December 2013 Current Affairs Study Material

INTERNATIONAL
Asian
Countries
Top
OECDs
PISA
survey
of
Global
Education
According to the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) latest
survey report , which evaluates the knowledge and skills of the worlds 15-year-olds in 65 countries and
has been released on 3 December. The OECDs PISA (Programme for International Student
Assessment) 2012 tested more than 510,000 students in 65 countries and economies on maths, reading
and
science.
The
main
focus
was
on
maths.
Highlights
of
the
Survey
Report
:* Asian nations cemented their top positions in an eagerly awaited report on global education , as their
students continued to outshine western counterparts in maths, science and reading.
*
Shanghai
again
ranked
first
in
maths,
science
and
reading
.
* Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea rounded out the top five in maths skills.
* Already strong performers in 2009, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore continued to improve their
performances
in
the
three
categories.
* The report highlighted Italy, Poland and Portugal for showing improvements in maths skills since the last
survey
,but
noted
drops
in
Sweden
and
Finland.
*
Peru
ranked
at
the
bottom
of
the
list
in
all
three
categories.
* 23 per cent of students in OECD countries, and 32 per cent overall, failed to master the simplest maths
problems.Boys performed better than girls in maths. They scored higher in 37 out of the 65 countries and
economies,
while
girls
outperformed
boys
in
5
countries.
* Across OECD countries, 8.4% of students are top performers in reading. Shanghai-China has the
largest proportion of top performers 25.1%. Over 15% of students in Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore
are top performers in reading, as are more than 10% of students in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland,
France, Ireland, Korea, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway and Chinese Taipei.
Thailands
PM
Yingluck
Shinawatra
Dissolves
Parliament
Thailands Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on 9 December formally dissolved the countrys parliament
and called for new elections.The new elections are scheduled to take place on 2 February 2014.The
members of the opposition party (Democrat Party) of Thailand resigned en masse from the Parliament on
8 December 2013 to protest a Government claimed by them as illegitimate.The opposition party of
Thailand cant work in the legislature anymore because the government is no longer accepted by the
people. This will bring in a political crisis in the country.The opposition party has aligned with the antigovernment protesters, who have staged the biggest rally of the country in the years. These
demonstrations began in November 2013 and aims to oust Prime Minister of Thailand, Yingluck
Shinawatra from the office.Yingluck Shinawatra won the elections in 2011. The opposition party
Democrats has not won an election, since 1992. Democrat Party has won most of the seats on the
Parliament in 1948, 1976 and 1992 but has never won an outright Parliamentary majority.
Michelle
Bachelet
Elected
as
Chilean
President
Socialist Michelle Bachelet has been elected as Chiles president on 15 December for a second time by a
wide margin. Bachelet, a moderate socialist, got 62 percent votes against 38 percent votes for Evelyn
Matthei, a former minister from the governing centre-right coalition.Michelle Bachelet, candidate for a
centre-left coalition of parties known as Nueva Mayoria , she first served from 2006 to 2010, but under
Chiles constitution she could not stand for a second consecutive term.She was the first woman President
of Chile.She begins her second turn in the office next year.The term of the president is for four
years.Michelle Bachelet will succeed the present president Sebastian Pinera.
Saudi
Arabia
Passed
Anti-Terror
Law
Saudi Arabias Cabinet has approved a new anti-terrorism draft law on 16 December that criminalizes

acts that disturb public order, defame the reputation of the state or threaten the kingdoms unity, raising
concerns by activists it could be used to quash political dissent.
Mexicos
President
Signed
Energy
Reform
Law
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on 20 December signed into law a sweeping reform that will allow
private companies to drill for oil and gas, and end a seven-decade-long monopoly held by the state oil
company.Mexico President called the energy bill a fundamental, historic reform needed for Mexico to
speed up the lagging pace of its economic growth.The bill was approved by both houses of Congress and
it has also received the approval from majority of Mexicos states legislatures, which was required for any
constitutional changes.

INDIA & WORLD

Brahmaputra
Cruises
Among
World
Top
10
Adventurous
Cruises
Brahmaputra Cruises by Assam Bengal Navigation Company has been recognised by CNN
International as one of the top 10 Most Adventurous Cruises in the World for 2013.The Brahmaputra
Cruises (Jungle Book Tour/India) has been ranked sixth on 3 December among the cruises including the
Amazon, the Antartica, the North Pole, Australia and Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Recalling that Assam
Bengal Navigation Company, an Indo-British joint venture, had pioneered long-distance river cruising in
India in 2003.Assam Bengal Navigation Company managing director Ashish Phookan announced the
company had pioneered long-distance river cruising in India in 2003 and has completed ten years of
cruising on Brahmaputra river on the ABN Charaidew this year.
Ten
Indian
Universities
In
Developing
Nations
Top
100
List
Indian universities have grabbed 10 of the top 100 slots in the first-ever rankings of higher education
institutions from emerging economies across the globe, a list dominated by Chinese varsities. The Times
Higher Education magazine , known for its definitive educational rankings, published on 5 December the
worlds first ranking for universities in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) and 17 other
emerging economies. Pakistan was included in the analysis, but none of its institutions make the
tables.Indian representation is led by Panjab University, which comes in joint 13th with Chinas Renmin
University. The alma mater of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is followed by Indian institutes of
Technology (IITs) including Kharagpur (30th), Kanpur (34th), Delhi and Roorkee (joint 37th), Guwahati
(46) and Madras, which shares 47th place with Jadavpur University. India remains conspicuously absent
from the top 10, which is largely dominated by Chinese institutions with Peking and Tsinghua University
coming in at No 1 and 2. The latest annual tables, a subsidiary of the prestigious Times Higher Education
World University Rankings, are based on the same range of 13 rigorous performance indicators used to
create the annual world university rankings including teaching, research, knowledge transfer and
international outlook.
India
2nd
Largest
Supplier
Of
Overseas
Students
For
Australia
According to the latest data released on 9 December , India has emerged as the 2nd largest supplier of
higher education students for Australian universities.The number of Indian students to undertake higher
education in Australia has witnessed growth this year (2013) with total enrolments reaching over 15,800
during the period of January-October as compared to 12,062 last year (2012).The data indicated that
even if the total enrolments dropped, India emerged as the second top supplier of international students
for Australia.Vocational Education and Training (VET) was the sector that saw an overall drop in total
enrolments from India as well China, the topmost supplier of overseas students for Australia.The top five
source countries for students studying in Australia are China (29.7 per cent), India (9.2), Korea (5.3),
Vietnam (4.8) and Malaysia (4.7).

Mauritius-India Agreed To Limitation Of Benefits Clause In Revised Tax Treaty

Mauritius has agreed to include a limitation of benefits (LOB) clause in its revised tax treaty with
India.This was revealed by the Mauritius Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Marc Hein on 9
December.While details of this clause in the India-Mauritius tax treaty are being worked out, LoB clauses
aim to prevent treaty shopping or inappropriate use of tax agreements by third-country investors. Treaty
benefits are limited by this clause to those who meet certain conditions, including those concerned with
business, residency and investment commitments of anyone seeking benefit of a Double Taxation
Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
India
and
Nepal
Agreed
To
Check
illegal
Border
Trade
India and Nepal on 22 December agreed to address each others concerns on commerce and transit,
including reduction of tariff barriers and checking illegal trade along the border. The decision was made
during the two-day Inter-Governmental Committee meeting that concluded in Kathmandu.The delegations
of the two sides were led by the Commerce Secretaries of the two countries namely SR Rao of India and
Madhav Prasad Regmi of Nepal.

NATIONAL
Department of Posts Launched Express Parcel and Business Parcel Services
The Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications & IT, on 2 December launched an Express Parcel
service and Business Parcel Services for speedy delivery of parcels across the country. The services
were launched by Smt. P. Gopinath, Secretary, Department of Posts, at a function organized at New
Delhi G.P.O. These two new parcel services aim to promote the e-commerce market in India by offering
reliable and cost efficient delivery solutions. Whereas Express Parcel is an air mail service providing
guaranteed time bound delivery of parcels, Business Parcel will provide fast, secure and cost efficient
transmission of parcels through surface.These services will have Cash on Delivery facility which has
become a pre-requisite today for e-commerce parcels.
Supreme
Court
Judgement
On
Homosexuality
Indias Supreme Court on 11 December upheld the constitutional validity of Section 377 of the Indian
Penal Code making gay sex an offence punishable with upto life imprisonment.A bench of justices G S
Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhaya set aside the Delhi High Courts verdict which had in 2009 decriminalised
gay sex among consenting adults in private.The Supreme Court bench allowed the appeals filed by
various social and religious organisations challenging the Delhi high court verdict on the ground that gay
sex is against the cultural and religious values of the country. With the apex court verdict, the operation of
penal provision against gay sex has come into force.The Delhi High Court had on 2 July 2009
decriminalised gay sex as provided in Section 377 of the IPC and had ruled that sex between two
consenting adults in private would not be an offence.
Cabinet Approved The Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and
Reparations)
Bill,
2013
The Union Cabinet on 16 December approved the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence
(Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2013.The bill aimed to prevent and tackle the communal
violence in the country and punish the perpetrators of the violence.The Bill has been named as The
Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2013.The Bill
has the provision of creating an institutional arrangement for speedy investigation, disposal of cases and
for providing relief and rehabilitation to victims of communal violence. It also seeks imposition of
enhanced punishment on persons involved in communal violence.
Prime Minister Released Postage Stamp On Former Punjab CM Beant Singh
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on 17 December released a postage stamp in honour of former

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Beant Singh.He was an Indian National Congress politician and the Chief
Minister of Punjab from 1992 to 1995. He was killed by suspected Khalistani separatists in a car bombing.
Lok
Sabha
Passed
The
Lokpal
and
Lokayukta
Bill
,2011
The Lok Sabha on 18 December approved the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 .The bill was already
passed by the Lok Sabha in December 2011 but it came to the house again as it underwent amendments
before being approved by the Rajya Sabha on 17 December 2013.The bill will now go to President
Pranab Mukherjee for his approval before it becomes law.The Bill seeks to establish an anti-corruption
watchdog that will have in its purview even the Prime Minister Office (PMO).The Lokpal consists of a
Chairperson and a maximum of eight members of which 50% shall be judicial members.The Lokpal
Chairperson or member shall not be connected with any political party and one member will be an
eminent jurist nominated by the President.The Bill lays down clear time lines for Preliminary enquiry &
investigation and trial and towards this end, the Bill provides for setting up of Special Courts.

STATES
Bihar Govt. Announced New Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy For Maoists
The Bihar Governments Principal Secretary for the Cabinet Coordination Committee, Brajesh Mehrotra,
has on 3 December approved a new surrender and rehabilitation policy for Maoists in the state.The policy
was approved in a Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.The new surrender
policy aimed to convince the Naxals to put down arms and lead a normal life and bring youths to the
mainstream of society.The move comes after seven policemen were killed in a land mine blast by the
Maoists in Aurangabad district of the state on 3 December 2013. According to the new policy 2.5 lakh
rupees would be given for state, regional, central committees and to politbureau members of Maoists who
surrender under the new policy.
Maharashtra
Cabinet
Approved
Sets
Up
Sugarcane
Control
Board
The Maharashtra state cabinet has on 4 December approved the setting up of a Sugarcane Control
Board in the state.The decision came in the wake of the recent violent agitation by farmers, demanding
increased price for sugarcane. The board would function on the lines of state electricity regulatory
commission.The cabinet also approved the draft Maharashtra Sugarcane (Purchase and Supply) Bill
2013, expected to be tabled in the winter session of the state legislature. Maharashtra has 202 registered
co-operative sugar factories and over 65 private ones.
Karnataka
Assembly Passed Essential Services Maintenance (ESMA) Bill 2013
The Karnataka state assembly on 4 December passed the Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance
(ESMA) Bill 2013. According to the new bill, striking work will be a non-bailable offence and police can
arrest a striking employee without warrant. The Bill, popularly known as ESMA, is to put an end to
employees working in water, power, health, transport and service sectors going on strikes,
inconveniencing people.As per the ESMA Bill 2013, the definition of essential services includes any
service connected with the production, generation, storage, transmission, supply or distribution of water
or electricity and any transportation service for the carriage of passengers or goods by motor vehicles.
Maharashtra
Legislative
Assembly
Passed
Anti-Superstition
Bill
Maharashtra Assembly on 13 December passed the much-awaited Anti-Superstition Bill.The Bill seeks to
curb black magic and other inhuman practices arising out of superstition.It came after four months of the
murder of the noted rationalist Dr. Narendra Dabholkar on 20 August 2013 in Pune, who fought for such a
law for more than for one and a half decade. Earlier, the State Government of Maharashtra on 21 August
2013 adopted an Anti-Black Magic and Superstition Ordinance.

CONFERENCES
8th
Asia
Gas
Partnership
Summit
Held
In
New
Delhi
The 8th Asia Gas Partnership Summit (AGPS) was held from 3 4 December 2013 at New Delhi,
India.The 8th AGPS was organized by GAIL (India) Limited and Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (FICCI).The theme of the conference is Asian Gas Market : Challenges and
Opportunities in the Changing Paradigm .Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 3 December inaugurated
the summit.During the summit Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh dedicated GAIL India Ltds
1000 km Dabhol-Bangalore natural gas pipeline to the Nation.The Dabhol Bangaluru pipeline connects
South India to the national gas grid for the first time.Pipeline has been constructed at an investment of
4500 crore rupees with a design capacity of 16 MMSCMD of natural gas which can produce 3000 MW of
clean energy.The pipeline starts at Dabhol in Maharashtra and passes through Belgaum, Dharwad,
Gadag, Bellary, Devanagere, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Ramanagaram, Bengaluru Rural and Bengaluru
Urban districts.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Indian
Origin
Doctor
Jaswinder
S
Bamrah
Gets
Britain
Excellence
Award
Indian-origin doctor Jaswinder S Bamrah, consultant psychiatrist in Manchester, has on 1 December
received Asian Lite Professional Excellence Award for his contribution to the medical field in the UK. He is
a dedicated medical professional conducting a large number of lectures nationally to psychiatrists,
general practitioners, to other disciplines and voluntary organisations such as Alzheimers Disease
Society and PACE on a variety of topics, such as the role of carers in the community, dementia, which
antidepressant to choose, suicides and treatment of major depression in the Asian community.
Indian-American
Author
Manil
Suri
Won
Literary
Award
In
Britain
Indian-American mathematician and author Manil Suri has won this years Bad Sex in Fiction Award by
Britains Literary Review magazine for his book The City of Devi.The book was published in 2013. The
prize was presented by British actress, author and columnist Joan Collins on December 3 in London.Suri,
who lives in US and works as a professor of mathematics at the University of Maryland, was, however,
unable to accept the prize in person.The City of Devi is the third novel by the author. His other two
novels are The Death of Vishnu and The Age of Shiva. Suri has been long listed for the Man Booker
Prize in 2001 and shortlisted for the Pen/Faulkner Award.He won the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize in
2002.The annual award was introduced by the magazine in 1993.
ONGCs
Vasudeva
Won

SCOPE

Leadership
Excellence
Award
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) chairman Sudhir Vasudeva and Engineers India Ltd head A K
Purwaha have been adjudged the best leaders in public sector companies.Vasudeva won the SCOPE
Excellence Award for Individual Leadership in the Maharatna/Navaratna public sector enterprises
category, while A K Purwaha got the same award in the Miniratna PSE category.The award winners were
chosen by the eminent jury.The jury met on 12 December and selected the winners of the SCOPE
Excellence Awards 2011-12, SCOPE .The SCOPE Excellence Awards Individual Leadership
CategoryIII (Other Profit Making PSEs) went to A A Naqvi, managing director, National Backward
Classes Finance and Development Corporation.
GHIAL
Awarded
British
Safety
Councils
Sword
of
Honour
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), operated by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL)
, has been awarded the Sword of Honour for safety management.The award was in recognition of its
effective implementation of occupational health and safety management systems from the British Safety
Council for health and safety works at the airport.The Sword of Honour is considered to be the Oscar of

the Safety World. RGIA is the first Indian airport to receive this honour in the world.In the month of
December the award was presented to CEO-GHIAL in a glittering ceremony held at the famous
Goldsmiths hall at London.
Vijayan
Pillai
Gets
Karshakasree
Award

2014
J Vijayan Pillai, native of Chavara, Kollam (Kerala), has been selected on 21 December for the
Karshakasree award 2014, instituted by Malayalam Manorama to honour the best farmer in the state. The
award carries a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, gold medal and a memento. Pillai is the 12th recipient of the
award. He was chosen for his efforts to manage a dairy farm which consists of 100 cows along with
paddy, plantain, vegetables farming and aqua farming.

SPORTS & GAMES

India
To
Host
Under-17
FIFA
World
Cup
In
2017
India have won the right to host the 2017 Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017 by the FIFA executive
committee in its meeting at Salvador de Bahia in Brazil on 5 December . By virtue of being the host
country, India will take part in the 24-nation tournament for the first time in its history. This will be the
biggest ever football tournament in the country as this is the first FIFA event in the countrys history. India
has hosted Asian Football Confederations Youth Championships (Under-20) in 2006 and then the AFC
Challenge Cup in 2008 but never has hosted any FIFA tournament.United Arab Emirates hosted the
tournament this year while Chile will be the host country for the 2015 edition.
Chitra
Won
Bronze
at
IBSF
World
Snooker
Championships
Indias Chitra Magimairajan had to settle for a bronze at the International Billiards & Snooker Federation
(IBSF) World Snooker Championship held at Daugvapils, Latvia. She lost to Wendy Jans of Belgium in
the semifinals.In the final, Wendy Jans successfully defended her title by defeating Chunxia Shi of
China.The next edition of the IBSF World Snooker Championship will be held at Bangalore in November
2014. The last edition was held at Sofia, Bulgaria in 2012.
India
Won
Womens
Kabaddi
World
Cup
2013
India on 12 December won the womens Kabaddi World Cup championship for the third time in a row,
defeating New Zealand 49-21 in the summit clash in Jalandhar, Punjab. The Indian womens team led
their New Zealand counterparts for most part of the match and held out a strong challenge by the visitors
in the second half, on course to a resounding win. The Indian team took home a first-place prize of 1
crore rupees. Anu Rani was adjudged the best stopper while Ram Bateri was declared the best raider.
Both received a Maruti Alto car each.Indian womens team has won 2011, 2012, and 2013 editions of
World cups.
Cheteshwar
Pujara
is
ICCs
Emerging
Cricketer
of
theYear
The Indian cricketer and a Rising Test batsman, Cheteshwar Pujara has bagged the Emerging Cricketer
of the Year award.The annual International Cricket Council (ICC ) awards were announced in Dubai on
13 December.This is the first ever ICC Award for Pujara.He became the second fastest Indian to score
1000 Test runs during the course of his double hundred against Australia on March at Hyderabad. He put
on the board 370-run record second wicket partnership with Murali Vijay. Pujara, the 25 year old cricketer
has scored 1310 runs in 15 tests with an average of 65.50.Clarke was earlier named in the ICC Test and
ODI Teams of the Year in Mumbai on 3 December 2013.In the same event, India captain Dhoni was
revealed as the Peoples Choice award winner.Australian captain Michael Clarke was the winner of the
Sir Garfield Sobers trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year and was also named as the ICC Test Cricketer of
the Year. In total, there were eleven individual awards. The full list of winners is :* ICC Cricketer of the Year (Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy) Michael Clarke (Australia)
* ICC
Test
Cricketer
of
the
Year
Michael
Clarke
(Australia)

* ICC
Womens
ODI
Cricketer
of
the
Year
Suzie
Bates
(New
Zealand)
* ICC
ODI
Cricketer
of
the
Year
Kumar
Sangakkara
(Sri
Lanka)
* ICC
Emerging
Cricketer
of
the
Year
Cheteshwar
Pujara
(India)
* ICC Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year Kevin OBrien (Ireland)
* ICC
Twenty20 International
Performance
of the
Year Umar Gul (Pakistan)
* ICC
T20I
Womens
Cricketer
of
the
Year
Sarah
Taylor
(England)
* ICC
Spirit
of
Cricket
Award
Mahela
Jayawardena
(Sri
Lanka)
* ICC Umpire of the Year (winning the David Shepherd Trophy) Richard Kettleborough
* LG Peoples Choice Award MS Dhoni
Sunil
Chhetri
Named
2013
AIFF
Player
of
the
Year
Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri was on 20 December named the 2013 AIFF Player of the Year. The
announcement was made by All India Football Federation (AIFF) at the annual general meeting held at
the Football House in the Capital.Chhetri, with 43 goals, is presently Indias highest scorer in international
matches. He had earlier won the award in 2007 and 2011 and joins IM Vijayan, who too had won the
award on three occasions.Oinam Bembem Devi was adjudged the 2013 AIFF Womens Player of the
Year.

ECONOMY
Microsoft
Co-founder
Paul
Allen
Named
Worlds
Wealthiest
Bachelor
According to the Wealth-X, a global wealth intelligence and prospecting company latest report released
on 4 December , with an estimated personal fortune of $15.3 billion, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is
the worlds wealthiest bachelor, followed by Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who has a net worth
of $10.9 billion.Mikhail Prokhorov, owner of an American basketball team, Brooklyn Nets is the worlds
third wealthiest bachelor.
Health
Insurance
Premium
To
Cross
Rs
32K
crore
Mark
By
2016-17
The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) Economic Research Bureau
(AERB) latest study report titled Health Insurance in India-A review released on 8 December.According
to the report , Growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 20 per cent, Indias total
health insurance premium is likely to reach Rs 32,038 crore by 2016-17 from the level of about Rs 13,092
crore recorded as of 2011-12 owing to rising income levels together with growing health insurance
premium.The ASSOCHAM projection is based on average of the compounded annual growth rate
(CAGR) of about 6.7% for income levels of people during 2004-05 and 2011-12 together with 32.5 per
cent CAGR of health insurance premium during 2006-07 and 2011-12.
Indian
Oil
Corporation
Tops
Fortune
India
500
List
The business magazine Fortunes Indian edition released its annual list of Fortune 500 Indian companies
for 2013, on 10 December.According to the list , State-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has emerged as
the countrys biggest company in terms of annual revenue of Rs 4,75,867 crore, followed by Mukesh
Ambani-led private sector giant Reliance Industries (annual revenue of Rs 4,09,883 crore ) at the second
place. Both IOC and RIL have retained their top-two ranks from the previous (2012 )year. In this (2013)
years list, the two are followed by Bharat Petroleum (Rs 2,44,822 crore) at the third place and Hindustan
Petroleum (Rs 2,17,771 crore) at fourth.Besides, there are a total of six state-run companies in the topten positions, as against four from the private sector.
Indians
Most
Optimistic
About
Growth
Prospects
According to a global survey conducted by research firm Ipsos, India has emerged as the most optimistic
country globally with respect to growth prospects in the coming time. More than half (53 per cent) of the
people in India are confident about the countrys future and are hoping that in next one year the economy

will revive. India is followed by Canada and Australia in the second and third place respectively with 47
per cent of their citizens confident about their countrys growth in next 12 months.Besides, China (4th),
Sweden (5th), Argentina (6th), Brazil (7th), Germany (8th) and Russia (9th) and South Africa (10th)
figured in the top 10 list out of 20 countries.The survey was conducted across 20 countries and included
over 16,000 respondents.
United
Nations
Lowers
India
Growth
Forecast
To
4.8%
For
2013
United Nations has on 19 December lowered Indias economic growth forecast for 2013 to 4.8 percent
while warning that emerging markets should be prepared to deal with the impact of US Federal Reserves
quantitative easing programme.According to the UNs World Economic Situation and Prospects 2014
report , Indias economy is forecast to grow at 4.8 percent in 2013, down 1.3 percent from its earlier
projection.Similarly, it has lowered the growth projection for 2014 to 5.3 percent, down 1.2 percent from
earlier forecast. The UN sees India to grow by 5.7 percent in 2015.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

SpaceX
Rocket
Successfully
Launches
Its
First
Commercial
Satellite
An unmanned Falcon 9 rocket developed by Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, blasted off on
3 December to put its first commercial satellite known as SES 8 into orbit. The rocket lifted off from its
seaside launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Perched on top of the rocket was a
7,000-pound (3,175 kg) communications satellite owned by Luxembourg-based SES SA, which operates
a 54-satellite fleet, the worlds second-largest. About 30 minutes after liftoff, the satellite and worth more
than $100 million, was in an elliptical orbit that reached more than 50,000 miles (80,000 km) from Earth,
about a quarter of the way to the moon. From there, SES-8 will manoeuvre itself down to a circular,
22,369-mile (36,000-km) high orbit to provide television, broadband and other communications services
to customers in India, China, Vietnam and elsewhere in Asia.SES-8 is the first commercial
communications satellite to be launched from Cape Canaveral in four years. Previous SES satellites were
launched primarily aboard Russian Proton and European Ariane rockets, which cost far more than the
approximately $55 million the company paid for its ride on SpaceXs Falcon booster.
Greece
Tests
Russian-Made
S-300
Missile
System
for
First
Time
Greek armed forces test-fired a Russian-made S-300 air defense system on 13 December , for the first
time since it was bought 14 years ago. Greece is the only NATO member that has an S-300 in service.
The system was initially purchased by Cyprus in the mid-1990s, and was later transferred to the Greek
island of Crete following objections from Turkey. The launch was carried out as part of the White Eagle
2013 military exercise and was described as successful.
Iran
Sent
Second
Monkey
into
Space
For
Second
Time
Iran has on 14 December successfully launched its second monkey named Fargam into the space and
back, the countrys latest step toward sending humans into orbit.The monkey was flown on Irans liquidfueled Pajohesh (research) rocket for a 15-minute mission that took him approximately 72 miles into
space.This process will help the Iranian Scientists in developing Irans Space Research works with
necessary information, which would enrich their space technology knowhow.The first rocket carrying a
monkey named Pishgam (pioneer) in the space was launched by Iran on 28 January 2013.
First
Human
Artificial
Heart
Implanted
In
France
The first human artificial heart implantation performed in Georges Pompidou Hospital, Paris on 18
December was successful.The artificial heart designed by the French biomedical firm Carmat and
developed by the Dutch based European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS).The artificial
heart can give patients up to five years of extra life, which replaces the real heart.The previous heart

assistance devices are created mainly for temporary use.The artificial heart weighs as little as less than a
kilogram (900grams), almost three times heavier than an average healthy human heart.
India
Successfully
Test
Fires
Nuclear
Capable
Agni-III
Missile
India on 23 December successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-III ballistic missile with a strike
range of more than 3,000 km as part of a user trial by the Army from Wheeler Island off Odisha coast.The
test fire of the surface-to-surface missile was conducted by Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the
Indian Army with the logistic support from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The Agni-III missile is powered by a two-stage solid propellant system.It has a length of 17 metres, 2
metres diameter and launch weight is around 50 tonnes. It can carry a warhead of 1.5 tonne, which is
protected by carbon all composite heat shield.Though the first developmental trial of Agni-III carried out
on July 9, 2006 could not provide desired result, subsequent tests on April 12, 2007, May 7, 2008 and
February 7, 2010 as well as the first user trial on September 21, 2012 from the same base were all
successful.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Justice
D.P
Buch
Sworn
In
As
Gujarat
Lokayukta
Justice (retired) D.P Buch, a retired judge of the Gujarat High Court, was administered the oath
of Lokayukta by Governor Kamla Beniwal at Raj Bhavan in the presence of Chief Minister Narendra Modi
on 11 December.Justice Buch is Gujarats fourth Lokayukta.The post had been lying vacant since the last
incumbent, Justice RM Sonis term expired in December 2003.
Raman
Singh
Sworn
In
As
Chhattisgarh
CM
for
Third
Consecutive
Term
Raman Singh was sworn in as Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh for the third consecutive term on 12
December.Raman Singh retained his Rajnandgaon Assembly constituency by defeating Congress
candidate Alka Mudliyar, the wife of former Congress MLA Uday Mudliyar who was killed in the Darbha
naxal attack in May this year, by a margin of 35,866 votes.Raman Singh, the three-term Chief Minister
who had an uninterrupted 10-year rule in Chhattisgarh-the tribal-dominated state, earned the Chawal
Wale Baba nickname for the popularity of his unique pro-welfare schemes including distribution of rice at
one rupee and two rupees per kg to families belonging to extremely poor and below poverty lines
categories respectively. Raman Singh is the fourth chief minister of Chhattisgarh state.
Harsh
Bhanwala
is
new
NABARD
Chairman
Harsh Kumar Bhanwala has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Bank for Agriculture and
Rural Development (NABARD) on 15 December.Bhanwala succeeds Prakash Bakshi, who retired as
Nabard chairman in September 2013.At present, Snehlata Shrivastava, Additional Secretary in the
Department of Financial Services in the Ministry of Finance, holds additional charge of the chairmans
post.Bhanwala is currently Executive Director at India Infrastructure Finance Company (IIFCL). He was
earlier chief general manager, looking after corporate planning, human resource development and credit
enhancement at IIFCL.
Sushma
Singh
Sworn
In
As
New
CIC
The President Pranab Mukherjee on 19 December administered the oath of office to former IAS officer
Sushma Singh as Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.Sushma Singh , who
is the fifth Chief Information Commissioner of CIC, is the second woman to be appointed to the post after
Deepak Sandhu, whose term ended on 18 December.She had joined the CIC as Information
Commissioner on 23 September 2009.Prior to joining the CIC, Sushma Singh served as Secretary to the

Government of India in the Ministries of Information & Broadcasting, Panchyati Raj and the Development
of the North East Region (DONER).
Arup
Raha
Takes
Over
As
24th
IAF
chief
Air Marshal Arup Raha on 31 December took over as the 24th chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF)
succeeding Air Chief Marshal N.A.K Browne.He is expected to have tenure of three years as IAF chief .

B)RESIGNS
Sudans
Vice
President
Ali
Osman
Taha
Resigned
Sudans Vice-President Ali Osman Taha, a key figure behind the Islamist-backed coup 24 years ago, has
resigned to pave the way for a new government.His resignation was announced by the Sudanese
President, Omar al-Bashir in Khartoum on 7 December . He resigned and vacated his office at the
presidency ahead of his cabinet reshuffle.Taha has been the first Vice President of Sudan, the second
highest political party.

C)DEATHS
Former
South
African
President
Nelson
Mandela
Died
Former South African President Nelson Mandela, who served 27 years in prison for anti-apartheid
activities and led his continent into a new era, has died in Johannesburg on 5 December. He was 95
years old. He was also known as Madiba in South Africa.He was the first black South African to hold
the office of President from 1994 to 1999, and the first elected in a fully representative multiracial election.
He was born on 1918 in Eastern Cape. He joined the African National Congress in 1943. In 1962, he was
arrested and was convicted of incitement and leaving country without a passport. He was sentenced to
five years in prison. In 1964, he was charged with sabotage, sentenced to life. He was freed from the
prison in 1990 .In 1999, he stepped down as leader.Mandela has received more than two hundred and
fifty awards over four decades.He was the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.In 1990 he was
conferred with the Bharat Ratna.He was the recipient of Mahatma Gandhi peace award in 2001.
Union
Labour
Minister
Sis
Ram
Ola
Died
Union labour and employment minister Sis Ram Ola has died on 15 December in Gurgaon, Haryana. Sis
Ram Ola was a member of the 15th Lok Sabha of India. He represented the Jhunjhunu constituency of
Rajasthan and was a member of the Indian National Congress. He was a member of the Rajasthan
Legislative Assembly from 1957 to 1990, and from 1980 to 1990 he was a cabinet minister in the
Government of Rajasthan. A recipient of the Padma Shri award in 1968, Ola started girls education in a
remote area in rural Rajasthan with three girls in the school known as Indira Gandhi Balika Niketan
Ardawata in 1952. He took over as the Labour Minister in June 2013 after Mallikarjun Kharge was shifted
to Railways.In 1968, he became a recipient of Padma Shri award for social work .

D)VISITORS
Afghanistan
President
Hamid
Karzai
Visited
India
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai visited India from 12 15 December 2013.During this four day visit ,
Hamid Karzai met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delh and discussed strengthening of bilateral
cooperation in areas of security and defence.The two leaders also agreed on deepening defence and
security cooperation, including through enhancement in training and meeting the equipment and
infrastructure needs of Afghanistan National Security and Defence Forces that would increase their
operational capabilities and mobility.India has provided more than $2 billion in aid towards Afghanistans
reconstruction and is providing military training to Afghan troops.

E)MISCELLANEOUS

Edward
Snowden
Is
The
Guardians

Person
Of
The
Year

The Guardian newspaper has on 9 December named U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden its person of
the (2013) year.Its the second consecutive year a whistleblower receives such a title. Last year (2012)
Chelsea Manning became a person of the year.As the Guardian reports, Edward Snowden leaked an
estimated 200,000 files that exposed the extensive and intrusive nature of telephone and internet
surveillance and intelligence gathering by the US and its western allies.
Pope
Francis
is
Times
Person
of
the
Year

2013
Pope Francis has been named Time magazines Person of the Year for 2013 on 11 December. He was
named the Person of the Year for changing the perception of the Catholic Church within nine months.The
former Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected in March as the first pope from Latin
America and the first Jesuit.It was the third time a Catholic pope had been Times selection.John Paul II
was selected in 1994 and John XXIII was chosen in 1962.Edward Snowden the person who leaked the
secret documents about NSA surveillance activities was selected at the second position in the list.

PLACES IN NEWS
1400-year-old
Buddhist
Temple
Discovered
In
China
In the month of December 2013 , A 1,400-year-old Buddhist temple, built during the Northern Qi Dynasty,
has been discovered in north Chinas Shanxi Province.The shrine, enclosed by walls carved with Buddha
niches, is part of the Tongzi Temple complex secluded on a mountain near the city of Taiyuan- the capital
of Shanxi.The researchers from Institute of Archaeology of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (IA
CASS) explained that structure was built in 556 AD during the rule of Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557 AD),
a booming period for Buddhism.The structure is the only one of its kind ever found in China and it sheds
light on early Buddha carvings.Though destroyed in a war in 1,117 AD, the temple has yielded a batch of
well-preserved statues.One of its walls was carved with a Buddha figure of over 20 meters in height. It
was unrecognisable, but the archaeologists unearthed some remnants that suggested its original look.
The structure also houses a 2.6-meter mural dating from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), which
archaeologists believe is of great value.

ABBREVIATIONS
ICC
DSIM
EBT
IIFCL
IPCC
NABARD
SEBI
SIDBI
OECD

International
Cricket
Department
of
Statistics
and
Information
Electronic
Benefit
India
Infrastructure
Finance
Company
Inter-Govermental
Panel
on
Climate
National
Bank
for
Agriculture
and
Rural
Securities
and
Exchange
Board
Small
Industries
Development
Bank
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
-

BOOKS IN NEWS

Council
Management
Transfer
Limited
Change
Development
of
India
of
India

Mary
Koms
Biography

Unbreakable

Released
Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan unveiled Olympic medal-winning boxer M.C. Mary Koms
autobiography, titled Unbreakable, on 9 December in Mumbai. Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom is a
boxer, a World Champion five times over and winner of an Olympic bronze in 2012 the first time that
womens boxing was part of the Olympic Games.The book was published by Published by Harper Collins.

COMMITTEES
Justice Sodhi Committee On Insider Trading Regulations Submits Report To SEBI
The High Level Committee to Review the SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 1992
constituted under the Chairmanship of Justice N.K. Sodhi, former chief justice of Karnataka and Kerala
High Courts and former presiding officer of the Securities Appellate Tribunal, submitted its report to SEBI
Chairman, Shri U.K. Sinha, on 7 December .The Committee has made a range of recommendations to
the legal framework for prohibition of insider trading in India and has focused on making this area of
regulation more predictable, precise and clear by suggesting a combination of principles-based
regulations and rules that are backed by principles. The Committee has also suggested that each
regulatory provision may be backed by a note on legislative intent.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

World
AIDS
Day
Observed
on
1
December
World AIDS Day was observed on 1 December 2013 across the globe to raise awareness about the HIV/
AIDS. The theme for the year 2013 is: Getting to Zero.HIV/AIDS remains a major global issue, having
claimed more than 36 million lives so far since the discovery of the virus more than 20 years ago.
According to the World Health Organisation, there were approximately 35.3 million people living with HIV
in 2012. Since the inception of World AIDS Day in 1988, it has been observed on 1st December every
year with different themes. The theme for this year is Getting to Zero- means zero new infections, zero
discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.
December
9th
Observed
As
A
International
Anti-Corruption
Day
International Anti-Corruption Day is observed on 9th December across the world to raise awareness
about the menace of Corruption and what people can do to fight it. The theme for the year 2013 is Act
against Corruption Today. The day is observed on 9th December each year to raise awareness about
the corruption. The UN General Assembly by resolution of 58/4 of 31 October 2003 designated 9
December as International Anti-Corruption Day. This decision aimed to raise peoples awareness of
corruption and of the role of the United Nations Convention against Corruption in combating and
preventing it.

November 2013 Current Affairs Study Material

INTERNATIONAL
Taiwan
and
Singapore
Signed
Free
Trade
Agreement
Taiwan signed a free trade agreement with Singapore on 7 November in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.It is
first trade agreement Taiwan has signed with a member of the Association of Southeast

Nations.Singapore is Taiwans fifth-largest trade partner and fourth-largest export market, with bilateral
trade totalling US$28.2 billion in 2012.
U.S.
named
Nigerias
Boko
Haram
Terrorist
Group
The US State Department has on 13 November officially designated Boko Haram, the Nigerian Islamist
group responsible for the 2011 bombing of the UN headquarters in Abuja, as a foreign terrorist
organisation. The designation is significant because it directs US law enforcement and regulatory
agencies to block business and financial transactions with Boko Haram, which is fighting to impose
Islamic law in northern Nigeria and has ties to al Qaeda. Boko Haram means Western education is
sacrilege.
Abdullah
Yameen
Elected
as
President
of
Maldives
Abdulla Yameen, the candidate of Progressive Party , has been elected as president of the Maldives on
16 November .In the presidential election, Yameen defeated Mohamed Nasheed of Maldivian Democratic
Party with a margin of six thousand votes.Yameen secured 51.39 percent (1 lakh 11 thousand) of votes,
whereas Mohamed Nasheed received 48.61 (1 lakh 5 thousand votes).Yameen is an economist and the
half-brother of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the former autocratic ruler, who ruled Maldives for 30 years.
Iran
and
P5+1
Group
of
Nations
Signed
The
Historic
Nuclear
Deal
Iran and P5+1 group of Nations reached a breakthrough deal on 24 November 2013 to curb Irans nuclear
programme in exchange for limited sanctions relief.An agreement to this effect was signed at UN
Headquarters in Geneva on 24 November 2013 between the Chief negotiator for the six nations,
Catherine Marie Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Jawad Zarief. The interim deal for six
months is intended to give time and space to the international community to work towards a
comprehensive agreement.After four days of negotiations, representatives of P5+1 group of nations the
US, the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany reached an agreement with Iran.The deal is intended
as the first step in a six-month process aimed at a permanent resolution to the decade-old global impasse
over Irans nuclear programme, and heading off the threat of a new war in West Asia.

INDIA & WORLD

India
Ranked
7th
In
Expat
Quality
Life
According to the research survey commissioned by HSBC Expat and conducted by independent research
company YouGov , India is placed seventh out of 37 in a list of countries ranked in terms of expat quality
of life.Thailand tops the list which is dominated by Asian countries with mainland China, Singapore and
Taiwan are ranked 3rd, 6th, and 8th places respectively.Others in the top 10 include Bahrain (2nd),
Cayman Islands (4th), Australia (5th), Spain (9th) and Brazil (10th).The results show Asia to be the
leading destination for expat quality of life, with the region also emerging as an expat social hotspot.The
survey report was released on 4 November.
India
and
Kuwait
Signed
Five
Agreements
India and Kuwait on 8 November discussed collaboration in petrochemicals, and Kuwaiti investments in
infrastructure in India as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held bilateral talks with Kuwaiti Prime Minister
Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah in New Delhi.After the bilateral talks , five agreements were
signed including an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons, cooperation in the field of sports
and youth affairs and exchange of cultural and information programmes, besides cooperation in the field
of education.
India and Japan Decided To Strengthen their Cooperation in the Maritime Sector
India and Japan have decided to further strengthen their cooperation in the maritime sector as a part of
the overall robust bilateral relations.The two countries on 9 November agreed to enhance their interaction

through the existing forums and through port-to-port exchanges.These issues came up for a discussion
between the Union Minister of Shipping Shri G.K. Vasan, and Akihiro Ohta , Minister of land, Industries
and Transport & Tourism, Government of Japan.
India-Ukraine
Inter-Governmental
Commission
Held
In
New
Delhi
The fifth session of India-Ukraine Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific,
Technological, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation held in New Delhi on 13 November.The Commission
was chaired by E. Ahamed, the Minister of State for External Affairs.The Ukrainian delegation was led by
Mr. Ihor Mykolayovych Prasolov, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine.During the
session current status and future prospects of cooperation in trade and investment, heavy/light industry,
fertilizers, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, mining and metallurgy, science and technology, energy (coal,
nuclear), transportation, agriculture and food processing, education, culture and tourism were
reviewed.The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, and the State Administration of
Ukraine on Medicinal Products signed the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Joint
Ventures and Research and Development in Pharmaceuticals and Bio-pharmaceuticals.
US
exempts
India,
China
From
Iran
Oil
Sanctions
The US has on 29 November exempted some countries, including India and China, from the tough
Iranian sanctions for reducing their dependence on Iranian oil. Secretary of State, John Kerry announced
in a statement in Washington that other countries which have significantly reduced the purchases of
Iranian crude oil are the Republic of Korea, Turkey, and Taiwan and these have qualified for an exception
to sanctions under the National Defence Authorisation Act.This move came after the decision made by
US President Barack Obama that there is sufficient supply of non-Iranian oil for countries to continue to
reduce import of oil from Iran.This is the fourth time that these countries have qualified for an NDAA
exception as a result of their continued significant reductions in the volume of crude oil purchases from
Iran or their end to such purchases.

NATIONAL
Medical
Council
of
India
Reconstituted
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India on 6 November reconstituted the Medical Council of
India (MCI) with 68 members as per provisions contained in the Indian Medical Council(Amendment)
Second Ordinance, 2013.Among the 68 members of the Council, 29 members will represent the
Universities/ Health Sciences Universities, 23 members will be nominated by the Central Government in
consultation with the States, eight members will be nominated by the Centre, seven members will
representing the Registered Medical Graduates of the states, and one member will be nominated by the
Central Government representing the UT Administration of Daman and Diu. All the members would
hold office for four years.
National
Portal
On
Maulana
Abul
Kalam
Azad
Launched
Union Minister of Minority Affairs K Rahman Khan on 11 November launched a National Portal on
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad .The portal was inaugurated to mark 125th birth anniversary of the great
national leader- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.This portal is an initiative to digitise the heritage of the
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, and make his life and legacy available online. Along with a biographical
account on Maulana Azad, the portal contains titles and information on over 20 books written by Maulana
Azad, in Urdu and English, as well as information on over 45 books written on Maulana Azad in Urdu,
Hindi and English.
India
Poised
To
Become
The
Largest
Provider
Of
Global
Talent
According to the Ficci-EY Report on Higher Education in India: Vision 2030 released on 13 November ,
India is poised to become the largest provider of global talent with one in four graduates in the world a

product of the Indian system.The report further outlines that by 2030, the emergence of a robust higher
education system would enable India to augment its gross enrollment ratio (GER) to 50%, with a student
enrollment of more than 70 million across the higher education system; reduce disparity in GER to 5
percentage points across states, gender and various social groups and emerge as a better informed and
evolved society, leading to improved social indicators including better health and sanitation, life
expectancy, and law and order.India would also emerge among the top 5 countries in the world in terms
of research output, with an annual R&D spend of US$140 billion; have more than 20 universities among
the global top 200 and become a global destination for higher education.
Government
Released
Postage
Stamps
On
Sachin
Tendulkar
Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal on 14 November released specail edition postage stamps on cricketer
Sachin Tendulkar at a felicitation ceremony to mark his 200th and final cricket test match at the
wankhede stadium in Mumbai.Tendulkar is the second living person after Mother Teressa to get a
postage stamp in his honour.

STATES
Kannur
Declared
First
Zero
Landless
District
in
the
Country
Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh on 1 November declared Kannur in Kerala as the
first zero-landless district in the country.Kannur District Authorities provided land to as many as 11118
beneficiaries, including 85 families belonging to the Scheduled Tribes category.The prestigious Zero
Landless programme of the United Democratic Front was flagged off by Congress president Sonia
Gandhi in October 2013.
RAF
Academy
of
Public
Order
inaugurated
in
Meerut
Ministry of Home Affairs on 9 November inaugurated RAF Academy of Public Order in Meerut, Uttar
Pradesh. This academy will train personnel of Rapid Action Force along with selected members of other
paramilitary forces and civil police. Public administration, riot control, crowd management, disaster
management, human rights, media management and first aid to the victims are some of the core issues
on which focussed training will be provided to troupes. Besides, security persons moving on to peace
missions under the United Nations, will also be provided necessary training in the Academy.
Indias
First
Private
Rapid
Metro
Service
Started
Operation
From
Gurgaon
Rapid MetroRapid Metro-Indias First Private Metro service started operation from Gurgaon, Haryana on
14 November.Rapid Metro is Indias first fully privately financed Metro system connecting NH-8 to Delhi
Metro via Cyber City, Gurgaon.Rapid Metro, with an elevated route and six stations with a frequency of
every four minutes, can carry 800 passengers in each trip. The 5.1 km long route covers six stationsSikanderpur, Phase-2, Belvedere Towers, Cyber City, Moulsari Avenue and Phase 3. The Rapid Metro is
using a common ticketing system with Delhi Metro.Rapid Metro is a metro rail system in the Indian city of
Gurgaon, Haryana, linked with the Delhi Metro systems Yellow Line. Built and operated by Rapid
MetroRail Gurgaon Limited (RMGL), the system is Indias first fully privately financed metro.
Union
Cabinet
Approved
For
Legislative
Council
In
Assam
Union Cabinet on 28 November 2013 approved a proposal to create a Legislative Council in
Assam.According to the Article 169 of Constitution of India, Parliament can create or abolish the
Legislative councils in States.According to the proposal, the Legislative Council will have 42 members. As
per Article 171 of the Constitution, the total number of members in the Council of a state having such a
House shall not exceed one third of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly of that
state.

CONFERENCES
Delhi
To
Host
12th
Edition
Of
Pravasi
Bharatiya
Divas
2014
The 12th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention to be held in Delhi from 7th to 9th
January 2014 .The theme of the convention is -Engaging Diaspora Connecting across Generationswith a special focus on the younger generation.One of the focus areas of the PBD this year is a Youth
PBD on 7th January 2014 to open new horizons of a strong network of young overseas Indian.This was
announced by Shri Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs on 5 Novemeber 2013 in New
Delhi.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Bihar Health Worker Martha Dodray Gets UN Award For Polio Work
Martha Dodray, a health worker from Bihar on 6 November won the global UN Award for her commitment
and dedication to eradicate Polio in India.United Nation has conferred the UN Frontline Workers Global
Leadership Award to Martha Dodray.The award was given in recognition of the roles to individuals,
organizations, and corporations played in supporting the work of the United Nations to advance global
peace, justice, and prosperity. The United Nations Foundation and the United Nations Association of the
USA (UNA-USA) honored recipients of the 2013 Global Leadership Awards at the annual Global
Leadership Dinner in New York City.
Indian-American
Doctor
Rahul
Jindal
Gets
Prestigious
US
Award
An Indian-origin doctor ,Eminent transplant surgeon and philanthropist , Rahul Jinda has been selected
for prestigious Outstanding American by Choice award for his valuable contribution to US health
sector.He was honoured by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the Women in
Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on 13 November .The
initiative recognises naturalised citizens who have made significant contributions to both their community
and their adopted country.Jindal, who recently received the Leadership Award from the International
Leadership Foundation, has been appointed the Commissioner on Service and Volunteerism.

RGIA

wins

Best
Cargo
Airport
Award
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad being managed by GMR Group has been
adjudged the Best Cargo Airport of The Year at the recently concluded 40th Annual Convention of Air
Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) held at Jaipur.This is the second year in a row that RGIA has
won the accolade for its cargo operations.
CSIR
Scientist
Rajesh
S.
Gokhale
Gets

Infosys
Prize
2013

The Infosys Prize 2013 in Life Sciences is awarded to Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Director, CSIR-Institute of
Genomics & Integrative Biology,on 13 November for his work in the field of lipid metabolism in tubercle
bacilli.Each year two million people are infected and die of tuberculosis (TB) and there will be 10 million
new patients every year. Dr. Gokhale discovered biochemical networks and new paradigms necessary for
the synthesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) cell envelope coat that makes these bacteria escape
host immune systems.
Prof. CNR Rao and Sachin Tendulkar Selected for Bharat Ratna Award
The Government of India on 16 November decided to confer, the Bharat Ratna , the highest civilian
award on eminent scientist Prof CNR Rao (Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao) and cricket player
Sachin
Tendulkar.
Sachin Tendulkar :- Sachin will the youngest recipient of the award.He is also the first sportsperson to
be chosen for the honour.He will also become the ninth person from Maharashtra to join the exclusive

club of 43 Bharat Ratna awardees till date, which includes a galaxy of presidents, prime ministers, Nobel
laureates, scientists and artistes.The award was announced hours after Tendulkar retired from
international cricket following Indias victory over the West Indies in a Test in Mumbai on 16
November.Tendulkar received the Arjuna Award in 1994 for outstanding sporting achievement, the Rajiv
Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 1997, Indias highest sporting honour, and the Padma Shri and Padma
Vibhushan awards in 1999 and 2008, respectively, Indias fourth and second highest civilian awards.
Prof CNR Rao :- He is the third scientist to be awarded the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna, a
crowning glory of his inexorable list of outstanding achievements.Before Rao, C V Raman and former
President A P J Abdul Kalam were bestowed with the award.Rao, founder of the Bangalore-based
Jawharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, has served as Chairman of the Scientific
Advisory Council to Prime Minister under different regimes, a manifestation of immense faith different
governments have placed in him.A renowned scientist and an institution builder, Rao has worked mainly
in solid-state and structural chemistry.He was also conferred with Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan by
Government of India and Karnataka Ratna by the Karnataka State Government.He was awarded the
Hughes Medal by the Royal Society in 2000, and he became the first recipient of the India Science
Award, instituted by the Government of India, for his contributions to solid state chemistry and materials
science, awarded in 2004.He has become the first Indian to reach the h-index of 100, reflecting the
enormity
of
the
body
of
his
published
research
work.
* Rao, a Kannadiga and Sachin, a Maharashtrian have got Indias highest civilian award together.After
engineering genius Sir M Vishweshwaraiah and the Hindustani music great Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, CNR Rao
is the third Kannadiga to get Bharat Ratna. Sachin is the 6th Maharashtrian to get the same honour.

SPORTS & GAMES

Sebastian
Vettel
Won
Abu
Dhabi
F1
Grand
Prix
2013
Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany won the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix on
3 November at the Yas Marina circuit, Abu Dhabi.Vettels team-mate Aussie Mark Webber finished with
second position, with Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany finishing third.Sebastian Vettel won the
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for the second time in his career. (First time is in 2009). This victory has drawn
Vettel level with compatriot Michael Schumachers mark of seven successive wins.
Indian
Mens
Hockey
Team
Qualified
For
Hockey
World
Cup
2014
Indian mens team has qualified for the Rabobank Hockey World cup 2014 to be held at The Hague,
Netherlands. International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed the Indias berth in a official press release
at Switzerland. Australia success at Oceania Cup on 3 November confirmed latest teams for world cup
2014.The Rabobank Hockey World Cup will be held from 31 May to 15 June 2014.
Novak
Djokovic
Won
Paris
Masters
Title
Novak Djokovic of Serbia won the Paris Masters Tennis Title on 3 November at Paris, France.He
defeated David Ferrer of Spain in the final.It is the first time Djokovic, the 2009 Paris Masters champion,
has won back-to-back Masters Series events since his successive triumphs in Rome, Madrid and
Montreal in 2011.This Paris Master title was Novak Djokovics 40th career title and sixth title in 2013.
Yuki
Bhambri
Won
Traralgon
Challenger
Title
Indian Yuki Bhambri won the ATP mens singles title of Traralgon event in Australia on 4 November .He
defeated Bradely Klahn of America in the final.It was his first ATP Challenger level singles title of the
season and second of his career .
India
To
Host
Mens
Hockey
World
Cup
In
2018
India will host the mens section of the hockey World Cup in 2018, the International Hockey Federation
(FIH) announced on 7 November .The finals will be played from 1 to 16 December 2018.Also, England

will host the Womens World Cup of hockey from 7-21 July, 2018. India last hosted the World Cup in New
Delhi in 2010 , while the 2014 edition of Hockey World Cup would be played in The Hague,
Netherlands.Hockeys World Cup is held every four years and is second only to the Olympics in
significance.
Heena
Sidhu
Won
Pistol
Gold
In
World
Cup
Shooting
Shooter Heena Sidhu created history by becoming the first pistol exponent from India to win a gold medal
at the ISSF World Cup finals on 10 November in Munich, Germany .In the Womens 10-metre Air Pistol
event final, She defeated World Champion Zorana Arunovic of Serbia to bag her first Gold.The earlier
gold medallists in this competition were Anjali Bhagwat (2002) and Gagan Narang (2008) in small bore
rifle shooting.
Sebastian
Vettel
Won
United
States
Grand
Prix
2013
Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany on 17 November won United States Grand
Prix.Frances Romain Grosjean in Lotus was second with Red Bulls Mark Webber took the third
place.This was his eighth successive race of Vettel in a season. With this win he succeeded ahead of
Michael Schumachers previous record of winning seven races in a row in the same season, which was
set in 2004.This was also vettels 12th win of the season.

ECONOMY
India
Will
Be
Worlds
3rd
Largest
Economy
By
2030
According to the Standard Chartereds Super-Cycle Report released on 6 November , India will worlds
third largest economy by 2030 , behind China and the USA, adding that the world is in the midst of an
economic super-cycle.A super-cycle is a period of historically high global growth, lasting a generation or
more, driven by opening up of new markets, increasing trade, high rates of investment, urbanisation and
technological innovation.India is likely to be the third largest economy with a GDP size of $15 trillion by
2030.China with a GDP of $53.8 trillion is projected as the biggest economy, followed by the US at $38.5
trillion.
Worlds
6th
Largest
Number
Of
Billionaires
In
India
According to the World Billionaire Census 2013 released on 6 November , India has more number of
billionaires than France, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Hong Kong and is home to the sixth largest group
of super rich population in the world.Moreover, the countrys financial capital Mumbai with 30 billionaire, is
among the top 5 billionaire cities globally, which was topped by New York that is home to 96
billionaires.Hong Kong, Moscow and London make the top five with 75, 74 and 67 billionaires
respectively.Notwithstanding the number of billionaires in India having decreased between July, 2012 and
June, 2013, India still enjoys a decent 6th position in the top 10 league with 103 billionaires.This list was
topped by United States with 515 ultra-rich people, three times more than in China, which ranks second
with 157 billionaires.Germany, United Kingdom and Russia make the top five countries with a billionaire
population of 148, 135 and 108 respectively.
Azim
Premji
Tops
India
Philanthropist
List
According to the China-based Hurun Report Inc HurunIndia Philanthropy List 2013 released on 13
November , Wipro chief and IT tycoon Azim Premji tops the list of Indian philanthropists with donations
amounting to Rs8,000 crore in the past year.Shiv Nadar , chairman of HCL group, is the second highest
contributor in the list with a donation of Rs.3,000 crore.Hurun India Philanthropy List is a ranking of 31
Indians who donated more than Rs.10 crore cash or cash equivalent during Apr 1, 2012 to March 31,
2013.

Three
of
Indian
Origin
Among
Africas
50
Richest
Three persons of Indian-origin are among the 50 richest people in Africa, according to a list released by
Forbes magazine on 14 November.Vimal Shah , Sudhir Ruparelia and Naushad Merali figure in the list
which has been topped by Aliko Dangote who has a networth of USD 20.8 billion and is the largest
cement manufacturer in sub-Saharan Africa.Vimal Shah is a newcomer on the list and ranks 18 with a
networth of USD 1.6 billion .Ruparelia ranks 24 on the list and has a networth of USD 1.1 billion.On the
48th spot is Merali with a networth of USD 430 million.
Prime
Minister
Inaugurates
Indias
First

Bharatiya
Mahila
Bank

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi Jointly inaugurated Indias first allwomen bank, Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) in Mumbai on 19 November , marking the 96th birth
anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.This first branch of BMB was inaugurated at Air India
building at Nariman Point in Mumbai.The main objectives of the bank will be to focus on the banking
needs of women and to promote their economic empowerment. The bank will commence operations with
an initial capital of one thousand crore rupees.The new Bharatiya Mahila Bank, with the tagline
Empowering Women, Empowering India , is due to have 25 branches by next March and 771 total
branches over a seven-year period.The Union Cabinet cleared the proposal for setting up of all-women
bank on August 2013.The Reserve Bank of India gave its in-principal approval for the Bharatiya Mahila
Bank in June 2013 and the banking company was set up.The Union government approved 1000 crore
Rupees seed capital for the women-focused public sector bank, announced by Union finance minister P.
Chidambaram in his 2013-14 budget speech.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Pakistan
Successfully
Test-Fires
Short
Range

Hatf
IX

Missile
Pakistan on 5 November successfully test fired Hatf IX (Nasr) missile, a short range surface to surface
missile that has a range of 60-kilometres.The test fire was conducted with successive launches of 4 x
missiles (Salvo) from a state of the art multi tube launcher.Nasr, with a range of 60 Kilometer and in-flight
maneuver capability is a quick response system, with shoot and scoot attributes.The missile has the
capability to carry nuclear weapons.
Indian
Navy
Inducts
Advanced
Jet
Trainer
Hawk
132
Indian Navy on 6 November inducted the fourth generation advanced jet trainer aircraft Hawk 132, which
has led to a jump in the operational versatility.Hawk 132 was inducted into the Navy at a ceremony held
at the Naval Air Station INS Dega at Visakhapatnam,Andhra Pradesh.The aircraft was built by the
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with Transfer of Technology from M/s British Aerospace, UK.Hawk
132 is equipped with advanced and reliable navigation systems and has the capability to deploy an
impressive array of weaponry including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground rockets, bombs and guns.It can
also carry two extra fuel tanks under the wing, which extends its considerable strike range.Hawk 132 is
a proven aircraft operating with over 24 nations around the world.The induction of this highly capable
aircraft will provide the much needed fillip to the training of combat pilots in the Navy by bridging the gap
between basic flying training and advanced fighter flying.
Carbon
Dioxide
Levels
Pollution
Levels
Hit
Record
High
In
2012
According to the United Nations (UN) weather agency World Meteorological Organization (WMO) latest
report released on 6 November , the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached a record-breaking
high in 2012.The report found the greenhouse gas measure at 393.1 parts per million in 2012, exceeding
the 350 parts per million that some scientists and environmental advocates have pegged as the maximum
safe limit. The 2012 levels were an increase of 2.2 parts parts per million from the previous year.The U.N.
weather agency predicts worldwide pollution levels will surpass 400 parts per million by 2016.

3D
Printer
Creates
Worlds
Smallest
Working
Human
Liver
In the month of November 2013 , A group of US scientists have created the worlds smallest human liver
which can survive for 40 days and works like the real thing using a 3D printer.The mini-livers, made by
California-based medical research company Organvo, are just half a millimetre deep and four millimetres
wide but can perform most of the functions that a real liver can.The printer builds up 20 layers of
hepatocytes cells, which carry out liver functions, along with two major types of liver cell. It also adds cells
from the lining of a blood vessel. This allows the liver cells to receive nutrients and oxygen.
NASA
Releases
Natural
Color
Portrait
Of
Saturn
NASA has released the first natural-color image of Saturn from space showing the planet, its moons and
rings, as well as the planets Earth, Venus and Mars.The new panoramic image of the Saturn system,
taken by NASAs Cassini spacecraft, shows the view, as human eyes would see it. It was unveiled at the
Newseum in Washington on 12 November.The spacecrafts imaging team processed 141 wide-angle
images to create the single panorama mosaic, which sweeps across 404,880 miles of Saturn and its inner
ring system.
Worlds
First
Green
Helicopter
Tested
in
Germany
The worlds first green helicopter which is noiseless and emission-free has been successfully tested in
Germany on 17 November.The helicopter, named Volocopter, developed by the German company e-volo,
two seat prototype made it earlier voage in kalsruhe, Germany.The volocopter uses eighteen electrically
driven rotos propel instead of one combustion engine which is environmentally friendly and emissionfree.The emission free Volocopter is a vertical take-off and landing manned aircraft, with rich
features and incredibly quiet sound, absolutely no noticeable vibrations, new spring strut landing gear
and extremely calm rotor plane that replace conventional aircraft .

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Usha Sangwan First Woman Managing Director of Life Insurance Corporation
Usha Sangwan has become the first woman managing director (MD) at the Life Insurance Corporation
(LIC) of India in its near six decades of existence. Along with Sangwan, Vijay Kumar Sharma also took
charge as an MD of the countrys premier financial institution on 1 November . Sangwan joined LIC in
1981 as a direct recruit. Prior to taking charge as MD , she was executive director, corporate
communications, LIC of India.
Usha
Ananthasubramanian
is
first
Bharatiya
Mahila
Bank
CMD
Usha Ananthasubramanian has been appointed as the first Chairperson and Managing Director (CMD) of
Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB), the first all-women bank of India.Ananthasubramanian assumed charge on
12 November.Before joining BMB, she was an executive director with Punjab National Bank (PNB).In a
career spanning over 31 years, she has worked in various positions in the banking and allied areas.
R.
Banumathi
Appointed
Chief
Justice
of
the
Jharkhand
High
Court
Justice R. Banumathi, Judge of the Madras High Court was on 12 November appointed as the Chief
Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. Justice R. Banumathi entered the Tamil Nadu Higher Judicial
Service in 1988 as a direct recruit district judge. She worked as District and Sessions Judge in
Coimbatore and Vellore, and Principal District and Sessions Judge in Pudukottai, Madras, Tirunelveli and
Salem.

Justice
A.P.Shah
is
the
new
Chairman
of
Law
Commission
of
India
Former Delhi High Court Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah has been appointed on 22 November as the
new chairman of the 20th Law Commission of India.Justice Ajit Prakash Shah succeeded Justice D. K.
Jain who resigned in October 2013 to take over as the President of National Consumer Disputes
Redressal Commission.Justice Ajit Prakash Shah was Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi from May
2008 till his retirement in February 2010.The 20th Law Commission was established in September
2013.Its tenure has been fixed till 2015.The terms of reference of the 20th Law Commission include
review/repeal obsolete law,examine the existing laws,Revise Central acts of general importance etc.
Five
Central
Information
Commissioners
Appointed
To
CIC
Five new Information Commissioners are appointed to the Central Information Commission (CIC) on 22
November. Chief Information Commissioner Deepak Sandhu administered the oath of office to them in
New Delhi.The new commissioners are Yashovardhan Azad, Sharat Sabharwal, Manjula Parasher , M A
Khan Yusufi and Madabhushanam Sridhar Acharyulu. With this the total number of Information
Commissioners including the Chief Information Commissioner has gone up to 10.

B)RESIGNS
PFRDA
Chairman
Yogesh
Agarwal
Resigned
Yogesh Agarwal, chairman of the Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority (PFRDA), resigned
from the post of Chairman on 13 November.He resigned because of the Governments decision to not
allow him to be a part of the selection panel for members of the regulator.

C)DEATHS
Legendary
Pakistani
Folk
Singer
Reshma
Died
Legendary Pakistani folk singer Reshma, who mesmerised music lovers in the Indian subcontinent with
soulful rendition of songs like Lambi Judai and Dama Dam Mast Kalandar in her trademark rustic voice,
died in Lahore on 3 November.Reshma, known as Nightingale of the Desert ,was born in 1947 in
Bikaner, Rajasthan, in a Banjara family.She has no formal education in music, but at the age of just 12
years, she was seen singing at the Shahbaz Qalanders shrine. Thereafter, her iconic song Laal Meri was
recorded on the state-run Pakistan Radio.With this, she became the most popular folk singer of Pakistan.
British
Nobel
Laureate
Author
Doris
Lessing
Died
Doris Lessing, one of Britains most-influential authors and a Nobel Literature laureate, has died on 17
November at London.She was 94 years old.Her best-known works are The Golden Notebook, Memoirs of
a Survivor and The Summer Before the Dark. In her life time she wrote more than 80 books, including
poetry, two operas, short stories, plays and non-fiction. In 2007, the 88-year-old Doris Lessing became
the oldest recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. and only the 11th woman to win the award.

D)VISITORS
Kuwaits
Prime
Minister
Sheikh
Jaber
Al-Mubarak
Al-Hamad
Visited
India
Kuwaits Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah visited India from 7 10 November
2013.During his four day visit , Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber held detailed bilateral consultations with
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.Both nations discussed collaboration in
petrochemicals, and Kuwaiti investments in infrastructure in India.India and Kuwait agreed to expand
cooperation in key areas, which includes energy and investment.The two Prime Ministers were held
extensive talks on trade, energy and investment and also on labour laws after which both sides inked five
pacts, including on the transfer of prisoners and cooperation in the field of culture and education.

E)MISCELLANEOUS

Miss
Venezuela
Gabriela
Isler
Won

Miss
Universe
2013
Title

Miss Venezuela Gabriela Isler won the Miss Universe 2013 crown on 9 November ,beating 85 other
contenders from around the world at a glittering ceremony held in Moscow, Russia.Miss Spain Patricia
Yurena Rodriguez was named runner-up, while Miss Ecuador Constanza Baez came third in the contest.
Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo of USA crowned the new beauty queen Miss Venezuela Gabriela
Isler.Manasi Moghe from India had been shortlisted for the top 10 finalists of Miss Universe 2013 but
failed to win the crown.Islers triumph was the seventh Miss Universe win for Venezuela, where beauty
pageants are a major source of national pride.
Malala,
Malia
Obama
Among

Times

Influencial
Teens
List
Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai and the elder daughter of US President Barack Obama,
Malia, are on Time magazines list of 16 most influential teens of 2013 .The list, published on 12
November, took young people who have inspired the society by their work in various fields like music,
sports, technology, science, writing and media.

PLACES IN NEWS
One
World
Trade
Center
is
Tallest
Building
in
US
One World Trade Center was on 12 November declared the tallest building in the Americas, standing at a
symbolic (and now official) 1,776 feet. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, an international
body that determines the heights of skyscrapers, has ruled that the spire atop One World Trade is an
architecturally significant feature of the building not an antenna.The decision makes the official height
of the building 1,776 feet, not 1,368 feet, which is the height of the buildings roof. It also allows One
World Trade to beat out Chicagos Willis Tower as the tallest in the US. Willis Towers antenna does not
count towards its official architectural height.One World Trade Center has been built on the lower
Manhattan site of the iconic WTC Twin Towers, which were destroyed in the terrorist attacks of 11
September, 2001. More than 2,000 people were killed in that attack.

ABBREVIATIONS
BPCL
AAA
CITU
EVM
ERDA
FEMA
GFCI -

Bharat

Petroleum
Corporation
Limited
Asian
Athletics
Association
Centre
of
Indian
Trade
Unions
Electronic
Voting
Machine
Energy
Research
and
Development
Administration
Foreign
Exchange
Management
Act
Global Financial Centres Index
-

BOOKS IN NEWS
Vice
President
Released
a
Book
on
Indias
Nuclear
Energy
Programme
Indian Vice President Mohammad Ansari released a book entitled Indias Nuclear Energy Programme :
Future Plans, Prospects and Concerns edited by Prof. R. Rajaraman at a function organized by Indian

National Science Academy (INSA) in New Delhi on 7 November.The book is aimed at creating the public
opinion on nuclear energy.

COMMITTEES
Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai Committee To Deal with Sexual Harassment Complaints
The Supreme Court on 26 November constituted a 10-member committee headed by its woman judge,
Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, to deal with complaints of sexual harassment within its precincts.Chief
Justice of India P Sathasivam formed the Supreme Court Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints
Committee (GSICC) in which there are six other female members.There are two members who are
outsiders and not connected with the apex court in any manner.The committee is in consonance with the
guidelines laid down by apex court in its judgement in Vishaka case for dealing with complaints of sexual
harassment at workplace.Under the guidelines, it is required that the committee has a majority of female
members and two members of civil society nominated by the Chief Justice of India.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

National Education Day of India Observed Across the Country on 11 November
The National Education Day of India was celebrated on 11 November 2013 at Gangtok, Sikkim. The
National Education Day has been celebrated in India since the year 2008. It is celebrated to
commemorate the anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a great freedom fighter, an eminent
educationist and the first Education Minister of India. It was also celebrated at Mewat in 2008.
National
Press
Day
observed
on
16
November
National Press Day is celebrated across the country on 16 November 2013. The day is symbolic of a free
and responsible press in India. It is the day on which the Press Council of India started functioning as a
moral watchdog to ensure that not only the press maintains the high standards expected from this
powerful medium but also that it was not fettered by the influence or threats of any extraneous factors.
The Press Council of India was first constituted on 4 July 1966 as an autonomous, statutory, quasijudicial body, and it started functioning from 16 November 1966 with Justice J R Mudholkar, then a Judge
of the Supreme Court, as Chairman.

October 2013 Current Affairs Study Material

INTERNATIONAL
Gambia
Decided
To
Withdraw
From
The
Commonwealth
The Gambia is on 2 October decided to withdraw from the Commonwealth, 48 years after joining.
Gambian, a West African country joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1965.The last country to be
withdrawn from the Commonwealth group was Zimbabwe in 2003.The Commonwealth of Nations is a
voluntary association of 54 countries, many of them former territories of the British Empire. It was
established in 1949.
China
and
EU
Signed
Bilateral
Currency
Swap
Agreement
China and the European Union signed a 350 billion yuan (45 billion euro) currency swap agreement on 10

October.The agreement signed between the Peoples Bank of China and the European Central Bank
(ECB), aims to support bilateral trade and protect financial stability.
US
and
Vietnam
Signed
Nuclear
Trade
Agreement
The US and Vietnam have on 10 October signed a agreement on civilian nuclear power that will allow
american firms in to the market and commits the vietnamese to not producing ingredients for aotmic
weapons.U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his vietnamese counterpart signed the 123 agreement
at the East Asian Summit in Brunei .
Mulatu
Teshome
Elected
New
President
of
Ethiopia
Ethiopias parliament on 7 October elected Mulatu Teshome as the countrys new president for a six-year
term. Mulatu Teshome will replace Girma Wolde Giorgis, who first took the post in 2001 and was reelected in 2007.Mulatu Teshome was elected at a joint session of the House of Peoples Representatives
(HPR) and the House of Federation (HoF). Mulatu Teshome is the Fourth president of Ethiopia.
Five
New
Members
Elected
To
UN
Security
Council
The UN General Assembly on 18 October elected Chad, Chile, Lithuania, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to a
two-year term in the UN Security Council.Saudi Arabia rejected its seat on the United Nations Security
Council because of the failure of the international community to end the war in Syria and act on other
Middle East issues.The New Council members will replace Azerbaijan, Guatemala, Morocco, Pakistan
and Togo.The new members will assume their posts on 1 January 2014 and serve through the end of
2015.The 15 Members of the Security Council has five veto-wielding permanent members the United
States, Britain, France, Russia, and China and 10 nonpermanent members.
Social
Democratic
Party
Won
Czech
Republic
Elections
The CSSD Social Democratic Party has won the parliamentary elections held in the Czech Republic with
20.5 percent of the vote.The office of statistics in Prague announced on 26 October.Coming in third was
the KSCM Communist Party, with 15 percent, while the the party that was in power until recently, the
liberal Top 09, was left with 11.9 percent.Also finding a place in the 200-seat parliament was the liberal
ODS party, which crashed from 20 percent in 2010 to 7.7 percent this time out.The conservative Christian
Democrat KDU-SCL with 6.8 percent, and the new Dawn of Direct Democracy party of the senator and
businessman of Japanese origin, Tomio Okamura, with 6.9 percent.

INDIA & WORLD

India
To
Reach
160
cr
Population
By
2050
On 2 October According to the French Institute of Demographic Studies (INED) survey report, India will
be a country of 160 crore population by 2050.Then, China, currently world No 1 with 130 crore, will
become No 2 with 130 crore people.The total world population is projected to rise to 9.7 billion in 2050
from the current 710 crore.Besides, China and India, currently, the worlds most populous countries are:
the US 31 crore, Indonesia 24.8 crore and Brazil 19.5 crore.According to the report, the projected
population of other countries in the world by 2050 will be :- Nigeria 44 crore, US 40 crore, Indonesia 36
crore, Pakistan 36 crore, Brazil 22 crore, Bangladesh 20 crore, Congo 18crore, Ethiopia 17 crore,
Philippines 15 crore, Mexico 15 crore, Russia 13 crore, Tanzania 12 crore, Egypt 12 crore, Uganda
11crore, Vietnam 10 crore, Iran 9.9 crore, Japan 9.7 crore, Kenya 9.7 crore, Turkey 9.3 crore, Iraq 8
crore, UK 7.9 crore, Germany 7.6 crore, France 7.2 crore.
Bangladesh
and
India
Inaugurated
Joint
Power
Transmission
Plant
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 5 October jointly
inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Grid Inter-connection at Bheramara in Bangladesh.The joint venture
was launched through video-conferencing. The transmission line and the HVDC station in Bheramara

provide a safe and reliable interconnection of the power grids of our two countries, which will enable
supply of 500 MW of power from India to Bangladesh.Both the Prime Ministers also jointly laid the
foundation stone for 1320 megawatt Maitri Thermal Power Project, being developed by Bangladesh-India
friendship power-company which is a joint venture of Indias NTPC and Bangladesh Power Development
Board.
Global
Hunger
Index
Report
2013
The 2013 Global Hunger Index (GHI), released on 14th October 2013 by the International Food Policy
Research Institute (IFPRI), Welthungerhilfe, and Concern Worldwide- revealed that 842 million people
were chronically under nourished across the world.South Asia continued to have the maximum number of
hungry people in the world, followed by sub-Saharan Africa.India has moved from 65 to 63 in the Global
Hunger Index, making a marginal improvement since 2012, but continues to suffering far behind other
emerging economies.
Global
Slavery
Index

2013
The Australia-based rights organisation Walk Free Foundation (WFF) on 17 October released its first
Global Slavery Index 2013, ranking 162 countries on the number of people in slavery and bondage per
capita and the absolute number of slaves.According to the report , About 14 million Indians are living in
conditions of modern-day slavery, nearly half of 30 million across the world.The ten countries on the list,
which follow India (13,956,010) , are:- China (2,949,243), Pakistan (2,127,132), Nigeria (701,032),
Ethiopia(651,110),Russia(516,210), Thailand(472,811), Democratic Republic of Congo (462,327),
Myanmar (384,037), and Bangladesh (343,192).Mauritania has the highest proportion of people in
slavery, with many people inheriting slave status from their ancestors.Haiti came second in the index, with
about one in 10 children trapped in an exploitative system of child labor.The survey revealed that 72
percent of people in modern slavery lived in Asia.The WFF defines modern slavery as something which
includes slavery itself along with other slavery-like practices such as forced marriage, debt bondage,
forced labour and human trafficking.The Foundations estimate of 29.8 million slaves worldwide is higher
than other attempts to quantify modern slavery. The UN estimates almost 21 million people are victims of
forced labour.
India
and
China
Signed
Border
Defence
Cooperation
Agreement
India and China have signed a Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) to maintain peace and
tranquility on the Line of Actual Control.The agreement is one of the nine MOUs/agreements signed by
the two countries on 23 October.The agreements were signed after the bilateral talks between Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing.The other 8
agreements/Memorandum
of
Understanding
(MoU)
were
:(i) MoU on Nalanda University (ii) MOU to Strengthen Cooperation on Trans-Border Rivers (iii) Cultural
Exchange Programme 2013-15 (iv) MoU on Cooperation in Road Transport and Highways (v) MoU on
Power Equipment Service Centres in India (vi) Agreement between Delhi-Beijing on Establishment of
Sister City Relationship (vii) Agreement between Bengaluru Chengdu on Establishment of Sister City
Relationship (viii) Agreement between Kolkata Kunming on Establishment of Sister City Relationship.
1.3
Million
People
Died
of
Tuberculosis
(TB)
Worldwide
in
2012
The Global tuberculosis report 2013 released by World Health Organization (WHO) on 23
October.According to the report , Tuberculosis (TB) killed 1.3 million people worldwide in 2012, while
India alone accounted for 26 per cent of total TB cases globally.The report found that global TB deaths
decreased to 1.3 million in 2012, which is 100,000 less than the previous year.Approximately 75 per cent
of total TB deaths occurred in the African and South-East Asia Regions in 2012. India and South Africa
accounted for about one-third of global TB deaths.The report also found that the number of people ill with
TB fell to 8.6 million in 2012.The largest number of incident cases in 2012 were India (2.0 million-2.4
million), China (0.9 million-1.1 million) and South Africa (0.4 million-0.6 million).The majority of TB cases
worldwide in 2012 were in the South-East Asia (29 per cent), African (27 per cent) and Western Pacific
(19 per cent) regions.

NATIONAL
Union Cabinet Decided to Withdraw Ordinance and Bill Relating to Representation of Peoples Act
Union Cabinet on 2 October decided to withdraw the ordinance on convicted lawmakers, as well as the
Bill that sought to amend the Representation of the People Act.The Union Cabinet had approved on 24
September 2013.The ordinance, once promulgated, will allow the convicted MPs or MLAs to continue in
office if their appeal is admitted by a higher court within 90 days of conviction by the trial court.The
Ordinance which sought to negate the Supreme Court order of 10 July 2013 which ruled that any
lawmaker would stand immediately disqualified if convicted by a court.
CCEA
approves
Rashtriya
Uchchatar
Shiksha
Abhiyan
(RUSA)
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)
, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) on 3 October for reforming the state higher education
system.During the 12th Plan period, 80 new universities would be created by converting autonomous
colleges/colleges in a cluster to State universities. 100 new colleges, including professional/technical
colleges would be set up and 54 existing colleges would be converted into model degree colleges.In the
12th Plan period, RUSA would have a financial outlay of 22855 crore Rupees, out of which 16227 crore
Rupees will be borne by the Centre.Apart from this, allocation of 1800 crore Rupees in the 12th Plan for
the existing scheme Sub-Mission polytechnics would also be subsumed in RUSA.Centre-State funding
would be in the ratio of 90:10 for North-Eastern States, Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh
and Uttarakhand and 65:35 for other States and Union Territories.RUSA will be a new Centrally
Sponsored Scheme spread over two plan periods, for improving access, equity and quality in the state
higher education system.
64,000
Married
Men
Commit
Suicide
Every
Year
In
India
On 3 October According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics revealed more
incidences
of
suicide
by
married
men
than
by
married
women.
Highlights
of
the
Report
:* The alleged misuse of section 498 A of IPC is leading to a rise in mens suicides in the country.A report
of the National Crime Records Bureau(NCRB) has pointed out that nearly 64,000 men are committing
suicide
every
year
due
to
this
section.
* In 2012 approximately 64,000 married men committed suicide vis-a-vis 32,000 married women.
* As per the Survey , In West Bengal the number of cases under the section has grown exponentially at
the rate of 11 per cent in the last two years but the conviction rate has dropped to just 4.4 per cent from
6.3 per cent earlier.The state accounts for 1.06 lakh cases recorded.
Cabinet
Approves
National
Identification
Authority
of
India
Bill
The Union Cabinet on 8 October approved the National Identification Authority of India Bill that will give
statutory status to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).The new law will provide for the
creation of a National Identification Authority of India ,which will oversee implementation of the Aadhaar
project.The bill will give legal backing to Aadhaar, the project which aspires to give every Indian a
uniquely identifiable number based on biometrics.Besides giving statutory status to the Unique
Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the Bill seeks to provide legal backing to Aadhaar, which is used
to disburse subsidies.Adhaar is a unique Identification number issued by UIDAI to individuals for the
purpose of establishing unique identification of every single person. It serves as the proof of identity and
address anywhere in India.Aadhaar is a 12-digit number.
Land
Acquisition
Act
To
Come
into
effect
from
2014
January
1
Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh on 15 October announced the 2013 Land
Acquisition Act would come into force on January 1, 2014.The new law received the assent of the
President on 27 September 2013.Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh took the decision after
consideration of another view, particularly from state governments, that the Act replacing a 119-year-old
legislation should be notified from April 1, 2014.

STATES
Gujarat
Lokayukta
Aayog
Bill
2013
Passed
By
State
Assembly
The Gujarat Lokayukta Aayog Bill 2013 has been passed by state Assembly on 1 October after it was
returned by Governor Kamla Beniwal. The Governor had on September 2 returned the Lokayukta Aayog
Bill 2013 passed by the Assembly in April, 2013.
Foundation
Stone
Laid
For
First
Mega
Food
Park
In
Uttar
Pradesh
Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing, Government of India Dr. Charan Das
Mahant laid the foundation stone on 8 October for establishment of Shaktiman mega Food Park (the first
in the north India) in Jagdishpur of Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh.The Shaktiman Mega Food Park was
set up with assistance under the programme Scheme of Mega Food Parks.It will be developed with the
assistance of Aditya Birla Group.The Park will have most-modern infrastructure and facilities for food
processing.
President
Gave
Assent
To
Uttarakhand
Lokayukta
Bill
The President of India Pranab Mukherjee on 17 October 2013 gave his assent to the Uttarakhand
Lokayukta Bill ,which will bring the chief minister among others under the ambit of the ombudsman, with a
provision of punishment up to life imprisonment.With this Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill became an Act.The
main objective of the Lokayukta Act was to curb corruption in the Uttarakhand state.The Bill was
unanimously passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly on October 2011.
Assembly
Elections
Schedule
Announced
For
Five
States
The Election Commission on 4 October announced the schedule for Assembly Elections to be held in five
states, namely Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram will be held between 2013
November 11 and 2013 December 4.The counting of votes will be held for Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh on 8 December 2013.The Election Commission on 23 October changed the
Mizoram assembly election schedule by advancing the polling on November 25 and postponing the
counting by a day to December 9.As per the Supreme Court direction a None of the Above button (the
option of rejecting all candidates) would be provided in electronic voting machines in the polls.Over 11
crore electorate in all five states.630 Assembly seats in total in five states.
Five States Election Schedule as Announced by the Election Commission :* Chhattisgarh- 11 Nov 2013 (Phase I), 19 Nov 2013 (Phase II) (90-member state assembly)
*
Madhya
Pradesh25
Nov
2013
(230-member
state
assembly)
*
Rajasthan1
Dec
2013

(200member
state
assembly)
*
Delhi4
Dec
2013

(70member
state
assembly)
* Mizoram- 25 Nov 2013 (40- member state assembly)
Himachal
Becomes
2nd
State
After
Haryana
To
Introduce
NVQF
Himachal Pradesh on 26 October has become the second state after Haryana to introduce Centres
National Vocational Qualitative Framework ( NVQF) Scheme.The scheme has been implemented by the
All India Technical Education Council and the National Skill Development Council. As per the scheme, 70
skill development councils will be established and each council will be given specific trades. The scheme
was being implemented for students of Class IX to Class XI and every student has to clear four levels to
get the certificate.
Gujarat CM Laid The Foundation Stone Of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patels Statue
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on 31 October laid the foundation of the Statute of Unity-a 182metre tall statue (Worlds largest statue) of Indias first Home Minister and iron man Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel on his 138th birth anniversary at Sardar Sarovar Dam site in Bharuch district in Gujarat.The Statue
of Unity will be double of the height of the Statue of Liberty (93 metres) in the USA.This Statue , which is

being constructed at a cost of Rs. 2,074 crore, will be double of the height of the Statue of Liberty (93
metres) in the USA.The statue is to be built on an island called Sadhu Bet on the river Narmada in
Gujarat.The Spring Temple Buddha statue in China is the closest rival at a height of 153 metre.

CONFERENCES
23rd
ASEAN
Summit
Held
in
Brunei
Darussalam
The 23rd ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit was held in Brunei Darussalam on 9
10 October 2013.The theme of the summit is Our People, Our Future Together.The leaders of 10
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries discussed on ways to consolidate
these gains to meet the 2015 target of having an economically integrated, politically cohesive and socially
responsible ASEAN Community and to ensure ASEANs place in the global community of nations by
2015 and beyond.One of the highlights of the ASEAN Summit in Brunei was the turn-over of the
Chairmanship to Myanmar who for the first time assumes leadership of this regional organisation
beginning 1 January 2014.The 10 ASEAN nations are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.The Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) was established in 1967.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Malala
Yousafzai
Won
EUs
Sakharov
Human
Rights
Prize
2013
Pakistani schoolgirl and campaigner Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban, has won
the European Unions (EU) Sakharov human rights prize 2013 on 10 October .In 2012 the award went to
detained Iranians, lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and film maker Jafar Panahi, to honour those standing up for
a better Iran.The Sakharov Prize for free speech is awarded by the European Parliament annually in
memory of Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov.Previous winners include former South African
president Nelson Mandela and former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan.
M.S
Swaminathan
Gets

Indira
Gandhi
National
Integration
Award

Eminent agricultural scientist Dr. M.S Swaminathan, known as the father of Green Revolution, on 10
October selected for the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the year 2012.Previous
recipients of the Award are Aruna Asaf Ali, P N Haksar, M S Subbulakshmi, A P J Abdul Kalam and
Shankar Dayal Sharma and Rajiv Gandhi (posthumously).The Indian national congress, in its centenary
year 1985, instituted an Indira Gandhi award for national integration to give recognition to outstanding
contribution to this cause by distinguished individuals or institutions.
2013
Nobel
Prize
Winners
The Nobel Prize winners of 2013 in the different categories were announced in the month of October
2013. Nobel Prizes are announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences every year in the memory
of Alfred Nobel.The categories were the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the Nobel Prize in
Physics, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences, The Nobel
Literature Prize and The Nobel Peace Prize.Swedish industrialist, inventor, and armaments manufacturer
Alfred Nobel established the prizes in 1895.The prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine,
Literature, and Peace were first awarded in 1901.The related Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic
Sciences was created in 1968.The prize is awarded on December 10 in Oslo City Hall each year.The
value
of
each
prize
is
1.2
million
US
Dollar.
The Nobel Prize winners of 2013 in the different categories were as follows:Medicine :- James Rothman and Randy Schekman of US as well as German-born Thomas Suedhof won

the 2013 Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology .They were awarded for their groundbreaking work on
how the cell organises its transport system. James Rothman, Randy Schekman and Thomas Suedhof
work at the US universities.The three of them discovered the complex transport system in the human
body which makes the delivery of the life-saving proteins and molecules at right place and right time.
James Rothman, Randy Schekman and Thomas Suedhof work at the Yale University, University of
California
and
Stanford
University
respectively.
Physics :- Peter Higgs, United Kingdom and Francois Englert , Belgium jointly awarded Nobel Prize for
Physics.They were awarded for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our
understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles.Their contribution forms the cornerstone of
modern particle physics.Higgs and Francois Englert discovered a quantum field which is a distribution of
energy, throughout the universe. It is a field with special properties. When the field is disturbed, waves
travel through it. The dimmest possible wave is called a particle in the field. They called this field as Higgs
field.
In
the
Higgs
field
particles
are
called
as
Higgs
Boson.
Chemistry :- Michael Levitt, a British and US citizen of Stanford University, US-Austrian Martin Karplus of
Strasbourg University and US-Israeli Arieh Warshel of the University of Southern California share The
Nobel Prize in Chemistry.They were awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2013 for the development of multi
scale
models
for
complex
chemical
systems.
Literature :- Canadas Alice Munro won the Nobel literature prize for her short stories that focus on the
frailties of the human condition, becoming just the 13th woman to win in the history of the coveted
award.The Swedish Academy honoured Munro as a master of the contemporary short story. She won the
Man International Booker Prize in 2009 for a body of work.She won the Giller Prize twice, for The Love of
a
Good
Woman
in
1998
and
Runaway
in
2004.
Economics :- The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences decided to award The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in
Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel for 2013 to Eugene F. Fama, Lars Peter Hansen and
Robert J. Shiller for their empirical analysis of asset prices.The three American Economists awarded for
their
work
on
creating
a
deeper
knowledge
of
how
market
prices
move.
Peace :- The Nobel Peace Prize for 2013 has been awarded to the Organisation for the Prevention of
Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.The Hague-based
OPCW was founded in 1997 to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention signed on January 13,
1993.The organisation is presently involved in destroying Syrias stockpiles of chemical weapons the
first time the OPCW has worked in a war zone.This marks the second consecutive year an organisation
has won the prestigious award. Last years award went to the European Union.
Eleanor
Catton
Wins
2013
Man
Booker
Prize
New Zealand author Eleanor Catton at the age of just 28 years, became the youngest ever winner of the
2013 Man Booker Prize for her novel The Luminaries on 15 October at the Londons Guildhall.Her
832-page novel The Luminaries is the story of 19th-century goldfields, which won 50000 Pound Man
Booker Prize 2013 along with a trophy, and Emmanuel Roman.The Luminaries is also the longest work to
win this prize in the history of 45 years of Man Booker Prize.The Luminaries is the longest ever book to
win this Prize, beating Hilary Mantels 672-page Wolf Hall which received the Man Booker Prize 2009.
Lata Mangeshkar Honoured With The First Yash Chopra Memorial Award
Legendary singer and Bharat Ratna awardee Lata Mangeshkar has been honoured with the First Yash
Chopra Memorial Award.The Award carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakhs (One million) and a citation was
presented by the Union Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Manish Tewari at a star studded
function in Mumbai on 19 October.The award is a tribute to the legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra on the
eve of his first death anniversary.Yash Chopra the memorial award will be given annually to people in
recognition of their outstanding contribution in the field of art and culture.The Yash Chopra Memorial
Award has been instituted by the TSR Foundation of T. Subbarami Reddy.
Aung
Suu
Kyi
Received
EU

Sakharov

Prize
After
23
years
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was on 22 October presented with the European Unions
Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought at Strasbourg, France.She was chosen by the European
Parliament in 1990.The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought announced by the European Parliament
in 1990 when she was under house arrest.The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after

Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, was established in December 1988 by the European
Parliament as a means to honour individuals or organisations who have dedicated their lives to the
defence of human rights and freedom of thought.

SPORTS & GAMES

Sports
Ministry
Announced
HRD
scheme
In
Sports
Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports have revised the existing Scheme relating to
Talent Search & Training and renamed it as Scheme of Human Resources Development in Sports. This
was announced by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Jitendra Singh on 1 October.The scheme
intends to award fellowships and scholarships, besides providing financial grants to a number of projects
in order to develop one of the top 10 sporting nations in the country.
Mumbai
Indians
Won
2013
Champions
League
Twenty-20
Mumbai Indians won the 2013 Champions League Twenty-20 title after defeated Rajasthan Royals by 33
runs in New Delhi on 6 October.This was the second Champions League Twenty-20 title for Mumbai
Indians.The Mumbai Indians secured the Champions League Twenty20 title in 2011 after defeated
Bangalore Royal Challengers.Harbhajan Singh gets Man of the Match.Dwayne Smith, in the meanwhile,
was declared Champion of the Series.This was the last T-20 match of Sachin Tendulkar and Royals
skipper Rahul Dravid after they both announced their retirement from T-20 format.
China
Open
Tennis
Tournament
2013
Winners
Womens Singles :- Serena Williams (U.S) won the China Open Tennis Tournament womens singles
title on 6 October at the National Tennis Stadium in Beijing, China.Williams defeated Jelena Jankovic of
Serbia
in
the
final.It
was
her
10th
title
of
the
year.
Mens Singles :- Novak Djokovic (Serbia) won his fourth China Open Mens Singles title in five years
,after defeated Rafael Nadal (Spain) in the final.Novak Djokovic won the same tournament earlier in 2009,
2010
and
2012.
Womens Doubles :- Sania Mirza won the China Open tennis doubles title with Cara Black of Zimbabwe
on 5 October in Beijing.They defeated Vera Dushevina of Russia and Arantxa Parra Santonja of Spain in
the
final.It
is
fifth
title
of
the
season
for
Sania
Mirza
and
19th
overall.
Mens Doubles :- Belarus Max Mirnyi and Romanias Horia Tecau have won the mens doubles title.They
defeated Italian pair Fabio Fognini -Andreas Seppi in the final.
Sachin
Tendulkar
Announced
Retirement
From
Test
Cricket
India legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar on 10 October announced his decision to retire from Test
cricket after playing his landmark 200th Test match against the West Indies in November 2013.
Previously, Sachin Tendulkar announced retirement form one day cricket on 23 December 2012 and from
Twenty20 cricket format on 26 May 2013.The Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut against arch-rival
Pakistan at Karachi in 1989. He is the only batsman to score 100 international centuries 51 in Tests
and 49 in ODIs.His 198 Test appearances yielded 15,837 runs at an average of 53.86.From his 463 ODI
matches, he had, under his belt, a whopping 18,426 at an average of 44.83.
Virat
Kohli
Becomes
Fastest
Indian
To
Score
Century
In
ODIs
Virat Kohli has added another feather to his illustrious cap scoring a century off only 52 deliveries, thus
becoming the fastest Indian to score a One-Day International (ODI) century.This is the seventh fastest
century in ODI cricket.He achieved the feat against Australia in the second ODI at the Sawai Mansingh
Stadium in Jaipur on 16 October.Kohli broke Virender Sehwags 60-ball century which was scored
against New Zealand at Hamilton in 2009. Kohlis knock at Jaipur was punctuated by eight boundaries
and seven sixes.

North
and
South
Zone
Declared
Joint
Winners
of
Duleep
Trophy
North Zone and South Zone were declared joint winners of the Duleep Trophy 2013-14 after the fifth
days play of the final match was called off due to bad weather in Kochi on 21 October .Only 10 overs, on
the second day on 18 October were possible in the five-day match as wet ground conditions at the
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium due to persistent rain played spoilsport.It was the fourth instance in the history
of Duleep Trophy when the title has been shared.
Sebastian
Vettel
Wins
4th
F1
Title
at
Indian
Grand
Prix
German Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel won the Indian Grand Prix on 27 October at the Buddh
International Circuit in Greater Noida ,Uttar Pradesh.He becomes the youngest ever racer to win Formula
one Championship four times in a row.Mercedes Nico Rosberg (GER) finish second followed by Romain
Grosjean (FRA) of Lotus in third place.Only two drivers before Vettel have won four straight titles Juan
Manuel Fangio from Argentina and German great Michael Schumacher. Frenchman Alain Prost is
another driver who has won four titles but he did not win those in a row and Vettel is now youngest
quadruple champion at the age 26.At present he is the world champion as he won the Championship in
2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 .

ECONOMY
Mumbai
72nd
Rank
On
Global
Financial
Centre
Index
On 1 October Mumbai has slipped six places to 72nd rank, the bottom 10, on the Global Financial Centre
Index (GFCI), while London has retained its top slot.Mumbai is the only Indian city to find a place on this
bi-annual list of 80 financial centres globally and was ranked 66th in its previous edition published in
March this year.In the top-five, London is followed by New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and
Tokyo.Others in the top 10 are: Zurich (6th), Boston (7th), Geneva (8th), Frankfurt (9th), Seoul
(10th).Although New Delhi, the countrys political hub, was added the GFCI questionnaire recently, it is
yet to acquire sufficient assessments to be included in the index.
India
Ranks
78th
On
Human
Capital
Index
According to the global Human Capital Index , India has been placed at a low 78th slot on a global
Human Capital Index, which ranks countries on the basis of economic potential of their labour force, while
Switzerland has topped the ranking. According to the list of total 122 countries released on 1 October by
the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF), India has been ranked lower than three of its BRICS
peers China (43rd), Russia (51st) and Brazil (57th), while South Africa is placed at 86th place.
India
Tops
Foreign
Remittances
Recipients
List
The World Bank report entitled Migration and Remittance Flows: Recent Trends and Outlook-2013-16
released on 2 October revealed that India emerged as the largest recipient of foreign remittances among
developing economies in 2013.In 2013 Non-Resident Indians (NRI) sent a record 71 billion Dollars home
compared to 70 billion dollars in 2012. According to a Word Bank report NRIs are estimated to remit up to
85 billion dollars a year by 2015.India (with an estimated 71 billion Dollars) continued to top the
remittances list in 2012 while China is placed a close second with $66 billion expected migrant
remittances in the same year.The Philippines (26 billion Dollars) got third place in the list.Globally, the
worlds 232 million international migrants are expected to remit earnings worth 550 billion Dollars in 2013
and over 700 billion Dollars by 2016.Remittance is the act of transmitting money to a distant location to
fulfill an obligation. International remittances are transfers of funds by foreign workersremitterswho
are living and working in other countries typically to their families who are still living in their home
countries.
World
Bank
cuts
Indias
2013-14
GDP
forecast
to
4.7%
The World Bank on 16 October slashed Indias economic growth forecast for the current financial year to

4.7 percent from an earlier projection of 6.1 percent.In April, the World Bank had projected Indias GDP
would grow at 6.1 percent in the current financial year and at 6.7 percent the following year.
Four Indians in Fortunes List of 50 Most Powerful Women in Business
On 20 October Four Indians led by ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar have made to Fortune magazines
global list of top-50 women business leaders, while PepsiCo chief Indra Nooyi has been ranked second in
a similar list for the US.Kochhar has been ranked fourth, followed by National Stock Exchange chief
Chitra Ramkrishna at 17th, Axis Banks Shikha Sharma at 32nd and HSBCs Naina Lal Kidwai at 42nd
place among the Indians on the international list of most powerful women in business.Kochhar, Managing
Director and CEO of Indias largest private sector bank, has moved up one position from her fifth position
on the 2012 list, while NSEs Ramkrishna has made it to the list for the first time.This list is topped by
Brazilian energy giant Petrobras CEO, Maria Das Gracas Foster, followed by Turkish conglomerate
Sabanci Holdings Guler Sabanci at the second and Australian banking giant Westpacs CEO Gail Kelly at
the third.
RBI
increases
Repo
Rate
By
25
Basis
Points
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 29 October released the Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy
2013-14.According the released statement by the RBI, the Repo rate increased by 25 basis points from
7.5
percent
to
7.75
percent.
The highlights of the Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy 2013-14 :* RBI reduced the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate by 25 basis points from 9.0 percent to 8.75
percent
with
immediate
effect.
* RBI also increased the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis points
from
7.5
percent
to
7.75
percent
with
immediate
effect.
*
Cash
Reserve
Ratio
(CRR)
unchanged
at
4
Percent
* RBI downward FY14 GDP growth to 5 percent from 5.7 percent.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India
Successfully
Test
Fired
Nuclear
Capable

Prithvi-II

Missile
India on 7 October test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile with a strike
range of 350 km from Chandipur Integrated test range in Odisha.India on 8 October successfully test-fired
for the second time Prithvi-II missile from a test range at Chandipur.The surface-to-surface missile was
test fired from a mobile launcher.The Prithvi II missile inducted into Indias Strategic Forces Command in
2003, the Prithvi II missile is the first missile to be developed by DRDO under Indias Integrated Guided
Missile Development Program.It is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads and thrusted by
liquid propulsion twine engines, uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory.The
last user trial of Prithvi-II was successfully carried out from the same base on 12 August 2013.
Naval
Offshore
Patrol
Vessel
INS

Sunayna

Commissioned
INS Sunayna, the second of the Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel class of ship, was on 15 October
commissioned by Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Southern Naval
Command.The ship was designed and built by the public sector Goa Shipyard.INS Sunayna will
strengthen the Indian Navy capability to safeguard the maritime interests.Two diesel engines propel INS
Sunayna and enables it to achieve speeds in excess of 25 knots. The ship also has an automatic power
management system and is fitted with the latest Navigation, Communication and Electronic Support
Systems.The ship is equipped with the most advanced communication, navigation and electronic warfare
equipment besides a 76-mm SRGM (Super Rapid Gun Mount), and close-in weapon system (CIWS). The
vessel also has the ability to embark an advanced light helicopter (ALH) or a Chetak search and rescue
helicopter.

Scientist
Developed
Worlds
First
Fully
Bionic
Man
In the month of October 2013 Scientists have developed the worlds first robot human (Bionic man) made
entirely of prosthetic parts.The bionic man can walk, talk and has a beating heart.Bionic man was
assembled from prosthetic body parts and artificial organs donated by laboratories around the world.The
bionic man also has a nearly complete set of artificial organs including an artificial heart, blood, lungs
(and windpipe), pancreas, spleen, kidney and functional circulatory system.He also sports a cochlear
implant, speech recognition and speech production systems. He lacks a few major organs including liver,
stomach and intestines, which are too complex to replicate in a lab. His brain can mimic certain functions
of the human brain and he has a retinal prosthesis.Roboticists Rich Walker and Matthew Godden of
Shadow Robot Co in England developed the bionic man.The robot was modeled in some physical
aspects after Bertolt Meyer, a social psychologist at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, who wears
one of the worlds most advanced bionic hands.The total cost for development of the robot is around 1
million US Dollars.
Chinese
Scientists
Developed
Bird
Flu
Vaccine
Chinese scientists announced on 25 October they had successfully developed the vaccine for the H7N9
bird flu virus.This is the first influenza vaccine ever developed by Chinese scientists.The vaccine has
provided important technical support to battle the new flu strain, making contribution to the H7N9 flu virus
epidemic control all over the world.
Worlds
Most
Powerful

MRI

Scanner
Developed
Scientists have developed the worlds most powerful MRI scanner strong enough to lift a 60 metric
tonne battle tank.The imagers superconducting electromagnet is designed to produce a field of 11.75
Teslas, making it the worlds most powerful whole-body scanner. Most standard hospital MRIs produce
1.5 or 3 Teslas.The development of the scanner, known as Imaging of Neuro disease Using high-field MR
And Contrastophores (INUMAC), has been in progress since 2006 and is expected to cost about USD
270 million.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Arundhati
Bhattacharya
Takes
Charge
As
First
Woman
Chief
of
SBI
Arundhati Bhattacharya on 7 October took over as the new chairperson of the State Bank of India (SBI).
She is the first woman to be appointed to the top job at the countrys largest lender.She succeeds Pratip
Chaudhuri who retired on 30 September 2013.She will hold the post for a period of three years in this
207-year-old bank.This is the first time that an SBI chief will get a three-year tenure the first time that
any SBI chairperson is getting such a fixed term irrespective of when the person will retire.Bhattacharya
is the banks 24th chairperson of State Bank of India (SBI).Earlier, she was managing director and chief
financial officer of SBI.She also holds the distinction of becoming the first woman managing director of
SBI in 2013 August. She joined SBI in 1977 as a probationary officer and has served in various positions,
including head of SBI Capital Markets Ltd, the banks investment banking unit.
Janet
Yellen
Nominated
as
Head
of
US
Federal
Reserve
Board
US President Barack Obama has on 9 October nominated Federal Reserve Board vice-chair Janet Yellen
to be the next head of the Federal Reserve Board.Janet Yellen replaced Ben Bernanke as Chair of the
Federal Reserve Board.Janet Louise Yellen took office as Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System on 4 October 2010, for a four-year term.Janet Yellen is the first woman to lead
the Federal Reserve Board and also the first Democrat to head the Board since 1979.

Pakistan
Appoints
Ibne
Abbas
new
Envoy
To
India
Pakistan has appointed on 9 October Syed Ibne Abbas as its new high commissioner to India replacing
Salman Bashir.Previously Syed Ibne Abbas served as the Director of Kashmir Affairs at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.He also acted as the Director General of the South Asia division.
Arunendra
Kumar
Appointed
as
new
Chairman
of
Railway
Board
The Railways on 16 October appointed acting Chairman of the Railway Board Arunendra Kumar as the
head of the Board.Arunendra Kumar, the Mechanical Member, was holding additional charge of
Chairman, Railway Board (CRB) after the retirement of Vinay Mittal on June 30.
Air
Marshal
Arup
Raha
Appointed
as
new
IAF
Chief
Air Marshal Arup Raha has been appointed on 29 October as the next chief of the Indian Air Force
(IAF).He will take over as the next chief of the Indian Air Force on December 31, 2013 after the retirement
of Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne.Air Marshal Raha is currently serving as the IAF vice-chief.He joined
IAF in December 1974 in the Fighter Stream.During a career spanning over 39 years, he has held various
command, staff and instructional appointments in the force.He has served as Air Attache at the Indian
embassy in Ukraine and commanded the Central Air Command and the Western Air Command.

B)RESIGNS
Goa
Lokayukta
Justice
B
Sudershan
Reddy
Resigned
Goa Lokayukta justice B Sudershan Reddy has resigned from his post citing personal reasons on 17
October.Sudershan Reddy former judge of the Supreme Court was appointed as the Lokayukta on
March, 8, 2013. Mr. Reddy, the first ever Lokayukta of the state, assumed charge in March 2013.

C)DEATHS
US
Thriller
Author
Tom
Clancy
Died
Tom Clancy, the writer known for thrillers, especially The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games, died
in Baltimore, US on 1 October .He was credited with 17 New York Times bestsellers and had launched
into the career of writing with the help of the then US president Ronald Reagan.Clancy arrived on bestseller lists in 1984 with The Hunt for Red October.Tom Clancy was born on 12 April 1947 in Baltimore,
US.He was an American author who was best known for detailed espionage as well as military sciences
stories set during and after the time period of the Cold War.
Legendary
Singer
Manna
Dey
Died
Legendary singer Manna Dey has died on 24 October in Bangalore.His original name was Prabodh
Chandra Dey but he was nicknamed Manna.He began his playback career with the film Tamanna.He
debuted in the film Tamanna in 1942, and went on to record more than 4000 songs during 1942-2013.
The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1971, the Padma Bhushan in 2005 and
the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2007.

D)VISITORS
Prime
Minister
Manmohan
Singh
Visited
Russia
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Visited Russia on 20 21 October 2013.During the visit , Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh attended the 14th India-Russia Annual Summit with President Vladimir Putin at
Moscow.They discussed priority areas of bilateral cooperation and noted common positions on current
international and regional issues.Both nations agreed to expeditiously finalise the General Framework
Agreement and the Techno-Commerical Offer for for Units- 3 & 4 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power
Plant.India and Russia pitched for implementation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) quota reforms
latest by January to give more representation to the emerging economies in the multilateral institution.
India currently has a voting share of 2.44 per cent in the Washington-based IMF. US has the highest

voting share of 17.69 per cent.Minister Manmohan Singh was conferred an Honorary Doctorate by the
prestigious Moscow State Institute of International Relations.He became the first Indian to receive an
honorary doctorate from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.
Indian
Prime
Minister
Manmohan
Singh
Visited
China
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Visited China from 22 24 October 2013.During his three day
visit , Manmohan Singh held bilateral talks with Chinese premier Li Keqiang in Beijing .After the talks ,
both nations signed a border defence cooperation agreement and several other agreements to focus on
growth and strengthening of relationship between the two sides.The exchange of visits by the prime
ministers within the same calendar year was the first since 1954. Premier Li Keqiang had visited India in
May 2013. India and China agreed to study the possibility of setting up an economic corridor spanning the
two nations and covering Bangladesh and Myanmar.

E)MISCELLANEOUS

Google

Tops
Worlds
Best
Multinational
Work
Places
List
According to the human resources consultancy Great Place to Work Institute latest survey , Internet
giant Google has emerged as the worlds best multinational company to work for, followed by software
developer SAS Institute and network storage provider NetApp in the second and third place,
respectively.Software giant Microsoft was ranked fourth.There is no India-based company in this list and
all 25 firms are either American or European.
Indian-American Emily Shah Crowned Miss New Jersey USA 2014 Title
Eighteen-year-old Indian-American Emily Shah has won Miss New Jersey USA 2014 title.Emily Shah, a
resident of Edison, home to a large Indian-American community, was crowned on 20 October at a
glittering ceremony in Parsippani , a small hill township in the state.Emily Shah would now compete for
Miss America and Miss Universe titles.

PLACES IN NEWS
Archaeologists
Discovered
3,300-year-old
Ancient
City
In
Iran
Archaeologists on 2 October have discovered an ancient city called Idu , that thrived between 3,300 and
2,900 years ago, hidden beneath a mound in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq.Located in a valley on
the northern bank of the lower Zab River, the remains of the city Idu, are now part of a mound created by
human occupation called a tell, which rises about 32 feet above the surrounding plain.
Worlds
Largest
Hindu
Temple
To
Come
Up
In
Bihar
The worlds largest Hindu temple named Virat Angkor Wat Ram Mandir with a towering height of 405
feet , will be built in Bihar.The proposed Virat Ramayan Mandir, at Janki Nagar near Kesaria in West
Champaran district, about 125 km from Patna, will stand almost double the height of world-famous 12th
century Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia, which is 215 feet high.The temple is to be built at a
cost of over Rs.500 crore.

ABBREVIATIONS
BPCL
AAA

Bharat
-

Petroleum
Asian

Corporation
Athletics

Limited
Association

CITU
Centre
of
Indian
Trade
Unions
EVM
Electronic
Voting
Machine
ERDA
Energy
Research
and
Development
Administration
FEMA
Foreign
Exchange
Management
Act
GFCI
Global
Financial
Centres
Index
GIC
General
Insurance
Corporation
MNC
Multi
National
Corporation
NASA
National
Aeronautics
and
Space
Administration
OPEC
Organisation
of
Petroleum
Exporting
Countries
WEF - World Economic Forum

BOOKS IN NEWS
Autobiography
of
Malala
Yousafzai
entitled

I
am
Malala

Released
The autobiography of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot by the Taliban for
supporting girls education released on 8 October in London.Malala Yousafzais story is detailed in I Am
Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban, co-written with British
journalist Christina Lamb, and tells of the day two Taliban gunmen boarded her school bus on 9 October
2012, and shot her in the head.The autobiography talks about Yousafzais life as an activist under the
Talibans brutal rule in northwestern Pakistan in the mid-2000s, when the group banned female education
and bombed local schools.

COMMITTEES
Mukul
Mudgal
Committee
Submitted
Report
on
Cinematograph
Act
The Empowered Committee headed by Mukul Mudgal, retired Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High
Court submitted its report on 9 October to Information and Broadcasting Minister, Government of
India.The committee was appointed to examine issues of certification under the Cinematograph Act, 1952
and give recommendations.The committee was constituted by the Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting on 4 February 2013.The committee revisited major areas of concern and has made key
recommendations on issues such as: Advisory Panels; Guidelines for certification and issues such as
portrayal of women, obscenity and communal disharmony; Classification of Films; Treatment of Piracy;
Jurisdiction of the Appellate Tribunal; and Review of the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.Apart
from giving its recommendations, the committee has also proposed a draft Cinematograph Bill.
Kirit Parekh Committee on Pricing of Diesel, Petrol & LPG Submits Report
Kirit Parikh committee on advising Pricing Methodology for Diesel, Domestic LPG and PDS Kerosene
submitted report to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry on 30 October.The committee in its report
recommended a price increase of 5 Rupees per litre in diesel, 4 Rupees per litre in kerosene, and 250
Rupees in LPG cylinder with immediate effect.The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on 12 June
2013 constituted an Expert Group to advice on Pricing Methodology for Diesel, Domestic LPG and PDS
Kerosene.The panel was headed by planning commission member Dr. Kirit S. Parikh.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

United
Nations
Day
Observed
Across
the
World
on
24
October
The United Nations Day was observed across the world on 24 October 2013. The UN Day is observed to
mark the anniversary of entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. The founding document was ratified
on this day by its signatories, including the five permanent members of the United Nations Security
Council. With this, the United Nations came into being officially. 24 October is celebrated and observed
as the UN day since the year 1948. In the year 1971, the UN General Assembly recommended that this
day should be observed as the public holiday by the Member States.
World
Food
Day
Observed
Every
Year
on
16
October
World Food Day celebrated on 16 October every year across the world since 1981. The main objective of
the World Food Day is to strengthen national and international solidarity in the struggle against hunger,
malnutrition and poverty and draw attention to achievements in food security and agricultural
development.The Theme of the World Food Day 2013 is Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security
and Nutrition.

September 2013 Current Affairs Study Material

INTERNATIONAL
Tony
Abbott
is
Australias
new
Prime
Minister
Tony Abbott , Leader of the Liberal Party elected as the Prime Minister of Australia on 8 October.Liberal
Party won the 44th Parliamentary elections. Liberal Party defeated the in-power Labor Party in the
general elections held on 7 September 2013 to return back in power as the Liberal-National coalition for
the first time in six years.With this win, Tony Abbott the leader of the Liberal-National Coalition will
become the Prime Minister of the Country and successor of Kevin Rudd of the Labor Party.The coalition
won 88 seats in the 150 seat Parliament. The ruling Labor Party was successful in winning 57 seats.
US
and
Russia
Agreement
on
Removing
Chemical
Weapons
on
Syria
The United States and Russia have on 14 September agreed on a framework for removing chemical
weapons from Syria .The break- through was announced after three day talks between the US Secretary
of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva.The USA and Russia have
agreed that Syrias chemical weapons must be destroyed or removed by mid-2014. USA outlined a sixpoint framework under which Syria must hand over a full list of its stockpile within a week.
European
Union
Pledges
650
million
euros
To
Somalia
The European Union has pledged 650 million euros ($868 million) in aid to Somalia to back a three-year
reconstruction plan aimed at building on fragile security gains in the country.International donors met in
Brussels on 16 September to approve Somalias New Deal.International donors pledged 1.8 billion
euros for Somalia.
232
Million
Global
Migrants
Living
Abroad
World
Wide
On 12 September According to the new figures from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
(UN-DESA) showed that 232 million people, or 3.2 percent of the worlds population, live abroad
worldwide, compared with 175 million in 2000 and 154 million in 1990.With more people than ever living
abroad, Asia sees the largest increase of international migrants in the past decade, and the US remains
the most popular destination.New figures from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) showed that 232 million people, or 3.2 percent of the worlds population, live abroad worldwide,
compared with 175 million in 2000 and 154 million in 1990.The new estimates include breakdowns by
region and country of destination and origin, and by sex and age. The north, or developed countries, is
home to 136 million international migrants, compared with 96 million in the south, or developing countries.

Egyptian
Court
Bans
Muslim
Brotherhood
The Egypt court on 23 September has banned the Muslim Brotherhood from carrying out any activities in
the country.The court also ordered the seizure of any assets held by the Brotherhood, estimated by the
interim military-backed government to have more than a million members.The administrative court gave
the ruling after a lawsuit was filed by the leftist Tagammu Party to review the Islamist groups status as a
non-governmental organisation.

INDIA & WORLD

3rd India Republic of Korea Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue Held In Seoul
The 3rd India Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue (FPSD) was held in Seoul
on 2 September .The Indian side was led by Mr. Ashok K. Kantha, Secretary (East), Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) side was led by First Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr.
Kim Kyou-hyun.Both nations discussed ways to further expand and deepen their Strategic Partnership.
They undertook a comprehensive review of bilateral ties, including in the fields of economic collaboration,
defense and security cooperation, cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts.They agreed to step
up cooperation in the spheres of maritime and cyber security.It was agreed that the 4th India-ROK
Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue will be held at New Delhi at a mutually convenient time in 2014.
Government
Approves
India-Abu
Dhabi
Air
Services
Agreement
The India-Abu Dhabi bilateral air services agreement, which ran into controversy following the Jet-Etihad
deal, was approved by the Government of India on 2 September enabling their airlines to fly 50,000 seats
each week, up from the current level of 13,700.The agreement received post-facto approval of the Union
Cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in NewDelhi
7th
India-Laos
Joint
Commission
Meeting
Held
In
Vientiane
The 7th India-Lao Joint Commission Meeting on bilateral cooperation was held in Vientiane on 9
September.In the meeting Indian side was led by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and the Laos
side was led by Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.An
Agreement under Line of Credit for four Irrigation Projects in three provinces in the Lao PDR for 30.94
million US dollars was signed and conversion of another Line of Credit to substitute the Nam Boun-2
hydro power plant by the extension of transmission lines to Thasala-Laksao amounting to 35.25 million
US dollars was approved. The projects will contribute to socio-economic development in Lao PDR.The
two nations identified agriculture, defence, ICT, culture, education, health, trade and investment
promotion, mining as priority areas of cooperation between the two countries that would give further
impetus to bilateral relations.
India,
Japan
Signed
Statement
To
Study
LNG
Pricing
India and Japan on 9 September signed a statement on conducting a joint study on the pricing of
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) with an aim to form a transparent and globally competitive LNG price in the
Asia Pacific market.Indias Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Veerappa Moily and Japanese
Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi signed the joint statement in Tokyo.
India

China
Agreed
To
Enhance
Cooperation
In
Media
Sector
India and China on 16 September have agreed to initiate steps to include media cooperation as part of
2014 celebrations being observed to commemorate Friendly Exchanges between the two countries.The
agreement was a part of the first meeting of the India-China Media Forum being held in New Delhi. The
meeting took place between Manish Tewari, Minister for Information & Broadcasting of India and Cai
Ming Zhao, Minister of State Council Information Office of China.

India
and
US
signed
First
Commercial
Agreement
Under
Nuclear
Deal
Five years after India and the US signed a landmark civil nuclear deal, the two countries have clinched
the first commercial agreement on civilian nuclear power cooperation.President Barack Obama
announced the agreement on 27 September after his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at
the White House Oval Office.Indias nuclear operator NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited)
and US firm Westinghouse have signed an agreement that will pave the way for setting up an atomic
plant in India.

NATIONAL
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Launched Gandhi Heritage Portal In NewDelhi
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 2 September launched the Gandhi Heritage Portal in New
Delhi.The Gandhi heritage Portal is set up to preserve, protect and disseminate original writings of
Gandhiji.The Gandhi Heritage Portal is a technology-driven initiative aimed at making Gandhiji accessible
all over the world on an electronic platform. It would be one of the most authentic open source archives
on the life and work and thought of Mahatma Gandhi.
3rd
All
India
Survey
on
Higher
Education
Launched
On 3 September Minister of State for Human Resource Development Jitin Prasada launched the third All
India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)-2012-13 .The survey was initiated in the year 2011 to prepare
a robust data-base on higher education.Data for the year 2010-11 was collected during the first year of
the survey.Keeping in view the usefulness of data collected during the very first year, Ministry has
decided to make this survey an annual exercise of data collection in higher education sector. The survey
covers all the Higher Education (HE) Institutions of the country including Universities, Colleges, and
Stand-Alone Institutions.The main items of data collection under survey are Basic details, Programme
details, Teaching & Non-Teaching Staff, Student Enrolment, Examination Results and Scholarships.
Judicial
Appointments
Commission
Bill
Passed
In
Rajya
Sabha
The Rajya Sabha on 5 September passed the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, which seeks to
scrap the collegium system of appointing judges to higher courts.The bill, which entails Constitutional
amendment, seeks to set up a Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to recommend appointment and
transfer of Supreme Court and High Court judges.
Lok
Sabha
Passed
Bill
To
Set
Up
First
National
Aviation
University
Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University Bill, 2013 was passed by the Lok Sabha on 6 September.The
purpose of the bill is to establish the first-ever national aviation university in India, called Rajiv Gandhi
National Aviation University, which is named after Rajiv Gandhi. The University would train the cabin
crew, pilots as well as aircraft engineers.The proposed university would come up at Sonia Gandhis
constituency of Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.
Cabinet Committee On Economic Affairs Approved Proposal For Restructuring SJSRY
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 3 September approved the proposal for restructuring of
the centrally sponsored Scheme of Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) in the 12th Plan and
as the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) with an allocation of approximately Rs. 6,405
crore.The mission of National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) is reduction of poverty and vulnerability
of the urban poor households by enabling them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage
employment opportunities.The mission will also aim at providing shelter equipped with essential services
to the urban homeless in a phased manner.
President
Gave
Assent
To
Land
Acquisition
Bill
The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement

Bill 2013,has received the assent of the President of India on 27 Septmeber.The bill has now become
law.The Lok Sabha passed the bill on 29 August 2013 and Rajya Sabha passed the bill on 4 September
2013.The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and
Resettlement Law, 2013, replaces a British-era law of 1894. It provides for fair compensation to owners
whose land is taken over, brings transparency to the process and lays down measures for rehabilitation of
those displaced.

STATES
Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Launched New Health Initiatives For Assam
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad on 1 September launched several new
health initiatives worth Rs.500 crores under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) for the
strengthening of healthcare services in Assam.The new initiatives are Free Generic Drug Service,
Rashtriya Bal Swasthya karyakram (RBSK), National Iron Plus Initiative, Fleet of 359 New Ambulances
for National Ambulance Service.Ghulam Nabi Azad also inaugurated Mother and Child Tracking System
Call Centre and Tele-Radiology Project under NRHM.
Himachal
Pradesh
Scrapped
Palchan-Rohtang
Ropeway
Himachal Pradesh cabinet on 4 September decided to cancel construction of Palchan-Rohtang
project in Kullu district. The proposed project was planned to transport around 9000 visitors
Palchan and Rohtang daily to decongest the Manali-Leh road. There is a huge rush of tourists
May and July every year.

Project
ropeway
between
between

Kerala
Government
Launched

E-Payment

Facility
The Kerala Government has launched on 5 September an e-payment facility system enabling people to
pay various utility bills and access Government department services online.The payment of Utility bills of
Kerala State Electricity Board, Kerala Water Authority, BSNL and university fees could be done through
the gateway using credit and debit cards of 66 banks identified for the scheme.One can avail the service
at all Akshaya e-centers of the government which would act as decentralized information hubs and
service delivery points.
MP Government Decided To Constitute State Disaster Emergency Response Force
The Madhya Pradesh Government on 10 September decided to constitute a State Disaster Emergency
Response Force to deal with any calamity more effectively and provide immediate relief to affected
persons.Initially, the State Disaster Emergency Response Force will be set up in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior
and Jabalpur districts.100 jawans will be deployed in each of these districts.
Union
Government
Approved
1000
crore
Proposal
To
Develop
J&K
sports
The Union Government of India on 16 September approved a special package 1000 crore Rupees to
strengthen sports infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir .The objective of the special package is
construction of new stadiums and sports fields across the state.The Jammu and Kashmir Government
made a policy under which every block in the state will be provided with both indoor and outdoor sports
complexes. Every panchayat in the state will be provided with a sports field, and the government will also
upgrade the already available sports equipments.
Prime Minister Manmohan Laid The Foundation Stone For New Airport In Rajasthan
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 21 September laid the foundation stone for a new airport at
Kishangarh town in Ajmer District, Rajasthan.Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singhon also announced that
small destinations in the country will have air connectivity with a network of more than 100 airports,
planned to meet the expected passenger load capacity of 30 crore, by 2020.The first such airport will

come up in Kishangarh town in Rajasthans Ajmer district, the airport which is scheduled to get
operational by 2016.

CONFERENCES
8th
G-20
Summit
Held
In
Saint
Petersburg
The eighth G20 Summit was held at St. Petersburg , Russia on 5 6 September 2013.The G20 nations
discussed ways to ensure economic growth and financial stability, create jobs and combat
unemployment, stimulate investment and promote multilateral trade, international development and anticorruption. The members of the Group of Twenty (G-20) are: Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Great Britain,
Germany, European Union, India, Indonesia, Italy, Canada, China, Mexico, Russian Federation, Saudi
Arabia, USA, Turkey, France, South Africa, Republic of Korea, and Japan. The presidency of the G20
rotates annually among its members.During the summit, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh focused
on the ongoing economic crisis and urged the G-20 nations to pay more attention to their monetary
policies.The 2014 G-20 Australia summit will be the ninth meeting of the G-20 heads of government.It will
be held in Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia, on 15-16 November 2014 .In a 27-page
declaration adopted at the end of the two-day Summit , the group of 20 industrialised and major emerging
economies also reaffirmed its commitment to roll back new protectionist measures.
Important
Points
of
G-20
Leaders
Declaration
:* Recognising the risk of economic slowdown and weakening trade posed by protectionism, the G20 has
decided to extend until the end of 2016 its standstill commitment to further progress in removing barriers
and
impediments
to
global
trade
and
investment.
* G-20 Leaders endorsed an ambitious action plan to change national tax rules that encourage
multinational companies to shift their profits to low- or no-tax jurisdictions, allowing them not to pay tax on
much
of
their
income.
* The declaration committed itself to cooperate to ensure that policies implemented to support domestic
growth also support global growth and financial stability and to manage their spillovers other countries.
* It noted that the most urgent need is to increase the momentum of the global recovery, generate higher
growth and better jobs while strengthening the foundations for long term growth and avoiding policies that
could cause the recovery to falter or promote growth at other countries expense.
* Agreeing on the Action Plan, the leaders said cross-border tax evasion and avoidance undermine public
finances
and
trust
in
the
fairness
of
the
tax
system.
* The Summit also shared Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs views on the need for orderly exit from the
monetary stimulus undertaken in the context of 2008 economic crisis.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Zubin
Mehta
Received
Tagore
Award
World acclaimed orchestra conductor Zubin Mehta was conferred the prestigious Tagore Award for
Cultural Harmony on 6 September by President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi.The award carries an
amount of One Crore Rupees, a citation in a scroll, a plaque as well as an exquisite traditional
handicraft/handloom item.He is the second recipient after sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Amitabh
Bachchan
Honoured
With

2013
Global
Diversity
Award
Veteran Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan was conferred with the 2013 Global Diversity Award at the
House of Commons in the Palace of Westminster, Britain on 11 September.Speaker of the House of
Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, presented the award to Amitabh Bachchan.Bachchan, who has
acted in more than 180 films, was voted the greatest star of the millennium in a 1999 BBC poll.Frances

highest civilian honour, the Knight of the Legion of Honour, was conferred upon him by the French
Government in 2007 for his exceptional career in the world of cinema and beyond.
Indian
Freedom
Fighter
Gets

House
of
Commons
Award

On 11 September An Indian freedom fighter was posthumously conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award
at UKs House of Commons for his contribution during Indias independence movement and its journey
afterwards.Britains Minister for Business Engagement with India Gregory Barker and Virendra Sharma,
Chair of the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group jointly presented the award to late Jawaharlal
Dardas son, Vijay Jawaharlal Darda, MP and Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Lokmat, the most widely
circulated Marathi language newspaper.
John
Abraham
Honoured
With

Pride
of
the
Nation
Award

Bollywood actor John Abraham has been conferred with the Pride of the Nation award on 16 September
for his attempt to raise the sensitive issue of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhis assassination through
his role as a RAW agent in Madras Cafe.The award was presented by Anti Terrorist Front chairman
Maninderjeet Singh in New Delhi. All-India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF) is an anti-terrorist organisation led
by Maninderjeet Singh Bitta.In Madras Cafe film John Abraham made a courageous attempt to unravel
the conspiracy behind the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. The film Madras Cafe is set in the late 80s and
early 1990s, during the time of Sri Lankan civil war and the assassination of then Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi.
Malala
Yousafzai
Received
Amnesty

International
Award
Pakistani education rights activist, Malala Yousafzai has been named as the recipient of 2013 Amnesty
Internationals highest award.Malala received Amnesty Internationals Ambassador of Conscience Award
along with American singer and human rights activist Harry Belafonte at ceremony on 17 September in
Dublin, Ireland.The Ambassador of Conscience Award is the human rights groups highest honour,
recognizing individuals who have promoted and enhanced the cause of human rights through their life
and by example.She made her first public appearance on 12 July 2013, her 16th birthday, when she
delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
President of India Presented National Communal Harmony Awards For The Year 2011 & 2012
The President of India Pranab Mukherjee presented the National Communal Harmony Awards for the
year
2011
and
2012
at
a
function
in
New
Delhi.
National Communal Harmony Award for 2011: - Odishas MD Janab Haji Abdul Bari and Mizorams
Khamliana jointly awarded for the year 2011 individual category. Both are social activists.
National Communal Harmony Award for 2012:- The Foundation for Amity and National Solidarity, Delhi
awarded for Organisational category. The foundation formed in 1984.The Foundation works for spreading
amity and communal harmony.
Bunker
Roy
and
Malala
Yousafzai
Received
Clinton
Global
Citizens
Awards
India environmentalist Bunker Roy and Pakistans teenage education activist Malala Yousafzai on 23
September 2013 declared as winners of the Clinton Global Citizens Awards for the year 2013. Roy is the
founder of the Barefoot College, which has been providing solutions to problems in rural communities for
more than 40 years.Malala Yousufzai has co-founded Malala Fund with the intension to continue support
for universal access to education.They received these awards during Clinton Global Initiative Annual
Meeting on 24 September in New York City.The Clinton Global Citizen Awards were launched in 2007 to
honour outstanding individuals for their visionary leadership, demonstrated impact, and sustainable and
scalable work in solving global issues.

SPORTS & GAMES

US
Open
Tennis
Tournament
2013
Winners
Womens Singles :- On 8 September Serena Williams (U.S) won the US Open Tennis Tournament 2013
Womens singles title after defeated Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in
New York.With this win Serena Williams secured her fifth US Open title and 17th Grand Slam title of the
overall
career.
Mens Singles :- Rafael Nadal (Spain) won the 2013 mens singles U.S. Open title after defeated Novak
Djokovic (Serbia) in the final.It is Nadals second US Open title, and his 13th Grand Slam.
Womens Doubles :- Czech duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka won the U.S. Open womens
doubles title after defeated Australias Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua in the final.
Mens Doubles :- The pair of Leander Paes of India and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic won the
doubles title after defeated Alexander Peya of Austria, and Bruno Soares of Brazil in the final .Leander
Paes has earlier won the US open title two times .Now Paes has 14 major titles in his cupboard, including
six mixed doubles trophies.
Tokyo
To
Host
2020
Summer
Olympics
On 7 September Tokyo has been chosen to host the 2020 summer Olympic Games by the events
organising committee, beating out Istanbul and Madrid in the final vote tally.Japan won the right to host
Olympic Games for the second time. It had previously hosted the Games in 1964.
Wrestling
Selected
for
2020
Olympic
Games
Wrestling regained entry into the Olympic Games program on 8 September after the International Olympic
Committee selected the sport for inclusion in the 2020 and 2024 Games over bids from squash, baseball
and softball.IOC at its 125th session held in Buenos Aires, Argentina decided to include wrestling in the
2020 Olympics in addition to the 25 core sports.Wrestling, squash and baseball/softball were in
contention for being included as an additional sport in the 2020 Olympics.
Afghanistan
Won
SAFF
Championship
2013
Afghanistan, for the first time in its history, won the trophy of South Asian Football Federation (SAFF)
Championship 2013 defeated India 2-0 in the final held at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on 11
September. India has won the championship six times (1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011).The next
edition of the SAFF Championship will be held in India in 2015.
Mohameddan
Sporting
Won
Durand
Foot
Ball
Cup
Kolkatas Mohammedan Sporting club won the 126th Durand Foot ball tournament on 19 September as it
defeated ONGC 2-1 in the final at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi.They have lifted the cup after 73
years having won it back in 1940.The Durand Football Tournament was started at Simla in the year 1888
by Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, who was then, the Foreign Secretary to Government of India. Durand is
the third oldest football tournament in the world and oldest in Asia and India.
Sania
Mirza
Wins
Pan
Pacific
Open
Doubles
Title
Sania Mirza of India and Cara Black of Zimbabwe won the Toray Pan Pacific Open tennis championship
womens doubles title after defeated Hao-Ching Chan (Chinese Taipei) and Liezel Huber (USA) in the
final at Tokyo on 28 September .This was Sanias fourth title of the season.
India
Won
Sultan
of
Johor
Cup
Hockey
Tournament
2013
India defeated Malaysia 3-0 to win 3rd Under-21 Sultan of Johor Cup hockey tournament in Johor Bahru
on 29 September .The goals from the Indian side were scored by Amon Mirash Tirkey (22nd), Affan
Yousuf (52nd) and Manpreet Singh (64th).

ECONOMY

Microsoft
Decided
To
Buy
Nokias
Mobile
Phone
Unit
and
Services
Microsoft Corporation and Nokia Corporation on 3 September announced that both companies have
decided to enter into a transaction whereby Microsoft will purchase substantially all of Nokias Devices &
Services business, license Nokias patents, and license and use Nokias mapping services.Under the
terms of the agreement, Microsoft will pay 3.79 billion Euros to purchase substantially all of Nokias
Devices & Services business, and 1.65 billion Euros to license Nokias patents, for a total transaction
price of 5.44 billion Euros in cash.Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications and
information technology corporation (originally a paper production plant) that is headquartered in Espoo,
Finland.Its principal products are mobile telephones and portable IT devices.Nokia owns a company
named Nokia Solutions and Networks, which provides telecommunications network equipment and
services.
India
Now
Has
7850
Ultra
Wealthy
Individuals
On 11 September According to the 2013 Wealth-X report , India has 7850 UHNW (Ultra-High-NetWorth) individuals in 2013 compared to 7730 in 2012 an increased of 1.6 percent. Out of these, 103
individuals have wealth of over USD 1 Billion dollars. The billionaire club has shrunk from 109 people in
2012 to 103 in 2013.Total combined wealth of billionaires also fell by 5.3 per cent $180 billion ($190 bn in
2012).A city-wise analysis shows that more than 90 per cent of Indias UHNW population live in top 10
cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Gurgaon
and Jaipur.Mumbai and Delhi, however, dominate with more than 50 per cent of the countrys UHNW
population based in one of these two cities.
Cabinet
Approved
Buying
$
4.3
billion
World
Bank
Bonds
The Union Cabinet on 12 September gave the go-ahead to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to invest $4.3
billion in special bonds of the World Bank as it would help in securing additional funding from the
multilateral lending agency for infrastructure development projects.Under the arrangement, the Reserve
Bank of India will subscribe to special private placement of bonds by the IBRD, a lending arm of the
World Bank.
Indian
Economy
To
Grow
At
5.3%
In
2013-14
The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (of India) on 13 September 2013 released the
report Economic Outlook 2013-14 in New Delhi.The economic growth forecast of India for the current
fiscal 2013-14 was lowered to 5.3 percent from 6.4 percent projected earlier. The PMEAC had in April
2013 projected 6.4 percent growth for Indian economy for current financial year.RBI too had earlier
lowered its growth projection for this fiscal to 5.5 percent from 5.7 percent.
Highlights
of
the
of
Economic
Outlook
India
are
as
following
:
* The PMEAC expects the agriculture sector to grow by 4.8 percent in the current fiscal up from 1.9
percent, while the industrial growth has been pegged at 2.7 percent as against 2.1 percent in 2012-13.
*
Services projected to grow at 6.6%in 2013-14 as against 7.1% in 2012-13.
* Referring to the external sector, the advisory council expressed hope that the Current Account Deficit
(CAD) in 2013-14 will come down to 70 billion US dollars or 3.8 percent of GDP, from 88.2 billion US
dollars
or
4.8
percent
a
year
ago.
* The trade deficit ,would come down to around USD 185 billion in 2013-14, against an estimated USD
195.7
billion
in
2012-13.
* Between 2010-11 and 2012-13, the combined impact of higher net oil and net gold imports on the CAD
(Current Account Deficit) was almost 57 billion US dollars or 3 percent of GDP.
* The CAD may go even below $ 70 billion in 2013-14 if the recent trends in exports and imports are
maintained
through
the
year.
* Net Capital flows are projected to fall to USD 61.4 billion in 2013-14 against an estimated USD 89.4
billion in 2012-13 putting pressure on the countrys forex reserves.
RBI
Increases
Repo
Rate
By
25
Basis
Points
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 20 September increased the repo rate or the short term lending rate
by 25 basis points to 7.5 per cent from 7.25 per cent with immediate effect. This means that the Repo rate

has been increased by 0.25 percent.The cash reserve ratio (CRR) remained unchanged at 4 percent.The
RBI previously raised the repo rate in October 2011 by 0.25 per cent to 8.5 per cent.

India
Entertainment
&
Media
Outlook
2013

Report
Released
According to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) s latest report
titled, India Entertainment & Media Outlook 2013 was released on 13 September in New Delhi.
Highlights of the India Entertainment
& Media Outlook 2013
Report :* Indias entertainment and media industry to clock over INR 224, 500 crore by 2017: CII-PwC study
forecast
CAGR
of
18%
over
2012-17
* Now the size of the Indian M&E sector increased from about 805 billion INR in 2011 to almost 965 billion
INR
in
2012
representing
an
year-on-year
growth
of
20%.
* The television and print sectors dominate the industry with about 40% and 22% contribution to industry
revenues
respectively
in
2012.
* Internet access now commands about 18% share and films 12% of industry revenues.
* Internet access now commands about 18% share and films 12% of industry revenues.
* The print sector revenues are expected to increase at over 9% CAGR to reach 331 billion INR in 2017
from
212
billion
INR
in
2012.
* Year-on-year sectors such as internet access (30%), internet advertising (29%), gaming (19%), and
music
(15%)
are
expected
to
continue
on
their
high
growth
trajectory.
* The radio sector is also expected to receive a fillip with the successful conclusion of Phase III licence
auctions and it is expected to grow at a robust CAGR of about 16%.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Indian Air Force inducts its Biggest Transport Aircraft C-17 Globemaster III
Union Defence Minister AK Antony on 2 September formally inducted IAFs biggest 70-tonne heavy-lift
transport aircraft C-17 Globemaster III into service at the Hindon Air Base near Delhi.The C-17
Globemaster III aircraft has been procured from the US under a deal expected to be over Rs.20,000
crore.The C-17, with a capability to carry around 70 tonnes of load and around 150 fully geared troops,
will replace the Russian Il-76 as the biggest aircraft in the IAF inventory till now.The IL-76 has the
capability to carry loads upto around 40 tonnes.The IAF has placed orders with the US for ten C-17
aircraft under the deal signed in 2011 and three of them have already been delivered.The US Air Force is
scheduled to complete the delivery of all the 10 planes by the end of 2014.
NASA Launches Spacecraft To Study Moon Atmosphere
NASAs Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission was successfully launched
by a Minotaur 5 (spin stabilised delivery version) rocket on 7 September from NASAs Wallops Flight
Facility in Virginia.LADEE is a robotic mission that will orbit the moon to gather detailed information about
the lunar atmosphere, conditions near the surface, and environmental influences on lunar dust.
Worlds Largest Volcano Discovered Under Pacific Ocean
The worlds largest volcano has been discovered on 5 September by University of Houston researchers
on the floor of the Pacific Ocean. The volcano, 1,600 kilometres east of Japan and called the Tamu
Massif, is the size of the British Isles.At 310,000 sq km (119,000 sq mi) Tamu Massif is comparable in
size to Mars vast Olympus Mons volcano the largest in the solar system..The volcano consists of a vast
single rounded dome in the shape of a shield, which is believed to have been formed 144 million years
ago when it last erupted.Its top lies about 6,500 feet below the ocean surface.
Japan Launches New Epsilon Rocket
Japans Epsilon-1 rocket the first in a new generation of space rockets and the countrys first rocket in
12 years lifted off on 14 September from a space center on Japans southern main island of

Kyushu.The rocket, 24 meters in height and 90 tons in weight, placed the Spectroscopic Planet
Observatory for Recognition of Interaction of Atmosphere, or SPRINT-A, into its orbit about an hour after
the launch. The telescope will be used to observe planets including Venus, Mars and Jupiter from its
Earth orbit.The Epsilon is the first new rocket design for Japan since the H2A was introduced in 2001.
The H2A remains Japans primary rocket but officials hope the Epsilon will lead to improvements in the
more costly H2A program. Japan hopes to be more competitive in the international rocket-launching
business.
India Successfully Test Fired Nuclear Capable Agni V Long Range Missile
Indias most deterrent nuclear capable ballistic missile, Agni-5 was successfully test fired on 15
September from Chandipur Test Range in Balasore district off Odisha coast.Developed by the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Agni-5 can carry a single nuclear warhead of over
1000 kg and can strike with precision targets in China and Europe.The indigenously developed missile
Agni-V is capable of striking a range of more than 5000 km. It is about 17 meter long and 2 metres wide
with launch weight of around 50 tonnes.The first test flight of the Agni-5 on 19 April 2012 was a
phenomenal success after which India joined the select club of the United States, Russia, France, Britain
and China who have such capabilities. Agni-5 will give India the ability hit back or have second-strike
capability even after a nuclear attack. The missile is Indias fastest-travelling object and the first one to
cross the Equator when launched from India.In the Agni series, India at present has Agni-1 with 700 km
range, Agni-2 with 2000 km range, Agni-3 and Agni-4 with 2500 km to more than 3500 range.
US Launches Unmanned Cygnus Cargo Ship To ISS
Orbital Sciences Corp launched the first flight of its unmanned Cygnus cargo ship on 18 September to the
International Space Station, as NASA forges ahead with its plan to privatise US space missions.The
Cygnus capsule, hitched to Orbital Sciences Antares rocket, blasted off from NASAs Wallops Flight
Facility off Virginias eastern coast.Cygnus will ferry about 1,300 pounds (590 kilograms) of food, clothing
and other cargo for the crew aboard the space station.
Iran Displays 30 Missiles With 2000 km Range
Iran paraded 30 missiles with a nominal range of 2,000 km on 22 September, the first time it had
displayed so many with a stated capacity to hit Israeli targets.Iran displayed 12 Sejil and 18 Ghadr
missiles at the annual parade marking the anniversary of the outbreak of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.The
stated range of both missiles would put not only Israel but also US bases in the Gulf within reach.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Rakesh Sood Appointed as PMs Special Envoy on Disarment and Non-Proliferation
On 1 September Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has appointed Rakesh Sood, Indias former
Ambassador to Nepal, Afghanistan and France and the countrys first Ambassador in charge of
Disarmament in Geneva, as his new Special Envoy for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation.Rakesh Sood
is a recognised expert in his field and will be able to make a valuable contribution to the countrys foreign
policy on security, non-proliferation and disarmament issues.
Deepak Sandhu Becomes The First Woman Chief Information Commissioner
On 5 September Deepak Sandhu became the first woman Chief Information Commissioner of the
country.She was administered the oath of the office by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee.Sandhu
served in many key positions like Principal Director General (Media and Communications) in the Press
Information Bureau, Director General of DD (News), Director General (News) All India Radio before taking
over as Information Commissioner in 2009.

Kulkarni Becomes First Indian American State Judge In Northern California

On 6 September A leading Indian American lawyer, Sunil R Kulkarni, has become the first South Asian
American state judge in Northern California with his appointment to Santa Clara County Superior Court.In
2010, Indian American Paul Singh Grewal was appointed a magistrate judge in US District Court for the
Northern District of California.
Thomas Bach is new IOC president
Thomas Bach of Germany on 10 September has been elected as the new president of the International
Olympic Committee (IOC).Bach succeeds Jacques Rogge, the Belgian who is stepping down after 12
years.Bach is also the first gold medalist to become IOC president. He won gold in team fencing for West
Germany in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Justice Prafulla Chandra Pant Appointed First Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court
On 19 September Justice Prafulla Chandra Pant has been appointed as the first Chief Justice of the
newly established Meghalaya High Court.Justice Pant will succeed Justice T Meena Kumari whose term
as the Meghalaya Chief Justice was over two months ago.Justice Pant is a judge of the Uttarakhand High
Court.Born in Pithoragarh district of then undivided Uttar Pradesh, he joined the UP Judicial Service in
1976 and held different posts. After the creation of Uttarakhand, he was the first Secretary, Judicial, of the
state.
Srinivasan Re-Elected As BCCI President For The Third Term
Narayanaswamy Srinivasan has been re-elected as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI) for a third term at its 84th annual general meeting (AGM) held at Chennai on 29 September.
He was unanimously re-elected as the president of BCCI for the term of 2013-14.
Ranjib Biswal Appointed as new IPL chairman
Former national selector Ranjib Biswal on 29 September has been appointed as chairman of the Indian
Premier League (IPL) during the Annual General Meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) at Chennai.Prior to this appointment Ranjib Biswal was manager of the Indian Cricket team during
the ICC World Cup 2011 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2013. He is also the head of Orissa Cricket
Association.

B)RESIGNS
Rajasthan Minister Babulal Nagar Resigned
Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Babulal Nagar on 19 September resigned from the
Rajasthan cabinet after being accused of raping a woman.

C)DEATHS
Audio Pioneer Ray Dolby of famed Sound System Died
Ray Dolby, the engineer who pioneered the noise reduction in audio recordings that produced clearer
sound for music and cinema, died on 12 September in San Francisco.He was the founder of Dolby
Laboratories.His works in noise reduction and surround sound has been appreciated across the world
and have won recognitions too.Dolby moved his company to San Francisco in 1976 and in 1989 was
awarded an Oscar for his contributions to cinema, which he shared with Dolby executive Ioan Allen.Dolby
also was given musics Grammy award 1995 and televisions Emmys in 1989 and 2005.
Worlds Oldest Man Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez Died
The worlds oldest man, a former musician and coal miner, Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez has died at the
age of 112 in Grand Island, New York on 13 September.Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez was officially
certified by Guinness World Records as the worlds oldest man.He was born on 8 June 1901 in Spain.

D)VISITORS

Liberia
President
Ellen
Johnson
Sirleaf
Visited
India
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia, visited India from 9 13 September 2013
.During this visit,President Sirleaf met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in NewDelhi and held delegation
level discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues.Both sides noted that there still remained
considerable potential for cooperation and agreed to enhance the partnership between the two countries
in all areas of mutual interest.On 12 September 2013, the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament
and Development for the year 2012 was conferred upon President Sirleaf.

E)MISCELLANEOUS
Malala
Yousafzai
Inaugurates
Europes
Largest
Library
In
UK
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl shot in the head in a failed assassination attempt by the
Taliban, on 3 September inaugurated Europes biggest public library in her newly adopted home of
Birmingham in UK.The library of Brimingham was built with cost of 189-million pound ,while it has more
than 200 public access computers,theatres ,an exhibition gallery and music rooms.
Zardari Becomes First Pakistani President To Serve Full Term
Pakistans president stepped down on 8 September 2013, after finishing his five-year term .Asif Ali
Zardari is the first president in the history of Pakistani democracy to be democratically elected, serve his
full term, and then step down.He served as the 11th President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013.
Diana Became First Woman to Swim Across Florida Straits without Shark Cage
Diana Nyad, 64-year old American long-distance swimmer became the first person to cross Florida Straits
from Cuba without any shark cage on 2 September 2013. This was her fifth attempt to cross the 110-mile
(177-km) distance.Diana Nyad completed the 110-mile or 177-km distance.
Nina Davuluri Wins Miss America 2014 Title
Nina Davuluri, Miss New York, was crowned the new Miss America on 15 September in Atlantic City, New
Jersey.Miss New York, Nina Davuluri, became the first contestant of Indian heritage and the second
consecutive contestant from New York to win the Miss America pageant.She succeeds another Miss New
York, Mallory Hagan, whose tenure was cut short when the pageant moved back to Atlantic City after a
six-year stint in Las Vegas, where winners were chosen in January.Nina Davuluri from Syracuse,
sashayed off with the tiara and the $50,000 scholarship cash.She is the first Miss America winner of
Indian descent.
Megan Young Crowned Miss World 2013
Megan Young of Philippines was crowned Miss World 2013 at the Bali Nasa Dua Convention Center in
Bali, Indonesia on 28 September.Miss France, Marine Lorphelin took second place, while Miss Ghana,
Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter ,came in third. Miss India World Navneet Kaur Dhillon finished among the
top 20 finalists but couldnt reach final ten. She won the title of Miss Multimedia.

PLACES IN NEWS
China
Inaugurated
Worlds
Highest
Daocheng
Yading
Civilian
Airport
China has opened the worlds highest civilian airport named Daocheng Yading on 16 September in a
restive and remote Tibetan region of southwestern Sichuan province.The Daocheng Yading airport in
Ganzi prefecture in southwestern China is the worlds highest civilian airport.The region is a gateway to
Tibet.Daocheng airport in Garzi, a heavily ethnic Tibetan part of Sichuan, is 4411 metres above sea level,
and overtakes Qamdo airport in Tibet, which sits at 4334 metres above sea level, for the title of worlds
highest.

Strong Earthquake Hits Pakistan

A major 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwestern Pakistan on 24 September, killed more than 350
people and damaged several houses near the epicentre in a remote part of Balochistan province. The
quake, with its epicentre 69 km from Awaran, was originally measured at 7.4 on the Richter Scale by the
US Geological Survey which later it revised to 7.8. Pakistans meteorological office gave the magnitude
as 7.7.The 7.6 magnitude quake in 2005 killed at least 73,000 people and left several million homeless in
one of the worst natural disasters to hit Pakistan.

ABBREVIATIONS
NCRB National Crime Records Bureau
AISHE All India Survey on Higher Education
MNIC - Multi-purpose National Identity Card
IBRD - International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ICAO International Civil Aviation Organisation
HDI - Human Development Index
ESMA Essential Services Maintenance Act
DRDO Defence Research and Development Organisation
CTBT Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

BOOKS IN NEWS
India and Malaysia : Interwined Strands Book Released By Vice President of India
The Vice President of India M. Hamid Ansari on 9 September released a book entitled India and
Malaysia: Intertwined Strands at New Delhi . The book is authored by former Diplomat Veena Sikri. The
book is written for the Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS), Singapore. It is a comprehensive
book on a very useful subject of relationship between India and Malaysia.

COMMITTEES
Nachiket
Mor
Committee
To
Frame
Vision
For
Financial
Inclusion
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 23 September announced a 13-member committee, including former
Citibank CEO Vikram Pandit and Axis Bank chief Shikha Sharma, to frame a clear and detailed vision for
financial inclusion/deepening across the country.The Committee is headed by Nachiket Mor, Member on
the RBIs Central Board of Directors. The committee, which will submit its final report by December

31.Committee is to lay down a set of design principles that will guide the development of institutional
frameworks and regulation for achieving financial inclusion and financial deepening in India.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

International
Day
of
Peace
Observed
on
21
September
International Day of Peace observed on 21 September 2013 across the world to recognise the efforts of
those who have worked hard to end conflict and promote peace. The International Day of Peace is also a
day of ceasefire.The theme for the year 2013 is Education for Peace.Each year the International Day of
Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a
day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.The
International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by resolution 36/67 of the United Nations General
Assembly to coincide with its opening session, which was held annually on the third Tuesday of
September.
World Rabies Day Observed on 28 September
World Rabies Day observed on 28 September 2013 across the world to raise awareness about the
impact of rabies disease and to deliver the message that rabies is preventable.The theme for the year
2013 is Rabies: Understand it to defeat it.World Rabies Day is an initiative of Global Alliance for Rabies
Control and the day started it in 2007 to create a global opportunity for people to focus on rabies
prevention.The World Rabies Day is observed each year on 28 September- on the death anniversary of
Louis Pasteur who developed the first efficacious rabies vaccine with his colleagues.

August 2013 Current Affairs Study Material

INTERNATIONAL
Bangladesh
Court
Disqualifies
Jamaat-e-Islami
Party
On 1 August a Bangladesh court has disqualified the countrys largest Islamic party from taking part in the
next general election.The High Court panel ruled that the opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami partys
regulations violate the constitutional provision of secularism.
Robert
Mugabe
Re-elected
As
President
Of
Zimbabwe
On 3 August Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front), the political party of the
incumbent President Robert Mugabe has won the Presidential election of Zimbabwe .Mugabe won 61
percent of the vote against the 34 percent won by the Morgan Tsvangirai, the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe
of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.With this win, Mugabe has won his seventh term to the
office of the President of Zimbabwe .Robert Mugabe is one of the leaders of the guerrilla movements
against white-minority rule of Zimbabwe and was elected to power in 1980.
China
Built
Port
Terminal
Opens
In
Sri
Lanka
On 5 August Sri Lankas President, Mahinda Rajapakse declared open the new International Container
Terminal of the Colombo harbour.The $500 million Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) was
built by China Merchants Holdings.The new South Port is the only harbor in South Asia that can
accommodate the Triple-E Class vessels.85-pct of the investment is by CICT and the remaining 15-pct
has been funded by the by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
Ibrahim
Boubacar
Keita
Elected
As
New
President
of
Mali
On 12 August Former Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was elected as President of Mali.He won

the Malis Presidential elections , after his opponent and Ex-Finance Minister Soumala Cisse, conceded
defeat. He was Prime Minister of Mali from 1994 to 2000 and President of the National Assembly of Mali
from 2002 to 2007. He founded a political party, Rally for Mali (RPM), in 2001 and he has led the party
since then. In addition to serving in the National Assembly, Keita was a member of the Parliament of the
Economic Community of West African States.
Britain
Parliament
Votes
Against
Possible
Military
Action
In
Syria
On 29 August the Britain Parliament rejected a proposal for military action in Syria .By a 285 to 272
margin British MPs rejected the governments motion to support in principle military action against Syria.

INDIA & WORLD

India
Signs
DTAC
protocol
with
Morocco
On 8 August India signed a Protocol amending the India Morocco Double Taxation Avoidance
Convention (DTAC) in New Delhi .The Protocol was signed by Dr Sudha Sharma, Chairperson, Central
Board of Direct Taxes on behalf of Government of India and H.E. Mr. Larbi Reffouh, Ambassador of the
Kingdom of Morocco to India on behalf of Government of the Kingdom of Morocco.The Protocol is based
on international standards of transparency and exchange of information. It provides for effective
exchange of information including banking information between tax authorities of the two countries.
5th
India

China
Strategic
Dialogue
Held
In
Delhi
The 5th India-China Strategic Dialogue was held at New Delhi on 20 August .The Indian side was led by
Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and the Chinese side was led by Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin.The
two sides discussed several issues including enhancing understanding on the utilization of trans-border
river waters, expanding bilateral trade and investment while addressing problems of the large and
growing deficit faced by India, ways of maintaining peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control
(LAC) in the India-China border areas, methods of boosting cultural cooperation as well as people-topeople exchanges and expansion of scientific and technological cooperation.
India
Third
Largest
Internet
Using
Nation
On 21 August According to research firm com Score latest report titled India Digital Future in Focus 2013
, India with 73.9 million Net users is the worlds third largest Internet population, overtaking Japan (4th
position) but behind China (First position) and the US. (Second position) Riding on a 31 per cent year-onyear increase, Indias online population grew to 73.9 million.With an extended online universe in excess
of 145 million the market is at a tipping point for online businesses.India overtook Japan by adding 17.6
million users in 2012.
Indians
Third
Largest
Immigrant
Group
In
US
On 23 August According to the Migration Policy Institute latest study report , Indians have emerged as the
third-largest immigrant group in the US behind Mexicans and Chinese, with nearly 1.9 million of them
living in the country.Indian population in the US has grown to over 150 times its size since 1960, when the
slightly more than 12,000 Indian immigrants represented less than 0.5 per cent of the total immigrant
population of 9.7 million immigrants.Till 2011, Indian-born immigrants accounted for almost five per cent
(1.86 million) of Americas 40.4 million immigrants.Almost one-third of all Indian immigrants resided in just
two states- California and New Jersey.More than a quarter of them lived in three major metropolitan
areas- New York, Chicago and San Jose.Two per cent of all unauthorised immigrants in the United States
were also from India.
India
and
Iraq
Signed
Energy
Cooperation
Agreement
On 23 August India and Iraq signed an agreement on energy cooperation to boost the bilateral ties.The
agreement was signed along with three other agreements after comprehensive talks between Prime

Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on strategic bilateral, regional
and international issues. Iraq is an important Gulf nation and has emerged as Indias second largest
crude oil supplier after Saudi Arabia.
India
Announced
Rs
5,000
crore
For
Bhutan
On 31 August India announced an aid of Rs 5,000 crore, including a special package of Rs 500 crore, for
Bhutan as part of commitment to its continued socio-economic development, a move that assumes
significance against the backdrop of unease in the bilateral ties recently. India will contribute Rs 4500
crore towards Bhutans 11th Plan, as well as Rs 500 crore towards an Economic Stimulus Package.The
decision was announced after talks in NewDelhi between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Bhutan
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.

NATIONAL
India
Lost
220
Languages
In
Last
50
Years
On 9 August A two-year survey by Bhasha Research and Publication Centre based in Vadodara has
revealed that India has lost around 20 per cent of its languages over the last 50 years.Officials of the
survey, called the Peoples Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI) has held that the country had 1,100
languages in 1961 of which 220 have vanished. The survey has found 780 languages and might have
missed another 100, which makes it around 880.The 1961 census had recorded that India had 1,652
languages in all but the number was narrowed down to 1,100 later for variants of same languages were
also included in the list. The 1971 census registered only 108 languages for it was decided that only
those languages with over 10,000 speakers will be included.
Rajya Sabha Passed The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2012
On 13 August Rajya Sabha passed a bill to make registration of marriages mandatory.The Registration of
Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2012, which was passed by Rajya Sabha, seeks to provide
compulsory registration of marriages irrespective of religion. The registration of marriages will not apply to
those who have registered their marriage under any other law.At present, there is provision for
registration of only births and deaths.
Lok
Sabha
Passed
National
Food
Security
Bill,
2013
On 26 August Lok Sabha passed the National Food Security Bill, 2013.The Bill seeks to give legal rights
to get subsidized grains every month to 67 percent of the overall population (of which 75 percent is rural
and 50 percent is urban population).A beneficiary will be entitled to 5 kg of rice, wheat or coarse cereals
at Rs. 3, Rs. 2 and Re. 1 per kg a month, respectively.The beneficiaries will be identified by the States
based on parameters prescribed by the Union government.Once the Bill gets its nod in the Rajya Sabha
and Presidents accent, India will join the selected league of countries that guarantee food grants to a
majority of its population.
Rajya
Sabha
Passed
The
Marriage
Laws
(Amendment)
Bill,
2010
On 26 August the Rajya Sabha passed The Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010 was passed by voice
vote .It seeks to amend the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and the Special Marriages Act, 1954 which provides
for irretrievable breakdown on marriage as a ground for divorce as well as grants women the right to a
share in the property of their husbands.Under the new bill, a provision has been made to restrict the grant
of decree of divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage if the court is satisfied that
adequate provision for the maintenance of children born out of the marriage has not been made
consistently with the financial capacities of the parents.
Lok
Sabha
Passed
Land
Acquisition
Bill

The Lok Sabha passed the landmark land acquisition and rehabilitation bill on 29 August 2013 that aims

to provide fair compensation to those whose land is taken, brings transparency to the process and details
measures for rehabilitation of those displaced.The bill, which will now be called, The Right to Fair
Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2012,
replaced a nearly 120-year-old law enacted during British rule in 1894.
Companies
Bill
2013
Receives
Presidents
Assent
The new Companies Bill has received Presidents assent, that will make it into a law replacing the nearly
six-decade old regulations that govern corporates in the country.The Companies Bill 2013 received
assent from the President Pranab Mukherjee on 29 August 2013.The Companies Bill 2012 was passed in
Rajya Sabha on 8 August 2013 . Earlier, the bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 18 December 2012.
With the Presidents assent, the Companies Bill 2012 became the Companies Act, 2013 (New Act).The
new Bill, providing for sweeping changes in the way companies operate and are regulated in the country,
received Parliamentary approval earlier this month. It would replace the Companies Act 1956.

STATES
Karnataka
Becomes
First
State
To
Establish
Calamities
Relief
Fund
On 5 August Karnataka Government has become the first state in the country to establish State Natural
Calamities Relief fund of Rs. 125 crore.The Relief Fund will provide for a natural calamities relief fund
which would provide for building capital assets and relief in respect of man-made disasters that are not
covered under the state disaster response fund guidelines of the Government of India.
First
Public
Sector
Breast
Milk
Bank
Inaugurated
In
Kolkata
On 7 August A modern and sophisticated breast milk bank was inaugurated at the state-run Seth Sukhlal
Karnani Memorial Hospital (SSKM) by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee . This novel scheme
was launched to cater to the basic needs of a child who is just born, but does not get the milk from the
mother or when the mother dies after giving birth to the child.The breast milk bank would help specially to
non-lactating mothers. The stored milk can be used to feed babies whose mothers fall ill during the sixmonth lactating period after pregnancy.
Indias
First
Cyber
Forensic
Laboratory
(CFL)
Established
In
Tripura
The first Cyber Forensic Laboratory (CFL) of India was established in Tripura on 11 August .The lab was
established at the Tripura High Court and the purpose of the lab is to facilitate information related to court
cases. The CFL was inaugurated by Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B. Lokur.
Agar-Malwa
Becomes
The
51st
District
Of
Madhya
Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh government gave nod to creation of the new district of Agar-Malwa, taking the number
of districts in the state to 51.The district will come into existence on 16 August.The new district will be
created by bifurcating Shajapur district; it will comprise the tehsils of Agar, Badoud, Susner and
Nalkheda. Headquarters would be at Agar town.Spread over 2,785 square km, Agar-Malwa will have
population of 4.80 lakh.
Sonia
Sonia
Gandhi
Launches
Food
Security
Scheme
In
Delhi
On 20 August Congress president Sonia Gandhi launched the Centre-Sponsored Food security scheme
on the occasion of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis 69th birth Anniversary.Delhi was the first state to
implement the scheme.Under the scheme, a total of 73.5 lakh people will get foodgrain at highly
subsidised rates.The food security programme would provide subsidised grains for 67 per cent of the
population and would see government spending an estimated Rs. 1,25,000 crore to supply 62 million
tonnes of grains. Under the scheme, beneficiaries would get wheat at Rs. 2 a kg, rice at Rs. 3 a kg and
coarse grain at Rs. 1 a kg.Congress party ruled northern states Haryana and Uttarakhand have also
launched this scheme.

Maharashtra
Cabinet
Approved
Anti-Black
Magic
and
Superstition
Ordinance
On 21 August the Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the Anti-Black Magic and Superstition Ordinance
after the death of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar.The decision was taken by the state
cabinet in wake up of the protests that followed after the murder of Dabhokar in Pune on 20 August
2013.Dabholkar was at the forefront of a campaign to persuade the Maharashtra government to pass an
anti-superstition and black magic bill.
Rajasthan Government Laid Foundation Stone For Worlds Largest Solar Park
On 21 August State Government of Rajasthan laid the foundation stone for worlds biggest solar park at
Bhadla of Jodhpur District of Rajasthan.The solar park with generation capacity of 3000 MW would be
commissioned in phased manner. In its first phase the solar park will generate 1000 MW.Solar Park
would be established in 10 thousand hectare land and Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide 3000
crore rupees loan for development of transmission lines of this solar park.

CONFERENCES
BRICS
Business
Council
Meeting
Held
In
Johannesburg
The first BRICS Business Council Meeting was held on 19 20 August 2013 in Johannesburg , South
Africa.The objective of the meet is aiming to increase the trade and investment ties between participating
economies.The two-day meeting was attended by the Chairpersons of the respective chapters of the
BRICS Business Council that attended the meeting are: Jose Rubens de la Rosa (Brazil), Sergey Katyrin
(Russian Federation), Onkar Kanwar (India) and MA Zehua (China).The meeting was chaired by Patrice
Motsepe, Chairman of the South African and BRICS Business Council.In a joint statement following the
first BRICS Business Council meeting ,the council made several recommendations includes urging
governments to facilitate convenience in expediting multiple entry business visas for longer periods, as
well as considering a proposal to create a BRICS business travel card ; Enhancing connectivity; and
Creating a BRICS business portal, which will be facilitated by the BRICS Business Council Secretariat,
among others.The council has agreed to work together in areas such as infrastructure, mining and
mineral beneficiation, value-added manufacturing development, skills development and sustainable
development.BRICS an acronym for the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa group of
countries.The BRICS Business Council was established during the 2013 BRICS Summit in Durban in
March, with South African businessman Patrice Motsepe named chairman of the body.
Second
ASEAN
Defence
Ministers
Meeting

Plus
Held
In
Brunei
The 2nd ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus has concluded in Brunei on 29 August .Defense
ministers from ASEAN signed a declaration of commitment to enhance peace and security in the AsiaPacific region.They committed to adhere to the principles of equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit and
respect for international laws in the handling of disputes. The defense ministers also agreed to promote
better understanding and confidence-building measures among defense establishments.ASEAN Defence
ministers meeting firstly convened in Vietnams capital Hanoi on October 12, 2010, the regional event
has involved 18 member states, including ministers from the 10 ASEAN nations.ASEAN Defence
Ministers Meeting Plus was established in 2010.This forum is convened every two years.The third
ADMM-Plus is scheduled to be held in Malaysia in 2015.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Malayalam Poetess Sugathakumari Awarded With Saraswati Samman 2013

On 2 August Renowned Malayalam poetess and social activist Sugathakumari has been conferred with
the prestigious Saraswati Samman 2012 for Manalezhuthu (the Writings on the Sand), a collection of
poems in Malayalam.Manalezhuthu was published in the year 2006.Saraswati Samman Award was
instituted by KK Birla Foundation in 1991.This award is given every year to the literary work in any Indian
language which is the part of Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
US
Presidential
Medal
To
Bill
Clinton
and
Oprah
Winfrey
On 8 August Barack Obama, the US President would confer the Presidential Medal of Freedom on former
US President, Bill Clinton and talk show queen, Oprah Winfrey. It is the highest civilian honour of
America.
Indian
American
Professor
Received
Top
US
Environmental
Award
On 16 August An Indian American professor of biological and agricultural engineering has been
recognised by a top US environmental and water resources institute for his pioneering work in hydrology.
Vijay P Singh, professor and Caroline ; William N Lehrer distinguished chair in the department of
biological and agricultural engineering at Texas A&M University, was named a recipient of the 2013
Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Society of Civil Engineers Environmental and Water
Resources Institute (ASCE-EWRI).Singh is an internationally recognised and pre-eminent engineer
specialising in water resources engineering and hydrology. His work has developed the application of
kinematic wave theory to the point where it is widely used throughout the world in hydrologic models used
for water resource modelling, flood planning and hydrologic design.
Harshwanti Bisht Selected For Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal 2013
On 12 August Professor of economics, and conservationist, and mountaineer Dr. Harshwanti Bisht has
been selected to receive the Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal 2013.The award is presented
for remarkable service in the conservation of culture and nature in mountainous regions.In 2003 the Sir
Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal was initiated by unanimous resolution of the Namche
Conference: Parks, People and Mountain Tourism.
Malala
Yousafzai
Wins
International
Childrens
Peace
Prize
On 27 August Pakistani school pupil and education activist Malala Yousafzai won the International
Childrens Peace Prize 2013. The peace prize carries a cash value of 100000 euros (133000 US dollars)
which is invested in projects relating to the winners cause. The International Childrens Peace Prize is an
initiative of the Amsterdem-based Dutch KidsRights Foundation. It was launched in the year 2005 by
former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, when he chaired the Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in
Rome. Since then, the prize has been awarded every year by a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. The prize is
presented annually to an exceptional child, whose courageous or otherwise remarkable actions have
made a difference in countering problems, which affect children around the world.
Mandela
Is
The
First
Recipient
Of
Mahathir
Award

For
Global
Peace
On 27 August Former South African President Nelson Mandela was awarded the first Lifetime
Campaigner for Peace and Freedom of the Mahathir Award for Global Peace .Current South African
President Jacob Zuma received the award on behalf of Mandela, who is in a critical condition in a hospital
in Pretoria.The Mahathir Award for Global Peace is a peace award instituted by the Mahathir Global
Peace Foundation. The foundation was formed to contribute to worldwide peace efforts.Mahathir bin
Mohamad is a Malaysian politician who was the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia. He held the post for 22
years from 1981 to 2003, making him Malaysias longest serving Prime Minister.

SPORTS & GAMES

India
Won
Bronze
Medal
at
Junior
Women
Hockey
World
Cup
On 4 August Indian Junior Women Hockey team won its first ever Bronze medal in ERGO Hockey Junior
World Cup at Monchengladbac, Germany .India defeated England by 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out.Indian
forward Rani was declared the Best Player of the ERGO Junior Women Hockey World Cup 2013.The
Netherland team won the final against Argentina and clinched the trophy for a record third time.
Parimarjan
Negi
Won
Politiken
Cup
On 4 August Indian Grandmaster Parimarjan won the Denmarks Politiken Cup at Copenhagen,
Denmark by gaining 9 out of the total possible 10 points. He defeated the seventh seed, Italian Sabino
Brunello in just 31 moves of Ruy Lopez.
Jadeja
First
Indian
After
Kumble
To
Top
ODI
Bowlers
List
On 4 August Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja became the first Indian bowler to top the bowlers chart in
the latest ICC ODI Player Rankings after former captain Anil Kumble claimed the pole position way back
in 1996.Overall, Jadeja is the fourth India bowler after Kapil Dev (March 1989), Maninder Singh
(December 1987-November 1988) and Kumble to claim the number-one spot in ODIs.
Franklin
Wins
Record
6
Golds
at
World
Swimming
Championships
On 5 August American swimmer Missy Franklin became the first woman to win six gold medals at a
world-championships.She claimed her record sixth gold medal of the world championships , swimming
the leadoff leg for the Americans in the 400-meter medley relay in Barcelona, Spain.Missy Franklin won
four golds and a bronze at the 2012 London Games, joins American men Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz
as well as German woman Kristin Otto with six golds in either a world or Olympic competition.Franklin
became the winningest female swimmer ever at a world meet, eclipsing the record that was shared by
Tracy Caulkins, who won five times in 1978, and Libby Trickett, who did it in 2007.
PV
Sindhu
Won
Bronze
Medal
at
World
Badminton
Championships
On 10 August Indian shuttler P V Sindhu lost to the Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in the semi-final match
at the World Badminton Championships at Guangzhou, China.P V Sindhu now became the only second
Indian singles player to win a medal after Prakash Padukone .Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa had
won the doubles bronze in London in 2011.
World
Badminton
Championship
2013
Winners
Womens Singles :- Thailands Ratchanok Intanon won the womens singles title ,after defeated Li
Xuerui (China) in the final at the World Badminton Championships at Guangzhou.This is the first time any
shuttler
from
Thailand
has
won
a
gold
at
the
Worlds
in
any
category.
Mens Singles :- Chinas Lin Dan reinforced his claim to being the greatest badminton player in history
after he defeated arch rival Malaysian Lee Chong Wei in the World Championship final to become the first
man to win five world singles titles.
Rogers
Cup
Tennis
Tournament
2013
Winners
Womens Singles :- On 11 August Serena Williams (U.S) won the Rogers Cup Tennis Tournament
Womens singles title ,after defeated Romanias Sorana Cirstea in the final at Montreal (Canada).Serena
Williams
won
the
Rogers
Cup
womens
title
for
the
third
time.
Mens Singles :- Rafael Nadal (Spain) won his third Rogers Cup Mens Singles title , after defeated
Canadas Milos Raonic in the final.
Marion
Bartoli
Retires
From
Tennis
On 14 August Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli of France announces her retirement from professional
tennis.She announced the retirement after losing in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters to
Romanias Simona Halep. She is ranked seventh in the world.Besides Wimbledon 2013, Bartoli won
seven other WTA Tour titles, the first one was in Auckland in 2006. Recently she won two tournaments
both in 2011 at Eastbourne and Osaka, Japan, prior to Wimbledon.

2013
World
Championships
in
Athletics
Winners
The 14th World Championships in Athletics are held in Moscow, Russia from 1018 August 2013. Russia
(17 medals )topped the medal table with seven gold, four silver, and six bronze medals.The US (25
medals) came in second place at the event, receiving six gold, 13 silver, and six bronze medals. Jamaica
(19 medals )placed third, with its athletes earning six gold, two silver, and one bronze.
Winners
Of
The
2013
World
Championships
in
Athletics
:* Jamaicas Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce both won three gold medals in the mens and
womens 100 m, 200 m and 4 x 100 m relay respectively to become the most successful athletes at the
event.Usain Bolt moved to the top of the all-time World Championships medal table by winning three gold
medals.It was Bolts second three gold performance at the World Championships.With this victory Usain
Bolt has joined the club of highest (8) gold medal winners list along with American womens 200m
specialist Allyson Felix, and retired US track stars Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson including relays.
* Christina Obergfoll of Germany won the womens javelin title with a throw of 69.05 metres .
* French athlete Teddy Tamgho claimed gold in the mens triple jump event ,, with a jump measuring
18.04m.
* In the Mens 1, 500 metres race Kenyan Asbel Kiprop ( 3min:36.2 sec) won the gold and Eunice
Jepkoech Sum of Kenya won gold in Womens 800 metres race (1min :57.38 sec)
*
Womens
10,000
meters
Race
:Tirunesh
Dibaba
(Ethiopia)
*Mens 10,000 meters Race :- Double Olympic champion Mo Farah of Britain created history once again
in Moscow as he became the first British man to win a 10,000m world title.The Somalia-born Mo Farah
went down in the history books as just the second man to win the 5000 and 10,000m races at the
Olympics
and
the
world
championships.
*
Mens
20
kilometres
Walk
:Aleksandr
Ivanov
(Russia)
* Womens Marathon :- Kenyas Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat becomes the first women in history to
defend
her
world
championship
marathon
title.
* Shot put :- New Zealands Valerie Adams has become the first woman to win four individual world
athletics
titles
in
the
same
event.
*
Mens
110
metres
Hurdles
:David
Oliver
(USA)
*
Mens
400metres
Hurdles
:Jehu
Gordon
(Trinidad)
*
Womens
400
metres
Hurdles
:Zuzana
Hejnova
(Czech
Republic
)
* Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva won gold..Yelena Isinbayeva is a two-time Olympic gold
medalist (2004 and 2008), a three-time World Champion (2005, 2007 and 2013), the current world record
holder in the event, who is widely considered the greatest female pole-vaulter of all time.
Cincinnati
Tennis
Tournament
2013
Winners
Womens Singles :- On 18 August Victoria Azarenka of Belarus won the Cincinnati Tennis Tournament
womens singles title.Azarenka defeated Serena Williams of the U.S in the final at Cincinnati (U.S )
Mens Singles :- In the Mens category Rafael Nadal (Spain) has won the Cincinnati Tennis Tournament
title for the first time.He defeated John Isner (U.S) in the final.Nadals five Masters titles this season are a
career best. Hes tied with Novak Djokovic for most Masters titles in a season since 1990. Hes won
seven of the nine Masters events during his career.
Sania
Mirza

Jie
Zheng
pair
Won
New
Haven
Open
Title
On 24 August Indias Sania Mirza won the womens doubles title at the New Haven Open Tennis
tournament along with her partner Jie Zheng of China.Sania and Jie defeated the pair of Anabel Medina
Garrigues (Spain) and Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) in the final at Yale.This is Sania Mirzas 17th WTA
doubles title and the third Title in 2013.
Australias
Aaron
Finch
Hits
T20
World
Record
Australian batsman Aaron Finch hit a new record in Twenty20 Internationals in Southampton (England),
when he scored 156 runs off 63 balls against England at Southampton on 29 August.Finch mashed 14
sixes and 11 fours in his innings and surpassed the previous international record of 123, scored by New
Zealands Brendon McCullum.In the process he also became the first Australian to score a T20
international century.

ECONOMY
Union
Cabinet
Approved
the
Setting
up
of
Bharatiya
Mahila
Bank

On 8 August the Union Cabinet approved the proposal for setting up of Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB)
with an initial corpus of Rs 1,000 crore.The proposed bank will be headquartered in New Delhi.The
Mahila Bank will start with 6 branches one each in north, south, east, west, central and north eastern
part of the country.The proposed bank is likely to begin operations by November this year.
India Signed Agreement With World Bank For Low Income Housing Finance Project
On 14 August the government of India and the World Bank signed a $100 million credit agreement aimed
at helping low-income households in Indian cities access loans to purchase, build or upgrade their
dwellings.The Low Income Housing Finance Project would be implemented by the National Housing Bank
(NHB).The credit agreement for the Low Income Housing Finance Project was signed between the
Government of India, National Housing Bank (NHB) and World Bank in New Delhi.
Muslims
Have
Lowest
Living
Standard
In
India
According to the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) study titled Employment and
Unemployment Situation Among Major Religious Groups in India among various religious
groups,Muslims
have
the
lowest
living
standard
in
the
country
* According to the survey data , Muslims average per capita expenditure of just Rs 32.66 in a day.At the
other end of the spectrum, Sikh community enjoys a much better lifestyle as the average per capita
spending among them is Rs 55.30 per day, while the same for Hindus is Rs 37.50. For Christians it is Rs
51.43.
* At all-India level, the average monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) of a Sikh household was Rs 1,659
while that for a Muslim household was Rs 980 in 2009-10.The average MPCE for Hindus and Christians
were Rs 1,125 and Rs 1,543, respectively.The survey said that average monthly per capita consumption
at all-India level was Rs 901 in villages and Rs1,773 in cities. Overall, the average MPCE was Rs 1,128.
* Muslims were at the bottom in rural areas, with an average MPCE of Rs 833, followed by Hindus at Rs
888,
Christians
at
Rs1,296
and
Sikhs
1,498.
* In urban areas, Muslims average MPCE was also the lowest at Rs 1,272 followed by Hindus at Rs
1,797, Christians Rs 2,053 and Sikhs at Rs 2,180.
Per
Capita
Income
Up
6.7%
in
2004-12
On 25 August According to official sources data ,the per capita income in the country increased 6.7 per
cent per annum during 2004-05 to 2011-12, while the percentage of poor declined by 2.2 per cent over
the period.For 2011-12, the Planning Commission has estimated percentage of people living below the
poverty line at 21.9 per cent.The poverty line in 2011-12 in terms of monthly per capita consumption
expenditure was estimated at Rs 816 in rural areas and Rs 1,000 in urban areas.State-wise, Uttar
Pradesh had highest number of people living below poverty line during 2011-12 at 598.19 people below
poverty line out of every lakh.It was followed by Bihar at 358.15 people (per lakh), Madhya Pradesh
234.04 people, Maharashtra 197.92 people and West Bengal at 184.98 people living below the poverty
line.
27
crore
People
Live
Below
Poverty
Line
In
India
Indias population was estimated at 123 crore as of March 1, 2012, while as many as 27 crore people
lived below the poverty line in 2011-12, Minister of State for Planning Rajeev Shukla explained in a
written reply to Rajya Sabha on 29 August.As per the Population Census of 2011 conduced by the Office
of Registrar General of India, the population in the country was estimated at 121 crore as of March 1,
2011.The poverty ratio in the country has decreased to 21.9 per cent in 2011-12 from 37.2 per cent in
2004-05.The rate of decline between 2004-05 and 2011-12 is three times faster than experienced

between 1993-94 and 2004-05.As per the Millennium Development Goals Report 2013, the poverty rate
in India fell from 49 per cent in 1994 to 42 per cent in 2005 and 33 per cent in 2010.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Australias
Most
Powerful
Super
Computer
Unveiled
On 1 August Australias most powerful supercomputer Raijin was unveiled in Canberra.Raijin, named
after the Japanese God of thunder and rain, has costed USD 45.2 million to build and will cost USD 10.85
million a year to run.The super computer, unveiled at Australian National University (ANU),and it is the
27th most powerful computer in the world.
Indias
DRDO
Launches
Explosive
Detection
Kit
In
US
On 2 August the India-developed US-manufactured Explosive Detection Kit (EDK) was launched at the
US Chamber of Commerce building in Washington.In a first of its kind of reverse technology sharing
between India and the US, an innovative Explosive Detection Kit developed by Indian scientists would be
manufactured in America and sold globally for quick detection and identification of combinations of
explosives.This was probably for the first time that technology developed by Defence Research &
Development Organisation (DRDO) was being manufactured and marketed in the US.
Japan
Sends
Worlds
First
Talking
Robot
Into
Space
On 4 August Japan has successfully launched the worlds first talking humanoid robot called Kirobo
in to space. The robot was sent by H2B rocket from the island of Tanegashima. The rocket carried
food, water and other supplies. Kirobo will serve as a companion for Japanese astronauts.Kirobo was put
through a series of zero-gravity and other safety tests prior to sending him into space. Kirobo is 34
centimetres tall and can speak Japanese. It will provide emotional support for people in space. Kirobo will
talk to JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata when he arrives at the space station in November. The name of
Kirobo is a merging of Kibo and robot. Kirobo was designed by scientists and engineers at the University
of Tokyo. It is equipped with voice-recognition and face-recognition technology, as well as a camera,
emotion recognition software and natural language processing.
Japan
Unveils
Largest
Warship
On 6 August Japan has unveiled its biggest warship since the Second World War as part of a plan to
bolster its defense of territorial claims in disputed waters.The ship, named the Izumo, is classified as a
helicopter destroyer, though its flattop design makes it look like an aircraft carrier.The ship is nearly 250
metres (820ft feet) long and is designed to carry up to 14 helicopters.Japanese Defense Ministry
announced the ship is not intended to be used as an aircraft carrier and will not be used to launch fighter
jets.It will also be used to bolster the nations ability to transport personnel and supplies in response to
large-scale natural disasters.
Pinaka
Rockets
Successfully
Test
Fired
On 7 August India successfully test fired two rounds of indigenously developed Pinaka rockets from a
multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) from a defence base in Chandipur-on-sea near Balasore, off the
Odisha coast.The tests were routine trials conducted for training purpose. The tests were conducted by
personnel from Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune unit at Proof and
Experimental Establishment (PXE) firing point-2. Pinaka is an area weapon system with a range of 40
km.Pinaka system can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds. Ten rounds of Pinaka rockets were tested
from the same base on 30 and 31 January and 28 February this year.

INS
Arihant

Nuclear
Reactor
Activated
On 10 August India has activated the reactor on board the INS Arihant nuclear submarine, the first to be
designed and built in India.With this success, India became a member of the exclusive club of countries

that have built their own nuclear powered submarines along with Russia, US, UK, China and France.After
the nuclear reactor is activated, INS Arihant has been undergoing trials at Navys key submarine base in
Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and would be launched for sea trials soon since the nuclear reactor
has gone critical.Nuclear triad has the ability to fire nuclear-tipped missiles from land, air and sea.Arihant
means destroyer of enemies in Sanskrit is an Indian submarine, which is 111 meter long, 11 broad and
15 meter tall.The 6,000 tonne vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at
the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam ,at a cost of around Rs 15,000 crore .INS Arihant, was
introduced to the public on 26 July 2009 at a symbolic launch ceremony by Prime Minister Manmohan
Singhs wife Gursharan Kaur.India operates the INS Chakra, which is an Akula II class submarine leased
from Russia for ten years and has plans of building two more nuclear submarines indigenously.
ICGS
Rajveer

Commissioned
On 10 August Seventh in the series of eight inshore patrol vessels (IPV), ICGS Rajveer was
commissioned at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) by defence secretary R K Mathur in the presence of
vice-admiral Anurag G Thapliyal, director general of Indian Coast Guard.The IPV is equipped with the
most advanced and sophisticated navigational and communication sensors and equipment. The ship is
propelled to a maximum speed of 31.5 knots and has an endurance of 1,500 nautical miles. The special
feature include an integrated Bridge System, Integrated machinery control system and an indigenously
built 30mm gun mount with fire control system.
India
Launched
First
Indigenous
Aircraft
Carrier

INS
Vikrant

India launched its first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on 12 August .Defence Minister A K
Antonys wife Elizabeth launched the 37,500 tonne carrier INS Vikrant at Kochi shipyard.This will mark
Indias entry into a select club of countries capable of designing and building a carrier of this size. Other
countries capable of designing and building an equivalent size ship are the US, the UK, Russia and
France.Fighter aircraftMig-29K, Light Combat Aircraft and Kamov-31 helicopterswill deployed on board
the carrier which will also carry an array of other weapons systems.INS Vikrant has a length of 260
metres and it is 60 metres wide.It is behind schedule by three years.The carrier is expected to be
delivered to the Navy by the end of 2018.
India
Successfully
Test
Fired
Nuclear
Capable

Prithvi-II

Missile
On 12 August India has successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II
missile from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR)
at (Odisha) Chandipur.Prithvi-II missile was launched by the personnel of the Strategic Force Command
(SFC) from ITRs Launch Complex-III as part of routine user training. The missile scientists of the
Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) monitored the launch operations.The missile,
with a range of 350 km, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
.The missile, 9 metres in height with a launch weight of 4.6 tonnes, is capable of carrying a warhead of
more than 500 kg.The last users trial of Prithvi-II was successfully carried out from the same base on on
December 20, 2012.
Voyager
Becomes
First
Man-Made
Object
To
Leave
The
Solar
System
According to the new research shows ,NASAs long-lived Voyager probe crossed into interstellar space
last year, becomes the first man-made object to leave the solar system.Voyager 1 space craft was
launched in 1977 along with a sister probe, Voyager 2, to observe the outer planets. Voyager 1 is now
approximately 120 times farther away from the sun than Earth. Voyager 2 is heading out of the solar
system in a different direction.The probes are powered by the slow decay of radioactive plutonium.
Voyager 1 will begin running out of energy for its science instruments in 2020. By 2025, it will be
completely out of power.
Indias
Super
Hercules
Lands
At
Highest
Airfield
On
LAC
The Super Hercules C 130 J transport plane landed at the worlds highest and recently-activated Daulat
Beg Oldie airstrip in Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir for the first time on 20 August .The Daulat Beg
Oldie airstrip located at 16614 feet (5065 metres) in the Aksai Chin area..In April, the area saw a 21-day
stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops who came and pitched tents in the vicinity of the airfield and

returned only after several rounds of flag meetings between both sides.The achievement will enable the
armed forces to use the heavy-lift aircraft to induct troops, supplies, improve communication network and
also serve as a morale booster for maintenance of troops positioned there.C-130J is capable of lifting
upto 20 tonnes of load.
Indias
First
Defence
Satellite
GSAT-7
Launched
Successfully
Indias first exclusive defence satellite GSAT-7 was successfully launched by European space consortium
Arianespaces Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana on 30 August.This launch will
push ahead Indias maritime security.GSAT7 has been built at an expense of 185 crore rupees and will
act as the countrys maiden dedicated spacecraft for defence applications.The frequency bands of GSAT7 will help space-based marine communications. It has coverage over India landmass as well as
surrounding seas.Earlier, satellite communication in ships was through Inmarsat, a major provider of
global mobile satellite communications services.The state-of-the-art satellite carrying payloads operating
in UHF, S, C and Ku bands, had a lift-off mass of 2625 kg and is based on ISROs 2500 kg satellite bus
with some new technological elements, including the antennae.According to ISRO, GSAT-7 is an
advanced communication satellite to provide wide range of service spectrum from low bit rate voice to
high bit rate data communication.Payload of the GSAT7 is designed to provide communication
capabilities to users in distant oceanic regions. Its solar arrays generate 2900 W of electrical power.
US
Scientists
Created
the
Most
Precise
Clock
of
the
World
The National Institute of Standards and Technology Scientist from U.S , revealed in the month of August
2013 that they created the most precise clock of the world. The ticking rate of this clock varies less than
two parts in one quintillion, or ten times better than any clock in the world. The clock is made up of the
element ytterbium. This element can be used for technological advancements beyond the timekeeping.
The clock can be used for various purposes such as checking temperature, navigation systems as well as
magnetic fields.The co-author of the study which revealed the clock, Andrew Ludlow explained that the
stability of this ytterbium lattice clock paves way for other practical applications of high-performance
timekeeping.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Rajeev
Rishi
is
new
CMD
of
Central
Bank
of
India
On 1 August Rajeev Rishi took over as the Chairman and Managing Director of Central Bank of India .His
appointment is for a period of five years.Prior to the new appointment, Mr. Rishi served as the Executive
Director of Indian Bank, since October 2010. Before joining Indian Bank, he was the General Manager of
Oriental Bank of Commerce.Rajeev Rishi, who belongs to Chandigarh, holds a BA and an LLB and an
expert in Banking.
Arundhati
Bhattacharya
Appointed
Managing
Director
Of
SBI
On 2 August Arundhati Bhattacharya was appointed the managing director and chief financial officer of
the State Bank of India(SBI).She is the first managing director at SBI, which is Indias largest
bank.Arundhati succeeded Diwakar Gupta.
Hassan
Rouhani
Sworn
In
As
Irans
New
President
On 4 August Hassan Rohani was sworn in as the new President of Iran in the ceremony held at the
Iranian Parliament in Tehran.Rouhani is the seventh (different) President of Iran after the Islamic
Revolution of 1979.

Raghuram
Rajan
Appointed
as
the
New
Governor
of
RBI
On 6 August Chief economic adviser Raghuram Govind Rajan has been appointed as the Governor of
the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).Rajan will have a term of three years.He will be the 23rd Governor of
RBI.He is 50 years of age and so far, he is the youngest person to become the Governor of the Reserve
Bank of India.He was appointed as the youngest-ever Economic Counselor and Director of Research
(chief economist) at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from October 2003 to December 2006.Rajan
was appointed as Chief Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Finance, Government of India on 10 August
2012.
Dilip
Trivedi
is
new
CRPF
chief
On 17 August Senior IPS officer Dilip Trivedi has been appointed as the new chief of the countrys largest
paramilitary force CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force). Trivedi, a 1978-batch officer of Uttar Pradesh
cadre has served in various positions in the state police and has also served in the Centre as ADG of the
Indo-Tibetan Border Police.He succeeded Pranay Sahay who retired on 31 July 2013.
Michel
Djotodia
Sworn
In
As
Central
African
Republic
President
On 18 August Former rebel leader Michel Djotodia was formally sworn in as the Central African
Republics President.Djotodia has been in charge of the country during the chaos that followed the rebels
seizure of control in March 2013, when they swept into power from their northern bases, overpowering
South African forces protecting former leader Francois Bozize.Djotodia was a leader of the Seleka rebel
coalition in the December 2012 rebellion; following a peace agreement, he was appointed to the
government as First Deputy Prime Minister for National Defense in February 2013.
Robert
Mugabe
Sworn
In
As
Zimbabwe
President
On 21 August Robert Mugabe has been sworn in for a new five-year term as President of
Zimbabwe.Mugabe of Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front) party won the
Presidential election (Parliamentary Election) by winning 61 percent votes in his favour on 3 August .
Parthasarathi
Shome
Appointed
As
Chairman
Of
TARC
On 26 August the Union Government of India set up a commission under the chairmanship of
Parthasarathy Shome to review tax laws and suggest ways for a stable and non-adversarial tax
administration.The seven-member Tax Administration Reform Commission (TARC) will have a 18-month
tenure to suggest various measures including an appropriate organisational structure for tax governance.
Justice
N
V
Ramana
Appointed
as
Chief
Justice
of
Delhi
High
Court
On 30 August Justice Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana, Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh,was
appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi.Justice Ramana replaced Chief Justice D.
Murugesan, who retired in June.Justice Ramana was appointed as a permanent judge of the Andhra
Pradesh High Court on 27 June 2000.Ramana had enrolled as an advocate in February 1983 and has
practiced in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, central and state administrative tribunals and the Supreme
Court.He holds specialisation in constitutional, criminal, service and inter-state river laws.He has
specialized in Constitutional, criminal, service and Inter-State River laws. He has functioned as Panel
Counsel for various Government organizations.

B)RESIGNS
Egypt
Vice
President
ElBaradei
Resigned
Egyptian vice-president, Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, announced his resignation in a letter to the
interim president on14 August .The resignation comes after scores were killed in a crackdown by security
forces on loyalists of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

C)DEATHS

Veteran
Music
Director
Dakshinamoorthy
Died
Venkateswaran Dakshinamoorthy, the veteran veteran carnatic musician and music director died on 2
August in Mylapore, Chennai.The veteran was known as Swamy in the music industry and gave music to
songs of more than 125 films in Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi.He has to his credit about 859 songs that
were composed by him over seven decades of his service to the world of Music. He debuted as a Music
composer in the a Malayalam movie Nalla Thanka (Nalla Thankal in Tamil) in 1950.He was the proud
recipient of Kerala State Film Award for best music director in 1971.In 1998, he received the Kerala State
Film Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Former
Air
Commodore
Jasjit
Singh
Died
On 4 August Noted strategic analyst Air Commodore (retired) Jasjit Singh died in NewDelhi. He was
conferred with the Padma Bhushan, the second highest civilian award, in the year 2006 by the former
president APJ Abdul Kalam.
Former
Union
minister
Devendra
Prasad
Yadav
Died
On 11 August Former Union minister and senior Congress leader from Bihar, Devendra Prasad Yadav,
died in NewDelhi.Yadav was a three-time Member of Parliament from Munger parliamentary seat of Bihar
and had served as Minister of State for Education between 1971-77 in Indira Gandhis cabinet.
Renowned
Naturalist
and
Ornithologist
Zafar
Futehally
Died
On 11 August Zafar Rashid Futehally an Indian naturalist, ornithologist and conservationist has died on
11 August at Kihim in Maharashtra.Zafar Futehally led the early years of the conservation movement in
India and served as a link between conservationists and corporate.He was conferred with several national
and international honours, including the Padma Shri in 1970.He also edited and published an anthology
of writings by Indian birdwatchers, India through its birds, which was published in 2007.
Former
Nepal
Prime
Minister
Man
Singh
Shrestha
Died
Former Nepalese Prime Minister Marich Man Singh Shrestha has died in Kathmandu on 15 August.He
had served as Nepals Prime Minister for about four years till April 1990, when the political parties
launched an agitation to restore democratic rights.
Kapil
Devs
Former
Coach
Desh
Prem
Azad
Died
On 16 August Desh Prem Azad, the former coach of cricketer Kapil Dev and Dronacharya awardee
died in Mohali.He trained cricketers such as Kapil Dev, Ashok Malhotra, Chetan Sharma and Yograj
Singh in the late 1970s.Desh Prem Azad represented Haryana, the Maharaja of Patialas XI and Southern
Punjab, while playing 19 first-class matches. In these matches, he scored 658 runs while grabbed 8
wickets in all.
Crime
Novelist
Elmore
Leonard
Died
Elmore Leonard, one of Americas best known crime novelists,has died on 20 August .Twenty-six of his
books and short stories have been adapted for the screen, including Hombre, Get Shorty, Jackie
Brown, (based on 1992s Rum Punch) and Justified, a TV shows based on 1993s Pronto, 1995s
Riding the Rap and the 2001 short story Fire in the Hole. His most recent novel, Raylan, was
released in 2012.
Eminent
Classical
Singer
Raghunath
Panigrahi
Died
On 25 August Eminent Indian classical singer and music director Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi died in
Bhubaneswar.Pandit Panigrahis effort to popularise poet Jayadevas Gita Govinda.Pandit Raghunath
Panigrahi was born at Gunupur in Odishas Rayaga (earlier Koraput) district.Pandit Raghunath was the
first Odia singer to be honoured by the French government for his Gita Govinda composition way back in
the 70s.He was also conferred with the Padmashri award in the year 2010.
Nobel
Literature
Laureate
Seamus
Heaney
Died
On 30 August Irish writer and poet Seamus Heaney, who won the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature, died in

Dublin.Seamus Heaney was born on 13 April 1939 in Northern Ireland.Northern Ireland-born Heaney
published his first major collection of poems, Death of a Naturalist, in 1966 and went on to become one
of the English languages leading poets.Heaney worked as the professor of poetry at Oxford University
between 1989 and 1994.

D)VISITORS
Afghanistan
Vice-President
Mohammad
Karim
Khalili
Visited
India
The vice president of Afghanistan, Mohammad Karim Karim Khalili visited India from 20 22
August.During the visit Khalili met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New delhi .In the meet both
nations discussed security issues and trade among other bilateral issues.Khalili also meets Indias
president Pranab Mukherjee, vice-president Mohammad Hamid Ansari, and external affairs minister
Salman Khurshid and discussed on both countries bilateral issues.
Iraqs
Prime
Minister
Nouri
al-Maliki
Visited
India
Nouri Al-Maliki, Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq visited India from 22 -25 August.During his four day
visit , Maliki met with the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh and President of Indian Union, Pranab
Mukherjee, Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari in New Delhi.Both the nations exchanged views on
bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest and reached a broad consensus. The
discussions enabled better understanding and appreciation of each others concerns and perspectives
and helped in forging closer understanding at the highest political level and also several MoUs were
signed between the two nations. This was the first visit of Maliki to India

E)MISCELLANEOUS
Amazon
Founder
&
CEO
Jeff
Bezos
Buys
Washington
Post
Amazon Founder & CEO Jeff Bezos has purchased the Washington Post Newspaper of US. Seattlebased Amazon owner Jeffrey P Bezos has agreed to buy the newspaper assets of The Washington Post
Company for USD 250 million.Bezos, whose entrepreneurship has made him one of the worlds richest
men, will pay $250 million in cash for The Post and affiliated publications to The Washington Post Co.,
which owns the newspaper and other businesses.The Washington Post (WP) is an American daily
newspaper. It is the most widely circulated newspaper published in Washington, D.C., and oldest extant
in the area, founded in 1877.
11-year-old
UK
girl
has
higher
IQ
than
Einstein
On 5 August An 11-year-old schoolgirl in the U.K. has achieved the highest possible score of 162 on a
Mensa IQ test, making her brainier than scientists Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein. Cerys
Cooksammy-Parnell, a grade six schoolgirl took up the test with the aim of beating her fathers score of
142. She also scored the highest mark possible in the test, scoring 162 on the Cattell B scale.
Sharapova
Tops

Forbes

List
of
Best
Paid
Female
Athletes
On 6 August Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has topped the Forbes list of highest-earning female
athletes for the ninth-straight year, raking in $29 million over the last 12 months.American Serena
Williams is second on the list with earnings of 20.5 million US dollars, Chinese star Li Na in third with
$18.2 million and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in fourth with $15.7 million.
Indian
American
Students
Wins
National
Geographic
World
Championship
On 9 August A team of three young Indian American students defeated teams from 17 other regions to
win top honours at the 11th National Geographic World Championship in Russias St Petersburg.The
team was made up of captain Gopi Ramanathan from Sartell, Minnesota; Asha Jain from Minocqua,
Wisconsin; and Neelam Kaur Sandhu from Bedford, New Hampshire.In the biennial competition, teams of
students answered questions on physical, cultural and economic geography.Ramanathan, already has
won his state geography bee twice. He had finished seventh in the 2012 National Bee in Washington, DC.

The competition was sponsored by Google, and presented by the US National Geographic Society in
partnership with the Russian Geographical Society.
Canadian
Street
Named
After
Mahatma
Gandhi
On 15 August A street in Canadas Winnipeg city has been named after Mahatma Gandhi on the
occasion of Indias 67th Independence Day. The street leading to the Canadian Museum for Human
Rights will now be known as Honorary Mahatma Gandhi Way. At a ceremony , the Mayor of Winnipeg
Sam Katz explained that the street was named so after an individual who is synonymous with the struggle
for human rights.
Dhoni Beats Rafael Nadal Usain Bolt In Forbes List Of Highest Paid Athletes
On 20 August Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been ranked 16th in the latest
Forbes list of highest-paid athletes with an earning of $31.5 million (around Rs.180 crore).In the list, he
was placed above Rafael Nadal and Usain Bolt.As per the latest Forbes list of highest-paid athletes in the
world, dhoni earned $31.5 million between June 2012 and June 2013.List of places don above F1
Fernando Alonso, who is on the 19th, Lewis Hamilton on the 26th, Novak Djokovic on the 28th, Rafael
Nadal is in 30th place, and Usain Bolt in the 40th grade.Doni has risen 15 places in this years list. It took
31 th rank in the last year. Sachin Tendulkar is the only Indian athlete, who is one of the rank of 31 and a
total annual revenue of $ 22 million (Rs 125 crore).List is topped by golfer Tiger Woods, who made $ 78.1
million last year, followed by Roger Federer, who earned $ 71.5 million, basketball player Kobe Bryant
with earnings of $ 61.9 million.The calculation is based on earnings estimates, which includes salaries,
bonuses and cash prizes from both the club and the national team, as well as approval of revenue.
Madonna
Tops
Forbes
2013
Highest-Paid
Celebrities
List
On 27 August According to Forbes 2013 list of highest-paid celebrities Madonna was the worlds
highest-earning celebrity in 2012-13.Madonna made $US125 million between June 2012 and June
2013.Veteran film director Steven Spielberg took second place in the list, while musical talent show mogul
Simon Cowell tied for third with Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James and disc jockey Howard Stern.
Most
Wanted
Indian
Mujahideen
Terrorist
Yasin
Bhatka
Arrested
Indian Mujahideen co-founder and one of Indias most wanted terrorists, Yasin Bhatkal was arrested on
30 August.Yasin has been on the run since 2008. The IM leader is wanted in a string of terror attacks in
Ahmedabad, Surat, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi and Hyderabad.Yasin, who co-founded IM in 2008 along with
brother Riaz, is also wanted in the German Bakery bomb blast in Pune on February 13, 2010.

PLACES IN NEWS
Strong
Earthquake
HitsChina
On 14 August China hit by strong earthquake with magnitude of 6.1.The earthquake occured in jolted
parts of Tibet.Due to this earthquake at least 87 people were injured and over 45,000 homes damaged
.The epicenter of the earthquake was identified nearer to the Ringo town.
Submarine INS Sindhurakshak Sinks After Major Blast In Mumbai
On 14 August in a huge setback to the Indian Navy, a conventional submarine INS Sindhurakshak
exploded after a fire on board and sank in the naval dockyard in Mumbai , in which 18 personnel,
including three officers are feared killed.A smaller intensity explosion was followed by two massive blasts,
causing a major fire in the Russian-made submarine.In 2010, a fire broke out on board Sindhurakshak
leaving a sailor dead and two others injured. INS Sindhurakshak was a Russian-made Kilo-class
877EKM(Sindhughosh-class) diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy.Commissioned on 24
December 1997, it was the ninth of the ten Kilo-class submarines in the Indian Navy.On 4 June 2010, the

Indian Defence Ministry and Zvezdochka shipyard signed a contract worth US$80 million to upgrade and
overhaul the submarine. After the overhaul, it returned to India from Russia in 2013.
1300 People Killed In Chemical Attack On Syria
On 21 August nearly 1300 people, including children were killed in in Damascus, the capital of
Syria..This was one of the deadliest chemical attacks in the civil war of Syria. Toxic gas was fired from the
rockets.

ABBREVIATIONS
DRDO

Defence Research and Development Organisation

SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

AGOC Asian Games Organisation Committee
CDRI - Central Drug Research Institute
FEMA Foreign Exchange Management Act
FIPB - Foreign Investment Promotion Board
IFTU International Federation of Trade Unions
IRDA Insurance Regulatory Development Authority
NABARD - National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development
SEBI - Security Exchange Board of India
UNHCR United Nations High Commission for Refugees
WMO World Meteorological Organisation

BOOKS IN NEWS
The
Moon
Baller
Book
Released
On 5 August Former India No.1 and tennis ace Nirupama Vaidyanathans autobiographical account The
Moon Baller was released at a function held at the Madras Cricket Club.The book, which goes back in
time to chronicle the times when professional tennis for Indian women was quite unheard of, was
launched by tennis legend Vijay Amritraj.
My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions by Abdul Kalam Released
In the month of August My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions by former President of India,
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was launched by the Rupa Publication.In his new book Kalam shares the inspiration

and the lessons he learned from personal stories of his life. The book describes the lesser known events
from his life.
Dhyan Chand The Wizard of Hockey Book Released
The first-of-its-kind graphic biography on former Indian Hockey player Dhyan Chand titled Dhyan
Chand-The Wizard of Hockey was launched at Dhyanchand Stadium in New Delhi on 29 August .The
biography was launched on the National Sports Day to commemorate the 108th birth anniversary of the
legend.The book has been written by Luis Fernandes, who researched extensively on the subject.The
book is being printed by comic-series publication Amar Chitra Katha.The book focussed on Dhyan
Chands achievements and goal-scoring feats at 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics that got him the title The
Wizard.

COMMITTEES
Virginius
Xaxa
Committee
To
Asses
Status
Of
Scheduled
Tribes
On 17 August On the pattern of Sachar Committee for Muslims, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has set
up a committee to assess the status of scheduled tribes with an aim of ensuring their uplift, particularly in
socio-economic, health and education fields.Prof. Virginius Xaxa was appointed as the chairman of the
seven-member committee.The committee will finalise and present its report within nine months from the
date of this notification.The Prime Ministers decision of setting up a committee came after the
government found that the STs, who form 7.5 percent of the countrys population, are not getting enough
dues despite the special status in the constitution.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

International
Day
of
the
Victims
of
Enforced
Disappearances
The United Nations (UN) observes the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on
August 30 each year.The UN General Assembly declared this day by its resolution 65/209, on 21
December 2010. The UN General Assembly, by this same resolution also welcomed the adoption of the
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The involuntary
or enforced disappearances are a result of abduction, detention or arrest or other factors or reasons.
Also, there are growing numbers of reports which include ill-treatment, harassment as well as intimidation
of the witnesses of these disappearances or of the persons or the relatives who have disappeared.
National Sports Day Is Observed On 29 August
National Sports Day in India is observed on 29 August of every year to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Indian hockey legend Dhyan Chand.National sports day celebrated every year on 29
August to bring awareness about sports in public.This year, events like walkathon and football
tournaments were held across the country for the first time as part of the National Sports Day
celebrations. On the occasion of National Sports Day, a scheme known as Come and Play has been
launched for general public to make optimal use of Sports Authority of India stadia. Major Dhyan Chand is
an iconic Indian hockey player who is remembered as a magician of Indian hockey. He was the prime
member of Indian hockey team which brought three Olympic gold medals in field of Hockey in 1928
(Amsterdam), 1932 (Los Angeles) and 1936 (Berlin).He was honored with Padma Bhushan by the
Government of India in 1956 for his outstanding contribution to Indian Hockey.Major Dhyan Chands
birthday, 29 August is celebrated as National Sports Day in India. Major sports awards like Rajiv Gandhi
Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya awards are presented on this occasion to the sportsperson who has
shown tremendous commitment towards the game and made the Country proud.

July 2013 Current Affairs Study Material

INTERNATIONAL
Croatia
Joins
The
EU
as
28th
Member
State
On 1 July Croatia became the 28th member of the European Union.It is the first addition since Bulgaria
and Romania joined EU in 2007.Croatia formally applied for EU membership in 2003.
International
Assistance
Force
In
Mali
Transformed
into
UN
Force
On 1 July A new United Nations peacekeeping mission for insurgent-affected Mali was launched on 1
July .The previous African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) has been transformed to
the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).The transfer of authority
from the forces of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) to the UN
Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) took place during a ceremony in
Bamako, capital of the West African country.
Pakistan

China
Signed
8
Agreements
On 5 July Pakistan and China signed eight documents of cooperation in various areas of economy , for
furthering already strong economic and technical ties between two friendly countries.The first pact signed
pertained to the building of a long term project (Pak-China Economic Corridor) a 200KM tunnel which will
be built at a cost of $18 billion.These agreements and MoU were signed in the presence of Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Keqaing.Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan
Iqbal signed the pact from the Pakistani side while Chairman National Development and Reforms
Commission of PRC, Xu Shao Shi inked the pact from the Chinese side.
Hazem
El-Beblawi
Named
As
New
Egyptian
Prime
Minister
On 9 July Hazem el Beblawi a liberal economist and Egypt s former finance minister was named as the
new Prime Minister of Egypt by the Interim President Adly Mansour.El-Beblawi is a founding member of
the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, Al Ahram.He has also served as the undersecretary-general at the
United Nations between 1995 and 2000.
Taiwan
and
New
Zealand
Signed
Free
Trade
Agreement
On 10 July New Zealand signed a free trade agreement with Taiwan.Two-way trade is worth 1.6 billion
New Zealand dollars (US$1.2 billion) annually, with New Zealand exporting mainly agricultural products
like milk and Taiwan shipping largely electronics.Taiwan is New Zealands 12th largest trading partner,
with bilateral trade totalling about $120.7 million.
France
and
Switzerland
Signed
New
Inheritance
Tax
Agreement
On 11 July France and Switzerland have signed an agreement on inheritance tax as part of an amended
double taxation agreement. Paris hopes will help it bring in more money.Under the agreement
inheritances would be taxed based on where the recipient resides, not where the deceased lived, as used
to be the case.
Bhutans
Opposition
Party
Wins
Parliamentary
Elections
On 14 July Bhutans Election Commission formally announced that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
won the National Assembly elections by having secured a majority of thirty two seats.The Druk Phuensum
Tshogpa (DPT) won fifteen seats and was elected as the opposition party.PDP leader Tshering Tobgay is
likely to be named prime minister of the new government.
Bangladesh
Passes
Labour
(Amendment)
Bill
2013
On 15 July the Bangladesh Parliament passed Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Bill 2013 aimed to

protect the interest and rights of the workers and ensuring their safety.The new law has seen
amendments to a total of 87 sections of the Labor Act 2006.
Britains
Queen
Elizabeth
II
Signed
Bill
Legalizing
Gay
Marriage
On 17 July Britain has legalized gay marriage after Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal stamp of
approval.The queens approval was a formality.Britain became the 15th country to legalize gay marriage
after a bill cleared Parliament and Queen Elizabeth II signed off on the law.
Iran
and
Iraq
Signed
Gas
Export
Agreement
On 21 July Iran has signed an agreement to export gas to Iraq, worth 3.7 billion dollars a year.The
agreement was signed in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad by Irans Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi and his Iraqi
counterpart, Abdul Kareem Luaibi.
EU
Declared
Hezbollahs
Military
Wing
As
Terrorist
Organization
On 22 July The European Union (EU) declared the military wing of Hezbollah a terrorist organization.The
EUs 28 foreign ministers reached the decision unanimously at their meeting.The Iranian-backed group
plays a major role in Lebanese politics and has dominated the government since 2011.The blacklisting
would mean imposing visa bans on individuals and asset freezes on organizations associated with the
group.
Thirty
Meter
Telescope
Partners
Signed
Agreement
On 26 July The partners building the worlds largest and most advanced optical telescope at Mauna Keas
summit have signed an agreement laying the foundation for the telescopes operation.Mauna Kea is a
volcano on the island of Hawaii.The Thirty Meter Telescope project representatives from partnering
institutions in the U.S., Canada, China, India and Japan signed the document.The agreement defines
project goals, member party rights, obligations and benefits. It also establishes a governance
structure.The telescope is a partnership of the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in
Astronomy, the California Institute of Technology, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan,
institutions in India, a consortium of Chinese institutions and the University of California.
Liberals,
Smaller
Tribes
Win
Seats
In
Kuwaits
Parliamentary
Elections
On 27 July Liberals and candidates from some of Kuwaits more marginalised tribes have won seats in a
parliament .The ballot was the sixth since 2006 in the major oil producer, where political upheaval and
bureaucracy have held up the vast majority of projects in a 30-billion-dinar (68 billion pounds) economic
development plan announced in 2010.Kuwait has the most open political system in the Gulf Arab region
but parliaments have been repeatedly dissolved over procedural disputes or for challenging the
government in which members of the ruling Al-Sabah family hold top posts.Shiites estimated at 20-30
percent of the population won just eight seats in the 50-member parliament compared to 17 in the last
election in December, after Sunnis in their districts ramped up a campaign to win seats.
Myanmar

China
Gas
Pipeline
Starts
To
Deliver
Gas
To
China
On 28 July Myanmar-China natural gas pipeline (Myanmar section) was inaugurated in northern
Myanmars Mandalay and started to deliver gas to China.The gas pipeline stretches for 793 kilometers
onshore within Myanmars territory with six processing stations, while the crude oil pipeline, which is
nearing completion, starts from Made Island and extends onshore for 771 kilometers.
Republican
Turkish
Party
Wins
Turkish
Cypriot
Parliamentary
Elections
On 29 July the centre-left Republican Turkish Party (CTP) emerged as the winner on in the Turkish
Cypriot parliamentary elections, but came short of winning an outright majority.The CTP won 38.49 per
cent of the vote and 21 seats in the 50-seat Parliament of the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus, results showed.The nationalist National Unity Party (UBP) won 27.16 per cent and 14 seats and
the centre-right Democratic Party (DP) took 23.1 per cent of the vote and 12 seats.The centre-left
Communal Democracy Party (TDP) won 7.41 per cent of the vote and three seats.The CTP will now need
to form a coalition government.The election was called a year early after the Government of Prime

Minister Irsen Kucuk, in power since 2009.Cyprus has been divided into a Turkish northern part and a
Greek south since a Turkish invasion in July 1974.
Mamnoon
Hussain
Elected
As
Pakistans
New
President
On 30 July Pakistan Muslim League-Nawazs (PML-N) nominee Mamnoon Hussain was elected as the
12th President of Pakistan.Hussain emerged as a clear winner in the contest with ex-judge Wajihuddin
Ahmed of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party , headed by cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan.Mamnoon
Hussain has secured 432 votes whereas justice Wajihuddin (Ahmed) secures 77 votes.The presidential
office of Pakistan will be vacated on 8 September 2013 by the incumbent Asif Ali Zardari, as his term of 5
years ended.Mamnoon Hussain will be administered the oath of the office on 9 September 2013.
Mamnoon Hussain was born on 2 March 1940 in Agra, India.He is the textile businessman as well as
politician of Pakistan.He migrated to Pakistan from India in 1954.
Ireland
President
Signed
The
Abortion
Bill
In
To
Law
On 31 July Ireland President Michael D. Higgins has signed the abortion bill into law. The bill,
overwhelmingly passed by both houses of the Irish parliament on 12 July 2013, permits abortions only in
cases where doctors deem the womans life at risk from continued pregnancy.

INDIA & WORLD

India
Ranks
66th
On
Global
Innovation
Index

On 2 July India ranked 66th in the Global Innovation Index 2013, published by Cornell University,
INSEAD, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as a
knowledge partner.Switzerland and Sweden maintained rank 1 and 2 respectively The study ranked 142
economies across the world on their innovation capacity and efficiency.
India
and
Mauritius
Signed
5
MoUs
On 5 July India and Mauritius signed 5 MoUs (Memorandum of understanding).The 5 MoUs are signed in
the presence of the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Anand Sharma and Mr. Sayyad Abd-AlCader Sayed Hossen, Minister of Industry, Mauritius, in Port Louis.Five institutional level MoUs were
signed
to
take
the
partnership
forward.
These
are:
* MoU between Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) and Enterprise Mauritius (EM)
* MoU between Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA) and Mauritius Standards Bureau
* MoU between NITRA and National Productivity and Competitive Council (NPCC) of Mauritius
* MoU between Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) and Mauritius Export Association
(MEXA);
and
* MoU between Institute of Apparel Management (IAM) and Fashion and Design Institute of Mauritius
(FDI)
UN
Millennium
Development
Goals
Report
2013
On 5 July According to the UN Millennium Development Goals Report 2013, the world has reached the
poverty reduction target five years ahead of schedule. In developing regions, the proportion of people
living on less than $1.25 a day fell from 47 per cent in 1990 to 22 per cent in 2010. Extreme poverty is
also falling in every region.Nevertheless, the gender gap in employment persists, with a 24.8 percentage
point difference between men and women in the employment-to-population ratio in 2012.
India,
Albania
Signed
Agreement
For
Avoidance
Of
Double
Taxation
On 8 July India and Albania signed an agreement for avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of
fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital.The agreement was signed by Ms Sudha
Sharma, chairperson, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), and Mr Fatos Kerciku, Ambassador,
Republic of Albania.

India,
Iraq
Signed
Agreement
To
Enhance
Co-operation
In
Energy
Sector
On 8 July India and Iraq signed a agreement to enhance co-operation in energy security, bilateral trade &
commerce, infrastructure development among others.The agreement was signed between the Union
Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily and his counterpart from Iraq, Abdul Karim Luaibi at the end of the
India-Iraq Joint Commission on technical co-operation in Baghdad.
India,
SriLanka
&
Maldives
Signed
Tripartite
Maritime
Security
Agreement
On 8 July India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have entered into a tripartite agreement on maritime
cooperation to secure sea routes in the Indian Ocean region at the end of the Meeting on Trilateral
Cooperation on Maritime Security.The agreement was reached by all on the importance of raising the
maritime cooperation between the three countries in the current context of maritime security environment
in the Indian Ocean region.
India

Tanzania
Signed
Agreements
On
Bilateral
Cooperation
On 9 July India and Tanzania have signed agreements on bilateral cooperation in several sectors,
including agriculture, health and education, mines and minerals.All the agreements were signed between
the Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Preneet Kaur and the Tanzanian Minister for Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation, Bernard K. Membe at Dar es Salaam.
15th
India

Vietnam
Joint
Commission
Meeting
On 11 July India and Vietnam held 15th Joint commission meeting in New Delhi.The meeting was cochaired on the Vietnams side Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and on the Indian side by Indias External
Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid .In the meeting both nations discussed the strengthening of strategic
partnership which included an exchange of a co-operative agenda on bilateral relations.At the end of the
meeting, both nations signed the Agreed Minutes of the JCM and witnessed the signing of an Agreement
on the US$19.5 million LOC for setting up Nam Trai-IV hydropower project and Binh Bo Pumping station
by CMD, Exim Bank and the Vietnam Vice Minister of Finance.
India,
Nigeria
Signed
Solar
Power
Plant
Agreement
On 22 July India and Nigeria have signed an agreement to locate sites for solar power plants in Niger
state.The agreement will provide additional energy for Nigerias national grid.The agreement was signed
between Nigerias permanent secretary in the Ministry of Power Godknows Igali and the secretary to the
Government of India, Sutanu Behuria.
India,
Belarus
Signed
Protocol
To
Enhance
Trade
Ties
On 24 July 2013 India and Belarus signed a protocol to enhance trade ties during the sixth session of the
Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation
held in New Delhi.The session was co-chaired from the Indian Side by Dr. E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan,
Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, and Dmitry S. Katerinich, Minister of Industry of the
Republic of Belarus.
India
and
France
Hold
Talks
On
Military
Cooperation
On 26 July India and France discussed their ongoing military cooperation including the progress over Rs
50,000 crore 126 multirole combat aircraft deal during the defence minister-level talks in NewDelhi.The
two sides are also holding negotiations for a Rs 30,000-crore project for co-developing the Maitri surfaceto-air missile defence system.In a joint statement issued after the deliberations between defence minister
A K Antony and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, they agreed that such cooperation should
continue to be progressed to the mutual benefit of both countries, including in high technology areas
involving joint research and development and transfer of technology.
India
and
Afghanistan
Signed
MoUs
for
SDP
scheme
projects
On 30 July India and Afghanistan have signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in Kabul for
implementing 60 projects in ten Afghan provinces under the Small Development Projects (SDP)
scheme.The MoUs signed by Afghan Minister of Economy Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal and Indian

Ambassador Amar Sinha in Kabul are related to the third phase of the SDP scheme and will be
completed in the next four years.

NATIONAL
Government
Announced
National
Cyber
Security
Policy
On 2 July the Union Government of India announced the National Cyber Security Policy with an aim to
protect information and build capabilities to prevent cyber attacks. The National Cyber Security Policy
2013 to safeguard both physical and business assets of the country.This policy aims at facilitating
creation of secure computing environment and enabling adequate trust and confidence in electronic
transactions and also guiding stakeholders actions for protection of cyber space.The National Cyber
Policy in order to create a secure cyber ecosystem has planned to set-up a National Nodal Agency to
coordinate all matters related to cyber security in the country.
President
Pranab
Mukherjee
Signed
Ordinance
On
Food
Security
On 5 July President Pranab Mukherjee signed the ordinance on food security ,which seeks to give legal
rights to 67 per cent of the population over subsidised grains every month.Now, with the presidential
consent, the bill will be presented before the Parliament when it convenes for the Monsoon Session.The
Government had issued the ordinance to give nations two-third population the right to get 5 kgs of
foodgrains every month at highly subsidised rates of 1-3 Rupees per kg amid political opposition.
District
Rural
Development
Agency
Disbanded
On 9 July the Union government announced disbanding of the Rural Development Agency (DRDA), the
body which looks after implementation of anti-poverty programmes of Rural Development Ministry.The
agency will now be rechristened and it will perform its role under zila parishads, the local elected bodies
at the district level.The District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) were set up as independent
societies in 1980 and since then have been principal organs at the district level to oversee the
implementation of the ministrys anti-poverty programmes.
Cabinet
Approved
For
Aviation,
Women
Varsities
In
Raebareli
On 11 July the Union cabinet has approved two universities for Raebareli, the parliamentary constituency
of Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh.Raebareli will get the first ever all-women university
and first national aviation university in the country.National University for Women in Uttar Pradesh by the
name of The Indira Gandhi National University for Women.This will be the first university of the country
to be established exclusively for women.The cost involved is Rs.500 crore.National Aviation University
(NAU) in the name of Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University at the District of Rae Bareli in the State
of U.P. as a Central University.The Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University will be established as a
Central University and as an autonomous body under the administrative control of Ministry of Civil
Aviation in Rae Bareli District of U.P. with an estimated Central Governments funding of Rs. 202 crore in
12th Plan period.Both universities bills will be introduced in the coming Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Govt
Approved
To
Replace
DGCA
With
Civil
Aviation
Authority
On 11 July The government cleared a proposal to replace Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA)
with a new aviation regulator with full operational and financial autonomy.The new regulatory body would
be called the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and it would replace the DGCA.The estimated cost of
establishing the new Authority would be over Rs 110 crore.
Free
Medical
Treatment
For
Pregnant
Women
On 16 July Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced the government will provide free prenatal health care and ambulance facilities to pregnant women across the country .Under the Janani
Suraksha Yojna (JSY) scheme, pregnant women are provided free medical treatment during the delivery

and post natal care.Pregnant women will be given free medical and ambulance facilities from
conception to delivery. They will also be able to avail free consultation from doctors at government
hospitals for 45 days from delivery and infants will be given free treatment at the hospitals for one year.
Indian
Telegram
Service
Stopped
The 163-year old telegram service in the country ends on 14 July.Started in 1850 on an experimental
basis between Koklata and Diamond Harbour, it was opened for use by the British East India Company in
1851and it was opened to the public in 1854.Within a short time of BSNL handling telegram services in
1990s, the PSU had a rift with the Department of Posts following which telegrams were accepted as
phonograms from various villages and other centres from telephone consumers.
Bengaluru International Airport Renamed as Kempegowda International Airport
On 17 July the Union Cabinet gave its approval for renaming Bengaluru International Airport as
Kempegowda International Airport to fulfill the long pending demand of the people of Karnataka, as well
as the State Government of Karnataka.Hiriya Kempegowda, known as Kempegowda was a ruler under
the Vijayanagar Empire, who ruled most parts of Karnataka during the sixteenth century. He had the
vision of building a large futuristic city and is widely accepted as being the founder of
Bengaluru. Kempegowda built Bengaluru Fort and moved his capital from Yelahanka to the new
Bengaluru.
President Of India Promulgated The Securities Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2013
On 18 July Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India promulgated the Securities Law Amendment
Ordinance 2013. The ordinance would grant Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the powers
to regulate any pooling of funds under an investment contract involving a corpus of 100 crore rupees or
more and attach assets in case of non-compliance.The Chairman of SEBI would have powers to
authorize the carrying out of search and seizure operations, as part of its efforts to crack down on ponzi
schemes.
Acid
Attacks
On
Women
Non-bailable
Offence
On 18 July the Supreme Court o made acid attack a non-bailable offence and ordered all state
governments to pay Rs 3 lakh compensation to acid attack victims. The states were also directed to frame
rules for regulating sale of acid within three months.The material cannot be sold to a person who is below
the age of 18 years.Going through the compensation schemes of 17 states and seven Union Territories
(UTs), the bench found the amount being paid to the victims as grossly inadequate.The compensation for
after-care and rehabilitation at present ranges between Rs 5,000 and Rs 1,50,000.
Union
Tourism
Minister
Launched
Clean
India
Campaign
On 24 July Union Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi launched the Project Clean India Campaign at Taj
Mahal.Clean India Campaign has been initiated by the Ministry of Tourism with the objective to increase
tourist arrivals to the country and to improve quality of services and provide a hygienic environment in and
around tourist destinations across the country.Taj Mahal is the second heritage site to be covered under
this project. The first being Qutub Minar Delhi, which has been adopted by India Tourism Development
Corporation in June 2012.On the request from the Tourism Minister, the Oil and Natural Gas Commission
(ONGC) has agreed to adopt and upkeep the environs of Taj Mahal Complex including up gradation of
tourist facilities in the monument.Besides Taj Mahal, the ONGC has also agreed to adopt five more
monuments including Ellora and Elephanta Caves in Maharashtra, Red Fort in the national capital,
Golkonda Fort in Hyderabad and Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu.

STATES

Himachal
Pradesh
Declared
First
Smoke

Free
State
In
Country
On 2 July Himachal Pradesh has been declared the first smoke-free State in the country in compliance
with Section 4 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003. The State has
achieved 85.45% compliance with the relevant parameters.
Uttar
Pradesh
Grants
District
Status
To
Amethi
On 5 July the Uttar Pradesh government granted district status to Amethi ,which will include three tehsils
of Sultanpur and one of Rae Bareli. The district headquarters of Amethi will be Gauriganj.Sultanpurs
Amethi, Gauriganj and Musafirkhana tehsils and Rae Barelis Tiloi will be part of Amethi district.Some
revenue villages of Maharajganj tehsil of Rae Bareli were included in Tiloi tehsil of Amethi and in
exchange some villages of Tiloi were included in Maharajganj.
Karnataka
Launched

Anna
Bhagya

Scheme
On 10 July Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the ambitious Anna Bhagya scheme in
Bangalore.The scheme under which 30 kg of rice per month will be given to BPL (below poverty line)
families across the state at Re 1 per kg. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced the scheme after
taking oath on June 13.The government will spend Rs 4,300 crore every year on the scheme.
Kudankulam
Nuclear
Power
Project
Starts
Fission
On 13 July Indias 21st nuclear power reactor and the countrys first pressurised water reactor under the
light water reactor category ,Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu began the nuclear
fission process.Indias atomic power plant operator, NPCIL is setting up two 1,000 MW reactors with
Russian technology and equipments at Kudankulam, around 650 km from Chennai.The over Rs 17,000
crore project, which generated severe protests from the locals, has started generating heat and steam
from the 163 uranium fuel bundles loaded in the reactor.
Night
Policing
Scheme
Launched
In
Punjab
On 14 July Punjab government launched the Night Policing Scheme (NPS) with 4000 police personnel
and an independent cadre and command structure. The NPS is aimed at augmenting and strengthening
the deployment of police personnel, through the usage of modern technology during night hours in cities
and towns of the state.The NPS will also focus on the national and state highways and major roads
crisscrossing the state, mainly to instill a sense of security among the citizens.
UP
Launched
Family
Health
Campaign
On 15 July the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, launched the Hausla awareness statewide campaign to improve family health in 75 districts of the State.The campaigns twin goals include
galvanizing state health systems to deliver high-quality, accessible health programs and services, while
also increasing awareness and utilization of services by families and communities across the states 75
districts.
Kerala
Govt.Approved
Tapping
Sweet
Toddy
From
Coconut
On 16 July the Kerala Government has given its nod for tapping neera or unfermented sap from coconut
across the State.Neera, which is also called sweet toddy, is the non-alcoholic drink which is extracted
from immature inflorescence of coconut.This decision would prove to be very beneficial for depressing
coconut sector.Neera tapping will take place in units of 1500 coconut trees in each and every district all
over Kerala, in the beginning as a part of the pilot project.lic content.
Madhya
Pradesh
Police
Health
Security
Scheme
On 17 July Madhya Pradesh state cabinet has decided to implement Madhya Pradesh Police Health
Security Scheme for police officers and employees. The scheme will be applicable only to the police
personnel working in the state.The scheme will not be applicable to Indian Police Service officers. It will
be run by a registered trust, whose state-level management committee will be headed by the Director
General of Police. Members and their dependents will be entitled for treatment of up to 8 lakh rupees in a
financial year. They can avail the treatment facility in hospitals recognised by the state government.

Maharashtra
Extended
Ban
On
Gutkha
and
Paan
Masala
On 19 July Maharashtra state government has announced a ban extension on nicotine-laced gutkha and
paan masala for another year considering health hazards of these products.In July 2012, the government
had banned the sale, storage and consumption of nicotine-laced gutkha and paan masala in any form for
a year, which was to end on 19 July 2013. The government move was prompted by the incidence of oral
diseases, including cancer due to consumption of such gutkha and paan masala.
Latest Statistics Data On Tourism In India Released By Ministry Of Tourism
On 23 July According to the latest statistics on tourism in India released by Ministry of Tourism during the
year
2012.
* Andhra Pradesh has become the top tourist destination in the country recording 206.8 million domestic
tourists
last
year.
* Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh stood at second and third positions respectively with 184.1 million and
168.4
million
domestic
tourists.
* According to the data, the top ten states in terms of number of domestic tourist visits (in millions) during
2012 are: Andhra Pradesh (206.8), Tamil Nadu (184.1), Uttar Pradesh (168.4), Karnataka (94.1),
Maharashtra (66.3), Madhya Pradesh (53.2), Rajasthan (28.6), Uttarakhand (26.8), Gujarat (24.4) and
West Bengal (22.7).The contribution of these States was about 84.5% to the total number of domestic
tourist
visits
during
2012.
* The number of foreign tourists visiting the country too registered a growth of 6.33 per cent during the
same
year.
* Maharashtra (5.1 lakh) topped the list in number of foreign tourist visits, followed by Tamil Nadu (3.6
lakhs)
and
New
Delhi(2.3
lakhs).
* The top ten most sought after states by foreign tourists (in millions) during 2012 were :- Maharashtra
(5.1), Tamil Nadu (3.6), Delhi (2.3), Uttar Pradesh (2.0), Rajasthan (1.5), West Bengal (1.2), Bihar (1.1),
Kerala (0.8), Karnataka (0.6) and Himachal Pradesh (0.5).
First
Textile
Park
Inaugurated
at
Bagru
near
Jaipur
On 24 July First Textile Park dedicated to hand block printing and craft was inaugurated by the Union
Minister of Textile, Dr. Kavuru Sambasiva Rao at Bagru near Jaipur. The textile park would bring in new
opportunities for exporters and artisans, as the textile sector holds vast potential of employment. The park
has been named Jaipur Integrated Texcraft Park Pvt. Ltd. (JITPPL) and is also known as is also known
as Jaipur Bloc.Bagru the place where the park is located is known all over the world for its traditional
textiles, various styles of hand block printing and related skills. This is the first park in India that will cater
to the segment of hand block printing. The textile park is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to
conserve and preserve water.
WIFS
Programme
Launched
In
Rajasthan
On 25 July the Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) Programme for the State of Rajasthan
was launched by ShriGhulamNabi Azad, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfareat Jaipur.Adolescents
form 22 % of Indias total population who are the future of the country. But half of the adolescent
population, both girls and boys, suffers from anaemia.Anaemia results in poor physical growth, poor
school performance and reduced concentration in daily tasks.Anaemia contributes to poor maternal and
child health, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality.For this reason, the Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare has taken upWeekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) programme to prevent and
control the anaemia situation in adolescents.The programme will reach out to 13 crore boys and girls of
the country enrolled in government, government aided and municipal schools as well as out-of-school
girls.
Himachal
Government
Launched
Video
Chat
In
Prisons
On 26 July Himachal Pradesh state government launched video chat facility in all six prisons of the state
.The video conference facility, first of its kind in the country, would help family and friends save time and
money on travelling to prisons to meet the inmates. Even foreigners can avail this facility.The government
has already amended the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), enabling the courts to utilize the video-

conference facility between the jails and the courts. This would also help save time and money of the
prison department in escorting the prisoners from jails to courts.
Two
New
Rail
and
Road
Projects
Launched
In
Haryana
On 28 July Two rail as well as road projects which are worth 1500 crore Rupees were launched in
Haryana.The foundation stone of 68 Kilometer rail line between Hansi-Meham and Rohtak at Hansi was
laid down by Union Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge. The cost of this project is 500 crore Rupees. The
rail route would include eight railway stations, four halt stations as well as four crossing stations.The
projected rail line will connect the crucial parts of Haryana, i.e., Fatehabad and Sirsa direct with Delhi.
The Union Transport Minister Oscar Fernandes, at Hansi laid the foundation of 99 Kilometer long HisarRohtak four lane National Highway. The cost of this project would be 1000 crore Rupees. The road
project would include two road-over bridges, under pass as well as 29-bus bays at both the sides.
Government Of Odisha Announced Rice For Olive Ridley Conservation Scheme
The Government of Odisha announced Rice for Olive Ridley Conservation (ROrC) scheme for the year
2013 in order to help the fishermen families affected by seven-month ban on marine fishing at Odisha
coastal areas.The identification of beneficiaries under Rice for Olive Ridley Conservation (ROrC) Scheme
was announced on 22 July 2013.The main aim of the ROrC scheme is to help the fishermen families who
are affected by seven-month ban on marine fishing as an Olive Ridley turtle protection measure.

CONFERENCES
First
IOR-ARC
Economic
and
Business
Conference
(IOR-ARC) Economic and Business Conference held in Port Louis, Mauritius on 4 5 July 2013.The
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Anand Sharma co-chaired the Indian Ocean Rim Association
for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) Economic and Business Conference.India and Mauritius co-hosted
the first economic and business conference under the theme of Deepening Economic Linkages for
Balanced, Inclusive & Sustainable Growth. The IORARC has 20 members, of which India and Australia
are the largest economies.During the meet Trade and industry ministers of member countries and
dialogue partners of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARC) agreed to
push trade within the grouping to promote economic cooperation and development in the strategic Indian
Ocean region.The Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), initially known as
the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative, is an international organization with 20 member states.It was first
established in Mauritius on March 1995 and formally launched on 67 March 1997.
National
Conference
Of
State
Tourism
Ministers
Held
In
New
Delhi
The National Tourism Ministers Conference was held in New Delhi on 18 July 2013.The Conference was
chaired by Union Tourism Minister Shri K. Chiranjeevi. State and Union Territory Tourism Authorities were
represented in the conference either through their Tourism Ministers and/ or senior officials.The objective
of the conference was discussion of the future strategies for realising the complete tourism potential of
India.The Departments of Tourism of all States and UTs will consider setting up of a special force such as
a Tourist Police, where it does not exist at present, either by taking few companies on deputation from the
Police Department or by engaging Ex-Servicemen or Home Guards.During the conference, a new
campaign known as I Respect Women was also launched.The campaign was launched with Ministry of
Tourism issuing badges in Hindi and ten international languages.
G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting Held in Moscow
The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting was held on 19-20 July in
Moscow,Russia.G20 Countries ministers ,Central Bank Governors and Indian Finance minister
P.Chidambaram ,RBI governor D Subbarao attended the meeting.In the meeting delegates discussed
traditional G20 agenda including the G20 Framework agreement for strong, sustainable and balanced

growth, the financial regulation reforms, and market transparency. The final communique contains the
usual sentence urging convergence stressing this time how convergence can contribute to financial
stability:At the end of the meeting Finance Ministers and Central Banks Governors approved the Joint
Communique.

AWARDS & HONOURS

27
Individuals
Conferred
With
National
Youth
Awards
2011-12
National Youth Award 2011-12 was conferred by Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India on 4 July 2013
to 27 individuals and an organization at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhawan. It is for the first time that
the National Youth awards were given by the President of India.A total of 27 individuals and one
organisation received he award this year.The youth award carries a Silver Medal, a Certificate and a cash
prize of 40000 rupees in cases of individual awardees and 2lakh case prize for voluntary
organizations.The selected individuals are expected to possess leadership qualities and use them in
carrying out voluntary activities in the field of youth development.
IIFA
Awards
2013
Winners
The 14th IIFA awards held at Macau on 6 July 2013. And this years IIFA will always be remembered for
some outstanding performances by veteran actresses Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi.Ranbir Kapoor won the
Best Actor Award for Barfi, while Vidya Balan took the Best Actress Award home for Sujoy Ghoshs
Kahaani.
Winners
List
:*
Best
Actor:
Ranbir
Kapoor
(Barfi!)
*
Best
Female
Actor:
Vidya
Balan
(Kahaani)
*
Best
Film:
Barfi!
*
Best
Director:
Anurag
Basu
(Barfi!)
*
Best
Story
:
Tani
and
Anurag
Basu
(Barfi!)
*
Best
Supporting
Actor
(Male):
Annu
Kapoor
(Vicky
Donor)
*
Best
Supporting
Actor
(Female):
Anushka
Sharma
(Jab
Tak
Hai
Jaan)
* Best Music Director: Pritam (Barfi!)
Zubin
Mehta
Conferred
Tagore
Award
2013
On 10 July Zubin Mehta, western classical music conductor of Indian-Parsi origin, has been awarded 2nd
Tagore Award For Cultural Harmony ( for 2013).He was named for the award because of his outstanding
contribution to cultural harmony.The first Tagore Award was conferred on Pt. Ravi Shankar, the Indian
Sitar Maestro in 2012
Two
Indians
Among
7
Girls
Awarded
On
Malala
Day
On 12 July Two Indians were among the seven young girls honoured with the UN Special Envoy for
Global Educations Youth Courage Award for Education as part of Pakistani teen activist, Malala
Yousafzai, Malala Day celebrations at the world body.Among them were two Indians,Ashwini from
Bangalore and Razia from Uttar Pradesh who were awarded with UN Special Envoy for Global
Educations Youth Courage Award for Education.
Tongam
Rina
Selected
For
German
Media
Prize
On 13 July Senior journalist of Arunachal Pradesh-Tongam Rina has been selected for the prestigious
Prize for the Freedom and Future of the Media 2013 instituted by Media Foundation, Leipzig,
Germany.Brigitte Alfter and Ides Debruyne are the initiators of the European Fund for Investigative
Journalism. Instituted in 2001, the award, which carries a prize of 30,000 Euros.

Human
Powered
Helicopter
Wins
US
prize
On 13 July The worlds first human-powered helicopter by a Canadian engineer has become the first
winner of a decades-old US$250,000 (S$316,255) engineering prize ,after performing a minute-long flight
at an altitude of 3.3 meters fueled only by the pilots pedaling of a modified bicycle.The winning vehicle
is called the Atlas , and was designed by a team of about 20 students and young professionals.The
aircraft is extremely light just 121.4 pounds (55 kilograms) but it spans a sprawling 162 feet (49.4
meters).
Shalini
Singh
Wins
2013
Prem
Bhatia
Award
Shalini Singh, a deputy editor with The Hindu, has bagged the prestigious Prem Bhatia Award for Political
Reporting 2013.She has been selected for her excellent coverage of several key issues, particularly
her reporting of the telecom and Coalgate scandals.Previous award-winners include Harish Khare,
Praveen Swami, P. Sainath, Gargi Parsai, Nirupama Subramanian, Pallavi Aiyar and Amit Baruah for
their works in The Hindu.
Amitabh
Bachchan
Received
Maestro
Award
On 17 July Amitabh Bachchan, classical flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia and ace santoor exponent
Shivkumar Sharma were honoured with the WWI (Whistling Woods International) Maestro Awards.The
honour was bestowed on the trio by filmmaker Subhash Ghais film and media institute.
2013
Ramon
Magsaysay
Award
Winners
On 24 July the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation announced the Ramon Magsaysay Awards for the
year 2013.Three individuals and two organizations from Afghanistan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and the
Philippines to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Asias premier prize.The Ramon Magsaysay
Award is an annual award established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysays
example of integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a
democratic
society.The
prize
was
established
in
April
1957.
The
Awardees
are:* Habiba sarabi Afghanistans first woman governor, was selected for helping build a functioning local
government and pushing for education and womens rights in Afghanistans Bamyan province despite
working in a violent and impoverished environment in which discrimination is pervasive.
* Lahpai Seng Raw of Myanmanr honoured for helping the rehabilitate work in damaged communities
amid
armed
conflict.
*Ernesto Domingo, from the Philippines.He is being recognized for his exemplary embrace of the social
mission of medical science and his profession, his steadfast leadership in pursuing health for all as a
shared
moral
responsibility
of
all
sectors.
*Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (Corruption Eradication Commission), from Indonesia.The organization
is being recognized for its fiercely independent and successful campaign against corruption in Indonesia.
*Shakti Samuha (Power Group), from Nepal.The organizations founders and members are being
recognized for transforming their lives in service to other human trafficking survivors, their passionate
dedication towards rooting out a pernicious social evil in Nepal.
Azim
Premji
Bags
Asian
Business
Leaders

Award
On 24 July Wipro chairman Azim Premji has been awarded the Asian Business Leaders Award 2013 for
his impressive business credentials and service to society by London-based Asia House.Past recipients
of the honour includes Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group, and Lord Stephen Green, UKs minister
of state for trade and investment and former group chairman of HSBC Holdings.
Four
Indian
Americans
Won
Simons
Investigators
Awards
On 27 July Four Indian-American Professors Kannan Soundararajan, Rajeev Alur, Salil P Vadhan and
Senthil Todadri won Simons Investigators Awards 2013. Apart from these, 9 other mathematicians,
theoretical physicists and theoretical computer scientists were also selected for the Simons Investigators
Awards for their cutting edge research.The 2013 awards were announced by the New York-based
Simons Foundation, which is a non-profit organisation. Its mission is to advance the lines of research in
mathematics and basic sciences. The Simons Investigators program provides a stable base of support for

outstanding scientists, enabling them to undertake long-term study of fundamental questions. The
foundation was incorporated in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons.
Metro
Man
Sreedharan
Chosen
For

2013
Lokmanya
Tilak

Award
On 29 July Metro Man E. Sreedharan has been selected for the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak award
for 2013 for his outstanding contribution to society.Name of Sreedharan, considered as the architect of
the ambitious Delhi metro project, was announced by Lokmanya Tilak Trust.The Padmashree laureate is
also credited for pulling off the Konkan Railway project.
Amjad
Ali
Khan
To
Get
Rajiv
Gandhi
National
Sadhbhavna
Award
On 30 July Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan was chosen for the 21st Rajiv Gandhi National Sadhbhavna
Award for his contribution towards promotion of communal harmony and peace. The award was
instituted by All India Congress Committee of the Indian National Congress Party (INC).

SPORTS & GAMES

Negi
Won
Continental
Chess
Open
Title
On 2 July Indias young Grand Master Parimarjan Negi has won the Continental Chess Association Open
title in Washington.The second and third places are won by the International Master Bindi Cheng of
Canada and American Grand Master Konrad Holt from Kansas respectively.
Chris
Martin
Announced
Retirement
From
All
Cricket
On 3 July Chris Martin, the fast Bowler of New Zealand has announced his retirement from all forms of
cricket.Chris Martin is New Zealands third-highest Test wicket taker only after Richard Hadlee and Daniel
Vettori. He had taken 233 Test wickets with an average of 33.81.Martin played 71 Tests, 20 ODIs and six
Twenty20s for his country in an international career.
Wimbledon
Tennis
Tournament
Title
2013
Winners
Womens Singles :- On 6 July Frances Marion Bartoli won the Wimbledon 2013 womens title after
defeated Germanys Sabine Lisicki in the final.Bartoli is the fifth oldest woman to become a first-time
Grand Slam winner in the Open Era.By finally winning her maiden major title in the 47th Grand Slam
appearance of her career, Bartoli surpassed the previous record set by Jana Novotna, who won
Wimbledon
in
1998
after
45
appearances
at
the
majors.
Mens Singles :- On 7 July Andy Murray (Britain) won the Mens Singles title after defeated Novak
Djokovic (Serbia) in the final.Andy Murray became the Britains first male winner after almost eight
decades, to win the championship. Earlier he was Fred Perry, who won his last Championship in 1936.
Womens Doubles :- Hsieh Su-wei (Taiwan) and Peng Shuai (China) won the womens doubles title after
defeated Australian duo Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua in the final at Wimbledon.
Mens Doubles :- Americans Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan won the Wimbledon mens doubles title after
defeated Ivan Dodig (Croatia )and Marcelo Melo (Brazil) in the final.
Indian
Women
Won
Gold
At
Asian
Athletics
Championship
On 7 July India clinched a gold medal in womens 400m relay in a sensational race to finish sixth overall
as the curtains were drawn on the 20th Asian Athletics Championships with China confirming their
supreme status in the continent.The home team came up with a rich haul of eight medals, one gold, two
silvers and five bronzes on the fifth and final day .India ended the Championships with two golds, five
silvers and 10 bronzes, a much improved performance than the last edition in 2011 in Kobe.As expected,
China, who had been ruling the Asian Championships for the last 15 editions, finished at the top spot with
16 golds, six silvers and five bronzes.

Sebastian
Vettel
Won
German
Grand
Prix
On 7 July Red Bulls Sebastian Vettel won the German Grand Prix title .Kimi Raikkonen and Romain
Grosjean got second and third positions respectively.It was Vettels first victory in his home race and the
30th of his career.
Shiva
Thapa
Wins
Gold
at
Asian
Boxing
Championships
On 8 July Nineteen-year-old Shiva Thapa became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at the Asian
Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan.Thapa defeated local pugilist Obada Alkabeh,on a split
decision to win the gold in the 56kg class.The nimble-footed boxer, who made his Olympic debut in
London last year, thus followed Suranjoy Singh (2009) and Rajkumar Sangwan (1994) into the history
books as a rare Indian gold-medallist at the premier continental event.
Lajja
Goswami
Won
Silver
In
Shooting
World
Cup
On 9 July Indian woman shooter Lajja Goswami has won silver medal in womens 50-metre Rifle 3
Position event at the ISSF World Cup in Granada, Spain.Gauswami, a silver medallist at the 2010
Commonwealth Games, shot 454 in the finals to bag the silver ahead of Norways Malin
Westerheim.Petra Zublasing of Italy won the gold medal.
Shane
Warne
Inducted
into
the

ICC
Cricket
Hall
of
Fame

On 11 July ICC announced that Shane Warne, former Australian spinner would be inducted into the ICC
cricket hall of fame .On 19 July during the tea interval of the second Ashes Test between England and
Australia at Lords, Shane Warne was officially inducted into the ICC cricket hall of fame.Warne becomes
the 69th male member of the Hall of Fame, and joins fellow 2012-13 inductees Brian Lara of the West
Indies, Englands Enid Bakewell and former Australia team-mate Glenn McGrath in being recognised by
the ICC and the living members of the Hall of Fame.He played for Australia in 145 tests between 1992
and 2007. He claimed 708 test wickets with a strike rate of 25.41. He was the first bowler to take 700 test
wickets.He was the part of the Australian cricket team that won the World Cup in 1999 at Lords against
Pakistan.
Martina
Hingis
Inducted
In

Tennis
Hall
Of
Fame

On 13 July Swiss tennis legend Martina Hingis was inducted in Tennis Hall of Fame.She became one of
the youngest members to be included in the one of the most elite clubs of tennis.Hingis won three
Australian Open titles (1997, 1998, 1999), one Wimbledon (1997) and a US Open title (1997).She also
won nine grand slam doubles titles and a mixed doubles title.
Abhijeet
Gupta
Won
Commonwealth
Chess
Championship
On 14 July Indian Grandmaster and former world junior champion Abhijeet Gupta has won the
Commonwealth Chess Championship ,after settled for a draw with Indian national title-holder G. Akash in
the final round at Port Elizabeth in South Africa.
Nicolas
Mahut
Won
Hall
Of
Fame
Championship
On 14 July Frenchman Nicolas Mahut has won the title after defeated Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in the
Hall of Fame Tennis Championships final.Mahut won his second career ATP title.
Serena
Williams
Won
Swedish
Open
Title
On 21 July Serena Williams (U.S) won Swedish Open Tennis title, after defeated Johanna
Larsson(Sweden) in the final of the Swedish Open at Bastad in Sweden.The win is her 53rd WTA title and
51st match win of the year.
Indian
Women
Won
Recurve
Gold
At
Archery
World
Cup
On 21 July Indian womens archery team Deepika Kumari, Laishram Bombayla Devi and Rimil Biruly won
Gold medal in the Womens Recurve Team event at the Archery World Cup Stage-3 in Medellin,
Colombia.In the final Indian womens archery team defeated China in the recurve event to claim the gold

medal.India claim their second medal of this World Cup and their first World Cup Womens team gold
since Shanghai 2011.
Divij
Sharan

Purav
Raja
Won
First
ATP
Title
On 21 July Purav Raja and Divij Sharan of India clinched their first ever ATP tour doubles title after
defeated Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France and Igor Sijsling of the Netherlands in the final match of
Claro Open in Bogota, Colombia.
Devendra
Jhajharia
Won
Gold
In
World
Paralympic
Championships
On 22 July Indias Paralympian Devendra Jhajharia has won a gold medal in the Javelin Throw at IPC
(International Paralympic Commitee) athletics World Championships in France.He became the first
differently-abled Indian to win gold at the IPC Athletics World Championships.He threw the javelin to
57.04 meters in F-46 category, which is meant for one-armed athletes.He won a Gold medal at the 8th
FESPIC Games in Korea, 2002.In March 2012, he received the Padma Shree Award and became the
first paralympian to win the award.
Dhyan
Chand
Nominated
For
Bharat
Ratna
The sports ministry has chosen hockey legend late Dhyan Chand for Indias highest civilian award, the
Bharat Ratna.Dhyan Chand, who passed away in 1979, won three gold medals at the Olympics in 1928
( Amsterdam), 1932 ( Los Angeles) and 1936 ( Berlin).
Jennitha
Wins
World
Chess
Title
For
Disabled
On 24 July Indias K. Jennitha Anto has became the World Chess Champion for disabled, after won the
13th IPCA World Womens Individual Chess Championship in Velke Losiny, Czech Republic.Hailing from
Tamil Nadu, Jennitha scored 4.5 points in nine games after winning three, drawing three and losing three
games.She competed in a combined group with men and became the highest scorer among the women
players.The title came along with the Woman International Master title.
Lewis
Hamilton
Won
Hungarian
Grand
Prix
Title
On 28 July Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes won the Hungarian Grand Prix title 2013 held
on Buadpest.Raikkonen and Vettle got second and third positions respectively.
Afridi
Becomes
First
Batsman
To
Hit
400
Sixes
Pakistans Shahid Afridi became the first cricketer to hit 400 sixes in an international career on 26
July.Afridi reached the landmark in the 16th over of Pakistans reply to the West Indies 152 for seven in
the first Twenty20 international.Chris Gayle, playing for the West Indies, is next on the list having hit 353
sixes in his Test, ODI and T20 career.
Indian
Wrestlers
Won
15
Medals
In
Asian
Cadet
Championship
On 27 July Indian wrestlers finished the Cadet Asian Championships with a rich haul of three golds, nine
silvers and three bronze medals, besides winning the Champion Trophy in the freestyle category in
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.The gold came through Amit Kumar (58kg), Vikas (63kg) and Parveen (85kg) of
the freestyle category while silver medals were won by Ravi Kumar (54kg), Ankur Rathi (69kg), Balraj
(76kg) and Gursewak Singh (100kg) in the same division.The freestyle team secured 84 points and
finished ahead of Iran who were the runners-up.
Aditya
Mehta
Won
Snooker
Gold
In
World
Games
On 30 July Indias numero uno snooker player, Aditya Mehta won the gold medal in the World Games
after defeated Chinas Liang Wenbo in the final of the quadrennial event at Cali, Columbia.
India
Won
Under-16
SAFF
Championship
On 30 July India won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-16 Championships held at the
Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.Indian boys defeated Nepal 1-0 in final to lift the South Asian Football
Federation Under-16 Championship title. This is the first time that India have won the championship.

ECONOMY
Indian
Internet
Economy
To
Touch
USD
100
Billion
By
2015
On 3 July According to the Economist Intelligence Unit Good to Grow: The Environment of Asias Internet
Business report ,Indias Internet Economy that stands at 1.6 per cent of GDP is slated to touch USD 100
billion by 2015 .Online advertising in Asia will grow from 24 per cent of worldwide online advertising in
2010 to 26 per cent by 2015.However, Asias mobile advertising market is expected to account for onethird of the mobile advertising market globally by 2015.
Latvia
Gets
EU
Approval
To
Join
Eurozone
On 9 July European Union (EU) states approved the adoption of the euro by Latvia as of January 1, 2014.
The country will be the 18th member of the European Monetary Union.Latvia is the second Baltic republic
to join the euro zone. In 2011, Estonia adopted the currency. Lithuania plans to do so as well, in 2015.
Indias
Growth
Forecast
To
5.6%
For
2013-14
On 9 July the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has scaled down Indias economic growth forecast by
0.2 percentage points to 5.6 per cent for 2013-14 from 5.8 per cent forecasted in April 2013 World
Economic Outlook (WEO) projections.The growth projection for FY 2014-15 was also scaled down by 0.1
percentage points to 6.3 per cent.
Indians
Among
Top
Five
Buyers
Of
Property
In
US
On 10 July According to the National Association of Realtors survey report ,Buying property worth nearly
$3.5 billion .Indians are among top five international real estate buyers in the US.India along with Canada,
China, Mexico and the United Kingdom accounted for approximately 53 percent of international
transactions worth $68.2 billion.
Government
Approved
100
percent
FDI
In
Telecom
Sector
On 16 July the Union Government of India raised the FDI limit in Telecom Sector from 74 percent to 100
percent. Government also cleared that the FDI in the Insurance and Telecom sectors will be up to 49 per
cent through automatic route.The foreign direct investment limit in insurance sector will be hiked to 49 per
cent from the existing 26 per cent.The Government also confirmed that the FDI in Defence Production will
continue to be 26 percent.
Colombia
Among
Worlds
Most
Corrupt
Nations
On 17 July According to the Global Corruption Barometer 2013 report , was released by NGO
Transparency International (TI) ,Colombia is among the countries with the highest rate of corruption in the
world.Colombia was placed 5th among the seven countries whose citizens realize that Congress is one of
the most corrupt public bodies.Transparency International (TI) was Founded in 1993 and based in Berlin,
Germany, the T has 100 branches and operates in 70 countries.
India
Becomes
Largest
Nigerian
Crude
Oil
Buyer
India has overtaken the U.S. as the top buyer of Nigerian crude oil.On the bilateral trade,the present
figure stands at $10 billion, even as the total investment of India in Nigerian economy could be valued at
$16.6 billion.
Poverty
In
India
Drops
To
21.9
percent
In
2011-12
On 23 July the Planning Commission of India released its report on the Poverty Estimates for 2011-12.
The report was based on the Large Sample Surveys on Household Consumer Expenditure conducted by
the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation.However, since 2009-10 was not a normal year because of a severe drought, the NSSO
repeated the large scale survey in 2011-12 (NSS 68thround). The summary results of this survey were

released in June 2013.Since the data from the NSS 68th round (2011-12) of Household Consumer
Expenditure Survey is now available .Now the Planning Commission has updated the poverty estimates
for the year 2011-12 as per the methodology recommended by Tendulkar Committee.The commission
present ,released estimates of state wise poverty lines for rural and urban areas for 2011-12 .
Poverty
Estimates
2011-12
:* Poverty ratio in the country has declined to 21.9 per cent in 2011-12 from 37.2 per cent in 2004-05 on
account
of
increase
in
per
capita
consumption.
* According to the Planning Commission, in 2011-12 for rural areas, the national poverty line by using the
Tendulkar methodology is estimated at Rs. 816 per capita per month in villages and Rs. 1,000 per capita
per month in cities.This would mean that the persons whose consumption of goods and services exceed
Rs. 33.33 in cities and Rs. 27.20 per capita per day in villages are not poor.
* For a family of five, the all India poverty line in terms of consumption expenditure would amount of Rs.
4,080 per month in rural areas and Rs. 5,000 per month in urban areas. The poverty line, however, will
vary
from
state
to
state.
* The percentage of persons below poverty line in 2004-05 was 41.8 per cent in rural areas, 25.7 per cent
in cities and 37.2 per cent in the country as a whole.In actual terms, there were 26.93 crore people below
poverty
line
in
2011-12
as
compared
to
40.71
crore
in
2004-05.
* State-wise, the Commission said ,highest poverty rate of 39.93% was recorded in Chhattisgarh (201112)followed by Jharkhand (36.96 per cent), Manipur (36.89 per cent), Arunachal Pradesh (34.67 per cent)
and
Bihar
(33.47
per
cent).
* Among the union territories, the Dadra and Nagar Haveli was the highest, with 39.31 per cent people
living
below
poverty
line
followed
by
Chandigarh
at
21.81
per
cent.
* Lowest poverty rate of 5.09% was recorded in Goa (2011-12) followed by Kerala (7.05 per cent),
Himachal Pradesh (8.06 per cent), Sikkim (8.19 per cent), Punjab (8.26 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh
(9.20 per cent).

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISRO PSLV C22 Successfully Launched IRNSS 1A Navigation Satellite
On 1 July ISROs Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C22, has successfully launched IRNSS-1A, the
first satellite in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) from Satish Dhawan Space
Centre, Sriharikota ,Nellore District (Andhra Pradesh)This is the 23rd consecutively successful mission of
PSLV.The IRNSS-1A was launched on 1 July 2013 at 11.41 p.m.It was the first near midnight satellite
launch by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).The satellite has been designed to provide
accurate position information services to users in India as well as to the regions extending up to 1,500 km
from its boundary.IRNSS-IA is among the first seven satellites that constitutes the Indian Regional
Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) Space Segment. The mission has a life of 10 years.
IRNSS will provide two types of services :- standard positioning service using signals in the L5-band to
an accuracy of 20 meters for all users and an encrypted service in S-band provided for authorized users.
About
PSLV-C22
:*
Rocket
Height

44-metres
*
Weight

320
tonnes
*
Satellite

IRNSS-1A
* Satellite Weight 1425 kg
Russias
Proton-M
Rocket
Failed
On 2 July Russia has launched an unmanned Proton-M , carrying three Russian Glonass positioning,
navigation and timing satellites failed 17 seconds after liftoff , with the rocket crashing some 2.5
kilometers from the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad in Kazakhstan.
Scientists
Created

3D
Bionic
Ear

With
3D
Printer
On 4 July Princeton University scientists , including an Indian-origin researcher Naveen Varma,have

created a 3D-printed bionic ear that can hear radio frequencies far beyond the range of normal human
capability.Using off-the-shelf printing tools, the scientists at Princeton University explored 3D printing of
cells and nanoparticles followed by cell culture to combine a small coil antenna with cartilage, creating a
bionic ear.This is the first time that researchers have demonstrated that 3D printing is a convenient
strategy to interweave tissue with electronics.
World`s
First

Human
Liver

Created
From
Stem
Cells
Japanese scientists have grown a functional human liver tissue from stem cells for the first time.Takanori
Takebe and Hideki Taniguchi at Yokohama City University showed the generation of vascularised and
functional human liver from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) by transplantation of in vitro
grown liver buds (rudimentary liver).
UK
Inaugurates
Worlds
Largest
Offshore
Wind
Farm
On 4 July British Prime Minister David Cameron has inaugurated London Array, the worlds largest
offshore wind farm ,a 630-megawatt project capable of producing enough electricity to power 500,000
homes. The $2.3 billion project is located 12 miles offshore in the North Sea, east of London .Powered by
175 Siemens wind turbines.
US
Missile
Defense
Test
Fails
Over
Pacific
On 6 July Americas missile defense system failed in a test over the Pacific, with an interceptor failing to
hit an incoming ballistic missile.The tests objective was to have an interceptor, launched from
Vandenberg air base in California, knock out a long-range ballistic missile fired from a US military test site
at Kwajalein atoll in the Marshall Islands.
ISRO
Readies
To
Launch
Orbiter
To
Mars
On 7 July ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan announced ,ISRO is readying up for the 450-crore Mars
Orbiter mission which is expected to be launched between October and November this year.The mission
is aimed at searching for possible signs of life as well as to find out why Mars lacks atmosphere.The Mars
Orbiter will be launched aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre
at Sriharikota. The Mars orbiter will be carrying a total of five payloads weighing about 14.49 kg. It will
carry a methane sensor to determine the presence of methane, a sign which suggests that life once
existed on the Martian soil.The Mars Orbiter will enter into a 372 km by 80,000 km elliptical orbit around
Mars.The spacecraft will orbit the red planet once in every three days. It will study the surface and the
minerals on Martian soil.
Scientists
Discovered
MRI
Scan
To
Detect
Cancer
Using
Sugar
Scientists from University College London (UCL) have discovered a technique they called glucose
chemical exchange saturation transfer (glucoCEST) a new way of detecting cancer by giving patients an
injection of sugar before doing an MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging).The researchers found that
when sensitizing an MRI scanner to recognize glucose, tumors appeared as bright images on the MRI
scans of mice. The tumors can be detected using the same amount of sugar found in half a standard
chocolate bar.
Ecuador
Starts
Using
New
Aviation
Radar
System
On 10 July Ecuador Starts new Aviation Radar System.Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge announced the
Ecuadorian airspace will be covered in 95 percent by eight radars that will be located nationwide.The
devices that form the Integrated Surveillance System Civil Radar will be located in the provinces of
Guayas, Manabi, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Pastaza, Azuay, Loja and the island of San Cristobal, in the
Galapagos archipelago.Ecuadorian Vice President started this system at the offices of the Civil Aviation
General Management (DAC) in Guayaquil.The investment to implement this high-technology equipment
was $20 million USD.The eight radars would be part of a single system, meaning that the air-traffic
controller can see all the trace of a plane in a monitor.Guerrero specified that it would be complicated to
detect illegal flights of light aircraft, because for the crew to cheat these controls turn off a device that
transmit data to the radars, as altitude and speed of the flight.

China

Russia
Joint
Sea-2013
Naval
Drills
Chinese and Russian naval forces Joint Sea-2013 drills was held from 6th to11th July in the Sea of
Japan.In the Joint exercises China used seven warships, included a guided-missile destroyer with Aegistype radars that track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets, and missile frigates with
antisubmarine abilities.The Russian lineup included the flagship of its Pacific fleet, the guided-missile
cruiser Varyag, and a Kilo-class submarine.The six-day maneuvers focused on joint maritime air defense
and the defense of marine traffic arteries, with exercises involving joint escorts, marine search and rescue
operations, anti-submarine tactics and anti-hijacking tactics.They were the ninth bilateral and multilateral
joint military exercises carried out by the Chinese and Russian militaries.
Iran
Secret
Nuclear
Site
Discovered
By
MEK
On 11 July the paris based militant group organisation of the Peoples Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) has
discovered credible evidence of a secret new nuclear site, gathered over a year by 50 sources in various
parts of the regime.The codename of the project is Maadan-e Sharq (literally the mine of the east) or
Project Kossar.This site is hidden in a series of tunnels under a mountain near the town of
Damavand.The Paris-based militant group MEK alleges that the site has existed since 2006, with the first
series of subterranean tunnels and four external depots recently completed.
US
Autonomous
X-47B
Drone
Successfully
Lands
On
Aircraft
Carrier
On 11 July the US Navys next-generation autonomous drone, the X-47B, has successfully landed on the
deck of the USS George H.W. Bush,during a milestone test run off the coast of Virginia.Developed by
aerospace contractor Northrop Grumman, the X-47B is the first UAV designed to refuel, take off, and land
without any human intervention.
U.S.
Bill
For
A
National
Park
On
Moon
On 12 July Lawmakers of US proposed a Bill in the US Congress for establishing a national park on the
Moon.The new Bill seeks creation of the Apollo Lunar Landing Sites as National Historical Park on the
Moon.The bill has been named as the Apollo Lunar Landing Legacy Act, the Bill and was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology in addition to the House Committee on Natural
Resources.It calls for no later than one year, after the date of enactment of the act, the establishment of a
Apollo Lunar Landing Sites National Historical Park, as a unit of the National Park System.
NASAs
Hubble
Discovered
Blue
Planet
Scientists from NASA have discovered a blue planet that possibly rains glass, orbiting a star 63 lightyears away.This is the first time an exoplanets true colour has been determined. Astronomers has used
NASAs Hubble Space Telescope and made visible light observation spotting the planet HD 189733b
which is one of the closest exoplanets that can be seen crossing the face of its star.
Neptunes
14th
Moon
Discovered
On 16 July the U.S. space agency NASA has announced the discovery of Neptunes 14th moon.The
Hubble Space Telescope captured the moon as a white dot in photos of the planet on the outskirts of our
solar system.The new moon, Neptunes tiniest at just 19.3 km across, is designated S/2004 N1.
China
Successfully
Launched
Three
Experimental
Satellites
In
To
Space
On 20 July China successfully launched three satellites to carry out scientific experiments into space.A
Long March-4C carrier rocket carrying three satellites ,blasts off from the launch pad in the Taiyuan
Satellite Launch Center in Taiyuan, capital of north Chinas Shanxi Province.The three satellites for
scientific experiments, namely the Chuangxin-3 , Shiyan-7 and Shijian-15 .The three satellites will
be used mainly for conducting scientific experiments on space maintenance technologies.
Worlds
Largest
Virus
Discovered
By
French
Researchers
On 20 July French National Centre for Scientific Research Scientists have discovered a huge viruses in
the world.The virus is one micrometre big ,up to ten times the size of other viruses, and only six per cent
of its genes resemble anything seen on Earth before.The size of each virus must be 2500 genes.93

percent of genes in this virus is new for the world.The scientists named this virus as
a Pandoraviruses.Ten years back these Scienists found a new virus called mimiviruses .
Biological
E
vaccine
Prequalified
By
WHO
On 22 July Biological E (BioE) and European biotech company announced the World Health Organization
(WHO) has pre-qualified its Japanese Encephalitis vaccine for global use in adults.BioE has developed
the vaccine based on the technology of Valneva SE, a French biotech company.
Advanced
Weather
Satellite

INSAT-3D

Launched
Successfully
On 26 July The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched its advanced
weather satellite Insat-3D from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana, using a European launch
vehicle, Ariane-5 .The rocket also launched Alphasat a co-passenger of INSAT-3D and Europes largest
telecommunication satellite-ever manufactured.INSAT-3D was placed in an elliptical Geosynchronous
Transfer Orbit (GTO),very close to the intended one.With a lift-off mass of 2060 kg, INSAT-3D carried four
payloads Imager, Sounder, Data Relay Transponder (DRT) and Satellite Aided Search & Rescue
payload.INSAT-3D will facilitate new dimension to the weather monitoring because of its atmospheric
sounding system. The atmospheric sounding system provides the vertical profiles of integrated ozone,
humidity as well as temperature, from top of the atmosphere.The new satellite, INSAT-3D will be
operational for next seven years.The satellite Insat-3D will give a push to the weather forecasting as well
as help in facilitating disaster warning services.
ISRO,
Tata
Motors
Developed
Indias
First
Fuel
Cell
Bus
On 28 July Tata Motors Limited (TML) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in collaboration,
developed the first Hydrogen-powered automobile bus of India.The hydrogen fuel-fitted bus was
demonstrated at Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, an ISRO facility in Mahendragiri in Tamil
Nadu.According to Honorary Adviser of ISRO V Gnana Gandhi, who led the technical team in this project,
ISRO and TML entered into an MoU in 2006 to design and develop an automobile bus using hydrogen as
a fuel through fuel cell route.
HAL
Delivers
Lakshya-1
To
Indian
Army
On 26 July the first Lakshya-1, a fully indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) developed for the
Indian Army by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) was delivered to Bharat Dynamics Ltd.
(Hyderabad).Lakshya-1 has been designed and developed by the Aero Engine Research & Development
Centre, a HAL facility in Bangalore.It is powered with PTAE-7 Engine, an aero gas turbine engine that
was also designed and developed by the Aero Engine Research & Development Centre.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
New
Governors
and
Lieutenant
Governors
Appointed
* On 1 July Vice Chancellor of Jamia Milia University Najeeb Jung was appointed as the 20th Lt Governor
of Delhi.Njaeeb Jung has replaced Tejendra Khanna, who was the 1961 batch Indian Administrative
Service
officer
and
the
last
Lt
Governor
of
Delhi.
* Former Delhi police commissioner K.K. Paul has been appointed the Meghalaya governor, replaced
Ranjit
Shekhar
Mooshahary.
* Lt. General A.K. Singh (retd) was appointed as the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
replaced
Lt.
General
Bhopinder
Singh
(retd).
* Virendra Kataria has been appointed as the new Lt. Governor of Puducherry, replaced Iqbal Singh.
* Senior parliamentarian Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil has been appointed as the new governor of
Sikkim.He is also a former IAS officer, replaced incumbent B P Singh.

Sujatha Singh Is New Foreign Secretary Of India

On 2 July Sujata Singh has been appointed as Indias new foreign secretary.She succeeds Ranjan
Mathai..Singh is the third woman to head the services after Chokila Iyer and Nirupama Rao.Previously
Singh worked in Europe including Italy ,France and Germany.
Adli
Mansour
Sworn
In
As
Egypts
Interim
President
On 4 July the Chief Justice of Egypts Constitutional Court ,Adli Mansour has been sworn in as Egypts
interim president.Mansour will serve as Egypts head of state until a new president is elected.Earlier, the
first democratically elected President of Egypt, Mohamed Morsi was deposed from his office in a military
coup.
Abdoulaye Bathily Appointed As Deputy Head Of UN Mission In Mali
On 8 July UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Abdoulaye Bathily of
Senegal as his new Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated
Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).Mr. Bathily has been serving as Senior Minister in the office of
the President of Senegal since 2012. Mr. Bathily also served as a Member of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, member of the African Union Contact Group on the crisis in
Madagascar.
Kaushik Appointed As The Coach Of Indian Mens Hockey Team
On 10 July Hockey India (HI) appointed Olympic gold medallist Maharaj Kishan Kaushik as the mens
hockey team coach.The decision comes in the wake of Michael Nobbs removal as the teams head
coach.Kaushik was a member of the team when it won the gold medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics in
Moscow.Under the Coaching of MK Kaushik , India mens hockey team had won their last major
international tournament, the 1998 Asian Games, Bangkok. In 1998, he received the Arjuna Award.
S. B. Mainak Appointed LIC MD
On 8 July S B Mainak has been appointed as MD of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).He will hold
office from the date of assuming charge till 29 February 2016.
Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka Appointed UN Women Chief
On 10 July Former South African deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has been appointed as the
head of UN Women agency.Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka replaces Michelle Bachelet, a former president of Chile
who served as the first Executive Director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of
Women (UN Women).Mlambo was the first woman to hold the position of Deputy President of South
Africa from 2005 to 2008.
Hemant Soren Sworn in as 9th Jharkhand Chief Minister
On 13 July Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren was sworn in as the ninth Chief Minister of
Jharkhand. Syed Ahmed, the Governor of Jharkhand administered the oath of the office to Hemant Soren
in the premises of Raj Bhavan in a swearing-in ceremony.Hemant Soren, who heads the ninth ministry in
less than 13 years, became the fifth tribal Chief Minister after Babulal Marandi, Arjun Munda, Shibu Soren
and Madhu Koda since the state was created on November 15, 2000.Soren, who gave the Governor a list
of 43 MLAs supporting him in the 82-member Assembly, is expected to expand his ministry after taking
the floor test. The alternative coalition comes nearly six months after the imposition of Presidents
rule.The Presidents Rule was imposed on Jharkhand on 18 January 2013 after the failure of the
Constitutional Machinery in the state after JMM withdrew support to the BJP-led government under Arjun
Munda on 8 January 2013.
ElBaradei Sworn In As Egypts Vice President
On 14 July a former head of the UN nuclear watchdog and a Nobel peace laureate, Prominent liberal
Egyptian leader Mohamed ElBaradei was sworn in as Egypts interim vice president for foreign relations.

Moin Khan Appointed Pak Cricket Teams Chief Selector

On 15 July Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed former Pakistan team captain Moin Khan as chief
selector after the resignation of Iqbal Qasim.Moin, is the youngest person to be named to the chief
selectors post by the cricket board.Khan played 69 Tests and 219 one-day internationals for Pakistan in
1990s and was also a member of World Cup winning team in 1992.
Santosh B Nayar is new CEO & MD of IFCI
On 15 July Santosh B Nayar has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the
Industrial Financial Corporation of India.The IFCI was the 1st specialised financial institution setup in
India to provide term finance to large industries in India.
Nisha Desai Biswal Nominated For The Post Of Assistant Secretary Of State Of USA
On 18 July Nisha Desai Biswal, an Indian-American woman was nominated for the Post of Assistant
Secretary of State for South and Central Asia by US President Barack Obama .Nisha Desai Biswal, held
the post of the Assistant Administrator for Asia at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
at the time her of nomination to the post of Assistant Secretary of state.Nisha Desai Biswal will oversee
the US Foreign Policy and relations at the State Department for India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kazakhstan,
Kirghizstan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.This is the first time an
Indian-American is heading the South Asia Bureau, a new milestone for the community.Nisha Desai
Biswal worked at the American Red Cross from 1993 to 1995 in the Washington headquarters, and as an
overseas delegate in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.Nisha Desai Biswal held the post of assistant
administrator for Asia at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), since September 2010.
Justice P Sathasivam Sworn In As The New Chief Justice Of India
On 19 July Justice P Sathasivam was sworn in as the 40th Chief Justice of India (CJI) by President
Pranab Mukherjee.Justice Sathasivam is first CJI from Tamil Nadu .The term of his office will be till 26
April 2014. Justice Palanisamy Sathasivam succeeded CJI Altamas Kabir who left the office on 18 July
2013.
Rana Kapoor is new Assocham President
On 20 July Rana Kapoor, Founder, Managing Director & CEO of Yes Bank,took over as the new
president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) at the end of the
industry bodys 92nd annual general meeting (AGM) in Delhi.He succeeds Rajkumar Dhoot, who is the
managing director of Videocon Group.
Philippe-1 Sworn In As Seventh King Of Belgium
On 21 July Prince Philippe -1 was sworn-in as the seventh king of Belgium,after his father Albert II
abdicated as the head of this fractured nation.The ceremony capped a day of transition which started
when Philippes father, the 79-year-old Albert, signed away his rights as the kingdoms largely ceremonial
ruler at the royal palace in the presence of Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, who holds the political power in
this 183-year-old parliamentary democracy.The position of the king in the country is nominal and total
powers are having the Prime Minister.
Indian-Origin Peer Ajay Kakkar Appointed To Lords Post
On 23 July Indian-origin peer Ajay Kakkar has been made the chairman of the influential House of Lords
Appointments Commission, an advisory body which selects new independent members of UKs House of
Lords.Lord Kakkar is Professor of Surgery at university College London (UCL) and Consultant Surgeon
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since 2011. His research interests focus on
the prevention and treatment of venous and arterial thromboembolic disease and cancer associated
thrombosis.
Five Members From Tamil Nadu Sworn In To Rajya Sabha
On 25 July Senior leaders V. Maitreyan of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and D.
Raja of Communist Party of India (CPI) were among the five newly elected MPs from Tamil Nadu who

took oath as members of Rajya Sabha.While Maitreyan and Raja were re-elected, T. Rathinavel, K.R.
Anjuman and K. Lakshmanan (all AIADMK) have been elected for the first time to the Upper House in the
recent biennial elections.The oath-taking ceremony was held in the chamber of Rajya Sabha chairman
Hamid Ansari in his presence.DMK member Kanimozhi ,who has also been elected for a second term, did
not take her oath .Maithreyan, who is also the leader of his party in Rajya Sabha, has won a third term
while CPI secretary Raja secured his second stint in the house with the extended support from the ruling
party AIADMK.
Barack Obama Nominates Indian-American Vince Girdhari Chhabria To Judiciary Post
On 26 July Indian-American legal luminary Vince Girdhari Chhabria has been nominated by US President
Barack Obama to a key judiciary post in California..Chhabria, nominated to be US district judge for the
Northern District of California, is currently deputy city attorney for government litigation and the co-chief of
appellate litigation at the San Francisco city attorneys office.Obama announced his nomination along
with five other judicial posts, all of which requires Senate confirmation.
K D Singh is new Indian Hockey Federation President
On 29 July Trinamool MP KD Singh was elevated to the post of president of the Indian Hockey
Federation (IHF) after incumbent Dinesh Reddy opted to resign from the position.The decision to elevate
Singh to the top post was taken at a special executive council meeting of IHF .
Sharad Kumar is new NIA chief
On 30 July Senior IPS officer Sharad Kumar has been appointed as the new chief of the National
Investigation Agency (NIA).The 1979-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer will take over from
additional DG N R Wasan, who was given charge of NIA in April following appointment of Sinha as
member of National Human Rights Commission.
Cheryl Boone Isaacs Elected President Of Oscars Academy
On 30 July Cheryl Boone Isaacs has been elected as the president of Oscars Academy.The Springfield
native is the first woman to hold the post in three decades and the first African-American president in the
academys 86-year history. The academy oversees the annual Academy Awards and Oscars
broadcast.Isaacs is currently head of her own CBI Enterprises.

B)RESIGNS
Madhya
Pradesh
Finance
Minister
Raghavji
Resigned
On 5 July Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Raghavji resigned following allegations that he sodomised
his domestic help.Raghavji had set a record by presenting the state budget for 10 years in succession
from 2004 to 2013.He is the Finance Minister of Madhya Pradesh since last 9 years.
Syria Interim Prime Minister Ghassan Hitto Resigned
On 8 July Syrias rebel interim prime minister Ghassan Hitto has announced his resignation , nearly four
months after his appointment and having failed to form a government.
Luxembourgs PM Jean-Claude Juncker Resigned
On 11 July Luxembourgs long-serving Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker has resigned from his post
,following a spying scandal involving illegal phone-taps and other illicit activities.Jean-Claude Juncker is a
Luxembourger politician, 23rd and current Prime Minister of Luxembourg since 20 January 1995.
Kumar Mangalam Birla Resigned From RBI Board
On 23 July Aditya Birla Nuvo Chairman , Kumar Mangalam Birla resigned from the Reserve Bank of
Indias Central Board .The resignation is to avoid the conflicts because Aditya Birla Nuvo applied for the
bank license to RBI.Kumar Mangalam Birla was also nominated as the member of the Directors of the
Central Board of the RBI in 2006.

C)DEATHS
Douglas
Engelbart,
Inventor
Of
Computer
Mouse
Died
Doug Engelbart, the U.S inventor of the computer mouse and developer of early incarnations of email,
word processing programs and the internet, has died on 2 July in Atherton, California. He was 88 years
old.Douglas Engelbart invented the mouse in 1963 when he was working at the Stanford Research
Institute (now SRI International) along with his lead engineer Bill English.Sadly Engelbart did not hold the
patent for the mouse, which was held by SRI and the patent ran out in 1987, before the mouse became
popular.
Renowned Food Scientist Dr. H.A.B. Parpia Died
Dr. H.A.B. Parpia, renowed food scientist and the former Director of the Central Food Technological
Research Institute (CFTRI) died on 9 July .There exist more than 2500 papers and documents published
by the name of Dr. Parpia on food and technology and advanced education.Dr. Parpia served Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations at Rome and was Assistant Director in charge of
Information, Statistics, Process Development and Food Plant Design at the CFTRI.In 1987, he received
Wattumull Foundation Award from Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Veteran Bollywood Actor Pran Died
On 12 July Veteran Bollywood actor and the winner of Dadasaheb Phalke Award ,Pran Kishan Sikand
died in Mumbai.Pran acted in more than 350 Hindi movies in a long, prolific career dating back to the
1940s.He was one of the highest-paid Bollywood actors in the 70s and 80s.He was conferred with Dada
Saheb Phalke Award in April 2013.In 2001 he was awarded with Indias third highest civilian award
Padma Bhushan.In his career span, he received four film fare awards.
Bose Audio System Inventor G.Bose Died
On 12 July Amar Gopal Bose, Indian-American entrepreneur and founder and chairman of Bose
Corporation, died at the age of 83 in Wayland, Massachusetts.Bose founded the company, based in
Framingham, just outside Boston, in 1964.As company, Bose focused relentlessly on acoustic
engineering innovation.Though his first speakers fell short of expectations, Bose kept at it. In 1968, he
introduced the Bose 901 Direct/Reflecting speaker system, which became a best seller for more than 25
years and firmly entrenched Bose, based in Framingham, Massachusetts, as a leader in a highly
competitive audio components marketplace.
Bofors Scam Accused Ottavio Quattrocchi Died
On 13 July Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, who was a accused in the Bofors scam, has died in
Milan, Italy.The Bofors chargesheet filed in 1999 by CBI had named Quattrocchi,as one of the accused in
the case regarding the Rs 64 crore payoffs for supply of Swedish Howitzer guns to the Indian Army. The
Rs 1,600 crore contract was clinched in 1986.
Veteran CPI(M) Leader Samar Mukherjee Died
On 18 July Freedom fighter ,Veteran leader and the oldest member of the Communist Party of India
(Marxist) Samar Mukherjee, whose 100th birthday was celebrated by the party in November last year,
died in Kolkata.Mukherjee joined the Communist Party of India-Marxist in 1964.He had joined CPI in the
year 1940.He was the representative of Howrah in the Lok Sabha for three years in a row between 1971
and 1984.He was also elected to Rajya Sabha in 1986.His biography titled 100 Years of Samar
Mukherjee: A Tribute was released on his 100th Birthday in English as well as Bengali languages.
Veteran Tamil Film Lyricist Vaali Died
On 18 July Famous Tamil lyricist T.S. Rangarajan, popularly known as Vaali, has died in Chennai.Vaali
had penned more than 10,000 songs and worked with three generations of music directors.He has also
acted in some movies like Sathya, Hey Ram and others.In 2007, he was awarded the Padmashri by
the Indian government.

Former Union Minister Khurshed Alam Khan Died

On 20 July Khurshed Alam Khan, a former Union minister and father of external affairs minister Salman
Khurshid died in NewDelhi.He served as the member of Rajya Sabha from 1974-1984.Alam Khan served
as the Minister if State in the Governments led by former Prime Ministers of India, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv
Gandhi. As an Union Minister, he had held portfolios of education, textiles, tourism, transport besides
external affairs.He served as Governor of Goa and Karnataka in 1989 and 1991 respectively.
Pioneer American Women Journalist Helen Thomas Died
On 20 July Legendary American journalist Helen Thomas, a pioneer for women in journalism who
reported on ten US presidents from Dwight D Eisenhower to Barack Obama,died in Washington.In 197576, Thomas served as the first woman president of the White House Correspondents Association
(WHCA).She was a columnist for Hearst Newspapers from 2000 to 2010, writing on national affairs and
the White House.She retired on June 7, 2010, following controversial comments she made about Israel,
Israeli Jews and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Former Union Minister Arun Nehru Died
On 25 July Arun Nehru, former Union minister and the cousin of Rajiv Gandhi as well as the Minister for
Internal Security during his government, died in Gurgaon.Arun Nehru was born in Lucknow.He was a
three-time Lok Sabha member.When Rajiv Gandhi became the prime minister in 1984, he was his close
adviser and minister of state for internal security.
Acclaimed Biologist Obaid Siddiqi Died
On 26 July Obaid Siddiqi, National Research Professor at the National Centre for Biological Sciences,
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) died in a Bangalore.Siddiqi, born in 1932 in Uttar
Pradesh, received his early education at Aligarh Muslim University.He established the Molecular Biology
Unit at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Bombay in 1962. Siddiqi was honoured with several
awards, including Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, BC Roy Award for Biomedical Research and
Firodia Award for Basic Sciences.

D)VISITORS
Indian
Defence
Minister
AK
Antonys
Visited
China
Indian Defence Minister, Mr AK Antony visited China from 4-7 July 2013.During the visit Antony met
China Defence Minister General Chang Wanquan and also called on Premier Li Keqiang .Both countries
Ministers discussed an extensive exchange of views on a wide range of defence and security issues.The
two sides also agreed to hold talks on China India Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA).The
both countries Defence Ministers discussed ongoing and proposed bilateral exchanges and welcomed
the holding of the counter-terrorism bilateral joint exercise between their armies in China in 2013.Antonys
trip is the first by an Indian defence minister since 2006 and comes after a spat between the two nucleararmed neighbours in May over troop movements in a disputed Himalayan border region.
Indias External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid Visited Nepal
Indias External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid, visited Nepal on 9th July.During the visit Salman
Khurshid met Nepals top leaders and discussed important bilateral issues, including the finalisation of an
extradition treaty and controlling of criminal activities along the porous border.In the visit Khurshid also
called on President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Chairman of Council of Ministers Khil Raj Regmi ,
Nepalese counterpart Madhav Prasad Ghimire and both the nations held official talks covering all feature
of bilateral relations and issues of mutual interests.
US Vice President Joe Biden Visited India
US Vice President Joe Biden visited India from 22 25 July .He is the first U.S. vice-president visited
India after three decades.On 22 July Joe Biden visited Gandhi Smriti Museum in New Delhi.On 23 July
Biden met President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and discussed on a broad array of issues, includes ways to enhance economic growth, and cooperation

in trade, energy and climate change, security and strategic opportunities, besides investments in
innovation and education.On 24 25 July Biden visited in Mumbai.Biden met business leaders and
delivered a policy speech at the Bombay Stock Exchange.It is Bidens first trip to India as vice president.
He visited New Delhi in 2008 as a senator.
France Defence Minister Yves Le Drianis Visited India
Defence Minister of France, Mr Yves Le Drianis visited India from 25-27 July.During the visit Yves Le
Drianis met Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony and discussed on regional and international security
challenges of mutual interest.The Ministers noted that defence cooperation is an important pillar of the
strategic partnership between both countries and that the ongoing dialogue and cooperation is mutually
beneficial to both nations.The Ministers agreed that exchanges between respective defence institutions
and armed forces should continue to be progressed, including in the areas of military education and
training and through the conduct of military exercises.

E)MISCELLANEOUS
Egypt
President
Mohamed
Morsi
Ousted
By
Military
On 3 July Mohamed Morsi, the Islamist president of Egypt whose rule sparked protests that had engulfed
the country , was removed from power by the Egyptian military.After Morsi had rejected the militarys
ultimatum to surrender to public pressure and resign within 48 hours.Morsis election as the first
democratically elected President was a turning point in the political history of Egypt after the downfall of
30 years reign of Hosni Mubaraq.
Pope Francis Clears John Paul II, John XXIII For Sainthood
On 5 July Pope Francis on Friday cleared two of the 20th centurys most influential popes to become
saints, approving a miracle needed to canonize Pope John Paul II and waiving Vatican rules to honour
Pope John XXIII.The announcement ceremony is expected before the end of the year.
Bangladesh Islamist Ghulam Azam Sentenced To 90 Years In Prison
On 15 July Bangladesh Islamist leader Ghulam Azam, 91 has been sentenced to 90 years in prison on
charges of war crimes.Azam, was accused of setting up militia groups that carried out mass killings and
rape during Bangladeshs 1971 war of independence with Pakistan.
Pakistans Women Paratroopers Create History
On 15 July Female officers of the Pakistan Army have jumped from military helicopters for the first time in
the countrys history.A total of 24 lady officers of the Pakistan Army successfully completed a three-week
basic airborne course at the Parachute Training School in the northwestern city of Peshawar.Pakistan
Army, in another landmark achievement, successfully completed the first ever Lady Officers Para
Trooping Course at Para Training School.Captain Sadia was the first women officer who jumped from an
MI-17 helicopter, while Captain Kiran Ashraf was declared the best paratrooper of the batch.
Che Manuscripts Added To UNESCO Heritage Program
On 20 July the writings of Cuban Revolution leader Ernesto Che Guevara have been added to
UNESCOs Memory of the World Register.The documents include original manuscripts from Ches
youthful Motorcycle Diaries days, to his diary from the mountains of Bolivia where he was executed by
that nations military in 1967.They are now recognized as world heritage and will be protected and cared
for with the help of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Indian Woman Scientist Sunetra Gupta Joins Famed UK League
On 22 July Sunetra Gupta, an India-born chemist and physicist has joined the big league of female
scientists like Marie Curie in a first-of-its-kind art exhibition at the prestigious Royal Society.Gupta, who
was born in Kolkata and is now a professor at Oxford University, is among an exclusive group as part of
the Women in Science Portrait Exhibition of the greatest female Fellows of the Royal Society together
with newly-commissioned drawings featuring Royal Society Research Fellows.Her main area of interest is

the evolution of diversity in pathogens, with particular reference to the infectious disease agents that are
responsible for malaria, influenza and bacterial meningitis.
Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange Launched Political Party In Australia
On 25 July Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has launched his political party to contest Australian
elections this year. As per Assange, his party which he named Wikileaks Party would be fielding seven
candidates including Assange for upper house Senate seats in the states of New South Wales, Victoria
and Western Australia.Two Indian-origin persons are among the seven candidates who will contest
elections on a Wikileaks Party ticket in Senate polls in Australia. Indian-origin academician Binoy
Kampmark, who was born in Malaysia and has Bengali heritage, will stand for the Upper House election
from Victori whereas Suresh Rajan, who is based out of Kerala, will stand for the party in Western
Australia.
Britain Royal Baby Named George Alexander Louis
On 24 July Britains new prince has been named George Alexander Louis .The announcement from
Royal baby parents Prince William and Kate.It was declared that the third-in-line successor to the throne
will be known as his Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.
Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez Is Worlds Oldest Man
On 25 July A man from the Niagara falls area in New York has received the Guinness World Records title
for Worlds oldest man.Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez, nicknamed Shorty is 112 years old, and he was
awarded the title after the demise of 116-year-old Jiroemon Kimura of Japan. As documented, the
worlds oldest person is 115-year-old Misao Okawa, also a Japan resident.Sanchez-Blazquez was born in
El Tejado de Bejar, Spain on 8 June 1901.
Stanford Ranked Top US university On Forbes List
On 25 July According to the Forbes magazines annual ranking of the top U.S. colleges list ,Stanford
University in Northern Californias Silicon Valley ranked No. 1 and much smaller Pomona College was in
second place.Princeton University in New Jersey slipped to third place, followed by Yale University in
Connecticut in fourth place and Columbia University in New York City at No. 5.For the sixth year, Forbes
worked with the Center for College Affordability and Productivity in Washington to produce the list.

PLACES IN NEWS

Incheon

Named
World
Bank
Capital
For
2015
On 19 July UNESCO announced South Koreas western port city of Incheon has been chosen to be the
World Book Capital for the year 2015.Incheon became the 15th city to be designated as the World Book
Capital following the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt for 2014 and Bangkok for the year 2013.
Strong Earthquake Hits China
On 22 July a strong earthquake in northwestern China ,measuring 6.6 on Richter scale, that has killed
more than 89 people and injured 412.The quake hit along the border of two counties Min and
Zhang.The epicenter, with a depth of 20 km, was 170 km away from the provincial capital Lanzhou.The
earthquake was also felt in Tianshui city and the provincial capital city of Lanzhou besides in the cities of
Xian, Baoji and Xianyang in neighboring Shaanxi Province.

ABBREVIATIONS

PSLV
Polar
Satellite
Launch
Vehicle
IRNSS
Indian
Regional
Navigation
Satellite
System
WIPO

World
Intellectual
Property
Organization
CMAI
Clothing
Manufacturers
Association
of
India
AEPC

Apparel
Export
Promotion
Council
CISF

Central
Industrial
Security
Force
CRPF

Central
Reserve
Police
Force
DGCA

Directorate
General
of
Civil
Aviation
CAA

Civil
Aviation
Authority
GSPA

Gas
Sale
Purchase
Agreement
MMRCA
Medium
Multi
Role
Combat
Aircraft
ESMA Essential Services Maintenance Act

BOOKS IN NEWS
A
Bouquet
Of
Vivekanandas
Writings
Book
Released
Swami Vivekananda The book titled A Bouquet Of Vivekanandas Writings was released on 10 July.The
book contains a number of hand-written poetries, essays and even letters written by Vivekananda in
Bengali and English.19th century philosopher-monk Swami Vivekananda have been compiled in a book
as a facsimile copy of his original handwriting.
An Uncertain Glory: India and its Contradictions Book Released
An Uncertain Glory: India and its Contradictions authored by Jean Dreze, the development economist
and Amratya Sen, an economist, a philosopher and a Nobel Prize winner.The book was released in
month of July 2013.The book has been published by Penguin Books India.In the book authors have
presented a far reaching analysis of the conditions of contemporary India with a compilation of the wealth
of illuminating data.
The New Bihar Rekindling Governance and Development Book Released
On 21 July The New Bihar Rekindling Governance and Development was released by Noble laureate
Amartya Sen.President Pranab Mukherjee received a copy of book from Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen
(centre) at Rashtrapati Bhavan .The book has been edited by N.K. Singh.
An Agenda for Indias Growth: Essays in Honour of P. Chidambaram Book Released
On 31 July The book entitled An Agenda for Indias Growth: Essays in Honour of P. Chidambaram was
released in New Delhi by Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh.The book, which is edited by
Sameer Kochhar of the Skoch Foundation, encompasses various excellent essays by well known
distinguished experts. In the book, all the authors dated their association with P. Chidambaram from
1991, when he was the Minister of Commerce as well as a key reformer initiating trade policy reform.

COMMITTEES
Harshvardhan
Patil
Committee
On
Agricultural
Marketing
Submits
Report
On 3 July The Committee of State Ministers In-charge of Agriculture Marketing to Promote Marketing
Reforms has submitted final report to the Agriculture Minister, Shri Sharad Pawar.It has called for an
effective implementation of Model APMC Act in all the states. This committee was constituted in March,
2010 under the Chairmanship of Shri Harshvardhan Patil, Minister for Cooperation and Parliamentary
Affairs, Govt.of Maharashtra.The committee has also recommended the setting up of multiple and

competitive marketing channels; independent regulatory authority to encourage private investors; need
for viability gap funding to attract private sector investment; higher investment in marketing infrastructure.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

Nelson
Mandela
International
Day

Observed
On
18
July
Nelson Mandela International Day was observed across the world on 18 July 2013 to earmark freedom,
justice and democracy. The overarching objective of Mandela Day is to inspire individuals to take action
to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good. Ultimately it
seeks to empower communities everywhere. Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela
Day.In November 2009, the UN General Assembly declared 18 July as the Nelson Mandela International
Day to recognize the former South African Presidents contribution to the culture of peace and freedom.
World Population Day Observed Across The World On 11 July
World Population Day was observed on 11 July 2013 across the world. The theme for the year 2013 is
Focus is on Adolescent Pregnancy. In 1989, in its decision 89/46, the Governing Council of the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) declared 11 July as the day that should be observed as World
Population Day by the International Community.The UNDP recommended 11 July as world Population
Day, in order to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues in the context of
overall development plans and programmes and the need to find solutions for these issues.The 2013
World Population Day is being observed with an aim of raising awareness on the issue of adolescent
pregnancy with the hope of delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted and every childbirth is
safe, and every young persons potential is fulfilled. The 2013 aim has been proposed because as per
reports about 16 million of girls under 18 years of age give birth to a child every year. Apart from this
about 3.2 million undergoes an unsafe abortion and about 90 percent of the pregnant adolescents in the
developing world are married.
Malala Day Observed Across The World On 12 July
12 July 2013 was observed as Malala Day across the World and by United Nations. The day is being
observed by the United Nations to highlight the fight of education of the Pakistani child activist Malala
Yousafzai. Seminars, conferences and other ceremonies were held across Pakistan wherein scholars,
educationists and analysts participated to pay tribute to Malala, who fought for girls education in Swat
valley against the Taliban. 12 July, the day of Malalas Birth was declared as Malala Day by UN General
Secretary Ban-Ki-Moon on her 16th Birthday.Malala is the girl from Pakistan, who was shot in head and
neck by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on 9 October 2012 for advocating girls for their right to
education and speaking against Taliban.