remains in the minds of readers for a longer duration. Wherever necessary each news
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PICK OF THE MONTH
UN passed non-binding resolution de-recognising Russian an-

nexation of Crimea
The UN General Assembly on 27 March 2014

passed the non-binding resolution de-
recognising annexation of Crimean peninsula
by Russia from Ukraine. This resolution was
supported by 110 countries, opposed by 11
and abstained by 58 (including India) in the
193-nation UN general assembly.
Russia has described this resolution as

counterproductive and the Russian Foreign
Ministry has termed the resolution as an effort
to complicate the internal political crisis of
Ukraine.
Apart from this in another incident, the US

President Barack Obama has urged Russia to stop intimidating Ukraine and reduce number of
troops on its border area. This action of US President came following the Russian action, in which
it had amassed a forced of thousands of troops (around 30000 troops) close to the eastern frontier
of Ukraine.
Earlier, Russia claimed that the troops are there for military exercises. But, similar steps were

practiced by the yesteryear Russian leaders Crimea Crisis: Timeline
during the Cold War.
Non-Binding documents March 2014

The non-binding document is also known as • 27 March: UN passed non-binding
soft law and is composed of declarations,
resolution de-recognising Russian
recommendations and resolutions. These are
provided, as a rule and impose moral obligations annexation of Crimea
on States.
• 26 March: International Monetary
Resolutions are a formal expression of opinion Fund (IMF) agrees to provide 18
by a legislative body or a public meeting and
billion dollars loan to Ukraine to build
are generally made by the United Nations
General Assembly or the General Conference its economy
of UNESCO. These are therefore termed as an
• 21 March: Ukraine signs Association
expression of opinion of the Member States of
these Organisations. Agreement with European Union
In international law - and in human rights law - • 20 March: EU leaders gathered

there are different standard-setting instruments in Brussels condemn Russia’s
and are broadly divided into two categories and
annexation of Crimea and extend
includes
the list of individuals targeted for
• Binding instruments, commonly known as
sanctions.
hard law (composed of Treaties, confers
legal obligations to States Parties to these • 19 March: pro-Russian forces seized
instruments)
two naval bases and detained the
• Non-binding documents, also known as soft Ukrainian navy chief in an unknown
law
location. Ukraine decides to leave
the Moscow-led Commonwealth of
IMF agreed to provide 18 billion dollar
Independent States (CIS) alliance.
loan to Ukraine
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed on • 18 March: Russian President Vladimir
27 March 2014 to provide loan to Ukraine worth Putin signs the Accession Agreement
18 billion dollars for next two years. to absorb Crimea peninsula into the
Under the IMF deal Ukraine will have to cut the Russian Federation.
budget deficit, raise taxes, shift to a flexible
exchange rate and increase retail energy tariffs • 17 March: The EU and US impose
toward their full cost. travel bans and asset freezes on
several officials from Russia and

The Ukrainian Parliament needs to pass a set of Ukraine over the Crimea referendum.
reforms to accept the package of IMF. Then IMF
board will revive the deal in April 2014. It may also • 16 March: Official results from
provide an opportunity to receive the loans from Crimea’s secession referendum say
United States and the European Union which 97% of voters back a proposal to join
brings in total 27 billion dollars for two years.
Russia.
Due to financial crisis in Ukraine, the IMF
package will have significant impact on the • 15 March: Moscow vetoes a draft
Ukrainian economy. For instance, inflation will UN resolution criticising Crimea’s
increase up to 14 percent on account of rise in secession referendum in Crimea.
the household gas prices by 50 percent to meet
the full cost recovery condition from May 2014 • 13 March: Ukraine’s parliament votes
announced by the Ukraine government. Besides, to create a 6000-strong National
Income tax rates would rise from 15 to17 percent.
The government estimated that it needs about
Guard to defend the country.
35 billion over two years to recover from this
• 11 March: The European Commission
economic crisis.
offers Ukraine trade incentives worth
Russia suspended from Group of 8 coun- nearly 500 million euros.
tries (G-8)
• 7 March: Ukraine sends just one
All the seven members of G-8 group on 24 March
athlete to the opening ceremony of the
2014 decided to suspend Russia from the group.
The move to suspend Russia’s membership in the Paralympic Games in Sochi. Mykhaylo
G8 came on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Tkachenko was the only Ukrainian
Summit at The Hague. athlete to attend the opening of the
The suspension is to condemn Russia’s attempt Sochi Paralympics
to annex Crimea in contravention of international
law and specific international obligations. • 6 March: Crimea’s parliament votes
to join Russia and schedules a
The members of G-8 also announced to boycott
the meeting of G-8 which was supposed to be
referendum for 16 March.
held at Sochi in June 2014. Seven countries have
• 3 March: Black Monday on Russian
decided to shift the planned summit to Brussels.
Brussels is the headquarters of NATO and stock markets as reports suggest
European Union. Russia’s military had issued a deadline
Western countries had further threatened Russia

for Ukrainian forces in Crimea to
for tougher sanctions over the annexation of surrender.
Crimea. All these declarations are called as Hague
Declaration. Declaration is jointly signed by the • 1 March: Russia’s parliament approves

seven members of the group i.e US, Canada, Vladimir Putin’s request to use force in
France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Britain. Ukraine to protect Russian interests.
Barack Obama tells Mr Putin to pull
About G-8 forces back to bases.
The forum originated with a 1975 summit hosted
by France that brought together representatives
February 2014
of six governments: France, West Germany,
Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United • 27-28 February: Pro-Russian gunmen
States.
seize key buildings in the Crimean
It became G-7 with the addition of Canada in capital, Simferopol.
1976. Russia was first invited to join in 1998 and
the group was named as G-8. • 23-26 February: Parliament names
speaker Olexander Turchynov as
Ukraine signed the Association Agree- interim president. Arseniy Yatsenyuk
ment with EU nominated prime minister. The elite
Ukraine signed the long-awaited Association Berkut police unit, blamed for deaths
Agreement with the European Union (EU) in
of protesters, is disbanded.
Brussels on 21 March 2014. The Agreement was
signed between Ukrainian Interim Prime Minister • 2 February: President Yanukovych
Arseny Yatseniuk, EU President Herman Van
disappears; Protesters take control of
Rompuy on the sidelines of an EU summit in
Brussels. presidential administration buildings;
Parliament votes to remove president
The Association Agreement tries to establish
more closer political and economic cooperation from power with elections set for 25
between the EU and Ukraine. May; Yulia Tymoshenko freed from jail
Also, the European Commission agreed to extend • 21 February: President Yanukovych

nearly 500 million euros worth of trade benefits
signs compromise deal with
to Ukraine, removing customs duties on a wide
range of agricultural goods, textiles and other opposition leaders.
imports.
• 20 February: Kiev sees its worst day
However, agreement concerning free trade will of violence for almost 70 years. At
only be signed once presidential elections are
least 88 people are killed in 48 hours.
over and a new government is formed. Ukraine
will be holding the presidential elections on 25
May 2014. January 2014
The signing of the agreement coincided with
• 28-29 January: Prime Minister Mykola

the Russian President Vladimir Putin signing Azarov resigns and parliament annuls
the Accession Agreement with Crimea after the the anti-protest law.
Russian Parliament passed it on 21 March 2014.
• 16-23 January: Parliament passes
Analysis restrictive anti-protest laws.
The Association Agreement was proposed by the

EU to Ukraine in November 2013. However, it was December 2013
rejected by the then Ukrainian President Viktor
Yanukovich. The rejection resulted into mass • 17 December: Vladimir Putin throws
protests in Ukraine leading to Yanukovich taking President Yanukovych an economic
exile in Russia and Russia annexing Crimea in lifeline, agreeing to buy 15 billion
March 2014. The occupation drew criticisms and
dollars of Ukrainian debt and reduce
sanctions on Russia from the EU and US.
the price of Russian gas supplies by
Although the Assoication Agreement has far more
about a third.
potential to strengthen the shattered economy of
Ukraine. However, it poses certain challenges • Early December: Protesters occupy
that need to be tackled by Ukraine. These include
Kiev city hall and Independence
among others
Square in dramatic style, turning it
into a tent city.
• Risk of inviting retaliatory steps from Russia.
Russia already has imposed stricter customs
checks on trade with Ukraine. November 2013
• Changes to the rule of law and justice. • Late November: Protests gather
• Adopting business and environmental pace, as 100000 people attend a
standards. demonstration in Kiev, the largest in
Ukraine since the Orange Revolution.
To meet these challenges Ukraine will have to put • 21 November: President Yanukovych’s
in hard work and long-term investment. cabinet abandons an agreement on
closer trade ties with EU, instead
Ukraine decided to withdraw soldiers seeking closer co-operation with
and their families from Crimea
Russia
Andriy Parubiy, the Security Chief of Keiv on 19
March 2014 announced that Ukraine has planned
to withdraw its soldiers and their families from
Crimea. They will be shifted to the mainland of

Ukraine quickly and efficiently. 2010
On the other hand, the pro-Russian forces have • Viktor Yanukovych declared winner in
seized two naval bases in Crimea that includes
presidential election in February 2010,
the Ukraine’s Navy headquarter in Crimean
capital, Sevastopol. It has also detained the judged free and fair by observers.
Serhiy Hayduk, the Navy Chief of the country. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko,
Following these incidents, Ukraine has decided to arrested for abuse of powers jailed in
leave Moscow led Commonwealth of Independent October 2011.
states alliance and will also look forward for
military exercises with the UK and the US.
2004
Commonwealth of Independent states
The Commonwealth of Independent States is also • December: Opposition candidate
known as the Russian Commonwealth, which Viktor Yushchenko tops poll in
was formed during the disintegration of Soviet election re-run. Rival candidate Viktor
Union. This is a regional organization in which the
Yanukovych challenges result but
participating countries are former Soviet Repub-
lics. Some of the members of the alliance had es- resigns as prime minister.
tablished the Eurasian Economic Community to
create a fully fledged common market.
• November: Orange Revolution begins
after reports of widespread vote-rigging
Official members of the Commonwealth of
in presidential election nominally won
Independent states alliance since December 1991
are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, by pro-Russian candidate Viktor
Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Yanukovych. Opposition candidate
and Uzbekistan. The participation nation is Viktor Yushchenko leads mass street
Turkmenistan. Ukraine following its new decision
protests and civil disobedience.
became the second country to withdraw from
membership after Georgia. Supreme Court annuls result of poll.
Comment: These steps by Russia and the pro-

Russian forces can be termed as the crisis in
Crimea and looked forward as the threat to the 1991
stability and security of European Union after the
Cold War. • August: Ukrainian parliament declares
independence from USSR following
All these incidents occurred following the signing
of the treaty between Moscow and Crimean
attempted coup in Moscow. In a
leaders laying the provisions of absorption of nationwide referendum in December,
the Crimean Peninsula region into Russia. This 90% vote for independence.
signing of the treaty for annexation of Crimea is a

follow up of the event of voting on the referendum of the peninsula region on 16 March 2014, after
the replacement of the pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych by Pro-West interim authorities.
Russia signed Accession Agreement with Crimea

The Russian Federation signed an agreement with Crimea for accession of Crimea in the Russian
Federation on 18 March 2014 in Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. The agreement also included a treaty
on forming new constituent entities within Russian federation.
The agreement was signed by the Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of the Republic
of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov and Chairman of the Coordinating Council for the Establishment of
the Sevastopol Municipal Administration Alexei Chaly and Chairman of the State council of the
Republic of Crimea, Vladimir Konstantinov.
The agreement will temporarily apply from the date of signing of the agreement and will come in
force once it is approved by the constitutional court and ratified by the Parliament of Russia.
Main Provisions of the Agreement

• It consists of 10 articles and a preamble.
• These articles contains specific provisions in relation to the accession of the Crimea to the
Russia, formation of new Russian entities and their territories, citizenship, government bodies
etc.
• It provides for formation of two new constituent entities within Russian federation- the Republic
of Crimea and the Federal city of Sevastopol.
• A transitional period will come into effect from the day, Crimea accedes to the Russian Federation
and new entities are formed till 1 January 2015 for settling issues of integrating the new federal
constituent entities into Russian systems.
• Issues relating to conscription and military service in Crimea and Sevastopol will also be resolved
during transition period.
• Legislative and other regulatory legal acts of the Russian federation will apply on the territories
of the Crimea, Federal city of Sevastopol unless otherwise specified by the Russian legislation.
• Ukrainian citizens and non citizens permanently living in Crimea and Sevastopol will automatically
be recognized as Russian unless they express their wish to maintain their current citizenship
within a month.
• Regulatory legal acts of Crimea and the Federal City of Sevastopol that contradict the Constitution
of the Russian Federation shall not be executed.
• Crimea will have Crimean Tatar, Russian and Ukrainian as official languages.

• Elections to the government bodies of Crimea and Sevastopol shall be conducted on 13
September 2015. Till then, current Parliament of Crimea and the Council of Ministers of Crimea
along with the Legislative Assembly of the city of Sevastopol will continue their work.
• The delimitation of the maritime boundary in the Black Sea and in the Sea of Azov will be based
on the norms and principles of international law and Russia’s international agreements.
• Border of the Republic of the Crimea adjacent to the Ukraine shall be deemed as the border of
the Russian Federation.
• Crimea to officially introduce the Ruble as a second currency along with the Ukrainian Hryvna,
which will remain an official currency until January 1, 2016.
The Accession Agreement is based on a nationwide referendum which was conducted on 16 March
2014 in the autonomous Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. According to the Crimean officials,
about 97% of the Crimea’s residents voted in favour of splitting from Ukraine and rejoining Russia.
Russian President signed decree recognising Crimea as Sovereign State

Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia on 17 March 2014 signed a decree that recognised Crimea
as a sovereign state. This signing of the decree has paved a way for absorption of Crimea into
Russia.
The signed decree said that Russia has taken into account the referendum of 16 March 2014 of
Crimea in which about 97 percent of the voters backed breaking away from Ukraine. Crimean
residents voted in support of seceding, seeking to join Russia.
The signing of the decree came after the Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine on 17 March 2014 declared
itself as an independent state. On the other hand, the deputy Prime Minister of Crimea has
announced that the region has set up a new central bank, which is expecting to get 30 million US
dollars in support from Russia.
International stands on the issue of referendum of Crimea

The referendum of Crimea has been rejected by the European Union and the US. They said this
referendum as violation of both Ukrainian sovereignty and international norms and imposed
sanctions on 21 officials from Russia and Ukraine. Sanction has also been imposed on Viktor
Yanukovych, the ousted President of Ukraine.
Apart from these sanctions on the 21 people, European Union has also announced travel ban of
those 21 people, who are linked to unrest in Crimea along with freezing of their assets.
Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of UN has said that the referendum will exacerbate the situation
in Ukraine. He has urged the parties concerned to intensify efforts and engage constructively toward

a peaceful solution.
Background
Earlier, the pro-Russian gunmen in February 2014 took over Crimea, which was followed after
President Viktor Yanukovych fled to Russia following months of street protests. Since 1954, Crimea
has been a part of Ukraine of which maximum population are ethnic Russian.
Comment and Analysis

This decree of Russia that recognises Crimea as an independent state has paved the worst East-
West crisis since the Cold War. This is the first time, when the US and Russia have reached at a
verge of collision course, which is the first, since the end of the cold war (about two decades ago).
Since cold war end, the two nations never reached so close of conflict.
On the other hand, it seems that Russia and Europe will start a new cold war which will last for many
years as the Europe has warned Russia against its destabilizing steps against eastern Ukraine.
European Commission announced loan worth 11 billion euro to Ukraine

The European Commission announced 11 billion euro package of
loans and grants for Ukraine on 12 March 2014. The assistance is
aimed at putting the shattered economy of Ukraine back on its
feet.
The assistance will be discussed by European Union leaders at a

summit in Brussels on 13 March 2014, and requires widespread
reforms by the new Ukrainian government and the signing of a
deal between Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund.
The assistance includes 1.6 billion euros in direct loans and 1.4 billion euros in grants, of which 600
million euros can be disbursed over the next two years.
After two years, 3 billion euros will be released from the European Investment Bank between 2014-
2016 and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development totaling 5 billion euros.
Other money will be raised by leveraging funds available from the EU’s Neighbourhood Investment
Facility, a fund set up to invest in projects in the EU’s neighboring states.
The EU will offer trade breaks worth 500 million euro (15.12 billion US dollar) for a year as an
immediate symbol of support. EU leaders were ready to sign the political agreement and to bring
forward some parts of trade deal especially tariff cuts.
Earlier, on 11 March 2014, the United States also announced worth of 1 billion US dollar as loan to

Ukraine and offered technical assistance in some areas.
Crimea Voted to become a part of the Russian Federation
Authorities in Crimea voted to accelerate secession from Ukraine and unanimously backed a law
that declared the territory to be part of the Russian Federation on 6 March 2014.
The cabinet had decided to take the decision by referendum in 10 days. MPs of Crimea had voted
by 78 votes to nil for the territory to leave Ukraine.
A referendum on more autonomy for the region due on 30 March 2014 was brought forward to 16
March 2014. Now the residents had the option to unify the Black Sea peninsula with Russia.
After the law was initiated, the Crimean government asserted that all Ukrainian troops on the
territory of Crimea should either leave or be treated as occupiers. Crimea is planning to introduce
the rouble and readopt Russian state symbols.
Russia has welcomed the decision of the Crimean Government and Russian Parliament DUMA had
begun work on a bill that would make it easier for Russia to join new territories.
While on the other hand, the Ukrainian government had started the procedures to dismiss Crimea’s
assembly and to block the referendum. They are claiming the move as completely illegal and anti-
constitutional.
The move was highly criticized by member of European Commission and USA. They opined that
the proposed referendum on the future of Crimea would violate the constitution and international
law.

About Crimea
The Autonomous Republic of Crimea is an autonomous parliamentary republic within Ukraine and
is governed by the Constitution of Crimea in accordance with the laws of Ukraine.
The capital is the city of Simferopol, located in the center of the peninsula. Crimea’s area is 26,200
square kilometers.
Supreme Court directed Centre not to make Aadhaar mandatory

for citizens
The Supreme Court directed the Centre on 24 March 2014 to withdraw

the instruction issued by centre for making Aadhaar card mandatory for
citizens to benefit government services.
A Bench of Justices B S Chauhan and J Chelameswar directed that

if there are any instructions that Aadhaar is mandatory, it should be
withdrawn immediately. The judgement was given in light of Supreme
Court receiving lot of letters which say that Aadhaar card is mandatory
in spite of court orders.
The SC Bench also ruled that biometric or any other data should not be shared with any authorities
unless the accused gives consent in writing.
The Supreme Court ruled this while staying the order of the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court
on sharing of data collected for issuing Aadhaar card to citizens with CBI for solving a rape case.
In the existing case, the CBI had sought the data base, including biometrics of persons from Goa,
so that those could be compared with the ones obtained from the crime scene for the purpose of
investigating rape of a minor girl in a school premises in Vasco.
However, this was challenged by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in the Goa
Bench of Bombay High Court. The High Court in its interim order of 26 February 2014 asked it
to consider sharing biometric data collected from people with CBI in order to help the CBI solve
the case. Furthermore, it directed the Director-General, Central Forensic and Scientific Laboratory
(CFSL), New Delhi, to appoint an expert to ascertain if its data base has the technological capability
for matching the chance fingerprints electronically obtained.
UIDAI challenging the interim order of the High Court filed the petition in Supreme Court. In the
petition, it contended that the order would set a bad precedent and will open the floodgates of similar
requests by various investigative agencies/ police calling for information, including biometrics of
residents, for the purpose of investigation.
It said biometric data cannot be shared without the consent of the resident and as per its current

data-sharing policy and guidelines because the right to privacy is one of the basic human rights
of an individual. Although Right to Privacy is not enshrined in the Constitution of India, however,
it has been expressly recognized as Fundamental Right within the meaning of Article 21 of the
Constitution by the Supreme Court in its various judgement.
12 Years A Slave won Annual Academy Oscar Awards 2014 for

best picture
The 86th Annual Academy Oscar Awards 2014 was announced on 2 March 2014 and the best
picture award was won by 12 Years A Slave of Steve McQueen. The film has portrayed America’s
slave in past. The film is based on the Solomon Northup’s 1853 memoir was hailed for its honest
portrayal of one of the darkest chapters in American history. 12 Years A Slave is the first film
directed by a black filmmaker to win the best picture Oscar award.
Other 2014 Academy Award Winners are

• 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 Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
• Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
• Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jonze, Her
• Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave
• Best Original Song: Let It Go, Frozen
• Best Original Score: Gravity
• Best Production Design: The Great Gatsby
• Best Editing: Gravity
• Best Cinematography: Gravity
• Best Sound Editing: Gravity
• Best Sound Mixing: Gravity
• Best Foreign Language Film: The Great Beauty

• Best Documentary Feature: 20 Feet from Stardom
• Best Documentary Short: The Lady In Number 6: Music Saved My Life
• Best Live Action Short Film: Helium
• Best Visual Effects: Gravity
• Best Animated Feature Film: Frozen
• Best Animated Short Film: Mr Hublot
• Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Dallas Buyers Club
• Best Costume Design: The Great Gatsby
• Academy Honorary Awards (presented on 16 November 2013): Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin,
Piero Tosi
• Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Angelina Jolie
Khushwant Singh, the renowned author and journalist died
Khushwant Singh, the renowned author and

journalist died on 20 March 2014 at the age of
99 at his home in Sujan Singh Park in Delhi. He
also was a lawyer, who turned to be a diplomat
followed by being a writer.
Mr Singh, who was a member of Parliament

from 1980-1986, was famous for his acid wit
and liberal political views. For instance, in his
popular weekly column With Malice Towards
One and All which was syndicated in many
dailies, he spared none and spread ribald cheer.
He wrote this column for Hindustan Times as an
editor during 1980-1983.
He also was a avid writer. His last book The

Good, The Bad and The Ridiculous was written at the age of 98. In his last writings as an author
he has explored 16 famous personalities including former Prime Ministers Jawahar Lal Nehru and
Indira Gandhi, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Krishna Menon, Sanjay Gandhi, Amrita Sher-gil, Begum
Para, MS Golwalkar, Mother Teresa, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Dhirendra Brahmachari, General Tikka Khan,
Phoolan Devi and Bhagat Puran Singh.

About Khushwant Singh
• He was born on 2 February 1915 in Hadali (Pakistan’s Punjab)
• He was the founder-editor of Yojna in 1957
• During 1970s to 1980s, he edited the Illustrated Weekly of India, the Hindustan Times and the
National Herald
Honours and Awards

• 1966, Rockfeller Grant
• 1974, he was awarded with Padma Bhushan but he returned it in 1984 in protest of entrance of
the Indian Army in the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab
• In 2000, as Honest Man of the Year, Sulabh International
• In 2006, Punjab Rattan Award by the Government of Punjab
• In 2007, he received Padma Vibhushan by Government of India
• In 2010, he received Sahitya academy fellowship award by Sahitya academy of India
• In 2012, he received All-India Minorities Forum Annual Fellowship Award by Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Akhilesh Yadav
Important Books Written by Khushwant Singh

• Some of his most successful and accepted books were Train to Pakistan, I Shall Not Hear the
Nightingale and Delhi - A Novel
• The Sunset Club was written by him at the age of 95
• His acclaimed non-fiction books was A History of the Sikhs written in two volumes
• In 2002, he wrote his autobiography, Truth, Love and Little Malice, which was published by Penguin
Books
• His last book was The Good, The Bad and The Ridiculous

Aditya Puri Panel on Credit Information submitted its report to
RBI
A RBI panel headed by Aditya Puri submitted its report on 22

March 2014. The Report is titled Data Format for Furnishing of
Credit Information to Credit Information Companies (CICs).
The committee has made wide ranging recommendations on

issues relating to credit information, such as, increasing its
coverage, format of reports and best practices to be followed by
credit institutions, credit information companies (CICs) and the
Reserve Bank.
Highlights of the Report

• The Committee has suggested to provide customers with a free copy of their Credit Information
Report (CIRs). It would help create awareness about the need to have credit discipline and help
detect identity theft at an early stage.
• The committee also recommended a common Data Quality Index that could assist credit
institutions in determining the gaps in their data and also help move towards improving their
performance over a period of time.
• It was also recommended to use a common data format that includes additional information in
the formats, such as, dispute codes, consumer comments on dispute, details of collateral and a
continuing mechanism for making changes to data formats that could help improve data quality.
• The committee has showed its concern that low usage of credit information by member
institutions and other specified users needs to be addressed. It can be addressed by increasing
the coverage of credit information in terms of membership (all credit institutions should be
members of all CICs) and products and by creating awareness about Credit Information Reports
(CIRs).
• CICs should have a common classification of Credit Scores so that it would be easier to
understand and interpret them.
• CICs may provide a single CIR for a borrower even if there are multiple addresses, using a
unique identification number (PAN/Aadhaar No.).
• CICs may have link with the database of Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction
and Security Interest of India (CERSAI) which has data on mortgages so that CIRs can also
provide information on property mortgages.

New Molecule HSP90 with potential to kill malaria parasite
discovered
A new molecule Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) with potential to kill malaria parasite was discovered
in the second week of March 2014. The new discovery could help in effective treatment of malaria.
The discovery was made by the researchers from the University of Geneva led by Didier Picard.
Process
Team goal was to determine if there was a
difference between the human form and the
parasitic form of HSP90 and can be used for
curative purposes.
Team used sophisticated computerized model

tools to characterize the various tridimensional
conformations of the parasite’s HSP90. They
found another pocket capable of binding inhibitory
substances, completely absent in its human alter
ego.
Team used supercomputer to perform the

screening of virtual library which contains more than a million chemical compounds and selected
the five candidates which fit in the pocket of binding inhibitory substances. Virtual screening uses
computer-based methods to discover new ligands (ions) on the basis of biological structures.
The simulations were conducted to analyse the dynamics of interaction between the HSP90 and
the candidate. This led to the discovery of inhibitors which interact specifically with the Plasmodium
falciparum chaperone.
Later the molecules were tested in vitro in different systems. The biologists demonstrated in
particular the toxicity of those inhibitors on Plasmodium falciparum cultures, in sufficient doses to
kill the parasites without affecting the infected red blood cells.
About HSP90
The Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) plays a central role for several factors involved in the life cycle,
survival and resistance of the pathogen. HSP90 acts as a chaperone which helps other proteins
during both normal and stressful periods.
During high fever HSP90 protects parasitic proteins in the plasmodium. HSP90 also participates in
the maturation of the pathogen in human red blood cells.

About Malaria
• Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite and transmitted by a mosquito. The two parasite
species Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax cause malaria in humans.
• The parasite multiplies inside red blood cells and liver cells and causes, fever, chills, anemia,
vomiting and convulsions. The disease can lead to kidney failure, permanent neurological
damage, coma and death.
• The most severe form of malaria is caused by infection with Plasmodium falciparum and
eradication of this parasite is even more difficult as it becomes resistant to treatments.
FIH introduced 4-quarter format in Hockey
International Hockey Federation (FIH) on 20 March 2014 introduced a new format of 60-minute
game in Hockey, comprising four 15-minute quarters. This format would replace the previous two
35-minute halves of 70-minute. The decision has been taken to broaden the appeal of the game to
broadcasters and fans.
The new rule (format) will be applied to all the continental Olympic qualifying events from 1 September
2014. Therefore, the two halves format of 35-minute each will not be available during the 2016 Rio
Summer Olympics, Champions Trophy and Hockey World League Final. But the format (35-minute
two halves quarters) will applied in the Hockey World Cup to be held in The Hague (the Netherlands)
between 31 May and 15 June 2014.
Highlights of the new format

• Under the new format, 40-second time-out will
be provided when a penalty corner is
awarded and after a goal is scored. The
40-second time-out will give a time for on-
field celebration to the teams. It will also add
time for video replays and analysis for the
televised matches, overall addition of
engagement of fans to the game.
• These additional time-outs for penalty

corners and after goals in the new 60-minute
format will primarily ensure the actual playing
time and will also eliminate the dead time
associated with penalty corner set up while allowing for teams to enjoy their goal celebrations

• After the first and third quarters each team will have a two-minute break with a 10 minute break
at halftime
Previously, this format of the game have been tried and tested in the Euro Hockey League and in
Hockey India League.
In an another development, Hockey India decided on 29 March 2014 to introduce the new format
in its domestic hockey matches from 1 June 2014.
7 million died in 2012 due to Air pollution: WHO
Estimates released by WHO on 25 March 2014 reports that in 2012 around 7 million people died
(1 in 8 persons) as a result of air pollution exposure. In its suggestion it says that reduction of air
pollution could save millions of lives.
This finding of WHO has confirmed that in the present world, air pollution is the world’s largest
single environmental health risk. This data had revealed a link between that the exposure between
the indoor and outdoor air pollution and cardiovascular diseases (strokes and ischaemic heart
disease). It also has linked air pollution with the cancer. The report has also linked air pollution
with development of respiratory diseases like acute respiratory infections and chronic obstructive
pulmonary diseases.
Highlights of the findings of the estimate regionally

Low and middle income
countries in the WHO South-
East Asia and Western Pacific
Regions had the largest air
pollution-related burden in
2012. The estimates say that
indoor air pollution resulted in
deaths of total 3.3 million and
the outdoor air pollution
resulted in 2.6 million deaths.
Specific disease that causes

deaths mainly due to
cardiovascular diseases in

two cases outdoor air-pollution and indoor pollution.
Outdoor air pollution-caused deaths – breakdown by disease:

• 40% – ischaemic heart disease
• 40% – stroke
• 11% – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• 6% - lung cancer
• 3% – acute lower respiratory infections in children
Indoor air pollution-caused deaths – breakdown by disease:

• 34% - stroke
• 26% - ischaemic heart disease
• 22% - COPD
• 12% - acute lower respiratory infections in children
• 6% - lung cancer
These estimates are based on the

• Latest WHO mortality data from 2012
• Evidence of health risks from air pollution exposures
Estimated of the exposure to outdoor air pollution of people in different part of the world was
formulated through a new global data mapping that included satellite data, ground-level monitoring
measurements and data on pollution emissions from key sources as well as modeling of how
pollution drifts in the air.
Chinese Insurance Company Ping An Insurance offered Smog

Insurance
State-run Insurance Company of China, Ping An Insurance announced on 20 March 2014 to offer
Smog Insurance to tourists in six heavily polluted Chinese cities. These cities Beijing, Shanghai,
Guangzhou, Xian, Chengdu and Harbin. For this, the Company has partnered with the online travel
agency Ctrip International.

Main features of the Smog Insurance
• The smog insurance being
offered by the company will pay
the tourists and residents who
are plagued by the smog.
• The payment will be made to

the tourists when the air quality
index (AQI) exceeds set levels
for two days in a row. The
compensation would be offered
on the basis of AQI.
• It would be given to tourists in

Xi’an and Beijing if they suffer two consecutive days of the air pollution index exceeding 200.
The standard is 150 for Harbin and Chengdu and 100 for Guangzhou and Shanghai.
• If pollution exceeds the charts as was happened in 2013 in the northern city of Shijiazhuang for
several days, policy holders can compete for a free trip to the subtropical island of Hainan to
clear their lungs.
• Buyers of smog health insurance will have to pay a premium of 100 yuan(16 US dollars) and
receive medical examinations to check their lung functions when the AQI exceeds 300 for five
consecutive days.
Steps taken in China to tackle air pollution

• On 18 March 2014, the People’s Insurance Company (Group) of China Ltd., the nation’s largest
insurer, also launched an insurance policy to compensate the residents of Beijing made ill by air
pollution with up to 1800 yuan.
• On 17 March 2014, State Council of China pledged to make sure that 60 percent of its cities
meet national pollution standards by 2020.
• In the second week of March 2014, Panasonic offered smog compensation to its workers.
• New devices and air filters have hit markets and certain schools are offering tuitions through the
Internet during hazy days to deal with the problem.
• Chinese premier Li Keqiang has declared a war on pollution in light of lot of foreigners leaving
the country because of heavy air pollution.
• China has already picked seven key regions to launch pilot carbon trading schemes with the
intention of setting up a national market to cut emissions per unit of GDP by 40-45 percent from

2005 levels by 2020.
• In 2013, China promised to cut the pollution released by industry by almost a third by 2017, and
to spend 283 billion US dollars cleaning up Beijing and the surrounding area.
Chinese government assess the level of air pollution through AQI on a scale of 0 to 500. The higher
the value of AQI, the more polluted the air and the greater the health concern. On the chart, 50
represents good air quality with little potential to affect public health and over 300 is well within the
hazardous range.
On the basis of AQI, only three of China’s 74 major cities meet the national standards related to air
pollution levels. These three cities are:
• Haikou, the capital of subtropical Hainan Island
• Zhoushan, on an archipelago south of Shanghai that consists of 1390 islands and 1.1 million
inhabitants
• Lhasa, the capital of Tibet
UNHRC passed a changed draft resolution on Sri Lanka
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a changed draft resolution on Sri Lanka
during the 25th session held in Geneva on 27 March 2014. The resolution seeks to authorize UNHRC
to set up an independent international inquiry in Sri Lanka to probe into human rights violations
during Sri Lankan civil war against LTTE in 2009.
The resolution titled Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka was
adopted by the 47-nation UNHRC with 23 members voting in favour of the resolution, while 12
voted against. 12 members abstained from voting including India.
The changed draft resolution on Sri Lanka was prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights (OHCHR) headed by Navi Pillay and sponsored by the US.
The Highlights of the Changed Draft resolution

• The OHCHR to investigate into the war crimes that took place between the time period 2002 to
2009.
• The resolution demands accountability for the killing of as many as 40000 civilians during the
end of war between Sri Lankan government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE).
• The OHCHR will not probe into the allegations of human rights violations in the post-war period.

That is, no war crimes committed after 2009, when the war ended, will fall within the ambit of
investigation.
• The change also excluded the Indian participation in the pre-2002 period especially during the
Indian peacekeeping Force mission in the late eighties.
• The resolution mandated the OHCHR to investigate human rights abuses and violations in Sri
Lanka including the period covered by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission
(LLRC).
India Stand
Despite voting in favour of previous resolutions against Sri Lanka presented in 2009, 2012 and 2013,
India this time abstained from voting. This is because the resolution seeking to investigate, assess
and monitor human rights violation is intrusive in approach. This intrusive approach undermines
the concept of national sovereignty and is a departure from the constructive international dialogue
needed to address the issue. On the whole resolution will undermine the UNHRC efforts to set up a
universal respect for human rights. Besides, India also wants to focus on the post-war rehabilitation
of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees and the reconstruction of the Northern Province which was destroyed
due to war.
Sri Lanka Stand

Sri Lanka rejected the resolution and appreciated the India’s stand towards the UNHRC resolution.
Sri Lanka decided that their government will continue with its domestic process to address human
rights related issues and not agree to an international process.
Earlier US Sponsored Resolutions against Sri Lanka

In 2009, the resolution against Sri Lanka was passed with 29 votes in favor, 12 against, and 6
abstentions. India voted in favour of the resolution.
In 2012, US sponsored resolution got the support of 24 (including India) out of 47 member states
of UN Human Rights Council, while 15 member-states voted against and eight abstained.
In 2013, the US resolution was supported by 31 including India, 15 against and 1 abstained.
About LLRC
The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) is an inquiry commission appointed
by the President Mahindra Rajapaksa in 2010. It was headed by C R De Silva, the then Attorney
General of Sri Lanka.

The commission investigated the facts and circumstances of failure of the ceasefire agreement in
February 2002 and the conclusion of the war with the defeat of the LTTE in 2009. LLRC admitted
that civilians had been killed accidently by the Sri Lankan military which is contradictory to Sri
Lankan government’s claim of Zero Civilian causalities.
Third Nuclear Security Summit 2014 held in The Hague
The Third Nuclear Security

Summit was held in The Hague,
Netherland from 24 to 25
March 2014. The summit was
attended by 58 World leaders.
At the summit, the leaders
reached an agreement to
prevent terrorists getting their
hands on nuclear material that
could be used to make a
nuclear weapon. This will
further reduce the threat of a nuclear attack.
New agreements which have been reached at the NSS 2014

The new agreements are based on the earlier results of the earlier summits held in Washington
(2010) and Seoul (2012).
• Reducing the amount of dangerous nuclear material (highly enriched uranium and plutonium) in
the world that terrorists could use to make a nuclear weapon.
• Improving the security of radioactive material (including low-enriched uranium) that can be used
to make a dirty bomb.
• Improving the international exchange of information and international cooperation.
• The NSS countries agreed to keep the quantities of nuclear material as low as possible and to
reduce them where possible. Countries that use highly enriched uranium or plutonium as fuel
for power generation will limit the quantity involved as much as they can.
• The agreement also covers other radioactive material, such as low-enriched uranium, cobalt-60,
strontium-90 and caesium-137. These materials have useful applications in hospitals industry,
research and can also be used with ordinary explosives to make a dirty bomb.

Besides above new agreements, an agreement on Strengthening Initiative was also made. The aim
of the initiative is to enhance the global nuclear security structure.
Under the initiative 35 countries agreed to incorporate the guidelines of IAEA in their national
legislation. These guidelines will be binding and also engage IAEA teams to assess the security of
nuclear materials.
These countries have also pledged to allow teams of international experts to evaluate their security
procedures for nuclear material. It guarantees that security will be assessed on the basis of
international standards and ensures the effectiveness of the measures taken.
The 35 countries who have committed themselves to these far-reaching agreements are
Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,
Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, the
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Spain,
Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States of America
and Vietnam.
About NSS summit

The genesis of the Nuclear Security Summit lies in the speech given by the US president Barrack
Obama in Prague, Czech Republic in 2009. In this speech president Obama called for establishment
of an nuclear security architecture so as to prevent the threat of nuclear terrorism.
The first NSS was held in Washington DC in 2010 in order to secure nuclear material and thus
prevent nuclear terrorism. The summit was concerned with making political agreements.
The Second NSS was held in Seoul in 2010 and focused on the progress made on implementing
the first summit agreements. The United States will again host the final summit in 2016.
WHO certified India as Polio Free country
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on 27 March 2014 certified India as a Polio Free country. This
action of WHO made India one of the 11 countries of South-East Region to be free from polio virus.
The official certificate was received by Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Union Health Minister in New Delhi.
The polio was eradicated from the country with the help of technological innovations like indigenous
bivalent polio vaccines, close monitoring of polio programme and adequate domestic financial
resources.
India’s victory over polio disease paved the way for polio-free certification for the South East Asia

region of the WHO. The achievement has also made the South-East Asian Region, fourth WHO
Region for being certified as polio-free. This certification was given by an independent commission
under the WHO certification process. This region is a home for about a quarter of world’s population.
The WHO South East Asia Region has 11 Member States namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and
Timor-Leste.
Last time in 2002, the European Region was certified as the third WHO Region to be certified as
polio-free.
Other regions to be certified as the WHO Polio Free Region are

• Region of the Americas – certified as WHO Region in 1994
• Western Pacific Region – certified as WHO Region in 2000
With, this certification to the South-East Asian Region, now about 80 percent of world’s population
lives in the polio-free certified regions.
Background of the process of certification to the South-East Asian Region

The decision of certifying all the 11 countries of South-East Asian Region as polio-free was taken
by an independent panel of the South-East Asia Regional Certification Commission for Polio
Eradication (SEA-RCCPE).
The certification came for the region came at time when countries are preparing to introduce
Inactivate Polio Vaccine (IPV) as a replacement of the Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV). The IPV dose
would be implemented in these countries by the end of 2015 as a part of their commitment to the
Global Polio Endgame Plan. The plan has been introduced with an aim to ensure a polio-free world
by 2018. At present, the IPV dose is provided in more than 120 countries of the world.
Steps taken by India to fight the polio disease

For the first time, India introduced the oral polio vaccine in 1985 under the Universal Immunisation
Programme. The programme was started in the backdrop of over 200000 cases of polio annually
(as per estimates of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics).
India’s first national polio immunization campaign to stop polio was launched in 1995 (19 years ago)
after finding that the disease is crippling about 50000 children every year. Since then the country
had two national and multiple sub-national campaigns, which were rolled every year for children in
the age group of 5 years.

India would have been able to eradicate the disease much earlier if it would have succeeded in
stopping polio in its endemic pockets in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. These two States were
named as the most difficult places in the world for eradication of the disease.
The last case of polio in India was reported on 13 January 2011 from Howrah district of West
Bengal. Till 2009 India was a country that reported about half of global polio cases.
About poliomyelitis (polio)

Poliovirus is a highly infectious viral disease that is transmitted mainly from person-to-person
through the fecal-oral route and on average, depending on the serotype (poliovirus type 1, 2 or 3).
A single case of paralytic polio represents 200 to 1000 silent infections surrounding the case.
Polio is a disease that can be prevented only through immunization but there is no cure for it.
Key facts
• Polio (poliomyelitis) is a disease that mainly affects children under age group of 5 years
• One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis. Among those paralysed, 5 percent to 10
percent, die when their breathing muscles become immobilized.
• Polio cases have decreased by over 99 percent since 1988, from an estimated 350000 cases
then, to 406 reported cases in 2013. The reduction is the result of the global effort to eradicate
the disease.
At present, the disease remains endemic mainly in three countries namely Pakistan, Afghanistan
and Nigeria. In 1988, 125 countries were listed under this category.
Facts about Polio Certification

The forty-first World Health Assembly in 1988 adopted a resolution for the worldwide eradication of
polio. The certification as polio free, any nation requires not having any registered case of wild polio
for continuous three years in presence of high quality surveillance. This process for certification
was established in 1995 during the first meet of the Global Certification Commission (GCC).
Comment: This progress of the country in eradication the disease is unprecedented because till
2009, India was a country that reported more than half of the global polio cases.

Lok Sabha elections to be held from 7 April 2014 in 9-phases
Election Commission of India on 5 March 2014 announced

that the 16th Lok Sabha elections will be held from 7 April
2014 to 12 May 2014 and the counting will take place on 16
May 2014. The Lok Sabha elections spread over nine phases.
The Lok Sabha elections will be held as the five year term of
the 15th Lok Sabha is due to expire on 31 May 2014.
With this announcement of the dates, the Model Code of

Conduct has come into force with immediate effect. The 16th
Lok Sabha elections for the first time will see deployment
of Central Awareness Observers to oversee the effective
management of the electoral process at the field level mainly
in respect of voter awareness and facilitation.
Dates of poll phase wise

• First Phase on 7 April 2014 - will cover five Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam and one in
Tripura
• Second Phase on 9 April 2014 - will cover seven constituencies spread over Arunachal Pradesh,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland
• Third Phase on 10 April 2014 - will cover 92 constituencies of 14 states including Bihar, Uttar
Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
• Fourth Phase on 12 April 2014 – will cover five constituencies in three states including Assam
will be covered
• Fifth Phase on 17 April 2014 – will cover 122 Lok Sabha seats of 13 states namely Karnataka,
Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Bihar
• Sixth Phase on 24 April 2014 – will cover 117 seats in 12 states namely including Assam,
Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh
• Seventh Phase 30 April 2014 – will cover 89 constituencies spread over nine states including
Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal
• Eighth Phase on 7 May 2014 – will cover 64 seats in states including Bihar, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand and West Bengal
• Ninth Phase and end of the polls on 12 May 2014 – will cover 41 constituencies in Chhattisgarh,
Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal

As per the announcement of Election Commission, the first phase notification will be issued on
14 March 2014 and last (ninth) Phase on 17 April 2014. Apart from the Lok Sabha elections, the
Election Commission also announced the date for State Legislative Assembly election in Andhra
Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim.
President issued Notification for the First Phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2014
President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, issued the notification for the first phase of Lok Sabha
Elections 2014 on 14 March 2014. With the issue of this the process to constitute the 16th lower
house of parliament beginning in Assam and Tripura.
During the first phase of Lok Sabha elections that will start from 7 April 2014 polls will be held in
one of the two parliamentary constituencies in Tripura and five of the 14 in Assam.
With this, the filling of nomination in the Lok Sabha constituencies, where polls would be held 7
April 2014 , formally started
NONE of the Above (NOTA) Option in EVMs

The election commission in its notification has issued detailed instructions to the Chief Electoral
Officers of all the states and Union Territories to implement NOTA. This notification was given
following the judgment of Supreme Court of India pronounced on 27 September 2013 that directed
the commission there should be the availability of - None of the Above (NOTA) on the ballot papers
and EVMs.
As per the notification, the voters will have the option of NOTA printed below the name of the last
candidate and can click the option in case they do not want to vote for any of the candidates.
Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT)

The Commission has also decided to use Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trial (VVPAT) system in the
General Election to the House of the People, 2014, in some of the Constituencies, subject to
availability of number of units.
Constitutional Provisions for the elections

Article 324 of the Constitution of India confers the relevant powers, duties and functions upon
the Election Commission of India while Section 14 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951
provides for conduct of the elections to constitute a new Lok Sabha before the expiry of its current
term.
Taking into account these Constitutional and legal provisions, the Election Commission of India has

made comprehensive preparations for conduct of elections to the 16th Lok Sabha in a free, fair and
peaceful manner.
Background
The total number of electorate in the country as per the final published E-rolls is approximately
814.5 million as compared to 713 million in 2009. This marks an increase of more than 100 million
electors. Of these 814.5 million about 23 million electors are in the age group of 18 to 19 and
constitutes 2.88 of total electros, which is against 0.75 percent in 2009.
Commission has allowed enrollment of transgender persons with gender written as ‘Others’ in the
electoral rolls since 2012. The number of electors enrolled as ‘Others’ gender is 28314. Parliament
amended the Representation of the People Act, 1950, allowing enrollment of Indian citizens living
overseas as electors. 11844 overseas electors have been enrolled in the current electoral rolls.
There are 1328621 service electors in the electoral rolls.
RBI extended the timeline for full implementation of Basel III

norms by 2019
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extended the timeline for full implementation of the Basel III capital
regulations by a year. Now the banks are required to comply with the Basel III norms by 31 March
2019 instead of 31 March 2018.
Some extended time was necessitated for banks to raise capital within the internationally agreed
timeline for full implementation of the Basel III capital regulations.
RBI gave following reasons for the extension

In view of the implementation of Basel III Capital Regulations, banks need to improve and strengthen
their capital planning processes.
While conducting the capital planning exercise, banks may consider the potential impact of the
changing macro-economic conditions and the outcomes of periodic stress tests on the adequacy
and composition of regulatory capital.
A forward looking capital planning process will enable banks to appropriately assess the level of
capital needed to support their business strategies over the medium-term.
Industry-wide concerns have been expressed about the potential stresses on the asset quality and
consequential impact on the performance / profitability of the banks. Accordingly, the transitional
period for full implementation of Basel III Capital Regulations in India is extended.

Committee set up to assist banking sector to apply Basel III
norms
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 7 March 2014 announced to set up a committee under the Financial
Stability and Development Council (FSDC).
The committee would set the guidelines for the banking sector to comply with Basel-III capital
norms.
The decision was taken at a sub-committee meeting of FSDC. The meeting was chaired by Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan.
Main highlights are as follows

• The implementation of the non-legislative recommendations of the Financial Sector Legislative
Reforms Commission (FSLRC)
• The issue of setting up a repository for providing investors with a single view of all financial
asset classes.
• The ways to suggest the capital requirements of the banking sector over the next five years in
view of the Basel-III regulations and requirements for supervisory capital.
• Issues of greater harmonisation of regulations across sectors for similar activities were also
taken up.
• Also, it discussed about ways for setting up an effective resolution regime for the financial
sector.
About Basel III norms

A comprehensive set of reform measures designed to improve the regulation, supervision and risk
management within the banking sector. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision published
the first version of Basel III in late 2009, giving banks approximately three years to satisfy all
requirements. Largely in response to the credit crisis, banks are required to maintain proper leverage
ratios and meet certain capital requirements.

Assam Government proposed trimming of Rhinos horn to prevent
poaching
Assam Government on 20 March 2014 sought an opinion of

the people on trimming the horns of rhinos to save them from
the poachers. The feedback can be given to the office of
principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) till March 31,
2014.
The proposal was floated by the Assam Government in light

of 11 killings of Rhinos that have taken place in the State in
the year 2014. Two more Rhinos have been killed since 19
March 2014.
As per the proposal, the horns of the Rhinos will be trimmed

every 4 to 5 months rather than completely dehorning them.
In the process of trimming, care will be taken that internal
organs of the rhinos are not affected. Also the trimming will be done in only those areas where the
population of rhinos is very low including the translocated areas
Background
The idea of trimming rhino horns came up in January 2014 when it was proposed by the Indian
Rhino Vision (IVR) 2020. They proposed the idea before translocating the rhinos to Laokhowa-
Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary in Nagaon district of Assam.
IRV 2020:
It is a joint programme of WWF-India, Assam’s forest department, International Rhino Foundation
and some NGOs. The programme was launched to increase the population of rhinos in Assam
to 3000 by 2020. The programme includes wild translocation of rhinos from Kaziranga National
Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to Manas and Dibru Saikhowa national park and Laokhowa-
Burachopari Wildlife Sanctuary.
About Rhinoceros
Greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is listed as vulnerable animal in the IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species. In past few decades the number of rhinos has gone down severely
and reached on the brink of extinction. Of total of the population, about 85 percent of rhinos are in
India and Assam is the state where about 75 percent of its total population exists.

SEBI to release FATCA compliance norms in the fiscal year 2014-
15
SEBI announced on 25 March 2014 to release the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)
compliance norms in the fiscal year 2014-15. The FATCA compliance norms will help combat
possible tax evasion by Americans through Indian entities.
FATCA is a law that aims to check and impose withholding tax on illicit activities of some wealthy
individuals who use offshore accounts to evade millions of dollars in taxes.
For the implementation of the FATCA, the US government is required to sign IGAs with various
countries, including India. The US has so far signed IGAs with 22 countries including the UK and
Switzerland.
At present, the negotiation is going on between the India and US for an Inter- government agreement
(IGA) to be signed between the two countries under the FATCA.
Once this new Act and the Indo-US IGA come into effect, all financial institutions in India would
need to carry out a detailed due diligence on all their clients and report details of their US clients
to the US tax department.
Any non-compliance of the FATCA provisions would result in penal withholding of 30% of the total
US-source income of such financial institutions.
In India, SEBI was asked to examine the applicability of the FATCA provisions to all market
intermediaries regulated by the capital markets regulator. This was examined by SEBI in coordination
with the finance ministry.
FATCA became a law in 2010, the final regulations were issued for it in January 2013 and it is set to
come into effect from 1 July 2014, after signing of IGAs with different countries.
FATCA has emerged as a global standard for detecting offshore tax evasion, as countries from
across the world, including India, step up their vigil for details about foreign assets of their own
individuals and companies.
An artificial heart that beats in animals developed
An artificial heart that beats in animals was developed by the scientists at Harvard Medical School
led by Ali Khademhosseini. The development could help in repairing damaged hearts enabling
millions of people around the world live longer, healthier lives.

Scientist presented the development at the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American
Chemical Society (ACS) held on 19 March 2014. ACS is the largest scientific society of world.
How the artificial heart was developed

Scientists in order to
develop the artificial
heart similar to
natural heart
developed a new
family of hydrogel
using a stretchy
human protein called
tropoelastin.
The hydrogel are

natural protein which
are soft and contain
a lot of water like
human tissues. Also
hydrogel can be tuned to attain chemical, biological, mechanical and electrical properties which
are essential for regeneration of any human tissue. However, existent hydrogel did not have the
needed elasticity as the natural human heart have.
In order to overcome this, scientists uses a stretchy human protein called tropoelastin to give the
newly developed hydrogel the much needed resilience and strength that is important in keeping
intact the elasticity of the natural heart.
Upon the newly developed hydrogel, scientists then developed the artificial cells. To make sure
the cells form the right structure scientists used 3-D printing and micro engineering techniques to
create patterns in the gels. These patterns coax the cells to grow the way the researchers want
them to.
These newly developed hydrogel is micro patterned and elastic and can be further used as cardiac
patches. This elastic natural hydrogel can be used for the regeneration of other tissues such as
blood vessels, skeletal muscle, heart valves and vascularized skin.
Currently, the best treatment option for patients with major heart damage is an organ transplant.

Facebook decided to acquire virtual reality technology firm
Oculus VR
Facebook on 26 March 2014 decided to acquire two year old virtual reality technology firm Oculus
VR for 2 billion dollar. As per the analyst, virtual reality technology could be a new way for people
to communicate, learn or be entertained.
The deal includes 400 million dollar in cash and 23.1 million shares worth about 1.6 billion dollar.
Oculus employees are also eligible for an additional 300 million dollar if the company achieves
certain targets.
Oculus VR founded by Palmer Luckey develops virtual-reality glasses for gaming. Oculus VR Inc.
had developed the Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset which received a lot of attention from video
game developers. The headsets cover a user’s eyes and create an immersive world that reacts to
turning one’s head or moving back and forth.
Oculus VR raised 75 million dollar in December 2013 to market its virtual-reality headset for video
games and develop the product for use in areas like education, film, architecture and design.
IPL 2014 to be held in UAE, Bangladesh and India
Ending the speculation over

India Premium League (IPL)
2014, a release of BCCI on 12
March 2014 said that the
tournament will be held in
United Arab Emirates (UAE),
Bangladesh and India from 16
April to 1 June 2014. The
tournament will be played in
three different phases and the
first phase at least 16 matches
will be played in United Arab
Emirates (UAE) from 16 April
to 30 April 2014.
The second phase of the tournament from 1 May to 12 May 2014 will be held in Bangladesh only
if Union Home Ministry doesn’t permits to hold the event in India. The BCCI at present is seeking
permission to play IPL matches in Indian cities, where the polling will be concluded in respective
states till then.

The third and the last phase of the tournament will be played in India once the polling will conclude
in all states of the country. As per the decision, the board of BCCI has decided to conduct the
remaining league matches plus the playoffs in India from 13 May 2014 1 June 2014. It has also
decided that no matches will be conducted on the day of counting of the polls on 16 May 2014.
Background
Following the decision of the Election Commission to conduct polls in the country from 7 April to 12
May 2014 and the counting will take place on 16 May 2014, the dates of the tournament coincided
with the election dates. This coincide dates brought with itself security and related issues as the
Union Home Ministry made it clear to the board that possibly it will not be able to provide the
required security for the tournament during the election period.
• IPL chairman - Ranjib Biswal
• BCCI secretary - Sanjay Patel
• BCCI president - N Srinivasan
Punjab Cabinet approved the Backward Status for Jats community
The Punjab Cabinet approved the Backward Class (BC) status for the Jat and Jat Sikhs of the State
on 5 March 2014. With this, Jats and Jat Sikhs will be the 69th and 70th community respectively to
be included in the category.
The grant of BC status to the Jats and Jat Sikhs will enable them to get reservation in government
jobs. Jats and Jat Sikhs of Punjab had been left out of the Union Cabinet’s decision because the
Punjab government had failed to bring the community in the State BC list.
Recently, on 2 March 2014 the Union Cabinet decided to include the Jat community in the central
list of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in nine States. These are Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan.
To work out the modalities for the implementation of its decisions, the Cabinet has set up a
Commission.
The Cabinet also decided to extend the benefits of reservation to the economically weaker persons
from among the general categories. This reservation for economically weaker sections would be
in addition to the reservations already in place and would not affect the existing quota of section.

Govind Mishra, the Hindi writer selected for Saraswati Samman
2013
Govind Mishra, the renowned Hindi author will receive Sarawasti Samman for the year 2013 for his
book Dhool Paudhon Par published in 2008. This honour will make Mishra the second Hindi author to
receive the honour after Harivansh Rai Bachchan.
In 1991, Harivansh Rai Bachchan became the first Hindi author to receive this honour.
First novel of Mishra was Wo Apna Chehra published in 1969. Lal Peeli Zameen published in 1976
is MIshra’s much talked novel.
Earlier on 2 August 2013 the Saraswati Samman 2012 was given to Sugathakumari, the Malayalam
poetess for Manalezhuthu (the Writings on the Sand), a collection of poems in Malayalam.
About Saraswati Samman

Saraswati Samman is an annual award and is given in recognition of outstanding prose or poetry
literary works in Indian languages that are listed in Schedule VII of the constitution of India. This
Samman is given for the literary works of last 10 years. The award was established in 1991 by K. K.
Birla Foundation and carries a prize amount of 10 lakh rupees along with a certificate.
Apart from this award, K. K. Birla Foundation has also constituted other two awards that include
Bihari Puraskar for Hindi and Rajasthani writers and Vyas Samman for Hindi.
Earlier, the literary works in 15 languages were only awarded but with inclusion of Konkani, Manipuri
and Nepali in the schedule VIII of the Constitution of India in 1992, the number of languages went
up to 18. Further, in 2004, Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali were also included in the Schedule VIII
taking the number of languages to 22. Since 2005, the Saraswati Samman considers literary works
in 22 languages for the award.

INTERNATIONAL
Deny access to websites infringing copyright: EU court to ISPs
European Union Court on 27 March 2014 ruled that Internet Service Providers (ISP) can legally deny
access to websites that infringe copyright to their customers. The ruling is aimed at limiting online
piracy. In its directive the Court also said that ISPs must ensure that this blocking activity of the
websites may not deprive users from the possibility of lawfully access to the information available.
The Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg in its decision upheld the decision of
an Austrian Court to compel an ISP to deny its customers access to the website. This decision
was made on the basis of the EU laws and regulations provide power to ISPs to deny access to
such websites. The European Court in its judgment has also asked the Austrian Supreme Court to
interpret the Copyright Directives of EU and the basic rights enshrined in the EU legislation.
This decision came in the backdrop of the decision of the judges of Austrian court that prohibited
UPC Telekabel Wein (an internet service provider of Austria) from providing access to its customers
to the sites of two companies that holds movie rights. Earlier, the two companies approached the
Austrian court with a plea to prohibit access to a website where some of their copyright films could

be viewed and downloaded for free.
President Barack Obama announced NSA reform plans
President Barack Obama on 27 March 2014 announced National Security Agency (NSA) reform
plan. The plans were aimed to end bulk collection of telephone records.
As per the legislation, the phone companies were allowed to store records of phone calls and allow
government agents to search the database with a court order.
The proposed legislation would curb the power of NSA and would defuse a controversy over the
government’s sweeping surveillance activities on millions of Americans.
The collection of data needs congressional approval. Although, the plan addresses the public
privacy concern but it still allows the government to conduct surveillance to thwart terrorist attacks.
Japan signed an agreement to hand over nuclear material to the

US
Japan and the United States on 24

March 2014 signed an agreement for
removal of 315 kilograms of weapon-
grade Plutonium and Highly Enriched
Uranium (HEU) and handover to United
States. As per the deal, the fissile
material would be transported from
Fast Critical Assembly (FCA) at the
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
to a secure facility in the United States.
This deal was reached between the two

nations during the 2014 International
Nuclear security summit in The Hague, Netherlands.
This deal of providing the highly enriched uranium and plutonium to US can be considered as
Japanese effort to prevent proliferation and abuse of nuclear material by terrorists, which is the
background of the nuclear summit. One of the main aims of the summit is to reduce the amount of
dangerous nuclear material in the world that terrorists could use to make a nuclear weapon (highly
enriched uranium and plutonium).

Background
Japan in 1960s purchased the fuel from the US, which was used by Japan Atomic Energy Agency
for research purposes. The amount of plutonium holdings of Japan that will be transferred to US is
a fraction of Japan’s overall holdings.
529 supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi sentenced

to death
Egyptian Court has sentenced to 529

supporters of ousted Islamist
President Mohammed Morsi to
death. Those who have been
sentenced for the capital punishment
were convicted of charges like
murdering a policeman and attacks
on people and property of the country.
The group that has been sentenced

include top Muslim Brotherhood
member. Most of these supporters
were arrested during the clash that erupted in the southern province of Minya after the forced
removal of Mohammed Morsi.
Background
Since removal of Morsi by the Military in July 2013, the authorities have cracked down harshly on
the Islamists. Actions of the authority after Morsi was ousted include killing of hundreds and arrest
of thousands.
Israeli diplomats launched indefinite strike over pay dispute
Israeli diplomats on 23 March 2014 launched an unprecedented and indefinite strike over a
long-running pay and conditions dispute. The strike happened for the first time since Israel was
established in 1948.
The diplomats are demanding an increase in monthly salaries, that is., 6000-9000 shekels (1700
US dollar -2600 US dollar). They are also demanding the compensation for their spouses who are
forced to quit jobs due to foreign postings of diplomats.

The strike had forced the complete closure of 103 foreign embassies of Israel. The strike involved
about 1200 Foreign Service employees. During this indefinite strike, Israel will not be represented
at any international gatherings. This strike will thus affect everyone including employers who bring
foreign workers to Israel, immigrants, and anyone who wants to travel to Israel including foreign
dignitaries.
2400 km march over the demand to cancel Myitsone dam in

Myanmar
Over a dozen of citizens of Myanmar started a march of 2400 km on 23 March 2014 to protest
against the construction of Myitsone dam. Mytisone dam is a hydro-electric dam being built by
China over the River Irrawady in Kachin state of Myanmar.
The protestors were demanding for the permanent cancellation of the construction of dam as it is
environmentally hazardous. The construction of the dam was suspended in 2011 but protesters
now are worried that it may resume after the 2015 general elections.
Myistone dam was supposed to export 90 per cent of its power to China. The cost of the project
is 3.6 billion US dollar.
Five Indian languages reinstated as official subjects in South

African schools
Five Indian languages were reinstated as official subjects that will be taught in South African state
schools. The five Indian languages which have been reinstated are Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, Telugu
and Urdu. These languages were offered as official subjects in schools of South Africa until 1994.
The development was confirmed by Nkosinathi Sishi, the Provincial Head of the Education
Department. In this regard the circular was issued to schools in South Africa on 20 March 2014.
These languages first will be offered as an optional third language for learners only in KwaZulu-
Natal province where about 70 percent of the Indian-origin population inhabit.
Further these five Indian languages along with Arabic language will be offered as official subjects
up to matric level (final year of schooling) in South Africa.
However, these languages as official subjects will only be offered at schools where the number of
learners makes it a viable option to hire specialist teachers in the language concerned.
The five Indian languages Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, Telugu and Urdu alongside Arabic are referred as
Eastern languages.

Background
In 1994, Indian languages were removed from the official curriculum in South African state schools.
Still the schools have been running classes in Indian languages which were not part of the official
government-approved curriculum.
Since 2001 National Council for Eastern Languages in South Africa has been requesting to recognize
these Eastern languages as official subject to ensure survival of mother tongues amid the growing
westernization of Indian youth. 1.4 million Citizens of Indian origin’s representative group in South
Africa also pleaded for reinstating the Indian languages as official subjects.
Half of Syria’s chemical stockpile removed: OPCW
The OPCW-UN Joint Mission on 20 March 2014 declared that almost half of the stockpile of
chemical weapons of Syria has been removed.
In its notification, OPCW said that the latest consignments of the most dangerous chemicals have
been loaded on the cargo vessel at Latakia. These consignments also included all of Syria’s Sulphur
mustard.
The chemical arsenal of Syria will be transported further for destruction under the verification of
OPCW inspectors from the storage sites.
Cumulative figures of the chemical weapons

of Syria as per OPCW are
• Priority 1 chemicals removed: 34.8 percent

• Priority 2 chemicals removed: 82.6 percent
• Total chemicals removed: 49.3 percent
As per the plan, the majority of Priority 1 chemicals

would be neutralised at sea aboard the US vessel MV
Cape Ray and smaller amount of them will also be
neutralized at a land-based facility in Ellesmere Port,
UK.
The Priority 2 chemicals will be destroyed at

commercial facilities in the US and Finland. A facility in Germany will dispose of part of the effluent
from the Cape Ray operations.
OPCW has declared 30 June 2014 as a deadline to complete the destruction of Syria’s entire
chemical weapons programme.
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an implementation body
of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which came into effect in 1997. At present it has
190 Member States, who are working together with an aim to achieve world free from chemical
weapons. The collective goal of the organisation and its member states is to prevent chemistry
from being used for warfare; overall it has strengthened the international security.
The Convention contains four key provisions

• Destroying all existing chemical weapons under international verification by the OPCW
• Monitoring chemical industry to prevent new weapons from re-emerging
• Providing assistance and protection to States Parties against chemical threats
• Fostering international cooperation to strengthen implementation of the Convention and

promote the peaceful use of chemistry
UN-OPCW relationship
UN and OPCW for the first time reached to the Relationship Agreement in 2000 and entered into
force in 2001. The Relationship Agreement was approved by the OPCW Conference of the States
Parties in decision on 17 May 2001 and by the United Nations General Assembly in resolution A/
RES/55/283 on 7 September 2001.
Non members of OPCW are

• Israel and Myanmar are the signatory states since 1993. They are not a member because these
signatory states have not been ratified by the Chemical Weapons Convention
• Angola, Egypt, North Korea and South Sudan are four nations that have neither signed nor
acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention

Libyan Prime Minister sacked by the Parliament after tanker
escaped rebel-held port
Parliament of Libya voted for removal of Ali Zeidan, the

Prime Minister of the country from his office on 12 March
2014. He was sacked after a tanker loaded with crude oil
from rebel-held port Es Sider port escaped the navy. This
ouster has created a worsening chaos in the Organization
of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member
states.
On removal of Zeidan, Abdallah al-Thinni, the Defence

Minister of the country has been sworn-in as the acting
Prime Minister and he will be acting as the Prime Minister
till a new Prime Minister is not elected. The deputies will
elect a new Prime Minister within two weeks.
Earlier, the ship was seized by the countries navy, which escaped into the international waters from
the Libya’s eastern Mediterranean coast, while being moved to a government controlled port in
western Libya.
Zeidan came into power in 2012 and was the first person to be elected by a free parliamentary vote.
Earlier, Libya was facing a one-man rule of a dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was ousted in 2011.
Background
The armed militia of Libya controls three Libyan ports on the eastern side of the country. At present
the militia of the country is demanding for extension of its share on wealth and power. Following
the crisis of the country, the oil exports of the country have declined sharply affecting its economy.
UNSC voted on a resolution condemning illegal Libyan oil export
UN Security Council (UNSC) on 20 March 2014 unanimously voted in favor of a resolution 2146
(2014) that condemns the illegal (illicit) export of Libyan crude oils. The Security Council also
imposed sanctions on vessels carrying illicit oil shipments.
The Council has also called on the countries to prohibit ships carrying illegal Libyan oil cargo
from entering their ports. It has asked them to return the oil found on seized vessels to Libya. The
resolution of the Security Council has also authorised UN member states to inspect any vessel that
it suspects for illegal carriage of Libyan oil after coordinating with the ship’s flag state.

This resolution 2146 (2014) was adopted following an incident that occurred earlier in March 2014.
The incident was a North Korean-flagged (DPRK) Vessel, named Morning Glory, loaded crude oil
that belonged to a joint venture between the Libyan National Oil Company and some United States
companies at the rebel-held port of Sidra in eastern Libya.
As per the reports, the Morning Glory carried a cargo of estimated 20 million dollar, which was
seized by the US Navy in international waters off the coast of Cyprus. The vessel was seized on a
request of both Cyprus and Libya.
Background
Security Council’s resolution was unanimously adopted under the Chapter VII of the United Nations
Charter. The 15-member body condemned attempts to illicitly export crude oil from Libya.
The new resolution has requested Libya to pass on the information to the Security Council
Committee that oversees the arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze imposed in the country
by resolution 1970 (known as the 1970 Committee) of any vessels transporting crude oil illicitly
exported from Libya. It also decided that the 1970 Committee would designate those vessels for
some or all measures authorized in the resolution on case-by-case basis for a period of 90 days.
Thailand announced to lift State of Emergency
Thailand announced to lift state of emergency on 18 March 2014. The state of emergency was
imposed on 22 January 2014 in Bangkok.
The 60-day emergency decree gave the government wide-ranging powers to deal with disorder.
The decision to lift the emergency decree was approved by Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck
Shinawatra. The emergency decree will be replaced by the Internal Security Act (ISA).
ISA will come into effect from 20 March 2014 to 30 April 2014. The ISA is a less wide ranging than an
emergency decree. ISA will allow the government to impose curfews, put up security checkpoints
and restrict protesters when the need arises.
Background
The protesters began the campaign in November 2013 accusing the government of being run by
ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, Ms Yingluck’s brother. Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in
a military coup in 2006 and was convicted of corruption charges in 2008 and sentenced to prison
in absentia.
Protesters wanted the government to be replaced with an unelected people’s council and PM

Yingluck Shinawatra to resign.
However, the government declared general election which was to be held on 2 February 2014 in
response to the protests.
The main opposition Democrat Party boycotted the election. Protesters disrupted voting in some
constituencies, leaving parliament without a quorum, meaning a new government cannot be formed.
The Election Commission is still refusing the government’s request to finish the polling.
UNSC extended mandate of UNAMA till March 2015
The UN Security Council on 17 March 2014 extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance
Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for another year until 17 March 2015. The mandate is focused on
local ownership and leadership regarding security, governance and development in Afghanistan.
As per a release issued by UNSC, the 15-member council during the New York meeting unanimously
adopted a resolution saying that the mission would continue to lead and coordinate international
civilian efforts in Afghanistan, that includes support for 2014 Presidential election on 5 April 2014,
the 2015 Parliamentary elections and future electoral processes.
The Presidential election of Afghanistan that is scheduled to be held on 5 April 2014 is the country’s
third Presidential election and the two-term President, Hamid Karzai is not eligible to run for it.
Background
The United Nations Council in 2002 adopted a resolution to form UNAMA to help Afghanistan to
achieve peace and development. The resolution in form of UNAMA was scheduled to come to an
end on 19 March 2014 but this meet has extended the period to 17 March 2015.
The Security Council Resolution was reached following a request of Afghan government seeking
UN to assist the country in laying foundation for sustainable peace and development of the country.
On the other end, the UN mandated mission of the 50-nation International Force in Afghanistan
would expire by December 2014 and by the same time, the NATO-led foreign combat troops will
also return to their respective countries leaving behind Afghanistan.
Britain handed over two military bases to Afghan troops in

Helmand province
British Forces on 17 March 2014 handed over its two important military bases in southern Helmand

province to Afghan security forces and closed down another base. This action of handing over the
bases to Afghanistan has been done under the ongoing security transition process in Afghanistan.
Main Operating Base Lashkar Gah and Patrol Base of Lashkar Gah Durai in Helmand were
transferred to Afghan forces and Main Operating Base Price was closed down.
With this handling of the two bases and shutting down of one, the British troops now controls only
two operational bases in the Helmand province of the country, namely Main Operating Base Camp
Bastion and Observation Post Sterga. The Bastion camp serves as the main base for UK personnel.
A statement of the British Defense Ministry claims that during the peak of its operations, Britain had
138 military bases in Helmand province of Afghanistan of which majority have already been handed
over to the Afghan security forces. The statement also says that the Afghan forces are now leading
about 97 percent of all security operations and are also carrying out over 90 percent of their training
programmes.
The highest number of deployment of the British troops in Afghanistan happened in 2009 with
9500 military personnel, which was the second largest contribution of soldiers in the 49-nation
coalition in the country. The operations of UK (Britain) in Afghanistan were largely concentrated in
the Helmand province under the name of operation Herrick.
Background
The British forces in Afghanistan are a member of the NATO-led International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF). The UN mandate has committed the withdrawal of all combat forces in Afghanistan
by December 2014.
European Parliament passed a law to introduce a Universal

Mobile Device Charger
European Parliament on 17 March 2014 passed a law to develop a common charger for all mobile
phones sold in the continent of Europe. European Parliament had amended its radio equipment
laws to develop a common charger for all mobile phones.
The law was approved by 550 votes to 12, with 8 abstentions.
The introduction of a common charger will serve the interests of both consumers and the environment.
It will help to put an end to charger clutter and would reduce 51000 tonnes of electronic waste
annually.
European countries will have two years to transpose the rules into their national laws and
manufacturers will have an additional year to comply. Negotiations with manufacturers to agree

a common charger was started in 2009. It was expected that the universal charging configuration
would come into force by 2017.
As per the Expert estimation there are some 30 different types of charger currently in the market.
Phone makers such as Apple, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and ALCATEL have all
signed an agreement to make their phones compatible with a single, USB style charger.
Syrian Parliament approved new Election Law
Parliament of Syria on 13 March

2014 unanimously approved a
new election law that allows
multiple candidates to run for the
post of President. This passage
of the law has opened the doors
for other contenders apart from
President Bashar Assad.
The new law permits only Syrian

nationals or other person who
have lived in Syria for minimum 10 consecutive years to run for the Presidential election. The
new law was formulated on the basis of the new constitution that was passed in a referendum in
March 2012 that allows multiparty political system in Syria and multiple Presidential candidates.
The Presidential polls will be held between 60 and 90 days before the end of term of Assad.
The election law adopted by Parliament was rejected by the opposition Syrian National Coalition
claiming it as illegitimate.
Background
Bashar Assad’s seven-year term in the office of the President will officially come to an end on 17 July
2014. The new law was voted four months before end of the tenure of Assad’s President Position.
Apart from this, Baath Party has ruled on Syria since it seized power in a 1963 coup. In the earlier
Presidential elections under Assad and his late father, Hafez Assad, were the only candidates.
The previous law granted power to the voters had the right to cast yes or no ballots on whether they
supported their nomination for presidency by the Parliament.
Apart from this, the Syrian conflict has entered into its fourth year in which more than 1 lakh people
has been killed and about 2.5 million people has fled from the country to the neighbouring countries.

India and United States Energy Dialogue held in New Delhi
India and United States Energy dialogue was held in

New Delhi from 5 March 2014 to 11 March 2014.
The Dialogue was co-chaired by Dr. Montek Singh
Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning
Commission, and Dr. Ernest Moniz, Secretary, U.S.
Department of Energy.
At the India-US Energy Dialogue India and United

States agreed to promote scientific cooperation,
research & development for greater technological
innovation and for deployment of environmentally
friendly technologies and products.
During the Dialogue, U S-India Joint Clean Energy Research and development Centre had also
brought up issues relating to progress on solar energy, advanced bio-fuels and energy efficiency
of buildings under PACE-R.
The dialogue will lead to business-to-business collaboration of both the countries. The expected
expanding trade and sound regulatory frameworks will emerge to deliver energy solutions for
sustainable growth of economies of both the countries for benefit of their people.
The Energy Dialogue is part of the broader Indio-U.S. Strategic Dialogue. The Energy Dialogue was
launched in May 2005 with the last meeting held in September 2012 in Washington DC. The next
Dialogue will be held in the United States.
About PACE
In 2009, the India and US agreed to significantly increase collaboration on energy security and
clean energy and launched the Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE) for the purpose.
Partnership to Advance Clean Energy Research & Development (PACE-R) has been working
on research and development projects on solar energy, Building Energy Efficiency and Second
generation bio-fuels.
India and USA have also signed two separate MOUs for partnership in clean energy access (PEACE)
and demand for air-conditioning sector.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy
(PEACE) was launched in September 2013. It was launched to promote increased energy access
and to develop several priority activities.

Supreme Court of Maldives sacked Election Commissioner
Fuwad Thowfeek
The Supreme Court of Maldives on 9 March

2014 sacked the Election Commissioner
Fuwad Thowfeek and his deputy Ahmad
Fayaz. They were sacked on charge of
contempt of court.
The Court also gave Fuwad Thowfeek a six-

month jail sentence, suspended for three
years. That is jail sentence will come into
effect only if he is found guilty of the offense
again during a three-year period.
The Court gave the jail sentence to Thowfeek

for criticising court’s interference in the conduct of the Presidential poll held in September 2013.
The court took cognisance of the matter suo motu (by itself), and declared that Thowfeek and the
other Commissioners were in contempt of court.
The Court decision has put the question mark on the Parliamentary polls that was scheduled to
be held on 22 March 2014. The question mark emanates from both Constitutional and operational
angle. From the Constitutional viewpoint, the power to appoint or dismiss members of the Elections
Commission rests with the parliament, the Majlis as per the Article 177 of the Constitution.
From the operational viewpoint, the sacking of Thowfeek and Fayaz and quitting of one member
already has left the five members Election Commission with only two Election Commissioners. This
is one short of a quorum that is required to take any decision.
The US and the United Nations have expressed concern over the punishment of the Maldives’
Election Commissioner by the country’s Supreme Court. They had strongly object to the recent
actions of the Maldivian Supreme Court including trying and convicting members of the Election
Commission.
Background
Tensions between the judiciary and the Elections Commission arose after Thowfeek spoke out
against some controversial judgments by the Supreme Court pertaining to presidential election
held in September 2013. In the elections, Yameen Abdul Gayoom, the brother of the Maldives’
former authoritarian ruler, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, eventually was elected as the Maldives
new President. Gayoom won a narrow victory over Mohamed Nasheed, who led the struggle for

democracy and was elected President in 2008 in the country’s first multiparty election.
Michelle Bachelet sworn-in as President of Chile for second

term
Michelle Bachelet was sworn-in as the President of Chile in

Valparaiso. The 62-year old Michelle, the socialist leader
took the oath of the office on 11 March 2014. She succeeded
the conservative President Sebastian Pinera.
In the Presidential election conducted in December 2013,

Michelle won 62 percent of the vote in the second round
against the 38 percent vote won by the conservative leader
Evelyn Matthei.
This is her second term in the office and with this swearing-
in she became the first Chilean President in over half a
century to return for the second term.
The presidential sash was accepted by her from Isabel

Allende, the President of Senate and this passage of the sash from one woman to another has
happened for the first time in Chile’s history.
After swearing-in some of the major challenges before her are to bring reform in political and
economic structures that dates back to 1973-1990 during the dictatorship of Gen Pinochet. She
will also have to bring in changes to offer free education along with reducing income disparity and
reform healthcare.
Earlier, she held the position of the President of Chile between 2006 and 2010. In the first term as
the President, she was the first female president of Chile. Constitution of Chile that is one of the
richest countries in Latin America barred immediate re-election of Michelle to the Presidential post.
China tested a domestically produced anti-smog drone
China on 9 March 2014 tested a domestically-produced anti-smog drone aircraft. The aircraft
was designed to disperse smog. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dispersed fog and smog by
releasing a chemical catalyst. The chemical will freeze pollutants and make them fall to the ground.
Even in the thick fog the UAV could fly an accurate route and the use of drones will reduce risks and
cut costs. The UAV is easy to control and land which make it suitable to use at airports and ports.

The aircraft was manufactured by a subsidiary of state-owned aviation giant Aviation Industry Corp
of China (AVIC).It is an important step for the country’s domestic aviation industry.
The aircraft is also called The parafoil plane because it features a gliding parachute. It can carry
three times the cargo weight of common planes. The aircraft could be used to conduct agricultural
seeding, emergency rescue and other tasks.
Air pollution in parts of China was so extreme that it could lead to conditions similar to a nuclear
winter. Pollution readings jumped to threatening levels of more than two dozen times the level
considered safe.
The highways were closed in the Chinese capital as the city was blanketed by thick smog engulfing
skyscrapers.
State-owned AVIC is the unlisted parent company of Shenzhen-listed AVIC Aircraft Industry Corp
of China. The test was occurred at an airport in central China’s Hubei province.
Jordan and Egypt signed MOU with Iraq for the Natural Gas
Jordan and Egypt signed MoU with Iraq on 9 March 2014 under which natural gas will be supplied
from Iraq to Jordan and Egypt. The 18 billion dollar oil pipeline will transfer one million barrels of oil
per day from Basra to Aqaba. The oil pipeline will be completed by early 2018.
The MOU will enable the countries to connect the natural gas fields in Iraq to the Arab Gas Pipeline.

The Arab Gas Pipeline stretches from Egypt’s Arish in northern Sinai through Jordan to Lebanon.
The agreement is expected to give a boost to energy needs of Jordan and the neighbouring
countries. The pipeline will provide Jordan with 150000 barrels of oil per day.
With the extension of pipeline from Iraq’s Basra to Egypt via Jordan’s Aqaba, Iraq seeks to use the
pipeline as a gateway to transport its oil to other African countries.
Egypt was ready to process and refine the Iraqi crude oil that will reach through the pipeline at its
refineries and help export it to other African states.
Jordan imports about 96 percent of its energy needs annually. It is planning to implement several oil
shale and renewable energy projects for the production of electricity. The majority of these projects
are expected to be operational in 2018.
India pledged to provide 4500 crore rupees Assistance Package

to Bhutan
Government of India (GOI) announced to provide 4500 crore rupees Assistance Package to Bhutan
for its 11th Five Year Plan. The 11th Five Year Plan will cover the period 1 July 2013 to 30 June
2018. The package will help the landlocked country to implement major projects over the 11th Five
Year Plan that will improve the livelihood of its people.
The decision was taken at the first meeting of the Small Development Project Committee (SDP).
The Committee reviewed the SDP activities of the 10th Plan and expressed satisfaction with their
positive impact on the livelihoods of the people in rural Bhutan.
Out of 4500 crore rupees, 2800 crore rupees will be contributed as Project Tied Assistance (PTA),
850 crore rupees as Small Development Projects and 850 crore rupees as Development Subsidy
or Program Grant to boost the Bhutanese economy and help the RGOB to tackle the liquidity
shortage.
During the visit of the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay to India from 30
August 2013 to 4 September 2013 GOI agreed to provide Assistance Package for Bhutan’s 11th
Five Year Plan.
Saudi Arabia declared Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist

Organisation
Saudi Arabia on 7 March 2014 declared Muslim Brotherhood, al-Nusra Front, Hezbollah and the
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) jihadist group as Terrorist Groups.

The move is expected to curb the activities of terror outfits and prevent the people from taking part
in the conflict directly. The ban was described as a sign of the kingdom’s resolve to fight terrorism
and to avoid direct consequence in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi interior ministry has also issued a 15-day ultimatum to its citizens fighting abroad to
return to the kingdom or face imprisonment.
The declaration mean any Saudi citizen accused of taking part in pro-Muslim Brotherhood rallies,
possession of the group’s literature, or supporting the group verbally or in writing could be held for
punishment.
Under the previous decree, Saudi citizens fighting abroad could face up to 20 years in jail.
Similar punishments will be applied to extremist religious and ideological groups, or those classified
as terrorist groups, domestically, regionally and internationally.
China announced the extension of Qinghai-Tibet railway line
China announced on 6 March 2014 to extend the Qinghai-Tibet railway line to Xigaze in Tibet.
Xigaze is hometown of Panchen Lama. The proposed extension is the world’s highest railway line.
Panchen Lama is a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. He holds an
important position in the China Buddhist Association.
The 253-km Lhasa-Xigaze railway line will be open before October 2014. It will run at 120 km per
hour through valleys and over three bridges that run across the Brahmaputra River or Yarlung
Zangbo as it is known in China.
The new extension line will take travelers from Lhasa to Xigaze also known as Shigatse in about
two hours over five hours. Shigatse is an important monastery town home to the Tashilhunpo
monastery that has been the seat of the Panchen Lamas, and is an important centre of pilgrimage
for many Tibetans.
China has also proposed extending the line from Shigatse to the border with Nepal. Through this
extension China aimed to meet both political and military goals.
This move is expected to bring more tourists to the China-backed Panchen Lama’s hometown in
Tibet. The rail network will also boost China’s mobilisation capabilities in remote Tibetan areas.
The Xigaze region borders India’s Sikkim, Nepal and Bhutan. The new extension line will make it
easier for the China to carry men and machinery to the Indian border at short notice.

National Security Advisor-level meet on Maritime Security
Cooperation held in New Delhi
India, Sri Lanka and Maldives on 6 March 2014 held national security advisor-level meet on maritime
security cooperation in New Delhi. During the meet, the three sides reviewed and expressed
satisfaction over the progress in the implementation of various activities in the identified areas.
Other major new areas discussed for cooperation in the meet included
• Hydrography
• Training in search and seizure operations
• Exchanges between think tanks
• Joint participation in adventure activities
• Training on board Indian Sail Training Ships
The technical groups have also been asked to accelerate the implementation of joint activities and
work out a programme of cooperation in the new areas. Some steps that has been achieved till
date are
• The cooperation between the coast guards, navies and other institutions of the three countries
has been achieved so far
• The three countries have made efforts to set up practical means of cooperation in the area of
maritime security in the region, which doesn’t affect any maritime security discussion with any
other country
• The participant countries are also trying to put in place a system so that sea lanes are safe and
marine resources are not destroyed
The third Indian Ocean-centered maritime security trilateral meet was also attended by two more
island countries as guest namely Seychelles and Mauritius. The two nations have also shown their
interest to participate in future interactions.
At the second meeting in Colombo in July 2013, the three countries agreed on a roadmap for
cooperation in maritime security, comprising the following three categories of activities
• Initiatives to enhance Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) through access to systems run under
the aegis of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), such as Long Range Identification
and Tracking (LRIT) services and sharing of Automatic Identification System (AIS) data

• Training and capacity building initiatives in areas of MDA, Search and Rescue, and Oil Pollution
Response and
• Joint activities including trilateral exercises, maintaining lines of communication on illegal maritime
activities, formulation of marine oil pollution response contingency plans and cooperation in
legal and policy issues related to piracy
The concept of trilateral meet begun in October 2011 after the three sides reached a state of
preparedness to respond on the illegal activity such as piracy depending on their capability. The
first NSA-level Trilateral Meeting on Maritime Security Cooperation was held in Maldives. The fourth
meet will be held in Maldives.
China announced biggest hike of 12.2 percent in defence budget

in last three years
China announced a biggest hike of

12.2 percent in defence budget in last
three years on 5 March 2014. The hike
of 12.2 percent will make the Chinese
government spend 808.2 billion Yuan
or 130 billion US dollar in 2014-15 on
defence. This is the biggest increase
in three years.
The estimated defence budget is 18

billion US dollars more than in 2013-
14, when the budget rose by 10.7 percent. China is the second in place after the United States
which spends more than 600 billion dollar in 2014.
China has been increasing the expenditure on defence since it seeks to increase its influence
in the Asia Pacific. The hike, according to Chinese military, is the need to counter a high risk
security environment in the china region which was recently marked by territorial tensions with
many neighbours. The hike will comprehensively enhance the revolutionary nature of the Chinese
armed forces, further modernize and upgrade and continue to raise their deterrence and combat
capabilities. India in its Interim Union Budget 2014-15 allocated 224000 crore rupees or 37.15
billion dollar for the national defence. The allocation represents 9.98 percent increase over the
2013-14 defence budget.

Third BIMSTEC summit 2014 held in Myanmar
Third BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)
Summit was held from 1 March to 4 March 2014 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
The following three pacts were signed

• Memorandum of Association on the Establishment of the BIMSTEC Permanent Secretariat.
• Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries

Commission (BCIC) and BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory (BCIO).
• Memorandum of Association among BIMSTEC Member Countries Concerning Establishment

of a BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate.
The Third BIMSTEC summit was attended by the heads from six countries and Special Envoy of
the Prime Minister of Thailand, namely
Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Prime Minister of Nepal
President of Sri Lanka

Prime Minister of Bhutan
President of Myanmar
During the summit, to enhance regional cooperation in energy sector, it was decided that the Third
BIMSTEC Energy Ministerial Meeting will be held in Nepal in 2014 and the Fourth BIMSTEC Energy
Ministerial Meeting will be held in 2015 in Bhutan.
Highlights of the summit

• The members recognised the threat that terrorism
poses to peace, stability and economic progress and
agreed for closer cooperation in combating all forms
of terrorism and transnational crimes.
• The members agreed to explore collaborative

initiatives amongst the Member States towards
addressing the adverse impacts of climate change in
the BIMSTEC region.
• The members decided to move forward towards

finalization of the draft Agreement on Trade in Goods
with agreed General Rules of Origin and Product Specific Rules. It was also decided to work in
the direction of signing an agreement on dispute settlement procedures and the Agreement on
Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters under the Framework Agreement on
the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area.
• The members agreed to set up the BIMSTEC Network of Policy Think Tanks and agreed to
cooperate and coordinate for organizing activities like workshops and seminars, which includes
audio-visual programmes to create public awareness on BIMSTEC.
• Earlier during the second BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation summit in Nepal
in January 2012 the Poverty Plan of Action was adopted and in this summit the heads agreed
to implement the Poverty Plan of Action. Sri Lanka is going to host the Third Ministerial Meeting
on Poverty Alleviation during the first half of 2014.
About BIMSTEC
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) was
established in 1997 in Bangkok. It was a new sub regional grouping, named BISTEC (Bangladesh,
India, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).Myanmar (1997) and Sri lanka (1998) joined
the group who were observers earlier and they joined the group later.
The First BIMSTEC Summit was held in 2004 in Bangkok and the Second Summit was held in 2008

in New Delhi.
The main purposes of BIMSTEC are to create

• An enabling environment for rapid economic development
• Accelerate social progress in the sub-region
• Cooperate in projects that can be dealt with most productively on a sub-regional basis and
which make best use of available synergies.
Rail link between Kilinochchi to Palai inaugurated in Sri Lanka
The 27.5 km long rail link between Kilinochchi to Palai in North Sri Lanka was inaugurated on 4
March 2014 by Kumar Welgama, the Transport Minister of Sri Lanka. The inauguration of was done
in the presence of YK Sinha, the Indian High Commissioner.
This rail link of North Sri Lanka has been reconstructed by IRCON, the Indian Railways construction
wing. IRCON under the plan will take the railways stretch to Jaffna city in another three months.
As part of the ceremonial inauguration the dignitaries undertook a train journey from Kilinochchi to
Pallai on the reconstructed track.
Other projects already completed under the project

• Medawachchiya-Madhu Road segment inaugurated on 14 May 2013
• Omanthai- Kilinochchi segment inaugurated by President of Sri Lanka on 14 September 2013
Background
The Northern Rail Line was destroyed completely in 1980s by LTTE rebels, which is being
reconstructed by IRCON.
The rail line has been reconstructed under the credit line of about 800 US dollar, which was
provided by the Government of India to the Sri Lankan Government to undertake the northern
railway reconstruction project in the country.
About IRCON
Ircon International Limited (IRCON) is a government company that was incorporated by the Central

Government (Ministry of Railways) under the Companies Act, 1956 on 28 April 1976. IRCON has
widespread operations in several States in India and in other countries namely Malaysia, Nepal,
Bangladesh, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Afganistan, U.K. Algeria and Sri Lanka.
India and Iran agreed to take a decision on Chabahar Port
India and Iran on 28 February 2014 agreed

to take a decision on Chabahar port by
March-end during meet of Salman Khurshid,
Union External Affairs Minister and Javad
Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister in
New Delhi. The decision on the port was
held during official visit of the Foreign Affairs
of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India from
27 February to 28 February 2014.
The two sides have also decided that

specific proposals on the port will be
finalized by Nauroz (Iranian/Persian New
Year) holidays in March 2014 in Iran. During the same meet, the two sides also reviewed the expanse
of the bilateral relations between the two countries and emphasized to nurture the relations also.
The two sides also agreed to hold joint consular committees meet at the earliest to address issues
of a consular nature. They also discussed regional issues that included Afghanistan along with
development in Middle East and the P5 plus one discussion with Iran.
Port of Chabahar
Port of Chabahar is a seaport in Chah Bahar in southeastern Iran and it is located on the border of
Indian Ocean and Oman Sea. It is the only Iranian port with direct access to ocean. Chabahar is
Iran’s closest and best access point to the Indian Ocean. The port was partially built by India in the
1990s to provide access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, by passing Pakistan.

WORLD DAIRY
March 2014
1 March 2014
• Roger Federer wins Dubai International Open
2 March 2014
• 12 Years a Slave wins the Best Film Award at 86th Oscar Awards ceremony
03 March 2014
• Bill Gates tops the World Billionaire annual list of Forbes
• Researchers at CAPRISA discover potent antibodies to neutralize HIV
• Arvind Bhat wins the German Open Grand Prix title
• 04 March 2014
• Graeme Smith announces retirement from cricket
• Third BIMSTEC summit 2014 held in Myanmar
• Rail link between Kilinochchi to Palai inaugurated in Sri Lanka
• Indian acid attack victim, Laxmi wins International Women of Courage Award
05 March 2014
• Australia replaces India to second position in ICC Test Team rankings
• China announces biggest hike of 12.2 percent in defence budget
06 March 2014
• Indian-American Scientist Anil Jain develops First 3D model of human fingerprint, Phantom
• EU freezes assets of ousted Ukrainian leader, Yanukovych and 17 others
• National Security Advisor-level meet on Maritime Security Cooperation held in New Delhi

WORLD DAIRY
March 2014
• China announces the extension of Qinghai-Tibet railway line
• Crimea votes to become a part of the Russian Federation
• Indo-Nepal joint military exercise starts at Sailahandi
07 March 2014
• Abraham Pannikottu announces to develop Zero Pressure tyres for US military
• Saudi Arabia declares Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organisation
08 March 2014
• International Women Day observed across the world
09 March 2014
• New class of Antibiotics Oxadiazoles discovered
• China tests a domestically produced anti-smog drone
• Jordan and Egypt sign MOU with Iraq for the Natural Gas
10 March 2014
• India pledges to provide 4500 crore rupees Assistance Package to Bhutan
• World Longest aircraft Airlander unveiled in Britain
• New Zealand decides to hold referendum on changing the National Flag
11 March 2014
• India and United States Energy Dialogue held in New Delhi
• The French company Airbus launches its wholly owned subsidiary in India called Airbus India
• Nepal plans to lease Himalayan peaks to Private companies to boost tourism

WORLD DAIRY
March 2014
• Michelle Bachelet sworn-in as President of Chile for second term
12 March 2014
• HR 5171 A, the largest ever yellow hypergiant star discovered
• Spice jet and Boeing sign a deal worth 4.4 billion dollar
• Panasonic announces pollution compensation for China workers
• Parliament of Libya sacks Prime Minister Ali Zeidan
13 March 2014
• Tomas Halik, a priest of Czech Republic, wins Templeton Prize 2014
• Former Sierra Leone President, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah dies. He was 82.
• World Kidney Day observed across the World
• India offers 1 billion US dollar line of credit to Bangladesh for development of trade facilities and
infrastructure.
• Syrian Parliament approves new Election Law
14 March 2014
• The US regulator, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation files a law-suit on 16 of the world’s
largest banks for allegedly manipulating the Libor interest rate
15 March 2014
• UK decides to honour the Indian heroes of World War I to commemorate the 100th anniversary
of the conflict of World War I that started in 1914
16 March 2014
• The world’s number two Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer to win the BNP Paribas Open Final
in California

WORLD DAIRY
March 2014
• Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai win doubles title of BNP Paribas Open 2014.
17 March 2014
• UNSC extends mandate of UNAMA till March 2015
• Russian President signs decree recognizing Crimea as a Sovereign State
• Paris imposes a partial car ban to combat pollution
• Andrew Marchese develops a Robot that can swim like fish
• US, Japan and EU imposed sanctions on Russia over Crimea annexation
• Britain hands over two military bases to Afghan troops in Helmand province
• European Parliament pass a law to introduce a Universal Mobile Device Charger
18 March 2014
• Ekhon Nedekha Nadir Xipaare wins audience choice award in North Carolina film festival
• Russia signs Accession Agreement with Crimea
• Thailand announces to lift State of Emergency
19 March 2014
• Pro-Russian forces seize Ukraine’s Navy headquarters in Sevastopol
• An artificial heart that beats in animals developed
20 March 2014
• World Sparrow Day observed across the world
• Aditi Khanna becomes the first women President of Indian Journalist’s Association of London
• New Molecule HSP90 with potential to kill malaria parasite discovered
• FIH introduces 4-quarter format in Hockey

WORLD DAIRY
March 2014
21 March 2014
• UN observes International Day of Forest
• Sharp rise in asylum in industrialised countries: UNHCR Report on Asylum Trends 2013
• World Poetry Day observed across the world
• Former Brazilian international footballer Hilderaldo Luiz Bellini dies
• Big Hoss, World Largest TV unveiled
• Ukraine signs the Association Agreement with EU
22 March 2014
• Israeli diplomats launch indefinite strike over pay dispute
23 March 2014
• Ebola Virus detected in Guinea
• Malala and Mishab-ul-Haq conferred with Pakistan Civil Awards on Pakistan Day
• Adolfo Suarez, the first elected Prime Minister of Spain, dies
• 2400 km march over the demand to cancel Myitsone dam in Myanmar
• 24 March 2014
• Rusi Dinshaw, Pakistan’s only Parsi cricketer died
• Japan signs an agreement to hand over nuclear material to the US
• 529 supporters of ousted President Morsi sentenced to death
• Hongkonger added into Oxford English Dictionary
25 March 2014
• 7 million died in 2012 due to Air pollution: WHO

WORLD DAIRY
March 2014
• GE Healthcare and CTSI announces to set up 25 cancer detection and treatment centres in
India
• Third Nuclear Security Summit 2014 held in The Hague
• Shigeru Ban, Japanese architect wins the Pritzker Architecture Prize 2014
26 March 2014
• Facebook decides to acquire virtual reality technology firm Oculus VR
• IBM unveils SMAC solutions for telecom operators
• General Sedki Sobhi sworn-in as Defence Minister and Army Chief of Egypt
• Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi resigns as Army Chief of Egypt to run for Presidential Elections
27 March 2014
• South East Asia region of the WHO certified as polio-free region by WHO after India’s victory
over polio disease
• US and Russia talks fails to break deadlock on Ukraine crisis
• UN passes non-binding resolution de-recognising Russian annexation of Crimea
• Deny access to websites infringing copyright: EU court to ISPs
• President Barack Obama announces NSA reform plans
• UNHRC passes a changed draft resolution on Sri Lanka
• Saudi King appoints half-brother Moqren as next heir to throne
• •Japan to start retrial of Longest serving death row inmate Iwao Hakamada
28 March 2014
• Military Government of Fiji declares to hold democratic elections on 17 September
• Astronomers discover first-ever miniature planet with two rings
• Sunil Gavaskar appointed as Interim President of BCCI

WORLD DAIRY
March 2014
• Jens Stoltenberg appointed as Secretary General of NATO
29 March 2014
• Earth Hour observed across the world
30 March 2014
• Djokovic defeats Nadal to win fourth Miami Masters crown
• Lewis Hamilton wins Malaysian Grand Prix
• Simon Santoso, Indonesian Shuttler wins Malaysia Grand Prix gold
• University of Chicago opens an academic centre in Connaught Place, Delhi
31 March 2014
• Nancy Powell resigns as the US Ambassador to India

NATIONAL
Supreme Court seeks response from Centre on selection process
of Lokpal
Supreme Court of India on 31 March 2014 issued a notice to the Union Government and has
sought its response on selection process of Chairperson and member of the Lokpal. It has asked
the center to justify within four weeks the Search Committee Rules, 2014 that is framed under the
Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
The bench of Supreme Court comprising Justice RM Lodha and Kurian Joseph has directed the
government on a petition filed by an NGO Common Cause questioning the entire process for
appointment of chairperson and members of the Lokpal. The NGO in its plea is seeking its stay
on the process. NGO’s plea sought to declare the pro illegal the rules under which selections are
being done.

The NGO in its PIL has sought a declaration that certain provisions of the rules are ultra vires of the
Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act. It has also sought quashing of the entire selection process initiated
under the rules alleging that it is illegal, arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.
It has said that the government is going ahead with the selection process despite there being
serious flaws in the rules under which selections are being done.
The notice of the Supreme Court was accepted by Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran on the
behalf of the Center.
As per the petition, earlier, Justice K T Thomas and Fali Nariman had already declined the proposal
to accept the offers on similar grounds at the post of the chairman and member of the search
committee respectively.
K.T.Thomas refused to head Lokpal Committee Search Panel

Retired Supreme Court judge
K.T.Thomas refused to head the
Lokpal Committee Search panel on 3
March 2014. He was unanimously
chosen to head the Search Panel by
the Lokpal Selection Committee on
21 February 2014.
Thomas refused on the ground that

Lokpal Search panel will not be able
to conduct an independent probe.
Eminent Lawyer Fali Nariman had also refused to become the part of the Lokpal Search Panel.
Lokpal Search panel was constituted by the Lokpal Selection Committee chaired by Prime Minister
of India Manmohan Singh. The Search panel was constituted in accordance with the provisions of
the Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
The Search panel was mandated to scrutinize and recommend names to the Selection Committee
for the post of Lokpal Chairperson and 8 other members.
The Search Committee as constituted comprised of 8 members. The members of the Search
panel were Justice K T Thomas, Fali Nariman (senior advocate) S.Y.Qureshi (former Chief Election
Commissioner) ,Meenakshi Gopinath (Principal, LSR College), Mrinal Miri (Educationist), Kaki
Madhava Rao (ex-AP Chief Secretary), H.K. Dua (Rajya Sabha MP), are the members of the Lokpal
Search Panel.

Selection Procedure of the Lokpal
Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 lays down a two-layered Lokpal selection process.
Firstly, Lokpal Selection Committee must set up a Search Committee to shortlist possible candidates
for the 9-member Lokpal body including Chairperson. The Selection Committee will comprise of
the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha Speaker, Chief Justice of India or any
other Supreme Court judge he may appoint and an eminent jusrist nominated by the President or
any member.
Currently the Selection Committee comprises of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of
the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Supreme Court Justice H L
Dattu (representative of the Chief Justice of India), and jurist P P Rao (the fifth member).
Secondly, Search Committee will finalise and recommend the names to the Selection Committee.
The Selection Committee may or may not consider the names for the Lokpal.
Lastly, the Lokpal Selection Committee will forward the shortlisted names for the constitution of
Lokpal body to the President of India. Upon receiving the names, President of India will appoint the
Chairperson and other members of the Lokpal.
Supreme Court ordered sacking of incumbent BCCI chief N

Srinivasan
The Suporeme Court ordered the sacking of incumbent Chairman of Board of Cricket of India
(BCCI) while delivering a series of judgments on 28 March 2014 to overhaul the BCCI. The order
was given against the backdrop of Mudgal Committee Report on IPL spot fixing during IPL 2013.
The Bench of Justice A.K. Patnaik and Justice Ibrahim Kalifulla ordered the following
The court asked the incumbent Chairman of BCCI N Srinivasan to step down till the investigations
into alleged involvement of his son-in-law G Meiyappan is pending. The order was given to ensure
transparent probe.
The court appointed Sunil Gavaskar as the acting president of the Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI) of IPL 2014. Sunil Gavaskar replaced the Srinivasan.
The Court also directed the administration responsibilities of BCCI to the Vice-President of BCCI
Shivlal Yadav, the former off-spinner of Indian Cricket team.
The court also directed that none of the employees of India Cements Limited or its associate
companies will perform any of the duties assigned to them by the BCCI. The court also allowed the
Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals to participate in the IPL 2014.

Back ground
According to Mudgal Committee report on Spot fixing during IPL 2013, Meiyappan was involved
in betting during IPL 2013 and Srinivasan position as chairman of BCCI may interfere the ongoing
investigations on IPL spot fixing.
SC uphold the age of juvenile at 18 years
The Supreme Court on 30 March 2014 uphold the age of juvenile at 18 years. SC cited that the
legislature has fixed the age which is constitutionally permissible.
Two petitions were filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy challenging the constitutional validity
of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000.
The petitioners had sought fresh interpretation of the term ‘juvenile’ in the statute and leaving it to
the criminal court, instead of Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), to determine the juvenility of an offender
in heinous crimes.
Under the Chief Justice P Sathasivam, a Bench was formed comprising of three judges. The bench
had rejected the petitions and upheld the constitutionality of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection
of Children) Act 2000.
In the judgement, the bench opined that the Union legislature has adopted the age of 18 as the
dividing line between juveniles and adults and such a decision is constitutionally permissible and all
persons below the age of 18 are put in one class/group by the JJ Act to provide a separate scheme
of investigation, trial and punishment for offences committed by them.
As per the Supreme Court, the object of the JJ Act was to rehabilitate the offenders of under 18
years, so that they could become useful members of the society later on.
About Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 is the primary legal framework
for juvenile justice in India. The Act provides for a special approach towards the prevention and
treatment of juvenile delinquency and provides a framework for the protection, treatment and
rehabilitation of children in the purview of the juvenile justice system.
About Beijing Rules

In September 1980 the United Nations held its Sixth Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the
Treatment of Offenders in Caracas, Venezuela. The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the

Administration of Juvenile Justice, often referred to as the Beijing Rules was adopted.
It is a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly regarding the treatment of juvenile prisoners
and offenders in member nations.
About United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention and opened it for signature on 20 November
1989.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (commonly abbreviated as the CRC,
CROC, or UNCRC) is a human rights treaty which sets out the civil, political, economic, social,
health and cultural rights of children.
Supreme Court directed all States and UTs to implement Manu-

al Scavengers Act
Supreme Court on 27 March 2014 directed all the States and Union Territories to implement
Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
The three-judge Bench comprised of Chief Justice P Sathasivam, Justice Ranjan Gogoi and
Justice N V Ramana ordered a series of directions to abolish the practice of manual scavenging
and to prevent future generations from this inhuman practice. The Apex court also deprecated the
practice of manually removing night soil with bare hands, brooms or metal scrappers.
Directions issued by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court issued a slew of directions for rehabilitation of those involved in manual
scavenging by providing cash assistance, education and benefits of other social welfare scheme.
• At least one member of their family shall be given, subject to eligibility and willingness, training
in livelihood skill and shall be paid a monthly stipend during rehabilitation period. Besides, one
adult member of the family is given subsidy or concessional loan for taking up an alternative
occupation.
• To address sewer deaths, it suggested that entering sewer lines without safety gears should
be made a crime even in emergency situations. And for such death, a compension of 10 lakh
rupees should be given to the family of the died.
• The people who were employed as scavengers should be allotted residential plots or constructed
houses or money for such construction according to their eligibility and willingness.

• Persons released from manual scavenging should not have to cross hurdles to receive what is
their legitimate due under the law.
• Safai karamchari women should be provided support for dignified livelihood in accordance with
their choice of livelihood schemes.
• The Railways should take time-bound strategy to end manual scavenging on the tracks and
persons released from manual scavenging should not have to cross hurdles to receive what is
their legitimate due under the law.
Background
The direction of the Supreme Court came in the backdrop of writ petition filed by the Safai Karamchari
Andolan. In the writ petition it was argued that Manual scavengers are considered as untouchables
by the mainstream castes and discriminated them socially. Besides, it also argued that dry latrines
have not only continued to exist till date in several States but also have increased to 96 lakh. Still
these are being cleaned manually by scavengers belonging to the Scheduled Castes.
From the Official statistics of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the year
2002-03, there are 676009 identified manual scavengers in the country and among them 95 percent
are Dalits.
EC guidelines on ex-gratia for kin of poll officials killed in line of

duty
Election Commission on 27 March 2014 revised the ex-gratia payment to the next of kin of officials,
who dies while performing poll duty. The Commission in its direction to the state governments has
asked them to pay minimum ex-gratia payment of 10 lakh rupees.
But it has also asked the state governments to provide an amount of minimum 20 lakh rupees to
poll officials who are killed in violent incident or terrorist attack.
In its direction, the commission has also said that the poll official who suffers from any serious
permanent disability will be provided with a minimum ex-gratia of five lakh rupees. But the ex-gratia
compensation would be minimum 10 lakh rupees if such a disability is caused due to terror strike
or violent incident.
2.3% of tested drugs found to be of sub-standard nature: DGCI
Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) found that 2.3% of all the drugs tested by it were of sub-

standard nature. This was revealed by the surveillance which DGCI carried out since December
2012. The results of the surveillance was released by the DGCI on 19 March 2014.
During the surveillance, DGCI collected as many as 1123 samples were collected and tested.
Samples were drawn from government hospitals, retailers and wholesalers between April and
December 2013 by joint teams of central and state drug controller officials.
The test revealed that of 1123 samples tested, 26 drug samples failed to qualify the test. Moreover,
the highest concentration of sub-standard drugs was found in Jammu & Kashmir followed by
Himachal Pradesh.
The drugs which have been identified by DGCI as sub-standard are: (i) Cefden-O (Cefixime &
Ofloxacin Tab); (ii) Fixin IR-200 DT (cefixime Tab); (iii) Rabed; (iv) Kindac-P (Aceclofenac &
Paracetamol Tab); (v) Biodox Bolus; (vi) Ranodom (Omeprazole Magnesium & Domperidone Tab);
(vii) Orymox-250 DT Tab; (vii) Diclogold-M (Paracetamol, Diclofenac Sodium & Mag. Trisilicate Tab);
(viii) Coldgard (Paracetamol, Phenylephrine HCl, Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Caffeine Tab); and (ix)
Pre-MR (Diclofenacv Pot., Paracetamol & Chlorzoxazone Tab)
Analysis
The results of the surveillance comes in the wake of regular ban on imports of Indian drugs by
United States Food and Drug Administrators (USFDA). Recently, USFDA banned the import of
drugs and drug ingredients from leading Indian manufacturers including Ranbaxy Laboratories and
Wockhardt citing quality concerns.
The ban threatened the image and market share of 14 billion dollar of Indian pharmaceuticals
sector in the United States. India is second only to Canada as a drug exporter to the United States,
where it supplied about 40 percent of generic and over-the-counter drugs.
The DGCI conducted its last large-scale country-wide survey in 2009 for the period 2003-2008. It
had collected over 24000 samples and tested them for genuineness amidst some allegations which
termed India as a major source of fake drugs.
The study found that only 0.046% of the drugs in circulation were actually spurious and 6 to 7.5%
of the drug samples tested failed quality standard tests annually.
Nagaland and Assam became first two states to get Plastic

Photo Identity Card
Nagaland and Assam became the first two states to be issued with Plastic Photo Identity Card for
elections in India. It was announced by the Deputy Election commissioner Sudhir Tripathi in Kohima
on 12 March 2014. The voters of Nagaland and Assam will be using the cards for the first time in

the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Election commission decided to provide plastic Electors
Photo Identity Card (EPIC) instead of laminated paper card to voters in India to avoid duplication
and forgery.
The Plastic Photo Identity Card will be issued through the Common Service Centre of the central
government’s Information Technology department.
It has also declared Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab and Tamil
Nadu as the most expenditure sensitive states in the country. A committee has been constituted
for the monitoring of election expenditure.
Also, Election Commission has set-up flying squad, static surveillance team and election expenditure
monitoring committees to curb the use of money power during elections.
DoT issued new guidelines to tackle the threats of Cyber attack
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Union Ministry of Communications and

Information Technology on 17 March 2014 released guidelines to tackle the threats of cyber attacks
and hacking of websites.
DoT issued guidelines to all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to adopt new security measures to
advise customers to take necessary precautions to protect modems from malware attacks and
hacking attempts. Modem is an instrument that connects a computer to the Internet.
DoT had written to all ISPs to assist customers to change the password of ADSL (asymmetric digital
subscriber line) modem to avoid unauthorised access to modem. The password was normally
installed by broadband service providers. The ADSL modems are presently supplied by vendors
with default set up of user ID and password as admin.
An ADSL modem is a version of the regular DSL modem, that gives higher download but lower
upload speeds.
The DoT had said that ISP’s should disable protocol ports on the modems which otherwise may be
used as hacking points to plant malwares.
The DoT had asked the ISPs to tell their customers to check their online daily usage, and if any
unexpected high usage of data is noticed, they may bring it to the notice of the ISP concerned.
Consumers should also upgrade to latest firmware or software and ISP’s should disseminate the
message to customers at the time of installation and at regular intervals
Besides, Customers should also be advised to switch off their modem when not in use.
DoT had asked all the ISP’s to implement all the guidelines by May 2014 to ensure security of
almost 1.5 crore fixed-line broadband users.

SC directed Law Commission to look into issue of hate speeches
Supreme Court of India on 12 March 2014 directed the Law Commission to look into the issue
of hate speeches by social, political and religious outfits. In it direction the court also asked the
commission to frame guidelines to regulate such provocative statements.
This direction was given by a bench of Supreme Court, which was headed by Justice BS Chauhan
and included Justice MY Eqbal and Justice AK Sikri. The direction was given after the court
refused to frame guidelines itself. It has directed the commission to look into the matter and give
its recommendation to the centre.
The Apex Court passed this order following a PIL filed by an NGO that alleges that there is a need
for guidelines. This PIL says that the hate speeches affects democratic nature of the country and
also violates the provisions given in the Constitution of India.
The filed PIL has named Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh as the two states that recently had
witnessed incidents of alleged hate speeches.

Election Commission set up multi agency grid to curb Black
Money
The Election Commission on 11

March 2014 created a multi-agency
grid of revenue and security
intelligence agencies. The aim is to
curb the use of black money in Lok
Sabha and assembly polls. The
intelligence agency will regularly
update Election Commission about
suspected financial movements.
Election Commission in the first of

its kind initiative had created a board
of senior officials drawn from ten
financial and security intelligence
departments.
The intelligence agencies include the officials from income tax intelligence and investigations,
Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Central Economic Intelligence
Bureau, Narcotics Control Bureau and the security forces of SSB, BSF, CISF and the Railway
Protection Force.
The board will meet twice a week at Nirvachan Sadan to generate common leads and flag suspect
money instances.
About Election Commission

The Constitution of India has vested in the Election Commission of India the superintendence,
direction and control of the entire process for conduct of elections to Parliament and Legislature of
every State and to the offices of President and Vice-President of India.
Election Commission of India is a permanent Constitutional Body. The Election Commission was
established in accordance with the Constitution on 25th January 1950. The Commission celebrated
its Golden Jubilee in 2001.
Originally the commission had only a Chief Election Commissioner. It currently consists of Chief
Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.

Complete trial in criminal cases involving lawmakers within one
year: SC to Lower Courts
Supreme Court of India on 10 March 2014 directed the lower courts to complete trial in cases that
involves lawmakers. In its direction, it has fixed a deadline of one year for framing charges against
them.
Supreme Court has also ordered the lower courts to expedite the proceedings against sitting MPs
and MLAs in criminal cases. The Court has also said that if in case the trial is not completed within
a year than the trial courts will have to give explanation for not completion to Chief Justice of the
respective High Court.
In its direction, the Court has reserved the rights of extension of the time in the hands in the Chief
Justice of high court if in case, he is satisfied with the reason given by the trial judge for his failure to
complete the trial within the set time. This bench has directed that all such proceedings that involve
lawmakers must be conducted on a day-to-day basis in order to expedite the trial.
These directions were given by a bench of Supreme Court that was headed by Justice RM Lodha
and the order was passed following a PIL filed by an NGO that was seeking direction for expeditious
trial in cases involving lawmakers.
Background
This direction was given following a PIL filed arguing that the trial of these lawmakers is pending for
years and this delay in framing charges allows them to enjoy membership of the legislative body
although they have been charged in different offences.
This step of the apex court can be considered as an important move to decriminalize politics of
the country. Earlier, the apex court in its direction passed in 2013 ruled that lawmakers who are
convicted of a crime will stand disqualified immediately.
Medical Visa not required in cases of Surrogacy for OCIs & PIOs
Union Home Ministry issued an order on 6 March 2014 saying that an Overseas Citizens of India
(OCIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) can visit India without a medical visa for commissioning
surrogacy. This facility will be applicable for those couples who are married for at least two years
and will only require permission only from the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or
the Foreigners’ Registration Office (FRO).

The notification also says that the Indian couples will have to fulfill
• The foreign man and woman are duly married and the marriage should have sustained at least
for two years.
• A letter from the Embassy of the foreign country in India or the Foreign Ministry of the country
should be enclosed with the visa application stating clearly that
1. The country recognizes surrogacy and
2. The child/children to be born to the commissioning couple through the Indian surrogate mother
will be permitted entry into their country as biological child/children of the couple commissioning
surrogacy.
• The couple will furnish an undertaking that they would take care of the child/children born
through surrogacy.
• The treatment should be done only at one of the registered ART (reproductive technology)
clinics recognized by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
• The couple should produce a duly notarised agreement between the applicant couple and the
prospective Indian surrogate mother.
It also says that the couple will also have to provide an undertaking that mentions that the couple
will take care of the child.
Other provisions mentioned in the order for carrying out surrogacy are
• The permission and certificates for commissioning surrogacy and liabilities of the surrogate
mother have been settled will be required before granting exit to the child. The confirmation will
be required from FRRO/FRO and the office will retain a copy of the birth certificate
The notification has also mentioned that this facility will not be applied for foreigners and they
will have to obtain a medical visa. It also mentions that a wife of a foreign national or OCI/PIO
cardholder not involved in the treatment may not require a specific medical visa
Person of Indian Origin (PIO)

The new PIO Card Scheme, 2002, is in operation since 15 September 2002 and it defines the
guidelines for being issued a PIO Card and they include
• He/She had any time held an Indian passport
• He/She or either of his/her parents or grandparents or great grandparents was born in India
or permanent resident in India provided neither was at any time a citizen of any other specific

country
• He/She is a spouse of a citizen of India or a person of Indian origin covered less than 1 & 2
above
• Iranian nationals of Indian Origin can be granted PIO card after MHA approval.
Foreigners holding PIO cards

• The foreigners holding PIO cards can gain entry into India if valid PIO card is presented along
with the valid new foreign passport issued in lieu of the passport endorsed on the PIO card.
• However the foreigners are advised to have necessary endorsement of the new passport from
the competent authority on their PIO cards to avoid any inconvenience.
A person of Indian origin, who is not a citizen of any of these countries, namely
a) Pakistan
b) Bangladesh
c) Sri Lanka
d) Bhutan
e) Afghanistan
f) China
g) Nepal
Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI)

Foreigners of Indian origin (except Pakistan and Bangladesh) are eligible to apply under OCI
scheme, if he/she possesses evidence of self or parents or grandparents:
• Being eligible to become a citizen of India at the time of commencement of Indian Constitution
i.e. 26 January 1950
• Belonging to a territory that became a part of India after 15 January 1947
• Being a citizen of India on or after 26 January 1950

New Guidelines on medical care to treat rape victims issued
The Union Health Ministry on 4 March 2014 issued new guidelines for treating rape victims and has
asked all the hospitals to set up a designated room for forensic and medical examination of victims.
Under the guidelines it has also outlawed the two-finger test performed on them (rape victims) by
dubbing it as unscientific.
With these guidelines it the government has tried to draw a line to do away the terrible medical
procedure, with which the victims of sexual abuses are subjected to. These set of national guidelines
to deal with the criminal assault cases has been formulated by Department of Health Research
(DHR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) with the help of experts.
Apart from the guidelines to treat the sexual assault cases, the DHR has also drafted a new manual
to address the psycho-social impact of sexual violence. The procedures include counseling of the
victims to alleviate their woes.
The newly issued guidelines says

• The time, when medical tests are carried their shall not be any third person in the room other
than the doctor but in cases of availability of a male doctor, a female attendant must be there
• The new set of rules asks to provide comprehensive care while addressing the issues like
physical injuries, HIV, Hepatitis B and others

• The patient should be provided with social support, appropriate referrals, counseling following
the psychological effects
• The two-finger test that was used by the doctors to reach the conclusion that whether the girl
is habituated to sexual intercourse or not has been outlawed as it is considered that manual
recognition is not scientific and it shall not be performed
• The guidelines bars doctors from using word rape in their opinion as it is a legal definition
• The guidelines has made it mandatory for the forensic medical report to state it precisely
• It has laid down the provisions under which the doctors should examine such cases without an
FIR if the survivor reports to the hospital first. Till now rape survivor examination was done only
after receiving police requisition
Background
Dr VM Katoch, the secretary to GOI-DHR and Director General ICMR in November 2011 formed
an expert group on Gender and Health under the Chairmanship of Dr ME Khan (Secretary, Sexual
Violence Research Initiative) to formulate guidelines that can be used at Primary Health Centres
and district hospitals, the places where rape victim approaches.
Later, Indrajit Khandekar was given the responsibility to draft these guidelines. The responsibility
was transferred to Khandekar, who is the in charge Clinical Forensic Medicine Unit (CFMU) and
Associate professor at Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (MGIMS) Sevagram-Wardha.
He was referred following his study report titled pitiable & horrendous quality of forensic medical
examination of sexual assault cases.
Assembly polls to be held in Andhra, Odisha and Sikkim

simultaneously with Lok Sabha polls
The Election Commission of India on 5 March 2014 announced the date of Assembly elections in
three states Sikkim, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. These elections will be held simultaneously with
the Lok Sabha polls.
Dates for conducting the Assembly elections

• Odisha Assembly will be held in two phase poll - with 70 seats going to polls on 10 April 2014
and 77 on 17 April 2014
• Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections will be held in two phase poll - on 30 April 2014 for 119
seats and on 7 May 2014 for remaining 175 seats of Andhra Pradesh Assembly

• Sikkim polls will be held - on 12 April 2014 for all 32 seats
Union Cabinet approved a new rail coach manufacturing unit in

Kolar
The Union Cabinet on 28 February 2014 approved setting up of a new rail coach manufacturing
unit at Kolar, Karnataka. The unit will manufacture 500 coaches per annum at an estimated cost of
1460.92 crore rupees with active participation of State Government.
The Ministry of Railways will finance 50 percent of the cost. The government of Karnataka will
provide the remaining 50 percent of the project cost with escalation and required land to the extent
of about 1118.38 acres, free of cost.
The proposed plant shall help Indian Railways in ensuring timely availability of passenger coaches
to meet the increasing demands of passenger transportation.

INDIA DAIRY
March 2014
• 1 March 2014
• National Food Security Act came into force in Madhya Pradesh
2 March 2014
• President Rule imposed in Andhra Pradesh
• Union Cabinet clears reservation for Jats under OBC category
• Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry launches DMIC chapter of Uttar Pradesh at Lucknow
03 March 2014
• K T Thomas refuses to head Lokpal Committee Search Panel
• RBI extends date of exchanging pre-2005 notes to 1 January 2015
• Natco wins patent case against Israeli firm Teva
• Hockey India accorded status of National Sports Federation
04 March 2014
• Assam becomes the first state to observe Child Protection Day
• Bharti Airtel and Etisalat sign a pact to set up regional network infrastructure
• Mumbai least expensive city for expatriates: EIU Report
• Sheila Dikshit appointed as the new Governor of Kerala
• Union Ministry of Minority Affairs launches Maulana Azad Sehat Scheme
• Union Ministry of Minority Affairs launches Nalanda Project
05 March 2014
• Lok Sabha elections to be held from 7 April 2014 in 9 phases
• Assembly polls to be held in Andhra, Odisha and Sikkim simultaneously with Lok Sabha polls

INDIA DAIRY
March 2014
• Punjab Cabinet approves the Backward Status for Jats community
• Tamil Nadu and Railways win Volleyball Federation Cup 2014
• Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu win women and men’s title at the 64th National Basketball
Championship
• Sports Minister inaugurates National Cycling Academy in New Delhi
06 March 2014
• Medical Visa not required in cases of Surrogacy for OCIs & PIOs
• Current Account Deficit declines to 0.9 percent of GDP in Quarter 3 of 2013-14
• NDMC launches Stri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana
• Tom Albanese appointed as CEO of Vedanta Resources
• Ragala Venkat Rahul wins 2 Gold and Silver at 16th Asian Youth Weightlifting Championships
07 March 2014
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announces to set up a committee under the Financial Stability and
Development Council (FSDC) to lay guidelines for implementing Basel-III norms
08 March 2014
• New India Assurance announces Asha Kiran - a health insurance cover for girl child
• President Confers Stree Shakti Puruskar 2013
09 March 2014
• Virat Kohli reclaims number one position in the ICC ODI batsmen rankings
• Pooja Ghatkar wins Gold medal at 7th Asian Air Gun Championship at Kuwait
• Mizoram wins 68th Santosh Trophy of Football by defeating Railways
• Indian Writer Pankaj Mishra wins Windham Campbell Literature Prize 2014

INDIA DAIRY
March 2014
10 March 2014
• Complete trial in criminal cases involving lawmakers within one year: SC to Lower Courts
• Union Government announces to build 200 low cost airports in the next 20 years
11 March 2014
• Election Commission sets up multi agency grid to curb Black Money
• National Campaign titled U & Me Against Dengue launched
• Former SC Judge B Srikrishna appointed as Chairman of Financial Planning Standards Board

India (FPSB)
• Maoists attack near Tongpal in Sukma district in Chhattisgarh killed 16 people including 15
security personnel of which 11 were from CRPF
12 March 2014
• Nagaland and Assam first states to get Plastic Photo Identity Card
• SC directs Law Commission to look into issue of hate speeches
• Tech Mahindra and Alstom Transport announces to set up a global development centre in
Bangalore
• President Pranab Mukherjee presented the President’s Standard and Colours Award to 112
Helicopter Unit and 4 Base Repair Depot (BRD) respectively
13 March 2014
• The FICCI-KPMG report on Indian civil aviation released highlighting the issue of over taxation
and lack of infrastructure in smaller cities that are hampering the high growth in Indian aviation
market
• Nandan Nilekani resigns as Chairman of UIDAI
• TERI develops cloud based open-source Web-GIS tool
• RBI hikes trade related remittance from 2 to 5 lakh rupees per transaction

INDIA DAIRY
March 2014
14 March 2014
• Sachin Tendulkar voted as the Cricketer of the Generation by a 50-member jury of ESPNcricinfo
• CCI imposes penalty of 18.38 crore rupees on Bengal Chemist and Druggist Association
• Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) sells 10 percent of its government stake to the Oil India Limited
(OIL) and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) reducing government stake from 78.92% to
68.92%
15 March 2014
• NTPC approves 14366-crore rupees investment for Jharkhand plant
• Gyan Correa selected for the 17th Gollapudi Srinivas National Award 2013 for Director for his
debut film The Good Road in Gujarati
16 March 2014
• India nominates Rani-ki-Vav located in Patan, Gujarat and the Great Himalayan National Park
(GHNP) in Himachal Pradesh for UNESCO’s World Heritage Site Status for 2014.
17 March 2014
• Department of Telecommunication issues new guidelines to tackle the threats of Cyber attack
• India nominates Rani-ki-Vav and GHNP for UNESCO’s World Heritage Site Status
• Gyan Correa bags the Gollapudi Srinivas National Award 2013
• Coal India introduces Voluntary retirement Scheme for female workers
• Indian Oil announces to build 30000 crore rupees refinery at Mundra in Gujarat
18 March 2014
• India is the world’s largest arms importer: SIPRI

INDIA DAIRY
March 2014
19 March 2014
• RBI extends 80:20 scheme to import gold to five private banks
• 2.3% of tested drugs found to be of sub-standard nature: DGCI
• Union Health Ministry revokes ban on painkiller drug Analgin
20 March 2014
• KC Chakrabarty, Deputy Governor of RBI resigns before end of term
• SEBI issues new norms to ease KYC details for investors
• Khushwant Singh, the renowned author and journalist dies
• Indian Journalist Shubranshu Choudhary wins Google Digital Activism Award 2014
• Assam Government proposes trimming of Rhinos horn to prevent poaching
• e-Commerce firm ibiboGroup acquires Bangalore-based bus tracking service YourBus
• TCPSL launches white Label Automated Teller Machines
21 March 2014
• Physicist Rajesh Gopakumar selected for G D Birla Award 2013
• GEAC revalidates 10-GM crops for field trails
22 March 2014
• World Water Day observed across the World
• President confers Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards
23 March 2014
• Rationalised Roman for Kashmiri written by Dr. R L Bhat released
• Bhavani Island in A.P. developed as new adventure sports

INDIA DAIRY
March 2014
• Stuart Oliver wins 1st-ever Indian truck-racing championship
• Railway Sports Promotion Board wins senior women hockey National Title
24 March 2014
• Supreme Court directs Centre not to make Aadhaar mandatory for citizens
• EPFO announces to provide Universal Account Number from October 2014
• Bank of India launches Instant Money Transfer Scheme
• Govind Mishra, the Hindi writer selected for Saraswati Samman 2013
25 March 2014
• SEBI to release FATCA compliance norms in the fiscal year 2014-15
• Jammu and Kashmir becomes first state to show No Smoking Area in elections booths
• Nanda, the Veteran actress died in Mumbai
26 March 2014
• India wins 3rd South Asian Handball Championship title
• CERT-In detects Smartphone Virus Dendroid
• Poachers kill a Rhino in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary of Assam
27 March 2014
• EC guidelines on ex-gratia for kin of poll officials killed in line of duty
• The WHO certified India as Polio Free country
• Supreme Court directs all States and UTs to implement Manual Scavengers Act
• West Zone wins cricket’s Deodhar Trophy 2014
• RBI extends the timeline for full implementation of Basel III norms by 2019

INDIA DAIRY
March 2014
• Indian-Origin student Gopal Rao wins UK Twitter Prize
28 March 2014
• Supreme Court orders sacking of incumbent BCCI chief N Srinivasan
• Heena Sidhu wins silver medal in 10m Air Pistol Women final of ISSF World Cup
• C-130J Super Hercules aircraft of IAF crashes in Rajasthan: 5 killed on board
29 March 2014
• Ambar Srivastava of IIT-Delhi develops TrueHb Hemometer to test haemoglobin
30 March 2014
• SC upheld the age of juvenile to 18 years
• President clears the re-promulgation of SEBI Ordinance 2013
• IPCC releases Fifth Assessment Report on climate impacts on human and natural systems
• Zubin Mehta wins special jury award of Times Now NRI Awards 2014
31 March 2014
• Ministry of New and Renewable energy and NHB sign MoU to channelise subsidy into solar
energy usage

ECONOMY
President re-promulgated SEBI Ordinance 2013 for third time
President Pranab Mukherjee on 30 March 2014 re-promulgated the SEBI Ordinance Securities
Laws (Amendment) Bill 2013 for third time. The ordinance aims to give powers to Securities and
Exchanges Board of India (SEBI) to act against Ponzi scheme.
The Ordinance empowers the SEBI to order search and seizure and crack down on Ponzi schemes
and to demand information such as phone calls data records for aiding its securities transactions
investigations
Earlier, the Ordinance was re-promulgated on the advice of the Union Cabinet by the President
on 18 July 2013 and again on 16 September 2013. The move was to arm the regulator with more
stringent powers comes in the wake to curb the illegal involvement of chit fund companies.
However, Parliament could not pass the Securities Laws (Amendment) Bill 2013 in the Winter
session. Hence the Ordinance got lapsed on 15 January 2014. Ordinances must be approved by

Parliament within six weeks of reassembling of the Parliament else the ordinance will cease to
operate.
About Ordinance
Article 123 of the Constitution grants the President certain law making powers to promulgate
Ordinances when either of the two Houses of Parliament is not in session and hence it is not
possible to enact laws in the Parliament.
BHEL signed contract of 125crore rupees of hydro power in Ut-

tarakhand
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) signed a contract of 125 crore rupees from Uttarakhand
Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited on 31 March 2014. The contract is for setting up a 120 MW Hydro Electric
Project in Uttarakhand on 31 March 2014.
BHEL has increased its manufacturing capacity to 20000 MW per annum. The hydro power project,
Vyasi Project is a run-of-the-river scheme on the Yamuna.
The contract includes design, manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning of hydro
generating sets and associated electro mechanical works.
The hydro generating sets will be supplied by BHEL’s Bhopal unit. The transformers and control and
monitoring system will be supplied by the BHEL’s Jhansi unit and Electronic Division, Bangalore.
The erection and commissioning of the equipment will be carried out by BHEL’s Power Sector
(Northern Region).
About Vyasi Project

Vyasi hydro electric project is a run of the river scheme on river Yamuna in Uttarakhand. The project
involves construction of an 86m high dam, a 2.7km long headrace tunnel and surface power house
at Hathiari village.
The project comprises two hydro generating sets of 60MW each with vertical Francis turbines. The
project of 120 (2*60 MW) is expected to generate an annual energy generation of 375.22 MU in a
90 percent dependable year.

Spices export of India increased 41 percent during April to De-
cember 2013
The value of export of spices of India during April to December 2013 (of current fiscal year 2013-14)
in terms of rupee registered an increase of 41 percent. This was revealed by the figures released by
the Spices Board of India at Kochi.
The export of the value added spice products also registered a growth of 46 percent till 31 December
2013. Pepper and Cardamom were the leading contributors in the spices export with Pepper with
1846 crore rupees.
Overall, the total export between April 2013 and December 2013 of spices and spice products was
571680 tonnes, which generated 9433 crore rupees. Earlier during April to December 2012, the
total exports were of 449926 tonnes valued 6696 crore rupees. This was a hike of 27 percent both
in terms of volume and value of dollars.
This increase of exports has achieved 92 percent of the set target in terms of volume and 91
percent in terms of value for the fiscal year 2013-14.
Spices Board of India

Spices Board is a part of Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is the flagship organization
for the development and worldwide promotion of Indian spices. The Board is an international
link between the Indian exporters and the importers abroad. The Board performs activities for
excellence of Indian spices, involving every segment of the industry.
Chairman, Spices Board India – A Jayathilak
EPFO announced to provide Universal Account Number from Oc-

tober 2014
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on 24 March 2014 announced to provide Universal
Account Number (UAN) to its five crore subscribers from 1 October 2014.
Permanent or Universal Account Number (UAN) will facilitate subscribers to avoid filing Provident
Fund (PF) account transfer claims on changing jobs. After getting UAN, a subscriber would not be
issued new PF account number on joining new employer.
The UAN would be one account number which would be allotted to a subscriber for various
schemes run by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for their entire service period

with different employers.
C-DAC will prepare a roadmap for implementing the UAN programme.
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is the premier research and
development organisation under the Union Ministry of Communications & Information Technology
for carrying out R&D in IT, Electronics and associated areas.
Significance of UAN
It will facilitate subscribers to avoid filing provident fund (PF) account transfer claims on changing
jobs.
It is expected to provide great relief to the workers in organised sector who frequently change jobs,
specially the construction sector.
The UAN will help reduce the workload of the EPFO. During 2012-13, EPFO received over 12 lakh
claims for transfer of PF account on changing of jobs by its subscribers.
About EPFO
The Employees’ Provident Fund came into existence with the promulgation of the Employees’
Provident Funds Ordinance on the 15th November 1951. It was replaced by the Employees’
Provident Funds Act, 1952.
It is now referred as the Employees’ Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The
Employees’ Provident Funds Bill aims to provide for the institution of provident funds for employees
in factories and other establishments.
Bank of India launched Instant Money Transfer Scheme
Bank of India (BoI) on 24 March 2014 launched Instant Money Transfer (IMT) scheme in Mumbai.
IMT scheme allows customers to withdraw cash without using either debt card or credit card at
BoI’s IMT-enabled ATMs. This is the first-of-its-kind initiative launched by a public sector bank.
Characteristic Features of IMT Scheme

• IMT is an innovative domestic money remittance facility.
• It allows the customer to send money to a receiver only by using the receiver’s mobile number
through the bank’s ATM and retail internet banking facility.
• The receiver can withdraw money from a Bank of India’s ATM without using a card.

• The monthly withdrawal limit prescribed for IMT
transaction is 25000 rupees for receiver, and per
transaction limit of 10000 rupees.
• IMT is valid for 14 days only from the date of issue.

After 14 days the transaction expires and the sender
is credited back with the IMT amount.
• IMT can also be cancelled by the sender before its

expiry and withdrawal.
Process of Transaction under IMT Scheme

• The sender initiates IMT by providing receiver’s mobile number, four digits sender code, the IMT
amount and authorises the transaction from either bank’s ATM or bank’s internet banking.
• The sender provides receiver’s name, address and mobile number to the bank either on SMS
or Internet banking.
• The receiver receives the notification of IMT on his mobile phone, along with a four-digit SMS
Pin.
• The sender separately communicates the four-digit sender code to the receiver.
• The receiver, after getting these two pieces of information - one from the sender and the other
on SMS, walks into the bank’s nearest IMT-enabled ATM and withdraws cash by punching in
the mobile number, sender code, and SMS Pin.
Background
The IMT scheme was launched following the RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan’s announcement made
in February 2014 that RBI is currently working on a new system that will allow users to withdraw
cash from ATMs even if the recipient doesn’t have a bank account. Through this service, RBI was
looking to cater to the unbanked population in urban and rural areas.
Earlier in September 2010, Axis Bank launched a similar mobile-based bank-agnostic domestic
remittances service for its India customers. Axis Bank had partnered with Empays Payment Systems
to launch the service.
Chairman and Managing Director of Bank of India is V. R. Iyer.

Government of India divested its 9 percent stake in Axis Bank
The Government of India divested its 9

percent stake in Axis Bank on 21 March 2014.
The divestment resulted into generation of
5500 crore rupees.
Through a trust fund called Specified

Undertaking of the Unit Trust of India (SUUTI),
Government of India disposed 42.26 million
shares or 9 percent of Axis Bank’s share
capital.
Axis Bank is the third largest private sector

bank of India in which Government of India
holds 20.7 percent share by assets.
The share sale is part of the government’s campaign to raise revenues and meet its revised fiscal
deficit target of 4.6 percent of gross domestic product in the financial year ending on 31 March
2014.
Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) bought 85.46 lakh shares or 20.23 percent of the total 42.26 crore
shares on offer with an investment of 1122 crore rupees. Citigroup Global bought 38.23 lakh
shares with an investment of 503 crore rupees followed by New World Fund (26.88 lakh shares) and
Goldman Sachs Singapore (23.50 lakh shares).
Now, SUUTI will remain the largest shareholder with 11.72 percent stake followed by LIC.
Citigroup Inc, JPMorgan Chase & Co and JM Financial Ltd were appointed by the government in
January 2014 to manage the stake sale.
FDI inflow grew in January 2014 by 1.5 percent: DIPP
The foreign direct investment (FDI) grew in January 2014 by 1.5 per cent to 2.18 billion US dollar
compared to 2.15 billion US dollar in January 2013. This was revealed by the data on FDI released
by department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) on 20 March 2014.
However, during April 2013 to January 2014 FDI inflow declined by 2 per cent to 18.74 billion US
dollar from 19.10 billion US dollar.

Other Highlights
During the Financial Year 2013-14, the maximum FDI inflow was in September 2013 at 26351 crore
rupees.
The maximum FDI inflow was witnessed from Mauritius during the Financial Year 2013-14. The
share of Mauritius stood at 365887 crore rupees i.e.37 percent of the total inflows.
FDI worth 1010314 crore rupees were invested into the country during the April 2000 to January
2014 period. During this period maximum FDI inflows was from Mauritius, followed by Singapore,
the UK and the Netherlands.
The services sector attracted the highest FDI inflow at 10680 crore rupees with 18 percent of
the total share during the Financial Year 2013-14. Serviceswas followed by Infrastructure and
Telecommunication sector.
Out of all the sectors, Hotel and Tourism showed the least share at 3 percent with 2306 crore
rupees.
As per the DIPP data financial year wise FDI inflows were maximum in 2011-12. In 2011-12 the FDI
inflows was 165146 crore rupees.
In a bid to boost the dwindling FDI inflows, the government took series of steps in 2013 to make
the investment regime more investor-friendly. While in some cases, the commerce and industry
ministry relaxed the sectoral caps, in others it took measures to simplify the norms.
Entry routes for sectors including petroleum and natural gas, commodity exchanges, power
exchanges, and stock exchanges have been made automatic while it allowed 100 per cent FDI in
the telecom sector.
RBI issued notice to banks concerning discontinuation of

Windows XP
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued notice to banks on 19 March 2014 to take measures to
counter the threat expected to arise from discontinuation of Windows XP from 8 April 2014.
Microsoft the maker of the Windows XP operating system will be withdrawing support for the
operating system from 8 April 2014. Microsoft introduced Windows XP in October 2001.
The withdrawal of Windows XP means that no updates and patches for bugs will be issued by the
Microsoft. As a result, the banking system of India largely running on Windows XP may become
vulnerable to viruses and other cyber attacks.

However, Indian Banks Association (IBA) has said that banks are well prepared to tackle the threat
arising from the discontinuation of Windows XP. Thus, neither branches nor cash vending machines
will be shut down once Microsoft stops support to the system from April 8.
SEBI issued new norms to ease KYC details for investors
SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) on

20 March 2014 notified a new set of norms to
ease the process of Making Know-Your-Client
(KYC) for investors. The newly issued set of norms
will allow various market entities like brokers and
Mutual Funds to get details from the centralized
KYC agencies, instead of carrying out a fresh
KYC verification procedure.
This facility will allow the market intermediary to

access the centralized KYC Registration Agency
system in the case the client is already KYC
complaint to verify and download the client’s
details from the Agency’s system.
About KRA (KYC Registration Agency)

SEBI issued the SEBI {KYC (Know Your Client) Registration Agency (KRA)}, Regulations, 2011 with
a view to bring uniformity in the KYC requirements for the securities markets. For this it initiated
usage of uniform KYC by all SEBI registered intermediaries. In pursuant of the abovementioned
regulation, SEBI approved the NSDL Database Management Limited (NDML), which is a wholly
owned subsidiary of National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL), to function as a KRA.
Overall, the KRA is the institution that maintains the KYC details of the investor and the wholly-
owned subsidiaries of stock exchanges and depositories are eligible to act as KRA.
IOC sold 10% government stake to OIL and ONGC
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) sold 10 percent of government stake (for 5340 crore rupees) to the
Oil India Limited (OIL) and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on 14 March 2014. Earlier,
government shareholding in IOC was 78.92% which has now reduced to 68.92 percent.
The aim of this deal was to encourage the disinvestment programme by the government of India.

Till date, overall disinvestments have raised about 10434 crore rupees. This transaction was an
Off-market transaction. Both the OIL, ONGC together bought 5 percent stake each at 220 rupees
per share. This was for the first time for OIL to hold shares in IOC whereas, ONGC’s holding in IOC
increased to 13.77 percent from 8.77 percent.
RBI hiked trade related remittance from 2 to 5 lakh rupees per

transaction
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 13 March 2014 hiked the trade

related remittance limit from 2 lakh rupees to 5 lakh rupees
per transaction with immediate effect. It also increased the
number of transaction handled by exchange houses.
RBI decided to increase the limit of trade transactions on a

review of the permitted transactions under the Rupee Drawing
Arrangements (RDAs). These changes have been included in
Memorandum of Instructions for Opening and Maintenance
of Rupee/Foreign Currency Vostro Accounts of Non-resident
Exchange Houses.
Earlier, in 2009 RBI rationalised norms on maintenance

of rupee/foreign currency Vostro accounts of non-resident Exchange Houses. It was in view of
the increased number of transactions being handled by the Exchange Houses and the rapid
developments in the communication facilities.
Besides RBI informed that the government has notified the repurchase of its securities through
reserve auction for an aggregate amount of 15000 crore (face values). Bids for the auction will be
submitted in electronic format on the RBI crore Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system on 18 March
2014.
RBI extended 80:20 scheme to import gold to five private banks
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 19 March 2014 extended the 80:20 scheme to import gold to
five private banks. The move was aimed to ease the restrictions on inward shipments of the gold.
The five banks which have been allowed to import gold under the 80:20 scheme are HDFC Bank,
Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank and Yes Bank.
Under the 80:20 schemes, nominated agencies could import gold on condition that 20 percent
of the shipment would be exported and the remainder would be kept for domestic use. It was

introduced by the Government of India and RBI on 14 August 2013 to put curbs on gold imports.
Earlier, under the 80:20 scheme, only six banks and three state-run trading agencies were allowed
to import gold provided that each had facilitated export of gold or jewellery in the past three years.
The recent decision of the RBI though does not require any facilitation of exports of gold in the
past three years by these private banks. However, it has permitted the import of gold only within
a prescribed limits.
The move to allow more banks to import gold will raise shipments to about 40 tonnes per month.
India used to ship in as much 70 tonnes per month. Gold import is the biggest import after oil that
had pushed the current account deficit (CAD) to a record high in the year ended March 2013.
CPSE-ETF new fund offer launched
Goldman Sachs Asset Management announced the launch of CPSE-ETF (Central Public Sector
Enterprise- Exchange Trade Fund) new fund offer (NFO) on 14 March 2014. The fund will open for
retail investors on 19 March 2014.
CPSE ETF is an open-ended Index Exchange Traded Scheme NFO. It will be listed on the exchanges
in the form of an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF), which tracks the Central Public Sector Enterprises
(CPSE) index.
The CPSE Index, comprise ONGC, Gail, Coal India, Indian Oil, IOC, PFC, CCL, BEL and EIL. The
index makes government to disinvest some of its stake in select CPSEs through ETF route. The
scheme provides an opportunity to investors to invest in these PSUs at a discount of 5 percent on
the Reference Market Price of the underlying shares of CPSE Index.
Retail individual investors can invest a minimum of 5000 rupees and in multiples of 1 rupee thereafter
up to 2 lakh rupees.
Union Finance Ministry and SEBI finalized the norms for setting
up CPSE-ETF
Union Finance Ministry and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 11 March 2014
jointly finalized the norms of investment for setting up Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE)
- Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) headed by Finance
Minister P. Chidambaram had approved floating the CPSE ETF.

Main Highlights
• Individual investors can invest for CPSE-ETF in between 5 thousand rupees to 10 lakh rupees.
• CPSE ETF is an open-ended fund and the units would have a face value of Rs.10 per unit.
• The CPSE – ETF comprised shares of 10 blue-chip companies.
• Companies listed in the ETF basket are ONGC, IOC, Coal India, GAIL, REC, Oil India, Container
Corporation, Power Finance, Engineers India and Bharat Electronics Ltd.
• The ETF is expected to fetch 3000 crore rupees to the exchequer. The CPSE-ETF is an additional
way to meet the target of Disinvestment of Government of India.
• Goldman Sachs is acting as the asset management company for the ETF.
• This first-of-its-kind ETF is also likely to have certain unique features like loyalty incentive and
upfront discount to attract retail investors.
CPSE-ETF is made up of a basket of shares of different CPSEs that tracks an index fund. ETF will
trade like a stock on the exchange. Gold ETFs dominate the market in India.
ETFs were introduced in India in 2001. At present, there are about 33 ETFs with assets under
management of close to 11500 crore rupees held by 6.2 lakh investors.
Union Government announced to build 200 low cost airports

Union Government on 10 March 2014 announced to build 200 low cost airports in the next 20
years. The move is aimed at expanding connectivity to Tier-II and Tier-III cities. The development
of low-frills airports will significantly reduce the cost of operations.
The announcement is expected to trigger a sharp increase in the aircraft fleet and the MRO
(maintenance, repair and overhaul) business. India is expected to add 370 aircraft worth 27 billion
US dollar by 2017.
Union Government also planned to build fifteen low-cost airports till 2020 under the Greenfield Airport
Policy, 2008. Airports Authority of India planned to invest 1500 crore rupees in the development of
non metro airports during the 12th Plan.
Union Government also planned to invest over 120 billion US dollar in the development of airport
infrastructure , improvement in connecting infrastructure , development of world class air navigation
services infrastructure and other related activities to improve the air connectivity.
The non-metro airports presently account for only about 30 per cent of the total air traffic. It is
expected to rise to 45 per cent in the next few years. This growth will result in increase in the
number of aircraft operating in India to 1000 from the present 400 by 2020.
India is one of the fastest growing aviation market in the world. Currently, Indian aviation market
ranks ninth but it is expected to become the third largest after US and China by 2020.
Indian airport system is poised to handle 336 million domestic and 85 million international passengers
by 2020, from the current level of 121 million domestic and 41 million international passengers.
India emerged as the largest non oil trading partner for Dubai in
2013-14
Report released by Dubai Department of Economic Development on 10 March 2014 marked India
as the largest non oil trading partner of Dubai in 2013-14. The bilateral trade between the two
countries in 2013-14 crossed 37 billion US dollar, which is 10 percent of the overall trade.
The report also says that the exports and re-exports from India have also marked a significant rise
in the period.
Bilateral Trade of four countries with Dubai

• China – bilateral trade was of about 36.7 billion US dollar
• US – bilateral trade was of about 23.4 billion US dollar
• Saudi Arabia - bilateral trade was of about 23 billion US dollar

• UK - bilateral trade was of about 15.2 billion US dollar
The report claimed that in terms of bilateral

trade with Dubai, India was followed by
China, US, Saudi Arabia and UK.
In terms as the export partners India,

Turkey and Switzerland emerged as the
leading countries. In re-exports, Saudi
Arabia booked the first position followed
by India and Iraq. China emerged at the
top position in the list of top imports
partner and was followed by US and
India.
India’s exports contracted 3.67 percent to 25.7 billion dollar in

February 2014
India’s exports have contracted by 3.67 percent in February 2014 to 25.7 billion dollars (159858.16
crore rupees). This contraction is the first in past eight months. Imports of the country also have
fell by 17.09 percent to 33.8 billion dollars (210451.11 crore rupees) during the month. This fall in
imports and exports has resulted in narrowing the trade deficit to a dive-month low of 8.1 billion
dollars.
Apart from these, the import of oil declined 3.1 percent at 13696.8 million US dollars whereas
the non-oil imports fell 24.5 percent at 20122.3 million US dollars. The trade deficit has improved
mainly on account of big 71.4 percent decline in gold and silver imports to 1.6 billion dollars in
February 2014.
Exports between April 2013 and February 2014 rose 4.8 percent to 283 billion US dollars and
import felled 8.7 percent to 411 billion dollars. During the same period, the trade deficit stood at
128 billion US dollars and non-oil imports slipped 13.4 percent.
The trade deficit during April-February 2013-14 was estimated at 128086.26 million US dollars,
which was lower than the deficit of 179929.64 million US dollar during April-February 2012-13.
Indian Revenue Department tightened baggage rules to curb

illegal Gold Import
Union Government of India (Indian Revenue Department) on 6 March 2014 tightened baggage rules

for inbound Indian passengers. According to the step, the passengers will have to provide details
of source of funds for importing the metal as well as the air tickets. The baggage rule has been
tightened to check gold smuggling in the country and to prevent misuse of gold import facility.
Circulation issued by the Revenue Department circular says that

• The baggage receipt that is
issued by the customs will
include engraved serial
number on gold bars
• The Central Board of Excise

& Customs directive has said
that the passengers bringing
gold in any form, which
includes ornaments, will have
to declare item-wise inventory
that is being imported with
baggage receipt
These norms have been revised and tightened following sudden increase (spurt) in import of gold
by eligible passengers via airports in the country.
This rule has been hardened as the eligible passengers (Persons of Indian Origin or an Indian
returning to India after a period of six months of stay abroad) are allowed to import gold up to
1 kilogram by paying 10 percent customs duty in foreign currency. The passenger should be a
passenger who holds a valid passport issued under the Passport Act, 1967.
Background
In recent past, the Reserve Bank of India and the Union government have expressed concerns
over the sudden increase of import of gold in the country. These increases were also felt even after
measures taken by them to curb import of gold to reduce the widened Current Account Deficit
(CAD).
Steps taken to curb excessive import of gold to the country were

• Import duty of 10 percent in 2013
• Linking the imports to exports under the 20:80 scheme

Analysis
Tightening of baggage rules have been done even after imposition of 10 percent amount on gold
import may be because this step would have triggered gold smuggling in recent past. The eligible
passengers have been targeted by the government as smugglers hires eligible passengers or NRIs
to import gold in the country.
Current Account Deficit declined to 0.9 percent of GDP in Quarter

3 of 2013-14
Current Account Deficit (CAD) declined to 0.9 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Quarter
3 (October - December) of 2013-14.
This was revealed by the Report on Developments in India’s Balance of Payments released by
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 5 March 2014. Also, as per the report CAD reached to its lowest in
the past eight years.
Other highlights
• Rising exports and moderation in gold imports have pulled down India’s current account deficit
(CAD) sharply to 4.2 billion dollar in Quarter 3 of 2013-14.
• The export was increased due to the significant growth especially in the exports of engineering
goods, readymade garments, iron ore, marine products and chemicals.
• On the other hand, merchandise imports recorded a decline of 14.8 per cent at 112.9 billion
dollar in Q3 of 2013-14.
• Decline in imports was primarily led by a steep decline in gold imports. This was amounted to
3.1 billion dollar as compared to 17.8 billion dollar in Q3 of 2012-13.
• The declined in CAD was happened due to government imposed curbs on gold imports and the
Reserve Bank of India’s subsidy for Non-Resident Indian’s US dollar deposits.
• CAD narrowed to 31.1 billion dollar or 2.3 per cent of GDP in April-December 2013 from 69.8
billion dollar or 5.2 percent of GDP in April-December of 2012.
• The CAD reflects the difference between inflow and outflow of foreign currency. It stood at 31.9
billion dollar or 6.5 per cent of GDP in October-December quarter of 2012-13.
• On a Balance of Payment (BoP) basis, merchandise exports increased by 7.5 per cent at 79.8
billion dollar) in Q3 of 2013-14. The quantum of export was 3.9 per cent in Q3 of 2012-13.

Current Account Deficit (CAD)
A measurement of a country’s trade in which the value of
goods and services it imports exceeds the value of goods
and services it exports.
The current account also includes net income, such as

interest and dividends, as well as transfers, such as foreign
aid, though these components tend to make up a smaller
percentage of the current account than exports and imports.
The current account is a calculation of a country’s foreign

transactions, and along with the capital account is a
component of a country’s balance of payment.
Interest rate on Post Office Fixed deposits hiked by 0.2%
Government of India on 4 March 2014 hiked the interest rates on fixed deposit scheme that is
offered by post offices by up to 0.2 percent. The new interest rates on the small savings schemes
will come into effect from 1 April 2014.
As per the revision of the interest rates the rates apply to post office saving
schemes
• Return on 1 to 2 years deposit – hiked by 20 basis points from 8.2 percent to 8.4 percent
• Return on 3-year maturities – hiked from 8.3 percent to 8.4 percent
• Return on for 5-year deposits - it has been raised to 8.5 percent
In case of National Savings Certificates (NSCs), Monthly Income Schemes (MIS) and Public
Provident Fund (PPF) the rates have been left unchanged.
• The PPF has been kept unchanged at 8.7 percent and the annual investment ceiling in PPF
savings at 1 lakh rupees
• For NSCs rate for maturities of 5 and 10 year remained unchanged at 8.5 percent and 8.8
percent respectively
• The rate on five-year MIS also kept unchanged at 8.4 percent and rates of savings deposit also
remained unchanged at 4 percent
These hikes in the rates are as per an earlier policy decision in line with the recommendations of
Shyamala Gopinath Committee to align small savings rates with the yield on Government securities.

Benefit of Small Saving Schemes that are operated by post offices across the
country
• It provides safe attractive investment options to public and mobilizes resources for development.
Changes based on the committee’s Recommendations

• The government based on the recommendation of the committee also decided to align rate of
interest on small savings schemes with G-Sec rates of similar maturity, with a spread of 25 basis
points with two exceptions
• The interest rate will be revised every financial year and notified before 1 April
• The interest rate of General Provident Fund (GPF) that is applicable for government employees
has been retained at 8.7 percent for 2014-15
• Employees Provident Fund Organization will pay interest rate of 8.75 percent on Provident Fund
deposits for 2013-14
Workdays for tribals under MNREGA raised from 100 to 150
Union Government of India on 28

February 2014 raised the number
of workdays under MNREGA
(Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act 2005)
from 100 days to 150 days. This
hike in the workdays will benefit
14 lakh families in India and the
decision Union Cabinet will come
into effect from April 2014.
Apart from this, those tribal

beneficiaries, who have received
land rights under the Forest Rights
Act (FRA), 2006 will be eligible for
50 days wage employment under
the rural job scheme.
The beneficiaries of this hike in workdays will be available for those who have completed 100
workdays in that particular financial year. Such people will be given a job card of different color to

distinguish from the regular MNREGA workers.
Background
The government under Forest Rights Act 2006 has given titles to around 14 lakh individual
and community of which around 8 lakh individual titles include states namely Andhra Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa.

ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT
ICJ ordered the Japanese Government to stop its Whaling Pro-
gramme Jarpa II
The UN’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherland on 31 March 2014 has ruled
that the Japanese government must halt its whaling programme Jarpa II in the Antarctic Ocean.
Japan has agreed to abide by the decision.
ICJ agreed the programme was not for scientific research as claimed by Tokyo. The court’s decision
is considered legally binding.
Presiding Judge of ICJ Peter Tomka ruled that the court has decided, by 12 votes to four, that
Japan should withdraw all permits and licenses for whaling in the Antarctic and refrain from issuing
any new ones. Japan had caught some 3600 minke whales since 2005 but the scientific output
was limited.
The court ruled that Japan had not complied with its obligations covering scientific research as set
out in Article 8 of the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.
In 2010, Australia filed a case in ICJ alleging that the Whaling programme run by Japanese

Government was not for scientific research. Rather the programme was commercial in nature.
Japan signed up a moratorium on whaling in 1986 under the International Whaling Commission,
but continued whaling in the north and south Pacific under provisions that allowed for scientific
research.
Although there is ban on commercial whaling under the International Whaling Commission of 1986,
but Japan was permitted to kill a certain number of whales every year for what it called scientific
research. The meat from the slaughtered whales is sold commercially in Japan.
The sale of meat from the hunts in restaurants and supermarkets, while not illegal, prompted
accusations from Australia and other anti-whaling nations that Japan was cloaking a commercial
operation under the name of scientific research.
Japan had failed to prove that under its programme Jarpa II the purpose to pursuit hundreds of
minke whales in Antarctic waters every year was scientific in nature.
Japan had maintained that its annual slaughter of 850 minke whales and up to 50 endangered fin
whales every year was necessary to examine the age, health, feeding habits, exposure to toxins and
other characteristics of whale populations, with a view to the possible resumption of sustainable
commercial whaling.
Background
In 2005, Japan began a new program called JARPA II. The objectives of the JARPA II are the
following:
• Monitoring the Antarctic ecosystem (whale abundance trends and biological parameters; krill
abundance and the feeding ecology of whales; effects of contaminants on cetaceans; cetacean
habitat);
• Modeling competition among whale species and future management objectives (constructing
a model of competition among whale species; new management objectives including the
restoration of the cetacean ecosystem);
• Elucidation of temporal and spatial changes in stock structure; and
• Improving the management procedure for Antarctic minke whale stocks.
International Whaling Commission (IWC)

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is the global intergovernmental body charged with
the conservation of whales and the management of whaling. It is set up under the International
Convention for the Regulation of Whaling signed in 1946. The Commission has a current membership
of 88 Governments from countries around the World.

In 1986 the Commission introduced zero catch limits for commercial whaling. This provision is still
in place today, although the Commission continues to set catch limits for aboriginal subsistence
whaling.
About International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, is the main judicial organ of the
UN. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.
Its 15 judges are elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council, voting independently and
concurrently. The Court decides disputes between countries, based on the voluntary participation
of the States concerned. If a State agrees to participate in a proceeding, it is obligated to comply
with the Court’s decision. The Court also gives advisory opinions to the United Nations and its
specialized agencies.
IPCC released report titled Climate Change 2014: Impacts,

Adaptation and Vulnerability
UN report titled Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability was released on 30 March
2014. The report also called the Fifth Assessment Report on Climate Change has warned that
the increasing magnitude of global warning will have severe, pervasive and irreversible impact on
the climate. The UN backed panel’s report was finalised by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC).
The report has identified following eight risks which IPCC feels are identified with high confidence,
span sectors and regions. These 8 risks are:
• Risk of death, injury, ill-health, or disrupted livelihoods in low-lying coastal zones and small
island developing states and other small islands, due to storm surges, coastal flooding, and
sea-level rise.
• Risk of severe ill-health and disrupted livelihoods for large urban populations due to inland
flooding in some regions.
• Systemic risks due to extreme weather events leading to breakdown of infrastructure networks
and critical services such as electricity, water supply, and health and emergency services.
• Risk of mortality and morbidity during periods of extreme heat, particularly for vulnerable urban
populations and those working outdoors in urban or rural areas.
• Risk of food insecurity and the breakdown of food systems linked to warming, drought, flooding,
and precipitation variability and extremes, particularly for poorer populations in urban and rural

settings.
• Risk of loss of rural livelihoods and income due to insufficient access to drinking and irrigation
water and reduced agricultural productivity, particularly for farmers and pastoralists with minimal
capital in semi-arid regions.
• Risk of loss of marine and coastal ecosystems, biodiversity, and the ecosystem goods,
functions, and services they provide for coastal livelihoods, especially for fishing communities
in the tropics and the Arctic.
• Risk of loss of terrestrial and inland water ecosystems, biodiversity, and the ecosystem goods,
functions, and services they provide for livelihoods.
IPCC Report and India

In this report, IPCC has held Global Warming responsible for Unseasonal rains in India. The panel
warned that uncontrolled Global warming will adversely impact food production thereby increasing
food cost.
It also said that Global warming can result in lack of fresh water. Panel also emphasized that it is
manmade global warming. The report warns that due to global warming, poorer Nations may see
fall in their GDP by 2%.
Impact of Global Warming on India

• Unseasonal rains
• Increasing Water Scarcity
• Lower Wheat Yields
• Increased incidence of heat waves
• Shrinking Himalayan Glaciers
Suggestions by the IPCC Panel with respect to India

• Government should use available Knowledge and Objective Information
• Upcoming government should address distortions in diesel prices
• Should encourage climate friendly schemes such as Solar power generation
• Strict implementation of the National Action plan on climate change

IPCC definition of Climate Change
The Report has defined Climate Change as a change in the state of the climate that can be identified
(e.g., by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and
that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer.
Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forcings such as modulations
of the solar cycles, volcanic eruptions, and persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition
of the atmosphere or in land use.
Similar summit in 2015 will be held in Paris with a focus on creation of new international climate
treaty to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The first phase of the summit came to an end in 2012
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading scientific international body for
the assessment of climate change and was established under the auspices of the United Nations
(UN). It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 with an aim to provide the world with a clear scientific
view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and
socio-economic impacts. In the same year, the UN General Assembly endorsed the action by WMO
and UNEP in jointly establishing the IPCC.
• IPCC chairman - Rajendra Pachauri
• Lead Author of the study – Dr Saleemul Huq
• Co-author of the Report - Maggie Opondo of the University of Nairobi
• Secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization - Michel Jarraud
GEAC revalidated 10-GM crops for field trails
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) on 21 March 2014 revalidated ten varieties of
Genetically Modified (GM) crops including wheat, rice, maize, cotton and sorghum for field trails.
Revalidation of GM crops varieties was required due to the lapse of validity period on account of
State governments not allowing field trial. The GEAC had given its clearance in those 10 cases way
back in 2011 and 2012.
The committee allowed multi-national seed companies to go for confined field trials of these
varieties. The companies desiring to go for confined field trials, however, will have get it approved

first by the respective State governments because agriculture is a State subject under Constitutional
provision.
The GEAC under the chairmanship of Hem Pande, Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of
Environment and Forests (MoEF) did not take decision on any new cases in its meeting.
The green light for trials, which comes just ahead of the elections, provides hope to major promoters
— multinational and Indian — of GM crop technology.
Paris imposed a partial car ban to combat pollution
France on 17 March 2014

introduced driving restrictions
in Paris to tackle dangerous
pollution levels. Under the
scheme drivers are allowed to
use their cars only on alternate
days, according to the odd or
even numbers on their licence
plates.
Parking will be free for vehicles

with even number plates on a
particular day. The residents
are encouraged to carpooling or car-sharing sites to work out their commutes and rides. Free
public transport including cycle and electric car-sharing schemes also introduced to combat smog.
The restrictions will be reviewed on a daily basis to determine if an extension is necessary.
The last restricted driving scheme was introduced in October 1997 in response to pollution from
heavy diesel fumes. It lasted one day.
Paris is more prone to smog than other European capitals because of France’s diesel subsidies and
its high number of private car drivers.
As per the European Environment Agency (EEA) data, there was 147 microgrammes of particulate
matter (PM) per cubic metre of air in Paris - compared with 114 in Brussels, 104 in Amsterdam, 81
in Berlin and 79.7 in London.

Panasonic announced pollution compensation for China workers
Japanese electronics firm Panasonic announced on 12 March 2014 to pay its employees a pollution
premium to workers who are working in China. The move was announced as part of Panasonic’s
pay negotiations.
Panasonic became the first firm to explicitly pay more due to China’s air quality problems.
Unrelenting smog has become a focus for public discontent particularly in prosperous urban areas
such as Beijing. Urban areas of China are experiencing the worst level on China’s air quality index.
The readings of pollution particulates in Beijing soared to 15 times the daily maximum recommended
by the World Health Organisation.
Issue
The issue gained attention in 2008 when the US embassy installed a pollution monitoring system on
its roof in Beijing to detect the level of PM2.5. An official analysis revealed that out of 74 Chinese
cities only three met national air quality standards.
Particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrograms or less can enter the human blood stream through a
person’s lungs and contribute to asthma, cancer or heart trouble.
Nepal planned to lease Himalayan peaks to Private companies

to boost tourism
Nepal announced on 11 March 2014 a plan to lease Himalayan peaks to private companies to ease
traffic on Mount Everest and to boost tourism.
Recently, Nepal had introduced a raft of measures to boost tourism and raised the concerns of
overcrowding on Mount Everest.
It is one of several new measures announced by Nepal Government which included lower
mountaineering fees, designed to attract more climbers to the impoverished country. Tourism
sector is one of the prime sectors in generating revenue for Nepal Government.
Nepal Government proposed to lease unclimbed peaks to the private sector, to promote these
mountains as new tourism products. The proposal would hire out some of the 326 Himalayan
peaks. The proposal would soon be tabled in Nepal cabinet.
As per the analysts, Private sector professionals have good networks worldwide and can bring
more climbers and tourists to Nepal.

Besides, Nepal Government had also slashed mountaineering fees for a range of other peaks in
order to boost tourism. As per the new rule in a bid to clean up the roof of the world each climber
who scaled Everest required to bring back eight kilograms (17.6 pounds) of garbage.
Union MoEF accepted the Kerala Governments recommendations

on ESA
Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) accepted the recommendations of the Kerala Government
regarding Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) boundaries on 4 March 2014.
The Kerala government recommended to keep agricultural, plantations and habitations out of
ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) identified by the High-Level Working Group (HLWG) on the
conservation of the Western Ghats.
It has also been decided that the MoEF will consider recommendations of the other States in
Western Ghats region based on similar on-ground exercise. If such, proposals are forwarded to the
MoEF within 60 days of issuance of the draft Notification.
Background
Union Ministry of Environment and Forest approved the Kasturirangan Panel Report on Western
Ghats on 18 October 2013. According to the report, nearly 37 percent of the total area defined as
the boundary of the Western Ghats is ecologically sensitive. The Panel recommended a ban on
development activities in 60000 sq km ecologically sensitive area ESA) spread over six states of
Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This imposed ban was protested by
activities like agriculture and day to day activities.
Then the Environment Ministry issued an order on 20 December 2014, following the in principle
acceptance of the Ksatrurirangan committee report. The order clarifies it does not impact the
continued occupation of land in possession of the local people or affect their day to day activities
or normal livelihood.
The Kerala State Government had constituted an expert committee to study the impact of
HLWG recommendations and to assess ground level information on 21 October 2013. The State
Government also set up Panchayat level Committees in the villages falling within ESA to undertake
field verification and interaction with the stakeholders.
Based on the recommendations of the Expert Committee report, the Kerala State Government
suggested certain changes in the demarcations and boundaries of ESAs within the state.
MoEF considered the recommendations of the Kerala Government regarding ESA boundaries and
the draft Notification is being issued by the MoEF incorporating the said modifications.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Ambar Srivastava of IIT-Delhi developed TrueHb Hemometer to
test haemoglobin
Ambar Srivastava of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi on 29 March 2014 developed the
TrueHb Hemometer to test haemoglobin. The device of the size of a mobile phone is the first case
of an innovation from biomedical engineering department of IIT-Delhi actually getting productized.
The device has been validated by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for its efficacy.
It will help identify and tackle anaemia effectively in India which has a very high prevalence of
anaemia and the related maternal deaths from it.
Srivastava has established a company named Wrig Nanosystems Pvt Ltd to produce and
commercialise TrueHb Hemometers.
The device was developed with funding from the Technology Development Board of the Department
of Science and Technology at IIT’s Centre for Biomedical Engineering. The Centre for Biomedical
Engineerign was established in 1971 as a joint venture between IIT and AIIMS to develop healthcare
technologies.

Advantages of TrueHb Hemometer over Other devices
The price of TrueHb meter is expected to be lower at 25000 rupees compared to the CBC counter
which at present is the gold standard for haemogram tests in labs. It costs around 2 - 10 lakh
rupees.
It can be charged like a mobile phone and allows up to 300 tests per charge when compared to
CBC counter that require continous power supply.
In terms of size also, it is better than CBC counter which is at least twice the size of a personal
computer compared to mobile phone-size of TrueHb meter.
It is also ultraportable as it weighs under 800gm and has a sleek optoelectronics design.
It is also better than the paper-based colour cards that use a colour scale to provide a rough estimate
of haemoglobin values. Such cards give a range and not an exact value of the haemoglobin level.
TrueHb works like a conventional glucometer and works with just a tiny drop of blood from a
pinprick on the disposable strip. It not only reads the accurate level within 45 seconds, but also
stores up to 1000 such readings.
It will be very useful on the field for health workers, blood banks, primary health centres, the school
health scheme of the government, and all point of care use, including for use at home.
CERT-In detected Smartphone Virus Dendroid
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) on 26 March 2014 detected a
Smartphone Virus called Dendroid. It directed the users of Android smartphone to be beware of
Dendroid as it can compromise the data stored on the users phone.
Virus once activated could change the command and control server of a user’s personal Android
phone and intercept private SMSes coming in or going out.
Dendroid is the virus of the deadly Trojan family. It is being used to create trojanised applications
that infect Android-based smartphones. Dendroid is a HTTP RAT having a sophisticated PHP
administration panel and an application APK binder package.
To tackle the virus dendroid CERT-In has issued some guidelines for the users.
These are:
• Do not download and install applications from untrusted sources, install applications downloaded
from reputed application market only.
• Check for the permissions required by an application before installing. Run a full system scan

on device with mobile security solution or mobile antivirus solution
• Users are advised to use device encryption or encrypting external SD card feature available with
most of the Android OS.
• Users are also advised to keep an eye on data usage (application-wise usage also) and unusual
increase in mobile bills and keep an eye on device battery usage (application-wise usage also).
• Avoid using unsecured and unknown Wi-Fi networks. There may be rogue Wi-Fi access points
at public places used for distributing malicious applications and make a practice of taking
regular backup of Android device.
About CERT-In
The CERT-In is the nodal agency to combat hacking, phishing and to fortify security-related
defences of the Indian Internet domain.
Ebola Virus detected in Guinea
Ebola Virus causing haemorrhagic fever

was detected on 23 March 2014 in
Guinea. More than 80 persons have been
detected to have been infected with Ebola
virus. Out of this 59 persons from Sierra
Leone and Liberia have died. This marks
the first time an outbreak among humans
has been detected.
Earlier, in 2012 Ebola outbreaks were

reported in Congo and Uganda. The only
prior case of a human contracting the virus in West Africa came in 1994.
An outbreak like Ebola can be devastating for a country like Guinea. As Guinea is a country with
weak medical infrastructure. UNICEF has set up Doctors Without Borders in Gueckedou to try to
stop the disease from spreading.
Among humans the disease is transmitted through bodily fluids. The subtype of Ebola was not
determined yet, as it could give a better idea of the fatality rate. The fatality rate for Ebola can range
from 25 to 90 percent.

About Ebola Virus
Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF) is a viral haemorrhagic fever and one of the most virulent viral
diseases known to humankind.
There are five distinct species of the Ebola virus: Bundibugyo, Côte d’Ivoire, Reston, Sudan and
Zaïre. Bundibugyo, Sudan and Zaïre species have been associated with large outbreaks of Ebola
haemorrhagic fever (EHF) in Africa causing death in 25-90% of all clinically ill cases, while Côte
d’Ivoire and Reston have not.
The Ebola virus is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected
persons. Transmission of the Ebola virus has also occurred by handling sick or dead infected wild
animals (chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope, fruit bats). The predominant treatment is
general supportive therapy.
Andrew Marchese developed a Robot that can swim like fish
Andrew Marchese, student of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on 17 March 2014

developed a robot that can swim like fish.
The fish or autonomous soft robot can perform escape manoeuvres through rapid convulsions of
its body and can change directions almost as fast as the real fish.
The fish was developed by using 3D printing technology to create a mould which was then used to
cast the body of the fish from silicone rubber. The fish can execute between 20 or 30 manoeuvres
before running out of gas.
Carbon dioxide released from a canister in the fish’s abdomen causes the channel to inflate, bending
the tail in the opposite direction.
Each side of the fish’s tail is bored through with a long, tightly undulating channel. Each half of
the fish tail has just two control parameters: the diameter of the nozzle that releases gas into the
channel and the amount of time it’s left open.
The angle of 100 degrees at which the fish changes direction is almost entirely determined by the
duration of inflation, while its speed is almost entirely determined by the nozzle diameter.
The project is part of MIT’s wider research into the emerging area of soft robotics.

TERI developed cloud based open-source Web-GSI tool
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on 13 March 2014 developed its first ever cloud based
open-source Web-GIS tool. The tool was developed to estimate the rooftop solar power potential
for Indian cities.
The development of Web-GIS tool project was supported by

• Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF)
• Chandigarh Renewable Energy Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST)
• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
• Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)
• Confederation of Industry (CII)
Some features of Web-GIS tool

• It will act as a Decision Support System (DSS) to carry out the pre-feasibility assement of
putting rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system for a particular location.
• It will help users to estimate potential green-house gas (GHG) mitigation through solar rooftop
route for a given location.
The web-GIS tool first will be launched in Chandigarh and later in other cities. The government was
already providing subsidies to the private sector to produce renewable energy.
If seen in international trends perspective, than Germany is one of the countries of the world that
produces 25 percent of its energy in form of solar power. Apart from this, there are many other
countries who are also investing in renewable energy for the benefit of the environment. This
practice also helps in saving cost on production of energy.
About TERI
TERI was established in 1974 for research activities in the fields of energy, environment and
sustainable developments.

New class of Antibiotics Oxadiazoles discovered
Scientists discovered a new class of antibiotics called

oxadiazoles on 9 March 2014. Oxadiazoles can treat
antibiotic resistant infections such as methicillin-
resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA.
A group of researchers at the University of Notre Dame

discovered the new class. The team was led by Mayland
Chang and Shahriar Mobashery.
MRSA is a bacterium that developed resistance to

penicillin and certain other groups of antibiotics.
Scientists had screened 1.2 million compounds. They
had found that the oxadiazole inhibits a penicillin-
binding protein, PBP2a, and the biosynthesis of the cell wall that enables MRSA to resist other
drugs.
The oxadiazoles are also effective when taken orally. This is an important feature as there is only
one marketed antibiotic for MRSA that can be taken orally.
MRSA has become a global public-health problem since the 1960s because of its resistance to
antibiotics. Only three drugs currently are effective treatments, and resistance to each of those
drugs already exists. The researchers have been seeking a solution to MRSA for years.
HR 5171 A, the largest ever yellow hypergiant star discovered
Researchers have discovered the largest yellow star measuring 1300 times more than the diameter
of sun. The star dubbed HR 5171 A, was discovered nearly 12000 light-years from Earth in the
constellation Centaurus is the largest member of the family of yellow stars of which our sun belongs.
The new image of the star was released on 12 March 2014.
The star was studied by a team lead by Oliver Chesneau of the Cote d’Azur Observatory in Nice,
France with the Very Large Telescope in Atacama, Chile. In their study they found that the yellow
hyper giant star is much bigger than it was expected.
The researchers claimed that it is one of the ten largest stars found and is about 50 percent larger
than red supergiant Betelgeuse. The star is about one million times brighter than the Sun. Yellow
hypergiants are very rare and only about a dozen of such stars are known in our galaxy of which
the most famous known is Rho Cassiopeiae.
These stars are among the biggest and brightest known stars and are at an unstable stage of their

lives and are changing rapidly. This instability allows them to expel material outwards by forming a
large extended atmosphere around themselves.
The team has also discovered a companion star of HR 5171 A that orbits it every 1300 days. The
smaller companion is only slightly hotter than the surface temperature of 5000 degrees Celsius of
HR 5171 A.
Technique used
Astronomers to combine the light collected from multiple individual telescopes have made a
technique named interferometry that helps in effectively creating a giant telescope up to 140 meters
in size.
Indian-American engineer Abraham Pannikottu announced to

develop Zero Pressure tyres for US military
An Indian-American engineer Abraham Pannikottu on 7 March 2014 announced to develop Zero

Pressure tyres for the US military. The Zero Pressure tyres will continue to run even after being
shredded by roadside bombs or gunfire.
The new AEG Zero Pressure tyres will withstand a minimum of 50 mph speeds for 300 miles once
it’s punctured.
The Zero Pressure tyres worked better at carrying heavier loads and can quickly move soldiers out
of dangerous way.
Although the US military vehicle tyres are now equipped with run-flat inserts but the defence
department wanted to upgrade to a zero pressure tyres.
Abraham Pannikottu is working with his team at Akron, Ohio-based American Engineering Group
(AEG). US department of defence has facilitated the team with a grant of USD 1 million to develop
Zero Pressure tyres.
The AEG prototype is developing a technology which could cater with the overheating and has the
tyres flexibility. However, this technology eventually could be used on all- terrain vehicles, as well
as mining and construction vehicles.
In 2006, Pentagon honored Pannikottu & his group for designing airless tyres for the Stryker
armored vehicle. This award was for exceptional performance that exemplifies the goal of bringing
innovative technologies to the soldier.
The company has patents pending for the Zero Pressure tyres technology.

Abraham has a mechanical engineering degree from Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute
of Technology (Surat, Gujarat). He later completed graduate studies in polymer science at the
University of Akron. He has written several research articles on engineering applications of rubber.
Researchers at CAPRISA discovered potent antibodies to

neutralize HIV
Researchers at Center for the AIDS Program of Research (CAPRISA) discovered potent antibodies
which can neutralize and kill multiple strains of HIV. The study was published in the scientific
journal, Nature on 3 March 2014.
Researchers studied how a South African woman’s body referred to as CAPRISA 256 (abbreviated
to CAP256) responded to her HIV infection by making potent antibodies. These potent antibodies
are also called as neutralizing antibodies because of their ability to kill multiple strains of antibodies.
How the potent antibodies were developed

The potent antibodies were made by the researchers by first identifying the antibodies present in
the blood of the CAP256 and then duplicating these antibodies by cloning it in the lab. The cloned
antibodies were then used to elucidate the pathway followed by the immune system to make these
potent antibodies.

Findings of the Research
In their earlier research in 2013, researchers at CAPRISA discovered that a shift in the position of
one sugar molecule on the surface of the HIV virus led to the development of broadly neutralising
antibodies against HIV.
However, in the research conducted on CAP256, the researchers were also able to isolate a broadly
neutralizing antibody and trace its origins to understand exactly how it rose. This could lead to new
HIV vaccine strategies that are able to stimulate the rare precursors of these protective antibodies.
The study conducted on CAP256 also showed that broadly neutralising antibodies have some
unusual features. These antibodies generally have long arms which enabled them to reach through
the sugar coat that protects HIV. Moreover these antibodies had long arms right at the outset
requiring less time and fewer changes to become effective in killing HIV.
All HIV infected people respond to HIV by making antibodies. In most patients, these antibodies are
not able to kill a wide range of HIV which is described as a lack of neutralization breadth. However,
in a few infected people, they naturally make antibodies that neutralize many different kinds of HIV,
with their broadly neutralizing antibodies.
South African Department of Health (SADH) has more interest in this development than anyone else
in the world since South Africa has the largest burden (30 percent) HIV infection globally.
About the CAPRISA consortium

The Research team was led by Professor Lynn Morris of National Institute for Communicable
Diseases (NICD). The CAPRISA consortium included scientists from the National Institute for
Communicable Diseases in Johannesburg, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of
Cape Town, Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases,
US and Columbia University in New York.
Funding for the research

The research was primarily funded by the US National Institutes of Health’s Vaccine Research Center
and the South African Department of Science and Technology. The South African researchers also
have fellowships from the Wellcome Trust, the Fogarty International Center, the National Research
Foundation and the Poliomyelitis Research Foundation.

Indian-American Scientist Anil Jain developed First 3D model of
human fingerprint called Phantom
Indian-American scientist Anil Jain on 6 March 2014 developed the first 3D model of a human
fingerprint called Phantom. The development could boost the accuracy of fingerprint-matching
systems and improve security technology.
The team of computer scientists led by Arun Jain at Michigan State University developed the 3D
image by first making a two-dimensional image of a fingerprint and then mapping it to a 3D finger
surface. The 3D finger surface complete with all the ridges and valleys that make up the human
fingerprint, is made using a 3D printer.
Although the 3-D model does not yet have the exact texture or feel of a real finger. However, it could
advance fingerprint sensing and matching technology.
The ultimate goal is to have a precise fingerprint model with known properties and features that
can be used to calibrate existing technology used to match fingerprints. Tools like this would help
improve the overall accuracy of fingerprint-matching systems, which eventually leads to better
security in applications ranging from law enforcement to mobile phone unlock.
Anil Jain is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and at present is the lead computer scientist & Distinguished
Professor at Michigan State University. He has six US patents on fingerprint matching and has
written a number of books on biometrics and fingerprint/facial recognition.
Scientists to rebuild ear and nose with cartilage derived from

Stem cells
Scientists in the British community discovered a way to rebuild ears and noses using stem cells
from body fat on 4 March 2014.
Scientists from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and University College London discovered
a way to use abdominal body fat and turn it into cartilage. The grown cartilage could be used to
rebuild ears and noses.
The discovery was published in the journal Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine.
Under the new technique, the scientists will insert an ear-shaped nano-scaffold into a stem cell
concoction, in order for the cells to duplicate the proper shape and structure.
Once shaping the ear or nose by hand, the surgeons then place the scaffold under the patient skin.
The skin will then form itself around the mold and, if using a biodegradable polymer mold, it would
simply dissolve after a period of time, leaving only human cartilage.

Though it would not aid in actually hearing it will be biologically the same as an ear or nose.
Currently, doctors have to remove the cartridge from other parts of the body, such as the ribs.
The removal of cartilage from the ribs took as a major additional surgical procedure as it creates a
permanent defect. This is due to the fact that cartilage on the ribs does not grow back.
The new discovery will help those suffering from abnormalities at birth, victims of accidents that
need reconstructive surgery, and people born with a condition that cause the outer ear to be
undeveloped, called microtia.
The procedure could also benefit many types of organ transplant operations. It may lower the risk
of a body rejecting the new organ it has received. The new operation could help the body accept
the new tissue easier, improve stability and functionality and aid in the basic integration of the new
organ.
This new miraculous procedure will have the scientists grow the body part instead of having to do
other, more invasive techniques.

CORPORATE
CCI imposed a fine of 1 crore rupees on Google
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on 27 March 2014 imposed a fine of 1 crore rupees on
Google under Section 43 for its non cooperation.
It also directed Google to give its full cooperation during the pending investigation. Google had
refused to supply information and documents demanded by the Director General.
The Director General required this information during the investigation of a complaint against
Google. In this complaint, M/S Matrimony com private Ltd and Consumer Unity and
Trust Society (CUTS) had accused that internet giant is misusing its market power in the areas of
search advertising and online Search.
Their major allegation is that the Google Search Engine favors platforms it wants to support and

hence, it adopts unfair and discriminatory practices. The investigation team is
looking into the Software and the Algorithmic search used by the Google.
About Competition Commission of India (CCI)

The CCI was established on 14 October 2003. The body consists of a chairperson and six members.
CCI is under the Administrative Control of the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
The major functions of the Commission are to look into the implementation of The Competition Act,
2002 and check unfair trade practices.
The Competition Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by

enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and M&A), which causes
or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.
Tata Teleservices launched Wi-Fi business in Chennai
Tata Teleservices limited (TTL) on 27 March 2014 launched new Wi-Fi business in Chennai. The
company plans to connect everything from India Inc’s employee buses to educational institutions.
Apart from the usual sectors like airport, hospitality and malls, the company plans roping in sectors
such as education and transit busses.
Company will launch Wi-Fi roaming scratch cards that can be purchased through retail outlets to
monetized banner space. It can be used at Tata Docomo hotspots across India.
Setting up Wi-Fi hotspots in the hospitality and retail sectors has largely been avoided by many
telecom companies for the simple reason that monetisation is exceedingly difficult.
Tata Teleservices Ltd. (TTL) has taken a plunge towards commercialisation by roping in brands like
Google and Citibank, which use the company’s Wi-Fi platform to advertise their brands.
TTL at present enjoys a first-mover advantage as it rides on a strong fibre backbone with Tata
Communications.
Till January 2014 Company had set up close to 516 hotspots and plan to set up 3000 to 4000
hotspots across nine cities.
IBM unveiled SMAC solutions for telecom operators
IBM on 26 March 2014 unveiled Social, Mobile, Cloud and Analytics (SMAC) solutions for telecom
operators in India. SMAC solutions will enable telecom operators in India derive more value from

enhanced customer engagement.
The solutions offer operational and business model transformation and promise a rich digital
experience for consumers. Besides, it will also enable telco operators to draw on the consumers
capabilities to capitalise on the emergence of an everyone-to-everyone economy.
SMAC solutions were unveiled by IBM keeping in mind that 58 per cent of telecom operators
expect new technologies to reduce barriers to entry and 69 per cent expect more cross-industry
competition. This was revealed by IBM’s Digital Reinvention Study.
In addition to SMAC solutions, IBM has also introduced

Vibes: It is an enterprise social software solution that will enable telcos narrow down target audiences
from communities to individuals.
Async: It is a solution to help telcos gain operational excellence with an alternate content delivery
paradigm for heavy content such as videos.
Contextual Content Communication (C3): It will help telcos enable contextual communication of
content in diverse business scenarios for an enhanced and better targeted user experience.
Watson Engagement Advisor (WEA): It was introduced in 2012 to assist the firm’s customer service
agents or sit directly in the hands of consumers through mobile devices, with cloud-delivered
services and online chat sessions.
GE Healthcare and CTSI announced to set up 25 cancer detec-

tion and treatment centres in India
GE Healthcare and US-based Cancer Treatment Services International (CTSI) announced on 25

March 2014 to set up a chain of 25 cancer detection and treatment centres in India. The two
companies will be jointly investing 720 crore rupees over the next five years.
The partnership was a part of GE’s 1 billion dollar commitment to Research and Development to
diagnose cancer. The main focus was to make detection and treatment of cancer timely, affordable
and easy to get treated anywhere in the world.
As part of the deal, GE would provide equipment while CTSI would take care of treatment, doctors,
medical personnel and related services.
Also, both the companies will be starting the first few centres in Andhra Pradesh as a hub-and-
spoke model, and later try it out in other countries that have similar conditions.
Besides, GE is also developing low-cost diagnostic technologies in India and for India for various

diseases and out of them 100 will be targeting cancer alone. For instance, recently it launched a
low-cost version of PET-CT which is widely used to find cancerous tumours.
In India there were three million persons affected by cancer and these numbers are rising sharply.
Also, the fatality rate (the persons dying from cancer) was high on account of late detection and
high cost of treatment. Every year 1.23 million new cases were showing up.
About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare is a unit of General Electric Company Worldwide headquartered in the United
Kingdom. It has branches across the world. GE Healthcare Services is dedicated to address
healthcare system growth, quality, and operational excellence.
Chairman and CEO of GE Healthcare is John Dineen.
About CTSI
Cancer Treatment Services International (CTSI) is a US based privately-held provider of
comprehensive clinical and administrative solutions for the treatment of cancer and other complex
diseases. It was founded in 2006.
In 2012, CTSI had set up the 250-bed American Oncology Institute in Hyderabad.
CTSI President and CEO is Joe Nicholas.
CEO of Marico Saugata Gupta promoted as Managing Director
Saugata Gupta chief executive officer (CEO) of Marico on 25 March 2014 was promoted as Managing
Director (MD). Harsh Mariwala will step down from the post of MD and will remain Chairman of the
company.
Saugata Gupta had joined Marico in 2004 as head of marketing. Soon, he became CEO of the India
business in 2007. In April 2013, he was given additional responsibility of the international business.
About Marico
Marico is 4583 crore rupees Mumbai based consumer Products Company providing consumer
products and services in the areas of Health and Beauty.
The organisation holds a number of brands including Parachute, Saffola, Hair&Care, Nihar, Mediker,
Revive, Manjal, Kaya Skin Clinic, Livon, Set Wet, Zatak, Fiancee, HairCode, Eclipse, Xmen, Hercules,
Caivil, Code 78 and Black Chic.

TCPSL launched white Label Automated Teller Machines
Tata Communications Payment Solutions Ltd. (TCPSL) launched the white label Automated Teller
Machines (ATMs) network on 20 March 2014 under the brand name of Indicash. The first Indicash
ATM was inaugurated at Chandrapada in Thane district.
TCPSL has tied up with Federal Bank, which has been designated as a sponsor bank of care of
cash operations, dispute resolutions and regulatory reporting. The Indicash ATMs will be owned
and operated by the TCPSL.
TCPSL will deploy 15000 Indicash ATMs by 2016. Out of this 67 percent of the Indicash ATMs will
be deployed in semi-urban and rural areas, and the rest in urban areas.
About White Label ATM

White Label ATM will be owned and operated by Non Bank entities. From such White Label ATM
customer from any bank will be able to withdraw money, but will need to pay a fee for the services.
The white label ATMs will not display logo of any particular bank and are likely to be located in non-
traditional places.
About TCPSL
TCPSL is a subsidiary of Tata Communications which received licence when RBI allowed corporate
to set up white label ATMs to increase the penetration of ATMs in India in 2013.
SEBI inaugurated its local office at Ranchi, Jharkhand
SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) on 19 March 2014 inaugurated its local office at
Ranchi, Jharkhand. The office was inaugurated by R.S. Sharma, Chief Secretary of Jharkhand
Government in presence of UK Sinha, the Chairman of SEBI.
The local offices of SEBI would involve in spreading financial literacy and redressing of the grievance
of the investors in the region.
Till date SEBI has 14 Zonal offices apart from its head office in Mumbai and four regional offices.

List of the zonal offices are
Local offices in North Local offices in South Local offices in East Local offices in West
Zone with New Delhi as Zone with Chennai as its Zone with Kolkata as its Zone with Ahmedabad as
its Regional office Regional office Regional office its Regional office
• Chandigrah • Kochi • Guwahati • Jaipur

• Lucknow • Bangalore/Bengaluru • Bhubaneswar • Indore
• Dehradun • Hyderabad • Patna • Panaji
• Ranchi • Raipur
About SEBI
The Securities and Exchange Board of India was enacted on 12 April 1992 in accordance with the
provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.
e-Commerce firm ibiboGroup acquired Bangalore-based bus

tracking service YourBus
e-Commerce firm & online travel company ibiboGroup on 20 March 2014 announced to acquire
Bangalore-based startup YourBus.in to strengthen the offers in the bus travel space. The companies
did not disclose the value of the deal.
The acquisition would allow bus operators to track their buses and get detailed analytics on
punctuality and efficiency of their vehicles, allowing them to sort information by route, bus driver
and vehicle number, as well as get an estimated time of arrival reports and other weekly and daily
location-based reports.
YourBus.in is an online GPS-based bus tracking and analytics platform. YourBus is functional in
200 buses and is already integrated with redBus mobile and web applications.
While, ibiboGroup is a joint venture between South Africa-based media and internet company
Naspers and Chinese internet-focused strategic investor Tencent.
YourBus was founded in 2011 by BITS-Pilani graduates Rajesh Mallipeddi and Satya Padmanabham.
The YourBus application shows the location of bus in real time on a map on Smartphone. It also
shows the arrival time at pickup point through SMS updates.

Indian Oil announced to build 30000 crore rupees refinery at
Mundra in Gujarat
Indian Oil Corp (IOC) on 17 March 2014 announced to set up

30000 crore rupees refinery at Mundra in Gujarat with 15 million
tones capacity. The plant is scheduled to come up by 2021-22.
The Adani Groups offered land to IOC to set up refinery at Mundra.
The plan to set up a refinery is to increase the processing capacity

of IOC to 100 million tones. IOC planned to raise its refining
capacity to 100 million tones by 2021-22.
Current total capacity of IOC is 54.2 million tones with seven

refineries and subsidiary Chennai Petroleum Corp operates a 11.5
million tones plant.
A coastal refinery would enable IOC to ship in larger quantities of heavier grades of crude oil,
which are cheaper because they are more difficult to process into fuels. All the refineries of IOC are
landlocked.
In the 12th Five Year Plan which ends up in 31st March 2017, IOC planned to invest 56200 crore
rupees. In the Plan 27159 crore rupees was set aside to expand refining capacity.
Also, IOC is planning to expand few of its refineries to achieve the 100 million
tones target.
1. Refinery at Koyali in Gujarat has 13.7 million tones capacity and it will be increased to 18 million
tones at a cost of 4858 crore rupees.
2. The Mathura plant may be expanded to 11 million tones from 8 million tones.
3. An expansion of the Panipat plant to 18 or 21 million tones from 15 million tones is being
considered.
4. The under-construction 15 million ton Paradip refinery in Odisha would be expanded to 20

million tones.
NTPC approved 14366-crore rupees investment for Jharkhand

plant
NTPC on 15 March 2014 approved an investment of 14366.58 crore rupees for its Karanpura

thermal power project in Jharkhand. This investment has been planned after the company in 2013
was reallocated coal blocks in the state.
The Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) in 2013 cleared the proposal of NTPC allowing it to set
up a 1980 MW power plant with three units of 660 MW each. The project was struck, since 2008
following the withdrawal of coal linkages by the Coal Ministry.
Apart from this a consultancy wing of NTPC has won a contract to provide engineering consultancy
services to Trincomalee Power Company Ltd. The consultancy project has been won for setting
up 500 MW (2X250 MW) coal-based project at Trincomalee in Sri Lanka. The contract agreement
between NTPC and Trincomalee Power Company Ltd. (TPCL) and NTPC signed a contract
agreement on 13 March 2014 at Colombo in Sri Lanka.
About NTPC
NTPC is India’s largest power company and was
set up in 1975 to accelerate power development in
India. It is emerging as an Integrated Power Major,
with a significant presence in the entire value chain
of power generation business. It has an installed
capacity of 42964 MW.
CCI imposed Penalty of 18.38 Crore on Bengal Chemist and

Druggist Association
Competition Commission of India (CCI) on 14 March 2014

imposed a penalty of 18.38 crore rupees on Bengal Chemist
and Druggist Association (BCDA) and its office bearers. The
penalty was imposed for anti-competitive practices in supply
of the medicines, after a case was filed by Dr. Chintamoni
Ghosh, Director, Directorate of Drugs, West Bengal in 2013.
Holding that BCDA and its District and Zonal Committees

were engaged in anti-competitive practices directly or
indirectly determining the sale prices of drugs and controlling
or limiting the supply of drugs through concerted and
restrictive practices. The CCI has also directed the BCDA and its office bearers and executive
committee members to seize and desist from indulging in practices found to be anticompetitive in
terms of the provisions of the Act.

Considering the issue, the CCI in its decision has imposed a penalty on BDCA and those office
bearers who were directly responsible for running its affairs and play lead role in decision making
at 10 percent and on the executive committee members at 7 percent, of their respective turnover/
income/receipts.
The CCI after considering the entire material had directed the Director General (DG) to cause an
investigation into the matter and to submit its report.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation sued 16 world largest

banks
The US regulator, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on 14 March 2014 filed a law-suit on 16
of the world’s largest banks. The regulator accused the banks for allegedly manipulating the Libor
interest rate.
The Banks that has been sued includes Barclays Plc, HSBC, Citigroup and Royal Bank of Scotland,
UBS and British Bankers Association (BBA) and others.
These global banks broke certain swap contracts and separately planed to rig the labor rate to
which the contracts were signed. These banks conduct caused substantial looses to 38 other
banks including Washington Mutual Bank and IndyMac Bank.
Libor interest rate

• Libor is an interest rate at which banks can borrow funds, in marketable size, from other banks
in the London interbank market. British Bankers Association fixes the Libor rate on daily basis.
• It is the world’s most widely used benchmark for short-term interest rates.
• Libor became keystone for more than 550 trillion dollar in financial products from home loans
to derivatives.
CBI to probe into ICICI Lombard alleged fraud in Government

Schemes
CBI registered a probe on 12 March 2014 into alleged fraud in four government-sponsored insurance
schemes.

The schemes involved are Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana, Weather Insurance Scheme,
Shetkari Apghati Durghatana Bima Yojana, Panjikrut Kishan Durghatana Bima Yojana and Rashtriya
Swasthya Bima Yojana.
The Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana was meant for artisans in the period between 2009
and 2011. The allegations made are that 11445 khadi weavers were fraudulently enrolled. 11445
workers were not eligible for receiving the benefits under the scheme. It was further alleged that the
company had misappropriated 88 lakh rupees.
Similarly, in the case of Weather Insurance Policy that was sold by the company to the Rajasthan
government in the Ganganagar district during the period between January and March 2010, it was
discovered that two-third of the 3155 farmers covered under the policy were non-existent. It was
alleged that the company settled claims by cheques even in the name of non-existent addresses
and therefore kept the door of cheque discounting open.
There were also allegations of bogus enrollments in Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana in the
Uttar Pradesh where the scheme was introduced in 2009. The Uttar Pradesh government later
approached the IRDA after they were dissatisfied with ICICI Lombard Insurance on settlement of
complaints relating to biometric cards.
In another personal insurance scheme Shetkari Apghati Durghatana Bima Yojana of the Maharashtra
government, it was alleged that the company settled only 638 claims out of 3900 claims.
Spice jet and Boeing signed a deal worth 4.4 billion dollar
Spice Jet and Boeing Company signed a deal worth 4.4 billion dollar (26000 crore rupees) on 12
March 2014. The deal was signed at the inauguration of India Aviation 2014 in Hyderabad.
The Spice Jet placed the order for 42 Next Generation 737 MAX8 aircraft and the aircrafts will be
delivered in 2018. The 737 MAX8 (737-800) is 14 percent more fuel efficient compared with its 737
planes. 737 MAX8 has pleasing effect, bigger wings and new engine.
India is one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets with air passenger traffic forecasted to
triple to more than 450 million by 2020 as incomes rises. IndiGo is currently the only one among
India’s national carriers that is making a profit.
SBI Life to appeal against the order of IRDA to refund 275 crore
rupees
SBI Life Insurance Company on 12 March 2014 announced that it will appeal against the order

of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) to refund 275.29 crore rupees to the
policy holders of Dhanaraksha Plus Limited Premium Paying Term (LPPT).
IRDA on 12 March 2014 charged SBI Life of violation of various norms by mis-selling the policy and
payment of higher commission to agents. SBI Life has been asked to refund the amount within six
months (i.e. September 2014).
IRDA ordered that the amount shall be debited to shareholders account. The refund amount works
out to 44 per cent of the 625 crore rupees premium it had collected under the scheme.
SBI Life Insurance was fined for charging the second year premium alongwith the first year premium
on its Dhanaraksha Plus Limited Premium Paying Term (LPPT).
SBI Life is a subsidiary of State Bank of India and it is a joint venture between State Bank of India
and BNP Paribas Cardif. SBI holds 74 per cent stake in SBI Life while BNP Paribas Cardif has 26
per cent.
Arundhati Bhattacharya is the chairman of the insurance firm while Atanu Sen is the MD & CEO.
An Analysis of the Issue

IRDA noticed that 99.99 per cent of the total premium procured under the LPPT product was
sourced by corporate agents of the life insurer belonging to SBI Group.
The insurer has paid 40 per cent of first year premium as first year commission and 7.5 per cent of
second year’s premium as second year commission.
However, if the single premium version of product had been offered to the policy holders, the actual
commission payable would have been only 2 per cent.
Hence it was concluded by IRDA that the large scale sale of LPPT as single premium payment
policy has only facilitated higher commission payments to insurance intermediaries involved who
are predominantly SBI and its associate banks.
Tech Mahindra and Alstom Transport announced to set up a

global development centre
Tech Mahindra in partnership with Alstom Transport announced a new global development centre
located in Bangalore on 12 March 2014.
The two companies signed a three-year partnership contract for the development of centre.
The global development centre will cover primarily engineering activities focused on concept to
prototype build.

The centre will also focus on the growing need for efficient vertical integration capabilities from
engineering to manufacturing on rising stock interior field. It also enables both companies to
accelerate joint development of integrated engineering solutions that deliver unique value to our
customers.
The partnership will further increase the flexibility and competitiveness and also a further step of
our engineering ramp-up in India.
About Tech Mahindra

• Tech Mahindra, Information Technologies Services firm was established in 1985.
• Tech Mahindra’s the Integrated Engineering Solutions (IES) unit delivers solution across
aerospace and defence, automotive, industrial equipment, transportation, consumer products,
energy and utilities and hi-tech products.
• It has more than 30 exclusive engineering development centers supporting new program
launches and over 100 marquee global customers.
About Alstom Transport

• French company, Alstom Transport is the leader in the global railway sector, and the only multi-
specialist constructor. It is committed to supplying customers with the highest quality, most
innovative transport solutions in the market.
Airbus launched subsidiary Airbus India
The French company Airbus launched its wholly owned subsidiary in India called Airbus India on
11 March 2014. The move is aimed at restructuring the Airbus operations in India and consolidate
it to tap the growing Indian aviation market.

Recognising India as a strategic hub Airbus appointed Srinivasan Dwarakanath as Airbus India
CEO and Charles Champion as Chairman. Charles Champion is member of the Airbus Executive
Committee.
Airbus India will manage all the Airbus activities in India spread across several Indian cities. With
this view it will also set up customer centres in Delhi and Mumbai.
The Indian entity of Airbus will include strategy, customer services and procurement teams under one
organisation. Airbus also planned to set up a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capability.
Airbus India is the fifth country subsidiary outside Europe for the Airbus. The Indian subsidiary will
build upon the success of the Airbus Engineering Centre India (AECI) in Bangalore.
Currently Indian carriers operate a fleet of over 170 Airbus aircrafts. Airbus current market share of
sales in India represents over 60 percent of the country’s total aircraft backlog. In addition, since
2005, Airbus has enjoyed over 60 percent market share of all new orders.
Tata Motors to set up assembly units in Southeast Asia and

Africa
Tata Motors on 10 March 2014 announced its plan to set up assembly units and sales offices in
Southeast Asia and Africa.
As per the plan, the company will sell commercial as well as passenger vehicles through its recently
formed subsidiary in Indonesia. The subsidiary will also help the company export to other countries
in Southeast Asia.
In Africa, the Tata Motors plan to set up assembly units in Nigeria and Kenya for its commercial
vehicles.
The company already has a subsidiary in South Africa that had expanded its range in 2013. It plans
to increase the sale of passenger and light commercial vehicles nearly four-fold by 2018.
The company’s announcement is seen by analyst as a move to overcome cyclicality in the Indian
subcontinent. Also its decision to expand comes at a time when the commercial vehicle sector is in
the grip of a prolonged slump. Total sales of commercial vehicles declined 25.53 per cent to 46757
units in 2013 from 62786 units in 2012.

New India Assurance announced Asha Kiran a health insurance
cover for girl child
Public sector general insurer New India Assurance announced an exclusive health insurance cover
New India Asha Kiran for girl child on 7 March 2014. New India Assurance cut health insurance rate
for 50 per cent for the girl child.
The discount is restricted to the families with only girl child.
Besides being cheaper, the girl child policy also provides a personal accident cover for parents. On
occurrence of any accident to parent, the sum insured would be placed as a fixed deposit in the
names of the girl child.
The ASHA KIRAN policy has daily cash benefit on hospitalization, critical care benefit up to 10 per
cent sum insured and emergency ambulance charges.
New India also announced health policies with added benefits for the women customer of bank.
General Insurance had its tie up with Bhartiya Mahila Bank.
Tom Albanese appointed as CEO of Vedanta Resources
Tom Albanese is appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vedanta Resources on 6
March 2014. Tom will take over as the charges of CEO and join the Vedanta board with effect from
1 April 2014.
He will also be appointed as CEO of Sesa Sterlite, main operating entity of Vedanta from 1 April
2014.
Tom will replace Mahendra Singh Mehta, the CEO for both Vedanta Resources and Sesa Sterlite
who is retiring on 31 March 2014.
Tom joined the Vedanta Group in September 2013 as Chairman of Vendanta Resources Holding
Ltd, the holding company of Sesa Sterlite and Konkola Copper Mines.
Earlier Tom served as head of an Anglo-Australian company, Rio Tinto for six years and resigned
in January 2013.
Tom holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mineral Economics and a Master’s degree in Mining Engineering
from the University of Alaska.

About Vedanta Resources
• Vedanta Resources is a London Stock Exchange listed globally diversified natural resources
major with interests in Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Aluminium, Power and Oil & Gas.
• Though Vedanta is UK based company and among the world’s top 10 mining firms, it is perceived
as an India-focused miner because most of its operations are located in India.
• The Chairman of the Vedanta Resources is Anil Agarwal.
Bharti Airtel and Etisalat signed a pact to set up regional network

infrastructure
Bharti Airtel and UAE’s telecom giant Etisalat signed a pact on 4 March 2014 to set up a multi-
service regional network infrastructure node in India.
The partnership includes Airtel’s MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) services supported by its
global network. The MPLS will allow Airtel to provide advanced data and wholesale services to its
customers in the Middle East and Africa. It will also provide a platform to Etisalat to reach out to
key global business hubs such as Africa and India.
Besides, Bharti Airtel, a longtime Etisalat partner has chosen SmartHub. The facility will offer Airtel
an array of regional connectivity options both in and out of the region.
Etisalat’s Smarthub is the largest capacity, content, internet and data hub in the Middle East.
Smarthub provides regional access for global service providers and global access to the region.
The partnership will also enable direct routing of traffic between the Middle East and Africa, Asia
and Europe.
Spicejet appointed R. Neelakantan new CFO
Low-cost carrier SpiceJet appointed R.Neelakantan as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on 4 March
2014. He will replace Sam Isaac.
He was serving as the Head of Internal Audit for the Sun Group. Earlier, Neelakantan had served as
SpiceJet’s CFO from November 2010 to February 2013.
The return of R. Neelakantan to SpiceJet is part of a well-thought out succession plan.
About Spicejet
SpiceJet is an Indian low-cost airline owned by the Sun Group of India. It has its registered office

in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and a corporate office in Gurgaon, Haryana.
It began service in May 2005. By 2012, it was India’s third largest airline in terms of market share,
ahead of Air India, Kingfisher Airlines, and GoAir.

SPORTS
Viswanathan Anand won the Candidates Chess Tournament in
Khanty Mansiysk
Five-times world champion Viswanathan Anand won the Candidates Chess Tournament title in
Khanty Mansiysk, Russia on 30 March 2014. In the penultimate 14th Round he drew with Peter
Svidler of Russia to clinch the title with 8.5 points.
The win has paved the way for Vishwanathan Anand to have a rematch with Magnus Carlsen of
Norway for World Chess Championship title scheduled to be held from 5 -25 November 2014.
Besides, the win also made Anand richer by 135000 euros.
Anand lost to Magnus Carlsen in the World Chess Championship held in Chennai in 2013. This will
mark the first time that the same two opponents have met in consecutive World Championship
matches since Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1990).
Results: 1. V Anand (India, 8.5); 2. Sergey Karjakin (Russia, 7.5); 3. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

(Azerbaijan, 7); 3. Vladimir Kramnik (Russia, 7); 3. Dmitry Andreikin (Russia, 7); 4. Peter Svidler
(Russia, 6.5); 4. Levon Aronian (Armenia, 6.5); 5. Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria, 6)
About Candidates Chess Tournament

The Candidates Tournament is a chess tournament organised by the World Chess Federation (FIDE)
since 1950. Its is organised as the final contest to determine the challenger for the World Chess
Championship. The winner of the Candidates earns the right to a match for the World Championship
against the incumbent World Champion.
2014 Candidates Tournament, an eight-player double round-robin tournament that took place in
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, from 13 March to 31 March 2014.
Djokovic defeated Nadal to win fourth Miami Masters crown
Novak Djokovic, the six-time Grand Slam winner won his fourth Miami Masters crown on 30 March
2014 by defeating Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-3. This title was a combination of ATP and WTA Tour hardcourt
tournament. This win has helped him 850430 US dollars as the winner’s cheque.
Second seed Djokovic, benefitted from two walkovers didn’t dropped a set winning his third Miami
title in four years and fourth in total to odd to triumphs in 2007, 2011 and 2012. Nadal has lost the
Miami Masters title in 2008, 2009 and 2011.
This is the second straight win of the event title for Djokovic as earlier on 16 March 2014; he won
the BNP Paribas Open Final in Indian Wells ATP Tennis Masters title in California against Roger
Federer.
For the second time in the history of Miami final, the top two players have faced each other. The
previous was Andre Agassi against Pete Sampras in 1995.
Lewis Hamilton Won Malaysian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton won the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang (Malaysia) on 30 March 2014. His teammate
Nico Rosberg clinched second position. Lewis Hamilton won the race by 17.3 seconds by taking
advantage of his pole position.
This was Hamilton’s 23rd victory in Formula One and 1st in Malaysia. It was also the first Mercedes
one-two victory since it returned to Formula One as a works team in 2010.

Top Final Results
• Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
• Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
• Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
• Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
• Nico Hulkenberg (Force India)
Simon Santoso, Indonesian Shuttler won Malaysia Grand Prix

gold
Indonesian Simon Santoso won the Malaysia Grand Prix gold against Sourabh Varma in Men’s
Single at Pasir gudang, Malaysia on 30 March 2014. Malaysian Grand Prix gold was held from 25
March to 30 March 2014.
Simon Santoso won the final with score 21-15, 16-21, 19-21 against the Sourabh varma in an hour
and nine minutes. This is Simon’s second win over Sourabh Varma. Last time Sourabh and Simon
played against each other at the Indonesia Open 2012.
About Simon Santoso

• Simon Santoso won the Yonex-Sunrise Indonesia Open Grand Prix Gold and Djarum Indonesia
Open Super Series Premier in 2013.
• He also won the Yonex German Open Grand Prix Gold held in Germany in 2012.
About Sourabh Varma

At present Sourabh is ranked 30. He won the TATA open, Austrian International Challenge and Iran
International Challenge.
Heena Sidhu won silver medal in 10m Air Pistol Women final of
ISSF World Cup
Heena Sidhu, the World number two air pistol shooter on 28 March 2014 won a silver medal of 10m

Air Pistol Women at the ISSF World Cup in Fort Benning, United States. To clinch the silver medal,
she shot 200.8 points in the finals. The gold medal was won by 28-year old Bulgarian shooter
Antoaneta Bovena, the Olympic finalist of London 2012, with 203.6 points. The Bronze medal went
to Serbia’s Zorana Arunovic with 180.9 points.
This medal win of the 24-year old shooter, Heena Sidhu from Ludhiana has also made her, the
maximum medal winner in a World Cup by any Indian pistol shooter.
This achievement had also taken her closer to the numero uno spot in her event and this is the third
successive medal by Sidhu at the international stage. The first medal came to her in the ISSF World
Cup at Munich in November 2013.
Apart from this, Malaika Goel a 16-year old young shooter has been ranked sixth after reaching the
finals. London Olympics bronze medallist Gagan Narang missed the finals by one and a half points
in men’s air rifle, which brought him to sixth position.
The ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) World Cup Series

The ISSF World Cup Series is articulated in 4 different World Cup stages in Rifle and Pistol events
and 4 different stages in Shotgun events. The ISSF World Cup Series, together with the ISSF World
Championships and the Continental Championships, can award Olympic Quota Places, and it is
therefore considered an Olympic qualification competition.
West Zone won cricket’s Deodhar Trophy 2014
West Zone on 27 March 2014 won the cricket’s Deodhar Trophy 2014. They lifted the trophy after
defeating North Zone in the Day-Night final at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket
Stadium in Visakhapatnam by a margin of 133 runs.
North Zone, while chasing a score of 282 runs to win, was all out on 148 in 37.1
over.
• Captain of West Zone – Cheteshwar Pujara
• Captain of North Zone – Harbhajan Singh
About Prof. D B Deodhar Trophy

Deodhar Trophy is a 50-over over inter zonal knockout Indian domestic cricket tournament. The
one-day zonal championship, established in 1980s has been named after Prof. D. B. Deodhar

(Dinkar Balwant Deodhar born on 14 January 1892 in Poona (now Pune), Maharashtra), who is
known as the Grand Old Man of Indian cricket. The tournament is annually played among five zonal
teams namely North Zone, South Zone, East Zone, West Zone and Central Zone.
Deodhar as an Indian cricketer, never played any test matches, as he was considered too old in
1932, the year when India played its first Test match.
India won 3rd South Asian Handball Championship title
India on 26 March 2014 clinched the 3rd South Asian Handball Championship title played at Genesis
Global School in Noida. To win the title, India defeated Pakistan 36-31. The championship started
on 23 March 2014.
Five teams that participated in the championship were

• India
• Afghanistan
• Nepal
• Pakistan
• Bangladesh
About Handball Federation of India

The Handball Federation of India is a permanent organization of Patriotic and Natural Character
devoted to physical and cultural education of the youth of India. It is independent, and autonomous
and free from political, religious and/or communal influence.
The federation is affiliated to International Handball Federation, Asian Handball Federation,

Commonwealth Handball Federation and Indian Olympic Association.
• President of the Federation is Dr. Sarwan Singh Channy
• Secretary General of the Federation is Dr. SM Bali
Location of the office of the Federation: Office of the Federation at present is at the place of
residence of the Secretary General. The location of the office will be the residence place till a
permanent office will be created at Delhi.

The Federation Flag colour is Sky blue with the Federation crest in the center
Rusi Dinshaw, Pakistan’s only Parsi cricketer died
Rusi Dinshaw, the only Parsi Community cricketer of Pakistan died on 24 March 2014 in Karachi.
He was 86 and was suffering from schizophrenia.
About Rusi Nausherwan Dinshaw

• He was selected in a Pakistan’s first test Squad that first toured India in 1952-53, but didn’t
played
• He was a left-handed batsman and left-arm spinner
• He went to Pakistan after partition of post Independent India
• He scored a double hundred in the Ruby Shield schools tournament in Kolkata
• He led the Karachi University in 1946 that won against Bombay University in the Maharaja
Kumar of Cooch Behar Trophy
• He debuted in the first-class cricket in 1948 for Sindh at the Karachi Gymkhana against West
Indies (their tour to Pakistan)
RSPB won senior women hockey National Title
Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) on 23 March 2014 won the 4th Hockey India Senior
Women National Championship (Division A) in Bhopal. To clinch the title, it defeated defending
champions Haryana 4-0.
• Top Scorer: Navneet Kaur,

Haryana
• Best Forward: Poonam Balra,

Jharkhand
• Best Defender: Deepika Railways

Sports Promotion Board
• Best Goalkeeper: Savite, Haryana
• Best Player of the Tournament:

Monika Haryana

• Captain of Railway Sports Promotion Board - TH Chanchan
• First and second position was claimed by: the winner and runner-up
• Third position in the tournament went to: Jharkhand by defeating Punjab 5-0
• Fourth position went to: Punjab
In the final of the 4th Hockey India Senior Men Championship 2014 (Division A) held at Major
Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in lucknow, defending champions Air India Sports Promotion Board
retained defeated Comptroller & Auditor General Of India 4-1 to retain the title.
• Best Goal Keeper- Adrain d’souza (Air India)
• Best Full Back – Diwakar Ram (Uttar Pradesh)
• Best Half back- MB Aiyappa (Comptroller & Auditor General Of India)
• Best forward- Shivendra Singh (Air India)
• Player of the tournament Gagandeep Singh (Air india) Yamha Alfa Bike
Stuart Oliver won 1st-ever Indian truck-racing championship
Stuart Oliver, the experienced British racer on 23 March 2014 won the inaugural Tata T1 Prima
Truck Racing Championship at Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida. He represented
Castrol Vecton team in the race and took 30:26.848 minutes to complete 15 laps of the 2.5 km loop
on the 5.1 km-long track.
Stuart Oliver (50-year-old), a ten-time British Truck Racing Champion staved off the stiff challenge
from Mathew Summerfield (30:31:522 minutes) of Team Cummins. Summerfield finished at the
second position. David Jenkins, representing Tata Technologies Motorsports finished third with
timings 30:32:413 minutes.
Team title was awarded to Castrol Vecton.

This was the first-ever truck racing in India and saw two races that was piloted by experienced
truck racing drivers of British and European Truck Racing circuits.
The two race events were comprised of

• First race – 5 lap qualifier
• Second race – 15-lap main race

Calculations of the final standings of the race were based on the combined points scored by each
driver in both races. The team championship award was given on the basis of combined scores of
the two drivers of respective teams
In total the inaugural Tata T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship was participated by six teams with
12 Prima truck. The teams that participated in the race were
• Team Castrol Vecton with drivers Stuart Oliver and Dave Ball
• Team Tata Technologies Motor Sports with drivers David Jenkins and Brian Burt
• Team Allied Partners with drivers Paul McCumisky and Steve Rothery
• Team Dealer Warriors with Ben Horne and Steven Powell
• Team Dealer Daredevils with Steve Thomas and Graham Powell
• Team Cummins with Mat Summerfield and Simon Reid
Alex Felix was the Race Director of T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship.

About T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship
The T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship is India’s first ever truck racing championship, by Tata
Motors and was conducted under the aegis of FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) and
FMSCI (the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India). The first ever truck racing event of India has
been inscribed on the calendars of FIA & FMSCI.
The truck racing championship was organised by Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC), with safety
and performance standards being followed as per the British Truck Racing Association (BTRA)
guidelines.
Key sponsors of the event were Cummins, Castrol, Tata Technologies, JK Tyre (official tyre partner
for the entire event), WABCO official braking technology partner and Accenture.
All the 12 Tata Prima trucks that were used in the championship were Indian and all of them were
heavily-modified for being capable of putting out 37-hp. These trucks had the ability to reach a top
speed of 110 km per hour.
About Tata Motors

Tata Motors is India’s market leader in commercial vehicles and is among the top in passenger
vehicles. It is also the world’s fifth largest truck manufacturer and fourth largest bus manufacturer.
Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle
East, South Asia, South East Asia, South America, CIS and Russia.
Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic lost the shortest match

in 28 minutes and 20 seconds
Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic lost

the shortest match in Association of Tennis
Professionals (ATP) history on 21 March 2014
at the Sony Open within just 28 minutes and
20 seconds. Bernard Tomic score to a 6-0,
6-1 defeat at the hands of Finnish Jarkko
Nieminen.
Bernard Tomic won just one point in the first

five games of the match and 13 in total. Tomic
had not played since retiring against Rafael
Nadal in the first round of the Australian Open.
The match surpassed the previous record set

by Greg Rusedski and Carsten Arriens at the Sydney International in 1996 when the Briton beat the
German opponent 6-0, 6-0 in 29 minutes.
Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai won BNP Paribas Open 2014
Hsieh Su-Wei of Taiwan and Peng Shuai of China on

16 March 2014 won in Women’s doubles final of the
BNP Paribas Open by defeating Sania Mirza and
Cara Black from Zimbabwe 7-6(5), 6-2. The BNP
Paribas Open 2014 was held from 3 to 16 March
2014 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California.
Earlier in 2011, Sania Mirza won the BNP Open with

Elena Vesnina in the Women’s doubles final.
About BNP Paribas Open

BNP Paribas Open is annually held ATP World Tour
Masters 1000 and WTA Premier Event at the Indian
Wells Tennis Garden where the top men and women
professional players will compete.
About Men’s Double

Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan from USA won in Men’s double defeating Alexander Peya (Australia)
and Bruno Soares (Brazil) of BNP Paribas Open 2014.
Novak Djokovic won Indian Wells final by defeating Roger Federer
The world’s number two Novak Djokovic on 16 March 2014 defeated Roger Federer to win the BNP
Paribas Open Final in Indian Wells ATP Tennis Masters in California 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3). This trophy is
the first title of the year for Djokovic and third at the BNP Paribas Open.
Earlier in February 2014, Djokovic lost to Federer in the semi finals of the Dubai tennis championship.
Other results of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells ATP Tennis Masters
• Women’s singles title: won by Italian Flavia Pennetta by defeating second seeded Agnieszka
Radwanska 6-2, 6-1

• Women’s doubles title: won by top seeded Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai by defeating fifth
seeds Cara Black and Sania Mirza 7-6(5), 6-2
Sachin Tendulkar voted Cricketer of the Generation
Sachin Tendulkar on 14 March 2014 was voted as the Cricketer of the Generation by a 50-member
jury that comprised current and former cricketers and journalists. To win the award, Sachin defeated
his competitors spin legend Shane Warne and all-rounder Jacques Kallis.
Other titles for 2013 in the annual ESPNcricinfo Awards

• Test bowling title for 2013 - Mitchell Johnson
• ODI bowling award – Shahid Afridi, he won under the same

category for 2009
• Test batting award – Shikhar Dhawan for his knocking 187

runs on debut against Australia in Mohali in 2013
• ODI batting performance of the year – Rohit Sharma for his

ODI double-century in Bangalore, against Australia
• The Debutant of the Year (new category) – Mohammed

Shami of India
• Contribution to Cricket Award (new category) – Tarak Sinha,

head coach of the Sonnet Cricket Club in Delhi,
• Cricket for Good award – Rahul Dravid for mentoring the junior and Paralympic athletes in India
• Batsman of the Year, Best Test Batsman, and Most Consistent Batsman – AB de Villiers
• Bowler of the Year and the Best Test Bowler – Dale Steyn
ESPNcricinfo Awards
The ESPNcricinfo Awards recognises the best individual batting and bowling performances in
cricket over the calendar year. The awardees are voted by an independent jury that comprises
former cricketers, commentators, and ESPNcricinfo’s senior writers. This was the seventh edition
of the ESPNcricinfo Awards.
The award ceremony was organised in Mumbai to honour the most outstanding cricketer between
the years 1993 and 2013. This ceremony also marked the 20th anniversary celebrations for the
cricket website.

Karnataka won the Vijay Hazare Cricket Trophy 2013-14
Karnataka won the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2013-14 by defeating Railways by four wickets at the
Eden Gardens in Kolkata on 16 March 2014. Karnataka for the first time won the Vijay Hazare
Trophy. Recently, Karnataka won the Ranji and Irani Cup champion and this is the third consecutive
tournament win for the team.
Railways scored 157 in 47.4 overs whereas Karnataka scored 158 in 43 over for six wickets.
Abhimanyu Mithun was named as the man of the match for picking up 4 wickets for 19 runs.
About Vijay Hazare Trophy

• Vijay Hazare Trophy was started in 2002-03. It is also known as Ranji One Day Trophy. It is a
domestic competition among the states teams from the Ranji Trophy for limited over.
• Tamil Nadu won the trophy four times and Delhi won the trophy in 2012-13.
• Railway won the trophy in 2005-06.
Asian Grand Prix Archery Championship: Indian archers won 2

gold & silver in team events
Indian archers on 13 March 2014 bagged 2 gold

and a silver in the team events in 1st Asian Grand
Prix Archery Championships at Bangkok.
Whereas, in the Compound Women’s team event
women team defeated Iran to clinch the first
gold, 219 to 204. The women compound team
included Gagandeep Kaur, V Jyothi Surekha and
P Lily Chanu.
In the Men’s Recurve, the team of Jayanta

Talukdar, Tarundeep Rai and Kapil won gold
after defeating Taipei, 6-0 in set system. Apart
from this, the Indian team of Abhishek Verma, Sandeep Kumar and Rajat Chouhan won silver in the
Men’s compound section after facing a defeat by Iran, 227 to 232.
Recurve women’s team lost to Japan in the bronze medal match and completed at the fourth
position. The women recurve team included Deepika Kumar, Bombayla Devi and Laxmirai.

1st Asian Archery Grand Prix 2014 (World Ranking) is being organised in Bangkok from 10 March to
16 March 2014. The event has been organised following the World Archery Rules for 2012 in both
divisions Recurve and Compound.
Heena Sidhu and Chain Singh won Gold at 7th Asian Air Gun
Championship
Heena Sidhu on 10 March 2014 won the Gold medal in

the Women’s Air pistol event at the 7th Asian Air Gun
Championship in Kuwait.
Heena topped the qualification stage with 386 and won

the Gold medal with a score of 200.3, Chia Ying Wu
of Chinese Taipei won the Silver (198.3) and Wadha Al
Balushi from Oman won the Bronze (177.3).
In Team Event, Heena along with Shweta Chaudhary and

Harveen Srao won the Silver medal with a total score of
1138 (20x). China won the Gold with a score of 1138 (21x)
and Chinese Taipei won the Bronze with a score of 1134.
Men’s rifle event

Chain Singh won the Gold with a score of 206.0. While the Silver and Bronze were won by Chinese
Qin Cong (204.5) and Liu Zhinguo (183.7) respectively.
About Heena Sidhu

• At present Heena is the world record holder in finals with a score of 203.8 at ISSF World Cup in
Munich, Germany in 2013.
• Heena Sidhu is the third Indian shooter after Anjali Bhagwat and Gagan Narang to win in the
Rifle World Cup Finals in 2013.
• She won the gold medal along with Annu Raj Singh at the Common Wealth Games in New Delhi,
2010.

Virat Kohli reclaimed number one position on ICC ODI batsmen
rankings
Virat Kohli on 9 March 2014 reclaimed the number one position in the ICC Player Rankings for
ODI Batsmen. He was able to claim the first position by gaining 12 points during the Asia Cup by
scoring 189 runs in three innings with 136 against Bangladesh.
He is followed by South African ODI captain AB de Villers, who was at the first position before the
Asia Cup.
Top 10 ODI Batsmen

Rating
ID Name Country
points
1. 881 Virat Kohli India
2. 872 A.B. de Villiers South Africa
3. 856 G.J. Bailey Australia
4. 840 H.M. Amla South Africa
5. 833 Sangakkara Sri Lanka
6. 783 M.S. Dhoni India
7. 725 I.J.L. Trott England
8. 723 S Dhawan India
9. 717 T.M. Dilshan Sri Lanka
10. 715 Misbah-ul-Haq Pakistan

Last time, Kohli was ranked at the number one position in January 2014 before the ODI series
against New Zealand.
Mizoram won 68th Santosh Trophy of football by defeating

Railways
Mizoram on 9 March 2014 won the 68th senior

National football championship of Santosh Trophy
by defeating Railways 3-0 in the final match played
at Kanchenjungha Stadium in Siliguri, West
Bengal. This is the maiden Santosh Trophy for
Mizoram and this was also the first appearance
for them in the final match.
Railways for the last time bagged Santosh Trophy

in 1966 and since then (48 years) it has never won
a single trophy.
List of goals scored in the final match and by whom

• First and second goal was made by captain of Mizoram, Zeco Zoram Sanga
• Third goal was scored by Lalrin Puia
With this win of the Santosh Trophy, Mizoram bagged 5 lakh rupees, while Railways as the runners-
up got 3 lakh rupees. The matches of the Trophy were played at Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri
from 24 February 2014 to 9 March 2014.
This year’s game was played under a new format in which 10 teams qualified from the Zonal
Qualifiers of which two each from the North, West, South, East and Northeast Zones. Each of the
qualified teams was clubbed into two groups in which they played against each other. Top-two
sides from each Group progressed into the semifinals and the winners played in the summit clash.
• Group A: Services, Kerala, Mizoram, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra
• Group B: West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Railways, Punjab and Goa

Sri Lanka won Asia Cup 2014
Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup 2014 on 8 March 2014. To claim the title, Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan
in the final match by five wickets with 22 balls remaining. With this win, Sri Lanka claimed the title
for the fifth time.
Sri Lankan Lahiru Thirimanne in the final helped Lanka to chase the score of 260 run by scoring
101 in 108 balls. Fawad Alam of Pakistan scored 114 runs in 134 balls to help Pakistan to give a
challenging score.
• Player of the match was awarded to Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka for taking 5 wickets in 10 over
in the final match
• Player of the series was awarded to Lahiru Thirimanne of Sri Lanka
Participants of the Asia Cup tournament were four Asian test-playing nations, Bangladesh, India,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka and ICC Associate member Afghanistan.
Afghanistan by defeating Bangladesh in the tournament, for the first time was included in the
ranking chart of ICC.
Ragala Venkat Rahul won 2 Gold and 1 Silver at 16th Asian

Youth Weightlifting Championships
Ragala Venkat Rahul won 2 Gold and 1

Silver on the second day of the 16th Asian
Youth Weightlifting Championship on 6
March 2014. The Championship is being
held at Bangsean in Thailand.
Rahul won the medals in 77-kg category of

boys. He bagged Gold each in Clean & Jerk
(163 kg) and in total lift (296 kg). The Silver
was won in snatch (133 kg).
The championship is the continental

qualification event for the 2nd Youth
Olympic Games. The 2nd Youth Olympic
Games are to be held in August 2014 in
Nanjing, China.

Lalu Taku (boys, 62kg), Mohin Chavan (girls, 44 kg) and TBC Lalchhanhima (boys, 56kg) finished
fourth in their respective categories.
In 2013, 15th Asian Youth Weightlifting Championship was held at Al Sadd Sports Club in Doha,
Qatar.
Australia replaced India in second position in ICC Test Team

rankings
Australia on 5 March 2014 replaced India at the number two position in the Test team rankings of
cricket. This place was achieved by Australia after they defeated South Africa by 245-run in the
third and final Test match in Cape Town.
Australia who replaced India at the second position in test rankings entered the three test-matches
series with South Africa at third position.
• This second-position has won Australia a cash award of 370000 US dollars
• India will have to settle with 265000 US dollars
• South Africa at the top position will receive 475000 US dollars
• England which is at forth rank will receive 160000 US dollars
Rankings of test playing cricketing nations

Rank Team Matches Points Rating
1 South Africa 34 4332 127
2 Australia 43 4946 115
3 India 39 4359 112
4 England 44 4713 107
5 Pakistan 29 2890 100
6 Sri Lanka 33 2953 89
7 New Zealand 37 3224 87
8 West Indies 29 2516 87
9 Zimbabwe 11 372 34
10 Bangladesh 19 359 19

Tamil Nadu and Railways won Federation Cup 2014
Tamil Nadu (TN) men and Railways women won the XXVII (twenty seventh) Federation Cup Volleyball
titles on 5 March 2014 in the finals at Kizhakkambalam, Ernakulam in Kerala. Tamil Nadu men
defeated services and the Railways women defeated Kerala in the finals. The cup was held from
26 February to 5 March 2014.
• Tamil Nadu defeated services in straight sets 25-21, 25-19, 25-19
• Women Railways defeated Kerala women by 25-21, 25-18, 25-16
Bronze Medal of women was won by Tamil Nadu and men by Uttrakhand.
Sports Minister inaugurated National Cycling Academy in New

Delhi
Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports on 5 March 2014 inaugurated the
Sports Authority of India National Cycling Academy (SAI NCA) at Indira Gandhi Sports Complex.
The academy with complete back-up facilities has been set up following the decision taken in the
42nd meeting of the Governing Body of SAI.
The finances of the academy will be maintained by Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs
& Sports through Sports Authority of India. The Academy has been launched with a long-term
perspective of making an Academy which will be financially independent and a self-sustaining
venture.
Apart from the National Cycling Academy, on 5 March 2015, the Youth Affairs and Sports Minister
also launched a project to create swimming pools at three stadiums in the capital, namely
• Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JNS)
• Indira Gandhi Sports Complex (IGSC)
• Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range
The estimated cost for creating the swimming pools is 907.50 lakh rupees. Jitendra Singh also
launched a Community Connect Scheme to include sports and recreational facilities in JNS, IGSC,
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Swimming Complex.
The purpose of setting of the Academy

• Academy will cater in identification and nurturing of young talent at both sub-junior and junior

levels
• It will also train the elite athletes on a run up to their preparations for international/national
competitions
Earlier, in 2013 India received the first-ever Gold medal in the history of Cycling in the Asian Cycling
Championship held at Bangkok (Thailand).
64th National Basketball Championship concluded
The 64th National Basketball Championship concluded

on 5 March 2014 at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in
New Delhi.
In the final, Chhattisgarh won the women’s title beating

Indian Railways 81-77. The men’s title was won by
Tamil Nadu. They defeated Punjab 74-57 to win the
men’s title.
The winners received one lakh rupees, while the first

and second runners-up received 75000 rupees and
50000 rupees respectively.
Rikin Pethani of Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh’s Kavita Kumari were awarded the Harish Sharma
Most Valuable Player Award.
In 2013, at the 63rd National Basketball Championship held at Ludhiana, Punjab, Indian Railways
won the women’s title and Uttarakhand won the men’s title.
Hockey India accorded status of National Sports Federation
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on 3 March 2014 declared Hockey India as the sole body
responsible towards promoting the sport in India. With this Hockey India has been accorded with
the status of a National Sports Federation (NSF) for governing the sport of hockey (both men and
women) in India.
The release of Union Sports Ministry said that Hockey India has been made responsible and
accountable for the overall management, direction, regulation, control, promotion and development
of the sports discipline.
To be recognised as a National Sports Federation any institution or body needs to be recognised by

its international body. In case of Hockey India recognition was mandatory by International Hockey
Federation (FIH), as well as the Indian Olympic Association and it has fulfilled both these criteria’s,
since 2009. FIH, Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) and IOA considered Hockey India following its
work and considered it as the sole body responsible for the governance of the game in India.
Background
Earlier, the Union Sports Ministry derecognised Hockey India in 2013 for not adhering guidelines
issued by the government and due to internal disputes and mismanagement.
The release of the ministry said that for continuance of the recognition, Hockey India will have to
follow the guidelines of the government and National Sports Development code to get assistance.
Graeme Smith announced retirement from cricket
Graeme Smith, the South African cricket team Captain on 4 March 2014 announced that he will
retire from international cricket at the end of the test match against Australia at Newlands. Smith is
the longest serving captain for South Africa in international cricket.
His retirement came after Jacques Kallis retired from the test team in December 2013.
About Graeme Smith

• 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
• He has played 197 one-day international and 33 T20 international matches
• He holds the world record as the most test wins as skipper (53) by defeating the record held by
Australian Ricky Ponting of 48 wins as a Test captain
• He made his test debut in March 2002 against Australia in Cape Town
• In 2005, he captained a World XI against Australia in Sydney
Arvind Bhat won the German Open Grand Prix title
Indian shuttler, Arvind Bhat won the men’s singles German Open Grand Prix title against Danish
Hans-Kristian Vittinghus 24-22 19-21 21-11 in Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany on 3 March 2014.
Bhat ranked 87th in the world, became the first Indian to win this tournament. Pullela Gopichand

is the Indian shuttler, who reached the finals of the Germany Open Grand Prix in 1999 and lost the
finals.
Bhat has won six International titles, including the Scottish Open 2004 and the Czech International
2007. Bhat participated in the 2010 Asian games in Guanzhou, China and was in the Indian team
for Sudirman Cup 2011.
Hockey India to be the sole body for the promotion of Hockey
The Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs decided to make Hockey India (HI) the sole body to
be responsible for the promotion of the sport on 3 March 2014.
There was a long standing dispute over the administration of Hockey between Hockey India (HI)
and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF). Both the HI and IHF were derecognized since August 2010
over the disputes.
Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs after a careful and detailed examination of the documents
on record and keeping in view all the relevant factors decided to make the Hockey India the sole
body to represent Hockey in India. The factors considered were unified body for men and women,
recognition from the international body (FIH), recognition from IOA, free and fair elections and
acceptance of the government guidelines
The development is a body blow to the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) which has been fighting
legal battles against HI over the control of the sport in the country.
Roger Federer won Dubai tennis championship
Roger Federer on 1 March 2014 won singles title of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship
by defeating Tomas Berdych 3-6, 6-4,6-3 in the final. This is the sixth title win in past 12 years for
Federer in Dubai and is also the 78th career title.
Earlier, Federer defeated second seeded Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the tournament. This
win is the first victory for Federer since his only title of 2013 at Halle.
Apart from this, Indo-Pak duo Rohan Bopanna and Aihsan ul Haq Qureshi bagged the doubles title
by defeating Daniel Nestor and N. Zimonjic 6-4, 6-3 in straight sets.

South Africa won ICC under 19 World Cup 2014
South Africa on 1 March 2014 emerged as the winner of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2014
by defeating two-time former champions Pakistan by six wickets at the Dubai International Cricket
Stadium. With this win South Africa captured the ICC Junior World Cup for the first time.
Playing first Pakistan was all out for 131 in 44.3 over, while the score was chased by African side
in 42.1 overs.
• Man of the match - Corbin Borsch (South Africa)
• Player of the tournament - Aiden Markram (South Africa)
• South Africa captain Aiden Markram
• Pakistan captain Sami Aslam
Previous, best results of South Africa were as runner-up finishes in 2002 and 2008.
Final positions of cricketing teams in the Under-19 cricket world cup are
1. South Africa
2. Pakistan
3. England
4. Australia
5. India
6. West Indies
7. Afghanistan
8. Sri Lanka
9. Bangladesh
10. New Zealand
11. Zimbabwe
12. United Arab Emirates
13. Scotland
14. Namibia

15. Canada
16. Papua New Guinea
Indian side was captained by Vijay Hari Zol.
The next ICC U19 Cricket World Cup will be played in 2016 in Bangladesh.

STATE
SMS based service “Polling at your fingertips” launched in
Shillong
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), P Naik on 31 March 2014 launched SMS based service named
“Polling at your Fingertips” in Shillong, Meghalaya. This is one of the most innovative steps started
for the voters under which they will have to enter their EPIC number and send it to 9856066666.
The EPIC SMS from the voter will provide him all the details of their electoral number, polling
stations, timing and date in their mobile phones. The SMS service will be charged at 3 rupees per
SMS.

Analysis
It seems that the newly launched Polling at Your Fingertips initiative would help the voters in locating
their polling stations and reach the actual designated polling stations.
Earlier, the SEO office has launched several programmes related toSystematic Voters’ Education
and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)that includes kite flying competitions, music programme and
bike rally.
Jammu and Kashmir became first state to show No Smoking

Area in elections booths
Jammu and Kashmir became the first state in the country to declare all election booths as No
Smoking Areas in Lok Sabha elections 2014. Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir, Umang
Narula issued a circular on 25 March 2014 to all returning officers and district election officers of
the state.
Now it is mandatory for all election booths to display the No Smoking Area warning. The direction
was issued in the backdrop of a request made by the J&K Voluntary Health Association.
The Association made the request on the basis of Section-4 of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco
Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply
and Distribution) Act, 2003. The Section-4 of the Act prohibits smoking at all public places.
Uttrakhand Government ordered deployment of SDRF on Char

Dham route
Harish Rawat, the Chief Minister of Uttrakhand on

25 March 2014 ordered deployment of State Disaster
Response Force (SDRF) personnel in the danger
zone that are prone to disaster. The newly constituted
SDRF will be deployed during the Char Dham Yatra
in full strength. Route of the Himalayan shrines
located in the state are considered as prone to
disasters.
Apart from this, Harish Rawat has also reminded

the state officials to complete the road repair work
along the pilgrimage route by its deadline on 30 April
2014.

The Char Dham Yatra of the Himalayan shrines is scheduled to begin in the first week of May 2014.
The Kedarnath pilgrim will be opened for the devotees on 5 May 2014.
Background
This order of deployment of the Disaster Response Force was passed following the cloud burst,
flood and landslides that occurred in the state on 16 June 2013. Following the same, earlier, the
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had identified 50 danger zones in the state, which are slide-
prone in districts of Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi. In its suggestion it had asked the state
for deployment of SDRF in large numbers, who will keep be vigilant to prevent such losses, during
such incidents.
State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in Uttarakhand

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was constituted by the state on the lines of NDRF a
few months back, after the state suffered a huge natural calamity. In 2013, the state government’s
preparedness failed to handle the natural calamity in the state. The members of the SDRF are those
who have been trained to manage the crisis period.
Gurgaon has the highest first time voters in Haryana
The maximum number of voters in Haryana who will cast their vote first time in the upcoming Lok
Sabha elections fall in Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency.
The number of first time voters in the age group of 18-19 years in Gurgaon is 47161 according to
the data released by Haryana State Government.
Out of a total of 339452 first-time voters in the 18-19 age group 98756 voters are females and
250696 are males.
The maximum number of first time women voters 14144 in the 18-19 age group also fall in Gurgaon
Lok Sabha constituency even as the maximum number of 33017 first-time men voters too come
from the same constituency.
On the other hand, the minimum number of 27213 voters in the age group of 18 and 19 fall in
Rohtak Lok Sabha constituency. These include 7,221 women and 19,992 men.
The maximum number of 41571 voters in the age group of above 80 is in Sirsa out of which men
number 25097.
The least number of 26207 voters above 80 years of age fall in Faridabad Lok Sabha constituency.
These include 12465 women and 13742 men.

While on the national level, the Election Commission’s data show that the proportion of 18-19
year-olds registered to vote is the highest in Jharkhand (9 per cent of total electors), Chhattisgarh
(4.9 per cent) and Rajasthan (4.8 per cent) and the lowest in Himachal Pradesh (1.3 per cent),
Maharashtra (1.4 per cent) and Kerala and Karnataka (1.8 per cent).
2014 Lok Sabha election will reflect the peak of India’s electoral demographic dividend with 10%
of voters likely to be first-time voters.
Chhattisgarh Government ordered high-level inquiry in Sukma

Maoist attack
Government of Chhattisgarh on 11 March 2014 ordered a high-level departmental inquiry into the
Maoist (Naxal) attack near Tongpal in Sukma district. The high-level departmental inquiry will be led
by the additional Director General of Police, Naxal Operations, RK Vij. The inquiry will be focused
on various security aspects. Apart from the departmental inquiry, a separate magisterial inquiry will
also be conducted into the ambush of Maoists in the forests of Tongapal, which is about 400 km
from the capital of the state.
Earlier on the same day, Maoists in their attack killed 16 people including 15 security personnel of
which 11 were from CRPF.
The decision of initiating a departmental inquiry was made at a high level meeting that was presided
over by Raman Singh, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. Raman Singh has also instructed the
state police to be alert and take effective steps on a war footing to nab the criminals.
Earlier in a similar type of ambush, the group of Maoists on 25 May 2013 killed 17 people in their
attack on a convoy of Congress party at Darba Valley. This attack on the security force is similar to
the massacre of 2010 in which 76 security men in the same area were ambushed and killed.
Hailstorm in Maharashtra damaged Rabi crops worth 5000

crore rupees
In Maharashtra 11 lakh hectares of Rabi crops were damaged due to hail storm which has engulfed
the state since last one week. The rabi crop damage is estimated to be worth 5000 crore rupees by
the state agricultural department.
Heavy rains and hailstorm has adversely affected the parts of Marathwada, Western Maharastra,
North Maharashtra and Vidharbha.
Out of 35 districts in Maharashtra, 28 districts are badly affected. Some of the worst affected districts

are Baramati, Pune, Beed, Latur, Osmanabad, Nashik, Akola, Buldhana, Nagpur, Chandrapur,
Amravati, Yavatmal, Washim, Jalgaon, Nanded, Nadurbar and Dhule.
Standing crops like wheat, jowar and onions have been severely affected. The cultivation of grapes,
oranges, mash melons and bananas also have been damaged.
The state government forwarded the proposal for compensation to allow financial assistance to
the affected farmers to the Union Agriculture Ministry. Union Agricultural Ministry has to seek
the Election Commission permission due to the model conduct is in force for coming Lok Sabha
Elections.
NDMC launched Stri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana
North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) launched a new

health scheme Stri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna for women on
6 March 2014. The Scheme aims to bring services closer for
those living in rural areas and unauthorized colonies.
Under the scheme, health camps and mass awareness

drives will be held in various areas of north Delhi. The
medical services will be provided through various nodal
centres, hospitals and mobile dispensaries marked for the
programme.
The scheme was launched due to many women suffering from various health ailments either out of
poverty or for the lack of medical assistance. Under the scheme, these women will be examined at
the camps and health centres. During the health camps, screenings will be done for different kinds
of cancers, anaemia and malnutrition among others.
Assam became the first state to observe Child Protection Day
Assam on 4 March 2014 became the first state in India

to observe State Child Protection Day. A central function
was organized with the support of Assam State
Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR) in
collaboration with United Nations Children‘s Fund
(UNICEF).
The day was observed with the colourful dances and

skits performed by school children to highlight issues

related to children namely
• Quality education
• Importance of protection of children
• Child trafficking and child marriage
During the conclusion of the celebration of the day, Runumi Gogoi, the ASCPCR Chairperson made
every person to pledge to always work for the protection of Children against all forms of abuse and
ensure their rights.
Internationally Child Protection Day is observed on 19 November every year. It was launched by the
Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF) in 2000.
National Food Security Act came into force in Madhya Pradesh
National Food Security Act came into force in Madhya Pradesh from 1 March 2014. Total population
of 75 percent people will be covered under the Act.
This implementation of the National Food Security Act in the state is a part of the national Bill
that became an Act after receiving the nod by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on 10
September 2013.
Objective of the National Food Security Act 2013

The Act was launched by with an objective to provide food and nutritional security to people of the
country. To make this food available to the people of the country, the government of India came
with a scheme under which 67 percent population of India (of which 75 percent is rural and 50

percent is urban population) will have an access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable
prices. This scheme was planned to allow people to lead a life with dignity.
The Act makes a state responsible to identify the beneficiaries and implement the programme
under it. As per the Act, guarantees 5 kilograms of rice, wheat and coarse cereals per month per
person at the highly subsidised rates of 1-3 rupees a kilogram. Rice will be made available at 3
rupees a kg, wheat at 2 rupees a kg and coarse cereals at 1 rupee a kg.
Reorganisation Committee constituted in Andhra to ensure

smooth bifurcation of the state
PK Mohanty, the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh on 28 February 2014 constituted a Reorganisation
Committee at the state secretariat in Hyderabad. The state administration has constituted six major
and 15 sub-committees to ensure smooth bifurcation of the state.
The committee comprises three senior IAS officers namely K Ramakrishna Rao, B Venkatesam and
Jayesh Ranjan. The Reorganisation committee will coordinate the work among 15 sub-committees
who are required to submit their reports in three copies to archives, section and to the concerned
secretary.
The sent information of the 15 sub-committees would reach to the AP Reorganisation Cells three
officers and then to Apex Committee. Further the report will be sent to the chief secretary by apex
committee that will include eight members. The chief secretary will send the report to the advisors
of the governor to start the division process.
Apart from the formation of Reorganisation Committee, the Union Cabinet on 28 February 2014
decided to impose President’s Rule in the State. The decision came as the state is without a Chief
Minister, since Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy resigned from the post and Congress party to protest
against the passage of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2013.
HC ordered Delhi Police to set up unit to prevent racial profiling
Delhi high court ordered Delhi Police to set up a unit on the lines of Crime against Women (CAW) to
prevent racial profiling of people from North East India on 5 March 2014.
Main highlights of the High court order

• High Court asked the police commissioner to undertake massive drive to sensitize its 83000
strong police force about preventing such crimes.

• The Police Commissioner shall direct all DCPs that they should sensitise police personnel with
regard to the problems faced by the citizens from the Northeast.
• A full-fledged unit similar to CAW is needed rather than just a small cell as currently set up by
the police for grievance redressal of problems faced by the north east people.
• Only education and the fear of being caught, punished or prosecuted will work in stemming
racial profiling of the community.
The bench asked Delhi police to file a status report on or before 26 March 2014 to give details of
actions taken by them on 47 complaints received from Northeast peoples on recently launched
helpline number: 1093.
Besides, the lieutenant General (LG) of Delhi Najeeb Jung constituted a committee to ensure safety
of people from the northeast community living in Delhi. The Committee will be headed by principal
secretary of Union Home Ministry. The committee will identify mechanisms to ensure safety of the
community.

NEWS
CAPSULE
Person in news
SC commuted Bhullar’s death sentence to life imprisonment
The Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of Devinderpal Singh Bhullar to the life
imprisonment on 31 March 2014 on the basis of a curative petition. Mental illness and inordinate
delay in deciding his mercy petition were the main reasons behind this decision. The landmark
judgment of the apex court on 21 January also played a crucial role in the entire case.
The Supreme Court gave a verdict on 21 January 2014 that inordinate and inexplicable delay by
the government in deciding mercy petitions can be a ground for commutation of death sentence as
this delay can have a dehumanizing effect on the death convict.

The Centre while admitting the delay in deciding his mercy petition, informed the Supreme Court
on 27 March 2014 that it has no problem with the commutation of death sentence of Devinderpal
Singh Bhullar.
Background
Khalistani terrorist Devinder Singh Bhullar was awarded death sentence for triggering a bomb blast
in New Delhi in 1993. 9 persons were killed and 25 persons were injured in the blast.
The Supreme Court rejected his appeal on 26 March 2002 against death sentence which was
awarded to him by a trial court and endorsed by the Delhi High Court. The Apex court also dismissed
his review petition and a curative petition. Bhullar filed a mercy petition on 14 January 2003 to the
President. The president rejected his petition on 14 May 2011. Citing the delay of 8 years in taking
a decision, he again filed a petition for commutation of his death sentence to the Supreme Court.
This petition was rejected.
However, on the basis of the Supreme Court’s verdict on 21 January 2014, a bench of Supreme
Court stayed the Bhullar’s execution and had agreed to relook into its earlier judgment of rejecting
the plea of commutating the death sentence.
Japan to start retrial of Longest serving death row inmate Iwao

Hakamada
A Japanese court on 27 March 2014 ordered the release and a retrial of Iwao Hakamada. He is the
longest serving death row inmate in the world.
He was accused in 1966 of killing four people, although he briefly admitted to the killing, he retracted
this and pleaded innocent during his trial, but was sentenced to death in 1968. The sentence was
upheld by the Japanese Supreme Court in 1980 and Hakamada is believed to be the world’s
longest-serving death row inmate.
Japan and the United States are the two countries in G-7 group of rich nations to maintain capital
punishment and the death penalty.
Capital punishment is carried out by hanging and prisoners do not know the date until the morning
of the day they are executed. For decades, Japan did not even officially announce that capital
sentences had been carried out.
Eight people were put to death in Japan in 2013, and there are believed to be nearly 130 on death
row.

Arjun Kapoor named brand Ambassador of Earth Hour 2014
Actor Arjun Kapoor on 27 March 2014 was named as the brand ambassador of the Earth hour 2014.
Earth Hour 2014 will be observed on 29 March 2014 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Earth hour is an initiative under which citizens are advised to switch off all electricity for an hour.
Earth Hour is a worldwide movement for the planet organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature
(WWF). Earth Hour engages a massive mainstream community on a broad range of environmental
issues. It was started in Sydney, Australia in 2007.
The event is held towards the end of March annually worldwide.
Earth Hour 2013 was celebrated on 23 March 2013.

Person Appointed
Saudi King appointed half-brother Moqren as next heir to throne
Abdullah, the king of Saudi Arabia on 27 March 2014 appointed his half-brother Moqren (69) as the
next heir to the throne. This step has paved a way for Moqren to become a future king of the world’s
largest exporter of crude oil.
King Abdullah (90-year old) announced his decision in a royal decree. At present Moqren is the
second deputy Prime Minister and has been named as the next crown prince. From 2006 to July
2012, Moqren headed the intelligence services before being named as the counselor and special
envoy to King Abdullah.
The decision of the decree was taken by more than three-quarters (27) of the 34-member Board of
Succession, as the princes of the royal family.
The King in his Decree had not mentioned name of Crown Prince Salman (79), who at present is
the Defence Minister of the strategic Gulf State. This declaration was made by the king on the eve
of the visit of US President Barack Obama.
Succession of the King Rule in Saudi Arabia

As per the rules, power passes from brother to brother in Saudi Arabia under a right of primogeniture
among the Sons of Abdul Aziz Saud, the person who is the founder of the kingdom.
According to the law in case the posts of crown prince and king become vacant then the Prince
Moqren will be proclaimed sovereign. This royal decree is an irrevocable decision and said that
nobody can change this decision that came into effect from 27 March 2014. The Board of Succession
is supposed to designate the future heir.
The board of succession was established by King Abdullah in 2006 with an aim to institutionalize
the process of transition and would normally exercise its rights prerogative after his death.
Sunil Gavaskar appointed as Interim President of BCCI
Sunil Gavaskar was appointed as the interim president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) by the Supreme Court on 28 March 2014. He was appointed as acting president of BCCI to
discharge the functions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2014.

Sunil Gavaskar replaced the present BCCI chief N Srinivasan. The Supreme Court also directed
administrative responsibilities of the BCCI board to the BCCI vice-president Shivlal Yadav, former
off-spinner of Indian cricket team.
Former BCCI chief N Srinivasan was removed by the Supreme Court on the ground that his position
as the Chairman of BCCI may interfere with the investigations going into the alleged involvement of
his sons-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan. Gurunath Meiyappan was found to be involved in betting by
the Mudgal Committee report on IPL spot fixing during IPL-6 held in 2013.
About Sunil Gavaskar

• He was the original Little Master before Sachin Tendulkar
• In career spanning 16 years (1971-87), broke most Test records on offer, including most runs (10
122), most centuries (34) and most matches played (125).
• He started test career with highest 774 runs (average 154.8) in 4 Tests in West Indies (1971)
which remains the highest series aggregate by a debutant and the highest series total by an
Indian.
• He was part of India’s greatest 20th century triumphs, including the 1983 World Cup win and
series victories in West Indies and England in 1971.
Jens Stoltenberg appointed as Secretary General of NATO
Jens Stoltenberg was appointed as the Secretary General of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
(NATO). This was announced by the North Atlantic Council in Brussels in Belgium on 28 March
2014. Besides, he was also appointed as the Chairman of the North Atlantic Council.
Stoltenberg will take charges of Secretary General of NATO on 1 October 2014. He will replace the
incumbent Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former Prime Minister of Denmark.
About Stoltenberg
Jens was born in Oslo, Norway in 1959 and did his Masters in Economics from Oslo University.
Jens Stoltenberg was the Prime Minister of Norway for two times. He was appointed as PM of
Norway for the first time in 2000 and was in office till 2001. In 2005 he was elected as the PM of
Norway for the second time and remained in office till 2013.
At present, he is a UN Special Envoy on Climate Change. He is involved in international assignments

which included chairing the United Nations High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence and the

High-level Advisory Group of Climate Change Financing.
About NATO
1. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was established in 1949 which is based on North
Atlantic Treaty popularly known as Washington Treaty. It is headquartered in Belgium, Brussels.
2. It is an inter-governmental military alliance of North Atlantic Countries with 28 members mainly

from Europe and America. It is also known as North Atlantic Alliance.
3. NATO promotes democratic values and encourages consultation and cooperation on defence
and security issues to build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict. NATO is committed to
the peaceful resolution of disputes of the countries where conflict is involved. Military capacity
of NATO will undertake the crisis management operations if diplomatic efforts fails.
General Sedki Sobhi sworn-in as Defence Minister and Army

Chief of Egypt
General Sedki Sobhi on 27 March 2014 was sworn-in as the new Defence Minister and Army Chief
of Egypt. He succeeds, Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who resigned from both the posts on 26
March 2014 to contest in the Presidential elections.
Sobhi’s appointment was confirmed by Adly Mansour, the Interim President of Egypt at the weekly
cabinet meeting in Cairo. Mansour on the same day also issued a presidential decree that promoted
Major General Mahmoud Hegazy to a higher rank of lieutenant general. This decree has allowed
him to replace Sobhi as the army’s chief-of-the-staff. Hegazy is the father-in-law of Sisi’s son.
Sisi resigned from both the posts because the newly approved Constitution of Egypt, only civilians
can run for the post of the President.
Rajiv Takru appointed as the new Revenue Secretary
Rajiv Takru, an IAS officer of 1979 batch of Gujarat cadre was appointed as the Revenue Secretary
on 25 March 2014. He will succeed Sumit Bose, who will retire on 31 March 2014. Takru at the time
of appoinment was serving the Financial Services Department as its Secretary under the Union
Finance Ministry.
Apart from this Gurdial Singh Sandhu, a Rajasthan cadre IAS officer of the 1980 batch has been
appointed as the Financial Services Secretary. Sandu at the time of appointment was serving as the
Minorities Affairs department in the Rajasthan Government and with this appointment he succeeds

Takru.
Previously, Takru before his appointment as the secretary was serving as the Additional Secretary
and Financial Adviser in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. He had also served Prasar Bharti
as its CEO and has worked in the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
This appointment of the duo has been approved by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC),
headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The committee had also made a temporary posting of
Secretary Department of Pharmaceuticals in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Shaktikanta
Das, an IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre of 1980 batch for a period of absence of Aradhana Johri,
IAS (UP, 1980) from 22-30 March 2014.
Varun Berry appointed as Managing Director of Britannia Indus-

tries
Varun Berry on 25 March 2014 appointed as Managing

Director (MD) of Britannia Industries. He will succeed Vinita
Bali. Currently, he is working as chief operating officer (COO)
of the company.
Varun Berry had joined Britannia in January 2013 as chief

operating officer from PepsiCo Inc.
In May 2013 he was promoted as head of Britannia’s India

operations, which generate over 90% of its sales. This is
accounted as the company’s de facto head.
In November 2013, he was then appointed as executive

director by the Chairman of Britannia Nusli Wadia.
About Britannia Industries

Britannia biscuit company was started in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1892 with an initial investment
of Rs. 295.
Currently, Britannia has an estimated 38 percent market share. The Company’s principal activity is
the manufacture and sale of biscuits, bread, rusk, cakes and dairy products.

Aditi Khanna became first women President of Indian Journalist’s
Association
Aditi Khanna on 20 March 2014 was unanimously elected as the first women President of Indian
Journalists’ Association (IJA) in London. This appointment of a lady as the President has happened
for the first time in the 67-years long history of IJA.
Aditi Khanna is the London based correspondent for the Press Trust of India. Apart from Aditi, the
Rupanjana Dutta, the Associate Editor of Asian Business Publication was appointed as its general
secretary.
List of past Presidents of Indian Journalists’ Association (IJA)

• K S Shelvankar
• Sundar Kabaddi
• Tarapada Basu
About Indian Journalists’ Association (IJA)

Indian Journalists’ Association (IJA) was set up just before Indian independence in May 1947.
The association was encouraged actively by VK Krishna Menon, who was also the first High
Commissioner of Independent India in Britain. He allowed the then IJA members to use the India
League premises near the Fleet Street and the Indian High Commission. IJA in London uses India
Club premise for its meetings that was founded in the same premises after the Independence.
Rakesh Sethi appointed as CMD of Allahabad Bank
Rakesh Sethi was appointed as Chairman

and Managing Director (CMD) of Allahabad
Bank on 12 March 2014. Sethi will take
charge of CMD with immediate effect as
the post was lying vacant since January
2014 when Shubhlakshmi Panse retired.
He will serve the Bank till his retirement on

30 April 2017. He was an executive director
of Punjab National Bank (PNB) till this
appointment.

Soma Mondal appointed first Women director of NALCO
Soma Mondal on 12 March 2014 was appointed as the first woman director (commercial) of Navratna
Public Sector Unit (PSU) National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO). Mondal joined Nalco in 1984
as a Graduate Engineer Trainee.
Earlier, she was working with the company as executive director (marketing) at Nalco’s corporate
office.
She had worked on the different profiles in the company’s eastern and western regional offices.
She had rich experience in sales and marketing,
About NALCO
National Aluminium Company Ltd. (Nalco) is a public sector
enterprise of the Government of India. It was incorporated in
1981 to exploit a part of the large deposits of bauxite discovered
in the East Coast.
NALCO is Asia’s largest integrated aluminium complex,

encompassing bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium
smelting and casting, power generation, rail and port operations.
FPSB appointed former SC Judge Srikrishna as its Chairman
Justice (Retd.) BN Srikrishna on 11 March 2014 was appointed as the Chairman of Financial
Planning Standards Board India (FPSB). He will succeed Dhirendra Swarup, the former chairman
of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
Srikrishna is a retired judge of Supreme Court and has served as the Chief Justice of Kerala High
Court.
He has also served as the Chairman of the Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission
(FSLRC) set up in March 2011 by the Union Ministry of Finance. He also headed the Sixth Central
Pay Commission set up by the Union Government on 5 October 2006.
About Financial Planning Standards Board India (FPSB)

Financial Planning Standards Board India is a Public–Private Enterprise and a Professional Standards

setting body for Financial Planners in India. FPSB India proactively guides the development and
promotion of standards for financial planning professionals to benefit and protect the public in the
country. FPSB India closely works with all the stakeholders’ viz. the Government, the Regulators, the
Industries/Associations, the Corporate, the Media and the General Public to achieve its objectives.
FPSB’s members are nonprofit organizations from 25 territories around the world. The territory
members include 24 countries and 25th territory is Israel, which is its Associate member. SBI, LIC,
ICICI, Axis Bank, UTI AMC are among the financial institutions that has established it.
Avaya appointed Priyadarshi Mohapatra as Managing Director

for India and SAARC
Technology firm Avaya on 6 March 2014 appointed

Priyadarshi Mohapatra as Managing Director for its
India and SAARC operations.
A 17 year veteran of the industry, Mohapatra will

provide strategic direction to India operations. He will
manage business priorities and will enhance Avaya’s
position as a leading business communications
company.
He will play a key role in strengthening channel

partner relations and driving significant growth in
the mid-market segment.
Mohapatra had join Avaya from SAP. He had joined SAP in 2008 and had held various leadership
positions.
Before SAP, Priyadarshi had worked for retail practice for Sun Microsystems in India and previously
co-founded, Oyzterbay, a venture capital funded jewellery chain.
About Avaya
Avaya is a leading global provider of next-generation business collaboration and communications
solutions, providing unified communications, real-time video collaboration, contact center,
networking and related services to companies of all sizes around the world.

Sheila Dikshit appointed as the new Governor of Kerala
Sheila Dikshit, the former chief minister of Delhi on 4 March 2014 was appointed as the 22nd
Governor of Kerala. She will succeed Nikhil Kumar, a former Delhi Police Commissioner who took
over as the governor of Kerala in March 2013. Nikhil Kumar had tendered his resignation to the
President of India that has been accepted.
About Sheila Dikshit

• Dikshit (75) is a senior congress leader and has served Delhi three times, as its Chief Minister
from 1998 to 2013
• Earlier, during the Delhi Assembly elections in December 2013, Dikshit government suffered a
defeat by the Arvind Kejriwal led AAM party. She lost her seat by over 20000 seats
• She had represented the Kannauj Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh during 1984 to
1989
• In 2008, she was shortlisted for the World Mayor award and was awarded as the Best Chief
Minister of India by Journalist Association of India.

Places in News
Bhavani Island in A.P. developed as new adventure sports
Bhavani Island in A.P on the waves of River Krishna was developed as new adventure sports on 23
March 2014. It was developed by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) in
partnership with Bangalore-based Freakout Adventure Solutions.
APTDC launched string of amusement activities for the fun-starved city folks. The exciting activities
like high-rope activities between trees in the island, a climbing wall, vine traverse techniques and
the water roller were introduced.
The cost of developing Bhavani island as an adventure sports is about One crore rupees which
have been spent on repairing, renovating and grooming the tourist destination with added features.
Malaysia Airlines MH370 disappeared in the South China Sea
South China Sea-Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared in the South China Sea on 8 March
2014.
South China Sea is a part of Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by many countries such as China,
Philippines, Singapore, and islands such as Borneo, Bangka–Belitung and Malay Peninsula. It
covers an area of 3500000 square kilometres.
Pro-Russian forces seized Ukraine’s Navy headquarters in

Sevastopol
Sevastopol: pro-Russian forces seized Ukraine’s Navy headquarters
The pro-Russian forces on 19 March 2014 seized the Ukraine’s Navy Headquarters in Crimean,
Sevastopol. It also seized one more naval base of Ukraine in Crimea apart from detaining the Navy
Chief of the country, Serhiy Hayduk.
These incidents like of seizure of the naval bases and detention of the Navy Chief are follow-up
effects of referendum of Crimea on 16 March 2014, which has not been accepted by either Ukraine
or West like the EU and US.

summit confrence
3rd Nuclear Security Summit 2014
The Third Nuclear Security Summit was held in The Hague, Netherlands from 24 to 25 March 2014.
The summit was attended by 58 World leaders. The third NSS synergizes previous two summits
without their backdrops.
At the Summit, the leaders agreed to build a robust Nuclear Security Structure. Besides, the summit
also saw the agreement on Strengthening Initiative wherein 35 countries agreed to incorporate the
guidelines of IAEA into their national legislation to assess the security of nuclear materials.
About Nuclear Security Summit

• The goal of the Summit is to address the threat of nuclear terrorism by enhancing international
cooperation to prevent the illicit acquisition of nuclear material by non-state actors such as
terrorist groups and smugglers.
• The first NSS was held in Washington DC in 2010 and the second NSS was held in Seoul in
2012. The United States will host the next Summit in 2016.

Person Resigned
Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi resigned as Army Chief of Egypt to run for

Presidential Elections
Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, the Army Chief of Egypt resigned on 26 March 2014 to contest in Presidential
election. His resignation from the highest post of military came, nine months after toppling Egypt’s
first democratically-elected President, Mohammad Morsi.
Earlier on 26 March 2014, he also resigned from the post of the Defence Minister by tendering his
resignation to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAP).
He led the military coup to overthrew Mohammed Morsi, the then President of Egypt in July 2013.
On 27 January 2014, he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal (the highest rank in the military).
Comment: It seems that Al-Sisi will easily win the Presidential election as people of the country
have been demanding him for his candidacy for the post.
Managing Director of Britannia Industries Vinita Bali announced

to retire
Managing Director (MD) of Britannia Industries Vinita Bali on

25 March 2014 announced to retire till the end of March 2014.
Britannia Industries is a part of the Wadia Group.
Bali had joined Britannia in January 2005 and took over as

company MD in 2006. Vinita Bali became the first woman to
head a major consumer goods company in India in 2005.
During her nine-year stint, Bali marked the revenue growth of

Britannia to a 1 billion US dollar.
After her retirement Bali would continue to serve on the boards

of the other Wadia Group companies like Bombay Dyeing,
Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation and Go Airlines
She would also continue to be associated with the Britannia Nutrition Foundation, a social initiative
that was started by her.

Acting CEO and CFO of Jet Airways Ravishankar Gopalakrishnan
resigned
The acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Jet Airways Ravishankar
Gopalakrishnan resigned on 25 March 2014.
Gopalakrishnan took up the post of CFO in the airline in October 2012 and was closely involved
in negotiations with Etihad and financial revival of the airline. Prior to joining Jet Airways, he was
executive director & CFO with TVS Capital Funds.
Gopalakrishnan took over as acting CEO in January 2014 after Garry Kenneth Toomey resignation.
Earlier, there have been several high profile exits from Jet Airways after Etihad acquired 24 per
cent stake in the airline. This includes CEO Nikos Kardassis, vice-president (investor relations) K G
Vishwanath and chief commercial officer Sudheer Raghavan.
Bishop Franz-Peter Terbartz-van Elst of Germany resigned
The Germany’s Franz-Peter Terbartz-van Elst also known as bling bishop resigned on 26 March
2014 for the allegations for his luxurious lifestyle. The resignation formally was accepted by the
Pope Francis.
He lived a life of high extravagances which included renovation of his residence and church building.
The renovation was initially valued at 5.5 million euros but the cost went to 31 million euros (43
million dollars). This amount for renovation was used from the revenue collected from religious tax
in Germany.
In 2013, Franz-Peter Terbartz-van Elst was indefinitely relieved of his clerical duties by Francis in
Limburg.
KC Chakrabarty, Deputy Governor of RBI resigned before end of

term
Dr KC Chakrabarty, the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India resigned on 20 March 2014.
His resignation came three months ahead of the completion of his term due to personal reasons.
Chakrabarty was appointed as RBI deputy governor for a three-year term in June 2009, and was
subsequently given a two-year extension. In past two decades, Chakrabarty is the first top official

of RBI to resign before retirement.
His resignation has left two posts of deputy governor of RBI vacant. Earlier, Anand Sinha retired
from the position of Deputy Governor of RBI on 20 January 2014 and till now the government has
not brought any replacement for him.
RBI as its official Directors have a Governor and four Deputy Governors (which must not exceed).
GK Pillai resigned as Chairman of MCX-SX
GK Pillai resigned as Chairman of MCX-SX on 14 March

2014. Consequently, current Vice Chairman and former
LIC Chairman, Thomas Mathew T was elected as new
Chairman and Ashima Goyal was elected as Vice
Chairperson by the Board members. The exchange also
announced that MCX and FTIL had been reclassified as
Public Shareholder from Promoter Shareholder.
Incidentally, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) began its probe on 13 March 2014 against the
stock exchange’s founder Jignesh Shah and former Chairman of SEBI C.B. Bhave. The probe will
also investigate the alleged irregularities in the sanctioning of MCX-SX along with the subsequent
recognition renewals of exchange in 2009, 2010.
Former Home Secretary, GK Pillai was appointed as Chairman of MCX-SX following the National
Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL) scam. During his tenure, a new board, Managing Director and CEO
were appointed. He played a pivotal role in bringing stability by renegotiating contracts, rationalizing
costs and other similar measures.
Nandan Nilekani resigned as chairman of UIDAI
Nandan Nilekani resigned as chairman of the Unique

Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on 13 March 2014.
Nilekani joined the Congress Party on 10 March 2014 and he is
contesting from the Bangalore South constituency in Lok Sabha
polls.
Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder of Infosys left the company

in 2007 and he had taken charges as head of UIDAI, Aadhar
programme.

About Unique Identification Authority of India
• Aadhar is a 12 digit individual identification number issued by the UIDAI on behalf of the
Government of India under Aadhar Programme. Aadhar number will serve as a proof of identity
and address, anywhere in India.
• Aadhar programme comes under the Planning Commission headed by the Prime Minister.
CFO of Apple Inc. Peter Oppenheimer announced retirement
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Apple Inc Peter Oppenheimer announced his retirement on 4 March
2014. He planned to retire at the end of September 2014.
Corporate controller Luca Maestri will succeed him.
Oppenheimer joined Apple in 1996 and has served as its CFO since 2004. Since then, Apple’s
annual revenue has grown from 8 billion dollar to 171 billion dollar.
Luka Maestri is currently working as Apple’s Senior Vice President of Finance and Corporate
Controller. He had previously served as CFO of Nokia Siemens Networks and Xerox (XRX). He
began his career with General Motors (GM), working in finance and operating roles at the automaker
for 20 years.
About Apple
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Cupertino, California. Apple
was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on 1 April 1976 to develop and sell
personal computers.
Its best-known hardware products are the Mac line of computers, the iPod media player, the
iPhone Smartphone, and the iPad tablet computer. Its consumer software includes the OS X and
iOS operating systems, the iTunes media browser, the Safari web browser, and the iLife and iWork
creativity and productivity suites.

Person Died
Nanda, the Veteran actress died in Mumbai
Veteran film actress of Hindi and Marathi films, Nanda died on 25 March 2014 in Mumbai at the age
of 75.
About Nanda
• She was a daughter of Master Vinayak
Damodar Karnataki, a Marathi actor-
director
• She worked as a child in early fifties films

like Jaggu and Angaarey
• Her first break as a lead actress was Toofan

aur Diya of V Shantaram released in 1956.
The film revolved around brother-sister
bond
• In 1992, she got engaged to filmmaker

Manmohan Deasai, who died in 1994 after
falling from the terrace. After his demise,
she remained unmarried for her life
• In 1961, she appeared in a film as a lead

actress in 1961
• Her biggest super-hits as the lead heroine

were Ittefaq, The Train and Joru Ka Ghulam
Some films acted by Nanda were Dhool Ka Phool, Dulhan, Bhabhi, Naya Sansar, Jab Jab Phool
Khile, Prem Rog, Aahista-Aahista, Mazdoor, Gumnaam, Shor and Parineeta. Prem Rog that was
released in 1983 was her last film, the film starred Padmini Kolhapure and Rishi Kapoor.
Adolfo Suarez, the first elected Prime Minister of Spain, died
Adolfo Suarez, the first elected Prime Minister of Spain died on 23 March 2014. He was 81. He was

suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for the past decade.
The Spanish government announced three days of official morning decided to give Suarez a state
funeral.
Adolfo Suarez was the man who led Spain to democracy after decades of dictatorship and became
the first elected Prime Minister after the death of General Francisco Franco in 1975.
Suarez was chosen to form a new government at the age of 43 in 1976 after the death of General
Franco by the then King Juan Carlos. However, he was elected as the Prime Minister of Spain in
the first democratic elections held since Spanish Civil War ended in 1936. In the general election of
1977, his party Union of the Democratic Center (UDC) won the elections by huge majority.
He recognised pluralism in Spanish society and legalised the Communist Party which was banned
under General Franco’s regime. He also led the successful referendum on making a new Constitution
of Spain.
Mr Suarez retired from politics in 1991 after making an unsuccessful bid to return to power through
his newly formed party the Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) in 1982.
Suarez was a member of Franco’s fascist regime. He had served as head of the state broadcaster
and a senior leader in the National Movement.
Suárez was rewarded by the king with a noble title, Duke of Suárez, after stepping down as prime
minister.
In a book titled Spain: A Nation Comes of Age written by Robert Graham which describes the
democratic transition in Spain, Suárez was described as the changing face of Spain and epitomized
the emergence of a new middle class in Spain. Graham was a foreign correspondent in Madrid
during Suárez’s premiership.
Former Brazilian international footballer Hilderaldo Luiz Bellini

died
Former Brazilian international footballer Hilderaldo Luiz Bellini died on 21 March 2014 after a heart
attack. He was 83. He was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for many years.
He was the captain of the team when Brazil won the first World Cup in 1958 in Sweden. Also, he
became the first captain who set the tradition to hold the trophy above his head in celebration.
There is a statue in his honour in the pose outside the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Belini also played the 1962 and 1966 World Cup.

Former Sierra Leone President, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah died
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, the former President and leader of Sierra Leone died on 13 March 2014 in
Freetown. He was 82. He played a pivotal role in gaining peace to the country after 11-year long
brutal civil war. The war was infamous for the use of child soldiers, which was also criticized for the
use of Blood diamonds in funding the violence.
In 1996, he was elected as President after a decade of military rule. In less than a year, due to a
military coup by Revolutionary United Front (RUF), he fled to Guinea and formed government-in-
exile. He returned in 1998 and was successful in establishing peace in the Sierra Leone with the
help of United Nations. He was again elected in 2002 and ruled the country till 2007.
Joe McGinniss, author of Fatal Vision died
Joe McGinniss, an author of nonfiction and novels died on 10 March 2014 at UMass Memorial
Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. He died at the age of 71 due to prostate cancer.
Some books authored by Joe McGinniss

• In 1969 at the age of 26 he wrote, The Selling of the President 196. The book closely looked at
campaigning and marketing of Presidential Candidate, Richard M Nixon
• In 1983 he authored Fatal Vision that focused on the murder case of former Green Beret doctor
Jeffrey MacDonald
• In 1980 he wrote Going to Extremes, that is on the reality of life in Alaska
• In 2010, he wrote his last a book entitled The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin
Veteran Actress, Sheila MacRae died at 92
Sheila MacRae, a veteran stage, film and TV performer died on 6 March 2014 at the age of 92 in
New Jersey. She is best known for her role as the wife of bus driver Ralph Kramden in 1960s film,
The Honeymooners.

About Sheila MacRae
• Sheila was born in London immigrated to America with
her parents during World War II.
• Sheila TV credits include General Hospital, Search for

Tomorrow.
• She also took part in quiz What’s My Line and also starred
in movies such as Backfire, Caged, Pretty Baby and Bikini
Beach.
• She also performed on Broadway plays including Absurd

Person Singular.

Awards | Honours
Zubin Mehta won special jury award of Times Now NRI Awards
2014
Renowned music director and concert conductor Zubin Mehta on 30 March 2014 won the special
jury award of Times Now NRI Awards 2014. The award ceremony was held in Mumbai.
Other winners of inaugral Times Now NRI Award 2014

• Yusuff Ali M A, managing director of Abu Dhabi-based Emke Lulu group was given the popular
choice award
• Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan was named India’s global icon
• Keertika Rawat was awarded in the entertainment category
• Dr Kunal Saha won the NRI award in My India category
• Dr Raminder Singh Ranger, Rupesh Srivastava, Anand Kumar and Nitish Jain were awarded in
the entrepreneur category
• Husain Khaki, Mala Kiran Talekar, Abdul Muqeet and Aastha Chauhan won the awards in the
NRI students category
• Dr Ramesh Babu, Chandrabhan Singh, Chandrashekar Natarajan, Y Sudhir Kumar Shetty and
Venkatesha Murthy won the award in professional category
• Suman Kapoor, Vijay Goradia, Keshav Murleedharan and Dr D Chandroo were felicitated for
philanthropy
About Times Now NRI Awards 2014

To recognize the successful Indians globally and to celebrate their achievements, Times Now
announced NRI Awards in February 2014.
The award recognises non-resident Indians’ contribution across categories, including

entrepreneurship, arts, entertainment and philanthropy.
This award is open to any Non Resident Indian (NRI), Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Person
of Indian origin (PIO) who has resided in USA, Canada, Singapore, UK, Middle East including

Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait for a minimum of 2 years and will have a five tier
evaluation process managed by Ernst & Young. Times Now is the largest media conglomerate of
India with a presence in over 75 countries.
About Zubin Mehta

Zubin Mehta is an Indian Parsi conductor of Western classical music. He is the Music Director for
Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Main Conductor for Valencia’s opera house.
The Government of India honoured Mehta in 1966 with the Padma Bhushan and in 2001 with the
Padma Vibhushan, second highest civilian award of India.
Indian-Origin student Gopal Rao won UK Twitter Prize
Indian-origin Gopal Rao on 27 March 2014 won UK Twitter Prize. The prize was to meet the British
Foreign Secretary William Hague and to discuss the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI).
PSVI was launched on 29 May 2012 by William Hague. PSVI aimed to strengthen and support
international efforts to respond to sexual violence in conflict which included to enhance the capacity
of countries, institutions, and communities to support survivors and end impunity for perpetrators.
Gopal Rao, MBA student at Cambridge University won the accolades from British Foreign Secretary
William Hague after winning a Twitter competition which asked a question regarding UK’s foreign
policy.
The question asked was What do you think is the biggest contribution UK foreign policy can make
to the world?
Gopal Rao answered that UK foreign policy should focus on emancipation of girlsandwomen
through enterprise, supported by vibrant #socent culture within UK. #meetFS.
Shigeru Ban, Japanese architect won the Pritzker Architecture

Prize 2014
Japanese architect Shigeru Ban won the Pritzker Architecture Prize 2014. He won the award for his
creative and inexpensive designs for disaster relief shelters.
The world’s most prestigious architecture award was announced by the Hyatt Foundation on 25
March 2014. The Prize will be awarded to Ban on 13 June 2014 in Amsterdam.
The prize has recognized for the first time an architect for his contribution in the area of housing

disaster victims. Ban will be the seventh Japanese architect to receive the prize.
About Shigeru Ban

Shigeru Ban, 56, started his involvement in disaster relief structures in Rwanda in 1994. He set up
a non- governmental organisation, voluntary architects Network, for taking up construction in Sri
Lanka, India, Haiti, Italy and New Zealand in 1995.
Ban’s objective is to build inexpensive, easy-to-construct and dismantle structures. In 2001 Ban
participated in Bhuj earthquake relief work. His work also includes museums, offices, auditorium
and clubhouses.
Ban’s designs are characterised by experimental approach, inspired freshness, elegant simplicity
and apparent effortlessness. The seven-storied wooden office-building in Zurich and the church
made of cardboard tubes and colour glasses in Christchurch, New Zealand are example of his
work.
About the Pritzker Architecture Prize

The international prize is awarded annually to living architects who significantly contributed to
humanity and for excellence in built work. It was instituted by Hyatt Foundation in 1979. It carries
100000 dollar grant, a citation and a bronze medallion.
President conferred Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards
Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India on 22 March 2014 conferred Gallantry and Distinguished
Service Awards. He conferred three Kriti Chakras and ten Shurya Chakras to Armed Personnel at
the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The five Surya Chakra was given posthumously.
The awards were given to them for displaying conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage and
extreme devotion to duty.
Other medals conferred by Mukherjee on the day were

• Param Vishisht Seva Medals to fifteen persons
• Uttam Yudh Seva Medals to two persons
• Bar to Ari Vishist Seva Medals to three persons
• Ati Vishisht Seva Medals to twenty two persons

Pranab Mukherjee being a President of India is also the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed
Forces.
Malala and Mishab-ul-Haq conferred with Pakistan Civil Awards

on Pakistan Day
Malala Yousafzai and Misbah-ul-Haq along with 103 others were conferred with the Pakistan’s Civil
Awards during a ceremony to observe the Pakistan Day on 23 March 2014. The awards were given
at a ceremony held in Aiwan-e-Sadr in recognition of the services rendered by them to the nation.
The list of 105 Civil Awards was approved by Mamnoon Hussain, the President of Pakistan on
14 August 2013 and 10 others were approved as special cases. The President also conferred the
National Civil Awards on 39 individuals of which five are foreigners.
Malala, the teenage rights activist along with the slain Pakistani student Airezaz Hassan was
awarded with the Sitara-i-Shuja’at for gallantry. Malala would be conferred the award in London by
the Pakistan mission.
Misbah-ul-Haq, the national cricket captain of Pakistan for his services to sports was recognised
with the President’s Award for Pride of Performance. Wali Khan Babar, the television reporter, who
was shot dead in 2011, was awarded posthumously with the Pride of Performance Award.
Young television reporter Wali Khan Babar, who was shot dead in 2011, will be posthumously
awarded the Pride of Performance award.
20 recipients of the National Awards (Civil) were decorated on behalf of the President by the
Governor Punjab at the Governor’s House in Lahore. Other 12 awards were given by the Governor
Sindh, the Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa awarded to nine recipients, and five nominated people
received the award from the Governor Balochistan in Quetta.
Pakistan Day
Pakistan Day is observed in form of celebration in the country to mark the passage of the Lahore
Resolution of 1940 that led to the creation of Pakistan. Apart from this, Pakistan on 23 March 1956
adopted its first Constitution, which was the day of transition of dominion of Pakistan to the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan on 23 March 1956 became the world’s first Islamic republic.
Physicist Rajesh Gopakumar selected for G D Birla Award 2013
Physicist Rajesh Gopakumar was selected for the 23rd G D Birla Award for scientific research for

the year 2013. It was announced by the K K Birla Foundation on 21 March 2014. The award carries
a cash prize of 1.5 lakh rupees and a citation.
Gopakumar has been awarded for his important contributions on topics in Quantum Field Theory
and String Theory. At present he is working as a theoretical physicist at Harish Chandra Research
Institute, Allahabad.
Gopakumar, 46 has won many other awards including B M Birla Science prize in 2004 andThird
World Academy of Sciences Award in 2013.
For 2012, G D Birla Award was given to Prof. Nibir Mandal of Jadavpur University for his work in
area of structural geology.
About the G D Birla award

The G D Birla award for scientific research was instituted in 1991 to recognise significant scientific
research undertaken by Indian scientists below the age of 50, working in India.
Indian Journalist Shubranshu Choudhary won Google Digital Ac-

tivism Award 2014
Indian journalist Shubranshu Choudhary won Google Digital Activism award on 20 March 2014 for
regional news service. Shubranshu Choudhary defeated American Whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Indian journalist Shubhranshu Choudhary has been given the 2014 Google Digital Activism Award
for his work in using mobile phones to bring local news to remote Indian regions in their native
language.
Other nominees of this award were TAILS, which is an open source encryption tool, and Free
Weibo, which is a social network from China.
Shubhranshu Choudhary is the founder of CGNet Swara, which empowers tribals in Chhattisgarh
and connects them to the world outside using various digital means. With this project, Choudhary
gave the voices of tribals a global platform via Internet and mobile phone usage.
Google Digital Activism Award is a part of Index Freedom of Expression Awards. The award
recognized the people who have made it big in one of the four categories, namely advocacy, arts,
digital activism, and journalism.

Ekhon Nedekha Nadir Xipaare won audience choice award in
North Carolina film festival
An Assamese thriller film, Ekhon Nedekha Nadir Xipaare (As River Flows) on 18 March 2014 won
the audience choice award in North Carolina film festival. The film that stars Victor Banerjee is a
socio-political thriller film set in river island of Majuli.
The film also stars Sanjay Suri, Raj Zutshi, Preeti Jhangiani and Bidita Bag.
Apart from the audience choice award, the film has also been selected for upcoming 14th annual
New York Indian Film Festival, which is North America’s oldest and most prestigious destination for
feature film, documentaries, and shorts from. The 14th annual New York Film Festival will be held
from 5 to 10 May 2014.
Gyan Correa bagged the Gollapudi Srinivas National Award 2013
has been selected for the 17th Gollapudi Srinivas National Award 2013 for his debut film as a
director, The Good Road in Gujarati. The film was selected from 20 nominations across many
languages including Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.
The award that comprises of a cash prize of 1.50 lakh rupees and a memento and will be presented
to Gyan Correa on 12 August 2014 at a ceremony at the Music Academy, Chennai. The jury that
selected The Good Road for the award consisted of director Vasanth, Editor Sreekar Prasad and
actor Kushboo.
About the film – The Good Road

The Good Road is the first Gujarati film to be selected to represent India at the Oscars and it has
also bagged the Best Gujarati film award at the 60th National Film Award.
About Gollapudi Srinivas National Award

Gollapudi Srinivas National Award has been instituted by Gollapudi Srinivas memorial foundation
in memory of late Gollapudi Srinivasa, who died while directing his first film Prema Pustakam (Book
of Love) in 1992. He died at the age of 26 in an accident on 12 August 1992.

Tomas Halik won Templeton Prize 2014
Tomas Halik, the Czech priest won the Templeton Prize for 2014. The award was announced by the
John Templeton Foundation on 13 March 2014 and under the award he will receive 1.1 million Euro.
Tomas Halik (65) is a person, whose work is aimed at seekers, the segment of those asking questions
about religious and spiritual issues but unaffiliated with religion or atheism.
Since 1997 Halik has taught the sociology of religion at Charles University in Prague. He authored
numerous books like Patience With God and Night of the Confessor.
In 2011 he received honorary title Man of Reconciliation 2010 and he also received The Knight’s
cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland in 2012.
About Templeton Prize

• The award was established in 1972 by the late Sir John Templeton. The Prize is a monetary
award of 1.1 million Euros and is the largest annual award in terms of cash in the world.
• It honours a living person for his exceptional contribution of affirming life’s spiritual dimension,
whether through insight, discovery, or practical work.
• The first winner of Templeton was Mother Teresa in 1973. The two recent winners were Nobel
Peace Prize laureates Desmond Tutu in 2013 and the Dalai Lama in 2012.
President presented the Standard and Colours Award
President Pranab Mukherjee on 12 March 2014 presented the President’s Standard and Colours
Award. The Standard Award was given to 112 Helicopter Unit and President’s Colour to 4 Base
Repair Depot (BRD). The Award was presented at the Air Force Station in Kanpur.
President’s Standard Award was received by Wing Commander Manish Sharma, Commanding
Officer of 112 Helicopter Unit and Group Captain S Shrinivas Commanding Officer of 4 Base Repair
Depot (BRD) received the President’s Colour Award.
The Bangalore-based 112 Helicopter Unit is a premier training establishment for pilots, flight
engineers and gunners. The Unit had been awarded with the two Vir Chakras, one Yudh Seva
Medal and two Vayusena Medals.
The 4 BRD specializes in repairing and overhauling turbo-jet aero engines. The 4 BRD has been
awarded with five Vishisht Seva Medals and numerous commendations

About the Award
The award of President’s standard and colours Award is one of the greatest honors bestowed upon
an Air Force Unit or Squadron in recognition of exceptional service rendered by it to the nation,
both during war and in peace.
President Conferred Stree Shakti Puruskar 2013
Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India on 8 March 2014 conferred Stree Shakti Puruskar 2013
to six people in recognition of their achievements in New Delhi.
List of winners of the Stree Shakti Puruskar 2013

Award Winner Cause
Rani Lakshmibai Award for the Work in the field of women’s
Manasi Pradhan from Odisha
year 2013 empowerment
Rani Rudramma Devi Award Dr. M. Venkaiah from Andhra Contribution in the field of
for the year 2013 Pradesh women’s health
Mata Jijabai Award for the Bina Sheth Lashkari from Achievement in the field of
year 2013 Maharashtra education and training
Achievement in the field of

Kannagi Award for the year T. Radha K. Prashanti from providing support to orphans,
2013 Andhra Pradesh visually impaired, handicapped
and destitute women
Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award Creating awareness on
Dr. Vartika Nanda from Delhi
for the year 2013 women’s issues through media
Contribution in the field of
women’s rights, gender
Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Award Dr. Seema Sakhare form
issues, legal counseling and
for the year 2013 Maharashtra
institutional support to women
and girls
About the Women’s Award, Stree Shakti Puruskar

Indian women have played important roles before and after Independence of the country and the

Government of India to recognise the success stories of such women to make them a role model
for the future generations of Indian women. The Government of India had instituted five national
awards, which are called as Stree Shakti Puruskar.
Awards are named after women, who were famous for their personal courage
and integrity, namely
• Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar
• Kanngi
• Mata Jijabai
• Rani Gaidenlou Zeliang
• Rani Lakshmi Bai
The award carries a cash prize of 3 lakh rupees and a citation and one of the awards is given
towards recognition of personal achievements by a woman in difficult circumstances. The awards
are given to women who have done work in any of the following areas:
• Support and rehabilitation of women and children in especially
• Difficult circumstances like destitute women and children, widows, victims of atrocities and
conflicts, disabled women and children, aged women etc.
• Education and training
• Promoting self help groups
• Support to women in agriculture and rural industry, including promotion of technology to reduce
drudgery
Environment protection
• Empowerment of women for community and political participation
• Health, including through propagation of indigenous systems of medicine
• Creating awareness and consciousness on women’s issues through the arts, media (including
electronic and mass media), community bases programmes and others
Criteria for selection

• The nominee should be alive on the date of nomination and be above the age of 30 years of age
• The nominee should have been working in the relevant field for at last five years

• The achievement of the nominee in the relevant field should be clearly documented
• The achievement of the nominee should be verifiable and subject to objective appraisals
• Preference should be given to women who have come up in life after a great deal of struggle
and adversity
Indian Writer Pankaj Mishra won Windham Campbell Literature

Prize 2014
Indian writer Pankaj Mishra on 9 March 2014 won Windham Campbell Literature Prize 2014 in non-
fiction category. Pankaj Mishra is an Indian essayist, memoirist, travel writer and novelist. He won
the Windham Campbell Literature Prize in non-fiction category. The award was announced by The
Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale.
Pankaj Mishra is one of the eight writers from seven countries to won a 150000 dollar Yale University
prize.
Other winners in the three categories are:

In fiction: Aminatta Forna (Sierra Leone), Nadeem Aslam (Pakistan) and Jim Crace (United Kingdom)
In non—fiction: John Vaillant (United States/Canada)
In drama: Kia Corthron (United States), Sam Holcroft (United Kingdom) and Noelle Janaczewska
(Australia).
In addition to a novel The Romantics, Mishra had published four works of nonfiction: Butter
Chicken in Ludhiana: Travels in Small Town India , An End to Suffering: the Buddha in the World ,
Temptations of the West: How to Be Modern in India, Pakistan, Tibet, and Beyond and From the
Ruins of Empire: The Intellectuals Who Remade Asia.
The award was announced in three categories fiction, nonfiction and drama. All the winners will
receive 150000 dollar each in recognition of their achievements and to support their ongoing work.
All eight writers will accept the prize in person at a ceremony at Yale on 15 September 2014.

Indian acid attack victim, Laxmi won International Women of
Courage Award
US honoured Laxmi, an acid attack victim with the prestigious International Women of Courage
Award on 4 March 2014. She has been honoured for being a standard-bearer for the movement to
end acid attacks in India.
She received the award at the State Department ceremony in Washington by Michelle Obama, first
lady of US. The award was presented to Laxmi along with other awardees from different countries.
Other awardees are

• Nasrin Oryakhil (Afghanistan)

• Roshika Deo (Fiji)
• Bishop Rusudan Gotsiridze (Georgia)
• Iris Yassmin Barrios Aguilar (Guatemala)
• Fatimata Toure (Mali)
• Maha Al Muneef (Saudi Arabia)
• Oinikhol Bobonazarova (Tajikistan)
• Ruslana Lyzhychko (Ukraine)
• Beatrice Mtetwa (Zimbabwe)
Michelle Obama, first lady of US praised all the 10

women around the world, who were chosen for the
award by saying winners, should be an inspiration.
In 2013, US awarded Nirbhaya, the 23-year-old girl

who faced brutal gang rape on a moving bus in Delhi in
December 2012.
About Incident of Laxmi – an acquaintance threw acid

on face of Laxmi in 2005, while she was waiting at a bus
stop in New Delhi. The incident occurred when Laxmi
was of 16-years-old and the incident has disfigured her
permanently.

After the acid attack, Laxmi became the standard-bearer of India to end acid attacks and gathered
27000 signatures for a petition to curb acid sales and took her petition to the Supreme Court of India.
Following the petition of Laxmi, Supreme Court ordered Indian Central and State Governments to
regulate the sale of acid and the Parliament to make prosecutions of acid attacks easier to pursue.
About International Women of Courage Award

International Women of Courage Award was established in 2007 and is an annual award that is
given by Secretary of State to women around the globe who have exemplified exceptional courage
and leadership in advocating for human rights, women’s equality and social progress. . This is the
only Department of State award that pays tribute to emerging women leaders worldwide. Since the
inception of the award in 2007, the Department of State has honored more than 70 women from 49
different countries.
Chandi Prasad Bhatt won Gandhi Peace Prize for 2013
Chandi Prasad Bhatt, the noted Gandhian environmentalist and social activist won the Gandhi
Peace Prize for the year 2013 on 28 February 2014.
Chandi Prasad Bhatt

• Bhatt was one of the pioneers of the Chipko movement (His founded Dasholi Gram Swarajya
Sangh became the mother-organisation to Chipko movement) for which he was awarded with
the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1982
• In 2005, he was awarded with Padma Bhushan
• He was born in 1934
• He is known for his work on Subaltem social ecology and in one of the first modern
environmentalists
The jury that took the decision of awarding Bhatt with the peace prize was headed by Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh and decided on Bhatt. Other members of the jury were
• Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam
• Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj
• Rajya Sabha member Karan Singh
• former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi

Chipko Movement
A decision of a group of peasants in a remote Himalayan village (Reni village of Chamoli, Uttrakhand)
to stop a group of loggers from felling a patch of trees has been termed as Chipko Movement. The
name was dubbed as the protesters hugged trees to protect them from being felled. This landmark
struggle to protect trees started on 27 March 1973 and can be considered as the modern Indian
environmental movement.
About Gandhi Peace Prize

The government of India launched the International Gandhi Peace Prize in 1995 on the occasion of
the 125th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It is a very prestigious Award and carries an amount of
10 million rupees, a citation and a Plaque. The Award is selected by a Jury under the Chairmanship
of the Prime Minister.
This is an annual award given to individuals and institutions for their outstanding contributions
towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violence, and other Gandhian
methods, for amelioration of human sufferings particularly of the less privileged sections of the
society, contributing social justice and harmony.
People awarded with Gandhi Peace Prize are

• 2005 - Desmond Tutu, the South African cleric and activist
• 2004 - Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin Luther King
• 2003 - Vaclav Havel, Former President of Czechoslovakia and first President of the Czech
Republic
• 2002 - Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Educational Trust that emphasized Indian culture
• 2001 - John Hume-Ireland, Nothern Irish Politician
• 2000 - Grameen Bank (co-recipient), Founded by Muhammad Yunus
• 2000 - Dr. Nelson Mandela & Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, Former President of South Africa
• 1999 - Murlidhar Devidas Amte (Baba Amte), India
• 1998 - Ramakrishna Mission, India
• 1997 - Dr. Gerhard Fischer, Former German Diplomat
• 1996 - Dr. A. T. Ariyaratane, President, Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Sri Lanka
• 1995 - Dr. Julius K. Nyerere, Former President of Tanzania

Abbreviations | Terms
IRV 2020 to protect Vulnerable Rhinos

IRV 2020 - Indian Rhino Vision (IVR) 2020
IRV 2020 programme has been launched by WHO-India, with an aim to protect and increase the
population of the one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). The goal of the programme is to
attain their wild population to at least 3000 in the Indian state of Assam by 2020. Rhinos are listed
as vulnerable on the IUCN Red list of Threatened Species.
Assam has been chosen for the programme because this state has the maximum population of
rhinos and they are spread across seven protected areas. To achieve the targeted number, the
programme needs an increase by 600 over the existing population available in the state in next
eight years. This means an annual increase of about 3 percent.
Under the programme, the horns of rhinos will be trimmed before their translocation to Laokhowa-
Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary in Nagaon district of the state. The trimming will be done in a way
that any damage is not done to their internal organs and the trimmed horns will grow back to their
original shape within four to five months. This action of trimming will also protect them from the
poachers, who hunt them just to take away their horns.
This is a partnership programme of the Assam Forest Department, the Bodoland Territorial Council
(BTC), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) and the US
Fish and Wildlife Service.
Rhinoceros and its habitats in the past

Rhinoceros existed in its maximum number in entire northern part of the Indian subcontinent
including Brahmaputra, Ganges and Indus river basins across Pakistan to Indian-Burmese border.
Till 1600 the Indian rhinos were present commonly across the northwestern India and Pakistan but
disappeared slowly. During the 20th century its population decreased to a number of extinction.
Comment: It’s expected that this programme will help in increasing the population of rhinos and
bring them back from the brink of extinction.
Hongkonger added into Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English dictionary has added Hongkonger and Hong Kongese in March 2014 in recognition

of Hong Kong’s local identity of inhabitants of the city. These are among the 900 new words added
to the dictionary.
The word has been added to the dictionary at a time, when the people of the city are losing
their original/individual identity due to Chinese influence on the countries politics and culture has
emerged a lot.
Meaning of these words as per the dictionary

• Hongkonger and Hong Kongese are defined as the native or inhabitant of Hong Kong {A person
living in Hong Kong SAR (Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China)}
• Hong Kongese can also be defined as an adjective to describe anything related to the city or
its residents
This word was included by the dictionary following anti-Mainlandisation campaign over past few
years. The campaign came into existence after China over took the city after end of the British rule
on it.
Oxford English Dictionary is updated three times in a year (quarterly) and every time it provides
insight that how English language is changing. The process of updating the dictionary started in
2000 to offer an authoritative catalogue to change the dictionary of modern times. The Oxford
dictionary for the first time was completed in 1928.
Some other generally used words that have been added to the dictionary are
• Bestie (meaning a person’s best friend; a very close friend)
• Bookaholic (meaning a habitual and prolific reader; a compulsive book buyer)
• Beat boxer (meaning a performer who uses (amplified) vocal effects to imitate the sounds and
rhythms of hip-hop)
Earlier, Hongkonger was used in 1870s by the Daily Independent newspaper in California to
describe inhabitants of the then-British colony. Hong Kongese as a word has its existence in the
Collins Dictionary.
PEACE-Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy
PEACE is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and US to promote increase the
energy access and to develop several priority activites. PEACE was signed in 2013.
PEACE was in news due to India and United States Energy dialogue held in New Delhi on 11 March

2014. During the dialogue, PEACE was recalled and agreed to promote scientific cooperation,
research & development for greater technological innovation and for deployment of environmentally
friendly technologies and products.

Report | Survey
Divide between the rich and poor in UK is Widening: Oxfam

Research Report
A Tale of Two Britains research report published by anti-poverty charity Oxfam on 17 March 2014
has concluded that the divide between the rich and poor in the United Kingdom has widened.
The Oxfam report claimed that the wealth and power in Britain is concentrated in few hands leaving
the rest behind. It claimed that the property, savings and other assets of five Britons worth 28.2
billion pounds, which when combined is more than the wealth of poorest 20 percent (about 12.6
million people) of the population that totals to 28.1 billion pounds.
The report titled A Tale of Two Britains says that 0.1 percent of the total population of Britain have
seen an average growth of 24000 pounds a year whereas, the incomes of the poorest 90 percent
of Britons have gone up only by an average of 2.82 pounds a week or 147 pounds a year.
The findings of the Oxfam report came in wake of the report released in January 2014 claiming that
85 richest people (billionaires) on the planet owns almost same amount of wealth that is with the
half of the world’s population (approx 3.56 billion people).
The research report in its findings used the report of Forbes Magazine that claimed the London-
based Srichand and Gopichand Hinduja have a combined wealth of 10 billion dollars.
The five top richest Britons listed in the Forbes report are
• The Duke of Westminster is the richest
• The David and Simon Reuben
• The Hindujas
• The Cadogan family
• Sports Direct retail boss Mike Ashley

Amnesty International report on death penalty worldwide re-
leased
Amnesty International released its annual report on death penalty in London on 27 March 2014.
According to report, at least 22 countries which are still applying death penalty, consider the
abolition of capital punishment as a top priority. Also the number of countries which use the death
penalty has reduced in the last 20 years.
Main highlights of the Report

• In 2013, at least 778 executions were recorded which is an increase of almost 15 percent as
compared to 682 in 2012 excluding the China.
• There was a sharp increase in global trend in the number of executions in Iran (369) and Iraq
(169) in 2013.
• China, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA topped the list in executions. In fact China is the
country where more people are executed than anywhere else in the world.
• The USA is the only country in the Americas to carry out executions in 2013. The death penalty
in the USA continued to be marked by error, inconsistency, racial disparities and, in a number of
cases, a lack of adherence to specific provisions of international law or safeguards.
• In 2013, there were 39 executions carried out in 9 states of USA which is an increase of 34
percent in 2012 and there were 3108 people on death row in 2013.
• Europe and northern Central Asia became execution-free zones, where no case of capital
punishment has been reported since 2009.
Amnesty International on death penalty in India

In 2013, India recorded the highest number of rejections in 25 years. President Pranab Mukherjee
rejected the mercy petitions of 18 prisoners on death row in 2013.
Only one execution took place in India that is of Mohammad Afzal Guru in February 2013 which is
in violation of the international standards. This is because Government of India didn’t allow legal
representation of his choice, also his family was not informed in time of his imminent execution and
his body was not returned to the family for last rites and burial.
In India, 72 new death sentences were known to have been imposed in 2013 and at least 400
people were believed to be on death row at the end of the year 2013.

Sharp rise in asylum industrialised countries: UNHCR report
Asylum Trends 2013
UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on 21 March 2014 released report Asylum Trends 2013 claiming
sharp rise in asylum in 44 industrialised countries, over the course of last year. The report claimed
that this asylum is primarily driven by the Syrian crisis.
The UNHCR’s report says that 712700 people have applied for asylum in 2013 in countries namely
North America, Europe, East Asia and the Pacific. This number is the highest total for any year
since 2001.
Among the top-10 countries of origin, six are experiencing violence or conflict
• Syria
• Afghanistan
• Eritrea
• Somalia
• Iraq
• Pakistan
Afghanistan in previous two years was the world’s principal country of origin for asylum-seekers.
But this time it has been ranked at third position in terms of new claims behind Syria and the Russian
Federation. Acceptance rates for people were highest from countries Syria, Eritrea, Iraq, Somalia
and Afghanistan. The acceptance rate was between 62 percent and 95 percent. Acceptance rate
was significantly low at around 28 percent and 5 percent respectively for nationals of Russian
Federation and Serbia [and Kosovo: Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)].
As per the latest release, the biggest increase in asylum applicants by regions was in the 38
European countries that received 484600 claims, which was an increase of third form in 2012.
Major receivers of the new asylum claims were

• Germany the largest single recipient with 109600 claims
• France with 60100
• Sweden with 54300

Wipro and Tata Power among world’s most ethical firms
Wipro Limited and Tata Power Company on 20 March 2014 emerged as the only Indian entities in
the 2014 list of World’s Most Ethical Companies. The list was prepared by the US-based entity,
Ethisphere Institute.
Ethisphere Institute has prepared a list of 144 companies has featured at least three global firms are
headed by an India-origin individuals. They are namely
• Satya Nadella-led software giant Microsoft Corporation
• Indra Nooyi-led beverages company PepsiCo
• Shantanu Narayen-led software major Adobe Systems
The list of 144 companies has 21 first-time entrants. The 144 companies are of different sectors
like Aerospace and Defence, Agriculture, Automative, Banking, Computer Services, Chemicals,
Electronics and others. None of the companies have been ranked in any sector.
Ethics Quotient framework on which the companies are weighed in different cat-
egories are
• Ethics and Compliance Program (25 percent)
• Reputation, Leadership and Innovation (20 percent)
• Corporate citizenship and responsibility (25 percent)
• Governance (10 percent)
• Culture of ethics (20 percent)
Earlier, in the 2012 and 2013 list of most ethical companies’ list also had Wipro and Tata Steel.
About Ethisphere Institute

Ethisphere Institute an independent think-tank research-based firm in Scottsdale of US. It began in
2007 as an online industry e-newsletter, which was published by corporate compliance and ethics
training and consulting firm Corpedia.

India is the world’s largest arms importer: SIPRI
A new data on international arms transfers released on 17 March 2014 said that India’s import
of weapon systems is three times more than Pakistan and China. The report published by as
Swedish Think Tank, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has claimed that
India continues to be the largest buyer of arms in the world.
The new data has ranked China and Pakistan second and third respectively as the largest arms
importer. China was replaced as the world’s biggest arms buyer by India in 2010. Overall, the
volume of international transfers of major conventional weapons grew by 14 percent between
2004–08 and 2009–13.
Findings of the data released by the think tank

1. Between 2004 and 2008, the imports of major weapons by India rose by 111 percent
2. India’s share in the volume of international arms import between 2009 and 2013 increased from
7 to 14 percent
3. Between 2009 and 2013, Russia was ranked as the major supplier of arms to India accounting
for 75 percent of imports
4. It claims that the United States with 7 percent imports to India from 2009-13 for the first time
became the second largest arms supplier for India and in the same time, Pakistani imports of
arms from US was 27 percent
5. China has played an important role in imports of arms for Pakistan with its share of 54 percent
and 82 percent in the case of imports in Bangladesh
According SIPRI release, the five largest arms suppliers worldwide between 2009
and 2013, who collectively accounts for 74 percent of total arms exports were:
• United States with 29 percent of global exports
• Russia with 27 percent of global exports
• Germany with 7 percent of global exports
• China with 6 percent of global exports
• France with 5 percent of global exports
The USA and Russia together accounted for 56 per cent of the volume of arms exports.

SIPRI data of top five arms importer
• India
• China
• Pakistan
• United Arab Emirates
• Saudi Arabia
FICCI-KPMG report on Indian Civil Aviation released
The FICCI-KPMG report on Indian civil aviation released at the Indian Civil Aviation Show 2014,
Hyderabad on 13 March 2014. The report revealed that the over taxation, lack of infrastructure
in smaller cities are hampering the high growth in Indian aviation market and spread of regional
services.
Highlights of the Report

• The Indian civil aviation industry is among the top 10 in the world with a size of around 16 billion
dollar. India has the potential to become the third largest aviation market in the world by 2020
and largest by 2030.
• Indian carriers are expected to double their fleet size by 2020 to 1000 aircraft which promises a
huge opportunity for the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) business.
• The government should set up an inter-Ministerial task force on MRO to check the outflow of
MRO revenue, foreign exchange and jobs
• The total manpower requirement of airlines is estimated to rise from 62000 in 2011 to 117000
by 2017.
• Several Tier-II and Tier-III cities were still unconnected or underserved, for this the relaxation of
regulations, revising the security requirements, allowing domestic code sharing, providing free
or discounted utilities and connecting infrastructure are need to be done.
• The proposed Essential Air Services Fund needs to be set up immediately by the ministry of
civil aviation.
• The industry has guided in a new wave of expansion driven by Low Cost Carriers (LCC),
modern airports, Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in domestic airlines, cutting edge Information
Technology (IT) interventions and a growing emphasis on No-Frills Airports (NFA) and regional

connectivity.
• The Indian civil aviation challenges are primarily related to policies, procedures, regulations and
taxes where Centre and States need to take reforms in required things.
About FICCI and KPMG

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is the largest and oldest apex
business organisation in India. It is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation which is the voice
of India’s business and industry.
KPMG was established in India in 1993, offers its clients a full range of services including financial
and business advisory, tax and regulatory and risk advisory sevices.
Annual Health Survey released
The second update of the Annual Health Survey was released on 6 March 2014. The AHS is the
largest demographic survey in the world and is two and half times that of the Sample Registration
System.
The survey was conducted in all the 284 districts in eight Empowered Action Group States which
include Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and
Rajasthan. These States account for about 48 percent of the total population in the country.
These states are the high focus States in view of their relatively higher fertility and mortality indicators.
The objective is to monitor the performance and outcome of various health interventions of the
Government including those under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) at closer intervals through
benchmark indicators.
Main Highlights of the Survey

• Crude Birth Rate : The CBR which is measure of live births per 1000 population
• Bageshwar in Uttarakhand reported minimum Crude Birth Rate (CBR) of 14.7 and maximum
CBR of 40.9 was reported in Shrawasti, Uttar Pradesh.
• CBR in rural areas of districts is generally higher than that in urban areas.
• Further, rural death rate in districts is significantly higher than the corresponding urban death
rate.
• Low female death rates have also been observed as compared to male death rates.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) : The IMR denotes the number of infant deaths (age below one year) per
1000 live births
• IMR is minimum at 19 in Rudraprayag in Uttarkhand while in Shrawasti in Uttar Pradesh it was

maximum at 103.
• Six districts namely Purbi Singhbhum & Dhanbad (Jharkhand) and Chamoli, Rudraprayag,
Pithoragarh & Almora (Uttarakhand) have already achieved the UN Millennium Development
Goal (MDG) - 4 of achieving IMR of 28 by 2015.
• Another 4 districts viz. Bokaro & Ranchi (Jharkhand) and Bageshwar & Nainital (Uttarakhand)
are in closer vicinity.
Neo-Natal Mortality Rate (NNMR): The NNMR measures the number of infant deaths (age below
29 days) per 1000 live births.
• Rudraprayag in Uttarkhand has the minimum NNMR at 11 while Balangir in Orissa showed the
maximum at 75.
• Out of every 10 infant deaths 6 -7 pertain to Neo Natal Deaths. Rural NNMR in districts is
significantly higher than the urban.
Under Five Mortality Rate (U5MR): The U5MR denotes the number of children who died before
reaching their fifth birthday per 1000 live births
• Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand recorded minimum U5MR of 24 and maximum was recorded
in Kandhmal district of Orissa at 145. More number of females in districts die before reaching
age 5 years as compared to their counterparts.
• In all, 7 districts viz. Pithoragarh, Almora, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Nainital & Bagheswar
(Uttarakhand) and Purbi Singhbhum (Jharkhand) have already achieved the MDG -4 National
target of 42 by 2015.
• Another 10 districts viz. Dhanbad, Bokaro, Kodarma, Hazaribagh & Giridih (Jharkhand) and
Kota (Rajasthan) and Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar, Dehradun & Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand)
are in closer vicinity.
Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): The MMR measured the proportion of maternal deaths per 100000
live births.
• The minimum MMR of 183 was reported at Kumaon HQ in Uttarakhand and the maximum 451

at Faizabad Mandal in UP.
Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB): The SRB measured as the number of female live births per 1000 male
live births.
• The lowest was recorded at 764 in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand and the maximum of
1030 in Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh.
Mumbai least expensive city for expatriates: EIU Report
Mumbai was the least expensive major city for expatriates among the major cities of the world.
This was revealed in a report released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on 4 March 2014.
Mumbai was least expensive partly due to government subsidies on some products and low local
wages.
Other highlights of the Report

• After Mumbai, Karachi and New Delhi are the least expensive city in the world. Damascus
was ranked as the fourth cheapest city in the world for the expatriates. This was due to the
weakening of the Syrian Pound.
• Singapore was ranked as the most expensive city in the world for the expatriates. Singapore
replaced Tokyo due to strong Singaporean dollar, high price of utilities and the cost of car
ownership. The calculations are based on the cost of living in US dollars.
• Paris was ranked second most expensive city which reflected a recovery by European economies.
• The other countries with highest cost of living are Oslo (3rd), Zurich (4th), Sydney (5th), Caracas
(6th), Geneva (7th), Melbourne (8th), Tokyo (9th) and Copenhagen (10th).
• London was ranked 15th and New York was ranked 26th as the most expensive city.
• The European cities and Asian countries are the two regions which continue to supply most
of the world’s most expensive cities. But Asian cities continue to supply many of the world’s
cheapest, especially India.
About the Economist Intelligence Unit

The Economist Intelligence Unit helps business leaders prepare for opportunity, empowering them
to act with confidence when making strategic decisions.
The Worldwide Cost of Living survey is released twice a year by the EIU. It compares more than

400 individual prices across 160 products and services in 131 cities, including food, drink, clothing,
household supplies and personal care items, home rents, transport, utility bills, private schools,
domestic help and recreational costs.
World Economic Forum released Young Global Leaders 2014 list
World Economic Forum (WEF) released Young Global Leader’s 2014 list on 11 March 2014. The WEF
recognised 214 Young Global Leaders (YGLs). Among them 109 are woman who were recognised
for leadership and service to society.
The Young Global Leaders 2014 came from 66 countries across 7 regions and equally represent
the public and private sector and belong to professions including academia, arts and culture, civil
society, government, media and not-for-profit organisations.
The YGL Class of 2014 includes 49 individuals from East Asia, 46 from Europe, 17 from Latin
America, 18 from the Middle East and North Africa, 48 from North America, 17 from South Asia and
19 from sub-Saharan Africa.
There were 17 young global leaders in South Asia, out of which 14 were from India. Following are
the Indians among the YGLs list.
Name Profession Organisation

Pallavi S. Aiyar Author and Journalist The Hindu and Free Lance
Excel Entertainment
Farhan Akhtar Film Director, Actor, Producer
Production House
Sachin Bansal Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Flipkart.com
Avani Davda Chief Executive Officer Tata Starbucks Limited
Mohit Joshi Vice-President and Head, Europe Infosys Ltd
Roshni Nadar Malhotra Executive Director and CEO HCL Corporation Ltd
Vishwarupe Narain India’s Head Texas Pacific Group
Nandini Piramal Executive Director and Head of HR Piramal Enterprises Limited
Rishad Premji Chief Strategy Officer, IT Business Wipro
Anoop Ratnaker Rao Chief Operating Officer Naandi Foundation
Chiki Sarkar Chief Executive Officer Penguin Random House
Parmesh Shahani Head of InnovationLaboratory Godrej Industries Ltd
Anurag Thakur MP & National President BJYM BJP’s YouthWing
Ratheesan Yoganathan Co-Founder and Group Chairman Lebara Group

Accident | Incident
Malaysian Airlines plane with 239 aboard disappeared on South

China Sea
Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 operating a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft on 8 March 2014 vanished
from the radar screens over the South China Sea with 239 people on board. The plane when
disappeared was heading towards Beijing from Kuala Lumpur.
The massive multinational search mission to locate the plane has failed till now. This is a unique
disappearance of the plane, even after the three days long multinational operations have failed to
find any trace of wreckage.
The authorities have now expanded the area of search and also look forward into different angles
that include hijacking. Hijacking of the plane is expected as the authorities’ suspects that two
persons boarded the plane on stolen passports.
Now, the Malaysian authorities are checking on the identities of the two passengers, who boarded
on the plane with stolen passports. The stolen passports belong to an Australian and an Italian
person.

Earlier crash
In July 2013, an Asiana Airlines Boeing 777-200ER crash-landed in San Francisco killing 3
passengers and injuring more than 180. This is the worst since the jet entered service this loss of
the plane would mark the second fatal accident that involves Boeing 777.
C-130J Super Hercules aircraft of IAF crashed in Rajasthan: 5

killed on board
C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft of Indian Air Force (IAF) on 28 March 2014 crashed in
Karoli district of Rajasthan. As per the Jaipur’s Defence PRO, five crew members including four
officers were killed in the crash. The aircraft was airborne from Agra for a routine flying training
mission.
Following the crash, a Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the accident.
About of C-130J Super Hercules Aircraft in India

India has inducted six C-130J Super Hercules Aircraft, which were brought from the US at a cost of
around 6000 crore rupees (1.1 billion US dollar). This aircraft has been engineered to carry a weigh
up to 20 tonnes and has the capability to land and take-off from short runways.
For procurement of six more C-130J aircraft, the Union Defence Ministry recently signed a contract
with the US government. The proposed aircraft will be deployed in Panagarh in West Bengal.
Earlier, India on 21 March 2014 deployed its two surveillance aircraft in Kuala Lumpur to take part
in the international search operation of the Malaysian airline flight MH370 that disappeared from
the radars over South China Sea. India also sent its long range maritime surveillance aircraft P-8I
of the Navy for surveillance work.

Defence | Security
Indo-Nepal joint military exercise started at Sailahandi
India and Nepal on 6 March 2014 started a joint military exercise at Saljhandi in Rupandehi district
of Nepal. The two week exercise named Ex-Surya Kiran Drills VI was inaugurated by Nepal’s Army
Major General Victor SJB Rana.
Participants of the exercise

• 250 personnel from Indian Army
• 200 personnel from Nepal Army
During the sixth Indo-Nepal war games that will end on 18 March 2014, the armies participating
in will work to upgrade their practical and principle aspects of jungle warfare, anti-insurgency
operations and rescue operations. The exercise also includes a detailed training in organisation and
conduct of disaster response, management and rescue operation. The two sides will also share
experiences on counter-terrorist operations.
Similar such a joint exercise Ex- Surya Kiran-V (5th Indo-Nepal war games) between the two armies
was held from 23 September to 6 October 2013 at Pithoragarh district of Uttrakhand in India.
This exercise was conducted with an aim at training troops in counterterrorism operations and
enhancement of defence cooperation and military relations between the two nations.
Background
The joint training between the armies of the two countries started following an agreement reached
during the 7th India-Nepal Bilateral Consultative Group on Security in 2011. First two exercises
of the armies (numbered 30 each) focused mainly on the jungle warfare and counter-insurgency
operations at Vairangate in Mizoram and a similar school at Amlekhganj in Nepal.
In 2012 the level of the joint training was upgraded to company level (numbered approximately 120
people each). The revision was based upon the experience gained in previous two exercises of
2011. The aim of the two company-level joint training of 2012 focused mainly on counter insurgency
and jungle warfare operations in hilly terrain in Himalayan region of India-Nepal border.

Books & Author
The book on Narendra Modi written by Andy Marino published
The book titled Narendra Modi: A Political Biography was published on 24 March 2014. The book
was written by Andy Marino and published by Harper Collins. Andu Marino is a British author and
TV producer.
The 310 page book deals with the Godhra riots in Gujarat in 2002 in some detail with hitherto
unpublished, authenticated documents. It discloses that after the riots Modi wanted to resign as
chief minister but was prevailed upon by his party to continue.
In the book Modi has disclosed that he was sad about the 2002 Gujarat riots but has no guilt, and
that no court has come even close to establishing it.
The book states that Modi had appealed to his counterparts in three neighbouring states, Ashok
Ghelot in Rajasthan, Vilasrao Deshmukh in Maharashtra and Digvijaya Singh in Madhya Pradesh, to
send aid in the form of law enforcement and para-military personnel. While Maharashtra had sent
a very limited number of personnel to help, the other two states had quietly refused.
The book titled Lal Bahadur Shastri: Lessons in Leadership writ-

ten by Pavan Choudary released
The book titled Lal Bahadur Shastri: Lessons in Leadership written

by the Pavan Choudary was released on 23 March 2014. The book
was released by the spiritual leader Dalai Lama in New Delhi.
The book written by Pavan is based on the narration given by Lal

Bahadur Shastri’s son Anil Shastri. The book details about the
Shastri’s childhood, his adult and public life which are thought
provoking. The book also highlights his virtues of simplicity, integrity,
tenacity, wisdom and leadership.
The book also contains an account of how Shastri handled questions

of governance and politics as well as how he dealt with crises like
the 1965 war with Pakistan. The book highlights the rich values and
principles of Lal Bahadur Shastri which may teach important lessons

of life to present leaders.
Other Books Written on Lal Bahadur Shastri are

• Lal Bahadur Shastri: Past Forward is an English version of Sunil’s earlier book in Hindi, Lal
Bahadur Shastri-Mere Babuji
• Lal Bahadur Shastri: A Life of Truth in politics written by C P Srivastava
• Lal Bahadur Shastri: Common Man Great Deeds written by Monika Khanna
• Lal Bahadur Shastri written by Vibha Ghai
Book titled The Wrong Enemy revealed facts about 2008 Indian
embassy attack in Kabul
The Wrong Enemy: America in Afghanistan, 2001-2014 authored by Carlotta Gall
Carlotta Gall, the senior journalist in her new book entitled The Wrong Enemy: America in Afghanistan,
2001-2014 has claimed that the 7 July 2008 deadly terror attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul
was monitored and sanctioned by senior officials of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). This
attack left 58 people dead including two top Indian officials and over 140 injured.
The book will be released in April 2014. Gall thinks that this is a perfect time to release the book
and reveal the facts of the full history of how, the fight was in existence in a wrong country, in the
wrong country. At present, the American troops are withdrawing from Afghanistan.
Carlotta’s book is a combination of her personal accounts of the battle, when she was reporting
for The New York Times from Afghanistan and Pakistan for almost the duration of the American
invasion and occupation that started shortly after 9/11. In the book, she has claimed that the
ordinary Afghanis have suffered a lot due to the war.
Rationalised Roman for Kashmiri written by Dr. R L Bhat released
The book Rationalised Roman for Kashmiri written by Dr R L Bhat was released on 23 March 2014.
Book gave the explanation on how to write the language on a computer using Microsoft word or
type writer without the need for any special fonts.
To produce the book Rationalised Roman for Kashmiri (RRK), R L Bhat worked on scientific
modification of English alphabet for writing Kashmiri language by using the principles of Brahmi
alphabet to English letters. The result was an easy and adaptable RRK scheme which can be used

for writing Hindi, Urdu, Dogri and other languages.
The book also carried a detailed survey of the script used for writing Kashmiri and a discussion on
Urdu and Hindi and the scripts they are written in.
The exiled community of Kashmir going through the great challenge of preserving the mother
tongue. The need was felt to develop scripts for writing Kashmiri for the younger generation, thus,
bringing out a modification of the Dev Nagri script.
About Kashmiri Language
Kashmiri is a language from the Dardic sub-group of the Indo-Aryan languages and it is spoken
primarily in the Kashmir Valley, in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the Census of 2001, there are
approximately 5527698 speakers throughout India.
The Kashmiri language is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India as per the Constitution of
India. Kashmiri is also a part of the Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of the Jammu and Kashmir.
Since November 2008, the Kashmiri language has been made a compulsory subject in all schools
in the Valley up to the secondary level.
The Sahara Testaments written by Tade Ipadeola
The Sahara Testaments was written by Nigerian poet, Tade Ipadeola. The book describes the
desert’s history, the impact of climate change, personal stories and some political criticism.
Ipadeola has brought out Sahara’s true richness which, however has been distorted by horrific
tragedies involving migrants who have been found dead in North Africa. The book won the Nigeria
Prize for Literature for 2013 worth of 100000 dollars, the most lucrative writing award in Africa.
Vice President released book entitled Akbar, The Aesthete

Akbar, The Aesthete authored by Dr. Indu Anand
Hamid Ansari, the Vice President of India
on 28 February 2014 released a book
entitled Akbar, The Aesthete in New Delhi.
Dr. Indu Anand, an acclaimed educationist
& Principal, Janki Devi Memorial College is
the author of the book.
The book is a presentation of the

miniatures of Mughal era of Akbar, as he
was a promoter of arts apart from being an

aesthete. The miniatures of Mughal period are a vivid account of cultural, sociopolitical scenario of
its era. Eminent Persian and Indian artists thronged his Royal Studio and were encouraged to paint
numerous emotive miniatures of style and substance, communicating highly complex narratives.
This book combines the sources and methodology of history and art history of the Mughal era and
analyzes a select group of paintings of Akbar’s reign.

Exhibition | Fare
Rare Indian Artefacts to be auctioned in New York
Rare Indian Artefacts are to be auctioned under the tittle Gems of Thangka Art in New York. The
auction is a part of the Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Works of Art Sale by Sotheby. The
auction is scheduled to be held on 19 March 2014.
The auction includes a rare copper alloy figure depicting Bodhisattva Manjushri, the oldest and
most significant bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhist literature. Cast in a lustrous copper alloy with
silver inlay in the Kashmiri style, it is estimated to fetch between 350000 US dollar and 450000 US
dollar.
Also, an 18th century parcel gilt copper alloy group depicting Manjushri on a snowlion will be
auctioned which is estimated to fetch between 40000 US dollar and 60000 US dollar.
The auction also includes over 45 thangkas, sculptures and ritual objects, from the collection of
Yoshitomo Tamashige.
Festival of India organised in Vietnam
Festival of India, a ten-day event was launched in Vietnam on 5 March 2014 and it showcases
classical dance recital, Buddhist festival, folk dance, food, toga and mehendi. The event has been
organised in three cities of Vietnam namely Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City.
The festival was organised by Embassy of India and the Ministry of Culture of India in coordination
with the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other agencies.

Art | Culture
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag screened at seventh Asian Film Festival

2014 in Saudi Arabia
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, a 2013 biographical film of Milkha Singh was screened in Saudi Arabia on 25
March 2014. The film was screened as a part of the seventh Asian Film Festival 2014.
The film was screened as a part of the 12 films that was selected by the Asian Consulates General
Club (ACGC) to present the cultural diversity of Asian countries.
About the film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

• The movie is an Indian biographical
sports drama based on the life of Milkha
Singh, who was a national champion
and an Olympian Indian athlete
• The film was produced and directed in

2013 by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra on
a script written by Prasoon Joshi
• Farhan Akhtar played the role of Milkha

Singh in the film
The film’s script was inspired by a book

authored by Milkha Singh and his daughter
co-authored a book entitled, The Race of
My Life. The right of the film was sold by Singh for one rupee to the producer and director with a
clause that a share of the profits would be given to the Milkha Singh Charitable Trust founded in
2003.
India nominated Rani-ki-Vav and GHNP for UNESCO’s World

Heritage Site Status
India nominated Rani-ki-Vav located in Patan, Gujarat and the Great Himalayan National Park

(GHNP) in Himachal Pradesh for UNESCO’s World Heritage Site Status for 2014.
The World Heritage Committee will convene in Doha, Qatar, in June 2014 to review the nomination
and take a final decision.
Process of Confirming the World Heritage status

• First step is to create an inventory of important natural and cultural heritage sites also called as
tentative list in the country.
• In next step the concern department in particular country submits the nomination to the
World Heritage centre. The centre sends it to the Advisory bodies, the International Council
on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) for evaluation
mandate by the World Heritage Convention.
• The intergovernmental World Heritage Committee meets to decide which sites will be inscribed
on the World Heritage list.
About Rani-ki-Vav
• Rani-ki-Vav is an 11the century stepwell and it is one of the finest examples of stepwells in
Gujarat. It was constructed by Queen Udayamati of the Solanki dynasty.
• The well is subterranean structure with a series of steps, board landings, pavilions and sculpted
walls which provides access to water in deep water. It is of seven storeys with five exist and
there are more than 800 elaborate sculptures which are survived. This is a protected monument
under the Archeological Survey of India.
• Earlier in 1998, the Indian government had included in the tentative list but next step not pursued.
About Great Himalayan Park

• The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is located in the western part of the Himalayan
Mountains in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh. The GHNP was initially constituted in 1984 and
declared as a National Park in 1999.
• The Park is known for its biodiversity. It has more than 25 forest types, 800 kinds of plants and
is home to more than 180 bird species.
• In 2009, GHNP is included in the tentative list and submitted for UNESCO’s consideration in
2013. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) did not recommend the park
for the World Heritage status.

Science | Space
Astronomers discovered first-ever miniature planet with two

rings
Astronomers in fourth week of March 2014 discovered a miniature planet named Charkilo with
two rings of ice and pebbles between Saturn and Uranus in the Kuiper Belt. This is the first ever
discovery of a celestial body with rings like giant planets Saturn and Jupiter. Rings of the discovered
celestial body are not more than few hundred meters thick and are only three and seven kilometer
wide. The centers of the two rings are 14 kilometer and the gap between them is 9 Kilometer.
The smaller celestial body was discovered by a team of researchers from Niels Bohr Institute. It is
two billion kilometers out in the solar system and has been named as Chariklo.
The rings of Chariklo were discovered for the first time with the help of a new camera being used
on the Danish telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile. Although this miniature planet was
known for many years but the rings were never observed. This camera has been developed at the
Neils Bohr Institute.
The planet, Charkilo is located in the Kupier Belt but at some point it is thrown out of this belt at the
time of discovery it was was placed between Saturn and Uranus, in a collection of small objects
called Centaur. Charkilo is the largest of all these objects with a diameter of 250 kilometer.
Kuiper Belt is a collection of thousands of dwarf planets and comets in the orbit beyond Neptune
on the edge of the Solar System.

Day | Week | Year
Earth Hour observed across the world
Earth Hour was observed across the world on 29 March 2014. The pledge of Earth Hour 2014 is to
switch to energy efficient bulbs.
Over 7000 cities in 150 countries joined the movement with places like the Golden Gate Bridge in
San Francisco, Times Square in New York City, the Acropolis hill in Athens and even the Kremlin in
Moscow participating.
The Earth Hour 2014 included turning off all non-essential lights to raise the awareness about
environmental challenges between 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on 29 March 2014. Besdies, it involved
activities liek signature campaigns, musical evenings, cyclothons, candlelit marches, walkathons,
dance performances, magic shows, ﬂash mobs and recycling drives - Earth Hour is our planet’s
time to shine!
Earth Hour In India

India launched the Earth Hour to bring individuals, organisations, governments together to take
action on climate change in 2009.
Every year different celebrities supported the Earth Hour and this year Actor Arjun Kapoor was the
brand ambassador of the Earth hour in India.
Year Brand Ambassador

2009 Aamir Khan
2010 Abhishek Bachchan
2011 Vidya Balan
2012 Sachin Tendulkar
2013 Ajay Devgn
About Earth Hour

Earth Hour is organized annually by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the movement
began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia.
It was started by Earth Hour CEO and co-founder, Andy Ridley to raise awareness about climate
change.

Since then, the event has become an international phenomenon that organizes the globe around a
single symbolic act of turning off its lights.
The effort also encourages participants to go beyond that simple act and think of new ways to
create a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle.
It is the World largest grass-root level environmental movement towards action on climate change.
World Water Day observed across the World

22 March- World Water Day
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 Day was celebrated with the events like the UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and
communications with journalist workshop in Tokyo, releasing of the World Water Development
Report, giving away of Water for Life Awards, high-level policy panel, side events and key note
speeches.
About World Water Day

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.
In 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) recommended to

celebrate an international day of freshwater. The UN General Assembly accepted the recommendation
of UNCED and celebrated first World Water Day on 22 March 1993.
World Poetry Day observed across the world

21 March-World Poetry Day
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.
About World Poetry Day

The decision to observe 21 March as World Poetry Day was adopted at the 30th session of UNESCO

held in Paris in 1999.
The main objectives of the Day is

• to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression;
• to offer endangered languages the opportunity to be heard within their communities;
• to encourage a return to the oral tradition of poetry recitals;
• to restore a dialogue between poetry and the other arts such as theatre, dance, music and
painting; and
• to support small publishers and create an attractive image of poetry in the media
UN observed International Day of Forest

21 March: 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.
To celebrate the theme, UN held a Panel discussion on Women as agents of change for forests
and sustainable development with inspiring speakers from forest heroes to film makers, as well as
award-winning short films.
UN also celebrated the day by conducting activities like tree-planting and other community-level
events, and national celebrations including art, photo and film as well as social media.
The International Day of Forests is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of all
types of forests and trees to our economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being. The day
is observed to acknowledge the vital role of forests and pledge to work together to protect and
sustainably manage these vital ecosystems.
Background
United Nations adopted the resolution to celebrate 21 March as International Day of Forest on 21
March 2012 and observed the first International Day on Forest on 21 March 2013. The observance
of 21 March every year as International Day of Forest follows from the International Year of Forest,
2011.
The United Nations (UN) declared 2011 to be the International Year of Forests vide a resolution
adopted by the UN on 20 December 2006. 2011 was also declared by UN as the International Year
for People of African Descent, International Year of Youth and International Year of Chemistry.

2011 was declared as the International Forest Year to celebrate the importance of forests in everyday
life, to raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable forest management.
Prior to the International Day of Forests, there were two closely related international commemorations:
World Forestry Day (established in 1971 by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization),
and Forest Day (convened by the Center for International Forestry Research from 2007-2012).
World Sparrow Day observed across the world
World Sparrow Day was observed on 20 March 2014. The day is observed to create awareness
about the House Sparrow and other common birds and the need for their protection. The theme for
this year is Rise for the Sparrow.
About World Sparrow Day

The First World Sparrow Day was celebrated in 2010. World Sparrow Day is observed on 20 March
annually. It is an international initiative of Nature Forever Society of India in collaboration with the
Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and many national and international organisations.
World Sparrow Day aims to provide a meeting ground for people from different parts of the world to
come together to play an important role in advocacy and in spreading the awareness on the need
of conserving common biodiversity or species.
World Kidney Day observed across the World
World Kidney Day was observed on 13 March 2014 with

the theme, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and aging. World
Kidney Day is observed annually on the second Thursday
in March.
Australia also observed the World Kidney Day with the

theme Kidneys Age, Just Like You-take care of them to
create awareness on the prevention of kidney diseases.
World Kidney Day is celebrated to raise awareness of the

importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to
reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.
One in every 10 adults suffers from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and nearly five lakh patients are
in need of life-long dialysis or transplant at any given point of time in India.

About World Kidney Day
The first World Kidney Day started in 2006. It is a joint initiative of the International Society of
Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF).
World Kidney Day 2013 was celebrated in 157 countries around the world with the theme of Kidneys
for Life - Stop Kidney Attack.
International Women Day observed across the world

International Women Day–8 March
International Women Day is being observed
across the world on 8 March 2014. With the
theme INSPIRING CHANGE United Nation
celebrated the 2014 Women day. International
women’s day is also called Working women’s
day.
Thousands of events occur to mark the

economic, political and social achievements of
women. Organisations, governments, charities,
educational institutions, women’s groups,
corporations and the media celebrate the day.
Each year International Women’s Day (IWD) is

celebrated on 8 March. The first International
Women’s Day was held in 1911.
For the first time International women’s

conference was held in Copenhegen in 1911.
The day was proposed by Clara, a German.
In some countries International women’s day is an official holiday. All over the world achievements
of women are celebrated.

World Dentist Day observed across the World
World Dentist Day – 6 March
World Dentist Day is being observed across the world on 6 March 2014. The day is observed every
year to raise awareness about dental health. On this day the Indian Dentists Association (IDA)
organizes Continuing Medical Education (CME), seminars and workshops to update the dentists
about the various developmental programme, which is aimed towards improving the dental health.
Some the major treatment methods of tooth decay

• Root canal treatment

• Tooth implantation
• Dental surgery to give

proper shape to teeth
Apart from the Dentist Day,

the world also observes
World Oral Health Day on 20
March every year. The day
is celebrated to highlight the
benefits of a healthy mouth
and to promote awareness of
the issues across the world.

Miscellaneous
University of Chicago opened an academic centre in Connaught

Place, Delhi
The University of Chicago on 30 March 2014 opened an academic centre in Connaught Place,
Delhi. US Amabassador to India Nancy Powell inaugurated the centre.
The centre in Delhi is a wholly-owned foreign enterprise operating under the name of UChicago
Center in India Private Limited.
The centre will promote scholarship through three broad programmes, business, economics, law,
and policy, science, energy, medicine, and public health and culture, society, religion, and arts.
The 17000-square-foot centre will provide space for seminars and conferences as well as faculty
offices and study areas.
The centre will also be an intellectual destination which would enable the University of Chicago to
better support research and scholarship that will benefit faculty, students and society.
Delhi is the third centre for the University of Chicago. In 2010 a centre was opened up in Beijing,
China and centre in Paris was opened in 2004.
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It
was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and
philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890.
William Rainey Harper became the university’s first president in 1891, and the first classes were
held in 1892.The University of Chicago is consistently ranked among the world’s top 10 universities.
Vandana Foundation launched AQUATM in Mumbai
A non-profit group Vandana Foundation on 23 March 2014 launched AQUATM in Mumbai. The
AQUATM is a water vending machine from which water can be purchased. This water wending
machine will release 1 liter water at a price of 1 rupee. The best part of the machine is that it can be
operated through prepaid card.

The foundation in its statement said that the AQUATM will release up to 1000 litres per day.
The water ATM has been planned by Vandana Foundation and another non-profit group Aquakraft.
First ATM has been set up at Mankhurd, the place where water contamination problems are in
existence. The
Vandana Foundation
Vandana Foundation was instituted in 2010 as a non-profit Company under section 25 of Companies
Act in Mumbai. It generally works to provide sustainable livelihood support to the people at the
bottom of the pyramid both urban and rural region.
Big Hoss, World Largest TV unveiled
Big Hoss, the World largest TV, was unveiled for the first time at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort
Worth, US on 21 March 2014. Big Hoss was recorded as world largest TV in the Guinness Book of
World Records.
The screen is of 218 feet wide by 94.6 feet tall that means it is taller than a seven story building and
longer than Boeing’s biggest 767 flight. In terms of home electronics terms it is a 2852 inch TV and
display features 20633.34 square feet of HD LED lights that broadcast 4.8 million pixels and trillion
colours.
The screen is also allegedly able to handle wind speeds of up to 120 mph and it was built by
Panasonic. The TV has a 140 degree viewing angle so it can be seen to the high speed people at
large space.
In 2013, Samsung made the world’s largest TV which measures 110 inches from corner to corner
and wasfour times sharper than a high-definition TV. The TV was 102 inches wide and 70 inches
tall, which was bigger than a king-sized bed.
UK decided to honour the Indian heroes of World War I
United Kingdom in third week of March 2014 decided to honour the Indian soldiers, who participated
in the World War I through a series of events. The events will be organised to commemorate the
100th anniversary of the conflict of World War I that started in 1914.
To commemorate Indian involvement in the war that began in 1914, the British High Commission
along with the United Service Institution in India has planned a series of events. In the First World
War, about one million Indian soldiers participated of which over seventy thousand died during the

war.
The commemorative events will be organised in the UK, India and other parts of the world (the
nations whose representatives participated in the historic conflict). As part of the 2014’s centenary
events of World War I, special paving stones will be laid in the home towns of the soldier of UK who
were awarded with the Vitoria Cross.
These stones will be given to the councils in the areas, where the Victoria Cross were born. The
process of laying down the stones will be completed by 2018 of which 28 will be unveiled by 2015.
In total 11 Indian soldiers were awarded with the Victoria Crosses of which six were from present
India, three from the divided Pakistan and two were from Nepal.
National Campaign titled U & Me Against Dengue launched
A multi-pronged National campaign on Dengue, U & Me Against Dengue, was launched on 11 March
2014 to eradicate dengue across six Indian cities with public private partnership. The campaign
is joint initiative of Mortein (pest control brand) in association with All Indian Institute of Medical
Sciences (AIIMS), Indian Medical Association (IMA), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Rotary
Blood Bank and NGO SAHAYOG.
The campaign will be started in phases across Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Pune and
Ahmedabad to combat the spread of the mosquito-borne viral infection. It is a two month long
campaign with focus on fumigation, neem plantation and cleanliness drives.
The organizers have also launched a dedicated website and a 24x7 toll-free dengue helpline -
1800-200-0801. The helpline give the information pertaining to symptoms and necessary measures
to prevention.
At present it is estimated there are over 400 million cases of dengue and each year the claims the
disease claims over 100 million lives across the world.
The other countries have launched similar national campaign to promote awareness on the dengue
situation, inspire action to prevent dengue, and encourage advocacy through social media and
word of mouth. Singapore launched the campaign in 2013 and the Fijian government in March
2014.
About dengue
Dengue (break bone fever) is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness and
sometimes causing a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue (haemorrhagic fever).
Dengue is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito genus Aedes and not transmitted directly from
person-to-person. The symptoms are mild fever, to incapacitating high fever, with severe headache,

pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash.
World Longest aircraft Airlander unveiled in Britain
World Longest aircraft Airlander or HAV304 was unveiled at Cardington in Bedfordshire, Britain
in the first week of March. The aircraft looks like a giant blimp and is being manufactured by the
Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd (HAV).
Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of Iron Maiden is one of the high-profile investors funding the aircraft
along with the UK government funding the aircraft with 2.5 million pounds grant.
About the Aircraft

• The aircraft is 302 feet long and is a hybrid aircraft. That plane resembles both an airship as well
as a helicopter. It is 60 feet longer than the biggest airlines, the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8.
• It is also almost 30ft (8m) longer than the airlift cargo aircraft Antonov An-225, which was until
now the longest aircraft ever built.
• The airship is capable of flying non-stop for three weeks without refuelling and will travel across
the difficult terrain throughout the world as well as deliver aid to risky areas
• The aircraft has been developed at an expense of about 60 million Euros to manufacture and
will be used for communications
• The low carbon ship is about 70 per cent more environmentally friendly than a cargo plane as it
is filled with inert helium
• It is capable to transport up to 50 tonnes of freight and passengers
• It will also be used for surveillance and communications
• It can land via remote control and is capable of landing on water
The aircraft is at present housed at Cardington hangar which was built 100 years ago and where the
ill-fated airship, R101, was built in the 1920s. The R101 was twice as long as the hybrid air vehicle
and had a dining room and lounge on board. However, it was engulfed by fire after it crashed in
France in 1930.
Background
Originally the aircraft was being developed by the HAV for the US military but the project was
discarded due to budget cuts. But the project was again started by HAV with funding from UK
government. Britain is funding the project as it believes that it will change air travel forever because

of the low levels of fuel and noise pollution.
Kush Sharma, Indian-American student won spelling bee
Kush Sharma, a 13-year old Indian-American student on 9 March 2014 won the National Spelling
Bee Competition in the US in a verbal duel at Kansas City Public Library, Missouri. He defeated 11-
year old, fifth-grader Sophia Hoffman of Highland Park Elementary to win Missouri County’s annual
bee contest that lasted for about two-weeks.
To clinch the Spelling Bee title in Missouri, Kush, the seventh-grader at Frontier School of Innovation
spelled out, definition. This win has also booked his berth in the Scripps National Spelling Bee to
be held in Washington in May 2014. Hoffman failed to win the contest as she misspelled the word
stifling.
To claim the contest, the two spelt 260 words that included barukhzy, muumuu, hemerocallis,
jacamar and schadenfreude. Before winning the contest, the duo competed for 66 rounds pushing
the judges to turn a dictionary after they ran out of approved words.
To reach the final round, the two eliminated 23 other contestants. They contested against each
other in 47 rounds to win the contest.
Earlier in 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee was won by Arvind Mahankali a student of New York.
He correctly spelled knaidel to win the 86th Scripps National Spelling Bee.

One Liner
March 2014
• Noted Gandhian environmentalist and social activist selected for the Gandhi Peace Prize for the
year 2013 is - Chandi Prasad Bhatt
• National Food Security Act came into force in a state with a provision of covering overall 75
percent total population - Madhya Pradesh
• President’s rule has been imposed in - Andhra Pradesh
• A bank recently opened its fourth branch in India in New Delhi with an aim of expanding its
operations in the country - The Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, BBK
• Employees at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant tested positive for radiation exposure in - New Mexico
State of US
• Legislative Assembly of a state amended an Act to regularise slums that come up before 1
January 2000 - Maharashtra
• Union Cabinet on 2 March 2014 cleared the Ordinance for reservation for a community under
the central list of OBC (other backward castes quota) category in nine northern states – Jats
• Mortal remains of about 282 Indian soldiers of 1857 mutiny were exhumed (dug out) on 2 March
2014 from the well at - Ajnala in Amritsar district of Punjab
• Union government gave its nod to a proposal to provide accessible mobile phones and laptops
- to visually impaired students
• Afghanistan after registering a win over Bangladesh in Asia Cup helped it to enter - ICC ODI
Rankings Table for the 1st time ever
• Pharmacy store and a convergence block inaugurated by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi
Azad at AIIMS to provide - free generic medicines to poor patients
• Best picture Oscar Award won by - 12 Years A Slave
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 3 March 2014 extended the date for exchange of the pre-2005
banknotes to - 1 January 2015.
• Union Defence Ministry on 3 March 2014 ordered a CBI investigation into the purchase of jet
fighter engines from - Britain’s Rolls-Royce that worth 10000 crore rupees
• Indian Navy on 1 March 2014 successfully completed one of its largest war drills spread over
Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal region named - Theatre Level Operational
Readiness Exercise (TROPEX)
• IFAW-WTI captured and relocated seventh of the stranded gibbon families in Dello village to -
Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary
• India is home to the largest number of bird species in the world is the preliminary findings of a

recent global event — Great Backyard Bird Count
• The Second meeting of India-UAE High Level Task Force on Investment was held in - Mumbai
• The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh attended the third Summit of Bay of Bengal Initiative
for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, BIMSTEC held in - Myanmar
• Sheila Dikshit appointed as the Governor of Kerala as the successor of - Nikhil Kumar
• Interest rates on the fixed deposit scheme offered by post offices have been increased by - 0.2
percent
• US honoured an Indian person who started the movement to end acid attacks in India with the
prestigious International Women of Courage Award to - Laxmi
• World Dentist Day to raise awareness about dental health was observed on - 6 March 2014
• Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports inaugurated the Sports Authority of India National
Cycling Academy (SAI NCA) at - Indira Gandhi Sports Complex.
• The assets of Viktor Yanukovych, the ousted Ukrainian leader and other 17 former ministers,
businessmen and security chiefs frozen by - European Union (EU)
• National security advisor-level meet on maritime security cooperation between India, Sri Lanka
and Maldives was held in - New Delhi.
• 68th senior National football championship or Santosh Trophy was won by Mizoram by defeating
- Railways
• 13-year old Indian-American student on 9 March 2014 won the National Spelling Bee Competition
in the US in a verbal duel at Kansas City Public Library, Missouri - Kush Sharma
• Indian shooter Pooja Ghatkar clinched the gold medal in women’s air rifle event of the - 7th
Asian Championship in Kuwait.
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between three countries under which
natural gas will be supplied from - Iraq to Jordan and Egypt
• The cricketer voted as the Cricketer of the Generation - Sachin Tendulkar
• Novak Djokovic won the Indian Wells ATP Tennis Masters by defeating - Roger Federer
• President of Russia signed a decree recognising a city as a sovereign state paving a way for its
absorption into Russia - Crimea
• Renowned author and journalist died on 20 March 2014 at the age of 99 at his home in Sujan
Singh Park in Delhi - Khushwant Singh

• The first women to be elected as the President of Indian Journalists’ Association (IJA) in London
- Aditi Khanna
• SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) on 19 March 2014 inaugurated its local office
at - Ranchi, Jharkhand.
• Sarawasti Samman for year 2013 for a book Dhool Paudho Par has been awarded to – Govind
Mishra, second Hindi author to receive this award
• The pro-Russian forces on 19 March 2014 seized the Ukraine’s Navy Headquarters in - Crimean
Capital Sevastopol
• To bolster awareness among investors and ring-fence them from possible frauds, SEBI has
planned to seek additional funds from the government for strengthening its - IPEF (Investor
Protection and Education Fund) programmes
• Three day long FINA Diving World Series championship begins in at - Sheikh Hamadan Stadium
in Dubai
• Stuart Oliver of Castrol Vecton team won the inaugural Tata T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship
at - Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida.
• A book that claims that 2008 terror attack on Indian embassy in Kabul was monitored and
sanctioned by senior officials of ISI has been written by - Carlotta Gall
• Pakistan’s civil award has been awarded on the Pakistan Day to one activist and a cricketer –
namely - Malala Yousafzai and Misbah-ul-haq
• Assam government has proposed a plan to trim the horns of rhinos to save them from the
poachers as per the plan made with WHO named - IRV 2020
• UN Security Council (UNSC) on 20 March 2014 unanimously voted in favor of a resolution 2146
(2014) that condemns – the illegal (illicit) export of Libyan crude oils
• A team of students from an Engineering college in Kerala have been selected to compete, for
the first time, in the University Rover Challenge in the US to - design and build next generation
of Mars rovers
• Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla a particular type of refugees living in relief camps in
Tripura should exercise their franchise inside Mizoram and from outside by Postal ballot – Bru
Refugees
• Estimates of an institution released on 25 March 2014 reports claimed that in 2012 around 7
million people died – 1 in 8 of total global deaths – as a result of air pollution exposure – WHO
• A non-profit group on 23 March 2014 launched AQUATM in Mumbai which is a water vending
machine - Vandana Foundation

• FIH has introduced a new format of 60-minute game of four 15-minute quarters and replaced –
the two 35-minute halves game of 70 minutes
• Bank of India on 24 March 2014 launched a process of cardless cash withdrawal facility from
its - IMT (Instant Money Transfer)-enabled ATMs
• Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met the US President Barack Obama in
Washington to discuss – the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks
• Vodafone has agreed to buy Spanish cable operator Ono in a deal aimed at expanding its
interests in Europe – for 7.2 billion Euros
• British Forces handed over its two important military bases to Afghan security forces and closed
down one in – southern Helmand province
• United Kingdom has decided to honour the Indian soldiers through a series of events to
commemorate the 100th anniversary of the World War I – the participants of War
• SIPRI in its data on international arms transfers claimed India as largest importer of weapon
systems, which is three times more than – Pakistan and China
• The 17th Gollapudi Srinivas National Award 2013 has been awarded to a debutant film director,
for the film entitled The Good Road in Gujarati – Gyan Correa bagged
• A research report released by Oxfam concluded that the divide between the rich and poor in the
United Kingdom has widened. The report is entitled - Tale of Two Britains
• SEBI has notified new set of norms to ease the process of KYC for investors by allowing market
entities to get details from – the centralized KYC agencies
• Almost half of the Chemical weapons stockpile of Syria has been removed has been claimed
by – OPCW-UN Joint Mission
• UNHCR report Asylum Trends 2013 claims sharp rise in asylum in – 44 industrialised countries,
primarily driven by the Syrian crisis

Descriptive Questions
March 2014
Descriptive Questions
1. Answer the following questions in 250 words
a) Discuss the strategic and economic ramifications of crisis in Crimea on India.
b) Critically analyse the process of promulgating Ordinances in India. Give your answer in context
of the re-promulgation of SEBI Ordinance 2013 by the President Pranab Mukherjee in March
2014.
c) What are Basel-III norms? Comment upon the need of having Basel-III norms in the Indian
financial system.
d) “The whole debate on Aadhar rests on the premise that it is too intrusive and violates the basic
human rights, that is, right to privacy.” Discuss with examples in the light of Supreme Court
judgement on Aadhar.
2. Write short notes on following in not more than 50 words

a) MH370
b) HSP90
c) FATCA
d) TrueHb Hemometer
e) I RV 2020
3. How far the argument of Assam government that trimming of Rhinos horn would prevent
poaching is valid? Analyse the argument in light of increasing number of poaching in India and
suggest measures that needs to be taken for an effective and credible anti-poaching policy in
India.
4. Write on the following NRIs and their contribution in not more than 75 words
a) Abraham Pannikottu
b) Anil Jain
c) Aditi Khanna
d) Gopal Rao

e) Kush Sharma
5. Outline the highlights of second Annual Health Survey released in March 2014. From the
highlights can you conclude that government interventions in health sector will help India
realize the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. If not, then what extra measures
needs to be taken to improve health situation in India?
6. Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words

a) What is current account deficit? Give reasons for the recent decline in current account deficit
in India. Does the decline in CAD reflect that India’s macroeconomic fundamentals are strong?
b) Bring out the steps taken by the Election Commission to make the Lok Sabha Elections 2014
free of money, muscle and power.
c) Discuss the highlights of the third BIMSTEC Summit. Do you think BIMSTEC will help India
realize its Look East Policy objective?
d) “Nuclear Security Summit will not help address the threat of nuclear terrorism unless the Western
powers limit their expansionist policy and policy of installing a puppet regime.” Comment.
7. Do you think that India’s stand on Sri Lanka issue in UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) was
in line with the Gujral Doctrine? If yes, then discuss Gujral doctrine and how long will it go in
addressing India’s concern in South Asia vis-à-vis China growing stature in the region?

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Current Affairs eBook March 2014 1 www.jagranjosh.

PICK OF THE MONTH 14

UN passed non-binding resolution de-recognising Russian annexation of Crimea  14

Deny access to websites infringing copyright: EU court to ISPs 50

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 2 www.jagranjosh.com

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 3 www.jagranjosh.com

Supreme Court seeks response from Centre on selection process of Lokpal 80

President re-promulgated SEBI Ordinance 2013 for third time  103

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 4 www.jagranjosh.com

ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT  121

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 129

Ambar Srivastava of IIT-Delhi developed TrueHb Hemometer to test haemoglobin 129

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 5 www.jagranjosh.com

CCI imposed a fine of 1 crore rupees on Google 140

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 6 www.jagranjosh.com

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 7 www.jagranjosh.com

SMS based service “Polling at your fingertips” launched in Shillong 179

NEWS CAPSULE 187

Person in news 187

SC commuted Bhullar’s death sentence to life imprisonment 187

Person Appointed  190

Saudi King appointed half-brother Moqren as next heir to throne 190

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 8 www.jagranjosh.com

Places in News 198

Bhavani Island in A.P. developed as new adventure sports 198

summit confrence 199

3rd Nuclear Security Summit 2014  199

Person Resigned 200

Person Died 204

Nanda, the Veteran actress died in Mumbai 204

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 9 www.jagranjosh.com

Awards | Honours  208

Abbreviations | Terms 221

IRV 2020 to protect Vulnerable Rhinos 221

Report | Survey 224

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 10 www.jagranjosh.com

Defence | Security  236

Indo-Nepal joint military exercise started at Sailahandi 236

Books & Author 237

The book on Narendra Modi written by Andy Marino published 237

Exhibition | Fare 241

Rare Indian Artefacts to be auctioned in New York 241

Art | Culture  242

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 11 www.jagranjosh.com

Astronomers discovered first-ever miniature planet with two rings 244

Day | Week | Year  245

Earth Hour observed across the world 245

University of Chicago opened an academic centre in Connaught Place, Delhi 251

One Liner 256

Descriptive Questions 260

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 12 www.jagranjosh.com

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 13 www.jagranjosh.com

UN passed non-binding resolution de-recognising Russian an-

The UN General Assembly on 27 March 2014

Russia has described this resolution as

Apart from this in another incident, the US

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 14 www.jagranjosh.com

Non-Binding documents March 2014

In international law - and in human rights law - • 20 March: EU leaders gathered

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 15 www.jagranjosh.com

Western countries had further threatened Russia

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 16 www.jagranjosh.com

Also, the European Commission agreed to extend • 21 February: President Yanukovych

Current Affairs eBook March 2014 17 www.jagranjosh.com

PICK OF THE MONTH 14

UN passed non-binding resolution de-recognising Russian annexation of Crimea 14

Deny access to websites infringing copyright: EU court to ISPs 50

Supreme Court seeks response from Centre on selection process of Lokpal 80

President re-promulgated SEBI Ordinance 2013 for third time 103

ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT 121

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 129

Ambar Srivastava of IIT-Delhi developed TrueHb Hemometer to test haemoglobin 129

CCI imposed a fine of 1 crore rupees on Google 140

SMS based service “Polling at your fingertips” launched in Shillong 179

NEWS CAPSULE 187

Person in news 187

SC commuted Bhullar’s death sentence to life imprisonment 187

Person Appointed 190

Saudi King appointed half-brother Moqren as next heir to throne 190

Places in News 198

Bhavani Island in A.P. developed as new adventure sports 198

summit confrence 199

3rd Nuclear Security Summit 2014 199

Person Resigned 200

Person Died 204

Nanda, the Veteran actress died in Mumbai 204

Awards | Honours 208

Abbreviations | Terms 221

IRV 2020 to protect Vulnerable Rhinos 221

Report | Survey 224

Defence | Security 236

Indo-Nepal joint military exercise started at Sailahandi 236

Books & Author 237

The book on Narendra Modi written by Andy Marino published 237

Exhibition | Fare 241

Rare Indian Artefacts to be auctioned in New York 241

Art | Culture 242

Astronomers discovered first-ever miniature planet with two rings 244

Day | Week | Year 245

Earth Hour observed across the world 245

University of Chicago opened an academic centre in Connaught Place, Delhi 251

One Liner 256

Descriptive Questions 260