1. law, govt and politics
2. government

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Current Affairs for Banks and Various Competitive Examinations
March
2015
March 31st 2015:
National Affairs:

The Gujarat Assembly today passed the controversial Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime
(GCTOC) Bill 2015, a modified version of a 2003 legislation that was rejected by two presidents earlier for
violating basic principles of justice.
o

The law, once pursued aggressively by Narendra Modi when he was Gujarat Chief Minister and passed
for the fourth time in the last 12 years, gives the police far-reaching powers, including making
arbitrary arrests, present confessions made in custody as evidence before courts and intercept
phone calls.
The Supreme Court today issued notice to senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani and 19 others
on a petition challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict discharging them of criminal conspiracy in the
demolition of Babri Masjid on December 06, 1992.
o
Besides Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Union Minister Uma Bharti and Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh
also have been issued notice.

The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea of Jat students seeking benefits of reservation under Other Backward
Class (OBC) in the ongoing process of admission in post-graduate (PG) medical and dental courses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch Air Quality Index on 6th April 2015 to inform public about air
quality in simple understandable form.
o
Available on the ministry's website after the launch, the colour-coded index indicating air quality will
provide a real-time data detailing the level of pollution in a given city.
o
Launched in phases, the initial phase would cover only 10 cities with plans of expansion to other
cities in subsequent phases.
o
Environment Minister : Prakash Javadekar

The Kerala High Court today upheld the liquor policy of the state government and dismissed a petition filed
by the Kerala Bar Hotel Owners Association, allowing only 24 five-star hotels in the state to serve liquor.

PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Rs. 12,000 crore modernisation project of Rourkela Steel Plant in
Odisha tomorrow
MOUs:

Andhra Pradesh government, National University of Singapore (NUS) and Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII) have inked an MoU in Singapore to work on 'Ease of Doing Business' in the state.
o
Effective from 1st April 2015 to March 31, 2018, the MoU is for cooperation in relation to 'Masterplan on
Ease of Doing Business in Andhra Pradesh (MEDBAP): Vision 2020.
o
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister : N Chandrababu Naidu
Science & Technology:


Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, crossed another
milestone today with the launching of a novel project to generate a completely pollution-free 120 MW
captive power generation by using 100 per cent blast furnace and coke oven gas.
o
This is the first of its kind in the Indian steel Industry.
o
RINL CMD : P. Madhusudan
Himachal Pradesh Assembly Becomes First In India To Launch E-Vidhan Mobile apps
o
The Apps were launched by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh
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o
The apps could be accessed by all the members 45 minutes before the question hours on android and
tablets having information about day business.
o
This move saves 8 crore Rupees per annum, which is being spent on the paper.
Sports:

New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori announces retirement from international cricket.

Malaysia Open Badminton tournament begins in Kuala Lumpur.
March 30th 2015:
International Affairs:

India and Japan held their Defence Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo today and agreed on several steps to step up
their cooperation and exchanges in this area as part of the efforts to enhance Special Strategic and Global
Partnership between the two countries.
o
Indian Defence Minister : Manohar Parrikar
o
Japanese Defence Minister : Gen Nakatani
National Affairs:

Delhi government's decision to ban sale, purchase and even storage of all forms of chewable tobacco
including "guktha, khaini and zarda" came into effect today.
o
Note : No ban will be enforced on cigarettes.
o
Delhi Health Minister : Satyendra Jain

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today provisionally attached assets worth Rs.2 crore belonging to former
Union Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayana Rao in connection with a coal block allocation scam case.

Uttar Pradesh Govt directs State Public Service Commission canceled the first paper of PCS Prelims exam held
yesterday following question paper leak.
o
The government announced that 10th May 2015 is the new date for this exam.
People in News:

British physicist Stephen Hawking is getting his name trademarked, joining the ranks of celebrities like J.K.
Rowling and David Beckham, who have turned their names into brands.
o
He has also applied to get his name trademarked for charitable purposes, giving him the option of
setting up a foundation, such as one to promote physics or for research into motor neurone disease,
which has left him paralysed.
o
His trademark would cover computer games, powered wheelchairs, greetings cards and health care.
Awards & Honors:


Gurgaon girl Aditi Arya was crowned Femina Miss India 2015 at the 52nd edition of the beauty pageant.
o
Reigning Miss India Koyal Rana, enthroned her successor Aditi with the crown made by PC Jewellers.
o
21 contestants from across the country participated in the beauty contest.
o
The first and second runners-up were Aafreen Rachel Vaz and Vartika Singh respectively.
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee presented the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan
and Padma Shri awards today at a Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
o
Freedom Fighter Madan Mohan Malviya posthumously conferred Bharat Ratna.
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March

2015
Complete details and list of Awardees from here:
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee has presented the Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards (Padma
Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri) today (30th March2015) at a Civil Investiture Ceremony held at
Rashtrapati Bhavan. Freedom fighter and founder of Banaras Hindu University, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya
was posthumously awarded Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
Note: Along with Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, our former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also
honored with Bharat Ratna this year. Last week, the President had awarded the Bharat Ratna to him at his house
in Delhi.
Important Names to Remember:

Bharat Ratna :
o

Padma Vibhushan
o L.K. Advani (veteran BJP leader)
o Parkash Singh Badal (Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader)

Padma Bhushan
o Dr. Swapan Dasgupta (journalist)
o Bill Gates (Founder, Microsoft)
o Melinda Gates (Bill gates' wife)
o Needamangalam Gopalaswami
o Harish Narendra Salve (lawyer)
o Rajat Sharma(journalist)
Padma Shri
o Pran Kumar Sharma (creator of popular cartoon character ‘Chacha Chaudhary’ / Posthumous)
o P.V. Sindhu (shuttler)
o Sardar Singh (Hockey star)
o Arunima Sinha (amputee Everest climber)
o Sanjay Leela Bhansali (film director)
o Prasoon Joshi (writer-lyricist)
o Dr. Randeep Guleria (physician)


Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (Posthumous)
Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan was today presented with the Bishwaratna Dr
Bhupen Hazarika International Solidarity Award by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
o
Gopalakrishnan became the second recipient of this biennial award, the first one being Lubna
Marium of Bangladesh in 2013.
o
The award carries a citation, a shawl, a memento and Rs 5 lakh.
New Appointments:

Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) today announced the appointment of Katsushi Inoue as its new President &
CEO.
Sports:

International Cricket Council names World Cup XI
o
This list dominated by New Zealand.
o
Not a single Indian cricketer found a place in it.
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o
2015
The ICC team (in batting order)
 Martin Guptill (NZ)
 Brendon McCullum (NZ, capt)
 Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka, wicketkeeper)
 Steve Smith (Aust)
 AB de Villiers (South Africa)
 Glenn Maxwell (Aust)
 Corey Anderson (NZ)
 Daniel Vettori (NZ)
 Mitchell Starc (Aust)
 Trent Boult (NZ)
 Morne Morkel (South Africa)
 Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe, 12th man).
March 29th 2015:
International Affairs:


The 9th edition of Earth Hour was observed.
o
People across the globe show their growing concern over climate change by switching off the lights for
an hour.
o
Earth Hour is a worldwide movement for the planet organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature
(WWF).
o
The event is held worldwide annually encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses
to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m
o
This event observed on the last Saturday in March, as a symbol for our commitment to the planet
Singapore bids final adieu to its founding father Lee Kuan Yew.
o

World leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend the funeral.
Prime Minister meets Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in Singapore, discusses bilateral relations.
National Affairs:

The government today sanctioned a Rs 5,113 crore project to develop a next-generation Airborne Warning
and Control System (AWACS), which will act as a 360-degree 'Eye in the Sky', and also approved purchase of
two Airbus A330 aircraft for the same.
o
The decision was taken by the Defence Acquisition Council, headed by Defence Minister Manohar
Parrikar.
o
It will be developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (‪‎DRDO‪).
Sports:

World Cup 2015
o
Australia defeat New Zealand by 7 wickets to win their 5th World Cup crown.
o
Australian skipper Michael Clarke retires from ODI
o
James Faulkner : 'Man of the Match'
o
Mitchell Starc : 'Man of the series'

Important Points to Note :
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2015

Australia has won the Cricket World Cup in the years 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007.

New Zealand entered into world cup finals for the first time in World Cup 2015.

Australia's Captain - Michael Clarke

New Zealand's Captain - Brendon McCullum

Kidambi Srikanth has won India Open Super Series Badminton Men’s Singles Title 2015 .

Saina Nehwal has won India Open Super Series Badminton Women’s Singles Title 2015.
March 28th 2015:
National Affairs:


The Rajasthan Assembly has passed a law that bans the slaughter, trading and unauthorised
transportation of Camels.
o
The Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or
Export) Bill, 2015 also makes causing injury to camel punishable.
o
Important Note : Camel had been declared as Rajasthan's State animal last year.
Rajasthan became the first State in the country to fix a minimum educational qualification for contesting
elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions.
o


The Assembly has passed the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (amendment) Bill, 2015, which makes,

Class VIII pass mandatory for the post of sarpanch elections (except in tribal reserved areas,
where the minimum qualification is Class V)

Class X for Zila Parishad or Panchayat Samiti elections.
PM Narendra Modi is leaving for Singapore tonight to attend the funeral of former PM of Singapore Lee
Kuan Yew.
o
Govt has already declared national mourning tomorrow as mark of respect to Lee Kuan Yew.
o
National flag will be flown at half-mast throughout the country and there will be no official
entertainment.
o
91-year-old Lee, Singapore's founding father who dominated the country's politics for more than half
a century,died of severe pneumonia on 23rd of this month.
The number of world famous one-horned rhinos in Assam's Kaziranga National Park has increased to over
2,400, according to a latest census released today.
o
The census, conducted by Assam's forest department, counted 2,401 rhinos, which indicated increase of
71 rhinos in the park in the past two years.
Awards & Honors:

Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal creates history by becoming first Indian woman to be World
Number 1 Badminton Player.

Indian-American biology professor, Murty S Kambhampati, chosen for prestigious US presidential award for
excellence in the field of science, mathematics and engineering mentoring.

India's space agency -- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) -- has been selected for the Gandhi Peace
Prize for the year 2014.
o
ISRO Chairman : A.S. Kiran Kumar
o
Gandhi Peace Prize :
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
The Gandhi Peace Prize was instituted in 1995.

It is given to individual or organisation for making social, economic and political transformation
through non-violence means.

The award comprises of cash prize of Rs one crore and a citation.

Some of the previous awardees of Gandhi Peace Prize were Nelson Mandela, Vaclav Havel, Julius
K. Nyerere, Baba Amte, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, Bharatiya Vidya
Bhawan and Ramkrishna Mission.
People in News:

Mizoram Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi was sacked from his post by President Pranab Mukherjee today.
o

Until further appointment of another Governor in Mizoram, West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath
Tripathi would hold additional charge of the state.
Social activist Medha Patkar quits Aam Aadmi Party .
o
Following the ouster of Aam Aadmi Party founder members Yogendra Yadav & Prashant Bhushan, she
took this decision.
Deaths:

Former Mizoram chief minister Brig Thenphunga Sailo (93) passed away.
o
He worked in the British Indian army in 1942 as a junior officer.
o
He was promoted to the rank of brigadier of Indian army in 1966
o
He formed a political party called Mizoram Peoples Conference in April 17, 1975 and it won the
Mizoram union territory elections in 1977 and he became the second chief minister of the state.
Science & Technology:

India successfully launches 4th navigation satellite-IRNSS-1D
o
Launched by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C27)
o
IRNSS-1D is 4th in the series of 7 navigation satellites meant to create India’s own navigation system.
Sports:

World Cup
o
Co-hosts of World Cup, Australia and New Zealand to fight for ICC World Cup tomorrow at iconic
Melbourne Cricket Ground.
o
Important Point to Note : Australian skipper Michael Clarke to retire from ODI cricket after this
match.
March 27th 2015:
International Affairs:

Today (27th March) is World Theatre Day (WTD).
o

This day was initiated in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute.
Indian Government has decided to observe National Mourning on 29th March 2015 (Sunday) to mark respect
to the Former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew.
o
The National Flag will be flown at half-mast throughout the country and there will be no official
entertainment on the day.
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March
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o
Lee Kuan Yew, the statesman and founding father of Singapore, who transformed Singapore from a
small port city into a wealthy global hub, died at the age of 91 on 23rd of this month.
o
Mr Lee served as the city-state's prime minister for 31 years and continued to work in government until
2011.
National Affairs:

Delhi government has decided to put a ban on sale, purchase and even storage of all forms of chewable
tobacco in the national capital from Monday.
o
The ban also includes guktha, khaini and zarda.
o
Delhi Health Minister : Satyendra Jain

India can save up to USD 7 billion (about Rs 43,750 crore) annually by replacing incandescent lamps with energy
efficient LED bulbs, Power Minister Piyush Goyal said today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated "Urja Sangam 2015", an international energy-focused
summit at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi.
o
The event marked the celebration of 50 years of operations of ONGC Videsh, the overseas arm of
explorer ONGC, Engineers India Ltd (EIL) and the Barauni Refinery of largest refiner Indian Oil Corp
(IOC).
Awards & Honors:


Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi have been named amongthe 50
greatest leaders in the world by Fortune magazine in its annual list of extraordinary men & women
transforming business, government and philanthropy.
o
Mr Modi is ranked 5th and Mr Satyarthi occupied 28th position in the list.
o
The list has been topped by Apple CEO Tim Cook followed by European Central Bank President Mario
Draghi, Chinese President Xi Jingping and Pope Francis.
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (90), one of the country's most-respected politicians, has been
conferred the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, today.
o
Mr Vajpayee, was the country's first non-Congress Prime Minister who served a full five-year term from 1998 to 2004.
o
The Bharat Ratna announced for noted educationist and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malviya will be
given posthumously to his family members on 30th March 2015 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
o
Since its inception, 43 people - including former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bhadur Shastri,
Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi - have received the prestigious award.
March 26th 2015:
International Affairs:

Saudi Arabia launches a military operation against Houthi rebels to defend legitimate government in Yemen.

Sri‎ Lanka’s‎ new‎president‎ Maithripala‎ Sirisena‎ held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping amid a push to
recalibrate his predecessor’s strongly pro-China policies and a review of major Chinese projects in the island
nation.
o
Mr. Sirisena and Mr. Xi reaffirmed longstanding ties between their countries at the start of their meeting
at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.
o
The talks kicked off Sirisena’s‎first‎visit‎to‎China‎ since taking office in January and follow his recent
trip to India.
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
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The two sides were likely to discuss a $1.5 billion China-funded port city project in Colombo which
Mr. Sirisena’s government suspended pending scrutiny of environment impacts and alleged corruption.
US aircraft have launched bombing raids to support Iraqi forces fighting to recapture Tikrit from the Islamic
State (IS) group, after Baghdad issued a request for air power.
o
Tikrit : Executed dictator Saddam Hussein's home town
National Affairs:

The Ministry of Railways appointed Ajay Shankar Committee to review the performance of the Public Private
Partnership (PPP) cell functioning under the Railway Board.
o

This Committee will recommend measures to make the cell more effective, customer friendly and result
oriented.
PM Narendra Modi chairs 5th National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) meet
o
The Prime Minister is the the ex-officio Chairman of the Authority while Chief Ministers of Bihar,
West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand are its members.
o
The previous meeting was held on October 27 last year, which was chaired by Union Water Resources
Minister Uma Bharti.
o
About NGRBA

NGRBA is as an empowered planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority for
river Ganga.

Constituted : 2009

Objective : To ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by
adopting a holistic approach with the river basin as the unit of planning.

Functions : All measures necessary for planning and execution of programmes for abatement of
pollution in the Ganga in keeping with sustainable development needs.
New Appointments:

Diplomat Vikas Swarup has been appointed as the new official spokesperson of the Ministry of External
Affairs.
o
Present spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin has been appointed as Chief Coordinator of the IndiaAfrica Forum Summit.
o
Important Point to Note : Vikas Swarup is also the author of bestseller novel Q & A, on which the
Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire was based,

Former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga will head a special presidential task
force to identify urgent reconciliation needs of the minority Tamil community.

Google Inc has appointed Ruth Porat as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
o
She took the charge today.
o
She succeeded Patrick Pichette who announced his retirement on 10 March 2015.
Science & Technology:

The 59-and-half hour count down for PSLV-C27/IRNSS-1D Mission has started today
o
IRNSS-1D is India's latest navigation satellite.
o
Which is going to launch on 28th March 2015 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra
Pradesh.
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This will take the country closer to setting up its own navigation system on par with the GPS of the US.
Sports:

World Cup 2015
o
India knocked out of World Cup, lose to Australia in semifinals.
o
Australia beat India by 95 runs.
o
Australia will play Cricket WorldCup‬final against New Zealand‬on 29th March.
March 25th 2015:
International Affairs:

Prime minister Narendra Modi holds delegation level talks with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad
Al-Thani in New Delhi today.
o
India and Qatar signed Six agreements. Those are,
1. Transfer of sentenced prisoners
2. MoU for Cooperation in the field of Information and Communication Technology
3. MoU between the ministry of earth sciences and Qatar Meteorological Department for Scientific
and Technical cooperation
4. MoU between Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar and Foreign Service
Institute of the ministry of external affairs
5. MoU for cooperation in the field of Radio and Television
6. An agreement for Mutual Cooperation and Exchange of News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit France, Germany and Canada next month, on a tour expected to focus
on attracting investment to the country.
o France : 9th to 12th April 2015
o Germany: 12th to 14th April 2015
o Canada: 14th to 16th April 2015
National Affairs:


Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has sanctioned 17 new Mega Food Parks in 11 states,
including Punjab and Haryana, taking the total number of such projects across the country to 42.

Narendra Modi today launched his ambitious multi-purpose and multi-modal platform PRAGATI .

o
PRAGATI - Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation
o
PRAGATI is a unique integrating and interactive platform.
o
The platform is aimed at addressing common mans grievances, and simultaneously monitoring and
reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government of India as well as projects flagged by
State Governments.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today approved the
launch of the National Supercomputing Mission, a visionary programme to enable India to leapfrog to the
league of world.
o

Estimated cost : Rs 4,500 crore
The Delhi Government Transport Department has requested the Department of Electronic and Information
Technology (DEITY) to block the web-based apps of three major taxi operators Uber, Ola and Taxi For Sure
alleging that they were still using their apps and providing service despite the ban.
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The said ban was imposed on taxi operators providing their services through web-based apps by the
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after a rape of a private executive last year.
Science & Technology:

Social media platform Twitter has launched "Twitter Samvad" in collaboration with the Indian government so
as to allow people to receive tweets as SMSes from government offices, including the Prime Minister's Office.
o
The service was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
o
As of now, 16 government offices, including the ministry of railways, the Bengaluru police and the chief
ministers of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are participating in Twitter Samvad.
o
Twitter global CEO : Dick Costolo
Business & Economy:


The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed a 400 million US Dollars currency swap agreement with the
Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
o
The agreement will allow the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to make withdrawals of US Dollar or Euro in
multiple tranches up to a maximum of USD 400 million or its equivalent.
o
The agreement will be valid for a period of 3 years.
IRCTC launched the RuPay debit card service today.
o
Railway passengers can now book their tickets, do shopping and pay service bills using RuPay prepaid cards.
o
The service was launched by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in
collaboration with the Union Bank of India and the National Payment Corporation of India.
Awards & Honors:


Bangladesh has won the prestigious Women in Parliaments (WIP) Global Forum Award for regional
leadership in reducing gender gap in politics.
o
Bangladesh won this award for its outstanding success in closing the gender gap in the political sphere
in the regional category "South and Southeast Asia".
o
Prime Minister : Sheikh Hasina
o
State Minister for Foreign Affairs : Md. Shahriar Alam
Noted Hindi poet Gopaldas Neeraj has received the first National Kavi Pradeep Samman.
o

This award carries a cash prize of Rs two lakh, a shawl and a citation.
I&B Ministry bags the Platinum icon award for the Comprehensive Web presence.
o
The award was conferred by the Ministry for Communications & Information Technology under the
category of Web Ratna Awards 2014.
o
Web Ratna Awards have been instituted by the Ministry of Communications and Information
Technology, acknowledges unique initiatives/practices of various states/UTs in the realm of egovernance.

Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to be conferred Bharat Ratna on 27th March 2015.

Madan Mohan Malaviya's family to be given the Bharat Ratna award on 30th March 2015.
Sports:

India Open Super Series Badminton tournament kicks off in New Delhi.

World Cup
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Defending champions India take on co-hosts Australia in the second semi-final at Sydney, tomorrow.
March 24th 2015:
International Affairs:

Today (24th March) is World Tuberculosis Day (TB Day).
o
This day is designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and
efforts to eliminate the disease.
This day is one of eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health
Organization (WHO). The remaining 7 are,
1. World Health Day
2. World Blood Donor Day
3. World Immunization Week
4. World Malaria Day
5. World No Tobacco Day
6. World Hepatitis Day
7. World AIDS Day.
4U 9525, a German wings Flight carrying 150 people crashed today in a mountain range in Southern France.
o


India and China today agreed to take steps needed to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas,
emphasizing it was a pre-requisite for continued growth of bilateral relations.
o It was decided to increase contact between the forces on the two sides of the border.
o Special Representative of India : Ajit Doval
o Special Representative of China : Yang Jeichi
National Affairs:
 The Supreme Court today struck down Section 66 A of the Information and Technology Act.

o
This section allows police to arrest people for posting “offensive content” on the internet.
o
The court said the public's right to know is directly affected by Section 66 A and the Section clearly
affects the right to freedom of speech and expression enshrined under the Constitution of India.
Maharashtra government has said that those involved in the sale of gutka would be booked under nonbailable sections regarding the offence.
o
The manufacture and sale of gutka is banned in Maharashtra, but it is not implemented effectively as
there are no such restrictions in neighbouring states due to which the tobacco-laced chewing products
are smuggled in.
o
The State Food and Drug Minister Girish Bapat told the Legislative Assembly yesterday that the
government is taking steps to enforce the ban strictly.
People in News:

A 2-year old Dolly Shivani Cherukuri (from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh) enters into the India Book of
Records, as an youngest archer.
o
Nine days before her third birthday, she became the youngest Indian to score 200 points over five and
seven-metre distances.
o
This was the first time a two-year old archer scored 388 points in 5 meter and 7 meter event.
Awards & Honors:
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Current Affairs for Banks and Various Competitive Examinations
March
2015
Complete Winners List of 62nd National Film Awards 2015
The most prominent film award ceremonies in India, the 62nd National Film Awards were announced in a
press conference in New Delhi today (24th March 2015). The conference was addressed by Jury Chairpersons
Bharathiraja and Kamal Swaroop. These awards will be presented by the Directorate of Film Festivals.
62nd National Film Awards Winners List 2015:
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Kannada actor Vijay bagged Best Actor for ‘Nanu Avanalla Avalu’ (Kannada).
Kangana Ranaut wins the Best Actress Award for her performance in "Queen" (This is Kangana Ranaut’s
second National Award, she had bagged the Best Supporting Actress award for ‘Fashion’ in 2008).
Chaitanya Tamhane's Marathi film Court has been named the Best Feature Film while Priyanka Choprastarrer Mary Kom has won the Best Popular Film.
Best Feature Film : Court (Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati & English)
Best Popular Film for Providing Wholesome Entertainment : Mary Kom
Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director : Asha Jaoar Majhe (Bengali)
Best Direction : Srijit Mukherji for Chotushkone (Bengali)
Best Actress : Kangana Ranaut for Queen
Best Actor : Vijay for Nanu Avanalla Avalu (Kannada)
Best Supporting Actor : Bobby Simhaa for Jigarthanda (Tamil)
Best Supporting Actress : Baljinder Kaur for Pagdi The Honour (Haryanavi)
Best Male Playback Singer : Sukhwinder Singh, for Bismil, Haider
Best Female Playback Singer : Saivam (Tamil) and Uttara Unnikrishanan (Song : Azhagu)
Best Costume Designer : Haider (Hindi) Dolly Ahluwalia
Best Music Direction Songs : Haider
Best Music Direction Background Score : Nineteen Eighty Three (Malayalam)
Best Choreography : Sudesh Bismil, Haider
Feature Films :
o Best Assamese Film : Othello
o Best Bengali Film : Nirbashito
o Best Hindi Film :Queen
o Best Rabha Film : Orong
o Best Haryanvi Film : Pagdi The Honour
o Best Punjabi Film : Punjab 1984
o Best Tamil Film : Kuttram Kadithal
o Best Telugu Film : Chandamama Kathalu
o Best Malayalam Film : Ain
o Best Marathi Film : Killa
o Best Odiya Film : Aadim Vichar
o Best Kannada Film : Harivu
o Best Konkani Film : Nachom - IA Kumpasar
Special Mention : Killa (Marathi)
Best Film on Environment Consevation/Preservation : Ottaal (Malayalam)
Best Educational Film : Komal & Behind the Glass Wall
Best Exploration/ Adventure Film : Life Force - India's Western Ghats
Best Investigative Film : Phum Shang
Best Animation Film : Sound of Joy
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

2015
Best Short Fiction Film : Mitraa
Best Film Critic : Tanul Thakur
Science & Technology:

The Indian‎Space‎Research‎Organisation’s‎(ISRO)‎Mars Orbiter Mission was extended for another six
months to further explore the Red Planet and its atmosphere.
o
“As the 1,340 kg Mars Orbiter has sufficient fuel (37 kg) to last longer than it was intended earlier, its
mission has been extended for another six months,” ISRO announced today.
o
The historic mission has completed six months of orbiting the Red Planet.
o
Important Note : India became the first country to have entered the Mars Sphere of Influence in its
maiden attempt.
Sports:

World Cup
o
New Zealand enters World Cup Cricket final for the first time beating South Africa in a thrilling
encounter.
March 23rd 2015:
International Affairs:
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
Today is World Meteorological Day.
o
This day is celebrated every year on 23 March to commemorate the entry into force in 1950 of the
convention that created the World Meteorological Organization.
o
Last Year's (2014) Theme : Weather and climate: engaging youth
o
This Year's (2015) Theme : Climate Knowledge for Climate Action
Today (23rd March) is Pakistan Day.
o
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This day commemorates the historic Pakistan Resolution on March 23, 1940 - a day which marks the the
birth of a separate state for Muslims.
India and China today held the 18th round of talks on the vexed boundary issue, the first such meeting after
Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power last year.
o
Special Representative on the Boundary Question and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held
talks with his Chinese counterpart and State Councillor Yang Jiechi.
o
The fresh round of discussion on the issue is taking place nearly six months after Chinese President Xi
Jinping’s visit in New Delhi.
The First Vice President of Republic of Cuba, Mr. Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez Mario called on the Prime
Minister Narendra Modi today.
o
Modi received him and expressed support for greater cooperation, including in the areas of trade and
investment, health, biotechnology, renewable energy, sports and human resource development between
the two countries.
National Affairs:
Today is 84th Shaheed Diwas (Martyr's Day)

o
Nation pays homage to great martyrs of freedom struggle, Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru
and Sukhdev on their martyrdom (23 March, 1931)
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
Railways has hiked the cost of platform tickets to Rs. 10 and the new rate will come into effect from April 2015.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said India was planning to export defence materials and training
military personnel of at least 38 countries.
o
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Mr. Parrikar, however, said he would not be able to reveal names of the countries which are sending
their personnel for training due to security reasons.
The government today launched a major 15-day media campaign to educate the masses on immunisation,
ahead of implementing its ambitious health programme 'Mission Indradhanush' in April.
Awards & Honors:

Veteran Actor-producer Shashi Kapoor, whose nuanced acts in memorable films like “Deewar”, “Satyam Shivam
Sundaram”, “Trishul” and “Kabhi Kabhie” captivated Hindi film buffs, will be conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke
Award for 2014.
Deaths:

Founding father of Singapore, ‎Lee Kuan Yew‪, passes away.
o
He was the first Prime Minister of Singapore.
o
He led Singapore for 31 years
o
He was widely respected as the architect of Singapore's prosperity.
o
He transformed Singapore from a small port city into a wealthy global hub.
Business & Economy:

The Union government will borrow Rs. 3.6 lakh crore from markets in the first half of the next financial
year, which is over 50 per cent of the annual target of Rs. 6 lakh crore.
Sports:

Novak Djokovic wins Indian Wells Open Tennis Men's Singles

Simona Halep wins her maiden Singles title in Women's category

Cricket World Cup
o
The semi final showdown of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015‬will begin tomorrow.
o
The first semi final will feature Co-hosts New Zealand‬who will be taking on South Africa‬.
o
The match will be played at Auckland's Eden Park.
March 22nd 2015:
International Affairs:
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Today (22nd March 2015) is World Water Day.
o
This day is a United Nations initiative to celebrate clean water and bring attention to those who don’t
have enough of it.
o
It's also a day to understand the valuable significance of water, discuss and conserve this finite resource
in the future.
o
It's important to remember that a drop of water is powerful and life giving.
o
This year's theme : "Water and Sustainable Development"
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March

2015
India and China will hold the 18th round of border talks in Delhi from Monday (23rd March)— the first round
of negotiations after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power last year — where the two sides are
expected to focus on clarification of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
o
Special Representative and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval would hold talks with his Chinese
counterpart and State Councillor Yang Jiechi amid hopes to clinch a solution under the strong
leadership in both the countries.
o
The two-day talks is taking place in the backdrop of candid discussions between Mr. Modi and Chinese
President Xi Jinping during latter’s visit to Delhi in September
Awards & Honors:

President Pranab Mukherjee conferred one Kirti Chakra and 11 Shaurya Chakra awards on armed forces
personnel, three of them posthumously, for gallantry.
o
Kirti Chakra : Captain Jaidev
o
Shaurya Chakra (Posthumous) :
 Subedar Prakash Chand
 Lieutenant Commander Manoranjan Kumar
 MajorAbhijai
Shaurya Chakra :
 Major Mukul Sharma
 Commander Gosavi Kaustubh Vijaykumar
 Major R Vamshi Krishnan
 Rifleman Manga Ram
 Wing Commander Huvey Upadhyaya
 Major Abhishek Kumar
 Major Satnam Singh
 Naik Ansaigra Basumatary.
The President also conferred 14 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, three Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and 26
Ati Vishisht Seva Medals on senior officers of the armed forces for distinguished service of an
exceptional order.
o
o
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Former Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka was today conferred the country's highest military rank of
field marshal for "achieving victory over terrorism" by the new government, five years after he was jailed on
alleged treason charges by the previous regime.
o
Fonseka became the first Sri Lankan to receive the title.
New Appointments:

Katherine Viner will be the next editor-in-chief of The Guardian, the Pulitzer prize-winning newspaper and
website that is widely read and respected for its independent voice and investigative strengths.
o
She is the first woman to run the newspaper in its 194-year history.
Deaths:

Renowned Malayalam poet Yusufali Kechery, who left a deep impression in Kerala's cultural realm as a
lyricist, passed away.
o
He had worked as assistant secretary of Kerala Sangaeetha Nataka Academy and also served as the
president of Kerala Sahitya Academy.
Business & Economy:

India has overtaken the US to become the third-largest steel producer in the world with a production of
14.56 million tonnes (MT) in first two months of the year.
o
India has been the fourth-largest steel producer for the past five years, behind China, Japan and the US.
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Current Affairs for Banks and Various Competitive Examinations
March

2015
The 6,000-MW Mithivirdi Nuclear Power Plant in Bhavnagar district has got coastal regulatory zone (CRZ)
nod from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEFCC).
o
The clearance for setting up of “intake and outfall facility” for the 6,000-MW plant at Mithivirdi, about 40
kms from Bhavnagar, is seen as a big boost for Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) that
has been facing severe opposition from local farmers and social activists.
Sports:

Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis have lifted the Women’s‎Doubles‎trophy‎of‎the‎Indian‎Wells‎Open‎Tennis‎
tournament at California.
o
It was Sania’s 24th career title, and the second Doubles trophy this year.
March 21st 2015:
National Affairs:
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
The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana to provide skills training to youth
across the country.
o
The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship through
the National Skill Development Corporation with an outlay of 1, 500 crore rupees.
o
The focus under this Yojana will be on improved curricula, better pedagogy and better-trained
instructors.
The Cabinet also cleared introducing of the Appropriation Acts Repeal Bill, 2015 in Parliament.
o
The Bill aims at repealing 758 Appropriation Acts.

Noticing that some TV channels have been covering live anti terrorist operations, the Information and
Broadcasting ministry has asked news broadcasters to restrict such telecasts to periodic briefing by officials
till the operation concludes.

The three-day long International Conference on Counter Terrorism organised in Jaipur concludes today.
o
The conference was organized by Rajasthan Government in collaboration with India Foundation and
Sardar Patel University of Police, Security and Criminal Justice.
o
Inaugurated by Rajnath Singh (Union Home Minister) on 19th March 2015.
International Affairs:

Today (21st March) is World Puppet Day.

World Poetry Day is being celebrated today.
o
This day was declared by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
in 1999.
o
The purpose of the day is to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout
the world.

World Down Syndrome Day is being observed today.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination observed across the world today.
o
On this day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville,
South Africa, against the apartheid pass laws.
o
Proclaiming the day in 1966, the United Nations General Assembly called on the international
community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.
Science & Technology:
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Current Affairs for Banks and Various Competitive Examinations
March


2015
China rolls out world’s‎first‎hydrogen-powered tramcar
o
This tramcar has rolled off the assembly line in China's eastern Shandong Province.
o
The new tram is the only hydrogen powered vehicle in the field and makes China the only country to
have mastered the technology.
A Chinese airline today completed the country's first commercial flight using biofuel, made from waste
cooking oil, as the government seeks to promote greater environmental sustainability.
o
A Hainan Airlines flight from commercial hub Shanghai to Beijing used biofuel supplied by China
National Aviation Fuel company and energy giant Sinopec,.
o
The Boeing 737 plane used a 50-50 mix of conventional jet fuel and biofuel made from "waste cooking
oil collected from restaurants in China".
Awards & Honors:
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Rajendra Singh, an environment activist of India widely popular as the 'Water Man' has been conferred with
Stockholm Water Prize 2015.
o
This award encourages his efforts for instilling life in thousand of villages in Rajasthan through water.
o
Sweden's King Carl Gustav will present the rainwater harvesting pioneer with a cash prize of 1,50,000
Dollar during the world water week.
Eminent Singer Lata Mangeshkar was presented the ‘Laadli Voice of the Century’ award during the sixth
edition of the national Laadli Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity.
o
Queen won the best movie award in the ceremony.
o
Advertising agency Ogilvy and Mather won the “Laadli Grand Prix” for its Titan Raga — ‘tum nahi
badle’ advertisement.
o
The Laadli extraordinaire award went to Charu Khurana, who won a landmark judgment in the
Supreme Court regarding Bollywood’s bias against women make-up artistes.
Deaths:

Krishnarao Sable (92), popularly known as 'Shahir Sable', whose songs enriched Maharashtra's culture,
passed away today.
o
He actively participated in movements such as the 'Quit India' movement, the Goa liberation struggle
and Hyderabad 'liberation' and the Samyukta Maharashtra movement.
o
He also fought hard for social causes such as anti-liquor campaigns, financial welfare of folk artists and
rejuvenation of folk music.
Business & Economy:

HDFC Bank has launched Chillr, a mobile app that allows users to instantly transfer money to any contact in
their phonebook 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
o
HDFC Bank has partnered with MobME, a Kochi-based technology firm, to launch this app.
Sports:

World Cup
o
New Zealand storms into the semi-final beating West Indies by 143 runs, on the back of Martin Guptill's
double ton.
o
New Zealand opener Martin Guptill hits World Cup record double century (237 in 163 balls).
o
He became the first man to score a double hundred in a World Cup knockout match.
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Current Affairs for Banks and Various Competitive Examinations
March
o
2015
This is the highest World Cup score by an individual batsman.
March 20th 2015
National Affairs:

Delhi will become the first state in the country to launch an E-ration card service next week.
o

The E-ration card will be linked with Aadhaar cards with a view to curb corruption and increase
transparency in the system.
Rajya Sabha passes Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill.
o
This is the second major reform measure to receive the approval of the legislature in the first half of the
Budget Session.
o
The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, seeking to hike FDI in insurance sector was the first reform
measure passed by Parliament.

Cabinet approves 33% reservation for women in police forces of Union Territories and Delhi.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) will organise yoga training sessions for central
government employees and their dependents from 1st April 2015.
o

The government is considering to allow foreign law firms to practice in Indian courts.
o



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There are about 31 lakh Central government employees working across the country.
The matter is being considered in consultation with the Bar Council of India, a statutory body.
The government has launched 'www.Gama.Gov.In', a dedicated portal to help consumers register their
grievances against misleading advertisements.
o
Launched by : Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan
o
On a pilot basis, 'Grahak Suvidha Kendra' was also launched in six cities including Delhi and
Ahmadabad.
Delhi govt hikes water tariffs by 10 per cent about a month after it announced a free-water scheme for people in
the national capital.
o
The increase in tariff will be effective for households which consume more than 20,000 litres of water
per month.
o
However, people consuming under 20,000 litres will not be affected by the hike.
Government is ready to consider a proposal to allow private FM radio channels to broadcast current news under
certain conditions, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.
o
Currently, private FM channels are not allowed to broadcast news under the FM Radio (phase-II) policy
guidelines as there is no mechanism yet to monitor it and anything anti-national may go un-noticed
o
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting : Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
The cabinet today approved an outlay of Rs.1,500 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
(PMKVY).
o
PMKVY will be the flagship scheme for skill training of youth to be implemented by the new ministry of
skill development and entrepreneurship through the national skill development corporation (NSDC).
o
The scheme will cover 24 lakh persons.
International Affairs:

Today is World Sparrow Day.
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Current Affairs for Banks and Various Competitive Examinations
March
o
2015
It is an international initiative by the Nature Forever Society of India in collaboration
with the Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and numerous other national and international
organisations across the world.

o
This day is designated to raise awareness of the house sparrow and other common birds to urban
environments, and of threats to their populations.
o
This year's theme : I LOVE Sparrows
Today is International Day of Happiness.
o
This day was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 28 June 2012.
o
This day marks the historical milestone of globalizing the Happiness Development Movement that
started in 1972.

Today is World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People.

Triple suicide bombings killed 77 people and wounded 121 others today at mosques in the Yemeni capital
Sanaa attended by Shiite Huthi militiamen who have seized the city.

o
Sana’a has been under Houthi control since it was overrun in September following fierce fighting.
o
President : Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi
India and the U.S. are in the process of exchanging the inked copies of Administrative Arrangements (AA) for
the nuclear deal, paving the way for the implementation of the pact which was signed seven years ago.
o
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The AA, text of which was finalized during the visit of US President Barack Obama in January this year,
contains the terms and conditions for the implementation of the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal.
China and Japan held their first security talks in four years in Tokyo.
o
The talks halted in 2011 when China and Japan's relations fell to a new low over the Diaoyu islands
territorial dispute.
Books & Authors:

Sumitra Mahajan, the present speaker of Lok Sabha released the book 'Indian Parliamentary DiplomacySpeaker's Perspective' written by Meira Kumar, the former Speaker of Lok Sabha.
o
President Pranab Mukherjee has received the first copy of the book.
Awards & Honors:

I&B Secretary Bimal Julka today conferred 4th National Photo Awards
o
Life-Time Achievement Award : Surendra R. Patel
o
Best Professional Photographer : Swarup Dutta
o
Best Amateur Photographer : R. Sasikumar winner
Business & Economy:

Finnish entertainment company Rovio, creator of the hugely popular Angry Birds brand, has announced that it
was introducing 3D version of Angry Birds.
Sports:

World Cup
o
Australia defeat Pakistan by six wickets,to face India in the second semifinal on Thursday
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o
2015
Pakistan cricketers Misbah-ul-Haq and Shaheed Afridi take retirement from One Day International
cricket.
March 19th 2015
International Affairs:

IMF chief Christine Lagarde's China visit begins today
o

During this visit she will meet top Chinese leadership and senior officials.
Sri Lankan government has said that it may lift a ban on several Tamil diaspora groups and individuals
imposed by the previous Mahinda Rajapaksa regime for their alleged links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) to achieve reconciliation with the country’s largest ethnic minority.
o
Srilankan Foreign Minister : Mangala Samaraweera
National Affairs:



International Conference on Counter Terrorism begins in Jaipur.
o
Inaugurated by : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
o
This conference is a global platform for imminent scholars, strategic thinkers, field experts and policy
makers engaged in counter terrorism activities from various government agencies, think tanks,
academic and research institutions from all over the world.
1st National Photography & Videography Workshop began at New Delhi.
o
Organized by : Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
o
Inaugurated by : Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, Col. (Retd.), Rajyavardhan Rathore
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Inland Waterways Authority of India
(IWAI) and the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) at Delhi today for creation of
logistic hubs with rail connectivity at Varanasi and other places on National Waterways.
o

The MoU was signed in the presence of Minister of Shipping and Road Transport & Highways Nitin
Gadkari and Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu.
The Lok Sabha has passed the Warehousing Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2015.
o
This bill seeks to amend the Warehousing Corporations Act, 1962, which established central and
state warehousing corporations for the purpose of warehousing agricultural produce and other
commodities.

IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched Bharatniti.in, a public policy portal that attempts to put into
perspective policy matters using an “ancient yet contemporary” approach.

To avoid confusion in the minds of the electorate in constituencies where namesakes are contesting, the
Election Commission has decided that ballot papers will also carry pictures of the contestants besides their
names and party symbols.
o
An EC direction to all Chief Electoral Officers of states and UTs said that for elections to be held from
May 1, 2015 onwards, the ballot papers, postal ballot papers and ballot papers to be displayed on EVMs
will also carry the photographs of the candidates.
o
The photograph will appear between the name of the candidate and his or her election symbol.
New Appointments:

Ratan Tata, former chairman of Tata Sons was appointed as the head of 'Kayakulp' Council,
an innovation council of the Indian Railways.
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
2015
o
Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu constituted the 'Kayakulp' Council and appointed
Tata to head it.
o
The purpose of the Council is to recommend innovative methods and processes for the improvement,
betterment and transformation of the Indian Railways.
Nobel Laureate, Deputy Director of the British Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology in
Cambridge, and Fellow of the Royal Society, Sir Venkatraman (Venky) Ramakrishnan has been confirmed as
President Elect of the Royal Society.
o
The India-born scientist will take over his new appointment on December 1, 2015 replacing the eminent
geneticist Sir Paul Nurse.
o
Professor Ramakrishnan’s work, which won him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009 (shared with Tom
Steitz and Ada Yonath), is on the structure and function of the ribosome, the molecular machine that
synthesises proteins inside cells, and on the action of antibiotics on the process.
Sports:

World Cup
o
India storm into semifinals, defeating Bangladesh by 109 runs
o
Rohit Sharma's (Man of the Match) 137 lead the country to its seventh win in a row in the World Cup.
o
MS Dhoni becomes the first Indian captain to lead India to 100 ODI wins.
March 18th 2015
International Affairs:

China has become the world's third largest exporter of arms after the US and Russia.
o
China overtook Germany, France and the UK in exporting weapons between 2010 and 2014, according
to a report published by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
o
China now accounts for about 5% of the world's exports of arms.
o
Top 10 Largest Exporters of Major Weapons :
1. US - 31%
2. Russia - 27%
3. China - 5%
4. Germany - 5%
5. France - 5%
6. UK - 4%
7. Spain - 3%
8. Italy - 3%
9. Ukraine - 3%
10. Israel - 2%

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party claims victory in Israel parliamentary elections.

Sri Lankan authorities handed over 168 Indian fishermen and 51 boats to the Indian Coast Guard at the
International Maritime Boundary Line.

India will hold one of the biggest global yoga meets in China to celebrate the UN’s‎first‎International Day of
Yoga.
o
Over 10,000 yoga enthusiasts are expected to take part in the meet being organised in Dujiangyan in
Chengdu, China’s Sichuan province from 17th June to 21st June 2015.
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o

2015
China was one of the 170 countries voted for the UN Yoga Day proposed by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi in 2014.
Germany, France and Italy followed Britain in announcing that they plan to join a proposed Chinese-led
Asian regional bank, swinging Europe's biggest economic powers behind a project that is viewed with concern
in Washington.
o
Britain last week became the first major Western country to seek membership in the Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank.
o
The announcement of the three major countries brings three more members of the Group of Seven
industrial powers on board.
Awards & Honors:

Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani was named Young Global Leader (YGL) from India by the World Economic
Forum (WEF)
o
She "rose from sweeping floors in a fast food restaurant to become a top politician in India", WEF said.
o
Others who have been named Young Global Leader (YGL) in the past include British Prime Minister
David Cameron, Alibaba Group chief Jack Ma, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, Google chief Larry Page,
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
o
In the list of 187 YGLs for 2015 from across the world, Irani is accompanied by 10 other Indians,
including Gaurav Gogoi, an MP and son of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
National Affairs:



The government has proposed a one-time amnesty for all those who have stashed black money abroad.
o
The Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of New Tax) Bill, 2015 cleared by the
Cabinet also proposes stringent action against offenders, including rigorous imprisonment of up to 10
years.
o
One-time compliance opportunity to those who have stashed illicit money abroad will be provided.
o
The evader will be allowed to pay tax and penalty on the amount.
The Delhi High Court has once again refused to stay ban on BBC documentary ‘India’s Daugher’.
o
The court also asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to issue an advisory over the ban.
o
It has fixed 15th April for next hearing.
The National Green Tribunal has passed a string of directions to clear the Railways of the filth which gives it
the tag of “biggest open toilet.”
o
The Tribunal empowered the Railways to impose a fine of Rs. 5,000 on anyone found littering or
engaging in any other act such as open defecation on tracks or platforms.
o
The fine would also be imposed on those residing along the tracks and disposing of waste on railway
tracks or property.

Rate of Railway platform ticket will be increased from 5 to 10 rupees per person from April, 2015.

Maharashtra has announced Local Body Tax (LBT) would be abolished from August 1 and extended tax
exemption on essential commodities like rice and wheat in Budget 2015-16.
o
As regards LBT, a compensation of Rs. 6,875 crore will be given to the municipal corporations, excluding
Mumbai.
o
This was one of the main electoral promises of the BJP.
New Appointments:
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
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Kavinder Gupta, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator, was elected as the speaker of the Jammu and
Kashmir legislative assembly.
Science & Technology:

The indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile, Astra, was successfully launched
from Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft to hit a simulated target at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur in Odisha.
o
The missile was tested to prove the manoeuvring capability against a simulated target and also to
validate various subsystems.
o
All the subsystems like propulsion, navigation, guidance as also the smooth separation of the missile
from the aircraft were proved.
o
The all-weather, state-of-the-art missile developed by DRDO can engage and destroy enemy aircraft at
supersonic speed (1.2 Mach to 1.4 Mach) in head-on (up to 80 km) and tail-chase (up to 20 km) modes.
o
The 3.8 meters tall Astra is the smallest of the DRDO-developed missiles and can be launched from
different altitudes.
o
It can reach up to 110 km when fired from an altitude of 15 km, 44 km when launched from an altitude
of eight km and 21 km when fired from sea level.
Sports:

World Cup
o
South Africa storm into semifinals thrashing Sri Lanka by 9 wickets in Sydney
o
Kumar Sangakkara & Mahela Jayawardhane bid farewell to ODIs
March 17th 2015
International Affairs:


Pakistan today hanged 12 convicts, the largest number put to death in a single day since the country
temporarily lifted a moratorium on the death penalty.
o
At least 27 convicts have been executed since Pakistan resumed executions on December 17 after a
Taliban attack on an army school in Peshawar that killed more than 150 people, mostly children.
o
There are more than 8,000 death row prisoners in the country.
India and Kyrgyzstan today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost up the cooperation in
the textiles sector.
o
Indian Minister of State (MoS) for Textiles : Santosh Kumar Gangwar
o
Minister of Energy and Industry of Kyrgyzstan : Kubanychbek Turdubaev
National Affairs:

First Indian-American astronaut and First Indian woman in space, Kalpana Chawla's (17th March 1962 1st February 2003) birth anniversary today.

In a major verdict, the Supreme Court today set aside Centre's notification to extend the benefit of
reservations to the Jat community.
o
The previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government had announced reservation for Jats
just before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
o
Holding that politically-organised communities like Jats cannot be included in the Central list of Other
Backward Classes (OBCs), the court also directed the government to recognise emerging socially and
educationally backward groups like transgenders, who are among the most distressed.
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2015

Parliament passes Rail Budget 2015-16

Lok Sabha passes General Budget.

Haryana Assembly passesHaryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Bill, 2015, which clamps a
complete ban on cow slaughter in the state and provides for a rigorous imprisonment ranging from 3 years to 10
years for killing the animal.

The cabinet has cleared the Black Money bill, which would give more powers to the tax department in tracking
illicit wealth stashed abroad and provide for strict penal actions for such offence.
o
The bill is likely to be introduced in the current session of Parliament.
New Appointments:

Credit rating agency Crisil today announced the appointment of Ashu Suyash as the next Managing Director
and Chief executive Officer.
o
She will succeed Roopa Kudva, who has been the MD & CEO at Crisil since 2007.
Awards & Honors:

Minoti Apte, a 56-year-old Indian pancreatic cancer researcher in Australia has been named New South Wales
(NSW) Woman of the year 2015 for her contributions to medical research, tertiary education and the Indian
community.
Deaths:

Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer DK Ravikumar, who took on the sand mafia in Kolar
district of Karnataka when he was the Deputy Commissioner (DC), was found dead at his official flat under
mysterious circumstances.

Veteran Malayalam singer and music composer Bombay S. Kamal (85), an active presence in the field of
music for the past six decades, passed away.
Sports:

World Cup
o
ICC Cricket World Cup enters knock-out stage; South Africa to take on Sri Lanka in the first quarter-final
at Sydney tomorrow.
March 16th 2015
International Affairs:


IMF Chief Christine‎Lagarde’s two-day India visit began today.
o
She called on President of India Pranab Mukherjee and PM Narendra Modi today.
o
The Indian economy, whose size is $2 trillion as of now, is poised to overtake the combined GDP of
Japan and Germany in the next four years on the back of recent policy reforms and improved
business confidence in the country, she said.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met in Switzerland
today for crucial talks to secure an agreement on Iran's controversial nuclear program.
o
The meeting comes before an end-of-March deadline for the framework of a deal that would curb Iran's
nuclear ambitions in exchange for relief from international sanctions.
National Affairs:
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2015

Clearing all doubts about the validity of Aadhaar card to avail of government subsidies, the Supreme Court today
confirmed that the Aadhar card is not compulsory, and further, officials who insist on them will be taken to
task.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley inaugurated the 5th National Community
Radio Sammelan at Delhi today.
o


He also presented the National Community Radio Awards.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is planning to launch an all-women cab service in areas under its
jurisdiction in view of the increasing number of crimes against women in buses and taxis.
o
This cab service named as "Shakti".
o
NDMC has also decided to recruit women drivers for all the buses ferrying children to the schools run by
it.
o
The women drivers with commercial licenses have been already selected and they will also begin
working from next month.
Delhi‎airport’s‎terminal‎1D is all set to get India’s‎first‎body‎scanner.
o
United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will be giving a ‘millimetre wave scanner’
to Indira Gandhi International Airport which will be installed in the coming weeks.
o
It will then be tested for “Indian conditions” by Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) which will
look at its health and privacy concerns.
New Appointments:

Riva Ganguly Das, currently Joint Secretary in the Ministry, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of
India to Romania.

India's third largest software firm Wipro has named former TCS back-office business head Abid Ali
Neemuchwala as its first ever Chief Operating Officer.
People in News:

PM Narendra Modi today met Abhishek Kumar Sharma, a youth who is undertaking a nationwide cycle yatra
to generate awareness about the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
o
Abhishek has so far traveled 4500 kilometers across 8 states, talking to people on the subject of
cleanliness.
Deaths:

Disgraced former People’s Liberation Army No 2 Xu Caihou died of bladder cancer today in China.
Awards & Honors:

Indian‎ Army’s‎ Corps‎ of‎ Signals‎ 'Daredevils'‎ Display‎ Team‎ achieved Guinness World Record of the most
people (56) on one moving motorcycle at Dumna Airport, Jabalpur today.
o
The men rode a single 500 cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle a distance of 1,100 metres.
Sports:

World Cup 2015
o
England's Ian Gould and Pakistan's Aleem Dar have been appointed the on-field umpires for the
World Cup quarter-final between India and Bangladesh to be played in Melbourne on March 19.
o
Steve Davis has been named the third umpire for the game, while Paul Reiffel has been appointed the
fourth umpire.
o
Roshan Mahanama will act as the match referee.
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o

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The appointments for semi-finals and the final will be done later.
Lewis Hamilton wins the Australian Grand Prix
March 15th 2015
National Affairs:


The Haryana Govt is going to introduce teaching of Bhagavad Gita in schools across the state from coming
academic session.
o
The government will also introduce a bill with "stringent punishment for cow slaughter in the ongoing budget session of the assembly."
o
Haryana Chief Minister : Manohar Lal Khattar
o
Haryana Agriculture Minister : Om Prakash Dhankhad
In order to ensure women safety, Delhi government has ordered all taxi operators to install GPS in their
vehicles, failing which fitness certificate will not be issued to them.
o
The decision came months after a 25-year-old woman was allegedly raped by a driver enlisted with the
US-based cab service, Uber, in December last year inside the taxi in which GPS was not installed.
International Affairs:

Today is Viswa Upabhokta Adhikar Diwas (World Consumer Rights Day).
o
On March 15, 1962 US President John F. Kennedy gave a speech on consumer rights which led to the
creation of the Consumer Bill of Rights.
o
Consumer rights activist Anwar Fazal later proposed the observance of a "World Consumer Rights Day"
marking that date, and from 15 March 1983 consumer organizations began observing that date as an
occasion to promote basic rights of consumers.
Deaths:


Noted Gandhian and former Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith, Narayan Desai (90) passed away.
o
He is the son of Mahatma Gandhi's diarist Mahadev Desai.
o
He was popular for reciting 'Gandhi-Katha' (narratives on the life of Mahatma Gandhi) across the world
which he began in 2004.
Lia Van Leer (90), founder of the Jerusalem Cinematheque and a pioneering figure in the Israeli film industry
passed away.
o
She was fondly called as "Queen of Israeli Cinema".
Sports:

Kidambi Srikanth creates history by winning the $120,000 Swiss Grand Prix Gold badminton championship
in Switzerland

India beats Poland 3-1 in final to win Women's Hockey World League Round 2

World Cup
o
Pakistan beat Ireland and West Indies defeat UAE in the last pool games.
o
WorldCup2015‪Quarter Final Fixtures :  SL Vs SA 18th March
 IND Vs BAN 19th March
 AUS Vs PAK 20th March
 NZ Vs WI 21st March
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March 14th 2015
International Affairs:

Today (March 14th) is Pi Day.
o

Modi's Srilanka Visit
o
Modi inaugurates the restored North-South Sri Lankan Rail link at Thalaimannar.
o
He handed 27000 houses at Jaffna built with Indian assistance to the people of the civil war ravaged
Tamil heartland in northern Sri Lanka.
o
He also visited Sri Lanka's historical city Anuradhapura and offered prayers at the sacred Bodhi tree.
o

This day is observed on March 14 as the number 3/14 in the month/day date format represents the first
three digits of π (3.14).

The sacred Bodhi tree was planted in Anuradhapura over two thousand years ago (planted in
288 BC).

It is a sampling of the original Bodhi tree, under which Lord Gautam Buddha meditated and
achieved enlightenment.

The shrine is one of the most sacred places in Buddhism.

Srilankan President Maitripala Sirisena accompanied Mr. Modi during the prayer ceremony.

This is for the first time that an Indian Prime Minister is visiting Anuradhapura.

It is also the first time that Sri Lankan President is accompanying a foreign dignitary during such
prayers.
Modi is the second international leader to visit the region after Premier David Cameron in 2013.
A historic bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at the Parliament Square in London today.
o
This 9-foot statue was unveiled jointly by British Prime Minister David Cameron and Indian Finance
Minister Arun Jaitley.
o
Gandhi is the first Indian and the only person never to have been in a public office to be honoured
with a statue at the Square.
o
The statue stands exactly opposite Britain’s Houses of Parliament in the Palace of Westminster and
adjacent to iconic leaders like anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is on a visit to Japan to attend an international conference on disaster risk
reduction.

Japan and France signed a deal on military equipment and technology transfers.
o
Japan and France also agreed to work toward concluding an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement
(ACSA), which provides a framework for logistic cooperation between armed forces.
o
Japan already has ACSAs with the United States and Australia.
National Affairs:

Union government is contemplating to relax the criteria of disability.
o
Union minister for social justice and empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot said that government is
mulling to reduce the parameter of body deformity percentage from 40 to 25 for disability
certificate.
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
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With a view to strengthen security measures for women in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party-led government today
decided to form a women security force to be deployed at 'dark stretches' across the city which are crimeprone for women.
o
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said they have also decided to deploy marshals in all DTC buses
from 6 PM to 12 midnight.
People in News:

Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed was convicted of a terrorism charge by a criminal court and
sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sits on a 24 hours fast protesting the Land Acquisition Bill.
New Appointments:

Olympic medal winning boxer MC Mary Kom was today appointed as the brand ambassador of the Northeast
to showcase the potential of the region which offers Rs. 2.4 trillion business opportunities across various
sectors.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (the highest decision making body) today
re-elected Bhaiyyaji Joshi as the Sarkaryvaha (general secretary) of the organisation for a third consecutive
term till March 2018.

Dr. Alka Beotra, Scientific Director, National Dope Testing Laboratory, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, has
been nominated to the Executive Board of WAADS
o

WAADS : World Association of Anti Doping Scientists.
IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) today appointed Aarthi Subramanian, its global head of Delivery
Excellence Group, as an Executive Director on the Board.
o
The appointment is for a three-year period and takes the Board strength to 11, of which six are
independent Directors, the city-based company said in a statement.
Science & Technology:

The scientists of National Dairy Research Institute have for the first time successfully cloned a calf, using
cells from the urine of a buffalo.
o

The female calf has been named Apoorva and is said to be normal and responding well.
Pakistan successfully tested its first indigenous all-weather armed drone and a laser guided missile.
o
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif attended the ceremony and witnessed the test-fire of the
new missile on static and moving targets.
o
The drone, named Burraq, has the ability to fly in all types of weather conditions and strike its targets
with pinpoint accuracy.
Sports:

World Cup
o
India beat Zimbabwe to finish all-win record of six group B league matches in the ICC World Cup Cricket.
o
Australia beat Scotland by 7 wickets.
March 13th 2015
International Affairs:

Today is World Sleep Day.
o
This day is observed on the Friday of the second week of March
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
o
This day is being organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Association of Sleep
Medicine (WASM) since the year 2008.
o
The aim of this day is to celebrate the benefits of good and healthy sleep and to draw society attention to
the burden of sleep problems and their medicine, education and social aspects; to promote sleep
disorders prevention and management.
India asks Pakistan to take all legal steps to ensure that 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zakiur
Rehman Lakhvi does not come out of jail as Islamabad High Court orders his release.
o



2015
Pakistan High Commissioner - Abdul Basit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Colombo on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka.
o
This is Narendra Modi's maiden visit to the country
o
This is also the first bilateral tour by an Indian premier in 28 years.
o
Modi visits IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) memorial near to Sri Lankan Parliament at Colombo to
pay homage to Indian soldiers who lost their lives while discharging their responsibilities in Sri Lanka
during 1987 to 1990.

IPKF was formed under the mandate of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord signed between India and
Sri Lanka in 1987 that aimed to end the Sri Lankan Civil War.

The memorial has been constructed by the Sri Lankan government in 2008.
India and Sri Lanka signed four agreements, those are
o
Exemption from visa for holders of diplomatic passports
o
Cooperation in mutual assistance in customs
o
MoU for youth development
o
To establish Rabindranath Tagore museum at a Sri Lanka university
FinanceMinister Arun Jaitley is on a three-day visit to UK
o
He met UK Chancellor George Osborne and reviewed progress made since 2010 in strengthening and
deepening cooperation between Britain and India on economic and financial issues, including increased
inward investment in each other's economies.
o
This is his first official visit to UK.
o
Osborne hailed the "increasingly important" relationship between Britain and India's economies.
Deaths:

British fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett (66) passed away.
o
He was best known for his satirical fantasy novels series Discworld
o
He was knighted by the Queen Elizabeth II in 2009 for his services to literature
o
He was appointed as officer of Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998
o
In 2010, he was awarded the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement.
National Affairs:

The 3rd edition of the Indian Panorama Film Festival began today at Shillong.
o
This festival was inaugurated by Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma with the screening of
award winning Marathi‎film‎“Dr‎Prakash‎Baba‎Amte:‎the‎Real‎Hero”‎directed by Samruoddhi Porey.
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
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Twelve award winning films will be screened including nine feature films and three non-feature films in
nine languages during the three-day festival.
The Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers Ananth Kumar launched ‘Pharma Jan Samadhan’ scheme.
o
It is a web enabled system for redressal of consumers’ grievances relating to pricing and availability of
medicines, created by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
o
Mr Kumar also released Compendium of Ceiling Prices of Essential Medicines 2015 prepared by NPPA.

The Law Commission of India submitted its report on electoral reforms to the Union Law Ministry.

Recommendations
o
Restrict candidates to contest from one constituency only
o
Appoint CEC and two ECs through a collegium
o
Ban Independents from contesting polls
o
Commission rejects the idea of compulsory voting
o
Regulating government sponsored ads six months prior to date of expiry of the House
o
Period for calculating election expenses of candidates should be extended to apply from the date of
notification to date of results
o
Amend Companies Act to require AGM resolution for contribution from the company's funds to a
political party
Science & Technology:

NASA has launched four identical spacecrafts on a billion-dollar mission to study the explosive give-and-take of
the Earth and sun’s magnetic fields.
Sports:

The United Arab Emirates won a unanimous vote to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2019
o
AFC president : Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa
March 12th 2015
New Appointments:


The government today approved appointment of nine Executive Directors (EDs) in various public sector
banks, including BoB, BoI and Canara Bank.
o Allahabad Bank - NK Sahoo
o Bank of Baroda - K Venkata Rama Moorthy
o Bank of India- RP Marathe
o Canara Bank - Harideesh Kumar B
o Central Bank of India - RC Lodha
o Indian Overseas Bank - Pawan Kumar Bajaj
o Syndicate Bank - Ravi Shankar Pandey
o UCO Bank - Charan Singh
o Union Bank of India - Kishore Piraji Khara
Note: Andhra Bank's ED post is still vacant.
International Affairs:

Today is World Kidney Day.
o
This day is observed annually on the 2nd Thursday in March.
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o

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This is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of the kidneys and reducing the
frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.
Mauritius celebrates 47th National Day today.
o
Chief Guest : India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi

PM Narendra Modi meets Mauritius President Rajkeshwar Prayag and discusses issues of mutual interest

India‪and ‎Mauritius‪sign five MoUs, those are
o
MoU on Ocean Economy.
o
Programme for Cultural Cooperation between India and Mauritius for the year 2015-18.
o
Protocol between the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture of Republic of
India and the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security of Mauritius for the importation of fresh
mangoes from India.
o
MoU for the Improvement in Sea and Air Transportation Facilities at Agalega Island of Mauritius.
o
MoU on Cooperation in the field of Traditional System of Medicine and Homeopathy.

Prime Minister of Mauritius - Sir Anerood Jugnuth
o
Sri Lanka has decided to release 86 Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture to mark PM Narendra
Modi's visit
o
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is on a visit to Sharm el-Sheikh to attend Egypt’s Economic
Development Conference.

The economic summit, scheduled to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh from March 13-15, is expected
to bring investments needed to boost Egypt’s economy, which has been hard-hit since the
January 25 Revolution and its consequent political instability.
National Affairs:

Parliament today passed the controversial Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which replaced an
ordinance promulgated in December last year, by voice vote
o
This bill proposes to raise foreign investment in the sector to 49% from the current 26% but with a
rider that management control should be with Indians.
Business & Economy:

International Monetary Fund (‪‎IMF‪) has raised India's growth forecast for the current fiscal to 7.2 per cent.
o
In its annual assessment report for the country , IMF said that India‬ has emerged as one of the fastestgrowing big emerging market economies and the growth rate would grow by 7.5 per cent.

Retail inflation inches up to 5.37 per cent in February this year from the previous month, due to higher prices of
food items, including vegetables.

South‎Korea’s‎central‎bank‎unexpectedly lowered its key policy rate today to a record low of 1.75 per cent
from 2 per cent, joining efforts to fight sluggish domestic spending and aid economic growth.
o

The quarter of a percentage point cut was the first interest rate cut by the Bank of Korea’s policymakers
in five months.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) included Macau and Hong Kong, the two Special Administrative Regions of
China, in the list of countries whose citizens are prohibited from acquiring or transferring immovable
property in India.
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o
2015
So far citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, China, Iran, Nepal or Bhutan were only
prohibited from acquiring or transferring immovable property in India without prior permission of the
Reserve Bank of India, other than lease, not exceeding five years.
People in News:

The national tourism agency of England, 'Visit Britain' signed Bollywood actor and producer Saif Ali Khan to
promote an India-centric British campaign.
o
The actor was signed for the campaign known as 'Bollywood Britain'.
o
The promotional campaign is likely to include locations like London, Oxford, Cardiff which are popular
with Indian tourists and have also been featured in many other Bollywood movies.
Science & Technology:

Sports:


In a breakthrough, Japanese researchers have successfully transmitted electric power wirelessly to a
pinpoint target using microwaves, an advance that brings space-based solar power closer to reality.
o
According to Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or Jaxa, the researchers were able to transform 1.8
kilowatts of electric power into microwaves and transmit it with accuracy into a receiver located 55
metres away.
o
The experiment was the first in the world to send out high-output microwaves wirelessly to a small
target.
World Cup
o South Africa score a 146 run victory over UAE to advance to quarter finals of the ICC World Cup.
Karnataka defeat Tamil Nadu by an innings and 217 runs to retain Ranji Trophy title.
March 11th 2015
National Affairs:


Maharashtra‪ government has started a helpline to address the social, physical and psychological issues
faced by adolescents.
o
The helpline was inaugurated by Maharashtra‎ Chief‎ Minister‎ Devendra‎ Fadnavis’‎ wife‎ Amruta‎
Fadnavis.
o
Currently, the annual budget for the scheme is 5.7 crore rupees.
o
The expert counsellors, one male and one female will be available between 10 am and 6 pm on the toll
free number 1800 233 2688.
o
This service can be accessed from anywhere in Maharashtra.
The Rajya Sabha has passed the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill, which will pave the way for plying of erickshaws on the roads of the National Capital Region.
o

The Bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha on March 3.
India's literacy rate rose to 72.98 % in 2011.
o
Replying to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani
said, as per census 2011, the number of illiterates has declined to 28.27 crore in the country from 30.41
crore in 2011.
International Affairs:

The United States declared Venezuela a national security threat and ordered sanctions against seven officials
from the oil-rich country in the worst bilateral diplomatic dispute since socialist President Nicolas Maduro took
office in 2013.
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
o
U.S. President : Barack Obama
o
Venezuelan President : Nicolas Maduro
2015
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has began a five-day trip to three island nations in the Indian Ocean
Region (IOR), marking India's bid to expand its footprint and gain more eyes across the vast, under-observed
and under-policed body of water to its south.
o
His first visit was Seychelles, there he inaugurated a Coastal Surveillance Radar Station (CSRS)
which will serve as a fresh pair of eyes for India in the IOR.
o
India and Seychelles have signed four agreements. Those are,
 Cooperation in hydrography
 Cooperation in renewable energy
 Cooperation in infrastructure development
 Cooperation in sale of navigation charts and electronic navigational charts
 President of Seychelles : James Alix Michel
 Modi's next stop was Mauritius.
 From Mauritius, he would travel to Sri Lanka, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the
country in 28 years.
 Backed by Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, Communist Party of India and
one Independent MLAs, the Nitish Kumar government comfortably won confidence vote in the
Bihar Assembly amid walk out by the Opposition BJP.
Business & Economy:

Reliance Industries Ltd is India's largest corporate with assets worth Rs 3.68 lakh crore, followed by stateowned Indian Oil Corp and mortgage lender HDFC.
o

Indian Railways signed an MoU with Life Insurance Corporation for raising Rs 1.5 lakh crore for financing
its capacity augmentation projects.
o

In the list of top 10 corporates in terms of assets, RIL and HDFC (Housing Development Finance Corp)
were the only two firms from the private sector, data compiled by the Corporate Affairs Ministry
showed.
Under the MoU, state-run insurance major LIC will commit Rs 1,50,000 crore to Railways for
developing infrastructure and the investment would be made over a period of five years.
Five public sector undertakings (PSUs) will be closed down by the government, which has included some
of the best known state-run enterprises like Air India, MTNL and Hindustan Shipyard, in the list of 65 sick
PSUs, Lok Sabha was informed.
People in News:

Special CBI court summons Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as accused in a coal scam case
o

Dr Singh says truth will ultimately prevail.
Calcutta High Court orders West Bengal govt to pay 50,000 rupees as compensation to Professor Ambikesh
Mahapatra who was arrested in 2012 for posting cartoons of CM Ms. Mamata Banerjee.
Sports:

World Cup
o Sri Lanka beat Scotland by 148 runs
o Kumar Sangakkara became the first player to score four successive one-day international centuries.
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March 10th 2015
International Affairs:

Tibetan Uprising Day observed today (10th March)
o
This day commemorates the 1959 Tibetan uprising against the presence of the People's Republic of
China in Tibet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left on a five-day visit to three island nations (Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri
Lanka) today in an outreach that will see unveiling of development projects while boosting economic ties.

An Indian student's internship request was rejected by a professor in Germany citing rape problem in India,
prompting a sharp reaction from the German envoy in Delhi who condemned it saying India was not a country of
rapists.
National Affairs:


Prime Minister Narendra Modi today saluted the bravery of CISF personnel on the 46th Raising Day of the
CISF.
o
CISF - Central Industrial Security Force
o
The CISF came into existence in 1969 to provide integrated security cover to public sector
undertakings and now has a strength of around 1.4 lakh personnel.
Government to move nine amendments to the Land Acquisition Bill to ensure its passage in Parliament
o

The CBI has served a notice to Trinamool Congress to submit a report on its income and expenditure for the year
2010 to 2014.
o

The Amendments include hassle free mechanism for redreassal of grievances and mandatory
employment for farm labourers affected by acquisition.
According to CBI sources, the investigating agency has asked the detailed report about income through
various sources including advertisements, donations and by selling and painting of party supremo Ms.
Mamata Banerjee.
Delhi, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are India’s‎ best-ranked States in terms of gender-related education
indicators, according to the new data from the Ministry of Human Resource Development and UNICEF.
o
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, are among the worst performers.
People in News:

A special CBI court in Dehradun sentenced former UP minister D P Yadav to life in the 1992 Mahendra Singh
Bhati murder case.
Science & Technology:


Prime Minister Narendra Modi has
based Bharat Biotech.
launched Rotavirus vaccine Rotavac, developed by Hyderabad-
o
Billed as one of the first novel vaccines to be developed completely in the developing world, it is
expected to help in significant reduction in infant deaths due to Rotavirus diarrhoea in India and other
parts of the world.
o
CMD of Bharat Biotech - Krishna Ella
Pakistan has conducted a successful test launch of the Shaheen-III surface-to-surface ballistic missile,
capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 2,750 km.
Awards & Honors:
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Former Union minister and senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily has been selected for the prestigious
Saraswati Samman for 2014 for his famous Kannada poem 'Ramayana Mahanveshanam'.
o
Divided into five volumes, 'Ramayana Mahanveshanam' was first published in 2007 in Kannada.
o
The poem has been translated into English, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil.
o
Instituted by the K K Birla Foundation in 1991, Saraswati Samman is given annually for an
outstanding literary work in any Indian language mentioned in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution.


2015
This award carries a cash purse of Rs 10 lakh, a citation and a plaque.
Kerala‎Tourism’s‎popular Global Multimedia Campaign to promote the backwaters has won the Golden Gate
award at the Internationale Tourismus-Borse Berlin named ITB-Berlin – 2015, the world’s leading travel trade
event.
Sports:

World Cup
o
India beats Ireland by 8 wickets.
o
This is India's fifth successive victory in world cup.
o
Shikhar Dhawan leads India to win with his second world cup century
o
Dhoni breaks Sourav Ganguly's record of eight straight wins in world cup matches as captain.
March 9th 2015
International Affairs:


On his first visit abroad in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Seychelles, Mauritius & Sri
Lanka from 10th to 14th March.
o
On 11th March, in Seychelles, the Prime Minister will have bilateral discussions with President James
Alexis Michel to strengthen our maritime ties and enhance our development cooperation.
o
On 11th-12th March, in Mauritius, the Prime Minister will have extensive meetings with Prime
Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth to further enhance our special and unique relations and will be the
Chief Guest at the National Day celebrations.
o
On 13th - 14th March, in Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister will have meetings with President Maithripala
Sirisena and other senior leaders across the political spectrum.

Mr. Modi, who is the first Indian Prime Minister to make a bilateral visit to the neighbouring
island in 24 years, will be commissioning a railway line in Talaimannar, inaugurating the
cultural centre in Jaffna, and also handing over homes that have been build by India in the
Northern province.

Foreign Secretary : S. Jaishankar
China has said that the border dispute with India had been “contained” and the two countries should “do more”
to strengthen cooperation to facilitate its settlement.
o
Chinese Foreign Minister : Wang Yi.
National Affairs:

President Pranabh Mukherjee laid a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate this morning to commemorate the
Centenary of First World War (1914 - 1918).
o
The Commemoration is in memory of the 1.5 million Indian Soldiers who fought in the war and over
74,000 who made the supreme sacrifice, whose names are etched in stone on the walls of India Gate.
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

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The period 2014 to 2018 is being commemorated as the Centenary of First World War.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of School Education and Literacy, presented the
Digital Gender Atlas for advancing girls' education in India in New Delhi today.
o
The tool, which has been developed with the support of UNICEF, will help identify low performing
geographic pockets for girls, particularly from marginalised groups such as scheduled castes, schedule
tribes and Muslim minorities, on specific gender related education indicators.
o
The Atlas is placed on the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) website and available
and ready to use by the states/districts/blocks education administrators or any other interested group.
Social activist Anna Hazare today announced that he will start a foot-march against the land bill later this
month.
Science & Technology:

A solar powered aircraft, Solar Impulse, claimed to be the world’s‎only‎solar-powered aircraft, took off for its
maiden global tour, from Abu Dhabi today.
o
The aircraft will make a stop over in Ahmedabad tomorrow
o
This aircraft to fly day and night without a drop of fuel, propelled solely by the sun's energy.
o
The single-seater aircraft made of carbon fibre has wingspan larger than that of Boeing-747 and
weighs just 2,300 kg.
Business & Economy:

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been named as the top employer in Europe for the third consecutive
year by a top employers certification agency, citing the Indian IT major as an "exceptional performer" in nine
core human resources areas.
o
TCS, the leading IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation, has been certified as top
employer in eight European countries - the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden,
Denmark and Norway by Top Employers Institute.
Sports:

World Cup
o
Bangladesh beats England by 15 runs, make it to the quarterfinals along with New Zealand, Australia
and Sri Lanka from Pool A.
o
Lalit Modi was today unseated as the president of the Rajasthan Cricket Associaton (RCA).

The special Annual General Meeting (AGM) voted Modi out with a 17-1 verdict even as his
supporters cried foul of the entire election process.
March 8th 2015
International Affairs:

International‎Women’s‎Day is being celebrated today.
o
Governments, NGOs and other organizations across the globe observe International Women's Day on the
8th of March every year to highlight the achievements of women while calling for greater equality.
o
This year's celebrations will highlight the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic roadmap signed by 189 governments 20 years ago that sets the agenda for realizing women’s rights.
o
This year's Theme : Make It Happen
o
Union Health Ministry will celebrate the day as Safe Motherhood Day today.
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National Affairs:

A unique calender featuring Acid Attack Survivors was launched today to mark International Women's Day
and to commemorate the third anniversary of the 'Stop Acid Attacks' campaign and is an initiative of 'Chaanv'
an NGO.
o

Shot in the backdrop of Taj Mahal in Agra, 11 women overcome their fear and were a part of it.
The Government has decided to recruit women officers in Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) for the first
time
o
ITBP is the designated security force to secure 3,488 km of the Line of Actual Control with China.
o
Since its raising in 1962, the force has never directly inducted women officers in its ranks considering
the arduous nature of its task along the icy and inhospitable frontier running along the Himalayan
mountain ranges.
New Govt Schemes:

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today launched a scheme for girl child - 'Aapki Beti Humari
Beti' - with an aim to combat the problem of declining child sex ratio in the state.
o
'Aapki Beti Humari Beti' will be implemented in both rural and urban areas of the state covering firstborn girl child of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and all second girl child
born on or after January 22, 2015 of all families.
o
Under this scheme,

the first girl child born on or after January 22, 2015, in SC and BPL families will be eligible to
receive Rs 21,000.

Similarly, all second girl child born on or after January 22, 2015 of all families will get Rs 21,000.

Families, where twin girls or multiple girls are born, will get Rs 21,000 per girl child.
Awards & Honors:

President of India Pranab Mukherjee presented the Stree Shakti & Nari Shakti Puruskars for the year 2015 at
Rashtrapati Bhavan today.
o
The Stree Shakti puraskars are conferred to six women in the area of womens endeavor and
exceptional contribution each year.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 300,000 and a citation.
 Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Award has been given to Anyay Rahit Zindagian NGO of Goa,
 Seema Prakash of Madhya Pradesh got Rani Lakshmibai Award,
 Astha Sansthan (NGO) of Rajasthan has been awarded Rani Rudramma Devi Award),
 Smt. Chandraprabha Bokey from Maharashtra has been conferred Mata Jijabai Award,
 Dr. P Bhanumati of Kerala gets Kannagi Award,
 Sister while Mariola from Rajasthan has been conferred Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award.
The Nari Shakti Puraskarshave been conferred for the first time this year.

o

The award carries a cash prize of Rs 100,000 and a citation.

This year’s awardees are :
 Smt. Rashmi Anand (Delhi),
 Dr. Nandita Krishna (Tamil Nadu),
 Dr. Laxmi Gautam (Uttar Pradesh),
 Ms. LatikaThukral (Haryana),
 Ms. Neha Kirpal (Delhi),
 Dr. Sailakshmi Balijepally (Tamil Nadu),
 Ms. P.Kousalya (Tamil Nadu),
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Dr. Swaraj Vidwan (Uttarakhand).
Deaths:

Senior journalist and Editorial Chairman of Outlook Magazine, Vinod Mehta passed away in New Delhi today.
Sports:



Carolina Marin Martin of Spain has won the prestigious Women’s‎ Singles‎ Title‎ in the All England Open
Badminton Championships 2015.
o
Saina Nehwal loses in the final round.
o
Saina has created history by reaching the finals for the first time.
World Cup
o
Australia beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs to book quarterfinal berth
o
New Zealand defeats Afghanistan in the other match
Ace batsman Kumar Sangakkara announced that he will retire from Test cricket "by the end of August" when Sri
Lanka hosts India in a three-match series.
o
The 37-year-old wicketkeeper has already announced retirement from One-Day International (ODI) and
Twenty-20 cricket.
March 7th 2015
International Affairs:


The Socio-Economic standing of women in India is the lowest among 16 Asia Pacific countries, according
to Mastercard’s latest Index of Women’s Advancement.
o
Indian women stand even lower than their counterparts from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the survey said.
o
Across the region, New Zealand had the highest overall Index score of 77, followed by Australia (76),
the Philippines (72.6) and Singapore (70.5).
o
India (44.2), Bangladesh (44.6) and Sri Lanka (46.2) had scores below 50, indicating that much more
needs to be done to achieve gender parity.
Ahead of PM Narendra Modi's Colombo visit, Prime Minister Ranil ‎Wickramasinghe‪has stoked a controversy
saying that Indian fishermen may be shot if they intruded into ‪Sri Lankan‪waters.
o
He alleged that Indian fishermen were taking away the livelihood of Northern Lanka fishermen.
National Affairs:


The Budget Sessions of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Assemblies began today.
o
The Budget Sessions of both Assemblies are being held simultaneously for the first time after the
reorganisation of these states last year.
o
Telangana Finance Minister E. Rajender will present the Annual Budget on 11th March 2015, while
his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Yanamala Ramakrishnudu will present the budget on 12th March
2015.
o
Governor for both states : ESL Narasimhan
To mark International Womens Day tomorrow, Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry organizing 3day special Health Camps throughout country from 8th to 10th March 2015.
o
Under the initiative, special health check-up camps will be held at the District Hospitals, Sub-district
Hospitals (SDHs) and Community Health Centers (CHCs) on three days.
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o
These will offer free of charge health check-up to all women, including pregnant women across the
country.
o
Union health and Family Welfare Minister : J P Nadda
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) today said it has linked 15 crore bank accounts with
Aadhaar number.
o
NPCI is the nodal agency for all retail payment systems under the Jan Dhan scheme.
Sports:

Indian ace shuttler Saina Nehwal becomes the first Indian woman player to reach the finals of All England
Badminton Championships.
o
She defeated Wang Yihan of China.

Snooker has been short-listed among three sports to be included in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo

World Cup
o
Pakistan beats South Africa by 29 runs
o
Ireland prevails over Zimbabwe with a five-run win.
Science & Technology:

NASA’s‎ Dawn‎ spacecraft‎ has created history by becoming the first mission to achieve orbit around the
dwarf planet Ceres with an aim of providing new insights and capturing images from the distant world.
o
The spacecraft was approximately 61,000 kilometres from Ceres when it was captured by the dwarf
planet’s gravity.
Deaths:

Kerala‪Assembly Speaker G Karthikeyan (66) passes away.
New Appointments:

Walmart India today announced two executive appointments with Ashwin Mittal as the new Chief Financial
Officer (CFO) and Javier Rojo as head of Real Estate and Business Development.
o
Mittal will replace Jill Anderson, currently the CFO of Walmart India, who will soon repatriate back to
Walmart in US.
March 6th 2015
International Affairs:

Pakistani students formed a human shield for Hindus celebrating Holi at a temple in Karachi today to protect
and show solidarity with the minority community.
o

The National Students Federation (NSF) formed the shield at Swami Narayan Temple as part of an
attempt to promote interfaith coexistence and cooperation among different religious and ethnic groups.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrives in Sri Lanka to set the stage for Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's visit to Sri Lanka, the first bilateral visit to the country by an Indian premier in over 25 years.
o
During her two-day stay, Swaraj calls on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and hold talks with
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.
o
She is also expected to call on President Maithripala Sirisena during the trip.
o
Modi will be in Sri Lanka on March 13-14, during which he will hold meetings with President
Maithripala Sirisena and other senior leaders across the political spectrum.
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Ahead of the UN climate conference in Paris later this year, India and Egypt have decided to form a "joint
working group" for "cooperation on environment and climate change".
o
This group will discuss and finalise the areas of cooperation in the fields of climate change, urban waste
management, hazardous waste management, environmental education and all other facets of
environmental governance in the two countries
o
Environment Minister - Prakash Javadekar
National Affairs:

Colours ruled the streets today as people of all ages celebrated Holi across the country.

Haryana‪ govt is contemplating on framing a law under which registration of pregnancy would be made
compulsory within first three months of pregnancy.
o


Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij said that aim of the law is to check female foeticide in the state.
The HRD ministry has set up a 3 member committee to probe alleged misappropriation of funds received
under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan by an NGO run by activist Teesta Setalvad, who is facing heat along with her
husband in a separate case of embezzlement.
o
Head of the committee - Supreme Court lawyer Abhijit Bhattacharje
o
Members

SA Bari (Gujarat Central University vice chancellor)

Gaya Prasad(Senior HR ministry officia)
To commercialise Ayurvedic medicines, National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) has signed a
pact with Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS).
o
The scope of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) also includes providing Intellectual Property Rights
(IPR) services to CCRAS in India and abroad.
People in News:


Prime Minister ‎Narendra Modi‪ has been named among the 30 most influential people on the internet by
Time Magazine‬.
o
The list also features US President ‎Barack Obama‪.
o
The list also includes British author of the Harry Potter series J. K. Rowling‬and singers Taylor Swift and
Beyonce‬.
o
Modi has roughly 38million followers on social networking sites Twitter and
ahead of any other leaders in the world except Obama.
Facebook‬, putting him
Union Minister Raosaheb Dadarao Danve, who was made Maharasthra BJP president a few months back, has
resigned from the Council of Ministers.
o
Danve, who held the portfolio of Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public
Distribution, quit the Council of Ministers over the principle of 'one-man, one-post'.
Business & Economy:

Giving a boost to affordable housing, the RBI today eased the norms for home loans for up to Rs 10 lakh by
allowing banks to include stamp duty and registration charges to the cost of a unit.
Deaths:

Former Bihar Chief Minister Ram Sunder Das (95) passes away.
Sports:
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World Cup
o
India qualifies for quarter final registering four wicket victory over West Indies.
o
M.S.Dhoni equals ganguli's record of most wins by an Indian Captain in a World Cup.
March 5th 2015
International Affairs:

Nepal‪and India‪today launched a direct bus service, linking Capital of Nepal Kathmandu‬and Varanasi .
o

Sri Lanka suspended a $1.5-billion Chinese luxury real estate project in Colombo today until it obtains
required government approvals, a move that risks a diplomatic row with its biggest foreign investor.
o

Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Nepal, Mr. Bimalendra Nidhi and Ambassador
of India to Nepal. Ranjit Rae flagged off the bus.
The project, the biggest of several Chinese investments in Sri Lankan ports and infrastructure, involves a
port city on reclaimed land in the capital, complete with shopping malls, a water sports area, golf course,
hotels, apartments and marinas.
India and Spain have signed an Agreement on Mutual Protection of Classified Information to provide the
framework for enhanced bilateral cooperation in areas of defence research, development and technology
cooperation.
o
The Agreement was signed by the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his visiting Spanish
counterpart Pedro Morenes Eulate.
National Affairs:

The controversial BBC documentary titled "India's daughter" about the 16th December 2012 Delhi gangrape
victim Nirbyaya has been uploaded on video sharing website YouTube today.
o
Yestreday, the Union government had banned the telecast of this documentary in India.
o
BBC‬telecasts the documentary even as Union Home Ministry asks not to broadcast it.
o
Government serves legal notice to BBC over the documentary and asks YouTube to remove the video.

Haryana‪government has decided to introduce "Shri Mad Bhagwad ‎Gita‬" for students of all classes in schools
following the recommendation of the State Council of Educational Research and Training.

Maharashtra government has scrapped the five per cent reservation for Muslims in government jobs as
announced by the former Congress-NCP government just before Assembly polls last year.

The Centre has outrightly rejected the recommendation of a high-level Committee to reduce the coverage of
beneficiaries from 67% to 40% under National Food Security Act.
o

The Shanta Kumar-led Committee had recommended the government to revisit the UPA’s National
Food Security Act.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the first phase of the Singaji Thermal Power Project at
Dongliya village in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa District.
o
The first phase of the Singaji Thermal Power project is of 1200 mega watt capacity.
o
The project will give impetus to the state government's 'Atal Jyoti Abhiyan', which aims at providing 24
X 7 power supply across the state.
People in News:

Dilip Shanghvi of Sun Pharmaceuticals, with a net worth of $21.5 billion, surpassed Mukesh Ambani as the
world’s‎richest‎Indian today, two days after the Reliance Industries Ltd. chief was ranked India’s wealthiest for
the eighth consecutive year.
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
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On the global rich list, Mr. Shanghvi moved up to the 37th position, while Mr. Ambani slipped to the
43rd.
The Delhi High Court today upheld the 10-year jail term awarded to former Haryana Chief Minister Om
Prakash Chautala, his son Ajay Chautala and three others for corruption in a teachers' recruitment scam case.
New Appointments:

US President Barack Obama has re-nominated Sunil Sabharwal, an independent Indian-American investor, to a
key administration post as Alternate Executive Director at the IMF.
o
First nominated in April 2014 to the position of Alternate Executive Director of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), Sabharwal has been an independent investor in the payments sector since 2006.
Business & Economy:

China has decided to scale down its 2015 growth rate target to 7 per cent as part of an effort to gradually reset its economy along a sustainable, eco-friendly and corruption free path.

In the biggest deal in the defence sector, billionaire Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure Ltd has
announced acquisition of a controlling stake in Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Ltd for up to Rs.
2,082.3 crore.
Sports:

World Cup
o

Bangladesh beat Scotland by six wickets.
BCCI reprimands Virat Kohli for abusing Indian journalist during practice session at World Cup.
March 4th 2015
International Affairs:



China will raise its defense budget by around 10 percent this year, compared with last year's 12.2 percent.
o
China's defense budget rose by 12.2 percent last year to 808.2 billion yuan (about 131 billion U.S.
dollars), riding on a multi-year run of double-digit increases.
o
The figure will put the world's second largest economy's defense spending at some 890 billion yuan
(about 145 billion U.S. dollars).
For the first time the opening prayer for the Idaho state senate was said by a Hindu cleric amid protests by
some senators who claimed the United States was a Christian nation and denounced Hinduism.
o
Universal Society of Hinduism President Rajan Zed, who said the prayer in Sanskrit and English,
made a call for the legislators to "act selflessly without any thought of personal profit" because "selfish
action imprisons the world".
o
He was invited by Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill to be a guest chaplain and deliver the
invocation which is usually made by a Christian chaplain at the start of the day's legislative session in
Boise.
SAARC Yatra : Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar visits Afghanistan today.
National Affairs:

The long-pending controversial Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2015, a key economic reform legislation
providing for raising foreign investment cap to 49 per cent, was today passed by Lok Sabha with the
government insisting that the measure is crucial for expanding the penetration of insurance in the country.
o
This controversial bill seeks to replace an ordinance, also provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years
for selling policies without registration with the regulator IRDA.
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
The Lok Sabha also passed the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2015, to allow e-auction of coal blocks
after the Supreme Court cancelled their allocation leading to uncertainty in the coal sector, amid opposition by
Left and some other opposition parties.
o


This was one of the six bills on which ordinances had been promulgated by the NDA government.
As a British filmmaker's interview of Mukesh Singh, one of the 16 December gangrape convicts for a
documentary in which he showed no remorse triggered a storm today.
o
Government took a serious view of the matter as Delhi Police lodged an FIR and secured a court order
restraining the media from carrying the interview.
o
This documentary was made by - Leslee Udwin
The Delhi High Court today allowed recall of 13 prosecution witnesses, including the victim, in Uber cab rape
case, on the plea of the accused driver.
o
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This bill would replace two ordinances issued by the government - the first on October 21 last year and
the other in December, after the apex court cancelled the allocation of 204 blocks.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2015 to amend the Citizenship Act to remove disparity between Persons of
Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders was also passed today.
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2015
Apart from the victim, the court also allowed recall of the investigating officers as well as some of the
doctors who had examined the victim as well as the accused, saying it was necessary for ensuring a fair
trial.
Telangana‬ government has decided to launch the E-Panchayat programme in 18 Village ‬‎Panchayats‬ in
Domokonda of Nizamabad district initially.
People in News:

The oldest woman in the world, Japan's Misao Okawa (born in 1898), celebrated her 117th birthday today.
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Okawa is one of the five documented people born in the 1800s who are still alive today.
Science & Technology:

The Indian Space Research Organisation (‎ISRO)‬ has postponed the launch of India’s‎ fourth‎ Navigation
Satellite IRNSS-1D onboard PSLV-C27.
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The launch was originally scheduled for March 09 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
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ISRO sources say that an anomaly was observed in one of the telemetry transmitters of the satellite
during the integrated electrical checks of Launch Vehicle along with Satellite after the closure of heat
shield on March 03.
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The next launch date of PSLV-C27 with IRNSS-1D will be fixed after the technical anomaly is rectified
through further test, simulation and analysis.
Business & Economy:

The biggest-ever auction of 2G and 3G spectrum started today and this is likely to fetch the government over
Rs. 82,000 crore based on the reserve price.
o

The government is however hopeful of getting around Rs. 1 lakh crore from the sale of radiowaves used
for mobile telephony.
Bharti Airtel Limited partnered with China Mobile under which the two companies will work towards the
growth of the long term evolution (LTE) ecosystem and evolving mobile technology standards.
o
Both the companies will also work towards shaping up a joint strategy for procurement of devices that
include Mifi, smartphones, data cards, LTE CPEs and USIM.
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Current Affairs for Banks and Various Competitive Examinations
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2015
This MOU was signed by Sunil Mittal, Chaian, Bharti Airtel, and Xi Guohua, Chairman, China Mobile.
RBI has lowered its policy Repo Rate by 25 basis points to 7.5 per cent.
o
In a surprise move, the Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mr Raghuram Rajan
today announced a Repo Rate cut by 25 bps. This is second time RBI slashed the Repo rate in less than
two months (earlier on 15th January 2015, the organization has reduced repo rate by 25 bps to 7.75%).
This move came out five days after the presentation of the Union Budget 2015 as “disinflation is
evolving along the path set out by the RBI at a faster pace than earlier envisaged”.
o
With this move, the current Repo Rate becomes 7.50%, the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate
and the Bank Rate has been adjusted to 8.5 percent with immediate effect. The Cash Reserve Ratio
(CRR) of scheduled banks remains unchanged at 4 percent. The The Reverse Repo Rate under the
liquidity adjustment facility stands adjusted to 6.5 percent.
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You can check current RBI Rates from below table.
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Current RBI Rates 2015
S. No
1
2
3
4
5
6
Rates / Reserve Ratios
Bank Rate
Repo Rate
Reverse Repo Rate
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR)
Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)
Marginal Standing Facility (MSF)
%
8.50 %
7.50 %
6.50%
4.00%
21.50%
8.50 %
W.e.f
4th March 2015
4th March 2015
4th March 2015
9th February 2013
3rd February 2015
4th March 2015
Sports:

World Cup
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Australia mauls Afghanistan by a whopping margin of 275 runs in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
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Pakistan won against United Arab Emirates. This victory made Pakistan's quarter-final hopes alive.
March 3rd 2015
International Affairs:
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
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar meets his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhury in Islamabad
today.
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Mr. Jaishankar, who is on a visit to SAARC capitals (SAARC Yaatra), also called on Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif, and his foreign affairs advisors Sartaj Aziz and Tariq Fatemi during the day.
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He has already visited Thimphu and Dhaka, and would fly to Kabul on Wednesday.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has met her Luxembourg counterpart Jean Asselborn and urged
for enhancing bilateral investment.
o
The Luxembourg minister affirmed his country's support for India as permanent member in a
reformed UN Security Council during the foreign ministers meeting.
National Affairs:

The world's largest and tallest Indian tricolour was unfurled at Town Park in Faridabad today.
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The flag weighs 48 kilograms and has a 96 feet by 64 feet dimension.
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2015
It was hoisted at a height of 250 feet (75 meters), making it the largest and the highest hoisted Indian
flag in the world.
The bill banning cow slaughter in Maharashtra, pending for several years, today received the President's
assent.
o
This measure has taken almost twenty years to materialize and was initiated during the previous
Sena-BJP government.
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Under the new law, anyone selling beef or in possession of it can be jailed for up to five years and
fined Rs.10,000.
Uttarakhand Government has decided to take at least 25,000 elderly people of the State on Char Dham
Yatra for free under the scheme 'Mere Bujurg Mere Teerth'.
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The scheme "Mere Bujurg Mere Teerth‬' was launched last year for the people above 65 years of age in
the state.
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The scheme is to take the elders on a free pilgrimage to any of the four famous Himalayan shrines.
The Election Commission of India has launched National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication
Programme (NERPAP) throughout the country from today with the prime objective of bringing a totally error
free and authenticated electoral roll.
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During the programme, EPIC data of electors will be linked with Aadhar data of UIDAI for the
purpose of authentication.
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NERPAP will focus on improving image quality of electors along with sorting issues like corrections of
errors etc.
A Bill seeking to pave the way for plying of e-rickshaws on Delhi roads was passed by the Lok Sabha today.
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It is the third ordinance to be replaced by a bill passed by the Lower House since Monday, the others
being the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and the Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) Amendment Bill.
People in News:

Bill Gates, with an eyepopping net worth of nearly $80 billion, has retained his title of the World's Richest
person.

Mukesh Ambani has retained his position as the richest Indian for the eighth year in a row with a networth of
USD 21 billion followed by Dilip Shanghvi and Azim Premji.

Savitri Jindal (O.P. Jindal group) is the richest woman of India followed by Indu Jain (Bennett Coleman & Co)
and Anu Aga (Thermax).
Business & Economy:

Centre and RBI sign an agreement to keep inflation below six percent and provide price stability with
growth.
o
According to this aggrement, the RBI would tailor its monetary policy to achieve an inflation rate of 4%
with a flexibility band of +/- 2% for the financial year 2016-17 and thereafter.
o
“The RBI will aim to bring inflation below 6% by January 2016,” the government said.
o
This is biggest change to monetary policy since opening up of India’s economy more than two decades
ago.
Sports:

World Cup
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New Zealand topped Pool A with 8 Pts and India topped Pool B with 6 Pts in latest points table.
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Current Affairs for Banks and Various Competitive Examinations
March
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2015
Hashim Amla becomes the fastest player to reach twenty ODI centuries.
Olympic medallist boxer MC Mary Kom (32) has announced that she has decided to quit boxing after the
2016 Rio Olympic Games as her body would not be able to cope with the rigours of the sport any further.
March 2nd 2015
National Affairs:

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2015, a Bill to amend the Citizenship Act, one of the six items on which
government had issued ordinances, was today passed by the Lok Sabha.
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This bill seeks to remove disparity between Persons of Indian Origin cardholders and Overseas Citizens
of India cardholders.
63rd All India Police wrestling cluster started in Delhi.
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A total of 1600 sports personnel from 37 teams of various police forces took part.
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Hosted by the Indo Tibetan Border Police Force.
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The Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore addressed
the inaugural ceremony
The Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu today launched a ‘Customer Complaint Web Portal and Mobile
Application’ (android/windows based mobile App),
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The Complaint Management System (COMS) portal consists of the following applications:
A mobile app based complaints and suggestions application (currently on the android platform).

A web based complaints and suggestions application on URL www.coms.indianrailways.gov.in.

A SMS based complaints and suggestions application on the number +91-9717630982.

A link to Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) will also be
provided.

Soon after taking oath, J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has stoked a controversy saying Hurriyat,
militant outfits and “people from across the border”, an oblique reference to Pakistan, allowed conducive
atmosphere for assembly polls, drawing uproar in Parliament.

Social activist Anna Hazare has announced a 1,100-km foot march – on the lines of the historic Dandi March by
Mahatma Gandhi – to put pressure on the BJP government at the Centre to stay clear of amending Land
Acquisition Act.
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This protest was organized under the banner of Hazare’s‎ organisation‎ Bhrashtachar‎ Virodhi‎ Jan‎
Andolan Nyas and was supported by several other farmers’ groups.
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar will visit Islamabad tomorrow on a two-day visit as part of his 'SAARC Yatra'
New Appointments:
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India has named Arun Singh, currently its Ambassador to France, as its next top envoy to the US and has
informed the American government in this regard.
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A 1979-batch IFS officer, Mr Singh will be replacing S Jaishankar, who was appointed as Foreign
Secretary on 28th January this year.
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Mohan Kumar, Indian Ambassador to Bahrain will replace Mr Singh as France Ambassador.
After series of poll debacles Congress appoints new PCC chiefs in five states.
o Ajay Maken - Delhi.
o Ashok Chavan - Maharashtra
o Ghulam Ahmed Mir - Jammu and Kashmir
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o
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2015
Bharatsinh Solanki - Gujarat
Uttam Reddy - Telangana
Awards & Honors:

The outgoing Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba has won the world's most valuable individual
award, the Mo Ibrahim prize for African leadership.
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The $5m (£3.2m) award is given each year to an elected leader who governed well, raised living
standards and then left office.
Science & Technology:

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the world’s‎ first all-electric communications satellites successfully
launched this morning, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
o
The rocket was carrying two all-electric commercial satellites built by Boeing.
o
The satellites are owned by the French satellite provider Eutelsat and Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS).
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SpaceX - Space Exploration
Business and Economy:

Ola today acquired TaxiForSure for $200 million in a cash and equity deal, signaling consolidation in the $11
billion taxi industry.
o
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Ola and TaxiForSure will continue to operate as separate entities.
China has launched a massive $79.8 billion infrastructure project in the northwest province of Gansu which
will facilitate trade and people exchanges between China and central Asia as part of its ambitious Silk Road plan.
o
Though the province does not share its borders with any central Asian countries, it will be an important
stretch of the Silk Road Economic Belt.
o
The six-year development project will add more than 60,000 kilometres of road, including 4,070 km
expressways, and improve the connectivity of the existing transportation network.
Sports:
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Jagmohan Dalmiya unanimously elected as President of the Board of Control for Cricket
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BJP leader Anurag Thakur elected as Secretary.
New ICC ODI Rankings
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Australia maintains its top position with 120 points
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Followed by India with 116 points.
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Top 5
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Australia - 120
India - 116
South Africa - 113
Sri Lanka - 108
New Zealand - 107
March 1st 2015
International Affairs:

Approximately 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe use of
personal audio devices, including smartphones, and exposure to damaging levels of sound at nightclubs, bars
and sporting events, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.
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The WHO also recommends that people should use personal audio devices for no more than one
hour a day.
An Egyptian court declared Hamas a "terrorist organization", further isolating the blockaded rulers of the
Gaza Strip once openly welcomed by the country's toppled Islamist-dominated government.
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2015
The move underlines Egypt's increasing hostility to Hamas, which the court blamed for violence in the
country's restive Sinai Peninsula.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will be leaving for Sri Lanka on two day visit.
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During this visit, Ms. Swaraj will call on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and hold talks with
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.
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She is also expected to call on President Maithripala Sirisena.
o
Her visit will set the stage for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s‎ visit‎ to‎ Sri‎ Lanka (on 13th March
2015)

This will be the first bilateral visit to the country by an Indian premier in over 25 years.

During this visit, Modi is likely to travel to war-ravaged Jaffna in the Tamil-dominated Northern
Province and Trincomalee in the Eastern Province.

He is scheduled to travel to Jaffna, Anuradhapura and Kandy during his stay in Sri Lanka.
Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is on four SAARC nations visit (SAARC Yatra) starting with
Bhutan
o
Today he called on Bhutanese PM Tshering Tobgay and King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
National Affairs:

Today is 25th Foundation Day of NASSCOM
o

NASSCOM - National Association of Software and Services Companies
Ending 49-days of Governor rule, PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed took over as new Chief Minister of
Jammu and Kashmir
o
BJP's Nirmal Singh sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister
o
Alongwith 24 ministers (13 from PDP and 11 from BJP), his cabinet marked the entry of BJP for the
first time in the state government.
o
J&K Governor - N N Vohra

Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has launched a new front Hindustani Awam Morcha to
counter Nitish Kumar's JDU.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved financial aid worth 426.83 crore rupees from the Prime
Ministers National Relief Fund for flood affected people of Jammu and Kashmir.
o
This aid will benefit 1.87 lakh owners of houses damaged in the floods.
New Appointments:

Kannan Ramesh, a 49-year-old Indian-origin lawyer has been appointed as a Judicial Commissioner to
Singapore’s‎Supreme‎Court‎bench for two years.
Science & Technology:

Myanmar has announced that it has found a rare, white elephant in the jungles of the western Ayeyarwaddy
region.
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o
2015
White elephants, actually albinos, have for centuries been revered in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and other
Asian nations.
Sports:

Roger Federer beats Novak Djokovic to win the Dubai Open Tennis tournament.

Former BCCI president and secretary Jagmohan Dalmia set to become BCCI President as he is the lone
contender
o

The election to be held tomorrow
World Cup 2015
o
Pakistan registers first victory in World Cup 2015 after beating Zimbabwe by 20 runs.
o
Sri Lanka thrashes England by nine wickets.
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