Current Affairs April 2014

The Guardian and The Washington Post won a prestigious Pulitzer Prize[15/04/2014]

The Guardian and The Washington Post won a prestigious Pulitzer Prize on Monday for reporting on secret US surveillance programs revealed by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. The British and American newspapers shared the award for public service journalism handed out by the Pulitzer committee at Columbia University in New York.

The US unit of the British newspaper was honored for "helping through aggressive reporting to spark a debate about the relationship between the government and the public over issues of security and privacy," the committee said. It recognized The Post for its "authoritative and insightful reports that helped the public understand how the (NSA) disclosures fit into the larger framework of national security."

The shared award went to the two newspapers credited with breaking the news about NSA surveillance programs, without specifically citing the journalists involved.

The Accidental Prime Minister: Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh[15/04/2014]
The book - "The Accidental Prime Minister: Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh" – kicked up a political storm, claiming the PM was ‘defanged’ after the 2009 polls with Congress president Sonia Gandhi deciding cabinet portfolios against Singh’s wishes. This book is written by PM Manmohan Singh’s former media advisor Sanjaya Baru.

HDFC Bank sets Guinness record in blood collection[14/04/2014]
The blood donation camp organised by HDFC Bank on December 6, 2013 involving 61,902 participants has found a place in Guinness Book of Records as the largest such drive on a single day. "The largest blood donation (multiple venues) involved 61,902 participants and was achieved by HDFC Bank, with 1,115 blood donation camps held across 709 locations in the country on December 6, 2013," the official citation from the Guinness Records said, adding this is the only such recognition by it for any corporate in this regard.

Gulzar to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award[12/04/2014]
The Government decided to give the 45th Dada Saheb Phalke Award to veteran film lyricist and director Gulzar for his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

The award includes a Swarn Kamal (golden lotus), cash component of Rs. 10 lakhs and a shawl. Gulzar was selected for the award by a committee of eminent persons set up by the Government. He was the unanimous choice of the seven-member jury.

Gulzar is already a much-awarded man including by the Government which honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 2004. Other awards he has picked up in a career dating back to 1956 include a Grammy and an Oscar, the Sahitya Akademi Award, a number of National Film Awards besides 20 Filmfare Awards.

The Oscar and Grammy came to him recently for his song 'Jai Ho' in the film 'Slumdog Millionaire'. While he got the Oscar for Best Original Song in 2009 for the song, he picked up the Grammy in the category of 'Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media' a year later.

Ratan Tata appointed as board member of China-backed Boao Forum [10/04/2014]
The former Tata Sons Chairman was invited to speak at an annual event known as "China’s Davos" in Boao, in the southern island province of Hainan. The Chinese government-backed Boao Forum has become Beijing’s most high-profile annual gathering, bringing together Chinese and international political and business elite.

Mr. Tata was, this week, honoured by becoming the only Indian to be inducted into the forum’s 15 member board. In conversation with noted Chinese economist Zhang Weiying, Mr. Tata gave a frank assessment of India-China business cooperation.

GJEPC signs MoU with Russian firm[10/04/2014]
In a step that is likely to increase direct diamond trade between India and Russia, India’s Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and Russia’s state-owned diamond mining firm Alrosa signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to share trade and statistical data on the diamond trade between the two countries. The MoU was signed by GJEPC Chairman Vipul Shah and Alrosa President Fyodor Andreev in Moscow on 10th April 2014.

SBI hits global debt markets, to raise up to $1 bn[10/04/2014]
The nation’s largest lender State Bank of India has hit the overseas bond market with a dual tranche benchmark issue of 5-year and 10-year maturity to raise up to USD 1 billion. According to one of the merchant bankers working on the issue, SBI on Thursday launched the roadshow in major global financial centres and will close the transaction later in the day. The bank has given an initial pricing of 240 bps over the US treasury for the 5-year money and 265 bps over the treasury for the 10-year bond, said the merchant banker, who did not want to be quoted as the deal is yet to be closed.

Infosys leads 5 Indian projects shortlisted for Green Oscars[09/04/2014]

IT giant Infosys leads five Indian clean energy projects that have been shortlisted for the annual Ashden Awards, referred to as the Green Oscars, here 9th April 2014. The awards recognise worldwide contributions towards green energy initiatives and a move away from fossil fuels.

Infosys has been nominated in the ‘Ashden Award for Sustainable Buildings’ category for the Bangalore-based company’s cutting edge design of new buildings which helps keep offices cooler and maximises natural light.

"Since 2008, global IT giant Infosys has cut more than USD 80 million from its energy bills and reduced electricity consumption per staff member by 44 per cent. Its success lies in seizing every opportunity to reduce energy consumption in its existing buildings — from reducing the size of chiller plants for air conditioning, to painting roofs white so they reflect the heat," reads the award nomination statement.

The other finalists include two projects from Maharashtra - Sakhi Unique Rural Enterprise (SURE) and Greenway Grameen - which have been nominated in the ‘Ashden Clean Energy for Women and Girls Award’ category.

SURE is a not-for-profit social enterprise in central Maharashtra that has selected, trained and supported more than 600 women micro-entrepreneurs to sell clean energy products like solar lanterns and cleaner cookstoves to other women.

Mumbai-based Greenway Grameen’s mission is to provide an affordable, desirable cookstove to improve quality of life for Indian women.

The Rajasthan Horticulture Development Society has been shortlisted for the ‘USAID Ashden Energy for Agriculture Award’ for its solar-powered water pump project and Mera Gao Power from Uttar Pradesh has been nominated in the ‘Citi Ashden Award for Innovation in Finance’ category for pioneering the use of unsubsidised commercial micro grids, which have so far connected more than 20,000 families to clean, affordable power.

Appointment of Devendra Kumar Pathak as DG BSF[08/04/2014]
Shri Devendra Kumar Pathak, IPS (AM:79), presently working as Special DG, BSF is appointed to the post of Director General, Border Security Force (BSF) with immediate effect and till the date of his superannuation on 29.02.2016 or until further orders, whichever event takes place earlier.

Punjab Won Junior National Men’s Championship[07/04/2014]
Punjab, in keeping with its reputation, produced a dominant performance to put it across Odisha 6-2 in the final of the Hockey India-fourth junior National men’s championship at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium. The crowd cheered nearly every attacking move by Odisha, the underdog, but there was no stopping Punjab from clinching a hat-trick of titles.

Sri Lanka beat India by 6 wkts in World T20 Final[06/04/2014]
Kumara Sangakkara's brilliant 52 helped Sri Lanka win the ICC World T20 2014 final at the Sher-e Bangla National stadium by six wickets against India. They had 13 balls still to play. Kumar Sangakkara has been named the Man of the Match.

Koyal Rana won the coveted Miss India 2014 crown[06/04/2014]
The winners of the fbb Femina Miss India 2014 pageant were declared at a star-studded event at the Yash Raj Studios, Mumbai. ?The winners are Koyal Rana (fbb Femina Miss India World 2014), Jhataleka Malhotra (fbb Femina Miss India 2014 1st runner-up) and Gail Da'Silva (fbb Femina Miss India 2014 2nd runner-up).

Dhoni wins Asian award for sports in UK[05/04/2014]
Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has won the 2014 Asian award for outstanding achievement in sports here. Dhoni is widely regarded as one of the greatest finishers in limited overs cricket. Under his captaincy, India has won numerous awards including the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, the CB Series of 2007—08, the 2010 Asia Cup, the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. In 2013, Dhoni became the first captain to win all the three ICC trophies. Dhoni was ranked 16th on the Forbes list of highest paid athletes.

India launches second navigation satellite IRNSS-1B[04/04/2014]
India moved a step closer to having its own satellite navigation system when scientists of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its second Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System(IRNSS-1B) from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on 4th April 2014.

With this successful launch, the second of the seven satellite system, India inches closer to a select group of countries that have such a navigation system.

The 1,432 kg satellite was blasted off by the rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV C24) at 5.14 pm from the launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Center. IRNSS-1B is the second navigation satellite of the seven satellites constituting the IRNSS space segment.

Its predecessor IRNSS-1A was launched in July 2013. Two more navigational satellites - IRNSS-1C and IRNSS-1D are scheduled to be launched before the end of 2014.

IRNSS-1B carries two types of payloads - navigation payload and ranging payload. The IRNSS system will provide two types of services - Standard Positioning System provided to all the users and the Restricted Service provided only to authorised users.

Tripura tops rural jobs scheme for the fifth year[04/04/2014]
Tripura maintained its top position for the fifth consecutive year by providing 87 person-days’ rural jobs per household during the 2013-14 fiscal, an official said on Friday.

"Tripura has been providing the highest average employment for the past five years under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)," state’s rural development joint secretary C.K. Jamatia told reporters in Agartala.

Most Efficient Navratna Award to HAL[03/04/2014]
HAL received the "Most Efficient Navratna 2013" award at the fifth Dalai Street Investment Journal Awards night held in New Delhi yesterday. HAL Chairman, Dr. R.K. Tyagi received the award from the jury.

The awards were presented to the various PSUs in different categories in recognition of their performance and contribution to the Indian economy. Mr. T.K.A. Nair, Advisor to PM and Dr. Pritam Singh, Director General of International Management Institute, New Delhi, addressed the top executives representing Maharatna, Navratna, Miniratna, government Insurance Companies and banks.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Tyagi dedicated the award to all HALites and said the company is on its way to future growth through measures taken on various fronts such as R&D, modernization, customer initiatives, quality and thrust given on indigenization.

HAL has notched-up the highest ever turnover of Rs. 15,180 crores for the FY 2013-14 surpassing the previous year’s figure of Rs. 14,324 crores. “We crossed the psychological barrier of Rs. 15,000 crores and the production has been pretty good as we produced 60 aircraft and helicopters, achieved the initial operational clearance (II) of LCA and filed record 209 patents during the year", said Dr. R.K. Tyagi, Chairman, HAL. "We are preparing the company for 2020 and beyond", he added. HAL`s Value of Production (VOP) for FY 2013-14, stood at Rs. 15,296 crores as against the figure of Rs. 14,202 crores of the previous year. The operating profit went up to Rs. 1,651 crores in the FY 2013-14 as against Rs. 1,194 crores in 2012-13.

IDFC, Bandhan get banking licences[03/04/2014]
IDFC and Bandhan Financial Services Pvt Ltd on 2nd April 2014 won banking licences, with the RBI approving permits for only two of the 25 applicants. A day after the Election Commission permitted it to go ahead with the issue of new banking licences, the Reserve Bank of India gave in-principle approval to infrastructure finance company IDFC and Kolkata-based microfinance firm Bandhan to comply with the requirements of a fledged bank in 18 months.

With regard to the application of the Department of Posts, the RBI accepted the recommendation of the high-level screening committee to take further action in consultation with the government. The RBI originally received 27 applications in July 2013, after which Tata Sons and Videocon Group withdrew, leaving 25 contenders in the fray.

Besides India Post, the other applicants included state-run IFCI and private sector Anil Ambani group and Aditya Birla group, Bajaj Finance, Muthoot Finance, Religare Enterprises and Shriram Capital.

Sports Ministry derecognises IABF[01/04/2014]
The suspended Indian Amateur Boxing Federation's refusal to comply with its directives, the Sports Ministry on Tuesday derecognised the IABF with immediate effect. It comes as another massive jolt to the IABF, which has already been terminated by its international parent body, AIBA.

"The matter has been considered in totality and keeping in view all relevant facts including the fact that the International Federation of Boxing has withdrawn its recognition to IABF, it has been decided to withdraw the recognition granted by Government of India to IABF with immediate effect," a source in the Ministry said.

The IABF was provisionally suspended by the Ministry in December 2012. The Ministry had asked the IABF to hold fresh elections and make its constitution compliant with the National Sports Code.

                                    NEXT PAGE