Sunday, January 4, 2015

TOP 100 CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 2014

National
Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2014 introduced in Lok Sabha
  • It is also called Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill
  • It seeks to introduce Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime
  • Inserts article Articles 246A, 269A and 279A in the Constitution
  • Provides for Union Finance Minister headed GST Council
  • Sets in a uniform and integrated indirect tax regime in India
14th Finance Commission submitted its report to President
  • It covers the period between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2020
  • The Commission headed by former RBI Governor Y V Reddy
  • Provides for devolution of tax receipts from the Centre to the States
  • Article 280 of Constitution provides for appointment of Finance Commission
  • First and 13th Finance Commission was headed by K C Neogy & Dr Vijay Kelkar resp.
Union government decriminalized Attempt to Suicide
  • For this purpose Section 309 of Indian Penal Code removed
  • 20th Law Commission headed by Justice A P Shah recommended in its 210 Report
  • 210th Report on Humanization and Decriminalization of Attempt to Suicide
  • France was the first country to decriminalize this offence
Lok Sabha passed the Repealing and Amending (Second) Bill, 2014
  • Introduced as a periodic measure for updating the list of laws in force
  • Seeks to repeal 90 laws and pass amendment to two laws
  • Proposes to amend the two laws to rectify typographical errors
  • The laws are Railways (Amendment) Act, 2008 and the Indian Maritime University Act, 2008
Karnataka Mobile One App launched for m-governance
  • Launched by President Pranab Mukherjee in Bengaluru
  • First such app in India to usher in an era of mobile governance
  • Developed under the ICARE program of Karnataka government
  • Expected to provide more than 4000 services to citizens
Social Justice Bench constituted on social issue
  • Constituted by Supreme Court on 3 December 2014
  • Started operation on 12 December 2014
  • The brainchild of Chief Justice of India H L Dattu
  • Two-judge bench to be headed by Justice Madan B Lokur
  • The other member is Justice U U Lalit
    627 names of Indians holding black money abroad submitted to SC
    • Includes details of treaties India signed with France and other nations
    • Half of the 627 names are Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
    • Most of them have accounts with HSBC Bank, Geneva
    • SIT headed by Justice M B Shah is probing black money case
    Union government unveiled new counter-Naxal doctrine
    • Proposes four-pronged approach to deal with Naxals
    • These are Security, Development, Rights and Entitlement and Public Perception Management
    • Focus on security interventions in worst LWE-affected areas
    • In moderately-affected areas, security and development initiatives will be focus
    • In less affected areas, development interventions will take precedence
    Swachh Bharat Mission launched
    • Launched on occasion of 145th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
    • Aims at making India clean by 2019
    • The year 2019 will be 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
    • Nine people nominated to inspire people to join the Mission
      SC quashed allocation of 214 coal blocks
      • Quashed by SC bench headed by Justice R M Lodha
      • Allocations were arbitrary and illegal
      • 4 out of 218 coal blocks not cancelled
      • Includes one of NTPC and SAIL each and two of Sasan UMPP owned by Anil Ambani
      Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) launched
      • It was launched on 28 August 2014
      • Aims to open 15 crore bank accounts by 15 August 2015
      • It is a mega financial inclusion plan
      • Each person covered to be provided bank accounts and RuPay debit cards
      • Also provision for inbuilt insurance cover of 1 lakh rupees
      India: first Country to Ratify the Marrakesh Treaty
      • India ratified the treaty on 30 June 2014
      • Will facilitate access to published works for blind and visually impaired persons
      • The treaty was signed in Marrakesh, Morocco on 28 June 2013
      • It has been signed by 64 countries
        SC ruled Shariat Courts are illegal
        • No legal status has been granted to the Sharia Courts
        • Its fatwas/decrees are illegal if it violates fundamental rights
        • The decision was delivered by SC bench headed by Justice C K Prasad
        • The judgement given on a petition filed by Vishwa Lochan Madan in 2005
        India became permanent signatory to Washington Accord
        • India signed the Accord on 13 June 2014
        • Joined a select group of 17 countries who joined the Accord
        • Global employment opportunities for India’s technical and engineering graduates to increase
        • Accord promotes mobility and quality assurance of engineers across international boundaries
        Sumitra Mahajan elected as Speaker of 16th Lok Sabha
        • She replaced Meira Kumar
        • Became the second women presiding officer of the Lok Sabha
        • She was elected to 9th Lok Sabha in 1989 for the first time
        • 2014 elections was her eighth continuous term as Member of Parliament
           Telangana became the 29th state of India
          • It achieved statehood on 2 June 2014
          • Ten districts of the then Andhra Pradesh became part of Telangana
          • Chandrasekhar Rao sworn-in as the first Chief Minister
          • ESL Narasimhan is the Governor of Telangana
          • Hyderabad is the joint capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
          Narendra Modi sworn-in as 15th Prime Minister of India
          • He was sworn-in on 26 May 2014
          • He took oath with 45 Council of Minister including 23 Cabinet Ministers
          • First Prime Minister of India born in independent India
          • For the first time 25% of the Cabinet post allocated to women
          • Swearing-in ceremony attended by heads of seven SAARC countries
          16th Lok Sabha Elections 2014
          • The election results for 543 constituencies declared on 16 May 2014
          • Bharatiya Janata Party emerged victorious with 282 seats
          • Congress led incumbent government just secured 44 seats
          • BJP won the majority for the first time since independence
          • The elections were conducted in nine phases from 7 April – 12 May 2014
            Karnataka: first state in India to launch Health Adalat 
            • The Health Adalat was launched in Gulbarga, Karnataka.
            • Aims to ensure that all health facilities extended by the government reached all sections of society.
            • During Health Adalat the department will interact with public representatives. 
            Debroy Panel on restructuring Railway Board
            • The Panel would submit its report till the end of 2015
            • The seven-member panel will be headed by economist Bibek Debroy
            • Mandated to estimate the financial needs of railways and ensure policies to raise resources
            • Restructuring of railway board announced in Union Budget 2014-15
            Film Liar's Dice: India's official entry for Oscar Awards 2015
            • The movie has been directed by Geethu Mohandas
            • It is nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film category
            • 12-member jury headed by eminent filmmaker T Hariharan nominated it
            • Leading casts are Geetanjali Thapa and Nawazuddin Siddiqui
            • The 87th Oscar Awards will be held in the US on 22 February 2015
              C Rangarajan Committee on Poverty
              • Total number of poor in India at 363 million or 29.6 percent of the population
              • The daily per capita expenditure pegged at 32 rupees for the rural poor
              • The daily per capita expenditure pegged at 47 rupees for the urban poor
              • Poverty line is pegged 972 rupees per month for rural India
              • Poverty line pegged at 1407 rupees per month for urban India 
              Largest Solar Power Plant of India launched
              • 130-MW Welspun Solar Plant launched at Bhagwanpur in Neemuch, MP
              • It is also the Asia's Largest Solar Power Plant.
              • It was constructed at a cost of 1100 crore rupees.
              • The Project will raise Indian solar capacity by 7 percent.

              International
              US President signed Ukraine Freedom Support Bill, 2014
              • The Act authorizes administration to impose sanctions on Russia
              • The sanctions to be imposed if needs arises
              • Sanctions were imposed on Russia over Ukraine crisis
              • Authorizes 350 million US dollars in lethal and non-lethal military aid Ukraine
                Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe re-elected
                • He was re-elected for another four year term
                • Japan's ruling coalition won a two thirds majority in the Snap elections
                • Elections were held for the Lower House of the National Diet.
                • The elections saw the voter turnout at 52.7 percent, the lowest since World War-II 
                Nobel Prize presented
                • Peace Prize winners Kailash Satyarthi & Malala Yousufzai
                • Physiology Prize winners John O'Keefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser
                • Literature Nobel Prize winner French author Patrick Modiano
                • Physics Nobel Prize winner Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura
                • Chemistry Nobel Prize Eric Betzig from Janelia Research Campus, Stefan Hell, Gottingen
                • Economic Nobel Prize given to Jean Tirole 
                First World Soil Day observed on 5 December 2014
                • The Day was observed by the UNFAO
                • UNFAO and GSP declared the year 2015 as UN International Year of Soils
                • Events held to raise idea that soil is a critical component of natural system
                • The day coincides with birthday of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej
                  Corruption Perceptions Index 2014 released
                  • This was the 20th edition
                  • Measures perceived levels of public sector corruption in 175 countries
                  • India with a score of 38 was ranked 85th
                  • The index was topped by Denmark with a score of 92.
                  • Index is prepared by Transparency International 
                  Time Magazine released list of 25 Best Inventions 2014
                  • Mangalyaan named among the best inventions of 2014
                  • Magazine describes it as a technological feat
                  • It is described as Supersmart Spacecraft- Mangalyaan
                  • The list also includes two inventions of Indians namely Blue Room and tablet toy, Osmo 
                  The G20 Summit 2014 concluded
                  • The Summit saw release of Brisbane Action Plan
                  • Action Plan comprises of 800+ reforms to boost global growth
                  • Sets an ambitious goal to lift G20 growth by 2.1 percent by 2018
                  • Seeks to reduce the gender gap in labour force participation rates by 25 percent by 2025 
                    25th anniversary of Fall of Berlin Wall celebrated
                    • The fall of the Berlin Wall happened on 9 November 1989
                    • It was the most significant event in recent German history
                    • The Berlin Wall was built in 1961 by East Germany
                    • It was built to stop people fleeing from East Germany to the West
                    • The Wall stretched for 155 kilometers of which only 3 kilometer remains now
                    Forbes list of World's Most Powerful People 2014 released 
                    • The list gives the annual ranking of the World’s 72 Most Powerful People
                    • The list was topped by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
                    • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ranked 15th
                    • Mukesh Ambani is ranked 36th on the list 
                    India re-elected to UNHRC
                    • It was re-elected for the period 2015-2017
                    • India received the highest 162 votes in the Asia Pacific group
                    • India’s first term as member due to end on 31 December 2014
                    • 14 other member states also elected to UNHRC for a three-year term
                    • The UNHRC promotes and protects human rights
                      India-Vietnam signed 7 pacts
                      • Pacts signed to strengthen Strategic Partnership
                      • Signed during President Pranab Mukherjee visit to Vietnam
                      • President gifted sapling of the holy Bodhi Tree to Vietnam
                      • Diplomatic relations between the two countries established in 1972
                      • The strategic relationship between the two countries established in 2007
                      Inaugural Tang Prizes 2014 presented in Taipei
                      • The Tang Prize is treated as Asia's version of the Nobels
                      • Winners of the inaugural Tang Prizes are 
                        •  Sustainable Development - Gro Harlem Brundtland former Premier of Norway
                        •  Sinology – Chinese American, Historian Yu Ying-shih
                        •  Biopharmaceutical Science - James P Allison of US and Tasuku Honjo of Japan
                        •  The Rule of Law - Albie Sachs, former justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
                      Unity Deal signed in Afghanistan
                      • Unity deal signed between Abdullah Abdullah and Ghani Adhmadzai
                      • The deal ended three-month stalemate over government formation in Afghanistan
                      • The stalemate was due to allegations that elections were rigged
                      • The deal calls of creation of post of CEO who will be the acting Prime Minister
                        Ebola Virus Disease outbreak
                        • More than 7000 patients died due to the Ebola Virus in West Africa.
                        • Ebola Virus disease first surface in Guinea in March 2014
                        • Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia are the countries affected
                        • Ebola disease was first detected in Congo basin of Zaire
                        Fields Medal 2014 
                        • The Fields Medal Awards held in Seoul, South Korea.
                        • The award recognized contributions of four medalists.
                        • Artur Avila, Manjul Bhargava, Martin Haire, Maryam Mirzakhani are the recipients
                        • The Fields Medal was first awarded in 1936.
                        • First winner were Finnish mathematician Lars Ahlfors and American mathematician Jesse Douglas. 
                        Prayuth Chan-ocha elected Prime Minister of Thailand
                        • He is the 29th Prime Minister of Thailand
                        • He was elected with a vote of 191-6 votes in National Legislative Assembly (NLA)
                        • He is a former Army Chief of Thailand
                        • He seized the power in June 2014
                          6th BRICS Summit: Fortaleza Declaration 
                          • Held in Fortaleza, Brazil on 15 July and 16 July 2014.
                          • Theme of the Summit was Inclusive Growth: Sustainable Solutions.
                          • The participating countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
                          • The BRICS Network University will be established
                          • BRICS Development Bank to be established 
                          UNSC adopted resolution to probe into MH-17 plane crash 
                          • Resolution adopted by 15-member UNSC unanimously.
                          • It demands free access to the crash site of Malaysian plane MH17.
                          • It insisted on dignified and respectful treatment of bodies of the victims.

                          Science & Technology
                          Scientific breakthrough of the year 2014: Rosetta space mission
                          • Rosetta is the European space mission
                          • First spacecraft to land on a comet
                          • The comet is named 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
                          • It landed on 12 November 2014, 10 years after the launch
                            ISRO successfully launched GSLV Mark-III-X from Sriharikota
                            • This was the experimental launch of the rocket
                            • Weighing 630 tonnes, it is India’s heaviest rocket
                            • It carried Crew module Atmospheric Reentry Experiment (CARE)
                            • The full fledged launch of the rocket will take place in two years.
                            India joined Thirty Meter Telescope Project
                            • India jointed the project as Full Member
                            • India to deliver 100 smaller, hexagonal mirrors
                            • The project in India coordinated by Dept of Science & Technology and DAE
                            • The telescope will be the largest in the world.
                            • It is being built atop Mauna Kea Mountain in Hawaii. 
                            World’s first womb-transplant baby born 
                            • The baby boy was born to a Swedish woman
                            • It was born at the University of Gothenburg's hospital
                            • The woman was born without a womb, although the ovaries were intact
                            • The replacement womb came from a 61-year-old woman
                            • She was suffering from a genetic condition called Rokitansky syndrome
                              New compound BQU57 developed
                              • It will block protein Ral aiding cancer growth
                              • Developed at University of Colorado Cancer Center
                              • The study of the compound published in journal Nature
                              • The lead author of the study is Dan Theodorescu
                              ISRO launched Mangalyaan to Mars orbit
                              • India inserted the spacecraft in Mars orbit in first attempt
                              • ISRO became the fourth space agency in the world to send a mission to Mars successfully
                              • Mangalyaan costs 74 million US dollars, the most cost-effective in world
                              • It will be finding the presence of methane on the Mars
                              INS Kolkata dedicated to nation
                              • INS Kolkata commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai
                              • It is the country’s largest indigenously built warship
                              • Equipped against enemy submarines, surface warships, anti-ship missiles and fighter aircraft
                              • It is commissioned without its main air defence weapon
                              • The warship has been constructed by Mazagon Dockyards Limited
                                New biochip to detect blood sugar via saliva
                                • The advancement will help diabetics to not to undergo blood test
                                • It is made from a one-inch-square piece of quartz coated with a thin layer of silver
                                • It uses a series of specific chemical reactions combined with plasmonic interferometry
                                • The device is sensitive enough to detect minutest differences in glucose concentrations
                                Lima Call for Climate Action
                                • Issued at the conclusion of the 20th session of the Conference of the Parties (CoP)
                                • The President of 20th CoP was Manuel Pulgar-Vidal
                                • Intended Nationally Determined Contributions to form foundation for climate action post 2020
                                • Seeks to put world on track to New Universal Climate Agreement
                                • 21st COP will be held in Paris, France 
                                The US and China agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions
                                • US will reduce carbon emissions by 26 to 28 percent by 2025, compared with 2005 levels
                                • China did not set a specific target, but said emissions would peak by 2030
                                • The two countries agreed to reduce the possibility of military accidents in the air and sea
                                • The two countries together produce about 45% of the world's carbon dioxide
                                  India State of Forest Report 2013
                                  • It was released by Union Ministry of Environment & Forest
                                  • The India State of Forest Report 2013 was the 13th report in the series
                                  • States with maximum increase in forest cover are West Bengal, Odisha and Kerala
                                  • States with largest forest cover are MP & Arunachal Pradesh
                                  • Mizoram has the highest forests cover in terms of percentage of forest
                                  Bor Wildlife Sanctuary of Maharashtra
                                  • It is India’s 47th Tiger Reserve
                                  • Union Environment Ministry notified Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve
                                  • Bor sanctuary is in Wardha district of Maharashtra
                                  • It will be an important corridor between Tadoba – Andhari and Pench Tiger Reserves
                                  • Tiger Reserves in Maharashtra: Melghat, Pench, Tadoba, Nagzira and Sahyadri

                                  Personalities
                                  Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss crowned Miss World 2014
                                  • Outgoing Miss World, Megan Young of the Philippines presented the sash
                                  • Miss Hungary, Edina Kulcsar, was the first runner-up
                                  • Miss United States, Elizabeth Safrit, was the second runner-up
                                  • India's Koyal Rana bagged the sub-title of Best Designer of the world
                                  • This was the 64th Miss World Competition
                                  Justice Vaidyanathapura Rama Krishna Iyer died at 100
                                  • He died on 4 December 2014 due to renal and cardiac failure.
                                  • He was former Supreme Court Judge and an MLA from Kerala.
                                  • He became the judge of the Supreme Court in 1973
                                  • He retired at the age of 65 in 1980.
                                  • There are 105 published books by V. R. Krishna Iyer. 
                                  Australian opener Philip Hughes died 
                                  • Died after a bouncer ball of Sean Abbott hit back of his head
                                  • The accident happened at Sheffield Game at Sydney Cricket Ground, Australia
                                  • He was a left-handed opening batsman
                                  • He had played 26 Tests and 25 ODIs for Australia
                                  • Indian cricketers Raman Lamba and Nari Contractor also died in same situations 
                                  Chief Guest of Republic Day 2015: US President Barack Obama 
                                  • He will be the first US President to attend the Republic Day Parade of India.
                                  • Obama will participate in the Republic Day celebrations of India on 26 January 2015.
                                  • Obama will be the first US President to travel to India twice.
                                  Legendary Kathak danseuse Sitara Devi died
                                  • Dance based on themes, poetry and choreography of her father
                                  • She was born as Dhannolakshmi in the Brahmin family
                                  • Rabindranath Tagore described her as Nritya Samragini
                                  • She is known as a pioneering force in bringing the genre to Bollywood
                                  Neha Gupta won International Children’s Peace Prize 2014
                                  • Awarded for her work to help orphans in India
                                  • Her organisation Empower Orphans has helped 25000 vulnerable children
                                  • She became the first ever American to be awarded with the prize
                                  • In 2013, the award was conferred on Malala Yousufzai
                                  Hindi poet Kedarnath Singh received 49th Jnanpith Award
                                  • Conferred for his outstanding contribution towards Indian literature
                                  • 10th Hindi writer to receive the country’s highest literary award
                                  • Known for his work Abhi Bilkul Abhi and Yahan Se Dekho
                                  • First recipient G Sankara Kurup for Odakkuzhal (Flute) in Malyalam language
                                  Sanjaya Rajaram received World Food Prize 2014
                                  • Awarded for his research that led to increase in wheat production
                                  • He is credited with developing the Veery lines of wheat in the 1980s
                                  • He helped secure 1.3 percent rise in global wheat production per annum.
                                  • He is senior scientific advisor at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas
                                  Arvind Subramanian appointed Chief Economic Advisor
                                  • Appointed Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) for a period of three years
                                  • Third economist of international rapport to be appointed as CEA
                                  • Expert of the Indian and Chinese economy
                                  • Raghuram Rajan, the RBI Governor, was previous CEA 
                                  Justice H L Dattu sworn-in as 42nd Chief Justice of India
                                  • Oath of office administered by President Pranab Mukherjee.
                                  • Succeeded Chief Justice RM Lodha
                                  • Lodha demitted office on 27 September 2014
                                  • Dattu will retire from his office on 2 December 2015.
                                  • He joined Supreme Court of India as a Judge on 17 December 2008.
                                  Lalitha Kumaramangalam appointed Chairperson of National Commission for Women
                                  • Eighth chairperson of National Commission for Women
                                  • She was the National Spokesperson National Executive of BJP
                                  • National Commission for Women was set up as a statutory body in January 1992
                                  • It was set up under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 
                                  Narula Brothers won 7 crore rupees in Season 8 of KBC
                                  • The two brothers, Achin and Sarthak Narula emerged victorious in Season 8 of KBC
                                  • The tagline for the season 8 is Yahan Sirf Paise Nahi, Dil Bhi Jeete Jate Hain
                                  • The show was first telecast on Star Plus in 2000
                                  • It is based on the UK game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
                                  Govind Mishra received Saraswati Samman 2013
                                  • He received it for novel Dhool Paudhon Par
                                  • His novel was published in 2008
                                  • The novel illustrates the struggle of modern Indian women
                                  • He is the second Hindi author to be conferred with award
                                  • Harivansh Rai Bachchan was the first Hindi author to receive the award
                                  Pran, the Creator of Chacha Chowdhury died at 75
                                  • He created or sketched Chacha Chaudhary for the Hindi magazine Lotpot in 1969
                                  • His Chacha Chaudhary strips found a permanent place in International Museum of Cartoon Art, USA.
                                  • His name was included in People of the Year 1995 by Limca Book of Records.
                                  Lt General Dalbir Singh Suhag took over as Chief of Army Staff
                                  • He succeeded General Bikram Singh to become the 28th Army Chief
                                  • He will serve as Army chief for 29 months till 31 December 2016
                                  • He is the 2nd Gorkha Rifles officer to become Army chief
                                  • First was Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw
                                  Veteran actress Zohra Sehgal died at 102
                                  • She was called as the grand old lady of Bollywood
                                  • She was the recipient of Padma Vibhshan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri
                                  • Sehgal’s daughter Kiran in 2012 wrote her biography named Zohra Segal: Fatty
                                  • Zohra last appeared in Sanjay Leela Bhasali's film Saawariya in 2007
                                  Chandi Prasad Bhatt won the Gandhi Peace prize 2013
                                  • He is a Gandhian, an environmentalist and a social activist.
                                  • In 1964, he founded Dasholi Gram Swarajya Sangh (DGSS) in Gopeswar.
                                  • He was awarded with the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1982.
                                  • In 2005, he was awarded with Padma Bhushan.

                                  Sports
                                  Germany won men's Hockey Champions Trophy 2014
                                  • Germany defeated Pakistan by 2-0 margin to win the trophy
                                  • This was 10th Champions Trophy crown for Germany.
                                  • It had last won the tournament in 2007
                                  • For bronze medal, World champion Australia defeated India 2-1
                                  UAE captain Khurram Khan: the oldest player to score an ODI century
                                  • He scored the winning century against Afghanistan in Dubai
                                  • He achieved the feat at an age of 43 years and 162 days
                                  • He broke the record of Sanath Jayasuriya
                                  • Sanath Jayasuriya had scored 109 against India in 2009 at the age of 39
                                  Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma scored the highest ODI score ever of 264 
                                  • The score of 264 runs is also the second-highest List A score
                                  • With this he became the only cricketer to score two Double ODI centuries
                                  • He achieved this distinction during the 4th ODI between India and Sri Lanka
                                  • He broke the record of highest ODI score of 219 runs made by Virender Sehwag
                                  • Sachin Tendulkar was the first cricketer to score double century in ODIs 
                                  Virat Kohli became fastest cricketer to reach 6000 ODI runs
                                  • He achieved the distinction after his 53-run knock in the third ODI between India and Sri Lanka
                                  • He took 144 match and 136 innings to make 6000 runs
                                  • He is the eighth Indian to have scored 6000 or more runs and 47th overall
                                  • He overtook legendary West Indian Vivian Richards' record
                                  • Richards reached the milestone in 1989 by playing 141 innings in 156 matches 
                                  MC Mary Kom bagged her first Asian Games Gold Medal
                                  • She defeated Zhaina Shekerbekova of Kazakhstan
                                  • She won in women’s flyweight category (48-51kg)
                                  • First Indian woman boxer to clinch a gold medal at the Asian Games
                                  • She is nicknamed as Magnificent Mary
                                  Chennai Super Kings won 2014 Champions League Twenty20 title
                                  • It defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 8 wickets
                                  • The match was played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
                                  • Chennai Super Kings won the trophy for the second time.
                                  • Earlier they won the CLT20 in South Africa in 2011. 
                                  Hockey Player Manpreet Singh named Junior Men Player of the Year by AHF
                                  • The announcement was made at Asian Hockey Federation Congress
                                  • The congress was held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
                                  • Indian midfielder Manpreet Singh has played 103 international matches.
                                  • He is the captain of the India Junior Hockey team.
                                  • He made his international debut in 2011.
                                  Marin Cilic of Croatia won Men's Singles title of US Tennis Open
                                  • Cilic defeated 10th seed Kei Nishikori of Japan
                                  • The Women’s singles was won by Serena Williams of US
                                  • The Men’s Doubles title was won by Mike and Bob Bryan of US
                                  • Sania Mirza of India and Bruno Soares of Brazil won the Mixed Doubles title
                                  • Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina of Russia won the US Open women's doubles title
                                  2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games concluded
                                  • The Medal tally was topped by England
                                  • India stood at the fifth position in the rankings.
                                  • India won 64 medals (15 Gold, 30 silver and 19 Bronze)
                                  • This was third highest medal haul after 2010 Delhi CWG and 2002 Manchester CWG
                                  • The 21st Commonwealth Games will be held in Gold Coast in Australia
                                  Kush Kumar first Indian player to reach semis of World Junior Squash Championship
                                  • The World Junior Squash championship held at Windhoek in Namibia.
                                  • He defeated England's George Parker in straight games in quarterfinal.
                                  • Kush Kumar is a professional squash player from Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
                                  • Presently, his ranking is 220 in the world.
                                  Himachal Pradesh to host First Para-gliding World Cup 2015 in India
                                  • This will be the first para-gliding World Cup to be hosted in India.
                                  • To be organised under Para-gliding World Cup Association, France.
                                  • It will be hosted in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh from 24 October 2015
                                  • Himachal Pradesh had hosted the Para-gliding pre-World Cup in 2013
                                  Germany won the 2014 FIFA Football World Cup
                                  • Germany beat Argentina 1-0 in the final
                                  • Final was played at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
                                  • Mario Gotze scored the lone goal of final during the extra-time
                                  • It lifted the trophy for 4th time in FIFA world Cup history and first since 1990
                                  • Germany became 1st European team to win World Cup played in North or South America 
                                  Sim Bhullar became first Indian-origin basketball player to join NBA
                                  • He signed a summer contract with the Sacramento Kings.
                                  • Sacramento Kings is a professional basketball team in the US.
                                  • Sim Bhullar is originally from Canada and his parents are from Punjab.
                                  Novak Djokovic of Serbia won the Men’s Wimbledon Tennis Open 2014
                                  • He defeated Roger Federer of Switzerland
                                  • This is the second Wimbledon title for Djokovic
                                  • Djokovic won the seventh career Grand Slam
                                  • Djokovic won his first Wimbledon title in 2011

                                  Economy & Corporate
                                  Advisory Group on Integrated Development of Power
                                  • The Group was headed by Suresh Prabhu
                                  • It has suggested opening up of the coal sector
                                  • Called for improvement in Coal India Ltd and its subsidiaries
                                  • Expedite reforms in the distribution sector with targeted actions 
                                  SBI Mutual Fund launched Shariah Equity Fund 
                                  • The fund is aimed at attracting investments from Muslim populations of India. 
                                  • The fund approved by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board
                                  • SBI MF fourth fund house in India to have an Islamic equity fund.
                                  • India second country outside the Islamic world where a state-owned bank is offering such fund
                                  • The UK is the first country who issued sovereign Islamic bonds in June 2014
                                  Kotak Mahindra Bank first bank in India to fully own insurance business
                                  • RBI gave permission to the bank for setting up Kotak General Insurance
                                  • Kotak General Insurance will be the 29th non-life insurance company in the country
                                  • The CEO of the company will be Mahesh Balasubramanian
                                  • The bank already promotes life insurance with Old Mutual of South Africa
                                  SEBI de-recognised Delhi Stock Exchange (DSE)
                                  • De-recognised on account of serious irregularities in demutualisation process
                                  • SEBI demutualisation rules requires every stock exchange to sell brokers' 51% equity
                                  • DSE was incorporated in 1947
                                  • It is an amalgamation of Delhi Stock and Share Brokers' Association Ltd and the Delhi Stocks and Shares Exchange Ltd 
                                  Shell India won 18000-crore rupees tax dispute case
                                  • It won the tax case against Income Tax department
                                  • The decision given by Bombay High Court
                                  • Decision based on legal principle laid down in the Vodafone case
                                  • It ruled that transfer pricing does not arise in case of transfer of shares
                                  • The case pertains to alleged under pricing of shares issued by Shell India
                                  Alibaba made the record of earning 9.3 billion US dollars on a single day
                                  • Alibaba shipped 278 million orders out of which 43 percent were mobile devices
                                  • It achieved the staggering figure on Singles Day shopping event
                                  • The event celebrates the bachelorhood of Young single Chinese
                                  • Alibaba is a Chinese e-commerce giant founded by Jack Ma
                                  SoftBank of Japan to invest 10 billion dollars in India
                                  • Will invest in India's IT and communications sector in coming years
                                  • Announced to invest 627 million US dollars in Snapdeal
                                  • Signed definitive agreement to invest 210 million US dollars in ANI Technologies
                                  • Chairman and CEO of the SoftBank is Masayoshi Son
                                  Union government de-regulated diesel and hiked natural gas rates
                                  • The price of diesel to be market-linked
                                  • The retail rates will reflect price changes in the global market.
                                  • The government will no longer provide subsidy on diesel.
                                  • This is the first reduction in diesel rates since 2009.
                                  Google closed Orkut
                                  • Orkut is a social network site
                                  • Google announced to shut down Orkut in June 2014.
                                  • Old users of Orkut can take back up of pictures till September 2016.
                                  • Orkut was started in 2004 and named after its creator, Orkut Buyukkokten.
                                  • Google has moved to a new platform the Google Plus.
                                  Union government decided to wind up HMT Watches
                                  • The unit has been incurring losses since 2000
                                  • HMT Watches is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hindustan Machines Tools (HMT) limited
                                  • HMT Limited was set up at Bangalore in 1961 in collaboration with Japan’s Citizen Watch
                                  • In 2000, HMT Watch Business group was restructured as HMT Watches Ltd.
                                  RBI fixed the upper age limit at 70 years for M.D. and CEO in private sector banks
                                  • The decision was taken to comply with the Section 196(3) of the Companies Act, 2013
                                  • Individual bank’s boards free to prescribe a lower retirement age for whole time Directors
                                  • Earlier, no maximum age was specified and decisions were taken case by case
                                  Union Government granted Navratna Status to CONCOR
                                  • CONCOR is the 17th Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) to achieve Navratna Status.
                                  • The status was accorded by the Department of Public Enterprises.
                                  • CONCOR current Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) is Anil Kumar Gupta.
                                  • It deals in Export-Import and domestic trade and commerce policy of India.
                                  Expenditure Management Commission constituted 
                                  • The Commission will be headed by Bimal Jalan
                                  • He is a former RBI Governor
                                  • Commission will suggest the way for managing public finances by reducing subsidies. 
                                    ICICI Bank became the first bank in India to launch EMI facility on Debit Card
                                    • This was so far available only for credit cardholders.
                                    • Will enable customers to convert their high value transactions into easy installments
                                    • Facility available to debit cardholders with minimum fixed deposit of 10000 rupees
                                      C S Verma elected as First President of Indian Steel Association
                                      • C S Verma is currently working as the head of Steel Authority of India Limited
                                      • The Indian Steel Association was formally launched on 26 August 2014
                                      • Aims to work towards transforming the Indian steel industry as a global leader
                                      • Membership of ISA open to any steel producer with a yearly capacity of at least 2 million tones
                                      DIPP notified Press Note 8 allowing 100% FDI in Rail infrastructure
                                      • FDI in rail infrastructure will be through automatic route
                                      • FDI will not be allowed in train operations and safety
                                      • Proposals involving FDI beyond 49 percent in sensitive areas to be placed before the Cabinet Committee on Security
                                      • Definitions of infrastructure and common facilities have also been widened
                                      Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley presented Union Budget 2014-15
                                      • This was the first budget of newly appointed government led by Narendra Modi
                                      • It focussed on providing good infrastructure like public transport, solid waste disposal
                                      • Emphasized on skill development and entrepreneurship in the budget
                                      • Announced that the FDI cap in Defence sector would be raised to 49 percent

                                      CURRENT AFFAIRS YEAR ROUND UP 2014


                                      CURRENT AFFAIRS 2014 ROUND UP


                                      CURRENT AFFAIRS 2014 ROUND UP


                                      CURRENT AFFAIRS 2014 ROUND UP


                                      CURRENT AFFAIRS 2014 ROUND UP


                                      CURRENT AFFAIRS 2014


                                      Sunday, December 28, 2014

                                      Thursday, December 25, 2014

                                      Atal Bihari Vajpee and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya to receive Bharat Ratna


                                      Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpee and freedom fighter Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously) will receive the Bharat Ratna. The decision to confer the highest civilian award of the country was announced by the Union Government on 24 December 2014.
                                      Till now 43 people have been honoured with the Bharat Ratna. In 2013, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and scientist C N R Rao were awarded Bharat Ratna for their contribution in their respective fields.
                                      About Madan Mohan Malaviya
                                      • He was a freedom fighter and educationist who was part of the Indian National Movement
                                      • He was popularly known as Mahamana. 
                                      • He was president of Indian National Congress (INC) for two terms in 1909 and1918.  He was one of the founders of the Hindu Mahasabha.
                                      • He was one of the leading educationists of India before independence and he was founder of the Banaras Hindu University in 1916. 
                                      • He was also the Chairman of Hindustan Times from 1924 to 1946. His efforts resulted in the launch of its Hindi edition in 1936
                                      • Malviya was born in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, India on 25 December 1861
                                      About Atal Bihari Vajpayee
                                      • Vajpayee is a three time Prime Minister of India who served the first term in 1996 for just 13 days. During his second term in 1998-1999 he served for 13 months. 
                                      • In his final and third term he completed the full five-year from 1999-2004. Thus, he became the first Prime Minister from outside the Indian National Congress party to serve a full five-year term.
                                      • When Janata government collapsed, Vajpayee restarted the Jana Sangh as the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980.
                                      • He began a push for a full-scale diplomatic peace process with Pakistan and initiated a new peace process aimed towards permanently resolving the Kashmir dispute and other conflicts with Pakistan. With this view he inaugurated Delhi-Lahore bus service in February 1999 and signed Lahore Declaration with Nawaz Sharif, the then PM of Pakistan.
                                      • He was also the Minister of External Affairs in the cabinet of Prime Minister Morarji Desai in 1978. As foreign minister, that year Vajpayee became the first person to deliver a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi.
                                      About Bharat Ratna Awards
                                      • Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of India that was instituted on 2 January 1954 by the order of Rajendra Prasad, the former President of India. Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence, but constitution prohibits using the award name as title.
                                      • The award is conferred in recognition of exceptional service or performance of the highest order, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex.  
                                      • The award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science and public services but the union government expanded the criteria to include any field of human endeavour in 2011.
                                      • Recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President, with a maximum of three nominees being awarded per year. Recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal-leaf–shaped medallion and award does not contain any monetary grant. 
                                      • Original provisions of the Bharat Ratna did not allow any one to grant the posthumous awards. Later in January 1966, a provision posthumous was inserted.
                                      • The former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri was the first individual to be honoured posthumously in 1966.
                                      • The first recipients of the Bharat Ratna were C Rajagopalachari, scientist C V Raman and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan were honoured in 1954.

                                      Sunday, December 14, 2014

                                      Symbols of Andhra Pradesh

                                      Nandi Award for Best Telugu Feature Film

                                      Swarna (Gold) Nandi
                                      Year Movie
                                      2011 Sri Rama Rajyam
                                      2010 Vedam
                                      2009 Sontha Vooru
                                      2008 Gamyam
                                      2007 Mee Sreyobhilashi
                                      2006 Bommarillu
                                      2005 Pothe Poni
                                      2004 Aa Naluguru
                                      2003 Missamma
                                      2002 Manmadhudu
                                      2001 Preminchu
                                      2000 Chirunavvutho
                                      1999 Kalisundam Raa
                                      1998 Tholi Prema
                                      1997 Annamayya
                                      1996 Pavithra Bandham
                                      1995 Sogasu Chooda Tharamaa
                                      1994 Bangaru Kutumbam
                                      1993 Mr. Pellam
                                      1992 No Award
                                      1991 Yagnam
                                      1990 Erra Mandaram
                                      1989 Geetanjali
                                      1988 Swarna Kamalam
                                      1987 Sruthi Layalu
                                      1986 Swathi Muthyam
                                      1985 Mayuri
                                      1984 Swathi
                                      1983 Ananda Bhairavi
                                      1982 Meghasandesam
                                      1981 Seethakoka Chiluka
                                      1980 No Award
                                      1979 Sankarabharanam
                                      1978 Naalaga Endaro
                                      1976 Oorummadi Brathukulu
                                      1975 Jeevana Jyothi
                                      1974 Alluri Seetharama Raju
                                      1973 Sharada
                                      1972 Kalam Marindi
                                      1971 Chelleli Kapuram
                                      1970 Kathanayika Molla
                                      1969 Kathanayakudu
                                      1968 Bandhavyalu
                                      1967 Sudi Gundalu
                                      1966 Rangula Ratnam
                                      1965 Antastulu
                                      1964 Doctor Chakravarthy

                                      Rajata (Silver) Nandi
                                      Year Movie
                                      2011 Rajanna
                                      2010 Ganga Putrulu
                                      2009 Baanam
                                      2008 Vinayakudu
                                      2007 Happy Days
                                      2006 Godavari
                                      2005 Anukokunda Oka Roju
                                      2004 Anand
                                      2003 Okkadu
                                      2002 Nuvve Nuvve
                                      2001 Murari
                                      2000 Azad
                                      1999 Nee Kosam
                                      1998 Kante Kuthurne Kanu
                                      1997 Sindhooram
                                      1996 Little Soldiers
                                      1995 Badili
                                      1994 Subha Lagnam
                                      1993 Money
                                      1992 Rajeswari Kalyanam
                                      1991 Pelli Pustakam
                                      1990 Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu
                                      1989 Mouna Poratam
                                      1988 Adade Adharam
                                      1987 Abhinandana
                                      1986 Repati Pourulu
                                      1985 O Thandri Theerpu
                                      1984 Kanchana Ganga
                                      1983 Neti Bharatam
                                      1982 Maro Malupu
                                      1981 Tholi Kodi Koosindi
                                      1980 Yuvatharam Kadilindi
                                      1979 Maa Bhoomi
                                      1978 Chali Cheemalu
                                      1977 Tharam Marinidi
                                      1976 Mahakavi Kshetrayya
                                      1975 Muthyala Muggu
                                      1974 O Seeta Katha
                                      1973 Andala Ramudu
                                      1972 Tata Manavadu
                                      1971 Sri Krishna Satya
                                      1970 Kodalu Diddina Kapuram
                                      1969 Athmeeyulu
                                      1968 Chinnari Papalu
                                      1967 Chadarangam
                                      1966 Chilaka Gorinka
                                      1965 Sri Krishna Pandaviyam
                                      1964 Keelu Bommalu

                                      Kamsya (Bronze) Nandi
                                      Year Movie
                                      2011 Virodhi
                                      2010 Prasthanam
                                      2009 Kalavaramaye Madilo
                                      2008 Parugu
                                      2007 Lakshyam
                                      2006 Ganga
                                      2005 Gowtam SSC
                                      2004 Grahanam
                                      2003 Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi
                                      2002 Santhosham
                                      2001 Atu America Itu India
                                      2000 Manoharam
                                      1999 Prema kadha
                                      1998 Ganesh
                                      1997 Thodu
                                      1996 Srikaram
                                      1995 Ammai Kapuram
                                      1994 Bhairava Dweepam
                                      1993 Mathru Devo Bhava
                                      1992 Aapathbandhavudu
                                      1991 Aswani
                                      1990 Hrudayanjali
                                      1989 Suthradharulu
                                      1988 Kallu
                                      1987 Prajaswamyam
                                      1986 Aruna Kiranam
                                      1985 Vandematharam
                                      1984 Suvarna Sundari
                                      1983 Sagara Sangamam
                                      1982 Keerthi Kantha Kanaka
                                      1981 Ooriki Ichina Maata
                                      1980 Sangham Marali
                                      1979 Punadi Rallu
                                      1978 Karunamayudu
                                      1977 Oka Oori Katha
                                      1976 Anthuleni Katha
                                      1975 Swargam Narakam
                                      1974 Theerpu
                                      1973 Samsaram Sagaram
                                      1972 Praja Nayakudu
                                      1971 Amayakuralu
                                      1970 Balaraju Katha
                                      1969 Bangaru Panjaram
                                      1968 Bangaru Gajulu
                                      1967 Bhakta Prahlada
                                      1966 Asthiparulu
                                      1965 Aatma Gowravam
                                      1964 Gudi Gantalu

                                      Monday, December 8, 2014