1 March 2014 Current Affairs
National Food Security Act Comes into Force In
Madhya Pradesh
National Food Security Act has come into force in Madhya Pradesh
from 1 March 2014. Total population of 75 percent people will be covered under
the Act.This implementation of the National Food Security Act in the state is a
part of the national Bill that became an Act after receiving the nod by the
President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on 10 September 2013.
World’s Largest Aircraft Unveiled In Britain
Britain has unveiled the world’s largest aircraft—a 300 feet long
monster which is part plane, airship and helicopter, capable of flying non-stop
for three weeks without refuelling. The Airlander, which was originally
developed for the US military, is 300 feet (91 metres) long, according its
British maker Hybrid Air Vehicles. It was shown off in a giant hangar in
Cardington, central England, where great British airships of the past were
built, including the ill-fated R101. The R101 crashed in 1930 on its maiden
voyage, killing 48 passenger and crew. The new craft is longer than the current
record holder, the Russian Antonov An-225, which is 84 metres long, and the
Boeing 747-8, at 76 metres long.
2 March 2014 Current
Affairs
Union Cabinet Clears Reservation For Jat
Community Under OBC quota
The Union Cabinet on 2 March cleared reservation for the Jat
community under the central list of OBC (other backward castes quota) category
in nine northern states. The decision would pave the way for the community
members to avail benefits of reservation in central government jobs and central
education institutions as per the existing norms. The Central list of OBCs for
the states of Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya pradesh,
Rajasthan, Uttarrakhand, Uttar Pradesh and the National capital territory of
Delhi will include the Jat community.
DMIC project Launched In UP
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma and Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on 2 March launched the Delhi-Mumbai
Industrial Corridor (DMIC) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. With the launch of DMIC
in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh is poised to go through a transformation in terms of
industrialisation and generation of employment.This is because Uttar Pradesh is
the meeting point of the Eastern and the Western Corridors.
3 March 2014 Current Affairs
Arvind Bhat Won German Open Title
Indian Shuttler, Arvind Bhat won the German Open Grand Prix Men’s
singles title on 3 March. He defeated Hans-Kristian Vittinghus of Denmark in
the final at Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany. Arvind has won six International titles,
including the Scottish Open 2004 and the Czech International 2007.
R K Tewari Takes Charge As New CBDT Chairman
Senior IRS officer R K Tewari on 3 March took charge as the new
Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex authority of the
Income Tax Department. Tewari, a 1976-batch Indian Revenue Service officer, was
posted as the Member (Legislation and Computerisation) in CBDT. The appointment
was taken after Sudha Sharma retired on 28 February 2014. Tewari has earlier
served in various positions in the Income Tax Department, including as a Chief
Commissioner in the national capital.
4 March 2014 Current Affairs
Union Ministry of Minority Affairs Launched
Maulana Azad Sehat Scheme
Union Ministry of Minority Affairs on 4 March launched Maulana
Azad Sehat Scheme for the benefits and welfare of minorities of India.Under the
Maulana Azad Sehat scheme, “Sehat Card” would be issued to every student of the
Institution financially aided by Maulana Azad Education Foundation
(MAEF).Ministry of Minority affairs also launched a new scheme for Nalanda
Project to provide benefits in the higher studies program.The Nalanda Project
is basically a faculty development program which is taken up at Aligarh Muslim
University.Aligarh Muslim University is main and premier university in
India.
Sheila Dikshit Appointed as the new Governor
of Kerala
Sheila Dikshit, the
former three-term Chief Minister of Delhi, was appointed as the Governor of
Kerala on 4 March. Dikshit succeeds Nikhil Kumar. Dikshit is a senior congress
leader and has served Delhi three times, as its Chief Minister from 1998 to
2013. She had represented the Kannauj Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar
Pradesh during 1984 to 1989.
5 March 2014 Current
Affairs
Sports Minister Inaugurated National Cycling
Academy In New Delhi
Union Sports Minister Jitendra Singh on 5 March inaugurated the
National Cycling Academy at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi with
the purpose of boosting the cycling talent. Sports Authority of India (SAI)
already has an Indoor Cycling Velodrome with air-conditioning facilities. It
was decided in a meeting of the Governing Body of SAI to set up a National
Cycling Academy (SAINCA) in New Delhi.
Ministry of Petroleum Launched ‘Dial Bharatgas
Mini’ Service
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on 5 March
launched a value added service from Bharat Petroleum called ‘Dial Bharatgas
Mini’. People desirous of availing a Bharatgas Mini (5 kg cylinder) can dial
the toll free number 1800224344 and order a new connection or a refill
cylinder. This service has been launched in the cities of Delhi, Bangalore,
Hyderabad and Ahmedabad today. It will be available in Mumbai and Pune in the
first week of March and extended to other cities in a phased manner.
6 March 2014 Current
Affairs
NDMC Launched Stri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana In
Delhi
The North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC ) on 6 March
launched a new health scheme called ‘ Stri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna ‘ for the
women welfare.The Scheme aims to bring services closer for those living in
rural areas and unauthorized colonies. Under the scheme, health camps and mass
awareness drives will be held in various areas of north Delhi. The medical
services will be provided through various nodal centres, hospitals and mobile
dispensaries marked for the programme.
World Dentist Day Observed Across The World On
6 March 2014
World Dentist Day is being observed across the world on 6 March
2014. The day is observed every year to raise awareness about dental health. On
this day the Indian Dentists Association (IDA) organizes Continuing Medical
Education (CME), seminars and workshops to update the dentists about the
various developmental programme, which is aimed towards improving the dental
health.
7 March 2014 Current
Affairs
Tom Albanese Appointed as CEO of Vedanta
Resources
Tom Albanese, former Rio Tinto Chief, has been appointed as the
new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vedanta Resources .Tom will take over as
the charges of CEO and join the Vedanta board with effect from 1 April 2014.
Vedanta Resources is global mining giant with mostly India-centric operations.
Avaya Appointed Priyadarshi Mohapatra As new
MD for India and SAARC
Technology firm Avaya has appointed Priyadarshi Mohapatra as its
Managing Director (MD) for India and SAARC operations. He will be responsible
for providing strategic direction to the India operations, managing India
business priorities, and enhancing Avaya’s position as a leading business
communications company.
Chinese Woman Named World’s Youngest
Billionaire
A 24-year-old Hong Kong-based woman has been named the world’s
youngest billionaire, replacing a Facebook co-founder and spurring gossip in
the city.Perenna Kei, a graduate from the University of London who lives in
Hong Kong, was ranked by Forbes as the world’s youngest tycoon in its annual
super-rich list, with a net worth of $1.3 billion.
8 March 2014 Current
Affairs
Mumbai Police Starts SMS helpline For Women
Travelling Alone
The Mumbai Police on 8 March launched a free SMS service for
ensuring safety of women travelling alone or in odd hours. Under ‘Travel Safe
When Alone’ initiative, any women before taking an auto rickshaw or taxi could
message registration number of the vehicle to a dedicated helpline number
9969777888.
International Women’s Day Observed On 8th
March 2014
International Women Day is being observed across the world on 8
March 2014. With the theme INSPIRING CHANGE United Nation celebrated the 2014
Women day. International women’s day is also called Working women’s day. United
Nations celebrated this day with the theme Inspiring Change. In 1911, these
celebrations were started for the first time. Clara, a German, had proposed
this day. First international women’s conference held at Copenhegen. This day
celebrated to remember the achievements of the women.
Indian Essayist Selected For Windham Cambell
Literature Prize
Yale University announced that Pankaj Misra, Indian Essayist,
Selected for Windham Cambell Literature Prize under nonfiction category.
Candidates who were selected under the categories fiction, drama and nonfiction
will be award with the cash amount of $ 1, 50,000.
9 March 2014 Current Affairs
Farm Kit To Detect Virus In Shrimps
Mangalore-based College of Fisheries has developed a diagnostic
kit for the detection of ‘white spot virus’ in shrimps. This virus spread all
over the world. Due to this virus, shrimps industry is facing Rs.500 crores
loss annually. Developed by the Department of Aquaculture of the college, the
technology was evaluated in shrimp farms in India and outside since 2006. The
technology was developed with funding assistance from the Department of
Biotechnology of the Government of India.
Indian American Abraham Pannikottu To Develop
Zero Pressure Tyres
Zero Pressure tyre, a totally new concept of tyre is being
developed by An Indian-American owned engineering firm. American Engineering
Group (AEG) at Akron (Ohio-based), has receives a huge amount for Phase-II
project from the US Department of Defense to develop tyers. Tyer can resist
even after being ragged by roadside bombs or gunfire. Zero pressure tyres have
been testing for a long time, it records some major drawbacks – bumpy rides and
overheating.
10 March 2014 Current
Affairs
India is Dubai’s Largest Non Oil Trading
Partner In 2013-14
According to the report released by Dubai Department of Economic
Development marked India has once again emerged as the largest non oil trading
partner of Dubai in 2013-14. The bilateral trade between the two countries in
2013-14 crossed 37 billion US dollar, which is 10 percent of the overall trade.
Notre Dame Chemists Discovered New Class Of
Antibiotics
A team of University of Notre Dame researchers led by Mayland
Chang and Shahriar Mobashery have discovered a new class of antibiotics to
fight bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and
other drug-resistant bacteria that threaten public health. Their research is
published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society in an article titled
“Discovery of a New Class of Non-beta-lactam Inhibitors of Penicillin-Binding
Proteins with Gram-Positive Antibacterial Activity.” The new class, called
oxadiazoles, was discovered in silico (by computer) screening and has shown promise
in the treatment of MRSA in mouse models of infection.
China Tested Anti-smog Drone Aircraft
China tested a domestically-produced anti-smog drone aircraft.The
aircraft was designed to disperse smog. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
dispersed fog and smog by releasing a chemical catalyst. The chemical will
freeze pollutants and make them fall to the ground.
11 March 2014 Current
Affairs
Sahitya Akademi Awards Presented
Famous poets Javed Akhtar (Urdu), Subodh Sarkar (Bengali) and
Ambika Dutt (Rajasthani) were among the literary giants who were felicitated by
the Sahitya Akademi at the ongoing annual “Festival of Letters” in New Delhi on
11 March. Novelists Mridula Garg (Hindi), Manmohan (Punjabi) and R.N. Joe D’
Cruz (Tamil) were among those who accepted the awards from the Sahitya Akademi
president Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari. The award winners included Rabindra Sarkar
(Assamese), Anil Boro (Bodo), Sita Ram Sapolia (Dogri), Temsula Ao (English),
Chinu Modi (Gujarati), C.N. Ramachandran (Kannada), Mohi-ud-Din Reshi
(Kashmiri), Tukaram Ram Shet (Konkani), Sureshwar Jha (Maithili), M. N. Paloor
(Malayalam), Makhonmani Mongsaba (Manipuri) and Satish Kalsekar (Marathi),
Katyayani Vidmahe(Telugu).
Former SC Judge Appointed As FPSB chairman
Justice (Retd.) BN Srikrishna has been appointed as the Chairman
of Financial Planning Standards Board India (FPSB). He will succeed Dhirendra
Swarup, the former chairman of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development
Authority (PFRDA). Srikrishna is a retired judge of Supreme Court and has
served as the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court.He has also served as the
Chairman of the Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) set up
in March 2011 by the Union Ministry of Finance. He also headed the Sixth
Central Pay Commission set up by the Union Government on 5 October 2006.
Michelle Bachelet Sworn In as Chile’s President
Michelle Bachelet has been sworn-in as the President of Chile in
Valparaiso on 11 March. She succeeded the conservative President Sebastian
Pinera. In the Presidential election conducted in December 2013, Michelle
won 62 percent of the vote in the second round against the 38 percent vote won
by the conservative leader Evelyn Matthei. This is her second term in the
office and with this swearing-in she became the first Chilean President in over
half a century to return for the second term.
12 March 2014 Current
Affairs
Soma Mondal Takes Over As Director
(Commercial) of NALCO
Soma Mondal has been appointed as the new Director
(Commercial) of Navratna PSU National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) on 12
March. Mondal joined Nalco in 1984 as a Graduate Engineer Trainee. Earlier, she
was working with the company as executive director (marketing) at Nalco’s
corporate office.
Assam and Nagaland First States To Get Plastic
Photo IDs For Elections
Assam and Nagaland will be the first two states in India to be
issued Plastic Photo Identity Card for elections. Earlier Election Commission
of India has announced that it is planning to launch plastic voter ID like-hard
plastic driving license that will replace old voter ID cards. Currently
Election Commission issues the laminated voter identity cards that exists from
a long period of time. Sudhir Tripathi, the Deputy Election Commissioner has
disclosed about this plastic voter ID cards in Kohima on 12 March 2014 .
13 March 2014 Current
Affairs
World Kidney Day 2014 Observed Across The
World
World Kidney Day 2014 was observed on 13 March 2014 with the
theme, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and aging. World Kidney Day (WKD) is
observed annually on the 2nd Thursday in March. Australia also observed the
World Kidney Day with the theme Kidneys Age, Just Like You-take care of them to
create awareness on the prevention of kidney diseases. World Kidney Day (WKD)
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.
Rakesh Sethi Appointed As Allahabad Bank CMD
Rakesh Sethi has been appointed as the new Chairman and Managing
Director (CMD) of Allahabad Bank . Sethi will take charge of CMD with immediate
effect as the post was lying vacant since January 2014 when Shubhlakshmi Panse
retired.
Two Indians Among America’s Most Powerful CEOs
Under-40
In the Forbes Magazine List, Among Most powerful American CEO’s
under age 40, Two Indian’s were named. This list was topped by Google CEO and
Co-Founder Larry Page. Hari K Ravichandran stood at 19th position. He is
Endurance International Group CEO. Ashish Pandey stood at 20th place. He is
Asset Management Firm Altisource Asset Management CEO.
14 March 2014 Current Affairs
Web-GIS Tool For Estimating Rooftop Solar
Power Potential
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has unveiled the
first-ever cloud based open-source Web-GIS Tool for estimating rooftop solar
power potential for Indian solar cities. The main objective of this initiative
is to develop a high performing and flexible Web-GIS tool to estimate the
rooftop solar power potential for Indian cities. The web-GIS tool will be
launched in Chandigarh followed by other cities.This initiative is being
supported by Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), with strategic support
from the Chandigarh Renewable Energy Science and Technology Promotion Society
(CREST), the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the Solar Energy
Corporation of India (SECI), and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
Largest Yellow Star Ever Found In Galaxy
Astronomers have spotted the largest yellow star ever observed in
our galaxy and say it is 1,300 times larger than our own yellow star, the sun.
The yellow hypergiant star HR 5171 A is also in the top-10 of the largest stars
known and about one million times brighter than the sun.Despite its great
distance of nearly 12,000 light-years from earth, the object can just about be
seen with the naked eye. The two stars are so close that they touch and the
whole system resembles a gigantic peanut. His team estimated the star is 50
percent larger than the famous red supergiant Betelgeuse. Yellow hypergiants
are very rare, with only a dozen or so known in our galaxy. HR 5171 A has been
getting bigger over the last 40 years.
15 March 2014 Current Affairs
Tomas Halik Won 2014 Templeton Prize
Czech priest and intellectual Tomas Halik has won the 2014
Templeton Prize.Under the award he will receive 1.1 million Euro.In 2012 the
prize went to the 14th Dalai Lama and last year to South African Archbishop and
anti-apartheid fighter Desmond Tutu.
NTPC approved 14366-crore rupees Investment
For Jharkhand Plant
NTPC on 15 March approved an investment of Rs 14,366.58 crore for
its Karanpura thermal power project in Jharkhand, for which coal blocks were
reallocated to the company last year. The Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI)
in 2013 cleared the proposal of NTPC allowing it to set up a 1980 MW power
plant with three units of 660 MW each. The project was struck, since 2008
following the withdrawal of coal linkages by the Coal Ministry.
16 March 2014 Current Affairs
Akhilesh Laid Foundation For World’s Tallest
Temple
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on 16 March laid the
foundation stone of a project to build a 70-storey temple in Vrindavan –
Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir — which, when finished, is billed to be the
tallest shrine in the world. This project will cost more than Rs. 300 crore and
its builder International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is hoping
to conclude the temple construction within the next five years.The proposed
Chandrodaya Mandir, a 213 metres high one of its kind temple is expected to
mark Vrindavan, where Hindu deity Krishna is said to have spent his childhood,
on the world spiritual map.
Nico Rosberg Won Australian Grand Prix
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany won the Australian Grand
Prix on 16 March. Rosberg dominated the Australian Grand Prix to claim the
fourth F1 victory of his career and the first in the new turbo-powered era.
Kevin Magnussen of Denmark (McLaren) was declared second after Red Bull’s
Daniel Ricciardo was disqualified after finishing second in the race. Ricciardo
was disqualified for breach of fuel regulations. Jenson Button of Great Britain
also representing McLaren finished the podium with third place.
17 March 2014 Current
Affairs
Hindujas Among Britain’s Top Three Richest
Families
The Hinduja brothers have emerged the third richest family in
Britain, as part of an analysis of the divide between the rich and poor in the
United Kingdom. According to research published by the charity, Oxfam on 17
March, the latest rich list from Forbes magazine showed that London-based
Srichand and Gopichand Hinduja have a combined wealth of $10 billion. The five
top U.K. entries analysed for its A Tale of Two Britains report found the
family of the Duke of Westminster the richest followed by David and Simon
Reuben, the Hindujas, the Cadogan family, and Sports Direct retail boss Mike
Ashley who, between them, had property, savings and other assets worth £28.2
billion. It implies that the country’s five richest families now own more
wealth than the poorest 20 per cent of the population, with their wealth
totalling £28.1 billion — an average of £2,230 each.
Crimea Lawmakers Declared Independence
Crimea’s parliament declared that the region is an independent
state on 17 March, a day after residents voted overwhelmingly to break away
from Ukraine and seek to become part of Russia.The announcement followed a
region-wide referendum, in which residents of the autonomous and contested
peninsula voted to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. With about half of the
votes counted, roughly 95 percent of Crimeans had voted to split from Ukraine.
