Current Affairs Update – 1-2-3 Dec, 2014

Finance /
Business / Economy

1. RBI announced fifth Bi-Monthly Monetary
Policy Statement 2014-15
  • ·
    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 2 December 2014 announced fifth
    Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Statement. RBI in its fifth bi-monthly monetary
    policy statement kept the policy rates unchanged.

Based on the assessment of the current and
evolving macroeconomic situation, the policy rates as on 2 December 2014 are:
  • Ø
    Repo rate: 8 percent
  • Ø
    Reverse repo rate: 7 percent
  • Ø
    Marginal standing facility (MSF) rate: 9 percent
  • Ø
    Bank Rate: 9.0 percent
  • Ø
    Cash Reserve Ratio: 4 percent

Besides,
  • ·
    Liquidity under overnight repos will continue to be provided at 0.25
    percent of bank-wise NDTL at the LAF repo rate
  • ·
    Liquidity under 7-day and 14-day term repos will continue to be provided
    at 0.75 percent of NDTL of the banking system through auctions
  • ·
    Daily one-day term repos and reverse repos to smooth liquidity will be
    continued

Assessment of the macroeconomic situation in
India
  • ·
    Domestic activity weakened in Q2 of 2014-15, and activity is likely to
    be muted in Q3 also because of a moderate kharif harvest.
  • ·
    The deficiency in the north-east monsoon rainfall has constrained the
    pace of rabi sowing, except in the southern States.
  • ·
    Despite the uptick in September 2014, the growth of industrial
    production slumped to 1.1 per cent in Q2 with negative momentum in September
    2014, unable to sustain the improvement recorded in the preceding quarter.
  • ·
    In the services sector, the October 2014 purchasing managers’ survey
    indicates deceleration in new business. In contrast, tourist arrivals and
    domestic and international cargo movements have shown improvement.

Assessment of the macroeconomic situation of
Global Economy
  • ·
    Since September 2014, the global economy has slowed, though the recent
    sharp fall in crude prices will have a net positive impact on global growth.
  • ·
    The recovery in the United States is broadening on the back of stronger
    domestic consumption, rising investment and industrial activity.
  • ·
    In the Euro area, headwinds from recessionary forces continue to weaken
    industrial production and investment sentiment.
  • ·
    In Japan, growth may be picking up again on the back of stronger
    exports, helped in part by further quantitative and qualitative easing that has
    led to a depreciation of the yen.
  • ·
    In China, disappointing activity and still-low inflation have prompted
    rate cuts by the People’s Bank of China.
  • ·
    In other major emerging market economies (EMEs), downside risks to
    growth from elevated inflation, low commodity prices, deteriorating labour
    market conditions and stalling domestic demand have become accentuated.

2. Vijay Mallya resigned as Director of
Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd
  • ·
    The United Breweries Limited Chairman Vijay Mallya on 1 December 2014
    resigned as the Director of Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd (MCFL) with
    immediate effect.
  • ·
    However, the reason behind his resignation is still unknown. The post of
    Director at Mangalore Chemicals may for now remain vacant.
  • ·
    Mallya’s resignation comes at a time when MCFL is amidst a takeover
    battle between Deepak Petrochemicals and Fertilizers and Zuari Agro Chemicals
    and Fertilizers.
  • ·
    Mallya had joined forces with Kolkata-based industrialist Saroj Kumar
    Poddar to launch a counter bid against Deepak Fertilisers. The board of
    Mangalore Chemicals is being restructured to include two representatives of
    Poddar’s Adventz Group.

3. SEBI allowed 123 entities to set up
Alternative Investment Funds in India

  • ·
    Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 1
    December 2014 allowed as many as 123 entities to set up Alternative Investment
    Funds (AIFs).
  • ·
    The 123 Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) have been registered with
    the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) since July 2012.
  • ·
    Of these, around 34 entities got the approval of SEBI to operate so far
    in 2014, 67 in 2013 and the remaining 22 in 2011.
  • ·
    The AIFs that have registered with SEBI in November 2014 are Religare
    Dynamic Trust, Indus Way Emerging Market Fund and Carpediem Capital Partners
    Fund and those registered in October 2014 are Singular India Opportunities
    Trust.
  • ·
    AIFs are basically funds established or incorporated in India for the
    purpose of pooling in capital from Indian and foreign investors for investing
    as per a pre-decided policy.
  • ·
    Under SEBI guidelines, AIFs can operate broadly in three categories. The
    SEBI rules apply to all AIFs, including those operating as private equity
    funds, real estate funds and hedge funds, among others.
  • ·
    The Category I: AIFs
    are those funds that get incentives from the government, SEBI or other
    regulators and include Social Venture Funds, Infrastructure Funds, Venture
    Capital Funds and SME Funds.
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    The Category III: AIFs are those trading with a view to
    making short term returns and it includes hedge funds, among others.
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    The Category II: AIFs can invest anywhere in any combination
    but are prohibited from raising debt, except for meeting their day to day
    operational requirements.

4. IBM signed ten-year deal with ABN Amro to
provide computer infrastructure services
  • ·
    US-based major International Business Machine (IBM) on 1 December 2014
    signed a ten-year, multi-billion dollar deal with Dutch bank ABN Amro. The deal
    was signed to provide computer infrastructure services to ABN Amro running on
    its cloud systems.
  • ·
    IBM will provide fully managed services for mainframe computers,
    servers, storage and end-user computing as well as a help desk and other
    technical support.
  • ·
    The deal comes as IBM is trying to gain momentum in the market for
    Internet-delivered computing services, known as cloud computing. IBM so far has
    failed to keep pace with a shift to cloud-based computing services from its
    established business selling computer consulting and software that customers
    run on internal computer systems.
  • ·
    Earlier, in November 2014, IBM had won a 7-year outsourcing contract
    from Germany’s Lufthansa worth 1.25 billion US dollar.  In the deal, IBM has to take over the
    airline’s information technology infrastructure services division and staff.

5. UP Government launched the Women
Entrepreneurship Scheme 2014-15
  • ·
    Uttar Pradesh (UP) government on 2 December 2014 launched the Women
    Entrepreneurship Scheme 2014-15 to empower women and ensure their participation
    in the process of industrialization.
  • ·
    Under the scheme, the state government is encouraging micro-level and
    individual traditional industries and handicraft units to form a special
    purpose vehicle (SPV).
  • ·
    The collection of 25 or more such units would qualify for benefits under
    a scheme that seeks to boost traditional Indian craft such as chikankari,
    terracotta, zari, zardozi and toys.

Highlights of the Women Entrepreneurship
Scheme 2014-15
  • ·
    The Central government will provide 70 percent of the 15 crore rupees
    under the scheme.
  • ·
    The unemployed women are eligible for easy seed capital to start their
    own micro or small enterprise.
  • ·
    The loan will be provided by nationalized banks, financial institutions
    or the State Financial Corporation for the purchase of plant and machinery.
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    The beneficiaries are entitled to a loan of 50000 rupees per year at
    five percent interest subjected to a ceiling of 2.50 lakh rupees in five years.
  • ·
    This scheme is applicable to both manufacturing and service sector
    units.

6. Union Cabinet approved Regional Rural
Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2013
  • ·
    The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2
    December 2014 approved Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2013. The Bill
    seeks to amend the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) Act, 1976.
  • ·
    The Bill will help enhance authorized and issued capital to strengthen
    their capital base and to bring flexibility in the shareholding between Union
    Government, State Government and Sponsor Bank.
  • ·
    Apart from this, the cabinet also decided that the term of the
    non-official directors appointed by the Union Government will be fixed and
    should not exceed three years.

Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2013
  • ·
    The Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was introduced in the
    Lok Sabha on 22 April 2013. The Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on
    Finance under the Chairmanship of Yashwant Sinha for examination.
  • ·
    The Bill removes the five year upper limit mandated for Sponsor Banks to
    subscribe to the share capital of RRBs, train their personnel and provide
    managerial and financial assistance, thus allowing such assistance to continue
    beyond this duration.
  • ·
    It increases the authorized capital of RRBs from 5 crore rupees to 500
    crore rupees and the threshold limit from 25 lakh rupees to 1 crore rupees.
  • ·
    It increases the ability of Union government to specify the capital
    issued by an RRB from earlier 25 lakh rupees – 1 crore rupees to 1 crore rupees
    and beyond.
  • ·
    At present the shareholding pattern of RRB is 50 percent is subscribed
    to by the Union government, 15 percent by the concerned state government and 35
    percent by the Sponsor Bank. The Bill permits an RRB to raise capital from
    other sources in addition to Union government, concerned State government and
    Sponsor Bank. In such case, however, the combined shareholding of the Union
    government and the Sponsor Bank shall not be less than 51 percent.
  • ·
    It requires Union government to consult the concerned state government
    if the latter’s level of shareholding falls below 15 percent.
  • ·
    The Bill provides for the appointment of Board of Directors by other
    entities also in addition to the nominations made by the Union government, the
    concerned state government, the Reserve Bank of India, NABARD and the Sponsor
    Bank. However, such nomination by other entities shall be in proportion to the
    share held by such entities.
  • ·
    The Bill removes the specification that the term of a director shall not
    exceed two years and that he shall be eligible for re-nomination. However, this
    is only for directors other than those appointed by the central government.
  • ·
    It retains the two year maximum term for directors appointed by the
    central government. Further, it states that such a director shall be eligible
    for re-nomination provided that he does not hold office for more than four
    years.
  • ·
    As per the Act, the books of an RRB should be closed and balanced as on
    December 31 every year. The Bill changes the above date to March 31.

Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)
  • ·
    Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) were established in 1975 under the Ordinance
    promulgated on the 26 September 1975 and followed by Regional Rural Banks Act,
    1976. It was established to create an alternative channel to the cooperative
    credit structure and to ensure sufficient institutional credit for the rural
    and agriculture sector.
  • ·
    The RBI in 2001 constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr V S
    Vyas on Flow of Credit to Agriculture and Related Activities from the Banking
    System which examined relevance of RRBs in the rural credit system and the alternatives
    for making it viable.
  • ·
    As a result of amalgamation, number of the RRBs has been reduced from
    196 to 64 as on 31 March 2013. The number of branches of RRBs increased to
    17856 as on 31 March 2013 covering 635 districts throughout the country.

7. SBI Cards ties up with Future Group to
offer co-branded card

  • ·
    SBI Cards has tied up with Future Group company Fashion at Big Bazaar
    (FBB) to offer a co-branded credit card, ‘Styleup’.
  • ·
    The new Styleup card offers a lifetime flat 10 per cent discount on
    fashion apparel, fashion accessories and footwear at all FBB and Big Bazaar
    stores and the customers will also get 10 times the rewards on all Big Bazaar
    purchases besides other discounts and rewards.
  • ·
    “SBI Cards is the only free-standing credit card company in the country.
    All others are parts of banks SBI Cards has been seeing strong year on year
    growth in the last few years. The tie-up with the Future Group is to fuel this
    performance by entering into the high growth retail sector that is expected to
    increase to more than US$ 800 billion by 2015,’’ Arundhati Bhattacharya,
    Chairperson, State Bank of India said, adding that the offering would create
    value for customers and is a “win-win situation for both partners.’’
  • ·
    Kishore Biyani, Group CEO, Future Group said, “FBB’s leadership in
    fashion offering and SBI Card’s leadership in the credit card space will enable
    us to offer a unique and valuable shopping experience for our customers.’’ He
    assured that the co-branding would ensure that SBI Cards rose from its number 3
    position in the credit card industry “to the leadership position in the next 18
    months.’’

8. Central Bank to raise Rs. 626.23 cr from
preferential issue to LIC
  • ·
    Central Bank of India today said it would raise about Rs. 626 crore
    through preferential allotment of shares to country’s largest insurer LIC to
    fund business growth.
  • ·
    The capital raising committee of the board approved raising of
    additional equity capital by issuance of up to 8.28 crore shares at Rs. 75.55 a
    equity, Central Bank of India said in a statement.
  • ·
    Thus, the bank would raise Rs. 626.23 crore by allotting shares on
    preferential basis to LIC.
  • ·
    This would be subject to approval of Government of India, Reserve Bank
    of India, shareholders and other statutory authorities, it said.
  • ·
    The board has also decided to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting
    (EGM) of shareholders on December 30 to consider and pass the necessary special
    resolution and fixed November 28, 2014 as the relevant date for the purpose of
    determining the issue price, it added.
  • ·
    Shares of the bank closed at Rs. 79.60 per share, down 0.56 per cent on
    the BSE.

9. Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait Delhi branch
offers full-fledged services
  • ·
    Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK) has launched full-fledged services from
    its fourth branch in India located at New Delhi. The branch will cater to its
    Non-Resident Indian (NRI) clients.
  • ·
    Earlier in August this year, the bank had launched soft or partial
    services from the branch located in the national capital, said a bank official.
  • ·
    “The two-way non-oil trade which reached $1.268 billion in 2012-13 has
    witnessed a lot of progress and growth. Hence, we look forward to continue
    developing our business in India,” its Chairman Murad Ali Murad said in a
    statement. The bank branch will offer services such as personalised banking,
    equity broking and wealth management.
  • ·
    BBK is present in India since 1985 with the opening of its first branch
    in Mumbai, followed by a second one in Hyderabad. In 2013, the bank opened a
    third branch in India located in Kochi in Kerala.

India
10. 45th International Film Festival of India
concluded in Goa
  • ·
    45th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was held in Goa from 20
    November to 30 November 2014. The chief quest of the film festival was
    Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan.
  • ·
    During the opening ceremony, Amitabh Bachchan along with Union Minister
    of Finance Arun Jaitely presented the Centenary award for Film personality of
    the Year to Tamil actor Rajinikanth.
  • ·
    The Festival screened 178 films from 79 countries across different
    categories which include World Cinema (61 films), Masterstrokes (11 films),
    Festival Kaleidoscope (20 films), Soul of Asia (7 films), Documentaries (6
    films), and Animated Films (6 films).
  • ·
    The festival had 20 international and 91 Indian premieres including the
    Panorama section.
  • ·
    During the conclusion, the festival paid tribute to departed legends of
    cinema including Robin Williams, Richard Attenborough, Zohra Sehgal, Suchitra
    Sen and Farooq Shaikh by screening some of their works.

45th IFFI Awards
  • ·
    Life Time Achievement Award: Hong-Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai, he is
    known for his films In the Mood for Love, Ashes of Time and Chungking Express.
  • ·
    Best Actor Award: Leviathan star- Alexel Serebriakov &
    Benagal actor -Dulal Sarkar for the film Chotoder Chobi
  • ·
    Best Actress Award: Cuban actress Arina Rodriguez for Cuban-Spanish
    film Behaviour & Israeli actress Sarit Larry for film The Kindergarten
    Teacher
  • ·
    Best Director Award: Nadaf Lapid for the film The Kindgarten
    Teacher
  • ·
    Centenary Award: Director Shrihari Sathe for the film Ek
    Hazaarchi Note
  • ·
    Special Jury Award: Director Shrihari Sathe for the film Ek
    Hazaarchi Note
  • ·
    Golden Peacock Award: Russian director Andrey Zvyaginstev for
    drama Leviathan
  • ·
    Centenary award for Film personality of the
    Year
    :  Tamil actor Rajinikanth

11. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off
first passenger train to Meghalaya from Assam
  • ·
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 29 November 2014 flagged off first
    passenger train to Meghalaya from Assam. The move has put Meghalaya on India’s
    railway map for the first time.
  • ·
    Modi flagged off the train via remote control at a function at Railway
    Stadium in Maligoan in Guwahati.
  • ·
    The newly-laid 19.75 Km Mendipathar (Meghalaya) -Dudhnoi (Assam) railway
    track will connect Mendipathar in Garo Hills to Guwahati.
  • ·
    Also, he laid the foundation stone of a board gauge railway line from
    Bhairabi to Sairang in Mizoram.
  • ·
    Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu was also present, along with chief
    ministers of Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram.
  • ·
    Chief Minister of Meghalaya Mukul Sangma said the first railway track in
    the state would pave a new way of economic growth and prosperity for people of
    Meghalaya especially the farmers.

12. Global campaign Girl Rising launched in
New Delhi to create awareness on girl education
  • ·
    Bollywood actresses Priyanka Chopra and Freida Pinto launched a
    multi-level global campaign, Girl Rising on 29 November 2014 in New Delhi. The
    campaign aims at spreading awareness about importance of girls’ education and
    includes documentary film featuring the two stars and seven other actresses.
  • ·
    Priyanka and Freida are part of the global feature, which also co-stars
    Oscar-winners Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.
  • ·
    The Indian version of the documentary that features top Bollywood
    actresses tells stories of nine unforgettable girls around the world striving
    against difficult circumstances to achieve their dreams of an education.
  • ·
    The girl rising campaign aims to create awareness and create a tangible
    platform to affect change.

13. PM Narendra Modi coined acronym SMART for
police forces across the country
  • ·
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30 November 2014 coined the acronym
    SMART for police forces across the country. He coined the acronym at the 49th
    annual conference of India DGPs and IGPs hosted by the Intelligence Bureau (IB)
    in Guwahati, Assam.

Acronym SMART policing means
  • ü
    S for strict but sensitive
  • ü
    M for modern and mobile
  • ü
    A for alert and accountable
  • ü
    R for reliable and responsive
  • ü
    T for techno-savvy and trained

  • ·
    The two-day conference for first time was held outside the national
    capital, New Delhi.
  • ·
    Apart from this, the Prime Minister also called for documentation of
    stories of police martyrs and develop a document for use in training of police
    personnel in their respective state academies. Since independence over 33000
    police personnel have laid their lives for the country.
  • ·
    He said that an e-book can also be developed with these stories uploaded
    in all the languages of our country.

14. Union Home Ministry approved appointment
of OP Singh as Director General of NDRF
  • ·
    Union Home Ministry on 1 December 2014 approved the appointment of OP
    Singh as Director General of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
  • ·
    A 1983-batch IPS officer of UP cadre, Singh will now be the full fledged
    Chief of NDRF in the rank of Additional Director General for his remaining period
    of central deputation till 15 January 2018.
  • ·
    He was posted in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and NDRF was
    an additional charge given to him. OP Singh took over additional charge of
    Director General of NDRF on 2 September 2014. He succeeded Mahboob Alam who
    retired on 31 August 2014.

15. Bollywood actor-comedian Deven Verma died
at 78

  • ·
    Veteran Bollywood actor-comedian, director and producer Deven Verma died
    on 2 December 2014 in Pune after a severe cardiac attack and kidney failure. He
    was 78.
  • ·
    He was best known for his comic performance in movies like Khatta
    Meetha, Angoor (dual role of Bahadur) and Andaz Apna Apna. He worked in around
    149 films.
  • ·
    He is survived by his wife Rupa Ganguly, the younger daughter of the
    late legendary actor Ashok Kumar.
  • ·
    He produced and directed Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Besharam in 1978


Verma had won three Filmfare awards
  • a)
    In 1976 he won it for 1976 Chori Mera Kaam
  • b)
    In 1979 for Chor Ke Ghar Chor
  • c)
    In 1983 for Angoor

16. Union government announced 28000 crore
rupees package for laying new rail lines in North-East
  • ·
    Union government on 1 December 2014 announced 28000 crore rupees package
    for the development of North-East. The announcement was made by the Prime
    Minister of India Narendra Modi during his visit to North Eastern States of
    India.

During his visit, he announced
  • ·
    28000 crore rupees for laying new railway lines in the region and
    develop the untapped tourism potential of the area.
  • ·
    Sanctioned 5000 crore rupees to provide 2G mobile coverage in the area
    for comprehensive telecom development plan of the northeast region
  • ·
    To set up a National Sports University in Manipur and the people of the
    region will be great beneficiaries.
  • ·
    To set up six new agriculture colleges in North East region to make it
    organic capital of the country.

17. Border Security Force celebrated 49th
Raising Day
  • ·
    The Border Security Force (BSF) celebrated its 49th Raising day on 1
    December 2014. The force was raised on 1 December in 1965. Home Minister
    Rajnath Singh also participated in the celebrations.
  • ·
    BSF will celebrate its Golden Jubilee year from 1 December 2014 to 30
    November 2015.
  • ·
    The motto of BSF is Jeevan Paryant Kartavya.  BSF was raised with role to provide a sense
    of security among the people living in the border areas, to prevent
    trans-border crimes, unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of
    India and to prevent smuggling and any other illegal activity.
  • ·
    BSF was established under KF Rustamji as first Director General to guard
    the Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangla international borders.
  • ·
    Currently, DG of BSF is Devendra Kumar Pathak, IPS.

18. Rajdeep Sardesai penned the book titled
2014: The Election That Changed India
  • ·
    Rajdeep Sardesai penned the book titled 2014: The Election That Changed
    India. The book was released on 1 November 2014.
  • ·
    The book tracks the story of 2014 Indian general elections that changed
    the political landscape of India and is regarded as the most important
    elections in Indian history since 1977. The 2014 election led to the demise of
    grand old party of India Congress Party and spectacular rise of Bharatiya
    Janata Party (BJP).
  • ·
    In his book, Sardesai, the India’s top journalist tells the story
    through all the key players and the big news stories. The book contains the
    events beginning with 2012, when Narendra Modi won the state elections in
    Gujarat for a third time, to the scandals that crippled Manmohan Singh and UPA
    2 regime and moving to the back-room strategies of Team Modi, the extraordinary
    missteps of Rahul Gandhi and the political dramas of an election year.
  • ·
    The book is a thoughtful reflection on what ails India’s
    sensation-seeking, ratings-addled and chronically shallow news television.

19. Birthday of Atal Bihari Vajpayee to be
observed as National Good Governance Day
  • ·
    The birthday of the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the 25
    December will be observed as National Good Governance Day.  The decision was announced on 2 December 2014
    by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharatiya Janata Partry (BJP) Parliamentary
    Board meeting in New Delhi.
  • ·
    On that day, all BJP Member of Parliamentarians (MPs) and government
    officials will make the day symbolic of good governance.
  • ·
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked all party MPs to highlight all
    BJP-run governments and bodies across the country as models of good governance
    on the day. He also asked the BJP MPs to work for an hour in their respective
    constituencies for the Clean India campaign.

About Atal Bihari Vajpayee
  • ·
    He was born on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
  • ·
    He 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.
  • ·
    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.
  • ·
    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.
  • ·
    During his second term, Operation Shakti was conducted in May 1998 under
    which five nuclear test were conducted in Pokhran, Rajasthan.
  • ·
    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.
  • ·
    Lahore Declaration was followed by Kargil War in June 1999 in which
    India became victorious.
  • ·
    During his third term, Parliament attack took place on 13 December 2001
    resulting into Operation Parakaram. Also his famous pet projects National
    Highway Development Project and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana during his
    third stint as Prime Minister.
  • ·
    Vajpayee was elected to the Lok Sabha nine times and twice to the Rajya
    Sabha.
  • ·
    In 1957, Vajpayee was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time from
    Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh
  • ·
    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.
  • ·
    When Janata government collapsed, Vajpayee restarted the Jana Sangh as
    the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980.

20. Anil Kumar Sinha appointed as new CBI
director

  • ·
    Senior IPS officer Anil Kumar Sinha was appointed as the new CBI
    Director on 2 December 2014. At the time of appointment as Director of CBI,
    Sinha, a 1979 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre, was serving as a Special
    Director in CBI.
  • ·
    Anil Sinha will succeed Ranjit Sinha who retired on 2 December 2014. As
    per an official notification, term of Anil Sinha will be for two years from the
    date he takes charge.
  • ·
    The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister
    Narendra Modi, cleared the name of Anil Sinha who was among the 40 candidates
    shortlisted by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

21. Union Cabinet approved Anti-Hijacking
Bill 2014 giving death penalty to hijackers

  • ·
    The Union cabinet on 2 December 2014 approved introduction of a
    comprehensive Anti-Hijacking Bill 2014. This Bill provides for stringent
    punishment including death penalty to hijackers in case of death of a hostage
    or security personnel.
  • ·
    It also provides imprisonment for life and the moveable and immoveable
    property of such persons shall also be liable to be confiscated.
  • ·
    The Bill is expected to be introduced in Parliament in the winter
    session 2014.
  • ·
    The cabinet also decided to repeal the Anti-Hijacking Act, 1982 (amended
    in 1994) and withdrawal of the Anti-Hijacking Amendment Bill, 2010. The
    decision was made during a Union Cabinet meet chaired by Prime Minister
    Narendra Modi.

Anti-Hijacking
(Amendment) Bill, 2010
  • ·
    The Anti-Hijacking Amendment Bill, 2010 was brought after incident of
    hijack of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 in 1999 from Kathmandu. The amendment
    was made more necessary after the incident of 9/11 US attack in which aircrafts
    were used as weapons.
  • ·
    The Bill was pending in Rajya Sabha since it was introduced on 19 August
    2010 by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Civil
    Aviation, Praful Patel. The Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Transport,
    Tourism and Culture.

22. Union Cabinet approved bill on coal block
auctions to replace Coal Mines Ordinance 2014
  • ·
    The Union Cabinet on 2 December 2014 approved a bill on coal block
    auctions to replace the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2014. The
    decision on the bill was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime
    Minister Narendra Modi. The Bill is expected to be introduced in Parliament in
    the winter session 2014.
  • ·
    The Ordinance was promulgated by the President in accordance with the
    Article 123 (1) of the Constitution to allow Union government to acquire the
    land of the 214 cancelled coal blocks and plants on it and e-auction them.
  • ·
    It also seeks to amend the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 to
    effectively open up the coal mining sector to all companies in India including
    subsidiaries of foreign entities.

23. Mission We Remember, a Motorcycle expedition
by Navy concluded in Kerala
  • ·
    Mission We Remember, the one month motor cycle expedition organized by
    the Southern Naval Command concluded on 2 December 2014 at Kochi in Kerala. The
    expedition was organised as part of the Navy Week Celebrations 2014
  • ·
    The motorcycle expedition was a part of Indian Navy’s efforts to
    strengthen relations with former Naval persons (who are no more). During the
    journey, the motorcyclers visited 768 naval widows residing in Kerala.
  • ·
    The expedition had 54 members which were divided into three teams and
    included Naval officials from Southern Naval Command, Kochi and Naval Academy,
    Ezhimala. These three teams visited all the 14 districts of Kerala as part of
    this novel expedition.
  • ·
    The expedition was flagged off at the Indian Naval Academy (INA),
    Ezhimala on 7 November 2014 by Vice Admiral S.P.S. Cheema, Flag Officer
    Command-in-Chief.

24. Bhopal gas tragedy remembered across the
country on 3 December

  • ·
    Nation on 3 December 2014 remembered the Bhopal gas tragedy that
    happened 30 years back on 3 December 1984. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
    Shivaraj Singh Chouhan paid homage to victims and promised that efforts for
    rehabilitation of gas victims will continue.
  • ·
    Parliament also remembered the victims of Bhopal gas tragedy and
    extended the support to the victims. In Lok Sabha, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and
    in Rajya Sabha, Chairman Hamid Ansari expressed their houses support and
    commitment to the people affected by the gas leak.
  • ·
    On the occasion, a unique museum preserving the belongings and pictures
    of victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy was unveiled on the 30th anniversary of
    the disaster.
  • ·
    Event like religion prayer meeting was held in Barkatullah Bhawan of
    Bhopal to pay homage to the victims of gas tragedy. Non-government
    organizations organised rallies, meetings and effigy burning programme to mark
    the tragedy.

About Bhopal gas tragedy
  • ·
    The Bhopal gas tragedy was the worst industrial disaster in the World.
    The gas of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas and other chemicals leaked on the night
    of 2 December to 3 December 1984 from Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL)
    pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
  • ·
    Due to leakage, almost five thousand people died in the incident and
    many victims are still facing problems like proper medical facilities, better
    living conditions including safe drinking water and employment after the 30
    years of the tragedy. Toxic waste lying in the defunct plant of Union Carbide
    has yet to be disposed off.

25. India improves rank on global corruption
index
  • ·
    India has moved up 11 notches in the corruption index to place 85th
    among 175 nations as against 94th last year, graft watchdog Transparency
    International said today.
  • ·
    Denmark retained its position as the least corrupt country in 2014 with
    a score of 92 while North Korea and Somalia shared the last place, scoring just
    8, it said.
  • ·
    In India’s neighbourhood, China moved down to 100th place from 80th last
    year, while Pakistan and Nepal were at the 126th position. Bangladesh was 145th
    and Bhutan 30th in the ranking. Sri Lanka was ranked 85th with India. Afghanistan
    was at a bleak 172.
  • ·
    According to the Corruption Perception Index report, “the score for
    India increased by 2 points in 2014 from its 2013 score, helping India’s rank
    move up to 85 in 2014 from 94 in 2013”. India’s score stood at 38 as compared
    to 36 last year.
  • ·
    The improvement in corruption perception for India was driven primarily
    by two data sources — the World Economic Forum and World Justice Project’s
    index.

26. Sachin Tendulkar to lead Kerala in a run
ahead of National Games
  • ·
    Sports-mad Kerala will launch itself into a frenzied run ahead of the
    start of 35th National Games here with brand ambassador and cricket legend
    Sachin Tendulkar, no less, in the lead.
  • ·
    Styled Run Kerala Run, the group run is being organised across the State
    to celebrate the historic event when the State is hosting the Games after a gap
    of 28 years.
  • ·
    The run will be taken out between January 20 and 22, 2015, to declare
    solidarity with the Games and welcome sportspersons, sports organisers, and
    sports lovers from different parts of the country.
  • ·
    The National Games will be held from January 31, 2015 to February 14,
    2015.
  • ·
    The final round of preparations at the main centres, including the
    Greenfield stadium at Karyavattom near the capital city where the opening and
    the closing ceremonies will be held, is nearing completion.
  • ·
    The details were spelt out here in a press conference addressed by State
    Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and National Games CEO Jacob
    Punnoose.
  • ·
    To be replicated at 7,000 centres in the State, Run Kerala Run promises
    to be the biggest and the most popular event witnessed in the country going by
    the sheer scale of participation.

International

27. Eight-foot bronze statue of World War II
Indian pilot Mohinder Singh Pujji unveiled in UK
  • ·
    World War- II Indian pilot Late Mohinder Singh Pujji was in news because
    UK on 28 November 2014 honoured him by unveiling his eight-foot bronze statue
    at St Andrew’s Garden in Gravesend, Kent, Great Britain.
  • ·
    Squadron Leader Mohinder Singh Pujji flew Hawker Hurricanes during World
    War II.

About Mohinder Singh Pujji
  • ·
    Pujji was an Indian Sikh fighter pilot who joined the Britain’s Royal
    Air Force (RAF) in World War II
  • ·
    He learned to fly at the Delhi Flying School in 1936
  • ·
    Mohinder Singh was one of 24 qualified Indians who volunteered for the
    Royal Air Force in 1940. The Indian Air Force officers reached London on 8
    October 1940
  • ·
    Pujji also flew combat missions in Britain, Europe, North Africa and the
    Middle East during the war
  • ·
    In 2010, he published a book about his wartimes experiences entitled,
    For King and Another Country
  • ·
    He was born in Shimla on 14 August 1918
  • ·
    He died at Darent Valley Hospital in Kent at the age of 92 on 18
    September 2010

28. First bio-fuel powered bus became
operational in UK

  • ·
    Bus powered entirely by human and food waste became operational in
    United Kingdom. This is the first bio-waste powered bus in UK. Initially its
    service has started between Bristol and Bath.
  • ·
    Engineers expect that the bus service will help in cutting emissions in
    polluted towns and cities by providing a sustainable way of fuelling public
    transport.
  • ·
    The 40-seater Bio-Bus runs on gas that is generated through the
    treatment of sewage and food waste that’s unfit for human consumption, helps to
    improve urban air quality as it produces fewer emissions than traditional
    diesel engines.
  • ·
    This bus that runs on the waste products, which are renewable and
    sustainable, can travel up to 300 kilometers on a full tank of gas. This
    bio-gas is generated at Bristol sewage treatment works, a plant run by the
    company GENeco.

29. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
inaugurated China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project
  • ·
    Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on 29 November 2014 inaugurated
    China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project in Hazara. The Economic Corridor will
    pass through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
  • ·
    The inauguration of the Hazara Motorway signals the implementation of
    the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement.
  • ·
    This 60 km long four lane fenced Hazara Motorway in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    province will cost 297 million US dollars and will take two years to complete.
  • ·
    The prime minister also announced the construction of a railway track to
    link Hazara with Karachi and Quetta while another track will be constructed to
    link Hazara with Muzaffarabad.
  • ·
    During his China visit earlier in November 2014, Sharif signed deals
    worth 45.6 billion US dollars that included projects connected with the
    Corridor. Sharif has promised full security to Chinese personnel involved in
    construction of this mammoth project.

30. Earth’s most abundant mineral named as
Bridgmanite
  • ·
    The most abundant mineral on earth was named as Bridgmanite by a team of
    American geologists. The findings were published in the Journal Science on 28
    November 2014.
  • ·
    The team of American geologists extracted a sample large enough to
    analyse the most abundant mineral that allowed them to name it as bridgmanite.
  • ·
    The mineral is named in honour of Percy Bridgman, a physicist who won
    the 1946 Nobel Prize in Physics for his fundamental contributions to
    high-pressure physics. Percy Bridgman pioneered the use of high pressure
    experiments to understand how many geological formations can come about.
  • ·
    Up to now, the mineral was referred to as perovskite because according
    to rules set down by the International Mineralogical Association, a mineral
    cannot be given a formal name until a specimen has been found that can be examined
    first hand.

31. Tabare Ramon Vazquez Rosas won Uruguay
Presidential Election 2014

  • ·
    Tabare Ramon Vazquez Rosas on 30 November 2014 won the 2014 presidential
    elections of Uruguay extending the decade-long rule of a leftist coalition.
    Vazquez belongs to the leftist Broad Front coalition party of Uruguay.
  • ·
    Vazquez won comfortably with 52.8 percent votes support while his
    centre-right challenger Luis Lacalle Pou of the National Party trailed on 40.5
    percent votes.
  • ·
    He will succeed President Jose Mujica who was barred by law from running
    for a second consecutive term.
  • ·
    Vazquez won the first round of voting in October with more than 46
    percent of the vote but it was not enough for an outright majority.
  • ·
    The Broad Front narrowly won the majority in Congress in legislative
    elections held in November 2014. It indicates that Vazquez will be in firm
    control when his term begins on 1 March 2015.

32. Singapore launched National Day song in
Tamil language to celebrate 50 years of Independence
  • ·
    Singapore on 30 November 2014 launched National Day song in Tamil
    language to celebrate 50 years of independence in 2015. Tamil is the fourth
    official language of Singapore.
  • ·
    The song and music has been composed by Logapreyan Renganathan to create
    something new and fresh to celebrate SG50, the abbreviation of multi-racial
    Singapore’s 50 years of independence.
  • ·
    The SG50 Celebration Fund granted 50000 Singapore dollar grant for the
    song and music composition project.
  • ·
    The main composition of Singapore population is Chinese, Malays and
    Indians with Malay.  Chinese, Tamil and
    English are the official languages of Singapore.

33. Russia launched new generation GLONASS-K
navigation satellite
  • ·
    Russia on 30 November 2014 launched the new generation navigation
    satellite GLONASS-K from the Plesetsk space centre in Russia’s northwestern
    Arkhangelsk region.
  • ·
    The satellite was launched on a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with a Fregat
    upper stage. The carrier rocket was launched in a normal mode.
  • ·
    This is the fifth launch of a Global Navigation Satellite System
    satellite (GLONASS) from the Plesetsk space centre. The first launch of a
    GLONASS satellite from Plesetsk took place on 26 February 2011.
  • ·
    GLONASS is a space-based satellite navigation system operated by the
    Russian Aerospace Defence Forces and is Russia’s counterpart of the US Global
    Positioning System (GPS).
  • ·
    Developed by the Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems, the GLONASS-K
    marks a substantial improvement over the previous GLONASS-M second-generation
    satellites.

34. Film artist Duncan Campbell won Turner
Prize for the year 2014

  • ·
    Film artist of Ireland Duncan Campbell on 1 December 2014 won Turner
    Prize 2014 for a video called It For Others. The video reflects on African art
    and includes a dance sequence inspired by Karl Marx.  He received the prize of 25000 pounds at Tate
    Britain in London.
  • ·
    He became the fifth winner of Turner Prize 2014 since 1996 and the
    fourth graduate of Master of Fine Art programme from the Glasgow School of Art
    to have won the prize in the last 10 years.
  • ·
    In 2013, Laure Prouvost won the prize for an installation named Wantee
    and some of the previous winners of the Turner Prize include Damien Hirst and
    Antony Gormley.


About Turner Prize

  • ·        Turner Prize was established in 1984 to promote discussion of new
    developments in contemporary British art.
  • ·
    The prize fund is 40000 pounds with 25000 pounds going to the winner and
    5000 pounds each for the other shortlisted artists.

35. 26th World AIDS Day observed across the world
on 1 December

  • ·
    26th World AIDS Day was observed across the world on 1 December 2014.
    The day is observed to raise awareness to the Aids pandemic caused by the
    spread of the HIV infection.
  • ·
    The theme is Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free generation – to
    highlight the need to for governments and health officials, NGOs and
    individuals to address Aids prevention and treatment.
  • ·
    As a part of World AIDS Day, The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
    pushed for more investment and access to treatment for children saying that
    more infections among children under age 15 need to be averted.
  • ·
    UNICEF released data that AIDS-related deaths are not decreasing in the
    age group 10-19 and still other groups have experienced about a 40 percent
    decline between 2005 and 2013.

About World AIDS Day
  • ·
    The idea for World Aids Day was conceived by James Bunn and Thomas
    Netter, who are the public information officers for the Global Programme on
    Aids at the World Health Organisation in 1987.
  • ·
    The history of HIV and Aids in the US began in 1981, when the country
    recognised a new illness among a small number of gay men. Although it widely
    accepted that the origin of HIV lies in Africa, the US was the first country to
    bring the virus into the public consciousness.
  • ·
    World AIDS Day will be held on 1 December every year and is an
    opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their
    support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died.
  • ·
    First World AIDS Day was held in 1988 and is the first ever global
    health day.

37. Chinese and Maldives Government signed
MoU for preliminary study on bridge construction
  • ·
    Chinese and Maldives government on 2 December 2014 signed a Memorandum
    of Understanding (MoU) for a preliminary study of a proposed bridge connecting
    the international airport to Maldives capital Male.
  • ·
    The MoU was signed by the Maldives Housing Minister Mohamed Muiz on
    behalf of the Maldivian government and the Chinese Principal of the Economic
    and Commercial Councilors Office Yung Vunzeong on behalf of the Chinese
    government.
  • ·
    The current research programs on building the bridge as well as future
    feasibility assessments and design work fall under the mandate of the MoU.
  • ·
    The preliminary study will be followed by a project feasibility study.
    Afterwards, a design plan will be determined and the two governments will explore
    options to finance the project.
  • ·
    The project underscores a deepening engagement between China and
    Maldives, which will help in the establishment of the 21st century Maritime
    Silk Route visualised by China.

38. International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
observed on 2 December
  • ·
    The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery was observed by the
    United Nations on 2 December 2014.The day is observed to focus on the
    elimination of human trafficking, child labour and other forms of modern-day
    slavery.
  • ·
    As a part of observation, the religious leaders across the world
    gathered in the Vatican for the eradication of modern slavery and signed a
    joint declaration against modern slavery. The religious leaders include Pope
    Francis joined Anglican, Orthodox, Jewish, Shia and Sunni Muslim, Hindu and
    Buddhist representatives in the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
  • ·
    United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on world leaders,
    businesses and civil society alike to banish the barbaric practices of human
    trafficking, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labour, forced
    marriage and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.
  • ·
    The International Labour Organization (ILO) has teamed up with prominent
    artists, athletes and advocated a new campaign to End Slavery Now. Many events
    took place on the day that people around the world share their perspective in
    writing through poetry, opinion pieces and short stories.
  • ·
    According to the data, 21 million women, men and children are trapped in
    slavery all over the world.

Sports
39. PV Sindhu won 2014 Macau Open Grand Prix
Gold Badminton Title
  • ·
    Two-time World Badminton Championship bronze medallist PV Sindhu won
    2014 Macau Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton Title on 30 November 2014. She
    successfully defended the 120000 US dollar Macau Grand Prix Gold trophy.
  • ·
    This was first title of the season for Sindhu.
  • ·
    In the summit clash of the women’s singles, world number eleven Sindhu
    defeated 91st ranked Kim Hyo Min of Korea in straight games 21-12, 21-17 at the
    Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion in Macau.

40. Baichung Bhutia became the first Indian
Footballer to conferred AFC Hall of Fame Award

  • ·
    Former Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia became the first Indian
    Footballer to be conferred with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Hall of Fame
    Award. The award was conferred on 30 November 2014 by FIFA president Sepp
    Blatter in Philippines.
  • ·
    The AFC organized the award ceremony for the first time to celebrate its
    60th anniversary. Apart from Baichung, nine other legendary Players from Asia
    were also honoured.
  • ·
    Baichung has played 107 matches for India and scored 42 goals.
  • ·
    He is often nicknamed the Sikkimese Sniper because of his shooting
    skills in football. He became three-time Indian Player of the Year.
  • ·
    He became the first Indian to boycott the Olympic torch relay in support
    of the Tibetan independence movement.

His Honours
  • ·
    Arjuna Award for football in 1998
  • ·
    Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India, in 2008
  • ·
    Banga Bhushan award in 2014

41. Mascot for the 2016 European football
championship named Super Victor

  • ·
    The mascot for the 2016 European football championship has been named
    Super Victor. The announcement was made on 30 November 2014.The name for the
    cartoon character boy dressed as a footballer in blue and white with a red cape
    and number 16 jersey was preferred to Driblou and Goalix.
  • ·
    The mascot made its first appearance on the pitch of Marseille`s new
    Velodrome stadium before kickoff of France`s 1-0 friendly victory over Sweden.
    In 1984, the mascot for the European Championships organised in France was
    Peno, and the 1998 World Cup mascot was called Footix.
  • ·
    Euro 2016 will take place in France from 10 June 2016 to 10 July 2016.

42. UAE captain Khurram Khan became the
oldest player to score a century in ODI

  • ·
    United Arab Emirates (UAE) captain Khurram Khan became the oldest player
    to score a century in the One-Day International (ODI).  He scored the winning century against
    Afghanistan in Dubai on 30 November 2014.
  • ·
    He achieved the feat at an age of 43 years and 162 days thus breaking
    the record held in the name of Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka. Jayasuriya
    scored 107 against India in 2009 when he was 39 years old.
  • ·
    Khan smashed 17 fours to score unbeaten 132 run and he also put on a 160
    run third wicket partnership with Mohammad Shadzad.

This post was last modified on November 27, 2017 9:03 am