Ca Oct 2014

Current Affairs
October 2014 | www.jagranjosh.com
Current Affairs
PREFACE
18
PICK OF THE MONTH
19
World Economic Forum released Global Gender Gap Report 2014
19
Union Home Ministry drafted a new counter-Naxal doctrine
25
Prime Minister launched Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana to realise Gram Swaraj
27
Union MoEFCC launched the National Air Quality Index
30
Union Government approved reforms in Monetary Policy Framework
32
ISRO successfully launched third navigation satellite IRNSS 1C
33
Incheon Asian Games 2014
34
Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai won the Nobel peace prize 2014
37
Union Government submitted a list of 627 Indians holding black money abroad to
SC
40
Union MoD cleared the deal worth 8000 crore rupees to buy anti tank missiles from
Israel
42
WHO declared Nigeria as Ebola Free country
44
Ocean Health Index for the year 2014 released
47
Worlds first womb-transplant baby born to a Swedish woman
49
SoftBank of Japan to invest 10 billion dollars in India
50
INTERNATIONAL
52
China overtook US to become the worlds largest economy in PPP terms
52
India voted against UN draft resolution on NPT
52
President of Burkina Faso Blaise Compaore resigned after protestors set ablaze
Parliament
54
Sweden became the first European Union country to recognize the State of Palestine
55
India-Saudi Arabia agreed to cooperate in hydrocarbon sector
56
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami sentenced to death for

war crimes
57
Current Affairs
Deeper integration for peace, prosperity chosen as the theme for 18th SAARC
Summit
58
India re-elected to UN Economic and Social Council
59
Taiwan banned officials from studying in China
60
ECI elected as Chair of General Assembly of AAEA for the next two years
61
51 countries signed pact on tax evasion crackdown
62
UK and the US ended combat operations in Hemland province of Afghanistan
63
Dilma Rousseff re-elected as Brazil President for second four-year term
64
Parliament of Australia lifted ban on facial coverings in Public areas
65
India and Nepal signed Power Trade Agreement
66
India re-elected to UNHRC for 2015-2017
67
Pakistan based BGA appealed to IPAB against GI tag of basmati rice to MP
67
India, China concluded two-day talks on border mechanism
68
Joko Widodo sworn in as Indonesia President
69
South African Tourism launched Gandhi-Inspired Tourist Attraction project
69
Egypt signed contracts with six international firms to dredge new Suez Canal
70
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Yuko Obuchi resigned
71
Nigeria and Boko Haram sealed deal on freeing girls
72
Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela elected as non-permanent

members of UNSC
73
India pledged 4 million dollar aid for Gaza reconstruction
74
India-Norway signed 13 agreements to promote bilateral relations
75
British House of Commons passed symbolic motion to recognise Palestinian state

77
Turkey to allow US led coalition to use its Incirlik Air Base to fight against ISIS
78
Indian Embassy in Kuwait simplified visa procedure
79
India and UK government launched UK-India Financial Partnership
80
WB group launched Global Infrastructure Facility in partnership with institutional

investors
81
US Department of Defence approved two technology transfer licenses to India
82
Current Affairs
China to Launch New Marine Surveillance Satellites HY-3 by 2019
83
Mauritian Parliament dissolved for elections
86
U.S. Supreme Court allowed gay marriage in five more states
87
UK and Ireland inked single visa deal
88
Pakistan recorded highest number of polio cases in 14 years
89
US partially lifted 40 year ban on arm sales to Vietnam to boost defence in South
China Sea
90
NATIONAL
92
Union Government decided to include LoP in the Lokpal Selection Panel
92
Minority government can be formed in Delhi: SC
93
Government announced 5 lakh rupees compensation to kin of 1984 Sikh riots victims
94
Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana
94
Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced TB-Mission 2020
96
Union Government launched Jammu Kashmir Arogya Gram Yojna
97
Union Cabinet approved inter-governmental MoU to upgrade Chabahar port of Iran

98
Union Cabinet approved Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase-1
99
Union Government decided to re-launch Direct Benefit Transfer scheme
100
Union Government started training for Ebola Caregivers
101
DoPT amended the selection procedure for the post of chief of CVC
102
Union government launched Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Karyakram 103

Union Ministry of S&T launched a Joint Indo-Canadian Science Programme
104
OilMin sets up Talukar panel on delays in gas discovery project of ONGC
105
Union Ministry of H&FW banned the import of animal tested cosmetics in India 106
Union Ministry of S&T launched The Maithreyi International Visiting Professorship
107
Union MoUD constituted 17-member Committee on decongesting roads of New
Delhi
109
Current Affairs
Union Health Minister launched National Mental Health Policy of India
110
Union Government launched year-long birth centenary celebrations of Ghazal singer Begum Akhtar
112
Kundu Committee on Post Sachar Evaluation submitted its report to the Union government
113
Union MNRE signed MoU for setting up first-ever Offshore Wind Power Project in
India
114
Union Government to sell LED bulbs at 10 rupees against 400 rupees
116
Union Government launched Pashmina Promotion Programme (P-3)
117
Union Government launched attendance.gov.in website to monitor attendance of

staff
118
Union Government launched Swachhta Udyami Yojana Swachhta Se Sampannta

ki Aur
120
Swachh Bharat Mission launched by Narendra Modi
121
ECONOMY
123
Union Cabinet approved proposal to amend FDI policy in construction and real estate sector
123
Kamarajar Port to set up free trade and warehousing zone
124
Union Government scrapped ongoing selection process of CMDs, EDs in PSBs 125
World Bank released India Development Update
125
Union Government launched website for Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana
127
Union government de-regulated diesel and hiked natural gas rates
128
RBI & CBK signed MoU on Supervisory Cooperation and Exchange of Supervisory
Information
128
Government to import potatoes for 1st time to check rising prices
129
Exports increased 2.73 percent in September 2014: Union Ministry of Commerce

129
Union Finance Ministry approved 25 FDI proposals with total investment of 1546
crore rupees
131
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Current Affairs
CPI inflation declined to 6.46 percent in September 2014
132
JP Morgan cut India 2014-15 growth forecast to 5.1 percent from 5.3 percent
132
DIPP constituted a special team Japan Plus to fast track Japanese investments 133
Railways Revenue earnings up by over 12 percent during April 2014 - September
2014
135
SCI Launched India-Myanmar Service
135
ENVIRONMENT | ECOLOGY
138
An endangered species Flying Squirrel captured in Jharkhand
138
Hurricane Gonzalo struck Bermuda
139
Himalayan glaciers are expanding instead of shrinking
139
Sea levels rose rapidly in past 150 years: study of Australian scientists
140
India signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury
141
Powerful typhoon Vongfong struck Japan
143
Cyclone Hudhud struck coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha
144
New York Declaration on Forests released at UN Climate Summit
145
Maryland University Researchers developed a tool to predict how organisms respond to climate change
147
Aral Sea dried: NASAs Earth Observatory
148
SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY
150
Scientists created coldest ever cubic meter in Universe
150
Google announced changes to its search engine to curb online piracy
151
Uranus like planet discovered in a binary star system 25000 light-years away
153
India successfully test-fired nuclear capable Nirbhay cruise missile
155
ISRO re-positioned Mars Orbiter, Mangalyaan to save it from Comet Siding Spring
156
NASA successfully installed its first Earth-observing instrument ISS-RapidScat on
the ISS
156
Researchers developed a technology that makes visible the movements of HIV

Current Affairs
virus
158
Super-Resolved Fluorescence Microscopy: Surpassing the limitations of the light

microscope
159
Researchers at MIT created material for absorption of solar radiation
161
Union Science and Technology Minister launched microscope with 3-D feature 163
Brain Global Positioning System
164
Scientists at Ohio State University developed worlds first rechargeable solar battery
165
SPORTS
168
Pankaj Advani won IBSF World Billiards Championship
168
Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh inducted into Don Bradman Hall of Fame
168
Serena Williams won the Singles title of BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore 2014
169
Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri won Venetian Macau Golf Open
170
Sania Mirza and Cara Black won doubles title of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore
170
Para-swimmer Sharath Gayakwad broke 28-year old record of P T Usha at Asian

Para Games
171
AIBA provisionally suspended Sarita Devi and her coaches for Asian Games incident
172
Pankaj Advani won World Billiards Point Format Championship
173
Indias Chief Hockey Coach Terry Walsh resigned
174
BCCI decided to initiate legal proceedings against WI Cricket Board
174
Indian batsman Virat Kohli claimed number two slot in the ICC rankings
175
Luis Suarez received European Golden Boot Award 2014
176
India won the 2014 West Indies tour of India cricket series, 2-1
177
India won Sultan of Johor Cup Under-21 Hockey title
178
ICC awarded global broadcast rights from 2015 to 2023 to Star India and Star Middle East
178
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Current Affairs
Paralympic Games to be held in India in February 2015
179
Mary Kom voted as Indias Most Valuable Player in Asian Games 2014
180
Ajay Jayaram won Dutch Open Grand Prix badminton tournament
180
British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton won inaugural Russian Grand Prix
181
RCA removed former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi as its President
182
India to host first leg of Asia Cup Archery Tournament in Delhi in January 2015 182
Roger Federer won Shanghai Masters trophy of Tennis
183
GGSS School of Hisar won the U-17 Girls title of 55th Subroto Cup Football tournament
184
ICC banned Zimbabwe bowler Prosper Utseya and Bangladeshi bowler Sohag Gazi
for illegal action
185
RSP felicitated hockey player Birendra Lakra
186
MS Dhoni became ISL team Chennaiyin FC co-owner
187
USA Swimming suspended Olympic champion Michael Phelps for 6 months
188
Chennai Super Kings won 2014 Champions League Twenty20 title
188
MC Mary Kom bagged her first Asian Games Gold Medal
190
CORPORATE
191
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry joined hands with Hannover Milano Fairs
India
191
Emaar MGF Land Limited tied up with PayU India for its online payment service 193
Government ordered merger of NSEL with its holding company FTIL
194
Mayank Ashar appointed as MD and CEO of Cairn India
195
Flipkart signed real estate lease deal with Embassy Office Parks
196
Myntra to open London Office to Partner European Brands
197
IOC to invest 4 billion US dollar in British Columbia, Canada to source LNG
198
Kotak Mahindra Bank launched Facebook-based funds transfer platform KayPay

199
IMImobile Ltd acquired UK-based mobile messaging platform TxtLocal Ltd
200
Tata Value homes launched www.tatavaluehomes.com to sell homes online
202
Current Affairs
Amazon and Future Groups signed deal to jointly sell goods online
203
Fortune released the list of powerful people titled 40 under 40
203
Bombay High Court ruled in favour of Vodafone in 3200 crore rupees tax case
204
Ericsson signed 4G network deal with Bharti Airtel
206
Cipla Medpro signed collaboration pact with Teva for selling drugs in South Africa
207
GOLIL tied up with Mahindra & Mahindra Limited for supplying lubricants
208
Skype announced to stop phone calls within India
209
Rockwell Collins signed MoU with Zen Tech to tap Indian defence market
210
Anbang Insurance Group Co Ltd acquired New York luxury hotel Waldorf Astoria
211
NIIT Limited named Rahul Keshav Patwardhan as its next CEO
213
Hewlett-Packard to split into two publicly traded companies
214
EU Competition Commission approved Facebook WhatsApp deal worth 19 billion

US dollar
215
European Union (EU) Competition Commission approved Facebook WhatsApp

deal worth 19 billion US dollar on 3 October 2014. The Commission cleared the
deal saying that the Facebook-WhatsApp deal would not hurt competition.
215
Sumitomo acquired Carzonrent unit for 200 crore rupees
216
Apollo Hospitals tied up with pharma firm Sanofi
217
Google social network siteOrkut closed
218
STATE
220
Devendra Fadnavis sworn in as Chief Minister of Maharashtra
220
Foundation for Worlds tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel laid in Gujarat 221
D J Pandiyan appointed as new chief secretary of Gujarat
223
Delhi HC issued notice to AGI to suggest ways to reform the Indian Easement Act
of 1882
223
Manohar Lal Khattar sworn in as Chief Minister of Haryana
224
Uttarakhand Cabinet approved reconstruction of Kedarnath temple area
225
Current Affairs
BJP emerged as the largest party in the 2014 Assembly Elections of Maharashtra
226
BJP won the Assembly Elections of Haryana; secured majority for the first time 227
Union Home Ministry announced to renamed 12 cities and towns of Karnataka 227
Karnataka Lokayukta ordered probe into misuse of 32 crore rupees funds for afforestation
228
Gujarat government set up SPV to promote Vadodara as Cultural capital
229
ASKeA in Tonk district decided to end its 150 year old tradition of sacrificing camel
230
West Bengal government constituted task force to probe into Burdwan blast
231
TS GENCO and BHEL signed MoU for power generation in Telangana
232
Rajasthan became first Indian state to start Olive refinery
233
Union Government approved six STPIs for Odisha
234
NEWS CAPSULE
235
PERSON IN NEWS
235
Richest man of Japan Masayoshi Son announced his biggest ever investment in
India
235
Google celebrated 100th birthday of Dr Jonas Salk
236
Amitabh Bachchan summoned by US court for instigating violence during 1984

riots
238
A C N Nambiar described as a Soviet spy by declassified documents of National

Archives
239
Google CEO Larry Page appointed Sundar Pichai as new Product Chief of Google
240
Alan Eustace broke world altitude record for a parachute jump
241
Five year old Indian boy Harshit Saumitra become the youngest to reach the EBC
242
Sadiq, a 10-year-old terminally ill boy, became Hyderabads police commissioner
for a day
242
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Current Affairs
Person Appointed
244
Vice President of Zambia Guy Scott appointed as Acting President
244
Sandeep Saxena appointed as the new Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu
245
Jairam Ramesh designated as the head of Future Earth Engagement Committee

246
Anita M Singh appointed as Chief of Staff of NSD in US Justice Department
247
Vanita Gupta appointed as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in DoJ of

US
248
PSN Rao appointed as Chairman of the DUAC
248
Arvind Subramanian appointed as Chief Economic Advisor
249
ACC approved appointment of Rajiv Mehrishi as the Union Finance Secretary
250
Gautham Roy appointed as the new Managing Director of CPCL
251
Khaled Bahah appointed as Prime Minister of Yemen
252
Actor Aamir Khan appointed as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia
253
Kalpana Morparia appointed as first woman director of HUL
254
Pratima Dharm appointed as the first Hindu priest at Georgetown University
256
MoCA approved the appointment of Cramer Ball as CEO of Jet Airways
257
President Pranab Mukherjee authorised Vigilance Commissioner Rajiv to act as

CVC
258
Science | Space
260
ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan announced to launch GSLV Mark-III in 45 days

260
Person on Visit
261
President Pranab Mukherjee visited Norway
261
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg arrived in New Delhi, to meet PM tomorrow262

Person Died
264
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Current Affairs
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Galway Kinnell died
264
President of Zambia Michael Sata died
264
South African footballer Senzo Meyiwa died
265
Maharashtra BJP legislator Govind M Rathod died
266
Noted freedom fighter Jagdish Sharan Pande died
266
CEO of Total Christophe de Margerie died in Moscow plane crash
267
Fashion designer Oscar de la Renta died
268
British actress and presenter Lynda Bellingham died
269
Telugu writer Turaga Janaki Rani died
270
American actress Elizabeth Pena passed away
270
Lok Sabha MP Kapil Krishna Thakur died
271
Russian Stage actor Yuri Lyubimov died at 97
271
Veteran journalist Madhav Vittal Kamath died
272
German author Siegfried Lenz died
273
British aid worker Alan Henning beheaded by ISIS militants
274
Awards | Honours
276
French economist Jean Tirole won the 2014 Nobel Prize for Economics
276
French author Patrick Modiano won the 2014 Nobel Prize for Literature
277
Eric Betzig, Stefan W Hell and William E. Moerner won the 2014 Nobel Prize for
Chemistry
278
Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura won 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics
280
John OKeefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser named for 2014 Nobel Prize in
Physiology
283
Malala won 2014 Worlds Children prize
285
Former mushroom and poultry farmer Leah Kalanguka crowned as Miss Uganda
2014
286
Indian-origin Sahil Doshi won 2014 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge
286
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Current Affairs
Ashwika Kapur won 2014 Panda Award for her film on a Kakapo parrot
287
Denis Mukwege won prestigious Sakharov human rights prize
289
Malala Yousafzai conferred 2014 Liberty Medal
290
UK announced first ever Dadabhai Naoroji Awards
292
Raghuram Rajan won Euromoney Award for Best Central Bank Governor of the
Year 2014
293
Indian-born scientist Sanjaya Rajaram received World Food Prize 2014
294
Tamil poet Iqbal named for Singapores highest cultural award, Cultural Medallion
295
Australian author Richard Flanagan won 2014 Man Booker Prize
297
Lyricist Sameer honoured with Kishore Kumar Award for 2012-13
299
Poet-diplomat Abhay K honoured with Asia-Pacific Excellence Award
300
59th Annual National Railway Awards
301
Alfonso Cuaron, the Academy Award winning Mexican Director, to be honoured by

Museum of Modern Art
302
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg granted an honorary Knighthood
303
President of India presented the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award 2014
304
Anoop Jain won 2014 Waislitz Global Citizen Award
305
Saiyid Hamid conferred with Sir Ross Masood Lifetime Achievement Award 2014
306
Shah Rukh Khan received Global Diversity Award 2014 at the House of Commons
307
Books | Authors
309
Half Girlfriend authored by Chetan Bhagat released
309
Biography of Muhammad Iqbal titled Iqbal: The Life of a Poet, Philosopher and
Politician released
310
Tulsi Smriti Granth on Acharya Tulsi released
311
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes for the year 2014 announced
312
The Narrow Road to the Deep North authored by Richard Flanagan won Man Book13
Current Affairs
er Prize
313
Final Test: Exit Sachin Tendulkar authored by Dilip DSouza released
314
Vice President of India released the book titled Untold Story of Indian Public Sector
315
International edition of Encyclopedia of Hinduism by India Heritage Research Foundation released
315
Book titled A Man and A Motorcycle written by Bette Dam on Hamid Karzai
launched
316
Syntheism Creating God in The Internet Age authored by Alexander Bard released
317
Worthy Fights authored by Panetta and Newton released
318
Accident | Incident
320
Cargo rocket Antares of NASA carrying supplies to ISS exploded after launch
320
32 people killed in Stampede at Patnas Gandhi Maidan
321
Krishak Express and Lucknow-Barauni express collided near Gorakhpur station 321
Defence | Security
323
Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rafting Expedition on River Siyom, Arunachal Pradesh
323
Report | Survey
324
India became the fourth largest steel maker of the World
324
Time released its annual list of The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014
324
Global Hunger Index Report 2014 released: India Ranked at 55th Position
326
Indias Performance as per 2014 Global Hunger Index
330
Summit | Conference
332
Cairo International conference held to raise fund for reconstruction of Gaza strip332
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Current Affairs
Committees | Commissions
333
Union Government constituted Vishwanathan committee to provide Bankruptcy

code for SMEs
333
Madhava Menon panel submitted its report with guidelines on government ads 334
Abbreviations | Terms
336
Tropical Storm Trudy struck Mexico
336
Treason Act of 1351 to be used to tackle ISIS
336
Cyclonic storm Hudhud
337
Bio Cremations: environment friendly alternative to cremate human body
338
Art | Culture
340
The Festival of India inaugurated in Japan
340
Harbin Ice Festival celebrated in Hong Kong
341
Month-long Akashdeep ritual started in Varanasi to honour fallen soldiers
341
Exhibition | Fare
343
Border haat opened in Tripura
343
Biggest electronics trade exhibition of Japan CEATEC concluded
343
Union MNRE announced the organisation of the first RE-INVEST Promotion Meet &
Expo
344
Day | Week | Year
346
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas observed on 31 October to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel
346
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage observed globally on 27 October
347
68th Infantry Day observed on 27 October
349
International Stammering Awareness Day observed across the world
349
Police Commemoration Day observed
350
Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day observed on 21 October
350
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Current Affairs
World Food Day observed globally on 16 October
351
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty observed on 17 October
353
Actions performed to observe the day includes
353
Global Handwashing Day observed across the world on 15 October
354
Third International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) was observed across the world 355
Indian Air Force celebrated 82nd Air Force Day on October 8
356
World Post Day observed globally on 9 October
357
World Post Day celebrations in India
357
World Habitat Day observed globally on 6 October
358
World Animal Day observed globally on 4 October
359
Miscellaneous
360
President Pranab Mukherjee released postage stamp on Anagarika Dharmapala 360

Tihar Jail Authority set up e-library for women inmates
361
Srilankan President Yal Devi Express flagged off from Palai after 25 years
361
Prime Minister connected to people over radio with programme, Mann Ki Baat 362
WORLD DAIRY October 2014
364
INDIA DAIRY October 2014
374
ONE LINERS October 2014
385
DESCRIPTIVE QUESTIONS October 2014
392
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Current Affairs
PREFACE
The Current Affairs October 2014 eBook covers the current events that happened in the month of October.
Current Affairs is a crucial component of any competitive exams including IAS|PCS, SSC, Banking, MBA.
The lack of preparation for current affairs by the aspirants and candidates often is a main cause of their
failure. Even though the candidates know it but they are often confused about how to prepare the current
affairs section of the different competitive exams. It is to clear such doubts and confusion, Jagranjosh.com
has come up with eBook concept. Although current affairs section per se is very wide to be covered, yet we
have tried to cover all the possible current affairs for the month of October 2014.
The Current Affairs October 2014 eBook is divided into different section keeping in mind the need of various
exams. The sections covered namely are International, National, Economy, Ecology and Environment,
Science & Technology, Corporate, Sports, States, and News Capsule. Every news item in each section is
arranged date wise with the most recent news being covered first and so on. Although there might be some
deviations but that is solely to give priority to the most important current affairs in each section.
Presentation of the given current affairs has been planned meticulously. It has been planned in such a
way that it remains in the minds of readers for a longer duration. Wherever necessary each news item is
presented along with a background and analysis so as to help candidates contemplate all the important
current events at the time of exam in an effective way.
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17
Current Affairs
PICK OF THE MONTH

World Economic Forum released Global Gender Gap Report
2014
World Economic Forum (WEF) on
28 October 2014 released the
Global Gender Gap Report 2014.
The 2014 report provides Gender
Gap scores for 142 countries
compared to 136 countries
included in 2013 report.
In the Report, India with a score
of 0.646 has been ranked 114. In
2013, India was ranked 101 out of
136 countries.
Further Benin and Cameroon have
been removed from the Report
in 2014 and eight new countries
have been included. These eight new countries are Belarus, Tunisia and Zimbabwe
(re-entered the rankings) and Guinea, Liberia, Montenegro, Rwanda and Swaziland
entered for the first time.
Main Highlights of the Global Gender Gap Report 2014

There has been small improvement in gender parity in the workplace since 2006
when the first Global Gender Gap report was published
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Current Affairs
At this rate it will take it will take 81 years for the world to close this gap completely.
No country in the world has fully closed the gender gap, but all five of the Nordic
countries have closed more than 80 percent of it.
Eight countriesBahamas, Belize, Brazil, France, Guyana, Latvia, Namibia, and
the Philippineshave fully closed the gap on both the health and education
subindexes, no country has closed either the economic participation gap or the
political empowerment gap.
142 countries covered in the Report have closed almost 96 percent of the gap in
health outcomes between women and men and almost 94 percent of the gap in
Educational Attainment.
The gap between women and men on economic participation and political
empowerment remains wide: only 60 percent of the economic outcomes gap and
only 21 percent of the political outcomes gap has been closed.
Top ten gender-equal societies in the world

Top 10 ranked countries with most gender-equal societies in the world are Iceland
(1), Finland (2), Norway (3) and Sweden (4) Denmark (5), Nicaragua (devil), Rwanda
(7), Ireland (music), Philippines (9) and Belgium (10).
Performance of countries by Subindex

Educational Attainment
In 2014, 25 countries have fully closed the gap in Educational Attainment subindex
(same as in 2013).
Angola, Ethiopia, Yemen, Guinea and Chad hold the last five spots on this subindex,
with Yemen and Chad having closed less than 70 percent of their education gender
gap.
In total, there are 22 countries where women still have less than 90 percent of the
education outcomes that men have.
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Current Affairs
Twenty-nine countries are below world average (weighted by population) on that
subindex.
Health and Survival

35 countries have fully closed the gap in Health and Survival subindex.
Vietnam, Albania, China, India and Armenia are the lowest-ranking countries and
no country currently has a gap bigger than 90 percent on this subindex.
Only 9 countries are below world average (weighted by population) on that
subindex.
Economic Participation and Opportunity

14 countries have closed more than 80 percent of gap, including from from SubSaharan Africa and five from Europe and Central Asia.
Burundi, Norway, Malawi, the United States and the Bahamas occupy the top five
spots on this subindex.
Yemen, Iran, Jordan, Pakistan and Syria hold the last five spots on this subindex.
Thirty-four countries are below world average (weighted by population) on that
subindex.
Political empowerment
Only Iceland and Finland have closed more than 60% of the gender gap.
37 countries have closed less than 10 percent of the political empowerment
gender gap.
Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Lebanon and Brunei Darussalam have the lowest rankings
on this subindex
98 countries are below world average (weighted by population) on that subindex,
including Brunei Darussalam, which has a score of zero.
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Current Affairs
Performance of countries by Region

Asia and the Pacific
In 2014, 7 out of the 24 countries from Asia and the Pacific have closed over 70
percent of the gap, with the Philippines, New Zealand and Australia in the lead.
At the bottom ends of the rankings two countries from the regionIran and
Pakistanhave closed less than 60 percent of the gender gap.
Latin America and the Caribbean

In Latin America and the Caribbean, 14 of the 26 countries in the region have
closed over 70 percent of the gender gap.
Nicaragua, Ecuador and Cuba occupy the top three spots. The lowest ranking
country in the regionSurinamehas closed a little over 65 percent of its gender
gap.
Middle East and North Africa

In the Middle East and North Africa region, only Israel has closed over 70 percent of
the gender gap, while five countries have closed less than 60 percent of the gender
gap.
North America
Canada and the United States have both closed nearly 75 percent of the gender gap.
Sub-Saharan Africa
In Sub-Saharan Africa, out of 28 countries covered, 13 have closed over 70 percent
of the gender gap, with Rwanda, Burundi and South Africa in the lead, while three
countries have closed less than 60 percent of the gap.
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Current Affairs
Europe and Central Asia
In Europe and Central Asia, out of 46 countries, five countries have closed over 80
percent of the gap, while 18 countries have closed less than 70 percent.
Indias performance in 2014

In 2014 Global Gender Gap Report, India has been ranked 114 with a score of
0.646 registering a steady improvement of its overall score since 2010. However,
there has been slight drop in 2014 due to a drop in scores on the Economic
Participation and Opportunity and Educational Attainment subindexes.
Since 2006, India has experienced the largest decrease (in absolute and relative
value) on its Health and Survival subindex score because of an important drop in
its Sex ratio at birth score.
In 2014, India is below average on three subindexes: Economic Participation and
Opportunity, Educational Attainment and Health and Survival. In fact, it is the
second-lowest performing country on Health and Survival, just ahead of Armenia.
India is among the top twenty best-performing countries on the Political
Empowerment subindex.
India is part of the twenty worst-performing countries on the Labour force
participation, Estimated earned income, Literacy rate and Sex ratio at birth
indicators.
India is the highest-ranked country on the Years with female head of state (over
the past 50 years) indicator.
India has the highest difference between women and men on the average minutes
spent per day on unpaid worka difference of 300 minutes.
It is also among the countries with the highest difference in the female and male
percentage of total R&D personnel (FTE).
India has one of the lowest percentages of firms with female participation in
ownership.
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Variables
Economic Participation and Opportunity
Rank Score
134
0.410
Ratio: female labour force participation over male value 134
0.410
Wage equality between women and men for similar work 130
(converted to female-over-male ratio)
0.36
Ratio: female estimated earned income over male value
109
0.56
Ratio: female legislators, senior officials and managers

over male value
135
0.24
126
0.850
126
0.68
Ratio: female net primary enrolment rate over male value 117
0.97
Ratio: female net secondary enrolment rate over male

value
116
0.79
Ratio: female gross tertiary enrolment ratio over male

value
111
0.78
141
0.937
Sex ratio at birth (converted to female-over-male ratio)
139
0.89
Ratio: female healthy life expectancy over male value
95
1.04
15
0.385
Ratio: females with seats in parliament over male value
111
0.13
Ratio: females at ministerial level over male value
107
0.10
Ratio: female professional and technical workers over

male value
Educational Attainment
Ratio: female literacy rate over male value
Health and Survival
Political Empowerment
Ratio: number of years of a female head of state (last 50 1

years) over male value
0.72
India and BRICS Countries

India at 114 when compared to other BRICS nation is the lowest ranked and the
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highest ranked country in the group is South Africa at 18th place. In fact, South Africa
has been among the top 20 performing countries in the overall Index since 2006.
The ranks of other BRICS nation is Brazil (71), Russia (75) and China (87).
India and SAARC Countries

The ranks of SAARC Countries in ascending order are: Bangladesh (68); Sri Lanka
(79); Maldives (105); Nepal (112); India (114); Bhutan (120) and Pakistan (141).
Global Gender Gap Index

The Global Gender Gap Index was first published by World Economic Forum (WEF)
in 2006. The 2014 Report was the 9th edition. The index seeks to measure one
important aspect of gender equality: the relative gaps between women and men
across four key areas: health, education, economy and politics.
Economic Participation and Opportunity subindex and Political Empowerment
subindex display the full scale of 0.00 to 1.00 while the figures for the Health and
Survival and Educational Attainment subindexes display the scale only from 0.50 to
1.00 for improving visual clarity.
There are three basic concepts underlying the Global Gender Gap Index, forming the
basis of the choice of indicators, how the data is treated and the scale used. First, it
focuses on measuring gaps rather than levels. Second, it captures gaps in outcome
variables rather than gaps in input variables. Third, it ranks countries according to
gender equality rather than womens empowerment.

Union Home Ministry on 17 October 2014 drafted a new counter-Naxal doctrine.
In the drafted law, the ministry clearly demarcated the role of the state police and
central paramilitary forces (CPMFs) in anti-Maoist operations.
The ministry proposed to put state police forces in the lead, while tasking CPMFs
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with using their pan-Indian mandate for seamless operations across state borders
and holding the counter-insurgency grid together.
The new policy will be circulated to all the states for their comments soon. It will
seek to fight the Maoists through a four-pronged approach, comprising elements like
security-related measures, development-based approach, rights and entitlementbased measures and public perception management.
The approach of the new law will be to focus on security interventions in worst LWEaffected areas. In moderately-affected areas, it will witness security and development
initiatives going hand in hand; while in less affected areas, development interventions
will take precedence.
Highlights of the drafted Law

The policy proposed
oversight committee at the
national and state level.
The national panel will
comprise home minister,
finance minister, tribal
affairs minister, environment
minister, rural development
minister, panchayati raj
minister and road &
transport minister, besides
chief ministers of all Naxalhit states, and will meet biannually.
There will be an inter-ministerial group, a coordination committee to oversee
operational strategies comprising Central and state level officers, as well as a
state-level committee for coordinated response by various state agencies.
Also, the new law insisted on a periodic review of the counter-Naxal strategies.
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The new counter-LWE doctrine pitches for making CRPF a world-class counterinsurgency force, with a sustained upgrade in its training, infrastructure, arms and
financial powers.
It seeks to encourage police/CPMFs to recruit local tribal youth by holding more
rallies and working around the DoPT rules to identify ways to push up their
representation in the forces.
There is emphasis also on honouring tribal icons by renaming projects and key
local buildings after them.
Peace talks with Naxalites

As regards possible peace talks with Naxalites, the draft policy makes it clear that any
offer of talks will be taken up only after the Maoists renounce violence as a means of
capturing state power and express faith in the democratic process.
Prime Minister launched Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana to realise

Gram Swaraj
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) on the
birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan on 11 October 2014. SAGY will be
implemented under the overall supervision of Union Ministry of Rural Development.
The programme is an ambitious village development project under which each Member
of Parliament will take the responsibility for developing physical and institutional
infrastructure in three villages by 2019.
The primary goal is to develop three Adarsh Grams or model villages by March 2019,
of which one would be achieved by 2016. Thereafter, five such Adarsh Grams (one
per year) will be selected and developed by 2024.
Objective of the SAGY

The main objectives of SAGY are:
To trigger processes which lead to holistic development of the identified Gram
Panchayats
To substantially improve the standard of living and quality of life of all sections
of the population through: a) Improved basic amenities; b) Higher productivity;
c) Enhanced human development; d) Better livelihood opportunities; e) Reduced
disparities; f) Access to rights and entitlements; g) Wider social mobilization; and
h) Enriched social capital
To generate models of local level development and effective local governance
which can motivate and inspire neighbouring Gram Panchayats to learn and adapt
To nurture the identified Adarsh Grams as schools of local development to train
other Gram Panchayats
Main highlights of the SAGY

It aims to keep the soul of rural India alive while providing its people with quality
access to basic amenities and opportunities to enable them to shape their own
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destiny.
It places equal stress on nurturing values of national pride, patriotism, community
spirit, self-confidence and on developing infrastructure.
It is unique and transformative as it has a holistic approach towards development.
It envisages integrated development of the selected village across multiple areas
such as agriculture, health, education, sanitation, environment, livelihoods etc.
SAGY aims at instilling certain values, such as peoples participation, Antyodaya,
gender equality, dignity of women, social justice, spirit of community service and
etc in the villages and their people so that they get transformed into models for
others.
The gram panchayat would be the basic unit for development. It will have a
population of 3000-5000 in plain areas and 1000-3000 in hilly, tribal and difficult
areas.
In districts where this unit size is not available, the gram panchayats approximating
the desirable population size may be chosen.
The MP would be free to identify a suitable gram panchayat for being developed
as Adarsh Gram, other than his/her own village or that of his/her spouse.
The scheme will be implemented through a Village Development Plan that would
be prepared for every identified gram panchayat with special focus on enabling
every poor household to come out of poverty.
The constituency fund, MPLADS, would be available to fill critical financing gaps.
SAGY gives focus to community participation.
The participation of women in the decision-making process will be encouraged.
The scheme envisages holding Mahila Sabhas and Bal Sabhas to discuss women
and children specific issues and concerns.
Ensuring universal access to education facilities, adult literacy, e-literacy are also
important goals of SAGY.
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Adoption and adaptation of technology and introduction of innovations are critical
to this programme. This will include use of space application and remote sensing
for planning, mobile based technology for monitoring, agriculture technology for
increasing productivity etc.
At the national level, a separate, real time web based monitoring system will be
put in place for the scheme covering all aspects and components.
Monitoring of SAGY
The Union Ministry of Rural Development will put in place a specially designed
capacity building programme for government functionaries at different levels
including gram panchayats.
At the state level, there will be an Empowered Committee headed by the Chief
Secretary consisting of the relevant departments and including experts, as required
with at least two civil society representatives.
The District Collector will be the nodal officer for implementing the SAGY. He
will conduct a monthly review meeting with representatives of the participating
Line Departments. The Members of Parliament concerned will chair the review
meetings.
Conclusion
The announcement for launching the SAGY was made by PM Narendra Modi from
the rampart of Red Fort while delivering the Independence Day speech on 15 August
2014. SAGY intends to translate the Mahatma Gandhis concept of Gram Swaraj
wherein Adarsh Grams will be the nucleus of health, cleanliness, greenery and
cordiality within the community.
Union MoEFCC launched the National Air Quality Index

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on 17
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October 2014 launched the National Air Quality Index (AQI) in New Delhi. The National
Air Quality Index is an initiative under Swachh Bharat Mission envisioned by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi to introduce the culture of cleanliness.
AQI will act as a One Number- One Colour-One Description to judge the Air Quality
for Common Man. The earlier measuring index was limited to three indicators, while
this index has been made quite comprehensive by the addition of five additional
parameters.
The proposed AQI will consider eight parameters (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO,
O3, NH3, and Pb) for which short-term National Ambient Air Quality Standards are
prescribed.
Air Quality Index (AQI)

Air Quality Index (AQI) is one such tool for effective dissemination of air quality
information to people that entails the system to account for pollutants which have
short-term impacts.
This index was developed by an expert group comprising medical professionals,
air quality experts, academia, NGOs, and state
There are six AQI categories namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately polluted,
Poor, Very Poor, and Severe with colour coding ranging from green to dark red.
This index transforms various air pollution levels into a single number for a simple
description of air quality to citizens.
The AQI will prompt the local authorities to take quick action to improve air quality
and is aimed at attracting peoples participation in the process.
Comment:
Air pollution has been a matter of environmental and health concerns particularly
in urban areas. Central Pollution Control Board along with State Pollution Control
Boards has been operating National Air Monitoring Program (NAMP) covering 240
cities of the country.
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Traditionally, air quality status was reported through voluminous data. Thus, it was
important that information on air quality is put up in public domain in simple linguistic
terms that is easily understood by a common person through AQI.
Union Government approved reforms in Monetary Policy

Framework
Union Finance Minister on 12 October 2014 gave the green signal for the much
awaited reforms in the monetary policy framework.
As per the new reforms, Union Government will specify the inflation targets for the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to achieve. The RBI will set inflation as its top priority in
its policy statements.
The decision is in contrary to the recommendation of an Urjit Patel Committee. Urjit
patel committee was formed by RBI in 2013 to examine monetary policy.
The committee had recommended that the monetary policy decision-making should
be vested with a monetary policy committee, chaired by the RBI Governor.
Present Status
Until now, the RBI has the sole power to regulate the monetary policy. RBI governor
regulate the monetary policy with the help of deputy Governors of RBI.
Other recommendations of Urjit Patel Committee

Other recommendations were that the central Bank adopts the new Consumer Price
Index (CPI) as the measure of the nominal anchor for monetary policy. And that the
RBI set the target CPI inflation level at 4 per cent (+/- 2 per cent) to be achieved
through its monetary policy tools.
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Inflation target
Inflation targeting is an economic policy in which a central bank estimates and makes
public a projected, or target inflation rate and then attempts to steer actual inflation
towards the target through the use of interest rate changes and other monetary tools.
Because interest rates and the inflation rate tend to be directly related, the likely
moves of the central bank to raise or lower interest rates become more transparent
under the policy of inflation targeting.
World Approach
The world was rethinking if inflation targeting should be the gold standard for monetary
policy makers. The European Central Bank, for instance, follows eclectic monetary
policy approach where growth and other macroeconomic goals are also objectives.
In several countries, a similar structure is already in place, where a monetary policy
panel fixes rates. The move to change the structure comes amid debate over RBIs
powers in the future and the primacy it enjoys among financial sector regulators.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on 16 October 2014 successfully launched
third navigation satellite Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) 1C.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C26 injected IRNSS 1C into the designated
orbit from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This
was the 27th consecutive successful flight of PSLV.
Initially, the satellite was injected into a sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit with a
282.56 km perigee (nearest point to Earth) and 20670 km apogee (farthest point from
Earth). Later, it was lifted to a geo-stationary orbit.
IRNSS 1C is the third member of the seven satellite constellation of the IRNSS. The
first two satellites in the series were IRNSS 1A and IRNSS 1B.
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The fourth navigational satellite of the IRNSS segment will be launched in December
2014 and the project will be fully operational in 2015.
About IRNSS 1C
The satellite IRNSS 1C is similar in composition to its predecessors 1A and 1B. It
carries navigation and ranging payloads.
It will play a vital role in the IRNSS operations right from guiding drivers on city roads
to aerial navigation, disaster management, mapping and surveillance activities.
IRNSS 1C is designed to provide accurate position information service to users
in the country as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary
which is its primary service area.
The IRNSS 1C will be utilized for two services- Standard Positioning Service (SPS)
extended to all users and Restricted Service (RS) which will be encrypted.
The IRNSS 1C carried two types of payloads, one for transmitting navigation
service signals to the users and another consisting of a C-band transponder to
facilitate Cube Retro Reflectors for laser ranging.
Incheon Asian Games 2014

17th Asian Games 2014 was held in Incheon, South Korea from 19 September to 4
October 2014, featuring 439 events in 36 sports. It is officially called XVII Asiad. It is
governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The theme of the 2014 Asian Games
is Meet Asias Future.
The mascot of the Games was three spotted Harbour Seal siblings named Barame,
Chumuro and Vichuon meaning wind, dance and light in Korean language.
The logo of the Games portrayed a huge wing consisting a string of A, the first letter
of Asia, with a shining sun at its upper left, symbolizing the Asian people holding
hands in the sky.
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The Slogan of the Games was Diversity Shines Here that represents and highlights
the significance of Asias wonderful diversity in history, cultures, and religions.
To help English speaking visitors, mobile apps named WAZE and JiHaChul were
provided. Mobile app WAZE was provided to navigate on the routes of Incheon Asian
games 2014 and JiHaChul provided maps of the routes in advance respectively.
Next Asian Games will be hosted by the Singapore in 2018.
Ranks of countries in the Incheon Asian Games 2014

Rank Country
Gold
Silver
Bronze Total
China
151
108
83
342
South Korea
79
71
84
234
Japan
47
76
77
200
Kazakhstan
28
23
33
84
Iran
21
18
18
57
Thailand
12
28
47
North Korea
11
11
14
36
India
11
10
36
57
Chinese Taipei
10
18
23
51
10
Qatar
10
14
Indian contingent in the 17th Asian Games

The Indian contingent for the games consisted of 516 athletes participating in 28
sports. The flag bearer of Indian side during the opening ceremony of the games was
Sardar Singh, the captain of Mens Hockey team of India.
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Gold Medals for India

Names
Sport
Category
Jitu Rai
Rajat Chauhan
Sandeep Kumar
Abhishek Verma
Saurav Ghosal
Mahesh Mangaonkar
Harinder Pal Sandhu
Kush Kumar
Yogeshwar Dutt
Seema Punia
Sania Mirza
Saketh Myneni
Shooting
Archery
Men's 50 metre pistol

Men's team compound
Squash
Mens team
Wrestling
Athletics
Tennis
Men's freestyle 65 kg
Women's discus throw
Mixed doubles
Mary Kom
Boxing
Womens 51 kg
Mens hockey team
Field hockey
Men
Priyanka Pawar
Athletics
Women's 4 x 400 metres

relay
Womens kabaddi team
Kabaddi
Women
Mens kabaddi team
Kabaddi
Men
Tintu Luka
Mandeep Kaur
M R Poovamma
About Asian Games

The Asian Games also known as Asiad is a Pan-continental multi-sport event. It is
organised every four years and is participated by athletes from all over Asia. The
Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) from the first Games in
New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. But Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) started
organising the games from 1982 Games, after the breakup of the Asian Games
Federation.
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The Games are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and are
described as the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games.
The last edition of the Asian Games, that is 16th Asian Games, were held in Guangzhou,
China from 12 November to 27 November 2010. In the previous edition, China with
total 416 medals (199 Gold, 119 Silver and 98 Bronze) was top ranked. However,
India with 65 medals (14 Gold, 17 Silver and 34 Bronze) stood at the sixth position.
Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai won the Nobel peace

prize 2014
Pakistani child education activist Malala Yousafzai and Indian child rights activist
Kailash Satyarthi on 10 0ctober 2014 won the Nobel Peace Prize 2014. The Nobel
Peace Prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo.
They were awarded for their struggle against the suppression of children and young
people and for the right of all children to education.
The winners were selected from a list of 278 nominees, the highest number of
candidates ever.
Kailash Satyarthi
Kailash Satyarthi is an Indian childrens rights activist born in Vidisha, Madhya
Pradesh. He has been active in the Indian movement against child labour since
the 1990s.
His organization Bachpan Bachao Andolan has freed over 80000 children from
various forms of servitude and helped in successful reintegration, rehabilitation
and education of them.
Kailash Satyarthi, maintaining Mahatma Gandhis tradition, has headed various
forms of protests and demonstrations focusing on the grave exploitation of
children for financial gain. He has also contributed to the development of important
international conventions on childrens rights.
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He has also contributed to the development of important international conventions
on childrens rights.
In 1994, Satyarthi started Goodweave, the first voluntary labelling and certification
system for child labour-free rugs in south Asia.
In 1998, he organised the global march against child labour: more than 7.2 million
people in 103 countries took part in what was the largest campaign on the issue.
The march informed the draft of the International Labour Organisations convention
182, which addresses the worst forms of child labour.
BBA and Satyarthi, who has won a clutch of international development awards
including the US state departments Heroes Acting to End Modern Slavery award
in 2007, also developed Bal Mitra Gram, or child friendly villages.
Malala Yousafzai
At 17, she is the youngest recipient of the prize.
Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani school pupil, education activist who is known for
her activism for right to education for women especially in the Swat Valley where
the local Taliban had at times banned girls from attending school.
In early 2009, at the age of 1112 Yousafzai wrote a blog under a pseudonym for
the BBC detailing her life under Taliban occupation, their attempts to take control
of the valley, and her views on promoting education for girls in the Swat Valley.
Since then, she had been an outspoken advocate for girl education. She was
critically injured on 9 October 2012 when a gunman shot her in the head while
she was riding home on a school bus in the city of Mingora. The Taliban claimed
responsibility for the attack.
She spent three months in a British hospital recovering and now lives in England
with her family. Militants still threaten to kill her if she returns home.
Since then, she has continued to campaign for girls education and has shown by
example that children and young people too can contribute to improving their own
situations.
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Comment:
The decision to give 2014 Nobel Peace Prize to an Indian child activist Kailash
Satyarthi and a Pakistani girl child activist Malal Yousafzai has once again created
the furore that Nobel Peace Prize in recent past has been more about making political
statement rather than recognizing true efforts.
The other few examples in recent past being President Barack Obama, Chinese
dissident Liu Xiaobo and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
As Alfred Nobel, the creator of the Nobel Prizes had said, the Peace Prize be given
to someone who pursued the promotion of peace. which is the lack of war.
It is being argued that, although the efforts of Kailash and Malala are noble and
address the pressing social-economic issues of the day but is hugely political and
ambitious. By sharing the prize between a Pakistani Muslim and an Indian Hindu, the
committee is trying to address deep divisions.
It comes at a time when there have been continuous ceasefire violations by the
Pakistan leading to firing in response by Indian Army along the border areas of Jammu
and Kashmir.
This development was becoming unsettling for the world leaders as they were trying
to get to grips with the steady rise of the extremist group ISIS in Iraq and Syria and
to understand the impact this may have on radical elements elsewhere in the world.
Even though many have criticised the Nobel committee decision as naive, but what
Malala and Satyarthi have been fighting for is indeed very simple. As Wordsworth
wrote, The child is father of the man and as Malala said, Let us not forget that one
book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world.
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Union Government submitted a list of 627 Indians holding black
money abroad to SC
Union Government on 29 October 2014 submitted a list of 627 Indians holding black
money abroad to the Supreme Court (SC). The names were submitted after the SC
harshly rapped the government for providing a protective umbrella to shield the illicit
account holders in foreign bank.
The list submitted by the Union in a sealed cover includes three sets of
documents. These are
First set includes the details of correspondence, treaties and agreements that
India had signed with France and other nations where the illegal money was said
to be stashed
Second set that contains all the 627 names
Third set provides the status report on the probe in these cases
As per the provided list, more than half of people are NRIs and most of them had
accounts with the HSBC bank, Geneva.
The Union government also gave a status report on the investigations against such
account holders.
The SC Directions
The SC bench comprising of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice Ranjana Desai
and Justice Madan B. Lokur asked the SC Registry to send the envelope to the
Special Investigation Team (SIT) and directed that the envelopes should be opened
only by the SIT Chairman, Justice MB Shah and vice-chairman, Justice Arijit Pasayat
to conduct the further investigation.
The SIT has been directed to evolve its own procedure on the kind of probe that is
needed into these accounts and also to evolve the process to get the black money
back.
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The apex court has scheduled the next hearing for 3 December 2014 and asked the
SIT to submit a status report by 30 November 2014 after ascertaining who had black
money accounts abroad.
Union Governments Stand

Rohatgi informed the court that the details of the account holders were for the
year 2006, which was stolen by an HSBC employee from Switzerland. This list was
supplied by the French Government to the Union Government in 2011.
Rohatgi also told the court that most transactions had taken place during 1999 and
2000 and under law, the last date for completion and assessment of all cases was
31 March 2015. Under the Income Tax Act, 1967 prosecution for tax evasion can be
initiated up to 16 years after the offence.
Earlier on 27 October 2014, the Union Government submitted the first list that
contained names of Dabur group director Pradip Burman, bullion trader Pankaj
Lodhiya, Goa-based Timblo Pvt Ltd director Radha Timblo and four of her family
members, who are also directors in the company.
Union Government disclosed names of black money account holders in an

affidavit to SC
The Union Government on 27 October 2014 disclosed names of black money account
holders in an affidavit to Supreme Court (SC). The affidavit was filed after the union
government was attacked by political rivals that it was cautious of revealing names.
These account holders were suspected for stashing black money in foreign banks.
The names revealed by the government were:
Pradip Burman, one of Dabur India promoters
Bullion trader Pankaj Chimanlal Lodhya
Goa-based mining company Timblo Pvt Ltd and its five directors Radha Satish
Timblo, Chetan S Timblo, Rohan S Timblo, Anna C Timblo and Mallika R Timblo
They were charged under various sections of the Income Tax Act and Money Laundering
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Act. These names were received from French authorities and other countries.
The affidavit also includes the names of 18 trusts which merited prosecution under
the Income Tax Act for evasion of tax. Prosecution has been launched in these cases
except in one case where the tax payer has died.
The government will disclose the information received from foreign countries in all
the cases where tax evasion is established. However, it mentioned that all foreign
bank accounts cannot be termed as illegal.
Switzerland to provide information on black money in time-bound manner

Switzerland on 15 October 2014 agreed to examine Indian requests for banking
information on a priority basis and provide requested details in a time-bound manner.
This was revealed in a Swiss-Indian Joint Statement released after high-level meeting
between the Revenue Secretary Shaktikanta Das and his Swiss counterpart State
Secretary for International Financial Matters, Jacques de Watteville in Berne.
Apart from this, the Swiss authorities will also assist India in obtaining confirmation
on genuineness of bank documents on request by the Indian side. It will also swiftly
provide information on requests related to non-banking information.
Beside, the two parties discussed various bilateral and multilateral tax and financial
issues. They also agreed to continue the dialogue between the two countries.
Union MoD cleared the deal worth 8000 crore rupees to buy
anti tank missiles from Israel
Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 25 October 2014 cleared the deal worth 8000
crore rupees to buy anti tank missiles from Israel. The decision was taken at a meeting
of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) which was headed by Defence Minister
Arun Jaitley.
Under the deal, India will buy at least 8000 Spike missiles and more than 300 launchers
in a deal worth 32 billion rupees.
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Twelve Dornier aircraft will also be bought for the navy and 362 infantry combat
vehicles. The council also agreed to go ahead with locally build six submarines in
collaboration with a foreign partner in a project worth 50000 crore rupees.
It also includes acquiring 1768 critical rolling stock - open and closed wagons for
transport of military equipment at a cost of 740 crore rupees.
Under the deal, the union Ministry picks the Spike anti tank missile over the Javelin
missiles of the US.
Reason for rejecting Javelin Missiles

Union Ministry decided against the US offer for three reasons:
First, the extent of Technology Transfer to the Indian counterpart Bharat Dynamic
wasnt clear;
Second, the cost of the Israeli missiles was cheaper than the US missile and
Third, canceling the Israeli deal at the last moment would have sent wrong signals to
the international community.
Spike versus Javelin missiles

Spike is an Israeli man-portable, fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile and antipersonnel missile with a tandem-charged heat warhead. It locks on to targets before
shooting. It is produced by Israels Rafael Advanced Defence Systems.
The Javelin weapons system is built by Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Co.
Javelin was developed and produced for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps by the
Javelin Joint Venture between Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Florida and Raytheon in
Tucson, Arizona.
Other Proposals
The other proposals cleared by the DAC include manufacturing six conventional
submarines worth over 50000 crore rupees. The government aimed at manufacturing
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all six submarines in the time frame of a year.
These submarines will be Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) capable that will enable
them to stay underwater for longer and will have features including stealth and attack
cruise missiles.
Allotment of submarines
A committee will be set up by the DAC to decide on the shipyards that will issue
Request for Proposal (RFP) for these submarines. The committee will study both
public and private shipyards over the next 6-8 weeks. All six submarines will be made
in one shipyard.
The Request for Proposal (RFP) will, however, be open for compliant yards.
Further, the Dornier aircraft will be built by the Bangalore-based defence public sector
unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited at a total cost of 1850 crore rupees. Dorniers are
used for maritime surveillance and the navy has a fleet of 40 of these aircraft.
India is the worlds largest arms buyer. It will invest as much as 250 billion US dollar in
upgrading its Soviet-era military hardware and close the gap on strategic rival China.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on 20 October 2014 declared Nigeria as Ebola
free country.
It was declared Ebola free after no new cases were reported within the 42 day period
stipulated by the WHO for a country to be declared Ebola free. The last reported case
in Nigeria was confirmed on 8 September 2014.
The announcement was made by the WHO representative Rui Gama Vaz in the capital
Abuja.
With this Nigeria became the second country in West Africa to be declared Ebola
free. On 17 October 2014, the UN health agency declared Senegal free of Ebola after
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it passed the 42 day landmark.
According to WHO, the success of Nigeria was attributable to ample funding, quick
action and assistance from the WHO, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the
non-profit Doctors Without Borders.
The nations response to Ebola is being held out as an example to the still-stricken
West African nations, as well to Texas. The virus has claimed the lives of more than
4500 people in West Africa, mainly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. In all, eight
people died out of 20 confirmed cases in Nigerias biggest city, Lagos, and the oil hub
of Port Harcourt, while nearly 900 people were monitored for signs of the disease.
WHO 42-day landmark

According to WHO recommendations, the end of an Ebola virus disease outbreak in
a country can be declared once 42 days have passed and no new cases have been
detected. The 42 days represents twice the maximum incubation period for Ebola (21
days). This 42-day period starts from the last day that any person in the country had
contact with a confirmed or probable Ebola case.
Australia became first developed country to ban travel from Ebola-hit countries
Australia became the first developed country on 28 October 2014 to ban travel from
Ebola-hit countries in the West Africa.
Australias ban on visas for citizens of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea followed
decisions by the U.S. military to quarantine soldiers returning from an Ebola response
mission and some U.S. states to isolate aid workers.
Meanwhile Mali became the sixth West African country to report a case of the disease
after Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Senegal and Nigeria with last two countries have
achieved success in making themselves Ebola-free. They achieved this by tracking
down people who had had contact with those who brought it into their country and
monitoring them for symptoms.
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Criticisms of the Australias move
The move was criticized by the United Nations as such measures could discourage
vital relief work, making it harder to stop the spread of the deadly virus.
Liberias President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf also urged Australia to reconsider its travel
ban and neighbouring Sierra Leone called the Australian move draconian.
Even the World Health Organization said overly restrictive quarantines and travel
bans will put people off volunteering to go to Africa, where relief workers are needed
to help improve a health system to deal with the disease.
US tightened its guidelines for health workers treating patients with Ebola
virus
The United States on 20 October 2104 tightened its guidelines for health workers who
are treating patients with Ebola virus. It termed the guidelines, as new competency
training, a buddy system for donning and doffing personal protective equipment
(PPE), and total coverage of eyes, hair and skin. The guidelines of the protocol were
issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The enhanced guidance is centered on three principles

All healthcare workers undergo rigorous training and are practiced and competent
with PPE, including taking it on and off in a systemic manner
No skin exposure when PPE is worn
All workers are supervised by a trained monitor who watches each worker taking
PPE on and off
These stricter protocols have been built on the guidance of the World Health
Organization. Earlier, the international organization urged health workers to wear
masks but did not require complete coverage of skin.
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First case of Ebola virus diagnosed in US
The United States in last week of September 2014 diagnosed its first case of the
deadly Ebola virus. The person was diagnosed for the disease after being hospitalised
with the symptoms that were confirmed to be caused by Ebola.
As per the US health officials, the person became infected with the deadly Ebola
virus in Liberia and traveled to Texas, US. The patient left Liberia on 19 September
2014. The symptoms of the virus on the patient became apparent on 24 September
2014. He was admitted to hospital in Texas on 28 September 2014 and since then
has been put in isolation.
Ocean Health Index for the year 2014 released

Ocean Health Index (OHI) 2014 was released by the National Centre for Ecological
Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at UC Santa Barbara, Califronia, US on 30 September
2014. The Index, third in the series, was released in partnership with Conservation
International.
As per the OHI 2014, the overall health score of the Oceans of the world stands at
67 out of 100.
The third annual OHI for the first time includes scores for Antarctica and the Southern
Ocean plus the 15 other ocean regions beyond national jurisdiction (high seas areas).
Together with the 220 Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) measured in 2012 and 2013,
the OHI 2014, now measures all of the oceans on planet Earth.
OHI 2014 and High Seas

For the assessment of the Ocean Health of the High Seas, three goals and subgoals were assessed. There are: Fisheries, Iconic Species, and Biodiversity
(measured as the threat of extinction to all assessed Species).
The overall score for global EEZ is 68 in 2014
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The Western Indian Ocean and Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean scored the highest
overall score of 79 and the North-western Pacific Ocean scored the lowest score
of 53
The Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean had a Fisheries score of 81 out of 100, followed
by the Western Indian Ocean with 80, making them the highest-scoring sectors
for fisheries.
At 7, the North-western Pacific Ocean had the lowest Fisheries score because,
among other things, its stocks were farthest from the biomass that provides
maximum sustainable yield.
OHI 2014 and Antarctica & the Southern Ocean

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean region scored 72, however Antarcticas
biodiversity score was 94 out of 100.
The OHI score of eight goals assessed for Antarctica are: Food Production (55),
Natural Products (29), Economies and Livelihoods (83), Tourism and Recreation
(55), Sense of Place (46), Coastal Protection (99), Clean Water (100) and Biodiversity
(94).
The high score for Antarctica on Clean water, Coastal protection and Biodiversity
goals highlight the fact that it is protected by distance from many of the threats
caused by human populations such as chemicals, excessive nutrients, pathogens
and trash.
However, the low Fisheries score of Antarctica highlights the fact that fishing is still
having an impact in this region, despite improved monitoring, successful efforts to
reduce by-catch and new management of krill fisheries.
The report also highlights that many historically overexploited species in Antarctica
are recovering. These are blue whale and Antarctic fur seal, the Southern right
whale, and humpback whale.
However, 38 species in the Antarctica and Southern Ocean are decreasing. These
include iconic species such as Southern bluefin tuna, basking shark, porbeagle,
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Gentoo penguin, and the Tristan, wandering and black-browed albatrosses.
Two of the species found in these Oceans are critically endangered, seven are
endangered, 14 are vulnerable and 15 are near threatened according to the IUCN
Red List.
In terms of Sense of Place, Antarctica scored 46. As proxy measures, this goal
assesses the status of iconic species, which scored 90, and special places, which
only scored 1, because just a tiny percentage of Antarcticas near shore waters
and coastline is protected compared to the target of 30 percent.
In Antarctica, as elsewhere, low scores in Food Provision, Natural Products, Sense
of Place and others point to things to improve so that we can maintain the health
of ocean habitats, wildlife and economic species and still help meet the needs of
our growing human population.
About the Ocean Health Index (OHI)

The Ocean Health Index (OHI) is the first assessment tool that scientifically compares
and combines key elements from all dimensions of the oceans health biological,
physical, economic and social.
The Ocean Health Index was developed with the contributions of more than 65 ocean
experts including the National Centre for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis and the
University of British Columbias Sea Around Us project.
The founding partners of the Index are Conservation International, National
Geographic, and The New England Aquarium. The Founding Presenting Sponsor
of the Ocean Health Index is the Pacific Life Foundation. The founding grant was
provided by Beau and Heather Wrigley.

Worlds first womb-transplant baby was born to a 36-year-old Swedish woman. The
identity of the woman was not disclosed.
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The healthy baby boy was born in August 2014 at the University of Gothenburgs
hospital in Sweden. The baby boy weighing 1.775kgs was born by Caesarean section
at 31 weeks after the mother developed pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy condition.
How it happened?
The woman had to undergo womb transplant as she was suffering from a genetic
condition called Rokitansky syndrome wherein the woman is born without a womb,
although the ovaries are intact.
The replacement womb came from a 61-year-old woman, who was a friend of the
woman. The organ was transplanted in a 10-hour operation in 2013.
The recipient underwent in-vitro fertilisation, in which eggs were harvested from her
ovaries and fertilised using sperm from her partner, and then cryogenically preserved.
A year after the transplant, a single early-stage embryo was inserted into the
transplanted womb. A pregnancy test three weeks later was positive.
The significance of the development

This feat is a boon to women with no uterine. The absence of uterine has been one of
the major causes of infertility. The uterine is absent in women either due to heredity
or due to surgical removal for medical reasons. The development in fact smashes
through the last major barrier of female infertility.
Absolute uterine factor infertility was the only major type of female infertility that was
viewed as untreatable.

Telecom giant SoftBank of Japan on 27 October 2014 pledged to make an investment
of 10 billion US dollars (over 60000 crore rupees) in Indias IT and communications
sector in coming years.
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With this investment, SoftBank looks forward for opportunities in telecom space and
the fast-growing e-commerce sector in India.
The investment proposal was made by SoftBank Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) Masayoshi Son during his meeting with Union Telecom Minister Ravi
Shankar Prasad. During his India visit, Masayoshi Son also met with Prime Minister
Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
Apart from this, SoftBank Group and Snapdeal on 28 October 2014 also announced
definitive agreements under which SoftBank Group will become the largest investor
in Snapdeal, through a total investment of 627 million US dollar.
The Group also announced a definitive agreement with ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
(better known as Ola Cabs) to invest 210 million US dollar in Ola along with existing
investors.
Commentary
Investment proposal from SoftBank is one of the biggest investment commitments
from a Japanese firm after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Japan. As per Son,
the Japan visit of Modi had created a climate of hope and optimism about greater
economic cooperation between the two countries.
About SoftBank
Softbank is one of the major telecom and internet corporations of Japan. It started
out in 1981 as a distributor of computer software. At present, the company has
a market cap of 92 billion US dollar and it is operational in broadband, fixed line
telecom, e-commerce, finance, media and marketing.
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INTERNATIONAL
China overtook US to become the worlds largest economy in
PPP terms
China in October 2014 overtook the US to become the worlds largest economy in
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms. This was revealed by the October 2014 update
of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to IMF estimation, as of October 2014, Chinas GDP in PPP terms stood
at 17.6 trillion US dollars and constituted 16.48 percent of the World GDP.
On the other hand, the US GDP on PPP basis stood at 17.4 trillion US dollars and
constituted 16.28 percent of World GDP.
India stood at the third place in the global economy and its GDP on PPP basis was
7277.279 billion US dollars which is 6.8 percent of world GDP.
Earlier in 2005, China economy was less than half the size of the US economy. Now
the IMF projects that China economy will be 20 percent bigger than that of the US
by 2019.
China remained the biggest foreign holder of the US government debt which has
holding of an estimated 1.27 trillion US dollars of US treasury bonds.

India on 31 October 2014 voted against the provisions of UN draft resolution that
called on all those countries including India that have not joined the Nuclear Non-
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Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to accede to it as non-nuclear weapon states.
India also rejected the provision which stressed on fundamental role of NPT in
achieving nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and urged India, Israel and
Pakistan to accede promptly to NPT as non-nuclear weapon state and place all their
nuclear facility under IAEA safeguards.
However, India abstained from voting on the provision that reiterated the immediate
start of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a treaty banning the
production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.
India also abstained from voting on a provision that would have the Assembly stress
the importance of the universalisation of the IAEA safeguard agreements to include
states which had not yet adopted and implemented such an agreement.
Indias stand
India rejected the provision saying that there is no question of it acceding to the NPT
as a non-nuclear weapon state. It further said that nuclear weapons are an integral
part of national security of India and will remain so, pending nondiscriminatory and
global nuclear disarmament.
India said it remains committed to the goal of complete elimination of nuclear arms
and continued to support a time-bound programme for global, verifiable and nondiscriminatory nuclear disarmament.
Other countries rejecting the provisions of UN draft resolution on NPT

The provision asking the countries to accede to NPT as non-nuclear weapon state
was also rejected by Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea and Israel though the
provision was retained by 164 in favour.
The provision stressing on fundamental role of NPT and universally placing the nuclear
facility under IAEA safeguards was also rejected by Israel, the US and Pakistan though
it was retained by a recorded vote of 163 in favour.
Another provision reiterating the immediate start of negotiations in the Conference
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on Disarmament was retained by a recorded vote of 166 in favour to two against
while India, Iran, Israel, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea abstained.
The UN draft resolution on NPT

The draft resolution titled Towards a nuclear weapon-free world: accelerating the
implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments was presented by the First
Committee of the 193-member UN General Assembly that deals with disarmament
and international security issues.
The draft resolution as a whole was approved by 166 countries and seven countries
Korea, France, India, Israel, Russian Federation, the UK and the US against it.
President of Burkina Faso Blaise Compaore resigned after protestors set ablaze Parliament
President of Burkina Faso Blaise Compaore on 31 October 2014 announced to resign
following violent protests over his attempt to extend his 27-year rule.
As a result, Army Chief of Burkina Faso General Honore Nabere Traore took over as
the head of state of Burkina Faso announced that he will lead the country through a
political transition and elections.
Protestors on 30 October 2014 set ablaze Parliament of Burkina Faso against vote to
allow President another term. Protestors in the capital, Ouagadougou, were calling
for the President Blaise Compaore to resign. President was ruling from last 27 years.
Around 30 people were killed and more than 100 injured in violence. After the violence
of protesters, the army chief Gen Honore Traore proclaimed the emergency in
Ouagadougou. The army chief did not say who would lead the interim administration.
However, it remained unclear who was in charge of the country after an earlier
announcement by the army that it had taken control, dissolved parliament and would
put in place a transitional government.
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After a gap of few hours, Burkina Fasos President Blaise Compaore refused to give
up power but called off a state of emergency imposed after a violent uprising.
Hundreds stormed parliament and other public buildings including the national
television headquarters in the capital Ougadougou, ransacking offices and setting
fire to cars despite a heavy police and army presence.
Background
In the last week of October 2014, lawmakers prepared to vote on legislation that
would allow 63-year-old Compaore - who took power in a 1987 coup - to contest
elections in November 2015. As a result, the chaos erupted.
The lawmakers called off the vote, but not before Burkina Faso plunged into its worst
crisis since a wave of mutinies shook the country in 2011.
Sweden became the first European Union country to recognize

the State of Palestine
Sweden on 30 October 2014 became the first European Union (EU) country to officially
recognise the State of Palestine.
Israel protested against the Sweden decision and the Israeli Foreign Ministry
summoned the Swedish ambassador shortly after the announcement.
130 other nations that already recognise the Palestinian State include Hungary,
Slovakia and Poland although these three countries took this step before joining the
EU. Non-EU member Iceland is the only other western European nation to recognise
the Palestinian State.
Background
Palestinians are seeking to create a state in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and in
Gaza with East Jerusalem as their capital. They also demanded that Israel withdraws
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from occupied Palestinian territories.
With the failure of direct peace negotiations with Israel, Palestinian authorities tried to
approach the international community to recognise Palestinian sovereignty.
In 2012, the UN General Assembly voted to upgrade Palestines status to that of a
non-member observer, giving Palestinian officials access to UN agencies. However,
European Union countries had not given their full recognition of a Palestinian state.

India and Saudi Arabia on 29 October 2014 agreed to cooperate in different areas of
hydrocarbon sector. The areas include strategic reserves, petrochemical conservation,
research and development, refineries and energy efficiency programmes. Saudi
Arabia has assured India of all cooperation on trade and investment in hydrocarbon
sector.
The agreement was reached in bilateral energy consultations held in Riyadh between
India and Saudi Arabia. Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and his
Saudi Arabian counterpart Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Niami represented the two countries in
the consultations.
Indian delegation that visited Riyadh for bilateral consultations comprised of
Dharmendra Pradhan (as head), senior government officials and Chairmen of IOCL,
HPCL and GAIL.
After the consultations, India invited Saudi companies including ARAMCO to
participate and invest in crude oil storage facilities and down-stream industries in
India.
Saudi Arabia figures prominently in Indias energy security as it imports over 20 percent
of its crude oil requirement from it. It is Indias largest supplier of LPG (Butane and
Propane). At present, Saudi Arabia is 4th largest trade partner of India. The bilateral
trade between the two countries has seen a steady growth during 2013-14 (48.75
billion US dollar). In the current financial year 2014-15, the bilateral trade has already
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reached 20.27 billion US dollar (April August 2014).
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami sentenced to death for war crimes
Bangladesh fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami party chief Matiur Rahman Nizami was
on 29 October 2014 sentenced to death by Bangladesh war crimes tribunal for his
role in the killing of thousands of people during the Bangladesh independence war
against Pakistan in 1971.
Nizami was already given death penalty in Chittagong arms haul case in January
2014 when he was then Industries Minister. However, on 29 October 2014, six more
Jamaat leaders along with Nizami were awarded death sentences for crimes against
humanity.
This long-awaited verdict was hailed by scores of political and social-cultural
organisations.
Background
Motiur Rahman Nizami was the President of the then Jamaat student wing Islami
Chhatra Sangha (now Islami Chhatra Shibir) that turned into the infamous auxiliary
force Al Badr of Pakistan army in 1971.
Nizami as the key leader of the Al Badr killing squad, was involved in the torture,
murder, rape and the training given to local Pakistani collaborators who went on to
commit crimes against humanity.
Nizami misinterpreted the Koran Holy Book to encourage his followers to conduct
a massive genocide and atrocities. Nizami was also found guilty of heading the
Gestapo-like attacks largely around 14 December 1971 to eliminate the top Bengali
professionals and intellectuals just two days before Bangladesh won its independence
on 16 December.
The tribunal found that the Jamaat chief was criminally responsible for the execution
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for leading secular intellectuals and conspiracy to commit war crimes.
Moreover, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) framed 16 charges against
Nizami in 2012. He was charged with conspiring with the Pakistani army, planning and
inciting crimes; involvement in murders, rapes, looting and destruction of property
and commissioning internationally recognised wartime crimes in 1971.
The ICT-1 found him guilty in eight out of 16 charges levelled against him. It took
around one-and-a-half years for the completion of the trial.
Deeper integration for peace, prosperity chosen as the theme

for 18th SAARC Summit
Deeper integration for peace and prosperity was chosen as the theme for the
upcoming 18th SAARC Summit to be held in Kathmandu on 30 October 2014. The
Summit is scheduled to be held on 26-27 November 2014 in Nepal.
The theme was finalized on the basis of mutual talks held among the SAARC member
states and suggestions given by an Advisory Committee.
The 17th SAARC Summit was held in Maldives under the theme of Building Bridges.
18th SAARC Summit

The 18th SAARC Summit will issue Kathmandu Declaration with a focus on collective
co-existence, capacity, norms and values and peoples aspirations by making mutual
collaboration successful and strengthening mutual understating and relations.
The Nepal government has already sent a draft of the Kathmandu Declaration to
the SAARC member states through the diplomatic channel. The proposed draft of
the Declaration emphasized the need of curtailing cross-border crimes, terrorism,
extremist activities and religious extremism, the major hurdles for peace, development,
prosperity and democracy.
The draft has prioritized the control of unmanaged urbanization and minimization of
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environmental pollution, impact of climate change and natural disasters. Moreover,
the draft has proposed to employ youths of the region tapping their creativity and to
eradicate illiteracy by 2030.

India on 29 October 2014 was re-elected to United Nations Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC). Indias term at ECOSOC was scheduled to end in 2014.
Apart from India, the other countries which were re-elected are Austria, Burkina Faso,
France, Germany, Greece, Japan and Portugal.
India was re-elected after getting 183 votes, the highest in the Asia Pacific group,
followed by Japan and Pakistan with 181 votes each.
India had competed in the Asia-Pacific group in which four seats were up for election
and it received 162 votes, the highest number in the Asia-Pacific group.
Besides, the General Assembly also elected 10 other members in addition to the
re-elected members. The countries which were elected are Argentina, Austria,
Brazil, Burkina Faso, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Honduras, Japan,
Mauritania, Pakistan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
These 18 countries were elected to replace the 18 outgoing members. They are
Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador,
Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lesotho, Libya, Nigeria
and Portugal. These 18 elected members will serve three-year terms. The term will
begin from 1 January 2015.
Committee for Programme and Coordination

The General Assembly also declared 13 States nominated by the Council, namely
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Iran, Armenia, Belarus,
Ukraine, Brazil, Cuba, Uruguay, Venezuela and Italy.
These members were elected by the UNGA for the Committee for Programme and
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Coordination the main subsidiary organ of the Council and the Assembly for
planning, programming and coordination. Their three - year term of office would
begin on 1 January 2015.
Selection Pattern
The new members were elected according to the following pattern:
Five from African States; three from Asia-Pacific States; one from Eastern European
States; four from Latin American and Caribbean States; and five from Western
European and other States.
The UN Economic and Social Council

The UN Economic and Social Council comprises of 54 member countries. Other
than the newly elected countries, the other countries are Albania, Antigua and
Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo,
Croatia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Italy,
Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Nepal, New Zealand, Panama, Republic
of Korea, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden,
Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom and the United States.

Taiwan on 30 October 2014 banned its government officials from higher studies in
mainland China for national security reasons. The ban is applied on the officials who
have an access to classified information as well as ministers, mayors and country
magistrates. The decision was made in backdrop of strained relations between the
two sides.
As per reports, Taiwan is concerned that confidential information available to highlevel government officials might be leaked in theses and research papers. This ban
was implemented in accordance to the revised regulations in view of national security.
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According to the National Immigration Agency (NIA) the ban applies to senior civil
servants and officials whose work is related to national security, ministers without
portfolio, heads of cities and counties, heads of Taiwans special municipalities,
personnel from the National Security Bureau and the Ministry of National Defense.
It also applies on the Investigation Bureau under the Ministry of Justice that has
no civil servant status, and individuals or private groups who are commissioned to
engage in work regarding national secrets. But this ban doesnt restrict junior civil
servants.
Comment
The relations between the two countries have strayed in previous few years, some
incidents that occurred in 2014 exemplifies the strained relations include
Protests that broke out in Taiwan over a trade deal with China
In March 2014, student protesters occupied the parliament building
In October 2014, Taiwans President Ma Ying-jeou voiced support for Hong Kongs
pro-democracy movement, which angered Chinese officials
Apart from this, Beijing claims Taiwan as a province of China and hopes reunification
of Taiwan with China at some point.
ECI elected as Chair of General Assembly of AAEA for the next

two years
The General Assembly of Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) on 29
October 2014 elected Election Commission of India (ECI) as Chair of the organisation
for the next two years. ECI will host the 2014 General Assembly Meeting of AAEA in
New Delhi.
ECI was represented by V.S. Sampath, Chief Election Commissioner of India and
Election Commissioners H.S. Brahma and Dr. Nasim Zaidi.
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Besides, the General Assembly also elected the Philippines as Vice Chair and
designated it as host for the next General Assembly. Mongolia, Bhutan and S. Korea
(outgoing Chair) were also elected as Executive Members.
The General Assembly also admitted the Russian Federation, Uzbekistan and
Maldives as new members.
About Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA)

India is a founding member of AAEA which was established in 1998. The Organisation
has 20 member-countries.
Besides India, other members are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia,
Indonesia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal,
Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Sri Lanka,
Taiwan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The vision of organisation is to promote and institutionalise open and transparent
elections, independent and impartial election authorities, professionalization of Asian
election authorities, citizen participation in the electoral and civic process, information
sharing, and the development of resources for election-related information and
research.
51 countries signed pact on tax evasion crackdown

Finance ministers and tax chiefs from fifty-one countries signed an agreement on
29 October 2014 to automatically swap tax information beginning in 2017. The
agreement that was reached in Berlin will help the participant countries to share
financial data and boost efforts to crackdown on tax evasion.
The participant countries will begin automatically exchanging data collected by
financial institutions as early as 2017. This agreement was developed by the
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in consultation
with the worlds top 20 countries.
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The countries that signed the agreement include most European Union Nations as
well as traditional tax havens like Liechtenstein, the British Virgin Islands and the
Cayman Islands.
However, United States hasnt signed the deal but said that it will share information
as part of bilateral deals, while India has deferred from signing the agreement.
OECD Secretary General - Angel Gurria
UK and the US ended combat operations in Hemland province

of Afghanistan
United Kingdom (UK) and the US Marines ended combat operations in Hemland
province of Afghanistan on 26 October 2014. As a part of this, UK and US Marines
handed over two adjacent bases to the Afghan military after 13 years of a US-led
invasion launched against the Taliban.
The Bastion Camp of Britain and Leatherneck camp of US are the two camps in the
southwestern province of Helmand that were handed over to 215 Corps of the Afghan
Military. As part of the handing over ceremony, the two Countries troops lowered the
American and British flags for the final time and folded them away.
Now, Afghan National Armys 215th Corps will be headquartered at the 28 sq km
base, leaving almost no foreign military presence in Helmand.
UK announced that North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces in Afghanistan
will be reduced to about 12500 which comprise of mostly trainers and advisers
by January 2015. Among them, Americans will be 9800 and rest from other NATO
members where British will keep a small contingent in Kabul.
UK will also continue to support Afghanistan through institutional development, the
Afghan National Army Officer Academy and development aid to maintain security
and stability in Afghanistan.
The US is leaving behind about 230 million US dollar worth of property and equipment,
which includes a major airstrip at the base, roads and building for the Afghan military.
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The huge joint base built in the desert near the provincial capital Lashkar Gah was
the most important installation for the NATO mission in Afghanistan.
Dilma Rousseff re-elected as Brazil President for second fouryear term

Brazilian incumbent President Dilma Rousseff was re-elected for her second fouryear term on 26 October 2014. She belongs to the center-left Workers Party and her
second term will finish in December 2018.
She was re-elected after she secured 51.45 percent votes in the second round of
voting that was held after no party crossed 50 percent barrier in the first round of
voting held on 5 October 2014.
On the other hand, her rival Aecio Neves of the conservative Brazilian Social
Democracy Party bagged 48.55 percent of the votes.
Besides, the second round of voting also saw her Workers Party forming the
government in Brazil for the fourth year in a row. Workers Party first formed the
government in 2002 with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as the President.
Rousseff who is 66 years old first became President in 2010, thus becoming the first
woman President of Brazil. She is popular among the poor in Brazil because of her
governments welfare policies.
Commentary
This re-election of Dilma Rousseff by the Brazilians is simply a symbol of trust of
people of the country. It means that people of the country wants that the President,
who brought economic growth in the country and elevated tens of millions of Brazilians
out from extreme poverty should enhance conditions of the country by reviving the
economic conditions of the country along with deepened social benefits.
But at the same time, Rousseffs re-election means that Brazils relation with the
United States will not improve, which was hit in recent years due to trade disputes
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and US Governments spying programmes.
Parliament of Australia lifted ban on facial coverings in Public

areas
Parliament of Australia on 19 October 2014 lifted ban on facial coverings including
burqas and niqabs in Public areas.
However, the face coverings would have to be removed temporarily at the front door
so that staff could identify any person who may have been banned from entering
Parliament House or who may be known, or discovered, to be a security risk.
The ban was lifted after Prime Minister Tony Abbott intervened following wide-scale
condemnation of the decision of the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS).
The decision of the DPS was criticised as a segregation of Muslim women and a
potential breach of anti-discrimination laws.
Earlier in the first week of October 2014, DPS had announced that persons with facial
coverings would no longer be allowed in the open public galleries. Instead, they were
to be directed to galleries usually reserved for noisy schoolchildren where they could
sit behind soundproof glass.
The Controversy
The controversy came as the government attempts to assure Australias Muslim
minority that new counterterrorism laws and police raids on terror suspects homes
in recent months were directed at countering criminal activity, not any particular
religion.
The restriction was authorized by Bishop, who has campaigned for a ban on Muslim
head scarves in schools, as well as Senate President Stephen Parry.
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India and Nepal on 21 October 2014 signed a Power Trade Agreement (PTA) that
allows exchange of electricity between the two countries. The agreement opened up
new vistas of cooperation between India and Nepal in power sector.
The agreement aims to enhance the friendly relations and mutual trust between Nepal
and India through increased cooperation in the field of transmission interconnection,
grid connectivity and power trade. It also facilitates governments, public and private
enterprises in planning and construction of interconnection facilities and power trade.
The agreement provides a provision for establishment of a joint working group and a
joint steering committee to promote and facilitate cooperation in the identified areas.
Both the committees will work on

Planning and identification of cross-border interconnections
Selection of transmission technologies
Preparation of detailed project reports (DPRs)
Modes of investment for timely implementation of projects
The joint working group will be headed by joint secretaries of the two countries,
which will meet every six months. It will take up issues pertaining to the existing
cooperation in power sector between India and Nepal. The joint steering committee
headed by secretaries of the two countries will convene once a year.
The agreement also provides a provision to form a bilateral mechanism for
implementing the PTA and it will also facilitate regional power trade in South Asian
region.
In September 2014, Nepal authorities and GMR group of India signed Project
Development Agreement to construct 900 MW Upper Karnali Project in Nepal.
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India on 21 October 2014 was re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council
(UNHRC) for the period of 2015 to 2017. India was re-elected after it received the
highest, 162 votes in the Asia Pacific group in the election that was held in the UN
General Assembly in New York.
India was competing in the Asia-Pacific group in which four seats were up for
election. The other countries competing in the group were Indonesia, Bangladesh,
Qatar, Thailand, Kuwait, Cambodia, Philippines and Bahrain. Out of them, India,
Bangladesh, Qatar and Indonesia made it to the UNHRC.
At present, India is a member of the 47-nation UNHRC and its first term is due to end
on 31 December 2014.
Apart from India, other 14 member states were also elected to the Human Rights
Council for a three-year term of office beginning 1 January 2015, are Albania,
Bangladesh, Bolivia, Botswana, the Congo, El Salvador, Ghana, Indonesia, Latvia,
the Netherlands, Nigeria, Paraguay, Portugal and Qatar.
Pakistan based BGA appealed to IPAB against GI tag of basmati

rice to MP
Pakistan-based Basmati Growers Association (BGA) challenged Geographical
Indication (GI) tag of basmati rice to Madhya Pradesh (MP) in Chennai-based
Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) in second week of October 2014. It has
appealed against the order of the Assistant Registrar of Geographical indications
that gave the basmati rice produced in Madhya Pradesh the coveted tag. MP was
seeking the tag for its Basmati rice since a long time.
In their plea, BGA claimed that basmati is a name for slender, aromatic and long
variety of rice that is grown in the specific geographical area at the foothills of the
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Himalayas in Pakistan. IT also claimed that rice only grown in certain areas of Punjab
in Pakistan, where the rice kernels are grown on conventional rice lands and they
interact with the environment, atmosphere, soil and climate to yield exquisite rice can
be called basmati in the true sense.
Earlier, Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Agency
(APEDA) of India also rejected the MPs claim that basmati rice grown in areas
namely especially Morena, Bhind, Gwalior, Sheopur, Datia, Shivpuri, Guna, Vidisha,
Raisen, Sehore, Hoshangabad, Jabalpur and Narsinghpur deserves the Geographical
Indication tags.
India, China concluded two-day talks on border mechanism

India and China on 18 October 2014 concluded two-day talks on the border
mechanism. This was the sixth meeting of mechanism since its establishment in
2012.
During the two-day talks both the sides discussed ways to prevent incidents like
September 2014 standoff between the armies of two countries in Ladakh from
recurring in future.
During the talks the Chinese incursions in the Demchok and Chumar regions of
Ladakh was also raised by India on a high priority.
Besides, they also reached a consensus on early implementation of several Confidence
Building Measures (CBMs).
The CBMs included inter alia regular interaction between the Army headquarters
and field commands of the two sides; additional border personnel meeting points;
and more telecommunication linkages between forward posts of the two sides at
mutually agreed locations.
The talks were held under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and
Coordination on India-China Border Affairs. The talks focussed on issues pertaining
to the maintenance of peace and tranquility on the border.
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About Working Mechanism for Consultation on India-China Border Affairs

The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border
Affairs was established on 17 January 2012.
The mechanism was mooted by the then Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao
and was finalised at the 15th meeting of the Special Representatives (SR) on the
boundary question National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon and Chinese
State Councillor Dai Bingguo.
It was set up to undertake other tasks that are mutually agreed upon by the two
sides, but it was not to discuss resolution of the Boundary Question or affect the
Special Representatives Mechanism.

Joko Widodo on 20 October 2014 was sworn in as seventh president of Indonesia.
Widodo emerged as the winner with 53 percent of the votes and defeated his rival
Prabowo Subianto, a former general from the era of authoritarian ruler Suharto.
Joko Widodo will serve a five-year term as the Indonesia President along with Jusuf
Kalla, a businessman and onetime vice president under Mr. Yudhoyono.
Both Widodo and Jusuf Kalla were sworn in at the national legislature before local
leaders and visiting foreign dignitaries.
Widodo replaced Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who stepped down after serving a
maximum of 10 years.
South African Tourism launched Gandhi-Inspired Tourist

Attraction project
South African Tourism launched GandhiInspired Tourist Attraction project that
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identifies 13 places that were seminal in Mohandas Karamchand Gandhis time in
South Africa. Under Department of Tourism of South Africa, South African Tourism
launched the project in Johannesburg on 18 October 2014.
Besides, Gandhi webpage http://gandhi.southafrica.net/ was also launched which
gives comprehensive details of Gandhi-related sites across South Africa.
The Gandhi-Inspired Tourist Attractions project makes Mahatmas South Africa
accessible to people who want to understand how South Africa shaped his conscience,
his service to humanity and his great contribution to world history.
The 13 Gandhian sites spread across South Africa that includes

The Old Court House Museum in Durban which contains a historic archive of
Gandhi images.
Pietermaritzburg Station where a statue now stands to mark the spot where
Gandhi was thrown off a train because he was seated in a compartment reserved
for white people only.
Local Vishnu Temple in Ladysmith has a Gandhi statue to commemorate his time
as a volunteer stretcherbearer during the AngloBoer War from 1899 to 1900.
Outside the Hamidia Mosque in Newtown, Johannesburg, a memorial depicts a
symbolic cauldron to record Gandhi leading the burning in 1908 of pass books
that all citizens who were not white were forced to carry at all times.
The home of South Africas new Constitutional Court, built on the site of the
Old Fort Prison in Johannesburg where Gandhi and later Nelson Mandela were
imprisoned and other places.
Egypt signed contracts with six international firms to dredge

new Suez Canal
Egypt on 18 October 2014 signed contracts with six international firms to carry out
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dredging of the new Suez Canal. Construction of the new Suez Canal is the flagship
project under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisis program to revive an economy battered
by years of political turmoil.
The companies are National Marine Dredging Company NMDC.AD of the United
Arab Emirates (UAE), Royal Boskalis Westminster (BOSN.AS) and Van Oord of the
Netherlands; Jan de Nul Group and Deme Group of Belgium and US-based Great
Lakes Dredge and Dock Company (GLDD.O).
The total project would require up to 36 dredgers to remove about 250 million cubic
meters worth of material. However, the financial details of the contracts were not
provided.
New Suez Canal

The new Suez Canal is to be built alongside the existing 145-year-old Suez Canal
which is the fastest shipping route between Europe and Asia. The new canal is
scheduled to be completed by August 2015, a target set by Sisi.
The new 72-km waterway project includes 35 km of dry digging and 37 km of
expansion and deepening of the current canal with a total cost of more than 8 billion
US dollars.
The national project also includes the digging of six new tunnels underneath the New
Suez Canal that will be constructed simultaneously.
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Yuko Obuchi

resigned
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Yuko Obuchi on 20 October 2014
resigned from her position following the allegations that her support groups misused
political funds.
Yuko Obuchi was one of five women appointed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe in a cabinet reshuffle in September 2014.
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Being the head of the powerful Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI),
Obuchi was tasked to work on Abes unpopular plan to restart nuclear reactors that
were shut down after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. However, the controversy could
hamper this plan to reboot reactors.
Background
Media reports of Obuchis funding irregularities came on 16 October 2014. On 18
October 2014, it was reported that two Obuchi political groups spent 43 million yen
on annual theatre events between 2009 and 2011 and kept no record of spending on
the 2012 event.
An examination of records had uncovered questionable outlays for the theatre events.
However, it would be a violation of the law if her political groups made additional
payments.

Nigeria on 17 October 2014 sealed a deal with the militant group Boko Haram to free
the girls.
The Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria Alex Badeh announced the truce. However,
Boko Haram has not made any public statement.
The deal was signed at the close of a three-day security meeting between Nigeria and
Cameroon. The arrangements for the release of girls would be finalised at another
meeting next week in Chads capital, Ndjamena.
Background
In May 2014, Boko Haram sparked global outrage by abducting more than 200
schoolgirls. The girls were seized in the north-eastern town of Chibok in Borno state,
and their continued captivity has led to criticism of the Nigerian governments efforts
to secure their release.
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The group has been fighting an insurgency since 2009, with some 2000 civilians
reportedly killed in 2014.
In July 2014, Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad and Niger agreed to form a 2800 strong
regional force to tackle Boko Haram militants.
About Boko Haram Group

The group promotes a version of Islam which makes it haram, or forbidden, for
Muslims to take part in any political or social activity associated with Western society.
It frequently attacks schools and colleges, which it sees as a symbol of Western
culture.
Human Rights Watch has reported that 2053 civilian were killed in the first half of
2014, while Amnesty International estimated that 4000 people were killed in violence
including Nigerian military operations - in the first seven months of 2014.
Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela elected

as non-permanent members of UNSC
Venezuela, Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand and Spain on 16 October 2014 were
elected as non-permanent members of United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
They were elected after member states voted in support of these five nations after
three rounds of voting. All these five new members received over two-thirds of the
votes cast in a secret ballot.
The new members of the Security Council will begin their two-year appointment on 1
January 2015 and will serve on the Council until 31 December 2016.
These nations will join five other non-permanent members, namely Chad, Chile,
Jordan, Lithuania and Nigeria.
On the other hand, Argentina, Luxembourg, South Korea, Australia and Rwanda will
step down from their seats on 31 December 2014 to make way for the newly-elected
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members.
Angola Malaysia, Venezuela and New Zealand were elected in the first round of voting
whereas Spain was elected after two rounds of restricted balloting to.
Spain and New Zealand were elected from the Western European and Other States
Group.
Venezuela was elected unopposed from the Latin America and Caribbean seat
whereas Malaysia and Angola were also elected unopposed from the Asian and
African seat.
The five overall seats available for election in 2014 were distributed regionally and they were:
One seat for the African Group (currently held by Rwanda)
One seat for the Group of Asia- Pacific Group (currently held by the Republic of
Korea)
One seat for the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, (currently held
by Argentina)
Two seats for the Western European and Others Group (currently held by Australia
and Luxembourg)
Lithuania will maintain for another year, the seat for the Eastern European Group
The five permanent Council members, which each wield the power of veto, are China,
France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
India pledged 4 million dollar aid for Gaza reconstruction

India on 12 October 2014 pledged 4 million US dollar aid for reconstruction of Gaza
Strip that was destroyed during the Palestine and Israel conflict which started in June
2014. The decision was announced by Sandeep Kumar, Joint Secretary of West Asia
and North Africa, Ministry of External Affairs of India.
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The decision was a part of National Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan for
Gaza presented by the Palestinian Authority at Cairo International conference. The
Conference was co-organised by Egypt and Norway.
Besides, India also committed to assist Palestine under the India-Brazil-South Africa
(IBSA) Fund in Palestine.
As part of the Plan, global donors pledged an aid of 5.4 billion US dollar to rebuild
Gaza Strip. Aid announced by other countries for reconstruction of Gaza strip during
the conference is as follows
United States - 212 million US dollar
European Union - 450 million euros
Turkey - 200 million US dollar
Qatar - 1 billion US dollar
Palestinian government will carry out the reconstruction plan with full responsibility
and transparency in coordination with the UN, the donors, international financial
institutions, civil society and the private sector.
Background
The recent conflict between Israel and Gaza-based militant groups including Hamas
killed many Palestinians & Israelis. The fight that started in June 2014 also destroyed
the Gaza strip. The conflict was stopped after Egypt negotiated a ceasefire deal
between the two parties.
India-Norway signed 13 agreements to promote bilateral

relations
India and Norway on 14 October 2014 signed 13 agreements to promote bilateral
relations. These include agreement between Defence sector of two countries and an
agreement on exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official
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passports.
The agreements were signed in Oslo in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee
and Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg.
President Mukherjee was on a three day, from 12 to 14 October 2014, visit to the
Scandinavian nation, Norway on the invitation of King Harald V. Mukherjee is the first
Indian head to pay an official visit to Norway.
Following are the list of Agreements signed

Agreement on exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official
passports to promote bilateral relations
MoU to promote cultural co-operation and exchanges between the two nations
MoU in the field of Earth System Sciences to allow exchange of scientific resources,
personnel and technical knowledge to support the improvement and development
of progress in Earth Sciences and services.
Three MoU signed by IIT Kanpur with NTNU, University of Oslo and NILU to promote
mobility of students and faculty/staff, joint research activities and publications,
exchange of academic materials and special short-term academic programs.
Two MoU signed by IISER, Thiruvananthapuram with SINTEF Materials and
Chemistry and Institute of Energy Technology to enhance relations between the
two institutions and to develop academic and cultural interchange in the areas
of education, research and other activities and to cooperate and work towards
internationalization of higher education.
Three MoU signed by University of Hyderabad with University of Oslo, NTNU
and University of Bergen to enhance relations between the two Universities and
develop academic and cultural interchange
Statement of Intent (SoI) in Defence sector with an aim to explore opportunities
for cooperation in research and development programs in the field of defence
research
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MoU to support promotion and extension of cooperation in Scientific Research
and Technology Development in the fields of mutual interest of both sides
MoU to establish a health research relationship for encouraging research in a range
of health-related areas of mutual interest, including human vaccines, infectious
diseases and antimicrobial resistance
MoU between Indira Gandhi National Tribal University and University of Agder to
enhance the two universities to develop academic especially computer education
co -operation to develop a boundary less education system
British House of Commons passed symbolic motion to recognise

Palestinian state
British lawmakers on 13 October 2014 voted in favour to recognise Palestine as an
official state. The vote saw 274 MPs in support of the motion, while 12 voted against.
This move of the lawmakers would not alter the government policy but carries
symbolic value as Palestinians pursue international recognition.
The non-binding motion that was passed in Britains lower house (House of Commons)
by 274 votes reads - this House believes that the Government should recognise
the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a
negotiated two-state solution.
Although the motion was passed with an overwhelming majority but does not signify
an official change in Britains position regarding the conflict between Israelis and
Palestinians.
The government may not officially recognize Palestine as a state, but says that it
can change that position if it feels doing so would be constructive step to the peace
process.
The vote was closely watched by Palestinians and Israelis seeking to gauge the
readiness of European countries to act on Palestinian hopes for unilateral recognition
by United Nations member states.
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Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza, with its capital
in East Jerusalem.
Background
The debate on Palestinian statehood was first hosted by the House of Commons since
2012, after an online petition calling for the motion gathered over 100000 signatures.
Earlier in October 2014, the Swedish Parliament became the first EU country to vote
in favour of recognising a Palestinian state.
The UN General Assembly in 2012 approved the de facto recognition of Palestine as
a state but the United States, the European Union and most EU countries, including
Britain, have yet not approved unilateral independence of Palestine.
Turkey to allow US led coalition to use its Incirlik Air Base to

fight against ISIS
Turkey on 12 October 2014 allowed US led coalition to use its Incirlik Air Base to fight
against Islamic State (ISIS).
It further allowed to use its territory as part of a training program for Syrian opposition
fighters.
US stand
Defence Secretary said that the use of Incirlik for Syria Missions was one of the key
U.S. requests. U.S. officials confirmed that it will take several months to vet up to
5000 opposition fighters, and up to an additional eight months for the training to be
completed.
Turkey has joined Saudi Arabia in agreeing to the training program. Their facilities
inside of Turkey can be used by the coalition forces to engage in activities inside of
Iraq and Syria.
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Turkey stand
Turkey had been reluctant to sign on to the coalition against the Islamic State, which
it believed has diverted attention from the effort to oust Syrian President Bashar alAssad. Its government has long been critical of delays in the U.S. training program.
Turkey shares a border with Syria and Iraq, but has so far ruled out any ground
operation of its own.
About Incirlik Air Base

Incirlik is a U.S.-built facility about 35 miles inland from the eastern edge of the
Mediterranean Sea, near Turkeys border with Syria. Incirlik is a joint facility where
both the Turkish and U.S. air forces operate.

Indian Embassy in Kuwait on 12 October 2014 simplified the visa procedure for
Kuwaiti nationals as well as for emigrants living in Kuwait.
The aim behind the decision is to enhance travel to India for business, tourism,
medical treatment and study purposes.
The Embassy will continue to accept visa applications directly in cases of emergency
and for all diplomats or Special Passport holders.
The Embassy has already been issuing five-year and one-year business visa (multiple
entry), one-year medical visa (multiple entry) and six-month tourist visas (multiple
entry) for Kuwaiti nationals and expatriates resident in Kuwait so that they can visit
India for business, tourism, medical treatment as per their convenience.
It issued 10000 visas in 2014 against 7600 visas issued during the same period in
2013 registering a jump of 30 percent.
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Kuwait-India relations
India and Kuwait enjoy traditionally friendly relations which are rooted in shared
history and have stood the test of time. Geographic proximity, historical trade links,
cultural affinities and presence of a large number of Indian expatriates continue to
sustain and nurture this long standing relationship.
India has been a natural trading partner and a destination for higher learning. Until
1961, the Indian Rupee was the legal tender in Kuwait.
Major items exported from India to Kuwait cover a broad range including food items,
cereals, textiles, garments, electrical and engineering equipment, cars, trucks, buses,
tires, chemicals, jewellery, handicrafts, metal products, articles of iron or steel, etc.
Meanwhile, Kuwait has been a reliable and third largest supplier of crude oil to India
after Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
India and UK government launched UK-India Financial

Partnership
India and the UK government launched UK-India Financial Partnership to strengthen
Links Between the Financial Services Industries on 10 October 2014 in New Delhi.
The decision to launch the Partnership was taken by the Union Finance Minister Arun
Jaitley and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne at the seventh UK-India
Economic and Financial Dialogue in New Delhi in July 2014.
The Partnership will strengthen links between the Financial Services industries of
both countries and deepen cooperation between London and Mumbai.
Financial Services industry of the two countries will be represented by Uday Kotak,
Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank and Sir
Gerry Grimstone, Chairman of Standard Life and The City.
Both the industry leaders will summon working groups of professionals to examine
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key areas of common interest and will report the progress.
They will make recommendations to the Minister of Finance of India and the Chancellor
of the Exchequer of UK at the eighth UKIndia Economic and Financial Dialogue,
which will be held in 2015.
The Partnership will initially focus on the following work-streams

Collaboration to develop the corporate bond market
Mutual sharing of expertise on banking regulation and capitalization
Enhancing financial training and qualification
Financial inclusion
Developing programme around the opportunities to improve cross border provision
of financial and insurance services
WB group launched Global Infrastructure Facility in partnership

with institutional investors
World Bank (WB) group on 9 October 2014 launched Global Infrastructure Facility
(GIF) in partnership with private institutional investors. GIF was launched by World
Bank President Jim Yong Kim.
The facility has been launched to ensure that billion of funds are channelized into
the development of infrastructure in emerging countries like India and developing
economies. Besides, the facility would also focus on climate friendly investments as
well as ventures to bolster trade.
As per World Bank estimates, developing countries need 1 trillion US dollar a year in
extra investments through 2020 and with public purses stretched.
As part of the GIF, the heads of some of the worlds largest asset management and
private equity firms, pension and insurance funds, and commercial banks joined
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multilateral development institutions and donor nations to work as partners in a new
Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF).
Some of the partners, as well as prospective partners, signing up to the GIF are
BLACKROCK Alternative Investors, Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec (la
Caisse), Citibank, N.A., HSBC Bank Plc., Islamic Development Bank, Japan Bank for
International Cooperation, Macquarie Group, Ltd and Standard Chartered Bank.
Besides, the World Bank group also planned to work with the proposed Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the New Development Bank (NDB) and Asian
Development Bank (ADB) to boost investment in bankable infrastructure projects in
the emerging and developing economies.
AIIB is proposed by China with a registered capital of around 100 billion US dollars.
China also is keen that India participates in AIIBs founding. The NDB (or BRICS
Development Bank being set up by BRICS countries including India) also is aimed
at helping emerging and developing countries effectively finance infrastructure and
sustainable development projects.
Infrastructure needs of India

The Government of India under its 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) projected that
development of infrastructure in the Indian economy would require one trillion US
dollar investment. However, the Deepak Parekh committee had trimmed the 12th
Plan Period infrastructure investment projections by around 40% to 30.90 lakh crore
rupees. The projections were reduced following waning interest to invest in these
projects due to several problems in public-private partnership projects.
US Department of Defence approved two technology transfer

licenses to India
The US Department of Defence, Pentagon, approved two previously-stalled
technology transfer licences to India on 9 October 2014.
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The Pentagon also allocated 20 million US Dollars for strategic cooperative science
and technology projects with India.
The announcement was made during the annual gala of the US-India Business Council
(USIBC) held in Washington by Frank Kendall who is Pentagons point person for the
India-US Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI).
However, Frank Kendall did not give details about the two licenses approved by the
US.
Other Decisions taken

Kendall and his Indian counterpart Mohan Kumar of DTTI agreed to establish a
written framework for DTTI.
India will now work to finalise approval of the renewal of the Research, Development,
Test And Evaluation Memorandum of Agreement (RDT&E MoU).
They have also agreed to continue efforts to identify specific co-development and
co-production opportunities.
The acting assistant secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering of US
Al Shaffer will continue to work with scientific adviser to the defense ministry to
develop specific science and technology projects.
China to Launch New Marine Surveillance Satellites HY-3 by

2019
China on 8 October 2014 announced that it will launch a new constellation of marine
surveillance satellites by 2019.
The satellites will monitor ships, oil rigs and marine disasters. It aimed to amidst a
string of raging maritime disputes with its neighbours.
Features of the satellite

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The HY-3 constellation will include a series of satellites that employ synthetic aperture
radar technology. The technology will be capable of operating day or night and in all
weather conditions.
The satellites will be able to see and monitor meter-long objects from space and
generate high-definition imagery of both land and ocean surfaces.
The satellites would be used to monitor ships and drilling platforms, in addition to
marine oil spills, sea ice, ocean waves and surface winds among other features.
Maritime dispute in South China Sea

China is grappling to deal with maritime disputes in South and East China seas
involving a host of countries.
While Vietnam, Phlippines, Malaysia and Brunei are contesting Chinas claim over all
of South China Sea, it is also involved in a major maritime row in East China Sea with
Japan over the disputed islands.
China also completed a runway for military aircrafts on a disputed South China Sea
island claimed by Vietnam.
Moreover, China also announced plans to build an earth observation system that
integrates use of air, space and ground based technology, including drones, satellites
and GPS systems in the next ten years.
World Bank released South Asia Economic Focus report

World Bank on 6 October 2014 released South Asia Economic Focus report. According
to the report, the regions economy will expand by 6 percent in 2015 and by 6.4
percent in 2016 as compared to 5.4 percent in 2014, potentially making it the second
fastest growing region in the world after East Asia and the Pacific.
Highlights of the report

South Asias economy will expand by a real 6 percent in 2015 and by 6.4 percent
in 2016 compared to 5.4 percent in 2014. The increase of economy is potentially
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making it the second fastest growing region in the world after East Asia and the
Pacific.
The outlook for South Asia over the next years indicates broad economic stability
and a pick-up in growth with potential risks concentrated on the fiscal and structural
reform side.
But the Future growth will increasingly depend on strong investment and export
performance.
Global recovery remains below expectations and has proven uneven in the across
major economies like US and Euro Zone.
Monetary tightening in an increasingly dynamic US and potential deflation in a
weak Euro zone constitute sources of risk for developing and emerging market
economies alike. However, bigger effects on the fortunes of the region could come
from domestic developments.
Political turmoil and non-sustainable fiscal policies could undermine stability and
investor confidence in South Asia whereas sound macroeconomic policies and
economic reforms could spur faster growth.
Exports in the South Asia region have recently shown a strong export performance
which is growing in the double digits in most of the countries.
Sales abroad were boosted by favorable tailwinds, such as the depreciation of the
Indian rupee in 2013; there are also deeper trends at play.
Export diversification by type of product increased, as did the share of emerging
markets in total exports. These are manifestations of an increasingly stronger
position of the region in global markets.
South Asia has an opportunity to become the manufacturing hub of the world
since East Asian labour costs increased but achieving this will require boosting
competitiveness.
Other countries in South Asia are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives,
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
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Pakistans economic growth is forecast at 4.4 percent in FY2015 after 4.1 percent
in 2014. Recent political turmoil of Pakistan had damaged investor confidence
and thereby weakened growth prospects.
Bangladesh is forecast to grow by 6.2 percent in 2015 and an estimated 6.1
percent in 2014.
Sri Lanka is expected to continue its strong growth at 8.2 percent in 2015 rising
from 7.8 percent in 2014.
Afghanistan is on a more fragile path, dominated by security and political concerns,
after having grown by a modest 1.5 percent in 2013.
About India
The report claims that the Indian economy will comprise 80 percent of the regions
output, which is set to grow by 6.4 percent in fiscal year (FY) 2015-16 after 5.6
percent in FY 2014-15.
According to report, India is benefiting from a Modi dividend as the economic
activity kept floating by expectations from the newly elected government of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
Recovery of US economy will provide a market for Indian merchandise and service
exports. Private investment is expected to pick up, and declining oil prices should
boost private sector competitiveness.
But economic reforms will be needed for India to achieve its full long-term growth
potential.

The Mauritian parliament was dissolved on 6 October 2014 to pave the way for
elections that could lead to changes in the countrys constitution. The parliament
was dissolved as the ruling Labour party wants to split powers between the president
(now a largely ceremonial position) and the Prime Minister and this split requires
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certain changes in the Constitution.
The National Assembly in a statement said that Mauritian President Kailash Purryag
has proclaimed and declared that parliament has been dissolved.
The agreement sets down a deal that whoever wins will submit a bill to amend the
constitution to provide for the direct election of the president. Currently the president
is elected by parliament
Now Mauritius has up to six months to hold elections, but several political leaders
have suggested that polls will be held earlier. This dissolution follows an election
agreement between the Labour Party of Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam
and the key opposition Movement Militant Mauritian party (MMM).

US Supreme Court allowed gay marriages in five more states and declined to hear
appeal against the decision. The decision was given on 6 October 2014.
The five states involved in the decision are Virginia, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin and
Indiana. With the decision, the court left intact lower-court rulings that struck down
bans in those states.
Now, the total number of states with gay marriage is likely to jump from 19 to 30.
Conservative protesters appealed in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on 6 October
2014 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court announced that it will not hear the five
pending same-sex marriage cases, paving the way for gay and lesbian marriage in
11 more states.
The other states would be North Carolina, West Virginia, South Carolina, Wyoming,
Kansas and Colorado.
The issue could still return to the court, but the message sent by the court in declining
to hear the matter would be a boost to gay marriage advocates involved in similar
litigation in states that still have bans on the books.
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Background
Just over a year ago, the justices ruled 5-4 in June 2013 to strike down a key part of
a federal law that had restricted the definition of marriage to heterosexual couples for
the purpose of federal government benefits.
That decision in the case U.S. v. Windsor led to a series of court rulings favoring
gay marriage in numerous states. In a separate case decided on the same day, the
justices sidestepped the broader question of whether state bans violated the U.S.
Constitution but allowed gay marriage to move forward in California.
The momentum within Americas courts in favor of gay marriage reflects a sea-change
in public opinion in the past decade, with polls showing a steady increase in support.
Politicians, mostly Democrats but also some notable Republicans, have increasingly
voiced their support for ending bans.
It was only as recently as 2004 that Massachusetts became the first state to allow
gay marriage following a state court ruling in the 2003.
In 17 other states, judges have issued rulings in favor of gay marriage - most of which
struck down bans - although the prohibitions have remained intact while litigation
continues.

Britain and Ireland on 6 October 2014 inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
on new joint Visa cooperation. The agreement was signed at the Irish Embassy
in London by UK home secretary Theresa May and Irish Justice Minister Frances
Fitzgerald.
According to the MoU that was ratified by the British and Irish governments, the nonEuropean travelers to these nations will be provided with a common short-stay visa.
With this short-stay visa, travelers from outside the European Union will be allowed
to move freely between the two jurisdictions on a single permit.
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This visa deal will help the two countries in sharing data and exchange information to
inform and determine immigration decisions, which will also ease the visitors of the
two nations
India and China will be the first two non-EU countries that will be benefited from the
new regime. The British-Irish Visa Scheme would start in China by the end of October
2014 and in India soon afterwards.
Comment: It seems that the facility of single permit for visit to two nations would help
them in attracting travelers. The facility would attract travelers because it facilitates
the travelers to travel freely in the borders of the two countries without any hassle.

Pakistan recorded the highest number of polio cases in 14 years. This was revealed
by the data of polio cases released by the National Institute of Health of Pakistan on
3 October 2014.
The data revealed that polio cases in 2014 reached 202 which was the highest in 14
years. The previous highest was recorded in 2000 when it reached 199 polio cases.
One of the prime reasons for the increase in the polio cases in 2014 was cited as the
rise on attacks on immunisation teams.
Militants attack immunization teams

Most of the infections are in the north-western tribal region where militants have
targeted health teams. Militants there accuse doctors of being spies and say the
vaccinations are part of a Western plot to sterilise Muslims.
Since December 2012, about 60 people, including health workers and police providing
security to medical teams, have been killed by Taliban militants targeting polio teams.
Suspicions over the programmes worsened after the US was accused of using a fake
vaccination programme during its tracking of Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden in
Pakistan in 2011.
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Other than Afghanistan and Nigeria, Pakistan is one of three countries where polio is
still endemic. The country has failed to curb the disease despite massive investment
on immunisation programmes by the international community.
Earlier in 2014, the World Health Organization imposed travel restrictions on the
country meaning all Pakistanis must now carry proof of vaccination before travelling
abroad.
US partially lifted 40 year ban on arm sales to Vietnam to boost

defence in South China Sea
The US on 3 October 2014 announced to lift 40 years long ban on arms sales to
Vietnam to boost sea defence in the South China Sea.
The decision to lift the ban partially was taken after the meeting between U.S.
Secretary of State John Kerry and Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh
in Washington. Minh who is also the foreign minister of Vietnam was on a visit to the
US.
The ban on arm sales was lifted partially and applied only to supply of lethal and nonlethal weapons for maritime security purposes. A prohibition on sales of other kinds
of lethal weapons like tanks would stay in place. The ban was put in place after the
end of Vietnam War in 1975.
The decision was taken after Vietnam showed positive improvements in the area
of human rights record and a full lift of ban may take place if Vietnam would make
additional progress in this area.
With this, Vietnam will be able to improve its maritime domain awareness and maritime
security capabilities. Besides, it would make it possible for Vietnam to receive patrol
boats equipped with defensive capabilities to conduct maritime security activities.
Comment
The lifting of ban partially comes amidst the heightened tensions in the South China
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Sea region. The move would certainly anger China who has been involved in dispute
with countries surrounding the South China Sea.
However, it would certainly make Malaysia and the countries in the region will be
happy to see Vietnam enhance its capabilities. Although the US has not taken sides
in the territorial disputes, it has warned Beijing against destabilising actions amid a
series of tense incidents.
South China Sea that witnesses about 40 percent of maritime trade is claimed in part
by Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia as well as China and The Philippines.
Further the decision would lift the relationship between the US and Vietnam
psychologically. Having that embargo was the thorn in the side of those pushing for
closer ties.
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NATIONAL
Union Government decided to include LoP in the Lokpal Selection
Panel
Union Government on 30 October 2014 announced to amend the Lokpal and
Lokayuktas Act, 2013 and to include the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lokpal
Selection Panel.
The bill relating to this will be introduced in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.
The bill will amend Section 4(1)(c) of the Lokpal Act.
It will seek to add an explanation to the section, stating that where no LoP in the
House of the People has been recognized, the leader of the single largest party in the
Opposition can be represented on the selection panel.
The decision to include opposition in appointment of Lokpal, even as there is no
recognized Leader of Opposition in the House of the People, is in sync with similar
provisions in the Central Vigilance Act, 2003 and Right to Information Act, 2005.
Provisions under the CVC Act and RTI Act

Under the two Acts, the appointments of Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC)
and Vigilance Commissioners and that of Central Information Commissioner (CIC)
and Information Commissioners must be made on the recommendation of a highpowered committee, of which the LoP in Lok Sabha is a part.
However, an explanation to the provisions dealing with composition of this highpowered committee - Section 4(1) in the CVC Act and Section 12(3) in the RTI Act
states that where no leader of the opposition has been recognized, the leader of
the single largest opposition party may be deemed as LOP.
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Earlier in August 2014, the Supreme Court while responding to a petition expressed
concern about the absence of a Leader of Opposition from the Lokpal Selection
Panel as opposition conveys a voice different from the government and was therefore
crucial.

Supreme Court of India on 30 October 2014 observed that a minority government
can be formed in Delhi with outside support of a political outfit.
Apart from this, the apex court also termed Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jungs
move to talk with all political parties on forming a government in Delhi, as positive. It
transferred the hearing a plea from the Aam Aadmi Party on dissolving the assembly
and holding fresh polls in Delhi to 11 November 2014.
The observation was made by five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice
HL Dattu and comprised Justice J Chelameswar, Justice A K Sikri, Justice R K
Agrawal and Justice Arun Mishra.
Background
L-G Najeeb Jung, called the BJP, Congress and AAP to discuss any possibility of
forming a government in the national capital, in view of the Presidents approval to
explore the possibility of installing a popular government in Delhi.
L-G took the step of beginning consultations with political parties a day after the
five-judge bench of SC slammed the Union Government and L-G for delay in taking
a decision on government formation in Delhi.
The Delhi Assembly has been under suspended animation and is under Presidents
Rule since the AAP government led by Arvind Kejriwal quit in February 2014.
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Government announced 5 lakh rupees compensation to kin of
1984 Sikh riots victims
Union Government on 30 October 2014 announced compensation of 5 lakh rupees
for kin of victims who were killed during the anti-Sikh riots in 1984.
This compensation to families of the victims of the riots will be other than ex-gratia
payment delivered to them earlier by government or any agencies. This decision of
government will cost 166 crore rupees to the government.
As per records, nearly 3325 people were killed in the communal riots that were
triggered by the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984 by her
body guards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh. Of 3325 killed in the riots, 2733 were
resident of Delhi while others belonged to Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra and other states.
The order was passed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The decision was
taken after a high-level meeting where issue of compensation to civilian victims of
communal, terrorist or Naxal violence was discussed.
Apart from this, the government during the meeting also enhanced the compensation
to civilian victims of communal, terrorist or Naxal violence from 3 lakh rupees to five
lakh rupees.
Till date as per provisions of the Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of
Terrorist, Communal, Naxal violence since 2008, the next kin of persons, who were
killed or civilians who suffered permanent incapacitation as a result of such violence
were paid 3 lakh rupees as compensation.
Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched Vanbandhu Kalyan

Yojana
Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs on 28 October 2014 launched Vanbandhu Kalyan
Yojana (VKY) for welfare of Tribal people and particularly to lift human development
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indices of tribal people. The scheme was launched during the meeting of the Tribal
Welfare Ministers of States/UTs.
The scheme was launched on pilot basis in one block each of the States of Andhra
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Orissa, Jharkhand,
Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Highlights of the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY)

Under the scheme, Union Government will provide 10 crore rupees for each block
for the development of various facilities for the Tribal people. These blocks have
been selected on the recommendations of the concerned States and have very
low literacy rate.
The scheme mainly focuses on bridging infrastructural gaps and gap in human
development indices between Schedule tribes and other social groups.
VKY also envisages to focus on convergence of different schemes of development
of Central Ministries/Departments and State Governments with outcome oriented
approach.
Initially the blocks having at least 33 percent of tribal population in comparison to
total population of the block will be targeted under the scheme.
Moreover, the Ministry has taken up initiatives for strengthening of existing institutions
meant for delivery of goods and services to tribal people including Integrated Tribal
Development Agencies, Integrated Development Project and creation of new ones
wherever necessary.
The specific funds allocated to the State Governments for this purpose will be utilized
judiciously with a view to build the institutional mechanism more robust by way of
strengthening these institutions.
Other decisions taken during the Meeting

The ministry approved the recognition of the Vishva Bharati, Shanti Niketan as the
other centre of excellence in the field of Tribal language and literature.
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Another proposal to establish a National Research Centre in the Tribal Research
Institute, Bhubaneswar to promote research activities on issues for socio-economic
development and culture of States was also approved by his Ministry.
In order to facilitate infrastructure for provision of quality education to the tribal,
the Ministry sanctioned about 184 Eklavya Modal Residential Schools. These
schools are intended to be equipped with requisite infrastructure and conducive
environment for ensuring delivery of quality education among the tribal.
The Ministry has implemented a scheme to ensure that forest dwellers are not
deprived of their due. Under the scheme maximum selling price for Minor Forest
Produce (MFP) will be implemented in schedule V States initially.
A web based portal was also developed which indicate current price of MFPs on
real time basis across different vegetable markets of the States.
12 MFP products were included in the programme namely Tendu Leave, Bamboo,
Mahuwa Seeds, Sal Leaf, Sal Seed, Lac, Chironjee, Wild Honey, Myrobalan,
Tamarind, Gums (Gum Karaya) and Karanji.
Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced TBMission 2020

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 28 October 2014 announced TBMission 2020 to eliminate Tuberculosis (TB) from India.
The announcement was made at WHOs Global TB Symposium titled Moving out
of the box to end global TB epidemic: with post-2015 strategy while addressing the
45th Union World Conference on Lung Health at Barcelona.
The delegation comprising Indian and South African ministers also chaired the meeting
of technical experts from BRICS countries. Tuberculosis control was also declared
as the dominant agenda for the upcoming meeting of BRICS Health Ministers in
December 2014.
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The ministry emphasized that the solution to lung-related health challenges lie in
bringing together all the stakeholders including the health care professionals, policy
makers and the communities they serve. Under the evolving TB-Mission 2020, the
ministry had instructed Indias anti-TB mission officials to work hard to achieve
considerable success by 2019.
Tuberculosis Control in India

The Union government has already put TB control measures in top gear. India has
gone into intensive mission mode from the traditionally passive approach. This
intensive mission mode invloves local self-government bodies and voluntary sector
activists.
The Standards for TB Care in India which have been developed are not minimum
standards but a composite of the best possible diagnosis strategies using highsensitive tools, universal drug susceptibility testing, quality-assured drugs and
improved regimens.
Moreover, India is also in the process of ensuring free diagnosis and treatment to all
TB patients irrespective of the provider be it government or private hospital. Steps
are already undertaken to ensure that patients are provided with nutrition support
and relevant financial enablers.
The government has already undertaken regulatory steps like banning commercial
serology for TB diagnosis, bringing anti-TB drugs under a separate schedule of the
national law on drugs to prevent misuse and mandatory notification whenever a new
TB case is detected.
Union Government launched Jammu Kashmir Arogya Gram Yojna

Union Government on 18 October 2014 launched Jammu Kashmir Arogya Gram Yojna
Organic Farming scheme in Jammu and Kashmir. The scheme aims to encourage
farmers in J&K to cultivate scientifically tested and commercially beneficial aromatic
and medicinal plants in the state.
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The scheme is a part of the grand plan of the Government to convert the hilly areas
of the country as exclusive zones of high-value organic farm products. The Union
Government will initially spend over 25 crore rupees on this scheme.
About the Scheme

Under the scheme, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), will help the
farmers with expert guidance and provide them saplings of as many as nine varieties
of medicinal and aromatic plants. CSIR is the Research and Development body of
the government.
The plant varieties, selected for J&K, include five different varieties of lemon grass
(Cymbopogon), Rose (Rosa), Mint (Mentha), Ashwagandha (Withaniasomnifera) and
Phalsa fruit plant.
Initially, 1000 villages of Kathua, Jammu and Udhampur in the state will be covered
under the scheme. Similar schemes will be launched in other states, keeping in mind
soil condition, suitable plant varieties and size and type of land holdings.
The institutes involved

Different CSIR institutions like Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Institute
of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology (IHBT), Central Institute of Medicinal and
Aromatic Plants, National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and North Eastern
Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST) will be associated with the implementation
of the scheme, first in Jammu and Kashmir and then in other states.
Union Cabinet approved inter-governmental MoU to upgrade

Chabahar port of Iran
The Union Cabinet on 18 October 2014 approved an inter-governmental Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with Iran to upgrade the Chabahar port Phase-I.
Under the Chabahar port Phase-I project India will set up a Joint Venture (JV)
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Company with an investment of 85.21 million US dollar and operate the port for 10
years, through a leasing agreement.
The Company will equip two fully-constructed berths in Chabahar port within 12
months, one as a container terminal and second as a multi-purpose cargo terminal.
India will transfer ownership of the equipment to be provided through the investment
to Chabahar port and maritime organisation without any payment at the end of the
tenth year of operation and can also form a joint venture company that could include
one or more Iranian companies
About Chabahar port

Chabahar port is located in the Sistan-Baluchistan Province on south-eastern coast
of Iran, which lies outside the Persian Gulf and it is easily accessed from western
coast of India. India can access to Zaranj in Afghanistan which is at a distance of 883
km by using Chahbahar port.

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 18 October 2014
approved the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase-1. The project will cover a length
of 35.96 km at a total project cost of 10773 crore rupees.
Highlights of the Project

The Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase-1will cover two corridors- North-South
Corridor covering 15.42 km from APMC to Motera Stadium and East-West Corridor
covering 20.54 km from Thaltej Gam to Vastral Gam.
Government of India will contribution 1990 crore rupees for the project in the form
of equity and subordinate debt.
Project will be implemented by Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar and
Ahmedabad (MEGA) Company Ltd which will be converted into a 50:50 jointly
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owned company of the Government of India and Government of Gujarat.
Project will be covered under the legal framework of the Metro Railways (Construction
of Works) Act, 1978, the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002,
and the Railways Act, 1989.
The proposed two alignments are expected to provide much needed connectivity
to the commuters and will cross through some of the densest and traffic congested
areas of Ahmedabad.
It will considerably reduce traffic congestion and will bring in fast, comfortable,
safe, pollution-free and affordable mass transportation system for the people of
Ahmedabad. The Ahmedabad Metropolitan Area which has a population of 6.3 million
will be benefitted from this project.
Background
Ahmedabad is the seventh largest metropolis in India and accounts for 12 percent of
the population of Gujarat. The region has witnessed a growth rate of 2.25 percent
over the last decade.
As per the population forecasts, about 70 percent of the population will be residing in
the Ahmedabad Metropolitan Corporation (AMC) area in the future. Bus augmentation
will not be able to cater to the increased public transit load and passengers will shift
to private modes which is already evident from the high vehicle ownership trend in
the region.
This will not only worsen congestion on the streets but will also increase pollution.
Hence, a Metro Rail System in Ahmedabad was essential to negate such situations.
Union Government decided to re-launch Direct Benefit Transfer

scheme
Union Government on 19 October 2014 decided to re-launch the modified Direct
Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme in an effective manner. The implementation of DBT
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will be made on a mission mode between 10 November 2014 and 1 January 2015 in
54 districts.
At Present, the beneficiaries having bank accounts under Aadhaar and the beneficiaries
who have bank accounts under the Jan Dhan Yojana will now get subsidy on LPG
directly in their accounts.
The beneficiaries who are outside from the scheme i.e. who have neither an Aadhar
identity nor a bank account through Jan Dhan Yojna will get old cylinder system for
some time.
The 54 shortlisted districts fall under Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Punjab and Telangana.
About Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is National Mission for Financial Inclusion to
ensure access to financial services, namely, Banking or Savings & Deposit Accounts,
Remittance, Credit, Insurance, Pension in an affordable manner.
Under the scheme, account holders will be provided zero-balance bank account
with RuPay debit card, in addition to accidental insurance cover of 1 lakh rupees.
Besides, after six months of opening of the bank account holders can avail 5000
rupees loan from the bank.

The Union Government on 19 October 2014 started a three-day training programme
for Ebola caregivers in Delhi. The training is the part of emergency preparedness of
Union Government.
Epidemiologists, microbiologists and nurses from the health facilities linked to all
international Airports in the country to participate in the training.
The aforesaid people are the first point of contact for any passenger coming from the
affected countries.
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During the training, medical experts are being taught how to use the protective gear
to avoid contact with bodily fluids of Ebola patients.
Ebola spreads by direct contact with the blood, secretions and other bodily fluids of
an infected living or dead person. The only way to check its spread in the country is
by screening all travellers from affected countries thoroughly before letting them off.
DoPT amended the selection procedure for the post of chief of

CVC
Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Union Ministry of Personnel,
Public Grievances and Pensions on 16 October 2014 amended the selection
procedure for the post of Chief of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
As per the new amendment, now the CEO or MD of Private bank can also apply for
the post.
The notification released by the department reads that a person who has held office
or are holding office in a corporation established by or under any Central Act or a
Government company owned or controlled by the Central Government and persons
who have expertise and experience in finance including insurance and banking, law,
vigilance and investigations are also eligible for the appointments.
With this, DoPT began the selection process for Chief of Central Vigilance Commission
and issued guidelines.
Highlights of the guidelines

A CVC or VC will be appointed from persons who have been or are in an all India
Services (IAS, IPS and IFoS) or in any civil service of the Union or in a civil post having
knowledge and experience in the matters relating to vigilance, policy making and
administration including police administration among others.
These persons must have held or is holding the position of Chairman, Managing
Director or Chief Executive Officer of a Schedule A Central Public Sector Enterprise
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and have served as a whole time Director on the Board for a period of at least three
years are eligible to apply.
All the applicants should be of outstanding merit and impeccable integrity and should
have knowledge and at least 25 years of experience in the relevant field.
Background
As per rules, the appointment of the CVC and VC is done by the President on the
basis of recommendation of a three-member selection committee headed by Prime
Minister and comprising Home Minister and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
as members.
The CVC is headed by a Central Vigilance Commissioner and has two Vigilance
Commissioners.
At present the post of CVC and one VC is lying vacant because of demitting of office
by Central Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar and Vigilance Commissioner J M
Garg in September 2014.
Union government launched Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev

Jayate Karyakram
Union government on 16 October 2014 launched Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev
Jayate Karyakram. The scheme is aimed at creating conducive environment for
industrial development and doing business with ease.
Besides, it will also herald towards good governance, welfare and skill development
of labour sector.
It was launched during a daylong Conference of Labour & Employment Ministers,
Health Ministers and Vocational Training Ministers of State Governments on 16
October 2014 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
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Under the scheme, the following new initiatives are provided:
Labours will be provided Unique Labour Identification number, Local Interconnect
Network, to facilitate their online registration.
Unified Labour Portal (Shram Suvidha) and a Transparent & Accountable Labour
Inspection Scheme to facilitate ease of compliance http://efilelaboutreturn.gov.in to
facilitate ease of compliance especially for four Central Government Organizations
i.e. ESIC, EPFO, DGMS and CLC.
Demand Responsive Vocational Training
Apprentice Protsahan Yojana
Portability through Universal Account Number for Employees Provident Fund
Account Holders
Implementation of Revamped Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) for the
workers in the unorganized sector
Union Ministry of S&T launched a Joint Indo-Canadian Science

Programme
Union Ministry of S&T launched a Joint Indo-Canadian Science Programme Focusing
on Clean Water Technologies on 15 October 2014. India and Canada signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the joint cooperation in areas of
science and technologies between the two countries.
The MoU was signed during the visit of International Trade Minister of Canada, Ed
Fast and Minister for National Revenue of Canada, Kerry Findlay to India.
About Joint Indo-Canadian Science Programme

Under the new programme, a joint collaboration is formed between the Department
of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology of India and the
National Science and Engineering Council of Canada to focus on clean water
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technologies.
The joint venture will be enabled in building up of Safe and Sustainable Infrastructure
and Integrated Water Management which will address the vital aspects related to
related to effective water management and clean water supply.
The programme is in line of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Clean River Mission
and Clean Ganga Mission and this joint collaboration will help in developing a
value based relationship between the countries.
The programme also enables to promote industrial research & development (R&D)
projects with application potential through participation of scientific institutions
and industrial units.
OilMin sets up Talukar panel on delays in gas discovery project

of ONGC
Union Petroleum Ministry on 3 October 2014 set up a Panel headed by B.N.Talukar
to inquire into the reasons for delay in developing gas discoveries in ONGCs Krishna
Godavari basin KG-D5 block.
The three-member committee will be headed by B N Talukar, Directorate General of
Hydrocarbons, and will have the financial advisor and a director from the ministry.
The committee will submit its report by end of October 2014.
ONGCs KG-D5 is next to Reliance Industries (RIL) eastern offshore KG-D6 block in
Bay of Bengal. Both blocks were awarded in the first round of auction under New
Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) in 2000.
While RIL began oil production from its KG-D6 block in September 2008 and gas
output in April 2009, ONGC has made 11 oil and gas discoveries in KG-D5 block and
planned to begin production from the block in 2018 and the oil output in 2019.
After noticing the delay in the ONGC production planning, the ministry wants to
investigate the reasons for the delay.
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ONGC Chairman and Managing Director Dinesh K Sarraf welcomed constitution of
the committee and said the company will extend all cooperation in the investigation.
ONGC claimed that KG-D5 block will produce up to 90000 barrels per day. The
production is estimated to be the largest from any field on the east coast. ONGC will
produce 17 million standard cubic meters per day of gas from the block.
KG-D5 is divided into a Northern Discovery Area (NDA) and Southern Discovery Area
(SDA).
Union Ministry of H&FW banned the import of animal tested

cosmetics in India
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) on 14 October 2014 banned
the import of animals tested cosmetics in India. Earlier, it banned cosmetic animal
testing within the country.
The ban came in the form of Rule 135-B that states no cosmetic that has been tested
on animals after the commencement of Drugs and Cosmetics (Fifth Amendment)
Rules, 2014 shall be imported into the country. The ban will come into effect on 13
November 2014.
This amended Drugs and Cosmetics Rules imposing dual ban (test and import) has
now put India in the league of European Union and Israel that had earlier imposed
such ban long ago.
This significant development made India the first cruelty-free cosmetics zone in South
Asia.
Background
Humane Society International (HSI) Indias Be Cruelty-Free campaign is celebrating
a historic victory for animals as India banned the import of animal tested cosmetics.
It is Humane Society International Indias Be Cruelty-Free campaign that was
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instrumental in achieving this final import ban. In June 2014, HSI met with Union
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to present a petition of more than 70000
signatures supporting an import ban and apprised him of the cruel practice of testing
for cosmetics on animals.
Be Cruelty Free campaign of HIS

Be Cruelty-Free is the campaign to end animal testing for cosmetics in India.
In many parts of the world, animals in laboratories are still suffering and dying to test
cosmetics such as lipstick and shampoo. The chemicals are forced down into their
throats, dripped into their eyes and onto their shaved skin. It is the ugly secret of the
beauty industry that Humane Society Internationals Be Cruelty-Free campaign is
determined to end.
Indias dual test and import ban is the latest victory in a string of achievements for
the Be Cruelty-Free campaign globally. Earlier in 2014, Be Cruelty-Free campaigners
in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Taiwan and the United States all celebrated the
introduction of bills proposing national cosmetic animal test bans.
Humane Society International (HSI)

Humane Society International is one of the only international animal protection
organizations in the world working to protect all animals including animals in
laboratories, farm animals, companion animals, and wildlife.
HSI supports programs in many countries around the world and maintains offices in
Australia, Brussels (Europe office), Canada, Costa Rica (Latin America office), India,
the United Kingdom and the United States (The HSUS).
Union Ministry of S&T launched The Maithreyi International

Visiting Professorship
Union Ministry of Science & Technology on 11 October 2014 launched The Maithreyi
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International Visiting Professorship in New Delhi. The programme will be jointly
supported by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Department of Science and
Technology (DST) of the Union government.
Under the scheme, India will invite 12 leading international science scholars from
across the world to visit India as Visiting Professors. Every year the visiting professors
will deliver three talks, one each in a school, a college and a research institution.
The video version of the talks will be recorded in Hindi & English and possibly in
several other Indian languages. A live web-interaction session with the Visiting
Professor on Rajya Sabha Television is also envisaged. All these talks will be made
available worldwide on the Internet.
The programme will be beneficial in the sense that through it 36 talks and 12 TV/
Radio interactions every year with worlds best professors will bring the greatest in
the scientific world face-to-face to all of India.
The globally accessible recordings of the talks will also take science back to the whole
world. Sharing knowledge worldwide will inculcate Maithreyis desire for knowledge
amongst the young and make knowledge the agent of change.
Background
The name Maithreyi has been derived from the epical story of saige Yajnavalkya who
had two wives-Maithreyi and Katyaayanee. When Yajnavalkya wished to leave for the
forest and thus divide his property amongst his wives, Maithreyi asked him whether
she could become immortal through this wealth. Yajnavalkya replied that through
wealth one merely became one amongst the many wealthy but it was knowledge
which made one immortal. Maithreyi, then declined her share of his property and
asked Yajnavalkya to teach her the way of attaining knowledge and, through that,
immortality.
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Union MoUD constituted 17-member Committee on decongesting
roads of New Delhi
Union Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) on 10 October 2014 constituted a
17-member Committee to suggest ways to decongest roads of New Delhi.
The 17-member committee will be chaired by the Secretary of Union MoUD. The
committee will seek corrective interventions on priority.
The committee will also take into account all the technical, financial and administrative
aspects of the project.
The committee has been directed to submit its report along with a proposed action
plan by the first week of November 2014.
The committee was formed after media reports highlighted traffic congestion on the
roads of the national capital.
The problem of congestion of roads in New Delhi

In a survey undertaken in 2012 by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI),
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and the Railway Infrastructure Technical
& Economic Services (RITES), it was predicted that by 2020, the top speed in Delhi
would be 5 km per hour, that is, to cover a distance of 15 km, it will take three hours!!
Even though Delhi has the most extensive road network at 21 per cent of its
geographical area but it is saturated and choked with vehicles.
The problem surfaces from the fact that Delhi has six million vehicles with 1200 more
added daily. But road space isnt increasing at the same pace. The problem is further
compounded by the fact that about 12 lakh vehicles pass through the capital daily,
clogging its nine highways.
Moreover, half of the woes on city roads are because of congestion spillover from the
NCR, where several road and flyover projects are still incomplete.
The consequence of this can be gauged from the fact that six years of Delhiites careers
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are spent in snarls and 7 million man hours and 100 crore rupees in productivity are
lost to gridlocks, making the capital the worst congested city in India.
Union Health Minister launched National Mental Health Policy

of India
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on 10 October 2014 launched the National
Mental Health Policy of India. It was the first ever Mental Health Policy of India which
was launched on the occasion of first ever National Mental Health Day organised by
the Union government.
The National Mental Health Policy has been prepared on the basis of the
recommendations made by the Policy Group on Mental Health constituted by the
Union Government in April 2011.
The Policy is in consonance with the intent of Resolution WHA 65.4 adopted at the
65th World Health Assembly held in Geneva in 2012 to which India also was a party.
The Resolution WHA 65.4 highlights the global burden of mental disorders and the
need for a comprehensive, co-ordinated response from the health and social sectors
at the community level.
Vision of the Policy

The vision of the National Mental Health Policy is to promote mental health, prevent
mental illness, enable recovery from mental illness, promote destigmatization and
desegregation, and ensure socio-economic inclusion of persons affected by mental
illness by providing accessible, affordable and quality health and social care to all
persons through their life-span within a right based frame work.
Goals of the Policy

To reduce distress, disability, exclusion morbidity and premature mortality
associated with mental health problems across life span of the person.
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To enhance understanding of the mental health in the country
To strengthen the leadership in the mental health sector at the national, state and
district levels.
Objectives of the Policy

To provide universal access to mental health care
To increase access to and utilisation of comprehensive mental health services by
persons with mental health problems.
To increase access to mental health care especially to vulnerable groups including
homeless persons, persons in remote areas, educationally, socially and deprived
sections.
To reduce prevalence and impact of risk factors associated with mental health
problems
To reduce risk and incidence of suicide and attempted suicide
To ensure respect for rights and protection from harm of persons with mental
health problems
To reduce stigma associated with mental health problems
To enhance availability and equitable distribution of skilled human resources for
mental health
To progressively enhance financial allocation and improve utilisation for mental
health promotion and care
To identify and address the social, biological and psychological determinants of
mental health problems and to provide appropriate interventions
Past attempt in framing a National Mental Health Policy

Earlier in 1987, effort was made to frame a national mental health policy. It resulted
into the enactment of Mental Health Act, 1987. But the Act never came into force any
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of the States and Union territories due to a number of defects.
The Mental Health Act, 1987sought to replace earlier laws governing the mentally ill,
the Indian Lunatic Asylum Act, 1858, and Indian Lunacy Act, 1912. These Acts largely
ignored the human rights aspect and were concerned only with custodial issues.
Comment
According to World Health Organisation, about 20 percent of Indias population would
suffer from some form of mental illness by 2020. However, the country has only
about 3500 psychiatrists. Therefore, the government is confronted with the problem
of lowering this gap significantly over the next decade.
Further, there exists a bi-directional relationship between mental ill health and poverty
which is evident in many reports, including the World Disability Report, 2010. This
alerts us to what could become a health crisis with damaging consequences for
society.
Union Government launched year-long birth

celebrations of Ghazal singer Begum Akhtar
centenary
Union Ministry of Culture on 7 October 2014 launched year-long birth centenary

celebrations of Ghazal singer Begum Akhtar whose original name was Akhtar Bai
Faizabadi.
On this occasion, the Ministry released a set of commemorative coins of 100 rupees
and 5 rupees and also announced musical programmes to popularise ghazals and
thumris of Begum Akhtar.
With this end in view, a National Implementation Committee (NIC) under the
Chairmanship of Union Minister for Culture Shripad Yasso Naik was constituted to
chalk out programmes and activities that may be taken up during the commemoration
year.
Over the next one year, music festivals have been planned in several cities in
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collaboration with state governments to celebrate her life and achievements. Music
programmes will be held in Mumbai, Chennai, Varanasi, Goa, Hyderabad and
Bangalore.
The government also announced a scholarship programme which will be given to
one student per year from Sangeet Natak Akademi in order to support and pursue
music and facilitate their career.
About Begum Akhtar

Akhtar Bai Faizabadi, popularly called Begum Akhtar was a famous singer of
Ghazal and Dadra and Thumri of Hindustani classical music genre.
She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for vocal music in 1972 and
was awarded Padam Shri and Padam Bhushan (Posthumously) by Government
of India in 1968 and 1975 respectively.
Amongst her disciples included Shanti Hiranand, who herself later received Padma
Shri and wrote, a biography Begum Akhtar: The Story of My Ammi (2005).
Art critic, S. Kalidas directed a documentary on her titled, Hai Akhtari
She was given the title of Mallika-e-Ghazal (Queen of Ghazals).
She was born in Bada Darwaza Faizabad District, Uttar Pradesh on 7 October
1914.
She died in Ahmedabad in Gujarat on 30 October 1974 and was buried at Pasanda
Bagh in Lucknow
Kundu Committee on Post Sachar Evaluation submitted its

report to the Union government
The Post Sachar Evaluation Committee headed by Prof. Amitabh Kundu submitted
its final report to the Union Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptullah on 9 October
2014.
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The seven-member committee was setup by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs in
September 2013 to review the implementation of the recommendations made by the
Justice (retd) Rajindar Sachar Committee on the Social, Economic and Educational
Status of the Muslim Community of India.
The mandate of the committee

To evaluate the process of implementation of Sachar Committee Report
To evaluate the Prime Ministers new 15 points programme.
To assess the outcome of the programmes implemented by Union Ministry of
Minority Affairs and other Ministries
To look into the mismanagement of funds released for the Multi-Sectoral
Development Programme (MSDP) in Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs)
To revive the proposal of Diversity Index proposed by Expert Group on Diversity
Index headed by Prof. Amitabh Kundu
To recommend the corrective measures by September 2014.
Union MNRE signed MoU for setting up first-ever Offshore Wind

Power Project in India
Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) on 1 October 2014 for setting up a Joint Venture Company to
undertake the first-ever Offshore Wind Power Project in India along the Gujarat coast.
The MoU was signed between Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE),
National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), and Consortium of partners consisting of
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd
(PGCIL), Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), Power Finance
Corporation (PFC), Power Trading Corporation (PTC), and Gujarat Power Corporation
Ltd (GPCL).
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Details of MoU signed

The Joint Venture Company will undertake detailed feasibility study and necessary
steps for implementation of the first offshore demonstration wind power project.
The offshore wind power project along the Gujarat coast will be of about 100 MW
capacity.
Subsidy to be provided for setting up of evacuation and transmission infrastructure
including financial support for carrying out studies such as wind resource
assessment, Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), oceanographic survey and
Bathymetric studies.
Efforts undertaken by the Union MNRE towards Offshore Wind Power

development
India with a coastline of around 7600 kilometres has vast potential for Off-shore wind
power development. But it is still to be harnessed.
World-wide offshore wind power projects aggregating to about 7.5 GW capacity have
been installed (UK - 4.2 GW; Denmark - 1.2 GW; Belgium 0.7 GW; Germany 0.6
GW; China 0.4 GW; the Netherlands 0.2 GW and Sweden 0.2 GW)
Thus, Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) have undertaken various
initiatives to develop the offshore wind power in India. These include announcement
of Draft National Offshore Wind Energy Policy; preparation of Draft Cabinet note
on National Offshore Wind Energy Policy; and finalization of the proposed National
Offshore Wind Energy Policy.
Onshore wind power development in India

Since the start of the onshore demonstration projects undertaken by the Ministry in
early 90s, the onshore wind power development has reached to commercial stage
in India. In fact, it is the fastest growing renewable energy option today. Today India
has more than 22 GW installed onshore wind power capacity.
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Union Government to sell LED bulbs at 10 rupees against 400

rupees
Union Government on 8 October 2014 decided to sell LED bulbs to households at 10
rupees against the market price of 400 rupees. In this regard, Union Power Ministry
launched a business model enabling the sale of LED bulbs to households at 10
rupees against the market price of 400 rupees.
As per the envisioned business model, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) will work with electricity distribution
companies (discoms) to develop a business model under which EESAL will procure
LED bulbs in bulk and sell the bulbs to households at 10 rupees. The discoms will
then repay EESL, over a period of five to eight years from the savings that mount up
due to use of this energy efficient lighting technology.
The Union Power Ministry has already decided that all below-poverty line households
at the time of electrification will be provided LED technology under the Rajiv Gandhi
Grameen Vidyuthikaran Yojana (RGGVY).
Meanwhile, according to MoU signed between EESL and the Andhra Pradesh
government, EESL completed the procurement of two million LEDs.
About LED
LEDs (Light Emitting diode) are emerging as the most energy-efficient source of
lighting as they use one-tenth of the energy of a normal incandescent bulb and half
as much energy as a Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) to produce the same amount
of light.
About EESL
Union Ministry of Power set up Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) as a Joint
Venture of NTPC Limited, PFC, REC and POWERGRID to facilitate implementation
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of energy efficiency projects.
EESL works closely with BEE and is leading market activities of the National
Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE).
About Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

The Government of India set up Bureau of Energy Efficiency in 2002 under the
provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
The mission of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency is to assist in developing policies and
strategies with a thrust on self-regulation and market principles, within the overall
framework of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
The primary objective of BEE is to reduce energy intensity of the Indian economy
which will be achieved with active participation of all stakeholders
Union Government launched Pashmina Promotion Programme

(P-3)
Union Government launched Pashmina Promotion Programme (P-3) on 8 October
2014. The P-3 programme was launched at Pashmina Dehairing Plant Complex,
Skalzangling, Leh by the Union Minister of State for Textiles (Independent Charge)
Santosh Kumar Gangwar.
The Pashmina Promotion Programme will be successfully implemented in a timebound manner so that pashmina wool production can be increased up to 65 tonnes
during 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17).
About Pashmina Promotion Programme (P-3)

Under P-3, a major provision has been made for the establishment of latest technology
imported Pashmina Dehairing Plant at Leh with the total grant of 19.35 crore rupees.
The grant is provided for inclusion of other machineries like scouring, drying, and
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boiler along with construction of building for installation of these machineries at Leh.
Besides, financial assistance will also be provided under different

components like
Creation of Common Pashmina Facilitation Centre for Wool testing
Disease Surveillance Centre
Geographic Information System (GIS) Lab
Shelter for Nomads
Portable Electric Units for Handloom Spinning/Weaving
Solarised Community Centres
Open Fodder enclosures
Establishment of Pashmina Dehairing Plant
Distribution for Foundation Stock to farmers
Construction of Shelter for Housing of Pashmina Stock
Background
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 August 2014 had announced to launch Pashmina
Promotion Programme (P-3) with additional financial assistance for improving quality
and quantity of pashmina wool as well as living standard of poor nomads of Ladakh
region.
Pashmina internationally known as Cashmere is a fine luxury fibre which is produced
from goat breed Changthang in the Ladakh region of India.
Union Government launched attendance.gov.in website to

monitor attendance of staff
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The Union Government on 7 October 2014 launched a website attendance.gov.in to
monitor the attendance of government employees in real time.
The move is aimed at increasing transparency and accountability. The government
launched the attendance system as part of its Digital India programme.
Highlights of the website

The website attendance.gov.in uses an Aadhaar-enabled biometric attendance
system to track employees from the cabinet secretariat to Border Road Organization.
It provides a graphical representation of attendance in real time.
The information which can be found on the website are attendance, over time, the
number of registered employees and number of employees present.
A back-end administrator will check the details submitted by the organisation and
make the organisation active by assigning it a unique sub-domain which will be
the first name of the website.
Biometric attendance system

A common Biometric Attendance System is implemented in central government
offices in Delhi.
Employees will mark attendance through biometric terminals from now onwards.
The employees will be required to enter their 6-digit Attendance ID on the terminal
and subsequently the system will ask for finger print verification.
The 6 digit number will be generated based on the last 6 or first 6 digits of the
individuals Aadhaar number.
Since network connectivity is essential for marking attendance, the government
is planning two types of connectivity with each attendance terminal- wi-fi on
broadband and SIM based GSM connectivity on tablets.
So far, 148 central government organizations have opted for the Biometric Attendance
System while fewer than 50000 employees have registered for it. The implementation
of the system is a work in progress and all employees are yet to adopt the system.
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Union Government launched Swachhta Udyami Yojana

Swachhta Se Sampannta ki Aur
ki Aur of National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation. The
scheme was launched by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment,
Sudarshan Bhagat on 2 October 2014.
The Scheme has twin objective of cleanliness and providing livelihood to Safai
Karamcharis and liberated Manual Scavengers to achieve the overall goal of Swachh
Bharat Abhiyan.
About the Scheme

The Scheme provides financial assistance to Safai Karamcharis and identified
Manual Scavengers for Construction, Operation and Maintenance of community
toilets in Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mode and for Purchase of Sanitation
related Vehicles.
The entrepreneurs of the target group may also avail assistance for purchase
of vehicles such as Jetting and Suction machines, Vacuum Loaders, Garbage
collection and disposal vehicles etc.
Beneficiaries can also take contracts from the Municipalities to operate these
vehicles in areas under their jurisdiction.
Beneficiaries will be provided loan at a very concessional rate of interest of 3-4
percent per annum. The maximum amount allowed for construction toilets and for
procurement of sanitation related vehicles will be 25 lakhs rupees and 15 lakhs
rupees respectively.
Each identified Manual Scavenger will be provided capital subsidy upto 3.25 lakhs
rupees.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 October 2014 launched Swachh Bharat (Clean
India) campaign in New Delhi. The Swachh Bharat campaign was launched on the
occasion of 145th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and is aimed at making India
clean by 2019, i.e. 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
On the occasion of launch of the campaign in Rajpath New Delhi, Modi administered
an oath to a large gathering to keep their neighbourhoods clean. He asked people to
donate (Shramdaan) 100 hours every year or two hours every week for cleanliness.
After administrating the oath, he himself cleaned a police station and a scavengers
colony, Valmiki Colony of New Delhi.
Apart from this citing the example of ASL Ice Bucket Challenge, Modi started a
Swachh Bharat challenge and nominated nine people to accept the challenge and
inspire people for the campaign. He nominated Sachin Tendulkar (retd. cricketer),
Sashi Tharoor (Congress leader), Anil Ambani (industrialist), Salman Khan, Priyanka
Chopra, Kamal Hasan, Baba Ramdev, Mridula Sinha (Governor of Goa) and the whole
team of TV serial Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. After nominating people for
accepting the challenge, he said that each of these nominated people can nominate
other nine people of their choice.
Participations in Swachh Bharat (Clean India) campaign

The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee flagged off the Swachh Bharat Mission
at Kirnahar, Birbhum District of West Bengal where he also administered pledge to
the students and others at Kirnahar Shib Chandra High School and joining hands
with the students of the school in cleanliness drive
Sudarshan Bhagat, the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment on 2
October 2014 launched the Swachhta Udyami Yojana - Swachhta Se Sampannta
Ki Aur of National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation, at
India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
Union Minister of Rural Development and Drinking Water and Sanitation Nitin
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Gadkari announced that 20 lakh rupees will be given to every village in the country
per annum to achieve the goal of clean India by 2 October 2019
Ircon International Limited (IRCON) pledged commitment towards cleanliness and
thereby realize Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhis dream of Clean India
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar administered
Swachh Bharat Pledge to officials of the ministry and also released Audio Track
Swachh Bharat ka Irada Kar liya hum ne composed by Shri Prasoon Joshi which
is specially prepared for Swachh Bharat Mission
Swachh Bharat Karyakram (Clean India Programme), a cleanliness drive was
conducted at all Army establishments and formations from 25 September 14 to 2
October 2014
Indian Navy and Indian Air Force also launched Swachh Bharat Campaign and
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, respectively
President Pranab Mukherjee on 4 October 2014 flagged off the Swachh Bharat
Run that show participation of around 1500 people. Participants in the run included
officers and staff of the Secretariat, the President`s Body Guard, Army Guard and
Delhi Police as well as their families
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar who accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modis
nomination as one of the ambassadors of Swachh Bharat campaign, swept a road
in Mumbai with a broom in hand on 5 October 2014
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ECONOMY
Union Cabinet approved proposal to amend FDI policy in construction and real estate sector
Union Cabinet on 31 October 2014 approved the proposal to amend Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) policy in construction and real estate sectors. The proposals came
in the backdrop of depleting FDI inflows in construction and real sector in last few
years.
Union government decided to use relaxed rules for FDI in the construction sector by
reducing minimum built-up area as well as capital requirement and easing the exit
norms to boost the construction and real sector.
Proposals
Minimum capital requirement brought down from 10 million US dollar to 5 million
US dollar.
In case of development of serviced plots, the condition of minimum land of 10
hectares has been completely removed.
In case of development of trunk infrastructure, though the lock in period has not
reduced from 3-year lock-in period but permitted foreign investors to exit on
project completion or 3 years from the date of final investment.
Present Status
Earlier in 2005, although 100 percent FDI was allowed in townships, housing and
built-up infrastructure and construction developments, the government imposed
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certain conditions.
After the relaxation, the FDI inflows in the construction sector witnessed a steady rise
during 2006-07 but have stared declining in 2009-10.
The construction sector received FDI worth 23.75 billion US dollar or 10 percent of
the total FDI attracted by India during the period between from 2000 to 2014.
The investment in construction and real estate sector has a multiplier effect on the
economy by way of infrastructure creation and employment generation which will
also help to create demand for products of related industries like cement and steel.

The Kamarajar Port Ltd (KPL) on 28 October 2014 announced to set up a Free Trade
and Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) on 100 acres, adjacent to its premises. Kamarajar
port will became the first port on the eastern coast to set up FTWZ.
KPL recently acquired 650 acres from the Salt department to take care of its future
needs. As a first step, 100 acres had been set apart for this purpose that would entail
an approximate investment of 200 crore rupees.
Initially, the officials were toying with the idea of setting up Special Economic Zone.
But latter decided to host FTWZ considering the innumerable advantages it provided
to the trade such as warehousing facilities for different products/categories, shared
warehousing of international standards, reduction in custom clearance time and
better logistics facilities, among others.
About free trade and warehousing zone

FTWZ (Free Trade and Warehousing Zones) is a policy of the Government of India
(GoI). It was announced in the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09 to set up FTWZ to create
trade related infrastructure to facilitate the import and export of goods and services
with freedom to carry out trade transactions in free currency.
FTWZ is a sanitized zone designated as foreign territory for carrying on business. It
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would be a key link in logistics and global supply chains, servicing both India and the
globe.
Union Government scrapped ongoing selection process of CMDs,

EDs in PSBs
The Union Finance Ministry on 27 October 2014 cancelled the current selection
process for the posts of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) and Executive
Director (ED) of Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
Government took the decision of scrapping the process after receiving the report of
a committee that was constituted to examine the selection process adopted for the
appointment of CMDs and EDs of PSBs for the year 2014 -15. The committee consisted
of Secretary Expenditure, Secretary School Education and the RBI Governor.
The government also decided to start the process of selection freshly so as to fill the
existing vacancies in PSBs where-in the RBI Governor or his nominee of the rank of
the Deputy Governor should be part of the selection process.
Besides, the Ministry also decided to finalise a new process for selection of CMDs
and EDs for all future vacancies.
The government decision comes after the CBI found irregularities in the PSU chief
selection process after Syndicate Bank CMD SK Jains arrest in August 2014 over
graft charges.
At present eight posts of CMDs and fourteen posts of EDs are lying vacant in the
PSBs. These include Bank of Baroda, Canara bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Oriental
Bank of Commerce, Syndicate Bank and United Bank of India.

World Bank on 27 October 2014 released its bi-annual report India Development
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Update. In the report, the World Bank has emphasized on continuing domestic
reforms and encouraging investments so as to achieve higher growth rates.
The report said that Indias GDP is likely to grow by 5.6 percent in the financial year
(FY) 2014-15 and GDP growth is likely to rise further to 6.4 percent in FY 2015-16 and
7 percent in FY 2016-17.
It further said that, growth is expected to accelerate as proposed measures such as
the Goods and Service tax will give a boost to the manufacturing sector.
It also said that implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will help transform
India into a common market, eliminate inefficient tax cascading, and go a long way
in boosting the manufacturing sector.
Highlights of the report

It said that simply by halving the delays due to road blocks, tolls and other
stoppages could cut freight times by some 20-30 percent and logistics costs by
an even higher 30-40 percent.
This measure would result in boosting competitiveness of Indias key manufacturing
sectors by 3 to 4 percent of net sales, thereby helping India return to a high growth
path and enabling large scale job creation.
WPI inflation is expected to moderate to 4.3 percent in the FY 2014-15, from 6.0
percent in the previous FY 2013-14
The FY 2014 current account deficit of 1.7 percent is expected to widen marginally
to 2.0 percent as import demand picks up and capital inflows rise.
Fiscal consolidation is expected to continue through expenditure restraint, although
there is room for revenue mobilization to strengthen, the Update cautions.
Apart from these things, the World Bank in the report said that Indias favorable
demographics, relatively high savings, recent policies and efforts to improve skills
and education, and domestic market integration makes longer term growth potential
of India, high.
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At the same time, the Update also said that at the domestic end, the risks include
challenges to energy supply and fiscal pressures from weak revenue collection in
the short term. However, risks could be mitigated to a large extent by focusing on
reforms that help the manufacturing sector.
Union Government launched website for Pradhan Mantri JanDhan Yojana

The Union Finance Ministry on 27 October 2014 launched a dedicated website for
Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY). The website will be available both in
English and Hindi.
The website, www.pmjdy.gov.in was launched by Secretary, Department of Financial
Services (DFS), GS Sandhu in New Delhi.
About the website

The newly launched website contains information on administrative structure with
contact details of Central/State/District level mission directors and nodal officers. It
also provides information on latest events and circulars issued under the scheme.
According to an official release, on an average over one lakh bank accounts are
opened every day under the scheme. The release also claimed that 6.47 crore bank
accounts with a Deposit of 4813.59 crore rupees were opened by 22 October 2014.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana is governments flagship financial inclusion
programme that was launched on 28 August 2014 to help people in opening bank
accounts. The programme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with an
aim to cover all unbanked households in the country by 26 January 2015.
The plan envisages universal access to banking facilities with at least one basic
banking account for every household, financial literacy, access to credit, insurance
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and pension facility.
Union government de-regulated diesel and hiked natural gas

rates
Union government on 19 October 2014 de-regulated the price of diesel and hiked the
rates of domestically produced natural gas.
The price of diesel will be market-linked without any government intervention and
retail rates reflecting price changes in the global market. Now the government will no
longer provide subsidy on diesel.
This is the first reduction in diesel rates from 2009. The diesel price was reduced by
2 rupees a litre to 30.86 rupees in January 2009.After the deregulation of diesel, the
rates of diesel will bring down rates by 3.37 rupees per litre.
Besides, the natural gas tariff was hiked by 46 percent and will go up from current 4.2
per million British thermal units (mmBtu) to 6.17 per mmBtu from 1 November 2014.
The increase of natural gas price will push up fertiliser, power, CNG and PNG rates.
The natural gas price increase will result in CNG prices going up by 4.25 rupees per
kg and piped cooking gas by 2.6 rupees. Besides, tariff for power produced from gas
will go up by about 90 paisa per unit and fertilizer production cost by almost 2720
rupees per ton.
RBI & CBK signed MoU on Supervisory Cooperation and

Exchange of Supervisory Information
The Reserve Bank of India on 16 October 2014 signed a pact with the Central Bank of
Kenya (CBK) for Supervisory Cooperation and Exchange of Supervisory Information.
Apart from this, the RBI signed 22 such MoUs and one Letter for Supervisory Cooperation. The signing ceremony was held at Hyderabad.
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The MoU was signed by RBI Governor Dr. Raghuram Rajan and Central Bank of
Kenya Governor Prof. Njuguna Ndungu.
The RBI has been signing the MoUs and Letter for Supervisory Co-operation with
supervisors of other countries to promote greater co-operation and share supervisory
information among the authorities.
Government to import potatoes for 1st time to check rising

prices
The Union Government on 16 October 2014 decided to import potatoes to check
rising prices. This is the first time that the potatoes will be imported.
As per the decision, potato will be imported from Pakistan and European countries.
Imports will be done to ensure sufficient supply till January 2015.
Also, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation will float tender in this
regard and the tenders will be invited by end of October 2014 so that shipments
reach India by the end of November 2014.
Apart from this, the government also asked Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium
to explore possibilities of imports.
India in crop-year 2013-14 produced more than 44 million tonnes of potatoes which
is 2.3 per cent less than crop-year of 2012-13. As a result, potatoes prices in last few
weeks have shown a rising trend and in the National Capital Delhi, it is being retailed
at 35 to 40 rupees per kilogram.
Exports increased 2.73 percent in September 2014: Union

Ministry of Commerce
Exports from India increased 2.73 percent in September 2014 to 28.90 billion US
dollar from 28.13 billion US dollar in September2013. This was revealed by Foreign
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Trade (Merchandise) data released by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry
on 14 October 2014.
On the other hand, the value of imports increased to 43.15 billion US dollars in
September 2014 from 34.25 billion US dollars in September 2013 representing a
growth of 25.96 percent. Imports have increased mainly on account of growth of
imports of Gold and Metalliferous Ores & Other Minerals.
As a result, trade deficit (Export value Import value) in September 2014 stood at
14.24 billion US dollar which was 132.71 percent higher than the value of 6.12 billion
US dollar in September 2013.
Cumulative value of Exports and Imports

The cumulative value of exports for the period April -September 2014 -15 stood at
163.7 billion US dollars as against 153.75 billion US dollars registering a growth of
6.47 percent.
The cumulative value of imports for the period April -September 2014 -15 stood at
234.09 billion US dollars as against 230.47 billion US dollars registering a growth of
1.57 percent.
As a result, trade deficit for April-September, 2014-15 stood at 70.39 billion US dollar
which was lower than the deficit of 76.72 billion US dollars during April-September
2013-14.
Non-oil imports
Non-oil imports were estimated at 28.65 billion US dollar in September 2014, which
was 36.2 percent higher than non-oil imports 21.04 billion US dollar in September
2013.
Non-oil imports during April-September 2014-15 were valued at 151.62 billion US
dollar which was 0.8 percent higher than the level of such imports valued at 150.46
billion US dollar in April-September 2013-14.
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Union Finance Ministry approved 25 FDI proposals with total

investment of 1546 crore rupees
Union Finance Ministry on 14 October 2014 approved 25 FDI proposals with total
investment of 1546 crore rupees.
The proposals were cleared by the Union Finance Ministry following rthe
ecommendations for the same by Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), a
multi-department panel headed by Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram.
The proposals include six of single brand retail trade with multi-brand retail trading
(MBRT) applications of Flemingo International (BVI) and Miami Perfume Junction,
Inc, USA.
The single-brand retail trading proposals which have been cleared include that of
Lush Ltd, UK; Austria Puma Dassier Gesellchaft m.b.H, Austria and Bestseller United
(Singapore) Pte Ltd, Singapore.
These MBRT proposals relate to investment in setting up shop in duty free area and
selling products on board on international flights.
It further include three pharma sector applications, one of Laurus Labs, has also
been cleared.
The applicant had sought approval to increase foreign investment up to 100 per cent
in its paid up capital and direct foreign investment in its subsidiaries. The proposal
entails an investment of 1800 crore rupees.
About FIPB
The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) is a national agency of Government
of India, with the remit to consider and recommend foreign direct investment (FDI)
which does not come under the automatic route. It provides a single window clearance
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for proposals on FDI in India.
CPI inflation declined to 6.46 percent in September 2014

Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation or retail inflation of September 2014 stood at
6.46 percent as compared to the 7.3 percent in August 2014. The CPI inflation data
was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on 13
October 2014.
The retail inflation of September 2014 is the second straight fall, due to lower food
and fuel costs. This fall is the lowest since the new series of Consumer Price Index
was released in January 2012.
The retail inflation of fuel and light cost came down to 3.45 percent from 4.15 percent
of August 2014.
The retail inflation for over all food inflation dropped to 7.67 percent in September
2014 from 9.35 percent in August 2014.
The retail inflation of fruits slowed to 22.4 percent in September 2014 from 24.27
percent in August 2014. There is a price rise in protein rich items like eggs, fish and
meat was slower in September against August 2014.
The retail inflation is 6.34 percent in urban areas and 6.68 percent in rural areas in
September in 2014.
The RBI is expected to reduce the CPI inflation 8 percent by January 2015 and 6
percent by January 2016.
JP Morgan cut India 2014-15 growth forecast to 5.1 percent

from 5.3 percent
JP Morgan on 10 October 2014 cut its India GDP growth projection for 2014-15 to
5.1 percent from 5.3 percent.
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The reason for the trimmed growth was based on weak factory output.
JP Morgan cited that the industrial output of India in August 2014 rose to 0.4 percent
compared to the estimation it was very low.
They estimated the industrial output of India for August 2014 to be around 2.4 percent.
Further, the report maintained that the slower growth and a fall in oil and commodity
prices increase the chance for the RBI to attain its challenging 6 percent consumer
price inflation target by January 2016.
The Reserve Bank of India projects GDP to grow at around 5.5 percent in the current
fiscal year ending March 2015.
About JP Morgan
John Pierpont Morgan known as J. P. Morgan was an American financier, banker,
philanthropist and art collector who dominated corporate finance and industrial
consolidation during his time.
In 1892, Morgan arranged the merger of Edison General Electric and ThomsonHouston Electric Company to form General Electric.
After financing the creation of the Federal Steel Company, he merged it in 1901 with
the Carnegie Steel Company and several other steel and iron businesses to form the
United States Steel Corporation.
DIPP constituted a special team Japan Plus to fast track Japanese

investments
The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) on 9 October 2014 constituted
a special management team to facilitate and fast track investment proposals from
Japan. The team was named as Japan Plus.
Japan Plus will be coordinated by Kenichiro Toyofuku from METI (Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry), Government of Japan and will comprise of four Indians from
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Government of India and two Japanese officials from METI.
Highlights of the Japan Plus Team

The mandate of the Japan Plus team runs through the entire spectrum of investment
promotion research, outreach, promotion, facilitation and aftercare.
The team will support the Government of India in initiating, attracting, facilitating,
fast tracking and handholding Japanese investments across sectors.
It will also be responsible for providing updated information on investment
opportunities across sectors, in specific projects and in industrial corridors in
particular.
Moreover, it will identify prospective Japanese companies including Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and facilitate their investments in India.
The team will also provide assistance to DIPP in undertaking regular benchmarking
studies, identifying bottlenecks and areas of concern in sectors of interest to
Japanese companies and analyzing their impact on industrial development
production in India.
Formation of a Core Group

Union Government has also constituted a Core Group chaired by Cabinet Secretary
on India-Japan Investment Promotion Partnership. This group will comprise of
Chairman of Railway Board, Foreign Secretary and Secretaries of DIPP, Economic
Affairs, Expenditure, Financial Services, Revenue, Commerce, Urban Development,
Electronics and Information Technology and others.
The Core Group will be serviced by Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion.
This Core Group will co-ordinate and closely monitor the process to ensure that
investments from Japan are facilitated in various sectors and opportunities of
investment and technology transfer are fully exploited.
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India and Japan
Japan is the 4th largest FDI contributor to India with major interests in pharmaceuticals,
automobiles and services sectors. It accounts for 7.46 percent of total FDI equity
inflows into India.
India is an attractive investment destination for Japanese companies with 1072
Japanese companies having 2542 business bases in India.
Over the last decade, the number of Japanese establishments in India have increased
by 11 times reflecting the positive sentiments of Japanese investors for Indian market.
Railways Revenue earnings up by over 12 percent during April

2014 - September 2014
Railway Ministry data released on 8 October 2014 said that Railways revenue
earnings have gone up by over 12 percent during 1 April 2014 to 30 September
2014. According to the data, approximate earnings of railways was about 73404
crore rupees during this period as compared to 65526 crore rupees during the same
period in 2013.
The total earnings from goods during the period was about 48772 crore rupees as
against 44162 crore rupees during the same period of 2013, registering an increase
of 10.44 per cent. The total approximate revenue earnings from passengers during
this period was 21079.09 crore rupees as compared to 18099.80 crore rupees during
the same period of 2013, registering an increase of 16.46 percent.
However the released data also shows that the total approximate number of
passengers booked during this period was around 4253 million compared to 4255
million during the same period in 2013, showing a decrease of 0.06 per cent.
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Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI) on 7 October 2014 launched India
Myanmar Service (IMS) Container service that will operate container services from
Chennai to Myanmar. The service will link South and East India to Myanmar via
Chennai, Krishnapatnam, Yangoon, Colombo port rotation.
The service will boost bilateral trade relations between India and Myanmar by providing
immense opportunities for manufacturers, importers and exporters in both countries.
This service will also open new avenues to the traders to the growing markets in India
and Myanmar. The service is scheduled to call at Chennai every fortnight.
The service commenced with m.v. SCI KAMAL, a 1200 TEU capacity vessel exclusively
for this purpose. Vessel on her maiden call at Chennai carried out a throughput
exchange of 200 TEUs with imports comprising commodities like pulses, timber,
furniture etc. and exports comprising cement, general cargo and chemicals.
The Service was a direct derivative of Look East Policy of Union Government to
reach in to Mizoram and other North-Eastern States Government by using northern
Myanmar, Sittwe port.
Further, Union Government is looking at starting a similar service to countries such
as Thailand and Vietnam as part of the Look East policy. Besides, Union Government
also will help the shipping industry in Bangladesh.
DIPP approved 33 defence proposals

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) in first week of October
2014 approved 33 defence proposals. Of these 33 proposals, 19 are related to the
foreign direct investment that aims to boost the manufacturing in defence sector.
These proposals were approved by the Licensing Committee chaired by Secretary,
Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion.
Apart from this, a release of Union Minister of Commerce said that the decision
will give a major impetus to Make In India programme that was initiated by Union
Government to boost domestic manufacturing.
Nineteen proposals whos Industrial License for defence production have been
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granted include Reliance Aerospace Technologies Limited, Bharat Forge Limited,
Mahindra Telephonic Integrated Systems Limited, Punj Lloyd Industries Limited,
Mahindra Aero Structure Pvt Limited, Tata Advanced Materials Limited. Apart from
this, 14 applicants didnt required licenses as a vast number of defence items have
been de-licensed.
This decision was made after the FDI policy vide Press Note 7 was simplified and the
FDI cap was in defence was raised from 26 to 49 percent. It also permitted portfolio
investments up to 24 percent of the total equity of the investee / joint venture Company
under automatic route and doing away with requirement of 51% equity ownership by
a single Indian investor/company.
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ENVIRONMENT | ECOLOGY
An endangered species Flying Squirrel was captured by the forest department
officials on 29 October 2014 at Balijharan village in Jagannathpur sub-division of
West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand. The local tribes call it Oraal.
The Flying Squirrel was spotted under a tree near a primary school building. The
officials of forest department said that the species is on the verge of extinction.
Following the capture, the forest officials conducted a medical check on it and sent
it to Birsa Zoological Park, Ranchi.
About Flying Squirrel

The bird is scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini. Flying Squirrel is native
to Illinois, US and has dense population pockets in many areas of Kane and DuPage
county.
Flying squirrels are nocturnal, arboreal rodents that have thick light brown, grey, or
cinnamon fur on their upper body, with a furry membrane which extends between the
front and rear leg that allows the animal to glide through the air.
It has greyish flanks with a cream or white underbelly. They have very large, round
black eyes and a flat tail. They are much smaller than everyday squirrels, but capable
of doing just as much damage to a home.
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Hurricane Gonzalo struck Bermuda
Hurricane Gonzalo of Category 2 struck Bermuda with winds of about 185 kilometers
per hour on 18 October 2014. The hurricane lashed the tiny Atlantic island chain with
torrential rain and howling wind.
Eighty percent of the island chain lost power because of the hurricane. The island
also witnessed flooding in some areas and many banana trees had been knocked
over.
Earlier, the US National Hurricane Center warned of high winds and life threatening
storm surge after the hurricane passed the British Atlantic territory.
Bermuda is an island chain in the Atlantic Ocean that frequently sees strong tropical
storms. Hurricane Gonzalo is one of the biggest hurricanes faced by the tiny British
island of Bermuda, in many years. Gonzalo struck Bermuda, a low-lying archipelago
occupying just 21 square miles (54 sq km) and home to 65000 people, just five days
after the island witnessed a tropical storm.
The last major hurricane to strike Bermuda was Fabian in 2003, a Category 3 storm
that killed four people.
Himalayan glaciers are expanding instead of shrinking

Scientists in their study of the Karakoram region of the Himalayas revealed that the
glaciers of the region were stable and is expanding at the time when the glaciers
across the world are melting. The team said that in the region snowfall is increasing
instead of decreasing.
In their study, the scientists discovered an explanation for this stability and said that
precipitation is increasing across the Himalayas; most of this moisture drops in the
summer except in Karakoram, the region where the snow dominates the scene.
The study was reported in Discovery news on 13 October 2014.
Karakoram is a home to K2 the second-highest peak on earth and is a chain of snowy
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peaks along the border of India, Pakistan and China.
Study Process
Study researcher Sarah Kapnick, a postdoctoral researcher in atmospheric and ocean
sciences at Princeton University explained the process that was studied to find the
reason behind this stability.
During the study, Kapnick and her colleagues collected data on recent precipitation
and temperatures from Pakistan Meteorological Department and other sources,
including satellite data. To track changes in three regions of the Himalayas between
1861 and 2100: the Karakoram, the central Himalayas, and the southeast Himalayas
which included part of the Tibetan Plateau, they combined the collected information
with climate models. While studying they found that a new model that simulates
climate down to an area of 965 square miles (2500 square kilometers) and matched
the observed temperature and precipitation cycles seen in the Karakoram.
They claimed that the model that is used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) to simulate what will happen if the world continues to emit greenhouse
gases at current rates was unable to capture these seasonal cycles.
The reason for unnoticing the seasonal cycles was that the IPCC and other climate
models are lower-resolution and they captured climate change over areas no finer
than about 17027 square miles (44100 square km).
The study was published in April 2012 issue of the journal Nature Geoscience and
was reported in Discovery news on 13 October 2014.
Sea levels rose rapidly in past 150 years: study of Australian

scientists
Scientists from the Australian National University (ANU) based in Canberra found
that the sea levels have risen more in past century as compared to any century in
past 6000 years. The team came on the conclusion while looking at the fluctuation
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of ocean levels over the past 35000 years, based on ice volume changes around the
world.
The team, in their study found that the sea levels saw 20 cm rise since the start of the
20th century, which was caused largely by global warming and the melting of polar
ice. They claimed that sea levels have remained steady for thousands of years but
saw rapid rises over past 150 years, since global industrialisation.
Professor Kurt Lambeck from ANU said that comparing the historical data with recent
data from tidal gauges shows an increasing rate of sea level rise in recent times.
Basis of the research

The team of scientists came to their conclusion after studying about 1000 ancient
sediment samples off Britain, North America, Greenland and the Seychelles. These
sediments were collected in past two decades and in their study they picked
submerged sediments that may include tree roots that suggested a previously lower
sea level or mollusks, whose fossil records were measured to determine the previous
sea level.
The study was published on 12 September 2014 in Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

India on 30 September 2014 signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The
convention is named after the Japanese city Minamata that has become synonymous
with deadly mercury contamination since 1950.
The Minamata Convention gives five years time to India to control and reduce
emissions from new power plants and 10 years time for the already existing power
plants.
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Minamata Convention
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health
and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. It was agreed at the fifth
session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland on
19 January 2013.
The Minamata Convention is part of a cluster of agreements that include:

Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movement of hazardous wastes
and their disposal.
Rotterdam Convention for managing international trade in hazardous chemicals
and pesticides.
Stockholm Convention on the restriction and elimination of the production and
use of persistent organic pollutants.
The major highlights of the Minamata Convention on Mercury include a ban on new
mercury mines, the phase-out of existing ones, control measures on air emissions,
and the international regulation of the informal sector for artisanal and small-scale
gold mining.
Mercury pollution in India

In India, Mercury pollution has not been a part of the environmental discourse.
However, mercury pollution concerns have hit various places.
At Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu, controversy regarding Mercury pollution has existed
for years following the closure of a thermometer manufacturing factory of Hindustan
Unilever Ltd. The factory was shut down by a closure order of the state pollution
control board in March 2001.
The second high-profile case is that of the Singrauli region that falls in Sonbhadra
district of Uttar Pradesh and also spills over into Madhya Pradesh. This is a huge
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private and public sector industrial and power-generating cluster. It is estimated that
around 17 percent of Indias power plant mercury emissions are from this cluster
alone.
In December 2009, the Ministry of Environment and Forests declared Singrauli as
being among the 43 most critically polluted industrial clusters in the country.
Apart from Kodaikanal and Singrauli, Ganjam in Odisha is another area where mercury
pollution has reached serious levels.
Considering all these factors, it is imperative that India should now establish and
enforce mercury emission standards for coal-fired power plants.
Mercury pollution
Mercury is used in the chemical and petrochemical industries and also in household
products like compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and thermometers. It is heavily used
in artisanal and small-scale gold mining to separate gold from the ore.
Mercury emissions to the atmosphere also take place from coal-fired power plants.
Mercury is present in industrial effluents that are let into water bodies and the sea and
enters the human food chain through the consumption of fish. This is what caused
the disaster at Minamata in the 1950s.
Mercury pollution arises from a variety of sources. Contaminated sites including old
mines, landfills and waste disposal locations are also important sources of mercury
pollution.

Powerful typhoon Vongfong struck Japan on 13 October 2014. The typhoon made its
landfall in Makurazaki on Kyushu Island with winds of up to 180 kilometers per hour.
Typhoon Vongfong that is the strongest storm to hit Japan in 2014 had injured more
than 30 people and led to cancellation of more than 300 flights, while hundreds of
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thousands had to evacuate their homes. It brought heavy rain and fierce winds to the
southern island of Okinawa with it.
Vongfong means wasp in Cantonese is categorised as a super-typhoon after it picked
up strength through several South Pacific islands, including Guam.
Earlier in the first week of October 2014, Japan was hit be Typhoon Phanfone that
killed at least nine people as per Japans Kyodo news agency. The killed people
included three US military servicemen in Okinawa who were washed out to sea.
Cyclone Hudhud struck coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and

Odisha
Cyclonic Storm Hudhud struck the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha
on 12 October 2014. The cyclone carried heavy rains and winds of almost 155 to
190 kilometer per hour with it and killed at least eight people and left behind a trail of
devastation.
Hudhud that made its landfall in Visakhapatnam known to locals as Vizag disrupted
electricity and telecommunications services as well as road and rail traffic along the
coast. It also damaged thousands of homes and uprooted several trees.
India Meteorological Department has predicted that the cyclone will bring heavy rainfall
at few places including Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam districts of
north Andhra Pradesh and Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur,
Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Phulbani districts of south Odisha during the next 24 hours.
Response of the action team to the Cyclone

In response to the devastation caused by the cyclone, the navy will lead a joint armed
forces relief operation code named Lehar. The Air Force sent its machines from Delhi,
Jorhat bases and the Indian Coast Guard inducted its 17 vessels and 11 planes for
rescue and relief operations in Andhra and Odisha. The Army also alerted its areas
offices in Andhra, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala and kept its columns ready to
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take up rescue and relief operations.
The rescue team evacuated more than 7 lakh people (5 lakh in Andhra Pradesh and
2 lakh in Odisha) from the coastal areas of both states and kept them in more than
3000 shelter centers.
The cyclone Hudhud was similar to cyclone Phailin that crossed the Odisha coast in
2013 leaving behind a trail of destruction.
About Hudhud
Cyclone Hudhud was named after the national bird of Israel and was taken from the
list of names suggested by Oman. The name was derived from the Hoopoe bird, a
colorful bird found across Afro-Eurasia.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) that issues cyclone advisors to eight
countries (India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and
Thailand) has a list of names that has been contributed by each of these countries.
The name of the cyclone that occurs in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal is picked
from the list of the names that has been submitted. The cyclones are named in such
way that each country is given a chance to name a cyclone and once each of them
gets their turn a next list of names is followed.
The current cyclone is named Hudud (Oman) and the others that will occur in future
will be named as Nilofar (Pakistan), Priya (Sri Lanka) and Komen (Thailand).
New York Declaration on Forests released at UN Climate Summit

New York Declaration on Forests was released at the UN Climate Summit in New York,
US on 23 September 2014. The Declaration called all the Governments, multinational
companies and campaigners to take pledge to eliminate deforestation by 2030.
The New York Declaration on Forests calls for the restoration of more than 350 million
hectares of forests and croplands. New York Declaration on Forests is a non-legally
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binding political agreement.
The New York Declaration aims to reduce more climate pollution each year than the
United States emits annually.
Pledge of other stakeholders

In support of the Declaration, 20 global food companies announced their pledges to
deforestation-free sourcing policies of palm oil.
The worlds largest palm oil companies Wilmar, Golden Agri-Resources and Cargill
also committed to work together to implement and join the Indonesian Business
Council in asking incoming Indonesian President Joko Widodo to support their efforts
through legislation and policies.
Taken together, the share of palm oil under zero deforestation commitments has
grown from 0 to about 60 per cent in 2013, with the potential to reduce up to 450
million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually by 2020. That is the equivalent of
2 billion tonnes in the period through 2020.
Among other announcements, 26 governors from Peru and Liberia presented new
forest policies and pledged to cut deforestation by 80 per cent.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Guatemala,
Uganda and several other countries are set to make national pledges to restore more
than 30 million hectares of degraded lands.
Also, the Consumer Goods Forum, a coalition of 400 companies, called on
Governments to pass a legally binding climate deal in Paris in 2015 that includes
REDD+, including large-scale payments to countries that reduces deforestation.
More than 120 Heads of States and Government, business, finance and civil society
representatives announced commitments to reduce emissions enhance resistance
to climate change and mobilize financing for climate action.
Comment
If the initiative goes as per expectation, it would avoid between 4.5 and 8.8 billion
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tons of carbon dioxide each year by 2030. That is equivalent to removing the carbon
emissions produced by the one billion cars that are currently on the worlds roads.
Deforestation is a significant contributor to climate change. Trees which store carbon
release carbon when they are burned during slash-and-burn land clearing of forests.
Maryland University Researchers developed a tool to predict

how organisms respond to climate change
Researchers at University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences Appalachian
Laboratory have developed a tool to predict how organisms may respond to climate
change.
The information about the tool was given in a study titled Ecological genomics meets
community-level modeling of biodiversity: mapping the genomic landscape of current
and future environmental adaptation. The study was published in Journal Ecology
Letters on 1 October 2014. The author of the study is Matthew Fitzpatrick of the
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and University of Vermont
The newly developed technique studies the adaptation pattern of organisms in
response to climate change by combining genetic analyses with a new modeling
approach for the first time.
With this technique, the researchers studied the local adaptation to climate at the
molecular level by indentifying which gene control climate adaptation and how these
vary between individuals.
For this purpose, the team of researchers sampled the genetic code of 400 trees from
31 locations across northern North America and combined the genetic variations with
computer modelling techniques to map how important genes differ within balsam
poplar and to locate where trees may have the best chance of survival in a rapidly
warming world.
Researchers feel that this type of modeling of variation in genetic makeup represents
an important advance in understanding how climate change may impact the
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biodiversity.

NASAs Earth Observatory in October 2014 claimed that Aral Sea, the worlds fourthlargest lake of its time has dried and is at the verge of vanish. The observatory says
that the lake tucked between two former Soviet states in central Asia, Kazakhstan and
Uzbekistan is now just a vast toxic desert and its disappearance has also affected
the local climate. Now, the summers of the area are getting hotter, whereas, the
winters are colder.
Recently the Earth Observatory posted some images that show the extent of the
lakes recession over past 14 years. The released image of Aral Sea was taken by
NASAs Terra satellite in August 2014 and was released on 2 October 2014.
The damage was recorded the most in 2014, as the eastern lobe of the South Aral
Sea that is the center of the original lake has dried completely. The researchers have
predicted that Aral Sea will be vanished completely by 2020.
About Aral Sea

Once the Aral Sea was spread in an area of 68000 square kilometer (26300 square
miles) but has steadily shrunk since the 1960s. By 2007, the lake declined to 10
percent of its original size by splitting into four lakes, namely the North Aral Sea, the
eastern and western basins of the once far larger South Aral Sea and one smaller
lake between the North and South Aral Seas. Further, by 2009, the southeastern
lake had disappeared and the southwestern lake had retreated to a thin strip at the
extreme west of the former southern sea.
Cause of its disappearance

Aral Sea located between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan was fed by two rivers, the Amu
Darya and Syr Darya, till 1960s. These two rivers brought snowmelt from mountains
to the southeast and local rainfall to the sea. But in 1960s, the erstwhile Soviet Union
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diverted the water of the two rivers through canals and dams to supply agriculture
of cotton and other agricultural products in the region, leading to stoppage of water
into Aral Sea.
With this stoppage of water into the sea by the rivers has resulted into recede of
the sea although its salinity level kept on rising. On the other hand, the lake bed got
contaminated due to chemical and fertilizer runoff. The salty dust that blew from
the exposed lakebed became a public health hazard and degraded the soil, after
which the croplands were flushed with larger volumes of river water. This flushing of
volumes of water into croplands affected it more.
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SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY
An international team of scientists in the month of October 2014 claimed to have set
the world record for creating coldest cubic meter in the Universe.
Scientists are working on the cryostat thats part of the Cryogenic Underground
Observatory for Rare Events experiment (CUORE) cooled an 880-pound block of
copper to a temperature of six milliKelvins.
Dr. Karsten Heeger, director of Yales Arthur W. Wright Laboratory, has been involved in
the CUORE collaboration, which conducts the cryogenics research. The collaboration
was based at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory in Italy. It involves 130 scientists
from the U.S., Italy, China, Spain, France, and other countries.
About the research

An Italian lab has cooled a cubic metre of copper to within a tiny fraction of absolute
zero. The cooled copper mass was the coldest cubic metre in the universe for over
15 days.
It is the first experiment ever to cool a mass and a volume of this size to a temperature
this close to absolute zero (0 Kelvin). The cubic metre (35 cubic feet) of copper
weighing 400 kilograms was brought to a temperature of six milliKelvins or minus
273.144 Celsius (minus 459.66 Fahrenheit).
Absolute zero is considered as the lowest possible temperature. It is -273.15 C or
zero on the Kelvin scale. It was named after 19th-century Irish engineer and physicist
William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, credited with establishing the correct value of
the temperature.
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Background
The record-setting cold temperature would be a prelude to another experiment that
might help explain the behavior of ghostly subatomic particles known as neutrinos,
and it might answer longstanding questions about the composition of matter in the
universe. The process was achieved with a chamber-like device known as a cryostat.
Scientists stated that the experiment would look at a rare process called neutrinoless
double-beta decay. With the detection of this process, it would let researchers to
demonstrate, for the first time, that neutrinos and antineutrinos are the same.
The research will thereby offer a possible explanation for the abundance of matter,
rather than anti-matter, in the universe. Now that the cryostat has reached base
temperature, the commissioning and cryogenic testing of the calibration system will
take place in the next few month.
About CUORE
CUORE is located at Italys Gran Sasso mountain, the highest peak in the Apennines
some 120 kilometres from Rome. The Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare
Events (CUORE) is a particle physics facility located at the Laboratori Nazionali del
Gran Sasso in Italy.
Once the CUORE experiment is fully operational, it will study important properties
of neutrinos, the fundamental, subatomic particles that are created by radioactive
decay and do not carry an electrical charge.
Google announced changes to its search engine to curb online

piracy
Google in the third week of October 2014 announced changes to its search engine in
an attempt to curb online piracy and highlight legal sites.
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Measures taken by Google
The new measures will direct the users towards legal alternatives such as Spotify and
Google Play. Google will now list these legal services in a box at the top of the search
results as well as in a box on the right-hand side of the page.
However, legal sites that want to be highlighted in this way will have to pay Google
as they would for any other advertisement.
Moreover, Google also added extra measures to filter its search results so that links
containing illegal content come at the lower places in results while legal sites float to
the top.
The legal options will now appear at the top of the page. For instance, on YouTube
its Content ID system is able to detect the use of copyrighted material in the videos
that offer the choice to music labels of having their content removed or monetising it
by placing its advertisement.
Piracy often arises when consumer demand goes unmet by legitimate supply. The
best way to combat piracy is with better and more convenient legitimate services.
Reaction of British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on the measures undertaken

by Google
Music trade group the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) was broadly pleased with
Googles changes but it did not agree with Google decision to charge sites for their
placement.
BPI urged Google to use the machine-readable data on the Music Matters web portal
which lists all services licensed in the UK. It should promote the legal services and
show them in the search using appropriate weighting applied fairly and equally across
services.
Other combative measures pressed by the BPI include the blocking of websites such
as the Pirate Bay so that UK internet users cannot visit the site unless they are using
specialist software.
The BPI will continue to meet with the search engines and government to ensure
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these measures make a real difference and will persuade Bing and Yahoo to take
similar action.
Piracy battle
The BPI made 43.3 million requests for Google to remove search results in 2013.
Google removed 222 million results from search because of copyright infringement.
Googles Content ID system which detects copyrighted material scans 400 yearsworth of video every day.
300 million videos have been claimed by rights holders which means that they can
place advertising on them.
Background
Earlier Google was criticised for enabling people to find sites and download illegal
content. The entertainment industry argued that the illegal sites should be demoted
in search results.
The music industry was infuriated by the way in which a search on Google for listen
to Katy Perry, or any artist would sometimes produce results pointing to places to
download content illegally.
Often, the illegal sites would rank higher than official outlets such as iTunes. Google
has gradually backed down and implemented some measures to negate such
instances.
Uranus like planet discovered in a binary star system 25000

light-years away
Astronomers discovered a new planet that resembles Uranus of our solar system. It
was discovered in a binary star system 25000 light-years away near the constellation
Sagittarius.
The Astronomers led by Radek Poleski of Ohio State University revealed this in a
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paper published in The Astrophysical Journal on 13 October 2014.
This is the first time that a twin for ice-giant planets, Uranus and Neptune has been
spotted. These two planets are mainly composed of hydrogen and helium and
significant amounts of methane ice that helps them to appear blue.
Astronomers were not able to tell anything about composition of this planet due to
their distance from Earth. But astronomers are considering it to be a Uranus analog
because, the planets distance from its star suggests that its an ice giant and its orbit
resembles to Uranus.
As per the report, the planet is four times as massive as Uranus, but it orbits the first
star at almost exactly the same distance as Uranus orbits our Sun.
This discovered planet leads a turbulent existence as it orbits a 0.7 M star at 18 AU
in a binary star system with the other star close enough to disturb the planets orbit.
The first star is about two thirds as massive as our Sun, and the second star is
about one sixth as massive. The projected separation of the planet is only about
three times smaller than that of the companion star, suggesting significant dynamical
interactions.
How the planet was discovered?

The solar system was spotted due to a phenomenon called gravitational microlensing
that happens when the gravity of a star focuses the light from a more distant star and
magnifies it like a lens. The two separate microlensing events occurred in 2008 and
2010.
The 2008 event revealed the main star and suggested the presence of the planet, while
the second event of 2010 confirmed the presence of the planet and also revealed the
second star.
Both these observations were done at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile as part of
the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) with the help of the 1.3-metre
Warsaw Telescope.
According to Andrew Gould, professor of astronomy at Ohio State University, this
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discovery would solve a mystery a about the origins of the ice giants in our solar
system.
India successfully test-fired nuclear capable Nirbhay cruise

missile
India on 17 October 2014 successfully test fired its first long range subsonic cruise
missile Nirbhay with a strike range of over 1000 km from the Integrated Test Range
at Chandipur in Orissa.
This 6 meter tall low altitude flying missile was fired from a mobile launcher. Carrying
a dummy payload of n350 kg, the missile also demonstrated the critical ability to
zero-in on its target by diving towards a pre-designated impact point in the Bay of
Bengal.
This was the second flight trial of the missile as the first test was aborted mid way in
March 2013 when the missile deviated from its path.
Nirbhay cruise missile

The missile was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) at its aeronautics R&D laboratory ADE (Aeronautical Development
Establishment) based in Bengaluru.
The avionics of the missile was provided by the Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad.
The DRDL has also contributed to the development of the missile.
Nirbhay cruise missile can carry conventional and nuclear war heads.
Nirbhay has good loitering capability, good control and guidance, high degree of
accuracy in terms of impact and very good stealth features.
Nirbhay is very manoeuvrable and can fly at tree-top level, making it difficult to be
detected on radar.
It can strike the targets more than 700 km away carrying nuclear warheads giving
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India the capability to strike deep into enemy territory.
ISRO re-positioned Mars Orbiter, Mangalyaan to save it from

Comet Siding Spring
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 16 October 2014 repositioned its
Mars Orbiter, Mangalyaan as a precautionary step against the expected Comet Siding
Spring that would fly by Mars, the red planet on 19 October 2014.
ISRO has positioned its Mars Orbiter to a position farthest from the tail of the Comet
so that it does not affect the satellite.
Along with the Indian space Agency, the space agencies of other countries around
the world those have sent their missions to Mars has also repositioned their satellites
like MAVEN, Curiosity, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on the planet, so that the
Comet Siding Spring would not collide or affect them by its movement.
Background
US space agency NASA has said that the Comet Siding Spring, C/2013 A1 has
travelled many billions of miles and would come within about 87000 miles of Mars on
19 October 2014. The comet comes from the Oort cloud, material left over from the
formation of the solar system.
C/2013 A1
C/2013 A1 is a Siding Spring is an Oort cloud comet and was discovered on 3 January
2013 by Robert H. McNaught at Siding Spring Observatory using the 0.5-meter (20
in) Uppsala Southern Schmidt Telescope. At the time of discovery it was 7.2 AU
from the Sun and located in theconstellation Lepus. Comet C/2013 A1 probably took
millions of years to come from the Oort cloud.
NASA successfully installed its first Earth-observing instrument

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ISS-RapidScat on the ISS
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on 21 September 2014
successfully installed and activated its first Earth-observing instrument ISS-RapidScat
(ISS Rapid Scatterometer) on the International Space Station (ISS). It was launched
aboard during the SpaceX CRS-4 mission.
The ISS-RapidScat will monitor ocean winds for climate research as well as weather
predictions and hurricane monitoring.
It has a different orbit than other Earth remote sensing platforms. It is closer to Earth
and it sees Earth at different times of the day with a different schedule.
The first image from ISS-RapidScat was released by NASA on 6 October 2014 which
depicts preliminary measurements of global ocean near-surface wind speeds and
directions.
NASA has already launched the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core
Observatory, a joint mission with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in February
2014 and the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) carbon observatory in July
2014.
Two additional NASA Earth science instruments are scheduled to be launched in
2016.
ISS-RapidScat (ISS Rapid Scatterometer)

ISS-RapidScat is NASAs first research payload aimed at conducting near global
Earth science from the stations exterior and will be augmented with others in
coming years.
It is a space-based scatterometer that replaces the inoperable SeaWinds payload
aboard the QuickSCAT satellite.
Scatterometers are radar instruments that measure wind speed and direction
over the ocean, and are useful for weather forecasting, hurricane monitoring, and
observations of large-scale climate phenomena such as El Nino.
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The ISS RapidScat instrument enhances measurements from other international
scatterometers by cross-checking their data and demonstrates a unique way to
replace an instrument aboard an aging satellite.
Researchers developed a technology that makes visible the

movements of HIV virus
A team of researchers developed a technology that makes visible the dance or
movements of HIV proteins on the virus surface. The development may contribute to
study how HIV virus infects human immune cells and devise an approach to prevent
HIV infection.
The technology was developed by a team of researchers led by Dr. Scott Blanchard
of Weill Cornell Medical College of New York, US. The study related to this was
published in the Journal Nature in the first week of October 2014.
Development of the Technology

To prevent the HIV infection, one need to prevent the entry of the HIV virus into the
immune cells and this could only be possible when one can track the movement of
HIV virus on real time basis.
To do this Blanchard and his team adapted an imaging technique that uses
fluorescence to measure distance on molecular scale, single-molecule fluorescence
resonance energy transfer (smFRET) imaging, to study viral particles.
Then his group developed fluorescent molecules (fluorophores), which they dubbed
beacons, and inserted them into the viruss outer covering, known as the envelope.
With two of these special beacons in place, they demonstrated that smFRET imaging
technology can be used to visualize how the molecules move over time, when the
virus proteins change conformation.
Equipped with smFRET imaging technology, the team studied the movement of
proteins on the surface of the HIV virus called envelope proteins. Envelope proteins
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are key to the viruss ability to infect human immune cells carrying CD4 receptor
proteins which help HIV bind to a cell.
The envelope protein consists of three gp120 and gp41 proteins positioned close
together, and referred to as trimers that open up like a flower in the presence of CD4,
exposing the gp41 subunit that is essential for subsequent aspects of the mechanism
that causes infection.
Super-Resolved Fluorescence Microscopy: Surpassing the

limitations of the light microscope
The Fluorescence Microscopy was currently in news as the 2014 Nobel Prize
for Chemistry acknowledged the development of super-resolved fluorescence
microscopy. Eric Betzig, Stefan Hell And William E. Moerner are the names behind
the development.
Eric Betzig of Janelia Farm Research Campus, Stefan W. Hell of Max Planck Institute
for Biophysical Chemistry and William E. Moerner of Stanford University bypassed
a presumed scientific limitation and proved that an optical microscope can yield a
resolution better than 0.2 micrometres.
Development of Super-Resolved Fluorescence Microscopy:

Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) method- Stefan Hell
Since 1990, Stefan Hell was looking for a way to bypass the limitation that Ernst
Abbe had defined more than a century earlier. The thought of challenging such
an established principle was tantalizing, but senior scientists in Germany had met
his enthusiasm with scepticism. Hell was convinced that there had to be a way of
circumventing Abbes diffraction limit.
Later, Hell worked on Fluorescence Microscopy, a technique where scientists use
fluorescent molecules to image parts of the cell. He read about stimulated emission
and realized that it should be possible to devise a kind of nano-flashlight that could
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sweep along a nanometre at a time.
In 1994, Stefan Hell published an article on Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED)
method in which a light pulse excites all the fluorescent molecules while another light
pulse quenches fluorescence from all molecules.
After studying the STED method, he developed a STED microscope. In 2000 he was
able to image an E. coli bacterium at a resolution never before achieved in an optical
microscope. The STED microscope collects light from a multitude of small volumes
to create a large whole.
Single-Molecule Microscopy Method- Eric Betzig and W. E. Moerner

In 1989, W. E. Moerner measured the light absorption of a single molecule. At the time
he was working at the IBM research centre in San Jose, California. The experiment
opened the door to a new future and inspired many chemists to turn their attention
to single molecules, one of them was Eric Betzig.
In 1997 W. E. Moerner discovered that the fluorescence of one variant of green
fluorescent protein (GFP) could be turned on and off at will.
Moerner dispersed these excitable proteins in a gel, so that the distance between
each individual protein was greater than Abbes diffraction limit of 0.2 micrometres.
Since they were sparsely scattered, a regular optical microscope could discern the
glow from individual molecules as they were like tiny lamps with switches. By this
discovery Moerner demonstrated that it is possible to optically control fluorescence
of single molecules.
Just like Stefan Hell, Eric Betzig was obsessed by the idea of bypassing Abbes
diffraction limit. In the beginning of the 1990s he was working on a new kind of optical
microscopy called near-field microscopy at the Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. In
1995 Eric Betzig concluded that near-field microscopy could not be improved much
further. But Abbes diffraction limit remained in his mind.
Inspired by W. E. Moerner, Eric Betzig had already detected fluorescence in single
molecules using near-field microscopy. He began to ponder whether a regular
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microscope could yield the same high resolution if different molecules glowed with
different colours such as red, yellow and green.
His idea was to have the microscope register one image per colour. He demonstrated
that if all molecules of one colour were dispersed and are not closer to each other
than the 0.2 micrometres stipulated by Abbes diffraction limit, their position could be
determined very precisely.
Later, when these images were superimposed, the complete image would get a
resolution far better than Abbes diffraction limit and red, yellow and green molecules
would be distinguishable even if their distance was just a few nanometres. In this
manner Abbes diffraction limit could be circumvented.
Ernst Abbes diffraction limit

For a long time, optical microscopy was held back by a physical restriction as to
what size of structures are possible to resolve. In 1873, the microscopist Ernst Abbe
published an equation demonstrating how microscope resolution is limited by the
wavelength of the light.
Resultantly, for the greater part of the 20th century the scientists believed that they
would never be able to observe things smaller than roughly half the wavelength of
light 0.2 micrometres in optical microscopes.
The contours of some of the cells organelles were visible such as the powerhouse
mitochondria, but it was impossible to discern smaller objects like interaction between
individual protein molecules in the cell.
Researchers at MIT created material for absorption of solar

radiation
Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) created a material that
is ideal for absorption of solar radiation.
The creation of the material was described in a paper published in the journal Advanced
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Materials in the first week of October 2014. The paper has been co-authored by
Jeffrey Chou, a Post-Doc at MIT, Professors Marin Soljacic, Nicholas Fang, Evelyn
Wang, and Sang-Gook Kim, and five others.
The material was made by using a formulation that includes a relatively expensive
metal ruthenium. The material has a two-dimensional metallic dielectric photonic
crystal and is made from a collection of nanocavities.
The material works as part of a solar-thermophotovoltaic (STPV) device wherein the
energy of sunlight is first converted to heat, which then causes the material to glow,
emitting light that could, in turn, be converted to an electric current.
Process of creating the material

Since, most of the suns energy reaches us within a specific band of wavelengths
ranging from the ultraviolet through visible light and into the near-infrared. Thus, its a
very specific window that researchers wanted to absorb in so that they could create
a material that would be ideal for converting solar energy to heat.
In order to create the material which can completely absorb the solar radiation and
enhance the efficiency of STPV device, the researchers worked on getting just the
right spectrum of both absorption and emission.
For this, they worked on an earlier STPV device that took the form of hollow cavities
and then they put a dielectric material inside. On this, they found that it had a very
good absorption spectrum, just what the researchers wanted.
Key characteristics of the new material

It can absorb sunlight from a wide range of angles and thus do not need solar
tracker which would add greatly to the complexity and expense of a solar power
system
It can withstand extremely high temperatures of 1000 degrees Celsius thus it can
take maximum advantage of systems that concentrate sunlight using mirrors
The material could also be made cheaply at large scales.
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Further the absorption characteristics of material can be controlled with great
precision
The presence of nanocavities ensures that the absorption could be tuned just by
changing the size of the nanocavities.
It is well matched to existing manufacturing technology. This is the first-ever device
of this kind that can be fabricated with a method based on current techniques,
which means it is able to be manufactured on silicon wafer scales.
This work shows the potential of both photonic engineering and materials science to
advance solar energy harvesting
Union Science and Technology Minister launched microscope

with 3-D feature
Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on 8 October 2014 launched
the ingeniously manufactured Broad Spectrum Confocal Microscope that generates
3D images of objects. This 3D microscope was launched in New Delhi.
The Confocal Microscope can be used to obtain three dimensional features at
microscopic level and can play a vital role in scientific understanding of nano material
and biological object. It can also do resonant scanning up to 1024x1024 pixels.
Functioning of the microscope

Several small holes on the surface help the optic fibre to produce multiple wavelengths
from the laser and which is similar to the way a peacocks feather scatters light. This
light is projected on the target object that allows people to see a three dimensional
structure of the object.
It has several applications in medicine and material sciences as it uses infra red beam
that passes through a patented photonic crystal fibre. This crystal fibre is made by
the Central Glass and Ceramics Research Institute (CGCRI), Kolkata
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First of its kind, the microscope has been developed under the public-private
partnership mode by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research along with
Vinvish Technologies, Thiruvananthapuram, under the New Millennium Indian
Technology Initiative (NMITI), which was an effort launched by the CSIR over a decade
ago. CSIR launched NMITI to develop technologies through collaborative efforts by
research laboratories and technology companies in India. It has been developed in
two years with a 2.5-crore rupees loan from CSIR.
Brain Global Positioning System

Recently, Noble Prize was announced for the research in Brain Global Positioning
System. The Nobel laureate John OKeefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser
investigates with brain imaging techniques, as well as studies of patients undergoing
neurosurgery.
The Scientists have provided evidence that place and grid cells exist also in humans.
In patients with Alzheimers disease, the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex are
frequently affected at an early stage, and these individuals often lose their way and
cannot recognize the environment.
Knowledge about the brains positioning system may, therefore, help us understand
the mechanism underpinning the devastating spatial memory loss that affects people
with this disease.
The discovery of the brains positioning system represents a paradigm shift in our
understanding of how ensembles of specialized cells work together to execute higher
cognitive functions. It has opened new avenues for understanding other cognitive
processes, such as memory, thinking and planning.
The discovery of cells in rats brains that function as a kind of built-in navigation
system that is at the very heart of how animals know where they are, where they are
going and where they have been. They called them grid cells.
Often, the workings of billions of neurons that produce our thoughts are opaque. But
electrical recordings of signals emitted by grid cells show a map with a framework
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and coordinates that are completely intuitive.
Implications of the discovery

The implications of the discovery are both practical and profound. The cells have been
proved to exist in primates, and scientists think they will be found in all mammals,
including humans.
It is now clear that the grid cells, in combination with cells that sense head direction
and others that sense borders or boundaries both originally identified in other
parts of the brain by other labs form a kind of dead-reckoning navigation system
in the brain that maps movement.
Information flows from this part of the brain to the hippocampus, and then back.
Exactly how the grid informs the place cells, and vice versa, is not known.
What scientists have now are two ends of a system with a black box in the middle
that is not fully understood. At one end are place cells. At the other are grid cells. As
to what exactly happens in between, and how the grid cells form in the first place.
Scientists at Ohio State University developed worlds first

rechargeable solar battery
Scientists at Ohio State University, US developed the worlds first rechargeable solar
battery. The study related to this was published in the Journal Nature Communications
on 3 October 2014.
The developed solar battery is in fact a hybrid device that is party rechargeable
battery and part solar cell. This battery unlike other batteries relies predominantly
on oxygen from air and sunlight which flows in through a meshed solar panel fitted
inside it.
Main components of the solar battery

The solar battery comprises of three electrodes instead of four electrodes which
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normally is required to connect a solar cell to a battery.
The first electrode is meshed solar panel is like a flexible fabric made of titanium
gauze upon which vertical rods of titanium oxide like blades of grass are placed. The
second electrode is thin sheet of carbon and the third electrode is a lithium plate.
Between the electrodes, a layer of iodide electrolyte is sandwiched that carries
electrons, and transports them between the battery electrode and the mesh solar
panel.
How the solar battery works

First the mesh solar panel receives the oxygen from air and sunlight wherein the
titanium gauze enables the air to pass through while the rods capture the sunlight.
During charging, as the light hits the mesh solar panel, it creates electrons which
chemically decompose lithium peroxide into lithium ions and oxygen. Thereupon, the
oxygen is released into the air, and the lithium ions that carry the charged electrons
get stored in the battery as lithium metal.
Once the battery begins to discharge, it chemically consumes oxygen from the air to
re-form the lithium peroxide and gives off energy used to power and mobile device.
In short, the battery uses air as a catalyst akin to the processes of energy conversion.
In the words of Yiying Wu, the lead researcher of the study, Basically its a breathing
battery. It breathes in air when it discharges, and breathes out when it charges.
The benefits of Solar battery

It could solar energy more affordable and opens the door for its widespread use
as a sustainable power source.
It would lower the cost of storing and using solar energy by about 25 percent.
It could also solve a longstanding problem in solar energy efficiency by eliminating
the loss of electricity. The loss of electricity normally occurs when electrons have
to travel between a solar cell and an external battery.
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Typically, only 80 per cent of electrons emerging from a solar cell make it into a
battery. With this new design, light is converted to electrons inside the battery, so
nearly 100 per cent of the electrons are saved.
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SPORTS
Pankaj Advani on 30 October 2014 won IBSF World Billiards Championship (Point
Format) in Bangalore. He won by defeating Robert Hall of the UK with a score of 1928
893 in the finals. This is his 12th title in the Timed Format and third Grand double.
Earlier, Advani won the World Billiards (Timed Format) Championship 2014 by beating
Peter Gilchrist (Rank 1) on 28 October 2014.
Advani is the first cueist to win the Grand double three times (Mike Russell has
won the Grand title two times). He pocketed two grand doubles in 2005 and 2008
respectively.
In 2014, he has already won four titles so far. These are

World Snooker 6-red
World team billiards
World billiards (150 points up)
World billiards (Time Format)
He is the only man to have won World titles in both 15-red and 6-red snooker.
He also is a record five-time Asian billiards championship winner.
Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh inducted into Don Bradman

Hall of Fame
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Sachin Tendulkar, Indian batting legend and Steve Waugh, former Australian cricket
captain entered Bradman Hall of Fame on 29 October 2014. The cricketers were
inducted as the 2014 Bradman Honourees at a gala dinner held at the historic Sydney
Cricket Ground.
Bradman once identified that Tendulkars technique reminded him of his own. Apart
from this, he also listed Tendulkars name in an all-time XI that was prepared by the
batting genius himself.
Tendulkar had the honour of meeting Bradman on his 90th birthday in 1998 at his
Adelaide home.
Bradman Foundation Executive Director: Rina Hore
Serena Williams won the Singles title of BNP Paribas WTA Finals
Singapore 2014
Serena Williams of the US on 26 October 2014 won the Singles title of BNP Paribas
WTA Finals Singapore 2014. In the finals held at Singapore Indoor Stadium, she
defeated Simona Halep of Romania 6-3, 6-0.
With this win, she won the WTA Finals for the fifth time. Earlier, she had won the WTA
Finals title in 2001, 2009, 2012 and 2013.
List of winners winning the maximum number of WTA titles

Martina Navratilova - eight titles (1978, 1979, 1981, 1983-86*)
Steffi Graf - five titles (1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996)
Serena Williams - five titles (2001, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Chris Evert - four titles (1972, 1973, 1975, 1977)
Monica Seles - three titles (1990, 1991, 1992)
Kim Clijsters - three titles (2002, 2003, 2010)
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Serena already had won 18 Grand Slam Singles title, the last one being the US Open
she won in September 2014. She is currently the world number one in women tennis
and this she has achieved for the fourth time.
On the other hand, Halep is the first Romanian to reach the final of WTA finals and
the eighth woman to achieve the feat while making her debut in the event for the top
eight players of the year.
Womens Doubles:
Sania Mirza (India) and Cara Black (Zimbabwe) won the WTA doubles title against
Peng Shuai (China) and Hsieh Su-Wei (Chinese Taipei), 6-1, 6-0.

Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri on 26 October 2014 won 900000 US dollar Venetian
Macau Golf Open. This was his second title of the year and fifth career win on the
Asian Tour.
The 27-year-old Lahiris sensational one-stroke helped him to edge front runner Scott
Hend of Australia and Prom Meesawat of Thailand. He signed for a final round of fiveunder-par 66, which included six birdies, and a winning aggregate of 17-under-par
267.
Among other Indians, Shiv Kapur (67) was eighth at 10-under 274, while Jyoti
Randhawa (70) was tied 15th at six-under 278. Jeev Milkha Singh (68) was tied 26th
at three-under 285 and SSP Chowrasia (70) was tied 32nd at two-under 286.
Sania Mirza and Cara Black won doubles title of the BNP Paribas
WTA Finals Singapore
Sania Mirza of India and Cara Black of Zimbabwe on 26 October 2014 won the
doubles title of the BNP Paribas Womens Tennis Association (WTA) Finals Singapore
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presented by SC Global. The winning Indian-Zimbabwean pair received 500000 US
dollars as prize money.
In the title clash played on the hard-courts of the Singapore Indoor Stadium, the duo
defeated defending champions Peng Shuai of China and Hsieh Su-Wei of Taipei, 6-1,
6-0. It was the heaviest defeat ever witnessed in the end-of-season competitions
doubles final which dates back to 1973, the year the WTA was founded.
This win was their fifth and biggest WTA doubles title together. Earlier they had won
one Premier Mandatory title in Beijing in 2013, two other Premiers title in Tokyo in
2013 and 2014 and an International title in Oeiras in 2014.
However, this was the last tournament for Sania and Cara together as Cara wants to
sit out in 2015 season. They teamed up at the end of 2013. Now, Sania will partner
with Hsieh in other tournaments.
For Sania, it was her first doubles crown at the WTA finals, while this was the third
victory for Cara at the season-ending championships, but with different partner Liezel
Huber of the US in 2007 and 2008. 35-year-old Cara has appeared at 10 straight WTA
finals between 2000 and 2009.
Para-swimmer Sharath Gayakwad broke 28-year old record of P

T Usha at Asian Para Games
Para-swimmer Sharath Gayakwad on 26 October 2014 broke the 28-year old record
of P T Usha of winning the most medals at a multi-discipline event by an Indian. He
achieved this feat at Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea.
At the games, Sharath Gayakwad won 6 medals, thus breaking the record held by PT
Usha. She had won 5 medals at the 1986 Asian Games held in Seoul, South Korea.
Sharath won the medals in following events

200 m Individual Medley Silver
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100 m Butterfly Bronze
100 m Breaststroke Bronze
100 m Backstroke Bronze
50 m Freestyle Bronze
4x100m Medley Relay Bronze
Sharath won the Bronze medal in 4x100m Medley Relay with teammates Prasanta
Karmakar, Swapnil Patil and Niranjan Mukundan.
P T Usha, called Payyyoli Express and queen of track & field events, had won the
medal in following events in 1986 Asian Games
200 metres Gold
400 metres Gold
400 metres hurdles Gold
4x400 metres relay Gold100 metres Silver
About Sharath Gayakwad

Sharath Gayakwad is an Indian Paralympic swimmer from Bangalore. He has over
30 international and 40 national medals to his credit, one of them being the bronze
medal at the 2010 Asian Para Games.
He is also the first Indian swimmer to qualify for the Paralympics and competed in the
2012 Summer Paralympics in London.
AIBA provisionally suspended Sarita Devi and her coaches for

Asian Games incident
International Boxing Association (AIBA) on 22 October 2014 provisionally suspended
Indian boxer Laishram Sarita Devi for protesting against a controversial verdict, at
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2014 Incheon Asian Games.
During the Asiad, Sarita refused to accept the bronze medal and wear it around her
neck during the podium ceremony of the lightweight semi-final of 57-60 kg category.
Apart from Sarita, the AIBA also provisionally suspended Saritas coaches, Messrs
Gurbakhsh Singh Sandhu, Blas Iglesias Fernandez and Sagar Mal Dhayal as well as
Indian chef-de-mission in the Incheon Asiad, Adille J. Sumariwalla.
As per AIBAs notification, AIBA has sent Saritas case for review by the AIBA
Disciplinary Commission, which means that these suspended people will not be
allowed to participate at all levels of competitions, events and meetings, until further
notice. These people will also not be allowed to participate in the 2014 AIBA womens
world boxing championships to be held in Jeju Islands, Korea.
Incident that led to suspension of Sarita and her coaches

The 29-year-old boxer accepted the medal in her hand and then handed the medal
to South Korean silver medallist Ji-Na Park, who had defeated Sarita. Saritas defeat
by Park was controversial and seemed to be a bad referee decision. The referees
decision was termed as controversial as Sarita dominated the fight, especially in the
final two rounds, leaving her opponent with a bloodied nose, but the judges ruled in
Jinas favour.

Ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani won World Billiards Point Format Championship
on 24 October 2014. In the title clash played at Leeds, United Kingdom, Advani
outplayed Singapores Peter Gilchrist, 6-2.
Advani, who trailed 1-2, won five frames on the trot to regain the title, he had last won
in 2012. This was Advanis 11th World title and third of the year in different formats of
the game. Three titles won by Advani in 2014 are
IBSF World 6-Red Snooker title
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World Team Billiards title
World Billiards Championship (point format)
In the semi-finals, Advani defeated compatriot Sourav Kothari 5-2, while Gilchrist
had edged out Englands Robert Hall 5-3.

Indian mens hockey team chief coach Terry Walsh resigned from his post on 21
October 2014. He resigned due to a pay dispute with the Sports Authority of India
(SAI).
The 60-year-old Australian and a noted Olympian, Walsh, led India to its third Asian
Games Gold in the Asian Games at Incheon and helped Indian hockey team to secure
its berth at the 2016 Olympics. Under Walsh, India had also won Silver in Glasgow
Commonwealth Games.
While resigning, he said that it was difficult to work under present system of
governance and decision making process of sporting bureaucracy in the country. He
took charge of the Indian team in October 2013 and his contract was to run till the
2016 Rio Olympics.
Walsh is the former Olympian who was part of Australias silver winning team in 1976
Montreal Olympics. He represented Australia in three Olympics. Former Australian
legend Terry Walsh took over the post as Indias chief hockey coach from Michael
Nobbs.
BCCI decided to initiate legal proceedings against WI Cricket

Board
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on 21 October 2014 decided to initiate
legal proceedings against West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for abrupt cancellation
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of their tour to India. It also decided to suspend all bilateral tours between BCCI and
West Indies Cricket Board.
BCCIs action was unanimously taken during the all-powerful Working Committee,
which met to decide the future course of action. This decision of pulling out from the
series by the Caribbean team, incurred heavy losses to BCCI.
Background
BCCI took the decision of cancelling all bilateral tours and initiate legal proceedings
after the Caribbean team in third week of October 2014, abruptly cancelled its
remaining matches with India, during its tour to India. The Caribbean team cancelled
India tour in the wake of an acrimonious pay dispute with the West Indies Cricket
Board.
The West Indies team was scheduled to play five ODIs, one T20 and three Tests
matches during the tour between 8 October and 19 November 2014.
Indian batsman Virat Kohli claimed number two slot in the ICC
rankings
Indian batsman Virat Kohli on 19 October 2014 claimed number two slot in the
International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings. ICC released its ranking including list of
all players of cricket.
In India West indies series in October 2014, Kohli scored 191 runs including 127 in
the final match. South Africas Hashim Amla was pushed to number three in the list.
The list was topped by AB de Villiers.
Indian skipper MS Dhoni was the next best Indian at number six while Shikhar Dhawan
lost a place to be eighth. Left-handed Suresh Raina gained three places to move to
15th position.
Bhuvneshwar jumped seven places to number seven, just behind Ravindra Jadeja,
who slipped to sixth from fifth.
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Paceman Mohammed Shami vaulted five places to 16th and has broken into the top
20 for the first time in his career. Off-Spinner R Ashwin was placed at number 18, a
loss of two spots.
Overall, there are four South Africa batsmen inside the top 20, including de Villiers
and Amla, with Quinton de Kock in ninth position and Francois du Plessis in 11th
spot - just 19 ratings points behind his team-mate.
New Zealands top-ranked batsman Ross Taylor, who sits in 10th place in the current
rankings. There are two more New Zealanders inside the top 20, namely Kane
Williamson (12th) and Martin Guptill (20th) and be eyeing positive improvements in
their home series.
Skipper Brendon McCullum (25th) lies 20 rating points adrift of his team-mate Guptill
(20th).
On the Players Rankings for ODI Bowlers, South African paceman Dale Steyn, will go
into the series as the top-ranked bowler, while ninth placed Ryan McLaren is a point
adrift of Pakistans Mohammad Hafeez.
Kyle Mills is Black Caps leading bowler in 13th place, with Tim Southee laying a
solitary ratings point outside the top 20.

Barcelona Football Club player Luis Suarez received the European Golden Boot
Award on 16 October 2014 as being the top scorer of Europe in 2013 season.
Luis Suarez received the Golden Shoe for scoring 31 Premier League goals for
Liverpool in 2013. However, he left that team afterwards to join Barcelona.
He shared the award with Real Madrid player Cristiano Ronaldo who too scored the
same tally. Luis Suarez is expected to make Barcelona debut by playing against Real
Madrid on 25 October 2014.
Luis Suarez was suspended for four months at club level and for nine competitive
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internationals after biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup in
Brazil.
India on 17 October 2014 won the 5 match 2014 West Indies tour of India cricket series
against West Indies, 2-1. The third and the fifth match of the series were cancelled.
The third match that was supposed to be played in ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam
on 14 October 2014 was cancelled, due to Cyclonic Storm Hudhud. While, the fifth
and final match of the series was not played because, the Caribbean team decided
to pull out the remainder of India tour in the wake of an acrimonious pay dispute with
the West Indies Cricket Board.
Match report of West Indies in India

Match 1: Played on 8 October 2014 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi. West
Indies won the match by 124 runs. Man of the Match was Marlon Samuels
Match 2: Played on 11 October 2014 at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. India won the
match by 48 runs. Man of the Match was Mohammed Shami
Match 3: Was cancelled due to Cyclone Hudhud
Match 4: Played on 17 October 2014 at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association
Stadium, Dharamsala. India won the match by 59 runs. Man of the Match was
Virat Kohli
Match 5: was supoped to be played on 20 October 2014 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata,
but the match was cancelled after the Caribbean side decided to pull out its India
tour
Captains of the two teams

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni
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West Indies: Dwayne Bravo

India on 19 October 2014 successfully defended its Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC)
Under-21 Hockey title at Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, Johor Bohru, Malaysia. In the
finals, Indian team defeated Great Britain, 2-1.
Harmanpreet Singh converted two penalty corners for India, while for Great Britain;
Samuel French was the lone goal scorer.
With this win, India became the first team to win the title twice since the inception of
the tournament in 2011. India won its first title in 2013.
Other results
Australia defeated New Zealand, 6-2 to take the third place
Malaysia defeated Pakistan, 3-1 to secure the fifth position
In 2011, the inaugural title was won by Malaysia, while Germany won the 2012 title.
ICC awarded global broadcast rights from 2015 to 2023 to Star

India and Star Middle East
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on 10 October 2014 awarded the global
broadcast agreement rights for ICC Events from 2015 to 2023 to Star India and Star
Middle East.
The agreement is said to be the biggest ever global broadcast partnership of Cricket.
The agreement included the eight-year period. During the period, 18 ICC tournaments,
including two ICC Cricket World Cups (2019 and 2023), two ICC Champions Trophy
tournaments (2017 and 2021) and two ICC World Twenty20 tournaments (2016 and
2020) will be held.
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The decision was made by the ICC Business Corporation (IBC) Board during a
meeting at the ICC headquarters in Dubai. IBC is the commercial arm of ICC.
The decision followed a robust tender, bidding and evaluation process which was
started in July 2014.
The process of Selection

During the process, the ICC received 17 competitive bids from various broadcasters
across different territories for its audio-visual rights.
The current cycle has seen ESPN Star Sports hold the audio-visual rights until the
contract expires at the end of 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
About Star India

Star India is one of Indias largest media and entertainment companies and is a fully
owned subsidiary of 21st Century Fox, INC.
The Star group has defined Indias broadcast media over two decades and today
broadcasts more than forty channels in seven languages, reaching more than 650
million viewers every week across India and around 100 other countries.
About Star Middle East

Star Middle East is a wholly owned subsidiary of 21st Century Fox, INC. in the Middle
East. It distributes 13 satellite cable television channels in the Middle East and Africa.

Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment on 13 October 2014 announced
that a multi-sport Paralympic Games will be held in India in February 2015.
The games are scheduled to be held from 20 February to 26 February 2015. Athletes
from India and abroad will participate in these games.
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About Paralympic Games

All Paralympic Games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games.
The summer paralympic games were held in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. All Paralympic
Games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
The Paralympic Games are organized in parallel with the Olympic Games, while the
IOC-recognized Special Olympics World Games include athletes with intellectual
disabilities, and the Deaflympics include deaf athletes.
Mary Kom voted as Indias Most Valuable Player in Asian Games

2014
Olympic bronze medalist MC Mary Kom on 13 October 2014 was chosen as the Most
Valuable Player (MVP) of Indias Incheon Asian Games campaign at a felicitation of
the medal winners by contingent sponsors, Samsung India.
Kom, the first Indian woman boxer to win a gold medal in Asian Games was named
as the MVP in a poll conducted by Samsung. The poll contest had all 11 individual/
team gold winners, including the mens hockey team.
After topping the list, the gold medalist in the 2014 Incheon Games in flyweight (-51kg)
class, Mary Kom received 10 lakh rupees.
India won 11 gold, 10 silver and 36 bronze in the Incheon Asian Games.

Indian shuttler, Ajay Jayaram won the 50000 dollar Dutch Open Grand Prix badminton
tournament on 12 October 2014. In the title clash played at the Topsportcentrum
Almere in Netherlands, Jayaram defeated Indonesias Ihsan Maulana Mustofa 10-11,
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11-6, 11-7, 1-11, 11-9.
This was maiden GP title for Jayaram and with this win, he also became the first
Indian to win badminton Grand Prix tournament under the new 11x5 scoring system.
Earlier, Jayaram has won three overseas titles namely New Zealand Open (2009),
Thailand Open (2010) and Czech Open (2013).
British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton won inaugural Russian

Grand Prix
British Formula One (F1) driver Lewis Hamilton on 12 October 2014 won the inaugural
Russian Grand Prix of Formula One.
After the win he dedicated his victory to French F1 driver Jules Bianchi, who is in a
critical condition ever since his crash at Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka in October
2014.
This was his ninth victory of the season, his fourth in a row and the 31st of his career.
He thus equalled Nigel Mansells record for most victories by a British F1 driver.
Nico Rosberg of Germany finished the race at second place. The Williams driver
Valtteri Bottas finished third.
With Hamilton and Rosberg coming first and second, Mercedes team thereby won
the constructors title for 2014, with three races left to go.
It was Mercedes first constructors title as a team.Although Mercedes won the drivers
title in 1954 and 1955; the constructors title did not exist until 1958.
Drivers Standings
Hamilton leads the drivers standings by 17 points, with 291 points, and Rosberg is
in second, with 274 points. Daniel Ricciardo of the Red Bull team is third, with 199
points.
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Russian Grand Prix

Although there was a Russian Grand Prix Russian Grand Prix in 1913 and in 1914,
which was won by a Benz but it was the first in Formula One history, since 1950.

Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) on 11 October 2014 removed former IPL
Commissioner Lalit Modi as its President.
He was removed after a noconfidence motion against him was passed in Jaipur in
which 23 of the 33 districts voted against Lalit Modi. Three of Modis supporters have
also been removed.
RCA, in Modis place, elected Vice President Amin Pathan as the acting President.
Earlier, Modi was banned for life by the BCCI after its disciplinary committee found
him guilty for misappropriation of funds during the second and third editions of the
Indian Premier League (IPL). But he was elected as the President of TCA in May 2014
with an overwhelming majority.
The election of Modi as president of RCA led to imposition of ban on RCA by Board
of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) leading to an impasse on the future of states
cricketers on their participation in the BCCI affiliated tournaments.
RCA action is being seen as an apparent bid to end its standoff with the BCCI.
India to host first leg of Asia Cup Archery Tournament in Delhi

in January 2015
India will host first leg of Asia Cup Archery Tournament in Delhi in January 2015. The
announcement was made on 12 October 2014 by Archery Association India (AAI).
The Asia Cup will be held on the format of the annual World Cups. Asia Cup will
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replace the Asian GP.
The first leg will be conducted in Delhi in January 2015 while the second and third
legs was allotted to Bangkok and Tehran.
Second leg will be held in March 2015 and the third leg will be held in June 2015.
About Asia Cup Archery Tournament

Asian Archery Championships is the Archery Asian Championship organized by the
Asian Archery Federation.
It has been held biannually, and since 2001 has included both the recurve and
compound disciplines.
The tournament began in 1980 and it was first hosted in India. Countries such as
South Korea, China, Japan and India compete, with many of the worlds leading
archers representing them.

In Tennis, the 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer won his maiden ATP
Shanghai Masters trophy. In the title clash played on 12 October 2014, Switzerlands
Federer defeated Frenchman Gilles Simon, 7-6, 7-6.
In 2010, Federer lost in the finals of the Shanghai Masters to Briton Andy Murray.
Apart from this, Americas top seeded Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike won the Doubles
title by defeating French team of Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, 6-3,
7-6. With this they became the first pair to win all nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000
tournaments. This was the 101st career title for the 35-year old siblings in their 152nd
final.
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GGSS School of Hisar won the U-17 Girls title of 55th Subroto
Cup Football tournament
Government Girls Senior Secondary (GGSS) School of Hisar, Haryana on 10 October
2014 won the Under-17 title of the 55th Subroto Cup football tournament.
In the final held at Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi, it defeated Assams Kiyang
Kasiya Memorial Tribal School 3-0.
With this win, GGSS School claimed the purse of 3.5 lakh rupees while the Kiyang
Kasiya Memorial Tribal School claimed 2 lakh rupees.
Haryana girls won the tournament on their very first debut and remained the only
team not to have conceded a goal in the competition.
The coach of the GGSS School was Ashwini Kumar and the Best player of the
tournament went to Renu of GGSS School who topped the goal chart with 12 goals.
In the year 2013, the U-17 title 54th Subroto Cup was won by RMSM Vidyalaya,
Nambol Phoijing, Bishnupur,Nambol, Manipur.
Earlier on 30 September 2014, Greenwood High School of Dimapur, Nagaland won
the U-14 (Sub-Junior) Boys title of the 55th Subroto Cup football tournament. They
defeated Government Model High School, Sector 36, Chandigarh 5-4.
About Subroto Cup Football Tournament

Subroto Cup Football Tournament is an All India Inter School Football Tournament,
organized by Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society.
This tournament was the brainchild of (late) Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee. He
conceived the idea of launching a football tournament, at junior level, in 1958, the
year when he was the Chief of the Air Staff.
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ICC banned Zimbabwe bowler Prosper Utseya and Bangladeshi
bowler Sohag Gazi for illegal action
International Cricket Council (ICC) on 8 October 2014 banned the Zimbabwe bowler
Prosper Utseya and Bangladeshi bowler Sohag Gazi from bowling in international
cricket. They were banned after ICC found that both the off-spinners exceeded the
15 degree limit of arm extension in their bowling action.
In August 2014, Utseya was reported for a suspect bowling action following the third
ODI against South Africa in Bulawayo.
Earlier, ICC had banned three other off-spinners. These were: Saeed Ajmal of Pakistan,
Sachithra Senanayake of Sri Lanka and Kane Williamson of New Zealand.
Although all the players suspended from bowling by the ICC are permitted to apply
for reassessment after modifying their actions.
About Prosper Utseya

He is the former captain of Zimbabwe from 2006 to 2010.
He is the first and joint world record holder for conceding the least number of runs
(6 runs) in a T20 International after bowling the complete quota of Overs.
He led Zimbabwe in 67 one-day internationals, with 20 victories, and all 10 of the
Twenty20 internationals the team has played.
Utseya took hat trick against South Africa at Harare Sports Club and became the
second Zimbabwean to claim a hat-trick when he dismissed three South African
batsmen of consecutive deliveries in the third One-Day International match of the
Tri-series in August 2014.
He had the lowest economy rate (3.84) amongst all spinners in the history of ODI
cricket in August 2006.
About Sohag Gazi

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He made his Test debut in first test during West Indiess tour of Bangladesh in
2012.
He is the first and so far, only man to score a century and take a hat-trick in the
same Test Match and the first man to do it twice in First Class matches (the
thirteenth to do it once). He achieved the feat against the New Zealand in October
2013.
He made his first-class debut in 2001 for Kings XI Punjab against Chittagong.

Rourkela Steel Plant on 6 October 2014 felicitated Birendra Lakra, the hockey player
who was a part of the triumphant India team that defeated Pakistan in the final of
mens hockey to bag the gold medal in Asian Games after 16 years.
Lakra, an alumnus of SAIL Hockey Academy played a key role in Indias campaign at
Incheon, South Korea.
Birendra Lakra in Hockey

Lakra was spotted by SAIL Hockey Academy coach Peter Tirkey in 2003 during
an inter-school tournament and enrolled him in the day scholar scheme of SAIL
Hockey Academy
Further in 2014, he was taken in the SAIL Hockey Academy as a cadet, where he
was groomed till 2009
Lakra with the expert guidance of coaches like Tirkey, Harman Lakra and Rajukant
Saini created space as a sport star of international repute
Till date, Lakra has represented India in several important events that include
London Olympics 2012 and Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014
Lakra as a player is capable of playing at any position
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Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on 6 October 2014 became the coowner of the Indian Super League franchise Chennaiyin FC. The high-profile Indian
Super League (ISL) is scheduled to start on 12 October 2014 and the final will be
played on 20 December 2014.
Dhoni inked the deal to be a co-owner of Chennaiyin FC along with Bollywood actor
Abhishek Bachchan who is the owner of the team. The announcement was made by
Chennaiyin FC co-owner Vita Dan.
Dhoni is the fourth cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli
to own a football team of the Indian Super League. Sachin is a co-owner of Kerala
Blasters, while former captain Ganguly is a co-owner of Atletico de Kolkata. ViceCaptain of Indian cricket team, Kohli is the co-owner of ISL team FC Goa.
About Indian Super League (ISL)

Indian Super League (ISL) is a football event similar to Indian Premier League. The
first edition of ISL has eight teams and each team is a mix of foreign and Indian
talent. The eight teams of the league are
Atltico De Kolkata
Chennaiyin FC
Delhi Dynamos FC
FC Pune City
FC Goa
Kerala Blasters FC
Mumbai City FC
NorthEast United FC
Comment: It seems that Indian Super League is an approach that would help Indian
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football to garner a place in world football. By playing with international stars, Indian
players would learn the footballing style and techniques, which would help them in
performing better in the international arena.
USA Swimming suspended Olympic champion Michael Phelps

for 6 months
USA Swimming on 6 October 2014 suspended Olympic champion swimmer Michael
Phelps from all competition for six months for violating the organizations code of
conduct. Phelps was suspended after he was arrested in Baltimore for driving under
the influence.
Phelps, 29, was stopped by police after being caught travelling 84 mile per hour
(mph) in a 45 mph zone in Baltimore, Maryland, on 30 September 2014. In a decade,
this was second charge against Phelps for driving under the influence.
This suspension means that Phelps will not be eligible to compete again until 6 April
2015. Apart from this, he will also forfeit his funding from USA Swimming for six
months and will also withdraw from the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia
-- a major tune-up meet for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Phelps is the most decorated Olympian in history with 22 Olympic medals between
2004 and 2012 of which 18 are gold.
Chennai Super Kings won 2014 Champions League Twenty20

title
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on 4 October 2014 won the Champions League Twenty20
(CLT20) 2014 title of Cricket. CSK lifted the title by defeating Kolkata Knight Riders
(KKR) by 8 wickets in the final match played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in
Bengaluru.
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To help Chennai Super Kings win the CLT20 title, Suresh Raina scored 109 off 62 balls
with the help of six fours and eight sixes. His century came off only in 59 balls. With
this century, Raina became the only player to score a century in T20 Internationals,
IPL and CLT20 tournaments.
Brief Scores
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) that batted first scored 180 runs at the loss of 6
wickets
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) chased the competitive target by scoring 185 runs at
the loss of 2 wickets in 18.3 over
Captain of the two teams

Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Gautam Gambhir
Man of the Match: Pawan Negi, for his bowling figures of 5 for 22
Man of the Series: Suresh Raina (CSK)
Golden Bat Award: Suresh Raina (CSK)
Golden Wicket Award: Sunil Narine (KKR)
Fair Play Award: Cape Cobras
Power Player of the Series: Suresh Raina (CSK)
Chennai Super Kings have won the trophy second time. Earlier they won the CLT20
in South Africa, back in 2011. CSK lost IPL final to KKR in 2012.
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Legendary Indian boxer MC Mary Kom on 1 October 2014 bagged her first ever Asian
Games Gold Medal. She defeated Zhaina Shekerbekova of Kazakhstan in the finals
of the womens flyweight category (48-51kg) at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon.
She became the first Indian woman boxer to clinch a gold medal at the Asian Games.
This is the seventh gold for India at Incheon games.
Mangte Chungneijang (MC) Mary Kom

MC Mary Kom is the five-time world champion and the Olympic bronze-medallist.
Nicknamed as Magnificent Mary, she is the only Indian woman boxer to have
qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics, competing in the flyweight (51 kg)
category and winning the bronze medal.
She has been ranked at fourth position in the AIBA World Womens Ranking
Flyweight category.
She co-wrote an auto-biography called Unbreakable published in 2013 and was
portrayed by actress Priyanka Chopra in the film Mary Kom (2014).
Mary won the countrys highest sporting award the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in
2009 followed by the third highest civilian award the Padma Bhushan in 2013.
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CORPORATE
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry joined hands with
Hannover Milano Fairs India
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) on 28 October 2014 joined
hands with Hannover Milano Fairs India Pvt Ltd for their upcoming annual event in
India under the brand of World of Industry- INDIA 2014. The event will be held in Delhi
from 10 December to 13 December.
The focus of the partnership is to explore new avenues for business growth of
multinational companies from northern India through various joint activities with
Hannover Milano Fairs India Pvt Ltd.
Hannover Milano Fairs India will provide a platform to the members of PHDCCI for
Business-to-Business meetings with global buyers. The members will benefit by
getting a platform to showcase their products to top engineering companies from
India and delegations from 27 foreign countries.
Hannover Milano Fairs India Pvt Ltd

Hannover Milano Fairs India Pvt Ltd is the Indian subsidiary of the largest and oldest
engineering trade fair organizer Deutsche Messe AG, Germany.
The aim of these tradeshows is to represent the latest markets and highlight
international market trends. The company can boast a portfolio of professional shows
that is unique in terms of quality and variety of events. It hosts some seventy shows
of which about 40 percent are directly organized.
SunEdison signed MoU with Rajasthan Government to set up 5000MW solar projects
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SunEdison Inc. on 28 October 2014 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with the Rajasthan Government to establish 5000 MW capacity of solar power in
Rajasthan in next five years.
The MoU comes at an opportune time following the Rajasthans Government new
Solar Policy which aspires to create 25 GW of solar capacity in the state in the next
few years.
Highlights of the agreement

SunEdison intends to establish 5 GW of capacity in the form of multiple mega
solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, with the expected capacity of each mega solar
project at 500 megawatts (MW).
Under the project, multiple mega solar power projects will be set up on estimate
25000 acres of land in Rajasthan.
The company will also work with the state government to design a programme
for slowly and steady shifting of around 11 lakh electric irrigation pumps to solar
pumps which will not only provide power to the farmers to pump water during the
day time but also feeding electricity to feeder when not pumping.
The government would facilitate the identification of the land suitable for the
development of solar PV projects as well as allot land on a long term lease in
accordance with the state policies.
The government will also create and provide the necessary electricity interconnection
infrastructure.
SunEdison Inc
SunEdison Inc is a global solar technology manufacturer and provider of solar energy
services that operates distributed solar power plants delivering priced electricity and
services to its residential, commercial, government and utility customers.
SunEdison also provides 24/7 asset management, monitoring and reporting services
for hundreds of solar systems worldwide via the companys Renewable Operation
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Centre (ROC). SunEdison has offices in North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa,
India and Asia.
SunEdison already has a strong presence in Rajasthan, with over 50 MW of large
solar generation capacity and more than 1,000 solar water pump installations.
Emaar MGF Land Limited tied up with PayU India for its online
payment service
Realty firm Emaar MGF Land Limited on 27 October 2014 tied up with payment
gateway firm PayU India for providing an online payment facility to its customers.
Highlights of the deal

Emaar MGF customers can now pay EMIs for their properties through PayUMoney.
PayUMoney will help customers to pay anytime and any amount with no restrictions
of NEFT or RTGS.
The association will enable Emaar MGF to offer a unique and secured payment
gateway on its customer service portal e-Services.
The customers need not make multiple payments for different projects of Emaar
MGF. Simply they have to make one payment and PayUMoney will split it among
the various projects.
PayU India
PayU India is one of the worlds largest consumer payment processors. PayU Indias
parent company is Naspers Group, a media and internet firm listed in Johannesberg
and London stock exchange.
PayUMoney is a payment solution developed by PayU India. PayUMoney serves
more than 40000 businesses with some of the prominent names like bookmyshow,
goibibo, rechargeitnow, redbus etc.
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Emaar MGF Land Limited

Emaar MGF Land Limited is a joint venture between MGF Developments Ltd and
Dubai-based Emaar Properties PJSC. Based in Delhi, the company started operations
in India in mid-2005 and is engaged in residential, commercial, retail and hospitality
projects across India.
At present, its focus is on the development of residential projects in Delhi and
elsewhere in the NCR, Mohali, Hyderabad, Chennai and other key Indian cities.
Government ordered merger of NSEL with its holding company

FTIL
Union Government on 21 October 2014 ordered merger of the scam-hit firm, National
Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) with its holding company Financial Technologies India Ltd
(FTIL).
The Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs has issued a draft order by invoking Section
396 of the Companies Act for the merger. This is the first time that a listed entity in
the private sector has been involved in a Section 396 order of the Union Government.
The decision was made to ensure recovery of dues for investors and others who
were hit by 5600-crore rupees fraud at the National Spot Exchange Ltd. The decision
has been taken in essential public interest as the exchange was not left with any
viable, sustainable business while FTIL has necessary resources to facilitate speedy
recovery of dues.
Government took the decision of merger of NSEL and FTIL, a year after the scam
broke out at NSEL in July 2013. This move is possibly the first major government
intervention in a scam-hit private sector entity, since the Satyam case came in light
in 2009.
At present, the Economic Offences Wing of Mumbai Police is probing the 5600 crore
rupees NSEL scam and has so far attached movable and immovable assets worth
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nearly 6000 crore rupees belonging to all the accused of the scam.
About National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL)

National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) was set up as an electronic exchange for spot
trading in agriculture and food commodities by Jignesh Shah-led Financial Technology
Group. The Financial Technologies (India) Ltd is the holding company the group,
which had also set up commodity bourse MCX and stock exchange MCX-SX, among
other exchange ventures.

Mayank Ashar on 21 October 2014 was appointed as the Managing Director (MD)
and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cairn India with effect from 17 November
2014.
Cairn India Limited was without a full-time CEO after the resignation of Rahul Dhir in
August 2012. The company first appointed P Elango as Interim CEO who resigned
in May 2014. After his resignation, Sudhir Mathur, the Chief Financial Officer of the
company was given additional charge of interim CEO.
Mayank Ashar
Mayank Ashar holds a Bachelors of Art and Science degree in Chemical
Engineering, a Bachelors degree in Philosophy and Economics, Masters degree
in Engineering and MBA degree from the University of Toronto.
He has served in various senior management and top leadership roles in global
organisations like British Petroleum, Petro-Canada and Suncor Energy.
He has also served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Irving Oil
Limited.
In recognition of his operational excellence and large scale project management
leadership in the oil sands project with Suncor Energy, Mayank Ashar was honored
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as the Operations Executive of the Year by the Canadian Business Magazine in
2003.
Cairn India Limited

On 9 January 2007, Cairn India Limited was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange
and the National Stock Exchange of India.
Cairn India is now part of the Vedanta Group, a globally diversified natural resources
group.
Cairn India is headquartered in Gurgaon and has operational offices in India
including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and International offices
in Colombo and London.
Together with its Joint Venture partners, Cairn India accounts for around one fourth
of Indias domestic crude oil production.
The Company sells its oil to major refineries in India and its gas to both Public
Sectors Units and private buyers.
E-commerce firm Flipkart on 18 October 2014 signed real estate lease deal with
Embassy Office Parks, the joint venture between Embassy Group and Blackstone.
The deal is largest-ever single commercial real estate leasing deal in India in terms of
area. However, financial details were not disclosed by the companies.

The deal was signed up for over 3 million sq ft of office space in phases at the
Embassy TechVillage in Bangalore.
The office premises of 1.5 million sq ft with fit-outs is expected to be delivered by
2015.
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There is an option to increase this area to 3.25 million sq ft over the next 3 years
to 5 years.
Embassy TechVillage in Bangalore

Embassy TechVillage is a 106-acre development on the outer ring road (ORR) of
Bangalores IT corridor. Embassy TechVillage has been planned as an integrated
project with commercial components as well as retail and residential spaces.
Embassy TechVillage is connected to the IT hubs of Whitefield and Electronic City as
well as the CBD.
Embassy TechVillage has attracted some of the top companies like Sony, Nokia,
Brocade, Cisco, Geometric, Blue Ocean, Talisma, Amba, Ness, Autonomy, Creative,
Iron Mountain and Outsource Partners International.

Bangalore-based online fashion retailer Myntra on 19 October 2014 announced to
open London Office to Partner European Brands.
The company also plans to expand to New York in 2015.
With the office in London, company will lead the partnerships with brands in UK
and Europe, liaison with European design studios, spot global fashion trends and
generate fashion content.
The company has appointed Mark Sebb as an advisor in the run-up to the launch of
its London office.
Mark Sebb retired as chief executive of UK-based online high-fashion group NetaPorter in 2014.
Sebba is largely credited with helping scale up the magazine-style fashion e-tailer.
The company is owned by Swiss luxury group Richemont. He extended his help from
a small start-up in the early 2000s to the 850 million dollar company.
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Jabong is already setting up a design and branding office in London primarily focused
on its private brands like Lara Karen and Sangria.
Comment
According to retail consultancy Technopak, fashion accounts for 25 per cent of the
online retail industrys sales and will grow to 30 per cent in 2019.
Indias online retail industry is estimated to reach 6 billion US dollar (about 36800
crore rupees) in size in 2015, according to research firm Gartner.
With fashion and lifestyle quickly becoming the largest category in Indias fastgrowing online retail industry, Myntra and its Delhi-based rival Jabong are increasingly
focusing on global brand partnerships and designerled in-house brands to attract
and retain customers.
IOC to invest 4 billion US dollar in British Columbia, Canada to

source LNG
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) on 14 October 2014 announced that it will invest 4 billion
US dollar in the British Columbia province, Canada, to source liquefied natural gas
(LNG) from the region.
The investment is biggest ever from IOC in Canada to secure natural gas for India.
IOC had signed a deal to buy 10 per cent stake in shale-gas assets and a linked
liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in British Columbia in May 2014.
The deal marked the entry of IOC into North America.
As part of the transaction, IOC has also agreed to offtake 1.2 million tonnes (mt) of
LNG per annum, which represents a 10 per cent of the LNG facilitys production, for
a minimum period of 20 years.
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About IOC
Indian Oil Corporation Limited is an Indian state-owned oil and gas corporation with
its headquarters in New Delhi, India.
The company is mainly controlled by Government of India which owns approx. 79%
shares in the company. It is one of the seven Maharatna status companies of India.
It is the worlds 88th largest corporation, according to the Fortune Global 500 list,
and the largest public corporation in India when ranked by revenue.
Kotak Mahindra Bank launched Facebook-based funds transfer

platform KayPay
Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMB) on 14 October 2014 launched Facebook-based funds
transfer platform KayPay.
KayPay is a bank agnostic payment product for Facebook users to send money to
each other.
KayPay is built on top of the mobile based Immediate Payment System (IMPS) that
was launched by the National Payment Corporation of India. Users have to register
their bank accounts once to start using the service.
At present, a sender can initiate fund transfer to any person through mobile phone,
courtesy the IMPS infrastructure.
The IMPS platform has 28 banks under it and account holders of any of these banks
can use the newly launched service.
The process
The sender will have to register on a dedicated website for the initiative called KayPay
wherein he will have to give bank account details and the banks MMID, apart from
personal credentials.
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Once registered, the sender can initiate transactions and if the beneficiary is not
registered on KayPay, he will be directed to a page to register for completed a
transaction.
If the beneficiary is registered on KayPay, the transaction will be executed faster.
Facilities to the user

Users wont have to depend on net banking or have to know the details of the
payee.
Users can transfer funds by choosing recipients from their Facebook friends list.
There will be no charges for either sending or receiving the money.
On the security front

The bank claimed that it is fully secured, even in the event of the Facebook account
getting compromised as it uses two-factor authentication to complete a transaction.
Additionally, there is also an expiry time for a transaction.
KMB has set a limit of 2500 rupees per transaction and a total of 25000 rupees a
month for sending, while a beneficiary may also not get more than 25000 rupees a
month.
IMImobile Ltd acquired UK-based mobile messaging platform

TxtLocal Ltd
London-based firm IMImobile Ltd on 14 October 2014 acquired mobile communications
company TxtLocal Ltd (TextLocal) for 11 million euro in a cash and equity deal.
The initial consideration for the deal is worth 10 million euro in cash and 1 million euro
by way of IMImobile shares. There is a deferred consideration of up to 2.15 million
euro.
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Highlights of the acquisition
Post acquisition, mobile messaging platform of TextLocal will be integrated with
IMImobiles core infrastructure.
TextLocals platform will provide significant cross-sell and lead generation
opportunities.
TxtLocal Ltd will also leverage its global footprint to introduce TextLocals offering
into new international markets.
TextLocal and its customer base will benefit from IMImobiles capabilities of
delivering multi-channel customer engagement and mobile payments solutions
that work in synergy with TextLocals features such as mobile vouchers and
ticketing.
The acquisition will allow IMImobile to target the small and medium businesses
(SMBs) segment and expand its cloud-based mobile messaging offering.
IMImobile Ltd
Originally, the company was established by Vishwanath Alluri and Shyam Bhat as
IMISoftware in 1999 to develop software for power transmission and telecom towers.
In 2000 the two founders saw an opportunity to offer a richer set of mobile data
services in a mobile landscape dominated by voice and SMS. Subsequently in
2007, the original business of IMISoftware was sold and the company was renamed
IMImobile.
The company enable clients to engage and transact with their customers efficiently
through smarter mobile engagement using mobile as a channel to create new revenue
streams.
It supports clients in over 60 countries and has 650 employees worldwide.
TxtLocal Ltd
TxtLocal Ltd was established in September 2005 as a mobile communications
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company in United Kingdom. Alastair Shortland is the founder and CEO of the
company.
The company was listed as a Media Momentum top 20 fastest growing digital agency
across Europe for the last three years as well as it won a Chamber Business Award
for marketing Innovation.
Tata Value homes launched www.tatavaluehomes.com to sell

homes online
Tata Value homes on 13 October 2014 launched www.tatavaluehomes.com to sell
homes online.
With the e commerce platform, Tata is eyeing up to 1000 crore rupees revenue
by financial year 2015-16. Tata Value Homes is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata
Housing.
Under its One Price One Nation offer, the customers will be able to buy a particular
unit at a flat price across Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune and Chennai.
About e- commerce platform

Under the online home buying model, the consumers can book their apartments on
www.tatavaluehomes.com by paying 30000 rupees.
Tata Value Homes will come up with an offer from 15 October 2014 under which
customers will be able to buy a unit at a flat price across Ahmedabad, Bengaluru,
Mumbai, Pune and Chennai.
The company has developed properties in cities like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Mumbai,
Pune and Chennai ranged between 29.9 lakh rupees and 59.9 lakh rupees depending
on the size of the apartments that range between 1 BHK and 3 BHK.
Tata Value Homes has so far sold over one million square feet of residential space,
translated into over 700 units generating over 300 crore rupees worth revenue.
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Earlier, the company had tied-up with Snapdeal and Google for selling its properties.
Amazon and Future Groups signed deal to jointly sell goods

online
US Online store Amazon and retailer Future Group on 12 October 2014 signed a deal
to jointly sell goods over the internet.
According to deal, Future groups portfolio of over 40 brands will be retailed exclusively
through Amazon.in platform. The partnership will initially focus on Future Groups
fashion brands and will subsequently cover all other categories.
The alliance will leverage strong product knowledge, extensive brand portfolio and
sourcing base of Future Group, and the e-commerce platform, customer base and
reach of Amazon.in. Both the firms will also explore synergies in areas such as
distribution network, customer acquisition and cross-promotions.
Besides, Amazon and Future will also jointly develop discounting strategy and price
tags on their products wont be very different from rates at stores so that both channels
dont end up cannibalizing each other.

Fortune released the list of powerful people titled 40 under 40 on 9 October 2014.
The list included most powerful, influential, important people in business under 40.
The list was topped by ridesharing service company Ubers 38-year-old co-founder
Travis Kalanick and community-driven hospitality company Airbnbs 33-year-old CEO
Brian Chesky.
Followed by, Founder and CEO of Facebook, 30-year-old Mark Zuckerberg, at the
number two spot and Italys youngest Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (39) at the third
position.
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The list also included 38-year-old co-founder and CEO of texting company WhatsApp,
Jan Koum on rank 5, Yahoos 38-year old CEO Marissa Mayer (ranked 6), New York
Stock Exchange President 38-year-old Tom Farley (ranked 7) and Twitter co-founder
and CEO 37-year-old Jack Dorsey (ranked 11).
Women share
Out of 40 powerful persons list, Fifteen powerful and influential women have made
it to the Fortunes list. The womens top slot was named by Marissa Mayer, who is
ranked 6. She is the President and CEO of Yahoo.
Others were Elizabeth Holmes, Emily White, Liv Garfield, Megan Ellison, Julie
Smolyansky, and others.
Indians in the list

The Indians on the list are Economics professor at Harvard Raj Chetty, who is ranked
16, Micromax co-founder and CEO Rahul Sharma (ranked 21), Snapdeal Co-Founder
and CEO Kunal Bahl (ranked 25) and Twitters General counsel and the only woman
on the companys executive team Vijaya Gadde (28).
Bombay High Court ruled in favour of Vodafone in 3200 crore

rupees tax case
Bombay High Court on 10 October 2014 ruled in favour of Vodafone in 3200 crore
rupees tax dispute case. The ruling was given by the division bench of the Bombay
High Court, headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah.
In its ruling the court held that there was no question of imposing tax to the tune of
3200 crore rupees on Vodafone India Services Pvt. Ltd. (VISPL) as the case does not
relate to transfer pricing.
The court further ruled that there is no taxable income arising out of the issue of
shares. Share premium received on the issue of shares is not taxable. Hence, VISPL
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was not liable to pay the additional tax amount of over 3200 crore rupees.
About the Case

The order stems from a case in which the Income Tax department imposed tax on
VISPL to the tune of 3200 crore rupees. It imposed the tax on the ground that, VISPL
issued the shares to its foreign holding company for fiscal year 2009-10 at a premium
which was under-priced.
Since, the under-pricing of shares by the VISPL was covered by transfer pricing and
hence it was liable to pay tax on the shortfall of premium. As a result IT department
issued a show-cause notice to Vodafone India on 17 January 2014.
VISPL challenged the Income Tax Department, and argued that the share premium
received on the issue of shares was never taxable as there was no income from the
transaction.
Comment
The ruling will bring a big relief to other dozens of companies who have been fighting
similar transfer pricing related tax cases with IT department and will help improve
business and foreign investors sentiments in the country.
Apart from Vodafone India, Shell India Markets Pvt. Ltd and Leighton India Contractors
Pvt. Ltd have also moved the court against similar show-cause notices and so-called
transfer pricing orders by the IT Department.
About Transfer Pricing

Transfer pricing refers to the practice of arms length pricing for transactions between
group companies based in different countries to ensure that a fair priceone that
would have been charged to an unrelated partyis levied.
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Swedish telecom gear firm Ericsson on 9 October 2014 signed a Long-Term Evolution
(LTE) or 4G network deal with Bharti Airtel. Airtel signed the deal with Ericsson for
FDD-LTE network.
The signing of the deal will add to the existing 4G services offered by Bharti Airtel.
The company is offering 4G services using TDD-LTE technology on 2300 Mhz band
in Ludhiana, Mohali, Bangalore, Kolkata, Pune, Chandigarh and Panchkula.
Bharti Airtel and 4G network

The Sunil Bharti Mittal-promoted firm plans to launch pan-India 4G network using
1800 MHz spectrum which it had won in the Spectrum allocation. It had won the
1800 MHz spectrum in 15 circles, including metros Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
In 2010, Airtel won broadband wireless access (BWA) or 4G spectrum in 2300 MHz
frequency band in four telecom services areas of Kolkata, Maharashtra, Punjab and
Karnataka in 2010. It later acquired Qualcomm, which had 4G spectrum in New
Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and Kerala.
It acquired Qualcomm, which had 4G spectrum in New Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and
Kerala.
Earlier in June 2014, Reliance Jio Infocomm had announced that it will commercially
launch 4G services by 2015 in India.
About LTE network

Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is commonly marketed as 4G LTE. It is a standard for
wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals.
It is based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies, increasing
the capacity and speed using a different radio interface together with core network
improvements. The standard is developed by the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership
Project).
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Difference between FDD-LTE and TDD-LTE

LTE has been defined to accommodate both paired spectrum for Frequency Division
Duplex, FDD and unpaired spectrum for Time Division Duplex, TDD operation. It is
anticipated that both LTE TDD and LTE FDD will be widely deployed as each form of
the LTE standard has its own advantages and disadvantages
Frequency division duplex (FDD): It is a type of full duplex that require two symmetrical
segments of spectrum for the uplink and downlink channels wherein there are two
cables in the networking. Full-duplex Ethernet uses two twisted pairs inside the CAT5
cable for simultaneous send and receive operations.
Time division duplex (TDD): It is also a type of full duplex that uses a single frequency
band for both transmit and receive. Then it shares that band by assigning alternating
time slots to transmit and receive operations. The information to be transmitted
whether its voice, video, or computer datais in serial binary format. Each time slot
may be 1 byte long or could be a frame of multiple bytes.
Cipla Medpro signed collaboration pact with Teva for selling

drugs in South Africa
Cipla Medpro on 9 October 2014 announced that it has inked a collaboration pact
with Teva Pharmaceuticals of Israel for sales and distribution of the latters drugs in
South Africa.
Medpro Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Cipla Medpro and Teva Pharmaceuticals
pty of Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries signed a sales and distribution agreement.
The collaboration is a subject to the approval by the Competition Commission of
South Africa.
According to agreement, Cipla Medpro will exclusively market Tevas broad
pharmaceutical product portfolio in South Africa and provides affordable medicines
in South Africa.
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The collaboration will focus on oncology, central nervous system, womens health,
cardiovascular, ophthalmology and other speciality products.
About Cipla Medpro

Medpro Pharmaceutical (Pty) Ltd - a subsidiary company of Cipla Medpro, the third
largest pharmaceutical company in South Africa.
Cipla Medpro manufactures world class pharmaceuticals at cost-effective prices,
making quality medicines affordable, and advancing healthcare for all South Africans.
About Teva Pharmaceuticals

Teva Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd is an affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
(Teva) of Israel. Teva is the largest generic pharmaceutical manufacturer in the world
with a presence in about 60 countries.
GOLIL tied up with Mahindra & Mahindra Limited for supplying

lubricants
Hinduja group company Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd (GOLIL) on 8 September 2014
tied up with Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M).
Under the agreement, GOLIL is tasked for developing a dedicated line of products
for the M&M tractors.

Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd will manufacture and supply Mahindra Genuine Oil
under the brand name Mahindra M-Star Super for Mahindra tractors.
Gulf Oil will also manufacture and supply Mahindra-Gulf co-branded lubricant line
for the bazaar segment under the brand name Gulf XHD M Tractor based on
M&Ms MKM (Mileage ka Master) platform.
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Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd (GOLIL)

The Chemical Hub of Hinduja Group was created when Gulf Oil India Limited merged
with IDL Industries Limited on 1 January 2002. The merger enabled the Company
to leverage the large marketing networks of lubricants and industrial explosives
businesses.
IDL Industries Limited was renamed as Gulf Oil Corporation Limited with the merger
of Gulf Oil Indias business.
On 1 April 2008 the business of specialty chemicals Division was transferred to IDL
Speciality Chemicals Limited through a scheme of arrangement sanctioned by the
High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad.
Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M)

Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M) is an Indian multinational automobile
manufacturing corporation headquartered in Mumbai. It is a part of Mahindra Group,
an Indian conglomerate.
It is one of the largest vehicle manufacturers by production in India and the largest
seller of tractors across the world. It produces SUVs, saloon cars, pickups, commercial
vehicles, and two wheeled motorcycles and tractors.
It owns assembly plants in India, Mainland China (PRC), the United Kingdom and has
three assembly plants in the United States.

Skypes parent company, Microsoft on 7 October 2014 announced that Skype will
stop the calling facility from its application on mobile and landline phones within
India. The facility will be stopped from 10 November 2014.
The calling service of Skype allows user to make video or voice calls using Internet
service for which they are charged for Internet consumed for the service.
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However, Users in India can still make free Skype-to-Skype calls worldwide,
international calls to mobiles and landlines and users outside India can call mobiles
and landlines in India. The other features like Skype WiFi and SMSs are also available
to users in India.
Recently, Intelligence Bureau (IB) has asked Department of Telecom (DoT) to block
the We Phone application as it facilitates spoofing of caller id and is difficult to identify
or locate the actual caller.
We Phone offered call service similar to Skype that allowed user to make free calls
using mobile Internet service to other subscriber having same application. This
application was freely available on Android Play Store and Apples application store.
Communication and aviation electronic solutions firm Rockwell Collins on 7 October
2014 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement with the Hyderabadbased Zen Technologies to tap the Indian defence market.
Highlights of the MoU agreement

The two companies signed a MoU to combine their strengths in simulation and
training to offer industry-leading, high fidelity solutions to Indian military customers.
The deal will help Rockwell Collins in opening up its avenues to further extend its
reach in the Indian defence market.
Both companies will combine to provide air and ground solutions to Indian military
customers that will help them in preparing their soldiers and airmen to successfully
complete missions.
Rockwell Collins
Since its founding as Collins Radio in the United States in 1933, Rockwell Collins
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and its products have been recognized for distinctive quality and state-of-the-art
technology.
US-based Rockwell Collins has facilities in Hyderabad and near New Delhi. It provides
aviation simulation and training products, systems and integration solutions.
Zen Technologies
Zen Technologies was incorporated in 1993 as an Indian military simulation and
trainings solution firm. It designs, develops manufactures world-class, state-of-theart training simulators.
Its mission is to provide its customers quality products and services. It was the first
Indian company to commercialize PC-based visual simulation technology for training
simulators.
Anbang Insurance Group Co Ltd acquired New York luxury hotel

Waldorf Astoria
Chinese firm Anbang Insurance Group Co Ltd on 6 October 2014 acquired the New
York luxury hotel Waldorf Astoria for 1.95 billion US dollars. The Waldorf Astoria is
owned and managed by Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
The deal is scheduled to close on 31 December 2014 but if that closing time is
delayed, the companies will finalize the purchase no later than 31 March 2015.
Highlights of the acquisition

Anbang Insurance Group Co Ltd will pay 1.38 million US dollars per room for the
hotel. This price is more than the amount fetched by some other high-end hotels
in the past few years.
However, Hilton will continue to operate the property for the next 100 years.
The Chinese firm will restore the 47-story tower to its historic grandeur. The
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renovations would include the conversion of some of the Waldorf Astorias top
floors into condominiums.
Money made from the sale will enable Hilton Worldwide to buy more properties in
the USA.
Hiltons Waldorf Astoria

Conrad Hilton, founder of the Hilton Hotels chain, bought the Waldorf Astoria New
York in 1949 after the hotel opened on Park Avenue after two decades.
This New York hotel is the flagship of Hiltons luxury brand Waldorf Astoria Hotels
& Resorts launched in 2006 which now spans across 27 destinations including
Beijing, Shanghai, Amsterdam and Dubai.
In 1993, the hotel was declared as an official New York City landmark joining the
Empire State Building and the Brooklyn Bridge.
The hotel had been the setting for the film Weekend at The Waldorf starring Ginger
Rogers.
Its 1000 US dollars-per-week Suite 2728 was home to Marilyn Monroe in 1955
after she left behind her troubled life in Hollywood.
Some of the rooms are much more expensive. A night in the Towers presidential
suite will cost 1609 US dollars to a single guest. The hotel had 1413 rooms as of
December 2013.
Anbang Insurance Group Co Ltd

Based in Beijing, Anbang Insurance Group Co Ltd manages about 700 billion Yuan
worth of assets. The company covers 31 provinces and autonomous regions. It
has over 3000 outlets, over 10 million customers and overseas Asset Management
Company.
Anbang Group presently provides services of property insurance, life insurance,
health insurance, asset management, insurance sales, insurance brokering and
banking. The company also owns Chengdu Rural Commercial Bank and Anbang
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Asset Management Company.

IT training solutions firm National Institute of Information Technology Limited (NIIT Ltd)
on 6 October 2014 appointed Rahul Keshav Patwardhan as its next chief executive
officer (CEO). Patwardhan will take charge as CEO on 1 April 2015.
His appointment is part of the implementation of the NIITs succession plan.
Other Appointments
The NIIT board also approved other changes that are scheduled to take place at the
senior leadership level in NIIT Ltd in 2015.
NIIT Chairman and MD Rajendra Pawar will continue to be the Chairman of NIIT Ltd,
the present CEO Vijay Thadani will become Vice Chairman and Managing Director
and P Rajendran will be the Joint Managing Director.
Rahul Keshav Patwardhan

With an MBA from IIM Calcutta, Patwardhan joined NIIT in 1984 as a production
engineer. He was the President of Europe and APAC software business in NIIT
Technologies.
Patwardhan served NIIT till 2004 before joining as CEO of Logica India in 2005.
He served as Managing Director- Global Application Management of Logica
India till June 2011 following which he took the position of Vice President- Global
Operational Excellence in July 2011.
About NIIT
The company was set up in 1981 to help the nascent IT industry overcome its
human resource challenges.
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NIIT is a leading Global Talent Development Corporation which builds skilled
manpower pool for global industry requirements.
Today, NIIT is among worlds leading talent development companies offering
learning solutions to Individuals, Enterprises and Institutions across 40 countries.
NIIT has provided computer-based learning to over 17000 government and private
schools across the country cumulatively impacting lives of more than 10 million
students.
NIIT was ranked 4th in Best companies to work for in India category by Great
Place to Work Institute in 2013-2014.

Technology giant Hewlett-Packard known as HP on 6 October 2014 announced
that it will split itself into two separate publicly traded companies. Besides, it also
announced to lay off another 5000 employees and invest the saved money on account
of lower headcount into research and development.
One part, HP Inc., will consist of the companys personal-computer and printer
businesses.
The other, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, will sell computer servers, data-storage
gear, software, consulting operations and other services for corporate-technology
departments.
The cloud-focused company will be named Hewlett-Packard Enterprise. It will be led
by current CEO Meg Whitman. The computer-and-printer-focused business will be
named HP Inc and led by Dion Weisler. Dion Weisler is currently serving as executive
vice president of HPs printing and personal systems business.
Whitman will serve as non-executive chairman of HP Incs board of directors.
HP Inc will retain HPs existing logo. Current HP shareholders will own shares of both
Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and HP Inc once the split is complete.
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The split is part of a radical restructuring plan.The split aims at helping the firm adapt
to the new era of mobile and online computing. The firm is now in the fourth year of
its five-year turnaround plan.
HP said it expected the division to be complete by the end of the 2015 financial year.
Shareholders will be given a stake in both businesses. The news makes investors
happy which resulted into 5% rise in shares in early trading.
Business pressures
The division of HPs businesses comes at a time when other large tech firms are
being urged to break up.
Earlier, in the first week of October 2014, online auction site eBay announced it was
splitting off its payments system PayPal into a separate company.
HP has been under pressure from newer rivals such as Chinese firm Lenovo, which
overtook HP as the worlds largest PC maker in 2012. Third-ranked US rival Dell was
taken private in 2013.
About HP
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology
corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, United States.
The company was founded by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard in 1939. HP helped
usher in the PC revolution and now has more than 300000 employees globally.
It provides hardware, software and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized
businesses (SMBs) and large enterprises, including customers in the government,
health and education sectors.
EU Competition Commission approved Facebook WhatsApp

deal worth 19 billion US dollar
European Union (EU) Competition Commission approved Facebook WhatsApp
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deal worth 19 billion US dollar on 3 October 2014. The Commission cleared the deal
saying that the Facebook-WhatsApp deal would not hurt competition.
The deal was disputed by telecom companies as soon as Facebook had announced
to acquire whatsApp earlier in 2014. The telecom companies worried that deal would
hurt competition.
With the approval of EU regulators, the deal will give Facebook a strong foothold in
the fast-growing mobile messaging market.
Also, WhatsApp is poised to become a potentially powerful rival to companies such
as Deutsche Telekom, Orange and Telecom Italia with its plan to add free voice-call
services for its 450 million customers.
WhatsApp and its rivals such as KakaoTalk, Chinas WeChat and Viber have in recent
years won over telecoms operators customers with a free text messaging option.
According to market researcher Ovum, the total share of revenue from this sector
totaled about 120 billion US dollar in 2013.
Sumitomo acquired Carzonrent unit for 200 crore rupees

Sumitomo Group of Japan on 30 September 2014 acquired the car lease division of
Carzonrent India for 200 crore rupees.
Carzonrent had a market share of about 18% in the domestic organized car rental
sector. Carzonrent will now focus on investing 2000 crore rupees in the next four
years to grow its network from 39 to 100 cities in India, increase the fleet size of
7500 cars to 30000 cars in the car-with-driver and self-drive services and foray into
markets outside India.
Sumitomo Group
Sumitomo Group runs Japans largest car lease business with over six lakh cars. It
has set up Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service Company Limited (SMAS) Auto Leasing
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India.
It will gain rights to car lease division of Carzonrent with a fleet of about 2000 cars
and about 135 marquee corporate clients spread across India.
Carzonrent India
The company was founded by Rajeev K. Vij in year 2000 and caters to over 6000000
customers annually. It operates Easycabs radio taxis and provides car rentals and
self-drive cars.
Apollo Hospitals tied up with pharma firm Sanofi

Healthcare major Apollo Hospitals on 30 September 2014 tied up with the global
pharma firm Sanofi. The aim behind this tie-up is to expand Apollo Sugar Clinics
which provide integrated diabetes care programmes in India.
Through this collaboration, Apollo and Sanofi plan to leverage their respective
expertise in diabetes to provide patients with access to comprehensive educational
resources, treatment and care programmes for better management.
Under this collaboration, the plan is to roll out another 150 clinics over the period of
next two three years with an investment of 30-60 lakh rupees each.
Diabetes in India
Globally, Diabetes has affected close to 382 million people with India alone accounting
for over 65 million people affected with diabetes (III). Around 77.2 million people were
diagnosed as being pre-diabetic.
As per estimates, an average person with diabetes in urban India spends approximately
30000 rupees per year on treatment. In cases of late diagnosis, it results in 10-18
times higher spending.
The number of people with diabetes in India is expected to rise to 109 million by
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2035. Such scenario demands for quick actions and a sense of purpose to arrest the
disease from claiming more lives.
Sanofi
In 1718, Laboratoires Midy was founded by a family of pharmacists. In 1980, the
this Midy group was acquired by Sanofi.
Sanofi is a global healthcare leader that focuses on the needs of the patients. It is
engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of innovative
therapeutic solutions.
Sanofi has core strengths in healthcare with 7 growth platforms: diabetes solutions,
human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets,
animal health and the new Genzyme.
Apollo Hospitals
Apollo Hospitals was inaugurated in 1983 by Shri Giani Zail Singh (President
of India). The first Apollo Hospital was in Chennai. The hospital commenced
commercial operations in 1984.
It aims to bring healthcare of International standards within the reach of every
individual.
Today, it has over 10000 beds across 51 hospitals, more than 1500 pharmacies,
over 100 primary care & diagnostic clinics, 115 telemedicine units across 9
countries, health insurance services, global projects consultancy, 15 academic
institutions and a Research Foundation.
Google social network siteOrkut closed

Google closed the social networking site Orkut permanently on 30 September 2014.
Google announced the decision to shut down Orkut in June 2014.
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Old users of Orkut will be able to take backup of their pictures and posts till September
2016 and users can export their profile data, community posts and photos using
Google Takeout. But no one will be able to create new IDs on Orkut account.
Decision of shutting down Orkut was taken as its competitor social networking sites
namely Facebook and Twitter were much popular than orkut. Now, Google has moved
to a new platform - the Google Plus.
About Orkut
Orkut started in 2004 was named after its creator, Orkut Buyukkokten, a Google
employee.
Orkut had some features similar to the facebook like sharing videos, like option,
uploading the pictures and others. Some options were different from facebook like
who visited the user profile will be known in Orkut whereas it is not available in
Facebook.
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STATE
Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) candidate Devendra Gangadharrao Fadnavis was on
31 October 2014 sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He is the first BJP
candidate to become the CM of Maharashtra. The oath ceremony was held at a gala
public function at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao administered the oath of office and secrecy to
Fadnavis. The oath ceremony in Wankhede Stadium was witnessed by over 30000
people.
Along with CM, the Cabinet ministers were also sworn. These were Eknath Khadse,
Sudhir Mungantiwar, Vinod Tawde and Pankaja Munde, Prakash Mehta, Vishnu
Sawra, and Chandrakant Patil.
Besides, Dilip Kamble and Vidya Thakur were sworn in as ministers of state.
Fadnavis was appointed as CM of the State after he was elected leader by the
legislative assembly members of the BJP.
Background
In the elections held in October 2014, BJP had emerged as the single largest party in
the 288-member Maharashtra assembly with 122 seats, but one of its MLAs Govind
Rathod died.
The Shiv Sena finished second with 63 seats. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP),
which emerged victorious in 41 seats, has offered the BJP external support to form
the government in the state.
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About Devendra Fadnavis

He is 18th person to hold the post of Maharashtra CM.
Fadnavis is a fourth-term MLA from Nagpur.
He will also be the fourth politician from Vidarbha region to become CM and at the
age of 44, the second youngest person to hold the top post in Maharashtra.
He was the second youngest mayor elected in India, when he served as the Mayor
of Nagpur at the age of 27, in 1997.
He is also the only person to be re-elected as the Mayor in Council of the State of
Maharashtra.
He has been elected Member of the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra State,
representing Nagpur, since, 1999
Foundation for Worlds tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel laid in Gujarat
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on 31 October 2014 laid foundation stone of
the Statue of Unity - the worlds tallest statue of Iron man of India Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel. The foundation stone was laid down on the occasion of Sardar Patels 139th
birth anniversary.
The Statue of Unity - the worlds tallest monument in respect of iron man of India
will be set up on an island Sadhubet at Sardar Sarovar Dam near Kevadia Colony in
Bharuch district of the state of Gujarat.
As per plan, the project will be completed at the cost of 2979 crore rupees and the
work of the project will be completed in 46 months. Earlier on 27 October 2014, the
Gujarat Government awarded the work order of the project to leading engineering
company, Larsen and Toubro.
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About the Statute
The statute will be 182 meter tall and its main structure will be completed at an
expense of 1345 crore rupees, a part of 2979 crore rupees is granted for the project.
Rest money will be spent on
235 crore rupees will be spent on the construction of exhibition hall and convention
centre.
83 crore rupees will be spent on the bridge connecting the memorial to the main
land.
657 crore rupees would be spent to maintain the structure for next 15 years after
its completion.
75000 cubic meters of concrete, 5700 metric tonne of steel structure, 18500 steel
rods and 22500 metric tonne of bronze will be used for this project. The project
will include an exhibition hall and audiovisual presentation on the life of Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel.
The Statue of Unity, would be double the size of New Yorks Statue of Liberty (93
metres), and would inspire the future generations of India for years.
About Statue of Unity

Statue of Unity - the worlds tallest statue of Iron man of India Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel is a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This project was launched
on 31 October 2013, on Sardar Patels birth anniversary by Narendra Modi when he
was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
For development of the project, Modi launched a country wide campaign to collect
iron to build the Statue of Unity and as per Gujarat Government, iron was collected
from around seven lakh villages across the nation.
Comment: The development of Statue of Unity in memory of Indias first home minister
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel would help in generating employment in the tribal area of
the district. It will also boost tourism sector in the region.
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D Jagatheesa Pandian was appointed as the new chief secretary of Gujarat on 30
October 2014. Pandiyan who was the Additional Chief Secretary in industry and
mines department will succeed outgoing Dr Varesh Sinha. Pandian retires in May
2015.
Dr Sinhas extension expires on 31 October 2014. Sinha an IAS of 1977 batch, had
been given extension twice post his retirement in April 2014.
About D Jagatheesa Pandian

Pandiyan is a 1981 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre
He was appointed to the top post of the state bureaucracy superseding senior
most Additional Chief Secretary (Home) S K Nanda
Nanda has been transferred and appointed as Chairman and Managing Director
of Gujarat State Fertilizer & Chemicals Ltd- GSFC
Pandian has held several portfolios including energy and petrochemicals and
revenue during then chief minister (now Prime Minister) Narendra Modi.
Delhi HC issued notice to AGI to suggest ways to reform the

Indian Easement Act of 1882
Delhi High Court (HC) on 26 October 2014 issued notice to the Attorney General of
India (AGI) to suggest ways to reform the Indian Easement Act of 1882 and examine
the constitutional validity of the Section 60 (b) of the Act. With this, the Delhi HC begun
the exercise independently to zero in on outdated laws that need to be phased out.
The Indian Easement Act deals with rights conferred on an individual over land not
owned by him, but negotiated through a license agreement.
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The Judgement
A Delhi HC bench headed by Justice J R Midha issued notice to the AGI after settling
a property suit between two brothers. While settling the property suit, the bench
raised questions about the Constitutional validity of section 60 (b) of the Act. Section
60 (b) gives all encompassing powers to a licensee in a property even though he
doesnt own it.
Justice Midha decided to examine the validity of the Act after it came to his attention
during the hearings on the private suit that Section 60(b) of the Indian Easement Act,
1882 is heavily tilted against owner of the property.
HC realized that due to it, a licence cannot be revoked by the owner if the licensee,
acting upon the licence, has executed a work of a permanent character and incurred
expenses in the execution.
In effect it means that even though a tenant who raises a construction over a plot
of leased land has to surrender the land on the expiry of the period of the lease, a
licensee can become owner of a property by simply raising some construction over
a plot of land.

The BJP leader, Manohar Lal Khattar was sworn-in as the tenth Chief Minister of
Haryana on 26 October 2014. The oath of office and secrecy was administered by
the Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki at a ceremony held in Panchkula.
60-year-old, Khattar now leads the first-ever BJP government in Haryana since its
formation. He is also the first non-Jat Chief Minister in the state after 18 years and
the first Punjabi to hold the post.
Apart from Khattar, nine ministers including six of Cabinet rank were also sworn in.
The six cabinet ministers are Kavita Jain, Ram Bilas Sharma, Abhimanyu, Om Parkash
Dhankar, Anil Vij and Narbir Singh. Three others who were sworn in as ministers of
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state (independent charge) include Vikram Singh Thekedar, Krishan Kumar Bedi and
Karan Dev Kamboj.
About Manohar Lal Khattar

He is a first-time legislator, who won the Karnal assembly seat.
Khattar is the 10th chief minister of Haryana, which was created 1 November
1966.
He has been associated with the RSS for 40 years and BJP for 20 years.
He has worked as the organizing secretary of BJP in Haryana.
Khattar was elected as the leader of the winning party by legislature of Haryana, after
BJP won the Haryana assembly polls and attained a majority by bagging 47 of the 90
seats in the state. This was the first time that BJP contested on its own in the state.
Uttarakhand Cabinet approved reconstruction of Kedarnath

temple area
Uttarakhand Cabinet on 20 October 2014 approved blue print for reconstruction
work around Kedarnath temple and adjoining areas that was destroyed due to
floods in 2013. The blue print for reconstruction was prepared by the state disaster
management department of Uttarakhand.
It was also decided to assign the rebuilding work around the shrine to the Badri-Kedar
temple committee which will implement it in consultation with the Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI).
The reconstruction work around the temple will be carried out in six phases and also
include building a good quality motor road between Rudraprayag and Sonprayag.
No construction work will be allowed within 50 metre radius of the Himalayan
shrine and all building operations will be carried out as per recommendations of the
Geological Survey of India (GSI).
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BJP emerged as the largest party in the 2014 Assembly Elections

of Maharashtra
Election Commission of India on 19 October 2014 announced the results of the 2014
Assembly elections of Maharashtra. The elections were held on 15 October 2014 for
total 288 seats.
Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) by winning 122 seats emerged as the largest party but
none of the parties succeeded in securing a clear majority. 63.13 percent of the
electorate voted in Maharashtra.
Results as declared
Party
Seats won in 2014 Seats won in 20
Bharatiya Janta Party 122 seats (27.8

(BJP)
percent)
Shiv Sena
BJP and Shiv Sena fought the

election in alliance and secured
91 seats of which 46 seats (14.0
percent) were of BJP and Shiv
Sena secured 44 seats (16.3
percent)
63 seats (19.3
percent)
Indian National
Congress
42 seats (18 percent) INC and NCP fought the election in

alliance and secured 144 seats of
which 82 seats (21.0 percent) were
Nationalist Congress 41 seats (17.2
won by Congress and NCP secured
Party (NCP)
percent)
62 seats (16.4 percent)
Others and
Independents
20 seats (17.7
percent)
The elections were held for 288 seats.
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BJP won the Assembly Elections of Haryana; secured majority
for the first time
Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) won the state assembly elections of Haryana. The results
of the elections were announced by the Election Commission of India on 19 October
2014.
BJP by securing 47 seats emerged as the largest party, with clear majority. The
elections were held for total 90 seats on 15 October 2014. In this elections, Haryana
recorded its highest ever turnout of 76.54 percent.
Results as declared
Party
Seats won in 2014
Seats won in 2009
Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP)
Indian National Lok Dal (INLD )
Indian National Congress
Haryana Janhit Congress

(HJC(BL) )
Others and Independents
Union Home Ministry announced to renamed 12 cities and towns

of Karnataka
Union Home Ministry on 17 October 2014 announced to rename 12 cities and towns
of Karnataka. The proposal was made on 27 October 2006 to change the names of
the 12 towns and cities in consonance with their pronunciation in Kannada language
by the Karnataka Government.
The State Revenue Department had sent the proposal to the Union Government
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seeking its nod for changing the names of 12 cities on 13 October 2008.
According to the proposal, the 12 cities whose names were sought to be

changed are
Bangalore as Bengaluru;
Mangalore as Mangaluru;
Bellary as Ballari;
Bijapur as Vijayapura or Vijapura;
Belgaum as Belagavi;
Chikmagalur as Chikkamagaluru;
Gulbarga as Kalaburagi;
Mysore as Mysuru;
Hospet as Hosapete;
Shimoga as Shivamogga;
Hubli as Hubballi, and
Tumkur as Tumakuru
The decision of home Ministry came after Survey of India, Ministry of Railways,
Department of Posts, Ministry of Science and Technology and Intelligence Bureau
have given their No Objection and clearance for the change in the nomenclature of
the identified cities.
Karnataka Lokayukta ordered probe into misuse of 32 crore

rupees funds for afforestation
Karnataka Lokayukta on 15 October 2014 ordered enquiry into alleged misuse of 32
crore rupees funds meant for afforestation in Gulbarga district of the state.
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The order directed ADGP Lokayukta to investigate the allegations made by advocate
Dr. Raju Kulgeri in Gulbarga. The ADGP will have to take action under the relevant
provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act and other relevant law and to investigate
the scam.
The complainant in his plea alleged that 32 crore rupees that was allocated for
afforestation between 2001 and 2011 was siphoned off by officials in the forest
department. He also alleged that forest coverage of the district has come down from
33 percent to 3.1 percent.
Background
Advocate Dr Raju Kulgeri filed the complaint to Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao
when he visited the district in July 2013.
In response to complaint, the Lokayukta committee comprising of two private persons
namely the deputy conservator of forests and the deputy superintendent of police,
Gulbarga, inspected the afforested area and submitted its report.
In the report, they said that the Forest department officials have failed to produce
documents, cheques and receipts with regard to the work carried out by them and
they did not show any spot for inspection.
Apart from this, another joint inspection report submitted by Deputy SP, Lokayukta
of Gulbarga on 31 July 2014 said that there has been misappropriation of funds
provided for afforestation and maintenance.
Gujarat government set up SPV to promote Vadodara as Cultural

capital
Gujarat government on 10 October 2014 set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)
to promote Vadodara as the cultural capital of Gujarat and encourage tourism in
Vododara.
The SPV set up will be known as Vadodara International Art and Culture Festival
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Authority and it will be headed by State Tourism and Finance Minister Saurabh Patel.
Thus, Gujarat became the first state in India to set up the authority for promoting
tourism.
Gujarat government also decided to hold a bi-annual Vadodara International Art and
Culture Festival (VADFEST) in January 2015 to promote tourism.
Vadodara International Art and Culture Festival (VADFEST)

The festival will comprise of celebration of art, dance, drama, culture, food, films, and
also there will be a special childrens theatre festival.
Popular artistes in various fields from across the country will participate in the festival,
especially actress Hema Malini, veteran playback singer Asha Bhosale, and musicians
Pt Hariprasad Chaursia and AR Rehman.
The festival will give a boost to tourism, hotel industry, real estate and also open
doors for investment in industries, education and IT for the Vadodara.
Comment
Vadodara has the potential of becoming cultural capital of India as it has World Heritage
Sites like Champaner, Pavagadh hills among others and also has site Lakshmi Vilas
Palace belonging to the royal Gaekwad dynasty of the Marathas.
Besides, worlds tallest Statue of Unity is going to be built in the memory of Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel near Sardar Sarovar dam, about 100 kms from Vadodara.
ASKeA in Tonk district decided to end its 150 year old tradition
of sacrificing camel
Anjuman Society of Khandan-e-Amiriya (ASKeA) in Tonk district on 6 October 2014
decided to end its 150 year old tradition of sacrificing camel on the occasion of EidUl-Zuha festival.
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However, ASKeA families gathered in Nawab haveli sacrificed the goat to observe
the Eid-ul-Zuha festival.
The decision came following the Rajasthan governments move to adopt Camel as
the state animal.
Declaration of camel as a state animal

Earlier in June 2014, the Vasundhara Raje government in Rajasthan amended the
Rajasthan Bovine Animal (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary
Migration or Exports of Camel) Act, 1995 and declared the camel as a state animal.
The decision was taken after seeing an alarming decline in number of camels from
7.63 lakh in 1995 to 2.24 lakh in 2013. The draft bill proposed jail term between three
to seven years for slaughtering and smuggling camels.
Tradition of sacrificing camel

The tradition of sacrificing camel had begun in 1864 by the then ruler of Tonk
Nawab Ibrahim Ali Khan IV.
During that period the entire state was governed under Shariat Law (Islamic law).
The practice of sacrificing camel had begun keeping in mind the poor people of
Tonk who could not enjoy and afford to have sacrificial meat on Eid-ul-Zuha.
Till 1990, the erstwhile Nawabs sacrificed two camels, one at the Eidgah and the
second at their mansion in Tonk.
After 1990 the camel sacrifice at Eidgah was discontinued but one camel continued
to be sacrificed at the mansion after which the meat was distributed among the
people.
West Bengal government constituted task force to probe into

Burdwan blast
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Current Affairs
The State Government of West Bengal on 5 September 2014 constituted a highlevel composite Task Force to investigate into the blasts at Khagragarh in Burdwan
District. The blasts occurred on 2 October 2014 in which two persons were killed.
This high-level task force will be headed the Director General of Police GM P Reddy
and will also co-ordinate with various investigating agencies like CID, Kolkata police
and others probing the blast.
Apart from this, the state government is also keeping close touch with the National
Investigating Agency (NIA) on the matter.
One the other hand, State Home Secretary Basudev Banerjee denied involvement of
Al-Qaeda behind the blast. Whereas, the local court remanded two women arrested
in connection with the blast to police custody till 9 October 2014.
TS GENCO and BHEL signed MoU for power generation in

Telangana
Telangana State Power Generation Corporation (TS GENCO) and Bharat Heavy
Electricals Limited (BHEL) signed MoU to establish thermal power plants to generate
6000 MW of electricity in Telangana in the next three years. The MoU was signed in
Hyderabad on 5 October 2014.
According to the MoU, 4000 MW will be set up at Manuguru of Khammam district
and the other 2000 MW at Ramagundam in Karimnagar district. The land for the
projects will be allocated by the Telangana Government and power will be generated
by importing coal.
About Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)

BHEl is a Central Public Sector Unit, which was established in 1964 for rise in
Heavy Electrical Equipment industry in India.
BHEL is an integrated power plant equipment manufacturer and one of the
largest engineering and manufacturing company in India engaged in the design,
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engineering, manufacture, construction, testing, commissioning and servicing of
a wide range of products and services for the core sectors of the economy, viz.
Power, Transmission, Industry, Transportation (Railway), Renewable Energy, Oil &
Gas and Defence.
BHEL attained the Maharatna status in 2013.
About TS GENCO
Telangana Power Generation Corporation Limited commenced its operations on
02 June 2014.
It was formed with an aim to Self sufficiency in power in next three years, 12000
MW overall capacity addition and providing reliable and uninterrupted power
supply to Agriculture, Industrial, Commercial and Domestic sectors.

Rajasthan on 3 October 2014 became the first state of India to start olive refinery.
The refinery established at an expense of 3.75 crore rupees in Lunkaransar area of
Bikaner was inaugurated by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.
With this launch, the state government feels that the refinery would fulfill peoples
demand of olive oil in coming years. Olive oil produced in the refinery will be marked
under the brand name of Raj Olive Oil and would be made available in market after
some time.
Background
Rajasthan is one of the leading states that cultivate olive. The state started cultivation
of olive in 2007 under olive cultivation project that was launched during the previous
tenure of Vasundhara Raje as the Chief Minister of the state. The project was started
by taking assistance of Israel and planted 1.12 lakh saplings in 7 agro-climatic zones.
At present, Olive has been planted in 282 hectare land in districts like Jhunjhunu,
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Nagaur, Bikaner and other districts of the state. The state has seven leading varieties
namely Barnea, Arbequina, Crotina, Picholine, Picual, Coraniki and Frontoy. Now the
government wants to increase the area to 5000 hectares, so that the refinery would
get more fruits to increase production.
Olive is a small tree and belongs to the oleaceae family. Generally, it is found in
coastal areas of eastern Mediterranean in Italy and Spain, northern Iraq. It is also
available in the northern Iran south of the Caspian Sea.
Union Government approved six STPIs for Odisha

Union government on 30 September 2014 accorded in-principle approval for setting
up six more Software Technology Parks of India (STPIs) in Odisha. With this the
number of such parks in the state will go up to 10.
These six STPIs will be developed at Jaypore in Koraput district, Sambalpur, Jajpur,
Angul, Rayagada and Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi. The four existing STPIs are at
Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Brahmapur and Balasore.
Background
The Union Government gave its approval for the STPIs after Odishas Information
Technology Minister Pranab Prakash Das met Union Minister for Information
Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad in July 2014 at New Delhi and raised the demand
of STPIs.
About Software Technology Parks of India (STPIs)

Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) is an autonomous society established
in 1991 under the Union Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. It
was set up to promote software exports from the country and manages the Software
Technology Park scheme.
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Current Affairs
NEWS CAPSULE
PERSON IN NEWS
Richest man of Japan Masayoshi Son announced his biggest
ever investment in India
Masayoshi son was recently in news because he announced the biggest ever
investment in the India. He announced to invest 10 billion US dollar in the coming
years in the IT sector.
He started with the announcement to invest 627 million US dollar in the Snapdeal.
With the investment, the snapdeal will become the largest shareholder in the online
marketplace major.
About Masayoshi Son

Masayoshi Son is a Korean-Japanese businessman. He is the founder and current
chief executive officer (CEO) of SoftBank, the chief executive officer of SoftBank
Mobile, and current chairman of Sprint Corporation.
He is the richest man in Japan despite having the distinction of losing the most
money in history. He lost approximately 70 billion US dollar during the dot com crash
of 2000.
According to Forbes magazine, his net worth is 22.3 billion US dollar as of 2014.
Forbes also describes him as a philanthropist.
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Current Affairs
Son was named the worlds 45th most powerful person by Forbes Magazines List of
The Worlds Most Powerful People in 2013.

Google on 28 October 2014 celebrated the 100th birthday of Dr Jonas Salk with a
doodle on its homepage. Dr Jonas Salk was the American scientists who developed
the first successful polio vaccine.
In the Google Doodle two children holding up a sign reading Thank you, Dr Salk! - a
tribute to the virologists work against a disease whose main victims were children.
In the two years before his vaccine was made widely available, the average number
of polio cases in the US was more than 45000. By 1962, that number had dropped
to 910.
About the polio vaccine

The virologists research soon caught the attention of Basil OConnor, president of the
National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis whose organisation funded Salks efforts
to develop a vaccine against the devastating disease.
The resulting vaccine was tested first in monkeys and then in patients at the D.T.
Watson Home for Crippled Children who already had polio.
Salk re-worked the established idea of a vaccine by suggesting that immunity could
be established in the body by using inactivated viruses.
About Dr Jonas Salk

Salk graduated from New York University School of Medicine in 1939 with his M.D.
degree and soon started work as a staff physician at Mount Sinai Hospital in New
York City.
He would then apply his talents to the field of research, becoming a fellow at the
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University of Michigan where he worked to develop a flu vaccine at the request of
the US Army.
By 1947, he was appointed director of the Virus Research Laboratory at the University
of Pittsburgh school of Medicine, the institution where he developed the techniques
that would help him discover a vaccine for polio.
His Honors and recognitions

In 1955, scholarship fund was announced by City University of New York city. It
creates the Salk Scholarship fund which was awarded to multiple outstanding
pre-med students each year.
In 1958, he was elected to the Polio Hall of Fame, which was dedicated in Warm
Springs, Georgia.
In 1975, he was awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Award and the Congressional Gold
Medal.
In 2012, in honor of his birthday, 24 October has been named World Polio Day,
and was originated by Rotary International over a decade earlier.
Documentary Films
In early 2009, the American Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) aired its new
documentary film, American Experience: The Polio Crusade.
In April 2010, to help celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Salk vaccine, a new
66-minute documentary, The Shot Felt Round the World, had its world premiere.
In 2014, actor and director Robert Redford, who was once struck with a mild case
of polio when he was a child, directed a documentary about the Salk Institute in La
Jolla, California.
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Amitabh Bachchan summoned by US court for instigating
violence during 1984 riots
Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan was recently in news as he was summoned
by a US Federal Court in Los Angeles on 28 October 2014 for allegedly instigating
violence against the Sikh community during the November 1984 riots.
Amitabh Bachchan was accused of raising the slogan Khooon Ka Badla Khoon
(blood for blood) on 31 October 1984 after then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was
shot dead by her two Sikh bodyguards.
The US Federal Court has given 21 days to Bachchan to respond to the charges of
human rights violations as per the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. However, if he
failed to respond, judgment by default will be entered against him for relief demanded
in the complaint.
Background
The complaint against Amitabh Bachchan was filed by New York-based Sikh for
Justice (SFJ) and two alleged victims Babu Singh Dukhiya and Mohender Singh of
the anti-Sikh riots.
Over the past several years, SFJ has unsuccessfully tried to drag several Indian
leaders to US courts in the alleged human rights violations cases.
1984 anti-Sikhs riots

The November 1984 anti-Sikhs riots were a series of persecutions directed against
Sikhs in India by anti-Sikh mobs in response to the assassination of Indira Gandhi by
her Sikh bodyguards.
There were more than 8000 deaths including 3000 in Delhi.
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A C N Nambiar described as a Soviet spy by declassified
documents of National Archives
Former Indian ambassador, Arathil Candeth Narayan Nambiar was described as a
Soviet Spy by the declassified documents of the National Archives of Britain. The
documents were released on 24 October 2014 under the 30-year-rule.
The declassified documents said that Nambiar, who was a deputy of freedom fighter
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and was also old friend of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru,
went to Berlin in 1924 as a journalist and worked with the Indian communist group,
visiting Moscow as a Soviet guest in 1929, the year when he came under the radar
of the British intelligence services.
Some other facts revealed by the declassified documents at the National

Archives are
Nambiar was expelled from, Germany on the outbreak of the Second World War
but was allowed to return as Subhash Chandra Boses deputy in Berlin
He became a German-financed leader of the Free India Movement in Europe after
Bose moved to the Far East to join the Japanese
He lived in Europe during 1930s and 1940s
In June 1945, he was arrested in Austria and was interrogated in September 1945
as a Nazi collaborator
After World War-II, he worked as counsellor at the Indian Legation in Berne, as
Indian ambassador to Scandinavia and then to West Germany
He worked as European correspondent of the Hindustan Times
The British documents also include the names and details of Netaji-led Azad Hind
activities in Germany and elsewhere in Europe.
The declassified files also include copies of letters from Nambiar to Bose which
recovered from the German submarine U-boat 234 after it surrendered during the
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Second World War
Google CEO Larry Page appointed Sundar Pichai as new Product

Chief of Google
Google CEO Larry Page on 26 October 2014 appointed Sundar Pichai as new Product
Chief of Google.
The India-born executive will oversight over products such as search, maps, Google+,
commerce, advertising and infrastructure. Meanwhile, Googles YouTube will remain
under the command of Susan Wojcicki, CEO of the well known video hosting website.
The new role make him second-in-command at Google. Pichai has been working at
Google for more than 9 years.
Six executives who previously reported to Page, including the heads of research,
social media and search, will now report to Pichai. Pichai will now report to Larry
Page.
In addition to handling his new responsibility, Pichai will continue to work as Senior
Vice President of Android, Chrome and Apps.
The appointment is a part of a big reshuffle move in the management structure.
Under this reshuffle plan, Chief Business Officer Nikesh Arora departed unexpectedly
in July 2014 to become Vice Chairman of Japans SoftBank Corp and was replaced
by longtime Google executive Omid Kordestani. Vic Gundotra, the head of Googles
social networking services, left in April 2014.
About Sundar Pichai

Pichai Sundararajan better known as Sundar Pichai, is an Indian businessman and a
Senior Vice President at Google.
He was born in Chennai, Tamilnadu. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering degree
from IIT- Kharagpur. He holds an M.S. from Stanford University and an MBA from
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the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was named a Siebel
Scholar and a Palmer Scholar.
He joined Google in 2004, where he led the product management and innovation
efforts for a suite of Googles client software products, including Google Chrome and
Chrome OS, as well as being largely responsible for Google Drive.
On 20 May 2010, he announced the open-sourcing of the new video codec VP8 by
Google, and introduced the new video format WebM.
On 13 March 2013, Pichai added Android to the Google products he oversees.
Android was formerly managed by Andy Rubin.
In 2014, Sundar Pichai launched Android one project in India. Android one project
was aimed at reaching the next 5 billion people.

Alan Eustace, a senior Google vice-president on 24 October 2014 broke the world
altitude record for highest free-fall parachute jump. Eustace broke the world altitude
record of parachute jump set by Austrian Felix Baumgartner.
57-year-old Eustace jumped in a specially designed space suit from an altitude of
135908-foot. Baumgartner created a world record of jumping from 128000 feet on
12 October 2012.
He was carried by a large balloon filed with 35000 cubic feet of helium from New
Mexico to over 40 kilometers (25 miles) above the earth. After Jumping, he crossed
the speed of more than 1300 kilometer per hour, which exceeded the speed of sound,
setting off a small sonic boom, and broke three skydiving records in the process.
After starting his fall, he reached earth within 15 minutes.
This dive was part of a project led by Paragon Space Development Corporation.
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Five year old Indian boy Harshit Saumitra become the youngest
to reach the EBC
Five year old Indian boy Harshit Saumitra on 19 October 2014 became the youngest
person to reach the Everest Base Camp (EBC).
With this, the child overtakes the record set by Aaryan Balaji, a seven-year old Indian
boy who had reached the two peaks in May 2012.
Harshit took 10 days to cover the distance of 62km trek. Harshit is a class 1 student
from New Delhi. He also climbed the Kalapathar (5550 m) peak, located near the
EBC.
Harshit has also climbed Rohtang Pass (3930 m) before attempting EBC.
He is planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m) in Africa and also plans to attempt
Mount Everest (8848 m) in coming years.
His father, Rajeev Saumitra, is a mountaineer. He had reached the peak of Mount
Everest (8848 m) in 2013.
The family plans to register the feat in record books like the Guinness World Records
and the Limca Book of World Records.
Sadiq, a 10-year-old terminally ill boy, became Hyderabads

police commissioner for a day
Sadiq, a 10-year old terminally ill boy became Hyderabad Police Commissioner for
a day. His long cherished dream to serve as Police Commissioner was fulfilled by
Hyderabad Police Commissioner Mahender Reddy on 15 October 2014.
His last wish was fulfilled by the help of an NGO, Make a Wish Foundation that
decided to fulfill Sadiqs dream on humanitarian ground.
Ten-year-old Sadiq who hails from Peddapalli, Karimnagar is suffering from life241
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threatening cancer and is undergoing treatment at state-run MNJ Institute of Oncology.
The terminally ill boy entered the office in a Khaki uniform and a cap and occupied
the chair of Hyderabad police commissioner for a day, while Hyderabad Police
Commissioner Mahender Reddy and other senior officers swiftly saluted him.
Before assuming the office, Sadiq was given a ceremonial welcome by the police
when he arrived at the Commissioners Office.
Dream of Sadiq
Ten-year-old Sadiq who hails from Peddapalli, Karimnagar dreamt of sitting on the
Police Commissioners chair and by sitting on the desk he wanted to sign important
files, give instructions to the orderliness. He also wanted to catch thieves and uphold
the rule of law.
Sadiq is son of Mohd. Raheemuddin and his three uncles are serving in army while
two works in police department in Karimnagar, Telangana (29th state of India).
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PERSON APPOINTED
Vice President of Zambia Guy Scott on 29 October 2014 was appointed as acting
President by the Zambia government. Guy Scott, thus, became the first white leader
of a sub-Saharan nation since F W de Klerks became the President of South Africa
in May 1994.
He was appointed after the incumbent President Michael Sata died in London on 28
October 2014.
However, his appointment was shrouded in controversy because according to some
official sources Guy Scott was ineligible for election of President of Zambia as his
parents were not born in Zambia.
Earlier also in 2008, there has been such instance when President Mwanawasas
death made vice president, Rupiah Band as acting president and an election was
held within 90 days.
About Guy Scott

Scott was born in 1944 in Livingstone, Zambia.
He completed graduation from Cambridge University and University of Sussex
with a degree in economics and a doctorate in cognitive science.
He is a former farmer and he was elected to serve as Chair of the Agriculture
Committee from Movement for Multi-Party Democracy.
He was elected as Member of Parliament for Mpika in 1991 and later he was
appointed as Agricultural minister.
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Guy Scott was appointed as Vice-President of Zambia in2011 under the President
of Michael Sata.
Sandeep Saxena appointed as the new Chief Electoral Officer of

Tamil Nadu
Sandeep Saxena was appointed as new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Tamil Nadu
on 27 October 2014. He succeeded Praveen Kumar who was holding this post since
August 2010.
His appointment as CEO was announced by Chief Secretary Mohan Verghese
Chunkath. Saxena is also designated as Principal Secretary to Government, Public
(Elections) Department.
His immediate task will be to hold the by-elections to the Srirangam Assembly seat
which fell vacant following the disqualification of Former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
Sandeep Saxena
Sandeep Saxena is an IAS officer of the 1989 batch of the Tamil Nadu cadre.
Saxena did his post graduation in water resources engineering from the Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and Ph.D. in vulnerability assessment from the
Anna University.
Saxena was the Collector of Damoh from January 2004 to September 2005.
He is presently holding the post of State Agricultural Production Commissioner
and Principal Secretary of the Agriculture Department since November 2011.
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Jairam Ramesh designated as the head of Future Earth
Engagement Committee
The former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh on 26 October 2014 was designated as
the head of Future Earth Engagement Committee, a global research platform panel
on sustainable development.
The Future Earth Engagement Committee was instituted by an alliance of
organisations including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World
Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
The Committee is a strategic advisory group of thought-leaders from stakeholder
groups including business, policy and civil society representing the diversity of
societal partners that are needed to address the challenges of global environmental
change.
Jairam Ramesh
Jairam Ramesh is a Member of the Parliament of India representing Andhra
Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha.
Jairam has earlier been Advisor to the Finance Minister during 1996-98 and advisor
to the Prime Minister in 1991.
As a member of UPA government, he was previously the Minister of State of
Environment and Forests from May 2009 to July 2011.
He has authored a number of key government reports in areas such as energy,
technology, capital goods, industrial policy and telecom.
He has been a founding member of the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad
and is a member of the International Council of the New York-based Asia Society.
In 2001, IIT Bombay presented him with the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
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Anita M Singh appointed as Chief of Staff of NSD in US Justice
Department
Indian-American Anita M Singh on 21 October 2014 was appointed as Chief of Staff
and Counselor in the National Security Division (NSD) of the US Justice Department.
Her appointment is part of the restructuring of the NSD. Her appointment was
announced by John Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.
Singh will focus on strategic management issues including the design of structural
changes to support work in emerging threat areas. Singh served as NSDs Acting
Chief of Staff for nearly one and a half years. Earlier, she worked on cyber-related
issues.
The restructuring is designed to put additional focus on the protection of national
assets from the threat of state-sponsored economic espionage and proliferation.
About Anita Singh

Anita Singh joined NSD as a Deputy Chief of Staff in 2011 after serving as Director
for Intelligence Programs and Reform at the White House on the National Security
Council staff.
She began her legal career through the Department of Justices Honors Program
serving in the Criminal Divisions Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section,
and later as a Counsel, focused on cyber security, to several Assistant Attorneys
General.
Prior to entering government service, Singh was a management strategy consultant
with the Boston Consulting Group.
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Vanita Gupta appointed as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney
General in DoJ of US
Vanita Gupta, an Indian-American attorney was appointed as temporary head of
Department of Justices civil rights division (DoJ). The appointment was announced
by the Department of Justice (DoJ) on 15 October 2014.
She took the charge of the office, as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and
Acting Assistant Attorney General at the DoJ from 20 October 2014. She replaced
Molly Moran, who was appointed as Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General of
DoJ.
She was nominated by the US President Barack Obama for the post in Department of
Justices civil rights division. Before the appointment she was serving as the Deputy
Legal Director at the American Civil Liberties Union.
About Vanita Gupta

Vanita Gupta (39) was born in the Philadelphia. She is a graduate of Yale and New
York University Law School.
In 2003, she started her career at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF), where
she won a challenge to reverse the convictions of a group of black men who were
wrongfully convicted of selling drugs in Texas.
While serving at the American Civil Liberties Union, Gupta fought to improve the
conditions of children and their families of immigration detention in 2007.

The Union Urban Development Ministry on 17 October 2014 appointed PSN Rao
as the new Chairman of the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC). Rao succeeds
eminent architect Raj Rewal, who was appointed as Chairman of the commission in
July 2011 for three years.
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At the time of appointment as DUAC chairman, Rao was heading the Department
of Housing, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. He studied urban
management in Canada.
Apart from this, the ministry also named four new members of the commission,
namely Sonali Bhagwati (an architect), Sonali Rastogi (an architect), Samir Mathur (a
landscale architect) and Durga Shankar Mishra (Additional Secretary in the Ministry
of Urban Development). The tenure of this new panel will be of three-year.
About Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC)

Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) was constituted under the provisions of the Delhi
Urban Art Commission Act 1973. DUAC was set up in May 1974 and is mandated
with preserving, developing and maintaining the aesthetic quality of urban and
environmental design in Delhi.

Union Government on 16 October 2014 appointed US-based economist Arvind
Subramanian as Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) in the Union Finance Ministry. He has
been appointed as the CEA for a period of three years on contract basis.
Subramanian is the third economist of international rapport to be appointed to the
key post of CEA in the recent years. Other two internationally renowned economists
who recently have served as CEA are Kaushik Basu (World Bank Chief Economist)
and Raghuram Rajan (current RBI Governor and former IMF chief economist).
About Arvind Subramanian

Subramanian is a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics
and at Center for Global Development. Both institutes are based in Washington
He is an expert of the economics of India, China and the changing balance of
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global economic power
He is an alumnus of St Stephens College, Delhi and IIM Ahmedabad
Subramanians academic work has focused on trade and its effect on developing
countries
The post of CEA was lying vacant since Raghuram Rajan left the Union Finance
Ministry to join the Reserve Bank as its 23rd Governor in 2013. He succeeded D.
Subbarao who demitted the office as RBI Governor on 4 September 2013.
ACC approved appointment of Rajiv Mehrishi as the Union

Finance Secretary
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on 16 October 2014 approved
appointment of Rajiv Mehrishi as the Union Finance Secretary in Department of
Economic Affairs of the Union Ministry of Finance.
Mehrishi, an IAS of the 1978-batch of Rajasthan Cadre, replaced his batch-mate
Arvind Mayaram, who was appointed as the Union Tourism Secretary.
Mehrishi will retire from the post in August 2014, which means that he will have just
about 10 months at Ministry of Finance. At the time of appointment, Mehrishi was
serving as Chief Secretary of Rajasthan.
Mayaram, a 1978-batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre was made the Union Tourism
Secretary in place of Parvez Dewan who will retire in October 2014.
Apart from Rajiv Mehrishi and Arvind Mayaram appointments, the ACC on 16
October 2014 made other 18 transfers and appointments of which one-third was at
the secretary level. Some of the important appointments included
Anil Swarup, a 1981 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre appointed as
the new Coal Secretary. He will take over as Coal Secretary when incumbent SK
Srivastava retires on 31 October 2014.
Alok Rawat, a 1977 batch IAS officer of Sikkim cadre appointed new secretary in
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the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances and Department of
Pensions and Pensioners Welfare. At the time of this appointment, he was Secretary
in Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
Prabhu Dayal Meena, a 1980 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre
appointed as Secretary in the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare. He was
serving as Special Secretary in Department of Land Resources and will replace
Sangita Gairola, who retires in October 2014
Anuj Kumar Bishnoi, a 1981 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre appointed as
Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation.
Bishnoi was Additional Secretary in the Department of Defence.
Ashok Kumar Angurana, a 1980 batch IAS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre
appointed as Secretary in Ministry of Panchayati Raj. He was working as Managing
Director, TRIFED, Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Vinod Agrawal, a 1980 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre appointed as
Secretary in National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC). He was working
as Advisor, Inter State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Gautham Roy appointed as the new Managing Director of CPCL

Gautham Roy on 14 October 2014 was appointed as the new Managing Director
(MD) of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (CPCL).
His appointment was made by Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas,
Government of India. He served as an Executive Director in Indian Oil Corporation
Ltd before assuming the new post.
He was appointed in place of A S Basu who retired on 31 May 2014. Since June
2014, the charge of Managing Director of CPCL was with S Venkataramana, DirectorOperations of CPCL.
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Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (CPCL)

CPCL was formerly known as Madras Refineries Ltd. It is a subsidiary of Indian
Oil Corporation.
It has two refineries with a combined refining capacity of 11.5 million tonnes per
annum.
It was formed as a joint venture in 1965 between the Government of India,
AMOCO and National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) having a share holding in the
ratio 74:13:13 respectively.
In 1985, AMOCO disinvested in favor of the Government of India leading to revision
in shareholding percentage to 84.62 per cent for the government and 15.38 per
cent of NIOC.
The company went public in 1994.
IOC acquired government stake in CPCL in 2000-01 and presently IOC holds
51.89 percent shares while NICO controls 15.40 percent of shares.
Khaled Bahah appointed as Prime Minister of Yemen

Khaled Bahah on 13 October 2014 was appointed as Prime Minister of Yemen. He was
appointed by the President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. At the time of appointment
Bahah was serving as permanent representative of the Republic of Yemen to the
United Nations.
The appointment comes under a power-sharing deal signed between Houthis and
President Mansour Hadi in September 2014. The deal aims to bring the Houthis and
the wing of a separatist group into a more inclusive government.
In October 2014, President Mansour Hadi proposed Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak as
Prime Minister but he was rejected by Houthi, Shiite Muslim group. Houthi group
proposed three names and Khaled Bahah was one among them.
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About Khaled Bahah

Khaled Bahah was born in 1965.
He holds the masters degree in administration, business and finance from
University of Pune, India.
He served previously as oil minister in Yemen before being appointed Yemens
envoy to the United Nations.
Actor Aamir Khan appointed as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

for South Asia
Bollywood actor, director and producer Aamir Khan on 9 October 2014 was appointed
as the Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF in South Asia.
Aamir Khan will focus on supporting child nutrition to end stunting across the region.
He became UNICEF Ambassador on the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the
Rights of the Child (CRC).
Child Nutrition in South Asia

After sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia has the highest number of under-five deaths
in the world with 2.3 million in 2011. Across the region, nearly 40 percent of children
under the age of five are stunted because of chronic undernutrition.
Around 28 percent of children are born with low birth weight due to womens poor
nutrition before and during pregnancy.
The most crucial time to meet a childs nutritional needs is during the first 1000 days
from conception to the childs second birthday. Proven and effective interventions
during this time can prevent malnutrition and drastically reduce the prevalence of
stunting.
Moreover, pervasive poverty and disparities prevent millions of children in South Asia
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from living in dignity, reaching their potential and making choices about their own
future.
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child. The organization works
in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action,
focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable children and benefit them.
The organisation has roped in various international celebrities to support its campaigns
around the globe. Some famous faces include Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie, Jackie
Chan, Mia Farrow, Shakira Mebarak, Vanessa Redgrave, Susan Sarandon and football
star David Beckham.
In 2005, Amitabh Bachchan was appointed a UNICEF goodwill ambassador and has
since fronted their polio eradication programme successfully.

Kalpana Morparia on 9 October 2014 was appointed as first woman director of
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)
She was appointed as Director so as to meet the deadline set under the sub-section
(1) of the Section 149 of the Companies Act, 2013.
She will be the member of the audit and corporate social responsibility committees of
the HUL board with immediate effect. Kalpana Morparia is serving as chief executive
officer (CEO) of J.P. Morgan India. Now, she was inducted as an independent director
on its board.
Morparia is also a member of the J.P. Morgan Asia Pacific management committee.
Morparia is an independent director on the boards of several companies including
Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd, Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd, Phillip Morris International
Inc. and CMC Ltd.
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Earlier, Morparia served as vice-chair on the boards of ICICI Group companies. She
was joint managing director of ICICI Group from 2001 to 2007.
About Section 149 of the Companies Act, 2013

Woman director on the Board
For the purposes of second proviso to sub-section (1) of section 149 the following
class of companies shall appoint at least one woman director within the period
indicated against each of them, as under:
(i)every listed company- within one year from the commencement of second proviso
to sub-section (1) of section 149;
(ii) every other company having a paid-up share capital of one hundred crore rupees
or more within three years from the commencement of second proviso to subsection (1) of section 149.
Recently, SEBI relaxed various provisions of the new law to ease the process of
implementing stronger corporate governance norms by listed firms. SEBI extended
the deadline for appointing at least one woman director to 1 April 2015.
Leela Samson resigned as Sangeet Natak Akademi chairperson
Leela Samson resigned as the Chairperson of Sangeet Natak Akademi on 30
September 2014. Her resignation has been accepted by Union Ministry of Culture.
62-year-old Samson submitted her resignation as the Chairperson of the Sangeet
Natak Akademi a year before her term ends.
Samson, an eminent Bharatnatyam dancer was appointed as the chairperson of the
Akademi in August 2010 for a period of five years by the Union government.
About Leela Samson

At present, Samson is also a chairperson of Central Board of Film Certification
(CBFC) since 2011 and was also director of Kalakshetra from 2005 onwards.
In 1995, Leela Samson formed Spanda, a dance group to review the traditional
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vocabulary of Bharatanatyam
Sanchari and The Flowering Tree are two documentary films made on her works
Awards conferred on Samson are

Padma Shri (1990) in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the art of
Bharata Natyam
The Sanskriti, Nritya Choodamani, Kalaimamani (2005) given by Government of
Tamil Nadu
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (19992000) for contributions to Bharatanatyam
Sangeet Natak Akademi

The Sangeet Natak Akademi is Indias national academy for all performing arts. It was
set up as an autonomous body in 1952. It is fully funded by the Ministry of Culture
and is currently headed by Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Shripad
Yesso Naik.
Pratima Dharm appointed as the first Hindu priest at Georgetown

University
Pratima Dharm was appointed as the first Hindu priest (Chaplain) at Georgetown
University. Dharm began her assignment at the University on 1 October 2014. She
recently retired from the US Army as its first Hindu priest.
Dharm has been appointed to serve the religious needs of its Hindu students, whose
number has increased in the University in recent years. At the University, she will
lead the weekly Hindu pujas or prayer services and will also look at programmes
that could better Hindu education on campus. She will also work closely with other
religious groups on campus.
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Pratima Dharm
She has served in Army bases and hospitals around the world including a yearlong
deployment in Iraq
Dharm is a native of Mumbai, who went to the United Sates in March 2001 and
began her stint with the Army in 2006
She holds a bachelors and masters degree in psychology from Shreemati Nathibai
Damodar Thackersey University in Mumbai and Annamalai University in Tamil
Nadu, respectively
She also holds a masters degree in theology from Ashland Seminary, a Christian
seminary in Ohio and Michigan
She is trained in the Vaishnav Hindu tradition and endorsed by Chinmaya Mission
Georgetown University
Georgetown University was founded in 1789 and is the oldest Jesuit and Catholic
University in the US. It is a private research university in Washington, DC
In 1968, it became the first Catholic university to hire a rabbi to serve as a chaplain
It is also the first American university to hire a Muslim cleric to serve as a full-time
chaplain
MoCA approved the appointment of Cramer Ball as CEO of Jet

Airways
Union Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on 1 October 2014 approved the appointment
of Cramer Ball as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jet Airways.
He will serve for the next three-year till 2017. Earlier, he was serving as the acting
CEO of the Jet Airways.
Cramer Ball was appointed in June 2014 as acting CEO after Gary Kenneth Toomey
stepped down from the position of CEO. Gary Kenneth Toomey served for a period
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of just seven months.
About Cramer Ball

Cramer Ball is of Australian nationality and has previously held senior positions with
international airlines such as Ansett Australia, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Kendell Airline
and Qantas.
He has also served as the CEO of Air Seychelles.
About Jet Airways

Jet Airways is a major Indian airline based in Mumbai. It is the second largest airline
in India, both, in terms of market share and passengers carried, after IndiGo.
It operates over 3000 flights daily to 74 destinations worldwide. Its main hub is
Mumbai, with secondary hubs at Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru.
President Pranab Mukherjee authorised Vigilance Commissioner

Rajiv to act as CVC
President Pranab Mukherjee on 30 September 2014 authorised Vigilance
Commissioner Rajiv to act as chief of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) until the
appointment of the Central Vigilance Commissioner.
His appointment came with effect from 29 September 2014.
Background
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is headed by a Central Vigilance
Commissioner and has two Vigilance Commissioners.
The vacancy for the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner had occurred after Central
Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar completed his tenure on 28 September
2014. Pradeep Kumar took oath as the chief of the Central Vigilance Commission on
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14 July 2011.
The other Vigilance Commissioner JM Garg completed his tenure on 7 September
2014 following which Rajiv was left as the lone Vigilance Commissioner in CVC.
According to the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, in the event of any vacancy
in the office of the Central Vigilance Commissioner by reason of death, resignation or
otherwise, the President may authorise one of the Vigilance Commissioners to act as
the Central Vigilance Commissioner until the appointment of a new incumbent.
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)

CVC was set up by the Government of India in February 1964 on the
recommendations of the K. Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption.
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is an apex Indian governmental body created
to address governmental corruption. It has the status of an autonomous body,
free of control from any executive authority.
It is charged with the duty to monitor all vigilance activity under the Central
Government of India and advise various authorities in central Government
organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.
Nittoor Srinivasa Rau was the first Chief Vigilance Commissioner of India.
Supreme Court Judgement on appointment of CVC and VC

Presently, Supreme Court of India is hearing a case related to the lack of transparency in
the appointment of the Central Vigilance Commissioner and Vigilance Commissioners.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on 18 September 2014 assured the apex court that
no final decision would be taken on the appointment of the CVC chief and vigilance
commissioners during pendency of the case.
Supreme Court has fixed 14 October 2014 as the date for the final hearing in the
matter.
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SCIENCE | SPACE
ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan announced to launch GSLV
Mark-III in 45 days
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Radhakrishnan on 16 October
2014 announced that the Indian space agency will launch GSLV Mark-III within next
45 days. This launch of ISRO is one of the most awaited launches of 2014.
GSLV Mark-III will facilitate launch of four-tonne class of communication satellites to
Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. This launch of communication satellites will benefit
all sections of the society, including remote and far-flung areas of the country.
The announcement was made by Radhakrishnan from the Mission Control Room in
Sriharikota after the successful launch of IRNSS 1C.
Apart from this, another communication satellite GSAT 16 with 48 transponders will
be launched on board Ariane 5 from the French Guyana in December 2014. ISRO
would launch the next in the IRNSS series IRNSS 1D in December 2014.
GSLV-III or Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III

The GSLV-III or Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III is a launch vehicle
being developed by the Indian Space Research Organization. GSLV Mk III is conceived
and designed to make ISRO fully self reliant in launching heavier communication
satellites of INSAT-4 class, weighing 4500 to 5000 kilograms. It would also enhance
the capability of the country to be a competitive player in the multimillion dollar
commercial launch market. The vehicle envisages multi-mission launch capability for
GTO, LEO, Polar and intermediate circular orbits.
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PERSON ON VISIT
President Pranab Mukherjee visited Norway from 13 to 14 October 2014. He became
the first Indian head of state to visit Norway and first president to cross the Arctic
Circle. He was invited for a ceremonial reception at the Royal Palace in Oslo and held
talks with King Harald V.
During his visit, he held meeting with top Norwegian political leaders and signed 13
agreements to reaffirm Indias long-standing friendly ties with Norway.
MoU to promote cultural co-operation and exchanges between the two nations
MoU in the field of Earth System Sciences to allow exchange of scientific resources,
personnel and technical knowledge
Three MoU signed by IIT Kanpur with NTNU, University of Oslo and NILU.
Two MoU signed by IISER, Thiruvananthapuram with SINTEF Materials and
Chemistry and Institute of Energy Technology
Three MoU signed by University of Hyderabad with University of Oslo, NTNU and
University of Bergen
Statement of Intent (SoI) in Defence sector
MoU to support promotion and extension of cooperation in Scientific Research
and Technology Development
MoU to establish a health research relationship for encouraging research in a
range of health-related areas
MoU between Indira Gandhi National Tribal University and University of Agder
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Pranab Mukherjee explained that Indias interests in the Arctic region are scientific,
environmental, commercial as well as strategic. He also mentioned that India does
not want to be left out in the cold in the ongoing race among the countries to explore
and exploit the vast reservoirs of oil and gas present in the Arctic region.
In case of new deep sea shipping routes (Arctic Ocean), he expressed that India
can join hands with a member state like Russia for both navigation and exploration
of hydrocarbons, even though its present policy is largely geared towards scientific
research.
He invited Norway to join the Make in India initiative, so that investors and entrepreneurs
can explore possibilities of investment in infrastructure sector of India. He extended
an invitation to the King of Norway, Harald V to visit India.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg arrived in New Delhi, to

meet PM tomorrow
Founder of social site Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg arrived in New Delhi on a two day
visit from 9 October to 10 October 2014. His aim behind the visit is to take help of
India in connecting people of the world.
During his visit, one of his big engagements is his meet with Prime Minister Narendra
Modi. Modi as a person is a supporter of social media as he thinks that it is a mean
to reach out to people.
In terms of users, India is the second-largest market of social network outside the US
but one that generates little revenue.
On the first day of his visit, he addressed Internet.org summit where he presented
different social and economic roadblocks on the way of connectivity, which is right
of every person. He said that social roadblocks are greater than the economic
roadblocks. In the summit, he also claimed that connectivity allows people to perform
unbelievable works.
Zuckerberg said that even in developed countries, about 25 percent women are not
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connected with social media as compared to men. Whereas, in context of India about
69 percent people are not connected with the social network and as they dont know
that they can connect with the world through internet.
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PERSON DIED
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Galway Kinnell died on 29 October 2014 in Vermont after
battling leukaemia. He was 87.
Galway Kinnell
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Kinnell graduated from Princeton University.
He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, travelled everywhere from Paris to
Iran, opposed the Vietnam War and served as a field worker for the civil rights
organization CORE (Congress of Racial Equality).
Kinnell divided his time between Vermont and New York City where he was the
director of the creative writing program at New York University.
Kinnell published his first book of poetry What a World It Was in 1960 at the age
of 32. His other books included Body Rags, Mortal Acts, Mortal Words, The Past
and Strong Is Your Hold.
Kinnells greatest honour was being named as the poet laureate of Vermont in
1989 which made him the successor to Robert Frost. His book Selected Poems
won the Pulitzer Prize in 1983.

President of Zambia Michael Sata died on 28 October 2014 in London. He was 77.
He was reputed for a sharp tongue and rude manner which earned him nick name,
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King Cobra.
He was the fourth President of Zambia after Frederick Chiluba, Levy Mwanawasa
and Rupiah Banda. He became the President in 2011 for a term of five years.
The Vice President Guy Scott has been appointed as acting president by the Zambia
government, until an election is held to search a new President. The election will be
held within 90 days.
About Michael Sata

Sata was born in Mpika, Zambia in 1936 and worked as a police officer, railway
man and trade unionist, during the colonial administration.
During Zambias struggle for independence, he jumped into politics, and later
founded the Patriotic Front.
He was a major critic of investment in the copper industry of Zambia which
mistreated Zambian mine workers.
He served as governor of Lusaka and worked under the two former presidents,
Kenneth Kaunda and Frederick Chiluba.

South Africas football captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa died on 26 October
2014 after being shot. The incident occurred at Meyiwas girlfriend Kelly Khumalos
house in Vosloorus, south of Johannesburg.
The 27-year-old Meyiwa was killed after two armed men broke into the house where
he was staying, while a third man remained outside. All three fled after the shots were
fired.
South African Police has announced a reward of 14000 US dollars reward for
information leading to the suspects arrest.
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About Senzo Meyiwa
Senzo Meyiwa played for Orlando Pirates based in the Parktown district of
Johannesburg as a goalkeeper
Meyiwa made his debut for South Africa on 2 June 2013
He had played in South Africas last four Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers

Newly elected BJP legislator Govind M Rathod died on 27 October 2014 following
a massive heart attack. He was elected as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from
Mudkhed Assembly in Nanded district of Maharashtra in October 2014.
Rathod passed away while he was travelling by the Devgiri Express to come to
Mumbai for the scheduled BJP Legislature Party meeting scheduled on 28 October
2014.
Political impact of Govind M Rathod death

In the current political situation, the sudden death of Govind M Rathod gave a blow
to the BJP which is struggling to cobble up a coalition government or form a minority
government in Maharashtra with external support.
With the death of Govind M Rathod, the strength of BJP legislators in Maharashtra
was reduced to 121. This will now demand at least 23 votes in favour of BJP for
achieving the simple majority of 145 in the 288-member state Assembly.

Noted freedom fighter Jagdish Sharan Pande died after prolonged illness on 23
October 2014 in Almora, Uttarakhand. He was 95.
Pandes mortal remains were consigned to flames with full state honours.
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About Jagdish Sharan Pande

Pande had worked for Netaji Subhash Chandra Boses Azad Hind Fauj. While
working for Netajis Azad Hind Force had even been jailed for two years in Burma
in 1943-44
After independence, he did active social work
He was the resident of village Bhatkot, Uttarakhand

Chief Executive officer (CEO) of oil company Total Christophe de Margerie on 21
October 2014 died in Moscow plane crash. He was 63.
His corporate jet collided with a snow plough and was then engulfed in flames. All
four people on board were killed. The driver of the snow plough was drunk.
Christophe de Margerie was the CEO of Europes third largest oil company since
2007. He was highly regarded within the oil industry.
Margerie was returning to Paris after a meeting with the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry
Medvedev at his dacha near Moscow following a business leaders meeting in Gorky.
The two men had been discussing investments in Russia amid the 2014 pro-Russian
unrest in Ukraine and the resulting Western sanctions on the country related to the
stand-off in Ukraine.
About Christophe de Margerie

Christophe de Margerie was born in France in 1951. Margerie joined the Total Group
after graduating from the ESCP Europe in Paris in 1974. He started working for Total
in the Finance Department and Exploration & Production division.
He became President of Total Middle East in 1995 before joining the groups Executive
Committee as President of the Exploration & Production division in May 1999. In
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January 2002 he became President of the Exploration & Production division of Total.
He was appointed a member of the Board of Directors on 12 May 2006 and became
CEO of on 14 February 2007. From 21 May 2010, he served as Chairman of the
company.
About Total
Total S.A. is French multinational integrated oil and gas Company and one of the six
super major oil companies in the world. The company has its head office in the Tour
Total in the West of Paris.
Its businesses cover the entire oil and gas chain, from crude oil and natural gas
exploration and production to power generation, transportation, refining, petroleum
product marketing, and international crude oil and product trading.
Total is also a large-scale chemicals manufacturer.

Iconic fashion designer Oscar de la Renta died on 20 October 2014 at Kent,
Connecticut. He was 82.
He died after a 10-year battle with cancer.
About Oscar de la Renta

Born on 22 July 22 1932 in the Dominican Republic, De la Renta went to Spain to
study art at the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid.
Oscar de la Renta was often described as the sultan of suave.
He made his name in the 1960s by dressing one of the major fashion icons the
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
He was famous for floral, feminine, classy, elegant designs, flattering silhouettes
with full skirts.
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Recently, de la Renta made the wedding dress for human rights lawyer Amal
Clooney for her marriage.
In 1967 and 1968, de la Renta won the Coty Award (the US fashion industry Oscar
Award).

British actress and presenter Lynda Bellingham on 19 October 2014 died in London
because of colon Cancer. She was 66.
The actress was best known for her long-running role as a mother in the Oxo TV
adverts.
The colon cancer was detected in July 2013.
Bellingham was also known for shows like All Creatures Great and Small. In All
Creatures Great and Small, she was the second actress to play Helen Herriot on
television.
In recent years she was on the panel of ITVs Loose Women.
About Lynda Bellingham

Lynda Bellingham was a Canadian-born English actress, broadcaster and author.
She played the role of the mother in the long-running series of Oxo Family British TV
adverts between 1983 and 1999.
Bellingham made her television debut as a nurse in an ITV afternoon soap opera of
the 1970s, General Hospital.
She also starred in the films Confessions of a Driving Instructor (1976), Sweeney!
(1977), Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers (1977), and Riding High (1981) with Eddie Kidd.
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Well-known Telugu writer and former radio artiste Turaga Janaki Rani died on 15
October 2014 in Hyderabad after a prolonged illness. She was 80
Turaga Janaki Rani was survived by her two daughters Usha Ramani and Vasantha
Shobha.
Turaga Janaki Rani

Janaki Rani was popularly known as Radio Akkayya.
She had worked as an assistant station director of AIR (All India Radio).
She used to conduct Balanandam, one of the popular programmes.
Janaki Rani won the National Best Broadcaster Award for two years in 1991 and
1992.
She was also honoured with the title Balasaahitya Ratna by the Bala Sahitya
Parishat in Hyderabad in June 2011.

American actress Elizabeth Pena died on 14 October 2014 in Los Angeles following
a brief illness. She was 55.
Elizabeth Pena
Born in New Jersey, Elizabeth Pena graduated from the High School of Performing
Arts in New York City.
Pena began her career in 1978 with Leon Ichasos film El Super.
She has appeared in films such as La Bamba, Down and Out in Beverly Hills,
Jacobs Ladder, Lone Star and Rush Hour.
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Pena was also noted for having starred in a sitcom I Married Dora in 1987 as Dora
Calderon, the title character.
Pena provided the voice of the character Mirage in Pixars animated film The
Incredibles in 2004.
Recently, she played Sofa Vergaras mother role on ABCs Emmy-winning series
Modern Family.
Lok Sabha MP Kapil Krishna Thakur died

Lok Sabha MP Kapil Krishna Thakur died on 13 October 2014 in Kolkata following a
lung failure. He was 73.
He was the elder son of Binapani Debi Thakurani (Baroma), the leader of Matua
community.
Kapil Krishna Thakur

Thakur did his graduation from the University of Calcutta.
He was also a member of the Standing Committee on Labour.
He won the Indian general election 2014 being an All India Trinamool Congress
candidate and became a member of parliament (MP) to the 16th Lok Sabha from
Bangaon Lok Sabha constituency in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
He had received the prestigious Sri Sri Thakur Harichand-Guruchand prize for his
sustained work to uplift the Matuas.
Russian Stage actor Yuri Lyubimov died at 97

Yuri Lyubimov died in Moscow, Russia on 5 October 2014. He was 97. He was a
Russian stage actor and director who founded the Taganka Theater in Moscow in
1964.
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He directed and acted in more than a hundred productions and was known for his
artistic style and bold stage experiments in the 1960s.
About Yuri Lyubimov

He brought Vladimir Vysotsky to his theatre who became one of the Cultural icons
of the Soviet period.
He bought the Soviet underground classic, Mikhail Bulgakovs novel The Master
and Margarita to the Russian stage.
He received first Prize of Theatrical Meetings in Warsaw II International Festival,
Poland in 1980.
He also received Grand Prix of the International Festival in Saloniki in 1999 and was
honoured with Order of Merit to the Fatherland for his outstanding contribution to
development of theatrical art and many years of creative activity.

Veteran journalist Madhav Vittal Kamath died on 9 October 2014 following a cardiac
arrest at Kasturba Hospital in Manipal. He was 93.
He was the former chairman of Prasar Bharati Board.
Madhav Vittal Kamath

Born in Udupi on 7 September 1921, Mr. Kamath did his early education in Manipal.
He graduated from Aloysius College in Mangalore.
After working as a chemist, Mr. Kamath began his journalistic career as a reporter
in the Free Press Journal in Mumbai. He was the president of Bombay Union of
Journalists in 1953.
Kamath was the Washington correspondent of the Times of India from 1969 to
1978.
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He was also the editor of Illustrated Weekly of India and has also worked for the
Press Trust of India.
Kamath was the honorary director of School of Communication, Manipal University
since its inception in 1997.
He was awarded Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Indian journalism in
2004.
He has written over 50 books and the latest was Narendra Modi The Architect
of a Modern State.

German author Siegfried Lenz died on 7 October 2014. He was 88.
He was one of Germanys most significant post-war writers whose novels explored
individuals culpability for the horrors of Nazism and the struggle to shape a new
national identity.
Lenz work was translated into more than 30 languages. His work is best known for
The German Lesson.
About Siegfried Lenz

He was born in 1926 in a city known today as Elk in eastern Poland then it was in
Germany. Lenz served in the German navy from the age of 18 in the last year of World
War Two and spent time as a prisoner of war before eventually settling in Hamburg.
He became part of Gruppe 47, a group of post-war writers who felt duty-bound to
engage with the legacy of German fascism in their work, exposing and disrupting
societys urge to forget.
His Honors
In 1988 Lenz was awarded with the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, a prize
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given annually at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
A year later, Lenz was honored with the highest decoration of Hamburg, the honorary
citizenship.
In 2010, he won the Italian International Nonino Prize.

The British aid worker, Alan Henning was beheaded by Islamic State of Iraq and
Syria (ISIS) militants. The militants group fighting in Iraq and Syria on 3 October
2014 posted a video that shows, the British-accented Jihadist known as Jihadi John
beheading Henning.
The released video has shown Henning on his knees against a desert backdrop with
a masked militant standing over him wielding a combat knife before and beheading
him. The masked person while beheading Henning claims that his death is retaliation
for UK strikes against the group.
Henning, a 47-year-old from Manchester in England was kidnapped in December
2013. He volunteered to help drive an aid convoy to Syria for a Muslim country.
Henning is the second British national and fourth Western hostage killed in the same
manner. Apart from Henning other three are David Haines (a Briton), James Foley
(American) and Steven Sotloff (American).
Reaction on beheading of Alan Henning

The ISIS act of beheading Henning has been condemned by the British Prime Minister
David Cameron and he vowed to bring his killers to justice. A statement released by
Camerons Downing Street office says that the brutal murder shows how barbaric
these terrorists are.
The United Nations has condemned the act by terming it as heinous and cowardly
murder of a British humanitarian aid worker. The 15-nation UN Security Council said
that the killing of Henning is a tragic reminder of increasing dangers against the
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volunteer humanitarian personnel working in Syria.
US President Barack Obama condemned the murder and said that Henning worked
to help improve the lives of the Syrian people and his death is a great loss for them,
his family and the people of United Kingdom.
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AWARDS | HONOURS
French economist Jean Tirole won the 2014 Nobel Prize for
Economics
French economist Jean Tirole on 13 October 2014 won the 2014 Nobel Prize for
Economics. Jean Tirole was awarded for his analysis of market power and regulation.
The award will be presented to him on 10 December 2014 which marks the death
anniversary of prize founder Alfred Nobel.
The Nobel Prize in Economics is officially known as Sveriges Riksbank Prize in
Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. It was established in 1968 and was
not part of the original group of five awards established by the will of the Swedish
inventor Alfred Nobel in 1895.
Jean Tirole
Jean Tirole is a French professor of economics. He works on industrial organization,
game theory, banking and finance, and economics and psychology.
Tirole is chairman of the board of the Jean-Jacques Laffont Foundation at the
Toulouse School of Economics.
As a scientific director of Industrial Economics Institute (IDEI) in Toulouse, Tirole
developed his ideas about the impact of regulation on industrial organizations
using game theory.
He is a founding member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST).
He holds engineering degrees from Ecole Polytechnique in Paris and from Ecole
Nationale des Ponts et Chausses as well as a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts
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Institute of Technology.
From the mid-1980s onwards, Jean Tirole has breathed new life into research on
market failures. He has clarified how to understand and regulate industries with a
few powerful firms.
Jean Tirole has published about two hundred professional articles in economics
and finance as well as 10 books including The Theory of Industrial Organization,
Game Theory.
French author Patrick Modiano won the 2014 Nobel Prize for
Literature
French author Patrick Modiano on 9 October 2014 won the Nobel Prize for literature
for the year 2014. The Nobel Prize for Literature is granted by the Swedish Academy.
The Nobel Prize in Literature 2014 was awarded to Patrick Modiano for the art of
memory with which he has evoked the most ungraspable human destinies and
uncovered the life-world of the occupation.
The award presented to the writer is worth eight million kronor.
Patrick Modiano
Modiano was born in July 1945 in a Paris suburb during the immediate aftermath
of World War II.
He studied at Lycee Henri-IV in Paris where his geometry teacher was Raymond
Queneau, a writer.
Modiano has published some 30 books mainly novels and his storylines usually
centre on young men cast adrift among high-living crooks in 1960s Paris.
Modianos narrators try to make sense of half-remembered events from their
youth, looking back through a glass darkly.
Much of the his work looked at the Vichy regime in occupied France during World
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War 2, particularly the part it played in the deportation of Jews to concentration
camps.
Modianos debut novel La Place de lEtoile was published in 1968 but is yet to be
translated into English.
Many of Modianos other works have been translated into English including Les
boulevards de ceinture (1972), Villa Triste (1975), Quartier perdu (1984) and Voyage
de noces (1990).
His most recent novel is Pour que tu ne te perdes pas dans le quartier (2014).
Modiano also worked with film director Louis Malle on the screenplay of Lacombe
Lucien (1974), a feature film about a teenage boy during the German occupation
of France.
His sixth novel, Missing Person (Rue des boutiques obscures) won the French
literary award the Prix Goncourt in 1978.
In 2012, he won the Austrian State Prize for European Literature
Eric Betzig, Stefan W Hell and William E. Moerner won the 2014
Nobel Prize for Chemistry
Eric Betzig, Stefan W Hell and William E. Moerner on 8 October 2014 won the 2014
Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the development of super-resolved fluorescence
microscopy.
They were awarded for having bypassed a presumed scientific limitation stipulating
that an optical microscope can never yield a resolution better than 0.2 micrometres.
Two separate principles were rewarded:

Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy: It was developed by Stefan Hell
in 2000. Under this method, two laser beams are utilized, one stimulates fluorescent
molecules to glow, another cancels out all fluorescence except for that in a nanometre-
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sized volume. Scanning over the sample yields an image with a resolution better than
stipulated limit of 0.2 micrometers.
Single-Molecule Microscopy: Eric Betzig and William Moerner, working separately,
laid the foundation for this method. The method relies upon the possibility to turn
the fluorescence of individual molecules on and off. Scientists pictured the same
area multiple times, letting just a few interspersed molecules glow each time.
Superimposing these images yields a dense super-image resolved at the nanolevel.
In 2006 Eric Betzig utilized this method for the first time.
Development of Super-Resolved Fluorescence Microscopy

In 1873, the microscopist Ernst Abbe stipulated a physical limit for the maximum
resolution of traditional optical microscopy that it could never become better than
0.2 micrometers. Eric Betzig, Stefan W. Hell and William E. Moerner ingeniously
circumvented this limitation and brought optical microscopy into the nanodimension.
Through nanoscopy, scientists visualize the pathways of individual molecules inside
living cells. They can see how molecules create synapses between nerve cells in
the brain as well as they can track proteins involved in Parkinsons, Alzheimers and
Huntingtons diseases. Moreover, they can track cell division at the nanolevel itself.
About the Awardees- Eric Betzig

Eric Betzig is a scientist based at the Janelia Farm Research Campus in Ashburn,
Virginia.
He was educated at the California Institute of Technology in 1983 and Cornell
University in 1985.
He did the PhD in 1988 from the Cornell University.
Since 2005, he has been a Group Leader at Janelia Farm Research Campus and
is developing new optical imaging technologies for biology.
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Stefan W. Hell
Stefan W. Hell is a scientific member of the Max Planck Society and a director at
the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Gttingen where he currently
leads the Department of NanoBiophotonics.
Stefan W. Hell received his diploma in 1987 and doctorate in physics in 1990 from
the University of Heidelberg.
From 1991 to 1993, he worked at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in
Heidelberg.
In 1997 he was appointed to the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry
in Gttingen, where he has built up his current research group dedicated to subdiffraction-resolution microscopy.
William E. Moerner
William E Moerner is an American physical chemist and chemical physicist with
current work in the biophysics and imaging of single molecules.
Moerner attended Washington University in St. Louis for undergraduate studies.
His Ph.D. thesis was on vibrational relaxation dynamics of an IR-laser-excited
molecular impurity mode in alkali halide lattices.
W.E. Moerner worked at the IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, California
as a Research Staff Member from 1981-1988.
His current areas of research and interest are physical chemistry, chemical physics,
biophysics, nanoparticle trapping, nanophotonics, photorefractive polymers and
spectral hole-burning.
Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura won 2014

Nobel Prize for Physics
Three Japanese-born researchers Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura
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on 7 October 2014 won the 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics.
They were honoured for inventing efficient blue Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) lamps
that worked as a bright and energy-saving white light sources. These white LED
lamps are seen as a boon in the fight against global warming and aiding people in
poverty.
The winners will share the prize sum of 8 million Swedish kronor. As per the tradition,
the laureates will receive their prize at a formal ceremony in Stockholm on 10
December 2014 which marks the anniversary of Nobel Prize founder Alfred Nobels
death in 1896.
In 2013, Nobel Prize for Physics went to Peter Higgs of Britain and Francois Englert
of Belgium for the discovery of the God particle, the sub-atomic Higgs boson which
gives mass to other elementary particles.
The invention of blue Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) lamps

Red and green diodes had been around for a long time but for the creation of white
light, blue light was necessary. Despite considerable efforts, the blue LED had
remained a challenge for three decades. However, the trio of Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi
Amano and Shuji Nakamura succeeded where everyone else had failed.
Akasaki and Amano working at Nagoya University and Nakamura working at the Nichia
Corporation focussed on the compound semiconductor gallium nitride (GaN) which
could be ideal for creating blue LEDs. The trio used their high-quality p-doped GaN
along with other GaN-based semiconductors in multilayer heterojunction structures
and created the first high-brightness blue LED in 1993.
Their inventions were revolutionary. Where incandescent light bulbs lit the 20th
century, the 21st century will be lit by LED lamps invented by them.
About the Awardees- Isamu Akasaki

Isamu Akasaki was born in 1929 in Chiran, Japan. He did Ph.D (Doctorate of
Engineering) from School of Engineering, Nagoya University in Japan in 1964.
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He had served as a Professor of School of Engineering at Nagoya University in
1981.
In 1992, he took retirement from Nagoya University and joined Meijo University as
a Professor.
However, he joined the Nagoya University again in 2004 as a Distinguished
Professor.
He has contributed in the discovery of nitride semiconductor p conduction and
p-n junction blue luminescent device and achieved a high-quality nanostructure in
nitride semiconductors and verifying the quantum effects.
Hiroshi Amano
Hiroshi Amano was born in 1960 in Hamamatsu, Japan.
He did Ph.D (Doctor of Engineering) in 1989 from Nagoya University in Japan.

He joined the Nagoya University as a Research Associate in 1988 and obtained
the position of the Professor at the University in 2010.
He has made his contribution in various fields like Light emitting diode, laser diode,
High power and high frequency transistor, Solar cells, Nano structure, Crystal
growth of compound semiconductors and Semiconductor device physics.
Shuji Nakamura
Born in 1954 at Ikata in Japan, Shuji Nakamura is now an American citizen.
Nakamura graduated from the University of Tokushima in 1977 with a degree in
electronic engineering.
He was awarded a Doctor of Engineering degree from the University of Tokushima
in 1994.
He is a Japanese American professor at the Materials Department of the College
of Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara.
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Nakamura has worked on green LEDs and is responsible for creating the white
LED and blue laser diodes used in Blu-ray Discs and HD DVDs.
John OKeefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser named for

2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology
The Nobel Assembly on 6 October 2014 decided to award the 2014 Nobel Prize in
Physiology or Medicine to John OKeefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser. The
award was given for their discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in
the brain.
The Nobel Laureates of 2014 have discovered a positioning system, an inner GPS in
the brain that makes it possible to orient ourselves in space, demonstrating a cellular
basis for higher cognitive function.
Positioning System
In 1971, John OKeefe discovered the first component of this positioning system. He
found that a type of nerve cell in an area of the brain called the hippocampus that
was always activated when a rat was at a certain place in a room. Other nerve cells
were activated when the rat was at other places. OKeefe concluded that these place
cells formed a map of the room.
More than three decades later, in 2005, May-Britt and Edvard Moser discovered
another key component of the brains positioning system. They identified another
type of nerve cell, which they called grid cells,that generate a coordinate system and
allow for precise positioning and pathfinding. Their subsequent research showed
how place and grid cells make it possible to determine position and to navigate.
The discoveries of John OKeefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser have solved a
problem that has occupied philosophers and scientists for centuries how does the
brain create a map of the space surrounding us and how can we navigate our way
through a complex environment?
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About the awardess

John OKeefe: He was born in 1939 in New York City, USA. He holds both American
and British citizenships. John OKeefe is currently Director of the Sainsbury Wellcome
Centre in Neural Circuits and Behaviour at University College London.
He received his doctoral degree in physiological psychology from McGill University,
Canada in 1967. After that, he moved to England for postdoctoral training at University
College London. He has remained at University College and was appointed Professor
of Cognitive Neuroscience in 1987.
May-Britt Moser: She was born in Norway in 1963 and is a Norwegian citizen.
Currently, she is the Director of the Centre for Neural Computation in Trondheim. She
studied psychology at the University of Oslo together with her future husband and
co-Laureate Edvard Moser. She received her Ph.D. in neurophysiology in 1995.
She was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Edinburgh and subsequently
a visiting scientist at University College London before moving to the Norwegian
University of Science and Technology in Trondheim in 1996. May-Britt Moser was
appointed Professor of Neuroscience in 2000.
Edvard I. Moser: He was born in 1962 in Norway and has Norwegian citizenship.
Currently, he is the director of the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience in
Trondheim.
He obtained his Ph.D. in neurophysiology from the University of Oslo in 1995. He was
a postdoctoral fellow together with his wife and coLaureate MayBritt Moser, first at
the University of Edinburgh and later a visiting scientist in John OKeefes laboratory
in London.
In 1996 they moved to the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in
Trondheim, where Edvard Moser became Professor in 1998.
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Malala Yousafzai won the 2014 Worlds Children Prize on 29 October 2014 after a
global vote involving millions of children. She received the prize at a ceremony in
Mariestad near Stockholm.
Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate in history was nominated
for the 2014 Worlds Childrens Prize for her courageous and dangerous fight for girls
right to education. She received 50000 US dollar as award.
At present, Malala has her own fund, the Malala Fund, which was created to help girls
get to school.
According to statement of the organisation, Millions of children have voted to award
Malala this years Worlds Childrens Prize for the rights of the child.
2014 Worlds Childrens honorary awards

Indira Ranamagar and John Wood won the 2014 Worlds Childrens honorary awards.
The honorary awardees were given 25000 US dollar.
John Wood was honoured by the Worlds Childrens Prize 2014 for his 15-year fight
for childrens right to education. John quit his job as a manager at the Microsoft
company to fulfill his dream: to fight poverty by giving children all over the world the
chance to go to school.
Indira Ranamagar was honoured by the Worlds Childrens Prize 2014 for her 20-year
struggle for prisoners children in Nepal. She grew up in extreme poverty and had to
fight to be able to go to school. Even as a young girl she knew that she wanted to
help other people who had hard lives.
About World Childrens prize

World Childrens prize was created in 2000 and is run by the Worlds Childrens Prize
Foundation (WCPF), based in Mariefred, Sweden. The Foundation is independent
of all political and religious affiliation and is a non-profit organisation that runs with
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support from bodies including the Swedish Postcode Lottery and Sida, the Swedish
International Development Cooperation Agency.
Former mushroom and poultry farmer Leah Kalanguka crowned

as Miss Uganda 2014
A former mushroom and poultry farmer Leah Kalanguka was crowned as Miss Uganda
2014 on 26 October 2014. Leah Kalanguka topped the contest by beating 19 other
finalists after the competition that was designed to promote agriculture in the east
African nation.
As Miss Uganda, Leah was awarded a Toyota Raum Brand new car and is entitled
to a monthly stipend as salary that she will be receiving quarterly. In the competition,
contestants were asked to field questions on farming on stage, to milk cows and
work with goats and sheep.
Other winners were Sheilla Karungi (Miss Rising woman 2014), Christine Tayebwa
(Miss Popularity 2014), Yasmin Taban (Miss Personality 2014) and Sheena Kyoriza
(Miss Beach Beauty 2014). These top finalists will eventually be used for marketing
the produce including potato flour, mango juice, cornflakes and honey.
Background
After following the more traditional beauty pageant formula for years, organisers
applied the theme of promoting agriculture entrepreneurship among the youth this
time in the event and partnered with the Ugandan army which has major business
interests in the farm sector.
Indian-origin Sahil Doshi won 2014 Discovery Education 3M

Young Scientist Challenge
Sahil Doshi, an Indian-American student on 22 October 2014 won the 2014 Discovery
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Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. He was awarded for his innovative design
of an eco-friendly battery that could help lower harmful greenhouse gases.
His prototype named PolluCell is capable of converting Carbon Dioxide into electricity,
ingeniously helping to reduce our carbon footprint while offering power for household
uses and developing nations.
The 2014 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge prize also included
25000 US dollar and a student adventure trip to a destination such as Costa Rica.
14-year-old, Sahil Doshi, a ninth grader from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania competed
alongside nine other finalists to be declared winner of 2014 Discovery Education 3M
Young Scientist Challenge. Some other finalist students were
Katherine Wu placed at the second place for her innovation that proactively
prevents dangerous drowsy driving
Jai Kumar placed at third place for his innovative, window-mounted air purification
system that prevents harmful pollutants from entering the home
Christopher Isozaki placed at fourth place for his innovative computer cooling
system
Ashwika Kapur won 2014 Panda Award for her film on a Kakapo
parrot
Ashwika Kapur on 24 October 2014 became the first Indian woman to win prestigious
Wildscreen Panda Award. She won the coveted wildlife photography award in best
newcomer category for her film, Sirocco - how a dud became a stud.
Panda award also known as Green Oscar of the natural history and wildlife film
industry was announced at the annual Wildscreen Film Festival held at Bristol, UK.
About the film Sirocco - how a dud became a stud

Ashwikas film is a tale of a Kakapo parrot named Sirocco, which is perhaps the
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only bird in the world to have bagged a government job. Sirocco, a male bird was
appointed as the official Spokesbird for Conservation in New Zealand who helped in
conservation advocacy on social media.
The film was a solo project that was single-handedly managed by Ashwika. For the
film, she performed the films scientific research, scripting, camera work, editing and
music direction.
The film Sirocco - how a dud became a stud was competing against two other
nominees namely Pride (from USA) and We Are Rhino (from United Kingdom). The
2014 Windscreen Film Festival received 488 entries from 42 countries.
About Kakapo Parrot

Kakapo parrot is classified as a critically endangered species since 2012 (known
population of less than 150) on the IUCN Red List. It is a nocturnal, flightless, and
ground-dwelling species of parrot. This Kakapo (night parrot in the Maori language)
bird is found in New Zealand and is known as one of the longest living birds and in
2013, the bird was voted as the worlds favourite species by 14000 people from 162
countries.
About Ashwika Kapur

27-year-old, Ashwika Kapur based in Kolkata has graduated in Science and
Natural History Filmmaking from the University of Otago, New Zealand
At present, she is involved in the filming and production of two wildlife shows in
India for Animal Planet
Previous winners from India include wildlife filmmaker and conservationist Mike
Pandey, the Bedi Brothers (Ajay and Vijay) and Dusty Foot Productions.
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Congolese gynaecologist Denis Mukwege Mukengere on 21 October 2014 won the
prestigious Sakharov human rights prize 2014. He was awarded for his efforts in
helping thousands of gang rape victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The pro-Western Ukraine democracy and rights group EuroMaidan which led the
popular revolt against deposed president Viktor Yanukovych was declared as the
runner-up.
The third candidate was prominent Azerbaijani rights activist Leyla Yunus who is
currently detained on treason charges of spying for arch-enemy Armenia.
Background
Rival forces fighting for control of the vast mineral riches in eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo have used mass rape for decades to terrorise the local population
into submission.
The 59-year-old gynaecologist had set up the Panzi hospital in eastern Congo in
1999 to treat women who have been subject to such horrific sexual violence.
In 2012, Mukwege survived an assassination attempt after speaking out about the
continued use of rape in the conflict and accused the world of failing to act. However,
he returned home to a warm welcome from thousands of people to say no to sexual
violence.
Denis Mukwege Mukengere

Denis Mukwege Mukengere is the founder and medical director of Panzi Hospital
in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Mukwege is a tireless advocate for the rights of women in DRC. He has addressed
the United Nations General Assembly on the matter and regularly travels abroad
raising awareness of the situation in Eastern DRC.
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He travelled to France to study gynecology at the University of Angers after seeing
the complications of childbirth experienced by women in the Congo.
In 2011, Denis Mukwege won the Clinton Global Citizen Award and King Baudouin
International Development Prize.
Sakharov human rights prize of European Parliament

The Sakharov Prize was named after the famous Russian scientist and dissident
Andrei Sakharov. The award recognises his significant contributions to the
promotion of human rights and democracy around the world.
He raised awareness of the dangers of the nuclear arms race for the welfare of
the mankind. In 1975, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his
efforts.
The Sakharov Prize is intended to honour exceptional individuals who combat
intolerance, fanaticism and oppression. The prize includes the monetary award of
50000 Euros.
Pakistans Malala Yousafzai was the winner of the Sakharov Prize 2013 who also
won Nobel Peace prize 2014.
Other past recipients of the prize include South African anti-apartheid hero Nelson
Mandela and former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.

Malala Yousafzai was conferred with the 2014 Liberty Medal on 21 October 2014 at
the National Constitution Centre in Philadelphia. She was honoured with the award
for her continued demonstration of courage and resilience in the face of adversity
and for serving as a powerful voice for those who have been denied their basic
human rights and liberties.
The Pakistani teenager and Nobel Peace Prize winner is the youngest recipient of the
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American award, which was established in 1988 to commemorate the 200 years of
the US Constitution.
Malala has pledged to donate the award money of 100000 US Dollars towards
education in Pakistan.
About Liberty Medal

Liberty Medal is annually given to honour men and women of courage and conviction
who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe. It was
established in 1988 to commemorate the bicentennial of the US Constitution. The
medal was first administered by the National Constitution Center in 2006, when
Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton were honored for their bipartisan
humanitarian efforts on behalf of the victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia and the
hurricanes on the Gulf Coast. Six recipients of the medal have subsequently won the
Nobel Peace Prize.
Previous recipients of this award include Hillary Rodham Clinton (2013), Muhammad
Ali (2012), Robert Gates (2011), Tony Blair (2010), George H W Bush & Bill Clinton
(2006), Kofi Annan (2001) and Hamid Karzai (2004). Lech Walesa was the first person
to be honoured with the medal in 1989.
About Malala Yousafzai

Malala caught international attention at the age of 11 after writing for the BBC about
life under the Taliban in Pakistan. She used her pen name as Gul Makai. She was
conferred with Pakistans National Youth Peace Prize in 2011 for her outspokenness.
She was also nominated for the International Childrens Peace Prize in 2011.
She became a target of an assassination by Taliban and was shot in the head when
she was returning from school on a bus but she survived.
She is also the youngest Nobel Laureate ever. She was awarded the Nobel peace prize
with Kailash Satyarthi. Satyarthi is an Indian childrens rights activist, and received
the award for his struggle against the suppression of children and young people and
for the right of all children to education.
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The UK government on 17 October 2014 announced the inaugural Dadabhai Naoroji
Awards to honour individuals who have worked to strengthen the UK-India relationship
over the years.
The awards were announced by the deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
The three winners included UK India Business Council chair Patricia Hewitt in the
commerce category, Dame Asha Khemka for services in the field of education and
actor Madhav Sharma for culture.
Over 80 nominations for the awards were received from members of the public.
After a shortlisting process agreed by a UK ministerial panel comprising David Laws,
Hugo Swire, Lord Livingston, Greg Clarke and Ed Vaizey, Clegg selected the winner
for each category.
The awards were judged by ministers following nominations from the public and
were presented at a Foreign and Commonwealth Office reception at London.
Awards designer
The awards themselves were designed by Andrew Vickers. He is a prominent stone
sculptor from the north of England who creates abstract and figurative sculptures in
a variety of stone.
He took inspiration from the striking image of Dadabhai Naoroji, whose figure he has
set upon a stone block.
The new awards are dedicated to Dadabhai Naoroji as the first Asian member of the
British Parliament and the man who brought the first Indian business to the UK.
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Raghuram Rajan won Euromoney Award for Best Central Bank
Governor of the Year 2014
Dr. Raghuram Rajan, Governor of Reserve Bank of India on 10 October 2014 was
conferred with Euromoneys Central Bank Governor of the Year Award 2014 in
Washington.
Euromoney in its comment said that Rajans tough monetary medicine combated the
storm ravaging the deficit-ridden economy in the recent emerging market crisis. At
present, he is battling vested interests to arouse a sleepy financial system for over
one million people.
Bank of Mexico Governor Agustin Carstens was the winner of the award in 2013.
About Dr. Raghuram Rajan

He is the 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India
Rajan has served as chief economic adviser to Indias Ministry of Finance
He has been the Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund from October
2003 to December 2006
The internationally-renowned economist, earned acclaim for his warnings in 2005
of an upcoming global crisis of sorts, which has been true to his word
In January 2003, the American Finance Association awarded Rajan with the
inaugural Fischer Black Prize for the best finance researcher under the age of 40
Some other awards received by Rajan includes
a) The global Indian of the year award from NASSCOM in 2011
b) The Infosys prize for the Economic Sciences in 2012
c) The Center for Financial Studies-Deutsche Bank Prize for financial economics
in 2013 for his ground-breaking research work which influenced financial and
macro-economic policies around the world
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Indian-born scientist Sanjaya Rajaram received World Food

Prize 2014
An eminent Indian scientist Dr Sanjaya Rajaram on 16 October 2014 received the
World Food Prize 2014 for his scientific research that led to a prodigious increase in
world wheat production by more than 200 million tons building upon the successes
of the Green Revolution.
Rajaram is credited with developing the Veery lines of wheat in the 1980s which
were used to breed locally adapted high-yielding varieties in various wheat-growing
countries.
PBW-343, a workhorse wheat variety grown in about 10 million hectares of India
was based on the Veery material that was bred at the International Maize and Wheat
Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) under Rajaram.
The Veery lines resulted from a cross between a Russian winter wheat Kavkaz and a
Mexican spring wheat Buho. These new lines showed improved resistance to stripe
and leaf rust pathogens which helped create a second generation of high-yielding
wheat.
Sanjaya Rajaram
Dr. Rajaram originally belongs to a small farming community in Uttar Pradesh,
India where he dedicated his life in making direct improvements for farmers and
people who depend on agriculture.
He has spent much of this early career at the International Maize and Wheat
Improvement Center (CIMMYT) where he served as Director of the Wheat Breeding
Program and worked with the eminent crop scientist Dr Norman E. Borlaug.
With the help of his research teams, Dr Rajaram has developed some 480 wheat
varieties that have been released in 51 countries across six continents and an
estimated 58 million hectares. These varieties provide average annual wheat
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consumption to more than one billion people.
Dr Rajaram has helped secure a 1.3 percent rise in global wheat production per
annum during the last four decades.
Currently, Dr Rajaram is a senior scientific advisor at the International Center for
Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).
At ICARDA, Dr Rajaram came up with the experience to help develop strategies
that would fundamentally tackle the challenges facing wheat in dry areas including
the semi-arid and arid regions of India.
About the World Food Prize

The World Food Prize is the foremost international award recognizing individuals
whose achievements have advanced human development by increasing the quality,
quantity, or availability of food.
The World Food Prize was created in 1987 by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Norman
Borlaug. It was sponsored by businessman and philanthropist John Ruan who
stepped forward to endow the Prize in 1990. Today John Ruans son, John Ruan III
has succeeded his father as chairman of the World Food Prize
A Selection Committee of experts chaired by Indian Professor MS Swaminathan
oversees the nomination and selection process.
The first World Food Prize was awarded to Indian scientist Monkombu Sambasivan
Swaminathan in 1987.
The World Food Prize 2013 was awarded to three distinguished scientists Marc Van
Montagu of Belgium, Mary-Dell Chilton and Robert T. Fraley of the United States.
Tamil poet Iqbal named for Singapores highest cultural award,

Cultural Medallion
Indian-origin Singaporean poet and writer KTM Iqbal on 15 October 2014 was named
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for the 2014 Cultural Medallion, the highest cultural award of Singapore. He will be
awarded by the Tony Tan, the President of Singapore.
Along with the award, Iqbal will get 80000 Singapore dollar grants, which can be
used to fund artistic endeavours over their lifetime.
This award will be the highest recognition for the 74-year-old Tamil poet. His
achievements include more than 200 childrens songs written for Radio Singapore in
the 1970s and 1980s, as well as seven collections of poetry.
Iqbal is a poet, whose compositions are studied in schools and some of them have
appeared in the subway stations as part of efforts to bring the arts close to the
community.
Apart from KTM Iqbal, the award will be also given to sculptor Chong Fah Cheong,
68, and 51-year old Alvin Tan, the artistic director of a theatre company, by President
Tony Tan Keng Yam. Each of these recipients will be eligible for 80000 Singapore
dollar grant.
The award, instituted 35 years ago, has been presented to 115 artists to date,
including Iqbal, Chong and Tan.
About KTM Iqbal

Iqbal learned the basics of Venpa, a form of classical Tamil poetry from a poetrywriting workshop
He is a retired bank executive and continues to pen down poems and hopes to
produce an edited collection of his best Tamil poems and an English translation
of it
He has also received recognition in the education system of Singapore
He migrated to Singapore in 1951, at the age of 11 with his father from Kadayanallur
in South India
He was introduced to the simple but evocative compositions of Tamil poet
Mathithasan by a Tamil newspaper Malaya Nanban, which is now defunct
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The poets vivid depiction of people and values in society inspired the young Iqbal
to start penning poems
Australian author Richard Flanagan won 2014 Man Booker Prize

Australian author Richard Flanagan on 14 October 2014 won the 50000 pounds Man
Booker Prize for his wartime novel The Narrow Road to the Deep North. His name
was announced as the winner at Londons Guildhall and was presented the prize by
The Duchess of Cornwall.
Flanagan is the third Australian to win the prize after Thomas Keneally and Peter
Carey. Thomas Keneallys Schindlers Ark won in 1982 while Peter Carey won for
Oscar and Lucinda (1988) and The True History of the Kelly Gang (2001).
This was the first year that the Man Booker prize was open to all authors writing in
English, regardless of nationality. With this change in the rules of the prize, some
writers had expressed fears that this change would lead to dominance of the US
authors.
About The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Flanagans novel is set during the construction of the Thailand Burma Death Railway
in World War Two. It also tells the harrowing stories of prisoners and captors on the
Burma railway and revolves around two great themes, namely love and war. The
prose of the novel has bridged East and West past and present, with a story of guilt
and heroism.
The book narrates story of a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp and centres upon the
experiences of surgeon Dorrigo Evans who was haunted by his love affair with his
uncles young wife two years earlier. The Narrow Road to the Deep North is dedicated
to prisoner san byaku san ju go - who was a reference to his fathers Japanese prison
number, 335.
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About Richard Flanagan
Richard Flanagans father was a survivor of Japans campaign to build the railway
who died on the day when Flanagan emailed his final draft to his publisher
He has worked as one of the screenwriters on Baz Luhrmanns film Australia
The Narrow Road to the Deep North is the sixth novel for Flanagan. His previous
novels were Death of a River Guide, The Sound of One Hand Clapping, Goulds
Book of Fish, The Unknown Terrorist and Wanting
He directed a feature film version of The Sound of One Hand Clapping (1998)
He was born in Tasmania in July 1961
Shortlisted Authors for the year

Shortlisted authors of the Man Booker Prize included two American writers, three
British and one Australian and they were Ali Smith, Neel Mukherjee, Howard Jacobson,
Karen Joy Fowler, Richard Flanagan and Joshua Ferris.
Author
Title of Novel
Nationality
Joshua Ferris
To Rise Again at a Decent Hour
American
Karen Joy Fowler
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
American
Howard Jacobson
British
Neel Mukherjee
The Lives of Others
British
Ali Smith
How to be Both
British
Neel Mukherjee was shortlisted for his novel The Lives of Others, a book that narrates
the sweeping account of life in 1960s Calcutta.
About Man Booker Prize

The Man Booker Prize for Fiction was formerly known as the Booker-McConnell Prize
and commonly known simply as the Booker Prize is a literary prize that is awarded
annually for the best original novel, written in the English language.
The 2013 Booker Prize was given to Eleanor Catton for her novel The Luminaries and
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the first Booker Prize was given in 1969 to PH Newby for his novel, Something to
Answer For.
Lyricist Sameer honoured with Kishore Kumar Award for 201213

Noted lyricist Sameer on 13 October 2014 was honoured with the National Kishore
Kumar Award for 2012-13. He was awarded during a function at the legendary singers
birth place Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh.
The award was handed over to Sameer by Madhya Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies
Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah.
The Jury that selected Sameer for the award included noted writer Saleem Khan,
actor director Satish Kaushik, noted playback singer Anuradha Paudwal, lyricist
Ibrahim Ashk and film critique Jaiprakash Choukse.
About Sameer
Sameer officially known as Shitala Pandey is a son of noted lyricist Anjaan (Lalji
Pandey)
He was born in Banaras in Uttar Pradesh on 24 February 1958
Sameer started his career as a lyricist in 1983 with the film Bekhabar (1983).
The first film song he recorded was Maar Ke Kataaree Mar Jaibe for the Bhojpuri
film Bairi Saawan (1984) sung by Suresh Wadkar and Preeti Sagar.
He has composed songs for number of hit films like Dil, Aashiqui, Deewana,
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Devdas, Dabangg-2 and Rowdy
Rathore
He won his first Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist in 1991 for film Aashiqui. In
1993,1994 and 1999 he once again won the Filmfare Award for film Deewana,
Hum Hai Raahi Pyar Ke and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai respectively.
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A biography, Sameer A Way with Words by Derek Bose was released by Amitabh
Bachchan in 2007.
He also has won IIFA Screen Award and Uttar Pradesh Governments Yash Bharti
award.
About National Kishore Kumar Award

National Kishore Kumar Awardy is given by the Madhya Pradesh government and
carries a cash prize of 2 lakh rupees, citation, shawl and shreefal. It is given in the
fields of direction, screenplay and lyrics turn by turn every year.
Kishore Kumar was an Indian film playback singer, actor, lyricist, composer, producer,
director, screenplay writer and scriptwriter. He was considered as one of the most
successful playback singers of the Hindi film industry.
He won 8 Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer and holds the record for
winning the most Filmfare Awards in that category.
He was born on 4 August 1929 in Khandwa, Central Provinces and Berar (now in
Madhya Pradesh), British India. He died on 13 October 1987, in Mumbai and as per
his wish, his last rites was performed in Khandwa.
Poet-diplomat Abhay K honoured with Asia-Pacific Excellence

Award
All India National Unity Council on 11 October 2014 honoured poet-diplomat Abhay
K with Asia-Pacific Excellence Award.
He was awarded for his outstanding individual achievements in the field of literature
by penning Earth Anthem and SAARC song and for celebrating local, regional and
global themes in his poems and writings.
Others who were honoured on this occasion were eminent lawyer Mithilesh Kumar
Singh, Professor Basant Kumar Gautam of Tribhuwan University, former law-
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maker and Bhojpuri poet Gopal Thakur and the owner of the Dwarika Hotel Mrs.
Ambika Shrestha, former Ambassador of Nepal to Japan Dr. Bishnu Hari Nepal and
entrepreneur Mrs. Bhawani Rana.
The award ceremony was held at Kathmandu in Nepal in association with the NepalIndia Forum for peace and development.
About All India National Unity Council

All India National Unity Council is an organization based under the patronship of Dr.
Bhishma Narayan Singh, great Gandhian and former Governor and union minister of
India.
All India national Unity Conference is working for peoples movement for national
unity and national integration and organizing conferences, seminars and symposia to
stress the need of unity and integrity of the country.
About Earth Anthem

Earth Anthem was launched in June 2013 on the occasion of the World Environment
Day. It was penned by poet-diplomat Abhay K.
Earth Anthem is a celebratory song or a musical composition that eulogizes planet
Earth and its inhabitants, including the flora and fauna.

Indian Railways on 10 October 2014 celebrated its 59th Annual Railway National
Awards function 2014. Union Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda awarded 132
rail personnel for their exemplary contribution to the country.
The award function was held at Bangalore and D.V. Sadananda Gowda was the chief
guest.
Union Rail Minister awarded Harish Kanwar with National Rail Award. Harish Kanwar
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is a Deputy Director in railway board.
Harish Kanwar has mainly contributed in promoting the inauguration of Pirpanjal
tunnel.
About Pirpanjal tunnel

The Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel or Banihal railway tunnel is an 11.215 km railway tunnel
located in Pir Panjal Range of middle Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir, India, North
of Banihal town.
Alfonso Cuaron, the Academy Award winning Mexican Director,

to be honoured by Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art in New York on 3 October 2014 announced to honour the
Academy award winning Mexican Director Alfonso Cuaron. He will be honoured at
an annual Film Benefit gala scheduled to be held on 10 November 2014 in New York.
He will be honoured for encompassing grand-scale Hollywood productions as well
as more modestly scaled independent efforts.
Previous honorees include Tilda Swinton, Quentin Tarantino, Pedro Almodvar,
Kathryn Bigelow, Tim Burton, and Baz Luhrmann.
About Alfonso Cuaron

Alfonso Cuaron Orozco born November 28, 1961 is a Mexican film director,
screenwriter, producer and editor
He is best known for his films A Little Princess (1995), Y Tu Mam Tambin (2001),
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Children of Men (2006), and
Gravity (2013).
He has been nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Original Screenplay
for Y Tu Mam Tambin, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing for
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Children of Men, and Best Picture for Gravity
He won the Best Director and Best Film Editing for Gravity in 2013 which won
seven Academy Awards. The movie stars Sandra Bullock in the lead role.
For film Gravity, he also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Director and the
BAFTA Awards for Best British Film and Best Direction.
He also won a BAFTA Award for Best Film not in the English Language as one of
the producers of Guillermo del Toros Pans Labyrinth.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg granted an honorary

Knighthood
Former New York Mayor and philanthropist billionaire Michael Rubens Bloomberg
on 6 October 2014 was granted an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in
Britain.
Bloomberg, who is well known for his love of Britain, was honoured for his prodigious
entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavours and his works that have benefitted
British-US relations.
As an American, Bloomberg is not entitled to call himself Sir Mike but can add the
initials KBE, an abbreviation for Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire,
to the end of his name.
About Michael Rubens Bloomberg

72-year-old Bloomberg is one of the richest men in America
He is the founder of the news and financial data company Bloomberg PLC
He has served as New York Mayor for a record 12 years between 2002 and 2013
Previous recipients of honorary knighthoods include director Steven Spielberg,
Microsoft founder Bill Gates and actress-activist Angelina Jolie.
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President of India presented the Lal Bahadur Shastri National

Award 2014
The President of India Pranab Mukherjee on 7 October 2014 presented the Lal Bahadur
Shastri National Award 2014 for Excellence in Public Administration, Academics and
Management to Dr Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
Dr Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai was honoured for his outstanding contribution in the
field of aerospace and missile technology.
The award carries cash price of 5 lakh rupees, a citation and a plaque.
Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai

Pillai did his graduation in Electrical Engineering from Madras University.
He underwent management programme at Harvard Business School and obtained
PhD from Pune University.
He has worked as a Chief Controller (Research and Development) of Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
He has also served as a Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of BrahMos
Aerospace, a joint venture between India and Russia.
He has worked with great visionary leaders like Dr Vikram Sarabhai, Prof Satish
Dhawan and APJ Abdul Kalam to contribute in countrys major space research
programme.
Pillai has been credited with development of critical missile technologies through
realization of Agni, Prithvi, Nag and Akash missiles.
Pillai is also a recipient of civilian honours Padma Shree in 2002 and Padma
Bhushan in 2013.
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Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award

The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award is an annual prestigious award instituted
from Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, Delhi. The award is presented by
President of India.
The award honours an Indian, residing in India or abroad, who is an exceptionally
outstanding and distinguished business leader, management practitioner, public
administrator, educator or institution builder.
The first Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award was presented to Professor CK Prahalad
in 1999.

Anoop Jain on 8 October 2014 won 2014 Waislitz Global Citizen Award. He was
awarded for his exemplified values of a Global Citizen through his work in founding
Humanure Power (HP) in Bihar in 2011 that builds community sanitation facilities in
rural India.
The award carried a cash prize of 100000 US dollar in recognition to the work. Anoop
Jain was chosen the winner after getting the maximum votes by people from across
the world.
Jain was among the four finalists for the award. Among the other finalists was another
young Indian Swapnil Chaturvedi who founded Samagra Sanitation which is focussed
on providing awesome sanitation services to the urban poor in India.
About Humanure Power

The organization named humanure Power worked to deal with the problem of open
defecation. HP builds community toilets to counter Indias sanitation crisis. 650
million Indians defecate outside daily because they have no toilet.
HP began this massive issue in the Supaul district of Bihar. Bihar is regarded as one
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of the poorest states in India and Supaul is one of its poorest districts. HP worked
with communities of Supaul region to improve access to sanitation infrastructure.
Humanure Power has already seen over 17000 users, while hygienically disposing of
eight tonnes of human excreta.
Humanure Power fights alongside communities to end outdoor defecation as a key
step in an ongoing struggle for health equity and social and economic justice.
Such effort would help prevent disease and improve productivity as toilets prevent
water-borne diseases caused by fecal contamination, which affects broader health,
social, and economic change desperately needed in India.
How it works
They maintain their facilities by harnessing the methane gas produced by human
waste to generate electricity and charge portable batteries.
Community members rent these batteries to power small household electronics.
By building sustainable sanitation infrastructure in India, HP cultivates healthier
communities and new markets for the 21st century.
HP Fights alongside Communities

Humanure Power resists a top down development approach and empowers
communities to become the protagonists in the fight for justice. This requires a
commitment to participatory development. HP involves community members in each
step of the process, from design of the toilet facilities, to the collection of data,
ensuring a bottom up development process.
Saiyid Hamid conferred with Sir Ross Masood Lifetime

Achievement Award 2014
Saiyid Hamid was conferred with Sir Ross Masood Lifetime Achievement Award
2014 on 30 September 2014. He was conferred the award by Vice-President Hamid
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Ansari for Excellence in Leadership, Education, community & Public Service. He was
presented with a citation and a cheque in the form of award.
He is the Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard University and former Vice-Chancellor of
Aligarh Muslim University (AM).
The award was established by Aligarh Muslim University Association Inc. New York
(AAANY). It was established with the objective to make a very modest contribution
by recognizing truly outstanding individuals during their lifetimes who are selflessly
dedicated their lives as leaders and educators, and in the service of the community
and public at large.
About Sayyid Sir Ross Masood

Sayyid Sir Ross Masood was the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University in
1929.
Masood was the son of Syed Mahmood. His grandfather was Sir Syed Ahmed Khan.
Masood was educated at Aligarh Muslim University and Oxford University.
From 1916 to 1928, he was Director of Public Instruction in Hyderabad. He was
knighted by the British Government in the 1933.
Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu was a biography of Masud. It was published in 2011. A
residential hall constructed in the year 1969 in Aligarh Muslim University is named
after him.
Shah Rukh Khan received Global Diversity Award 2014 at the

House of Commons
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan on 4 October 2014 received Global Diversity Award
2014 at the Britains House of Commons. He was conferred the award by House of
Commons speaker John Bercow for his outstanding achievements in the field of
cinema and his involvement in philanthropic endevours.
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Earlier, Shah Rukh has been honoured with several international awards, like Chevalier
de la Legion dHonneur (Frances highest civilian award), Wissame Al Kafaa Al Fikria
(Moroccos highest honour), Malaysian title of Datuk (akin to the British knighthood)
and others.
The past recipients of the award include Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Hollywood
actor Jackie Chan, Sheikh Hasina (Bangladesh Prime Minister), Roberta Gutman,
Lewis Hamilton and others.
About Global Diversity Award

The award is instituted by Rainbow Foundation. It is presented to an outstanding
individual who has made a major contribution to worldwide diversity and is an
international role model and icon.
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BOOKS | AUTHORS
Half Girlfriend authored by Chetan Bhagat released
Half Girlfriend: Chetan Bhagat
The novel Half Girlfriend authored by Chetan Bhagat was released on 1 October
2014. The novel delves into new and different dimensions of relationships in todays
world.
The novel is about a Bihari boy named Madhav who falls in love with the beautiful
Riya, a rich girl from Delhi. There are some fundamental differences between the two.
Madhavs English is not all that great, but Riya speaks the best English. Madhav
wants Riya to be his girlfriend but Riya disagrees. She wants them to be just friends
but he definitely wants more.
Riya finally comes up with a suggestion, a compromise where she agrees to become
his half-girlfriend. Chetan Bhagat presents a simple and beautiful love story that will
move you with all the nuances of a modern-day relationship. It also inspires you to
realize your individual dreams.
About Chetan Bhagat

Born in New Delhi in 1974, Chetan Bhagat pursued his studies from Indian Institute
of Technology, Delhi and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmadabad.
He is a famous contemporary Indian writer, speaker, columnist and novelist.
However, before becoming a fulltime writer, Chetan worked as an investment
banker for a few years.
In 2008, the New York Times cited Chetan Bhagat as the biggest selling English
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language novelist in Indias history.
Some of his other notable works are Five Point Someone, One Night at the Call
Centre, 2 States, The 3 Mistakes of My Life and Revolution 2020.
Biography of Muhammad Iqbal titled Iqbal: The Life of a Poet,

Philosopher and Politician released
Biography of Allama Muhammad Iqbal- Iqbal: The Life of a Poet, Philosopher
and Politician
Biography of Allama Muhammad Iqbal was released in October 2014. The biography
is titled Iqbal: The Life of a Poet, Philosopher and Politician. The biography is written
by Zafar Anjum, the editor of Kitaab. The book has been published by Random House.
The book highlights the story of Iqbals evolution as a poet, philosopher and politician
and talks about his personal life. It also highlights some of the least known facets
of the poets life. These facets include how did a nationalist poet transform into a
poet of Islamic revivalism and global revolution? How did three years in Europe
change Iqbals political and philosophical outlook? Why did he start writing in Persian
during his stay in Europe? Why did his first marriage fail and how did his romantic
relationships affect him? What exactly was the poets role in bringing about Partition?
About Allama Mohammad Iqbal

Allama Mohammad Iqbal remains a controversial figure in the history of the Indian
subcontinent. Sarojini Naidu called him the Poet laureate of Asia.
On the one hand, he is considered the Spiritual Father of Pakistan.
On the other, his message of Eastern revivalism places him in the ranks of the twentieth
centurys major intellectuals.
Iqbals tragedy was that after his death, he was made the national poet of Pakistan
and largely ignored in India. In his time, he was lauded as much as Tagore but today
India celebrates Tagore while Iqbal has been banished from her consciousness.
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Tulsi Smriti Granth on Acharya Tulsi released

Book titled Tulsi Smriti Granth on Acharya Tulsi was released on 26 October 2014.
The first copy of the book was received by the President Pranab Mukhejee from Dr.
Karan Singh who formally released it.
About Acharya Tulsi

Acharya Tulsi, a prominent Jain religious leader, was born in 1914 in Ladnun, Rajasthan,
at a time when India was starting to transcend from a traditional to a modern nation.
He was coronated as the ninth Acharya of Terapanth. He transformed into a Jain
monk at a tender age of 11, when he started delving into the problems of world and
seeking solutions. He was the successor of Acharya Kalughanin. He passed away in
1997.
Acharya Tulsi was the founder of the Anuvrata movement, which was based on the
five Jain principles Truth, Nonviolence, Non-possession, Non-stealing and Celibacy
as applied in their limited version for the lay people. He also founded the Jain Vishva
Bharti Institute, Ladnun and authored over one hundred books.
Acharya Tulsi was conferred several honours as recognition of his significant
endeavour in bringing individual transformation, social reformation, religious harmony
and national integration.
The honours and awards included

Indira Gandhi National Unity Award
Bharat Jyoti
Vak Pati Samman
Hakim Sur Khan Award
At present Acharya Mahashraman is the eleventh supreme head of the Terapanth
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who will undertake an Ahimsa Yatra from Delhi in November 2014.
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes for the year 2014
announced
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes for the year 2014 was announced on 20
October 2014. The winners include among others, an Indian American teenager Kiran
Sridhar. He is one of the 25 recipients of The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
for 2014.
He was selected for the award because he had created Waste No Food website
(www.wastenofood.org). It is a free, web-based service that efficiently links food
donors with charities that feed the hungry.
Each year, the Barron Prize honors 25 outstanding young leaders aged between
eight and 18 years across America who have made a significant positive difference
to people and/or to the environment.
The top 10 winners receive 5000 US dollars cash award to support their service work
or higher education.
About Kiran Sridhar

Sridhar is the founder, executive director, president and secretary of the Waste No
food site.
In four years, his group has redistributed food to serve over 100000 meals. He began
his work after volunteering at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, which serves
three meals daily to anyone in need.
Researching the hunger problem, he learned that its largely one of food distribution
and that one third of all food in California is wasted.
Sridhar also began to better understand the science of wasted food and its effect on
our landfills and methane emissions. He resolved to help others see the food waste
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problem as both a humanitarian and an environmental one.
Sridhar conceived of a simple system that would make use of technology and allow
donors to post available food to pre-approved charities which in turn, would claim it
and pick it up.
He has rallied 140 students at his high school to help sign-up food donors and make
the system a rousing success, with others schools and community colleges eager to
start their own chapters. For the past year, he has been developing a mobile app for
cell phones set to launch soon that will allow even easier and more efficient use of
Waste No Food.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North authored by Richard Flanagan

won Man Booker Prize
The Narrow Road to the Deep North: Richard Flanagan
The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a novel of Australian author Richard Flanagan.
The book was in news after it won the 2014 Man Booker Prize.
The novel narrates story of a love and war during the construction of the Thailand
Burma Death Railway in World War II. The story revolves around a Japanese prisonerof-war camp and centres upon the experiences of surgeon Dorrigo Evans (an
Australian doctor) who was haunted by his wartime love affair with his uncles young
wife two years earlier. Post war, he finds his growing celebrity as a war hero at odds
with his sense of his own failings and guilt.
It is a book that depicts the disturbing stories of prisoners and captors on the Burma
railway. It has tried to bridge East and West past and present, with a story of guilt and
heroism.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North is the sixth novel for Flanagan. His previous
novels were Death of a River Guide, The Sound of One Hand Clapping, Goulds Book
of Fish, The Unknown Terrorist and Wanting.
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Final Test: Exit Sachin Tendulkar authored by Dilip DSouza
released
Final Test: Exit Sachin Tendulkar: Dilip DSouza
A book titled Final Test: Exit Sachin Tendulkar authored by writer-journalist Dilip
DSouza was released on 15 October 2014. The book has been published by Random
House India and books forward has been written by Harsha Bhogle.
Final Test: Exit Sachin Tendulkar is a close scrutiny of Tendulkars last Test played at
the Wankhede in November 2013 in which he scored 74 in the only innings that he
played in the match. India won the match against West Indies by an innings and 126
runs against West Indies.
The book has tried to revisit Sachin Tendulkars final Test appearance and captured
all the excitement and emotion during the two and a half days of the match. The book
elaborates the deafening noise in the Wankhede and how it turns into a silence so
that one can hear Tendulkars footsteps as he begins the walk back to pavilion.
The book includes minute details of the match both on and off-field and the writer has
also tried to tease out larger issues that plague the game in India as well as overseas.
About Dilip DSouza

Dilip DSouza is a Mumbai-based writer and journalist
He writes about social and political causes and his columns have appeared in
several publications
His column about how two young engineers from Kerala built a dam in rural
Maharashtra and supplied electricity is believed to have inspired a key segment of
the 2004 movie Swades directed by Ashutosh Gowariker
DSouza has previously authored titles like
a) The Curious Case Of Binayak Sen
b) Roadrunner: An Indian Quest In America
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c) Branded by Law: Looking at Indias Denotified Tribes
d) The Narmada Dammed: An Inquiry Into the Politics of Development
Vice President of India released the book titled Untold Story of

Indian Public Sector
Untold Story of the Indian Public Sector: Dr UD Choubey
The Vice President of India M Hamid Ansari on 14 October 2014 released a book
entitled Untold Story of the Indian Public Sector authored by Dr UD Choubey, the
Director General of SCOPE (Standing Conference of Public Enterprises).
About the book Untold Story of the Indian Public Sector: UD Choubey
Today, millions of young men and women aspire to join the esteemed ranks in Indian
Public Sector to contribute to the creation of a new nation. Unfortunately, over the
years the Public Sector has witnessed tremendous defamation.
The book throws light on various aspects of working in Public Sectors. The book
provides a clear presentation of the overall environment and workings of the Public
Sector that the author Dr UD Choubey had experienced.
International edition of Encyclopedia of Hinduism by India

Heritage Research Foundation released
International edition of Encyclopedia of Hinduism by India Heritage Research
Foundation was released in New Delhi on 10 October 2014. The encyclopedia was
released by Vice-President of India Hamid Ansari. It consists of 11-volumes and
approximately 7000 entries.
The aim of Encyclopedia is to show the richness of ancient India and timelessness of
Hindu culture and heritage to the entire world, in a way that is authentic, academic,
comprehensive and illuminating.
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The entries of the Encyclopedia are conveniently prepared under the following areas,
viz., art, Hinduism in global context, Womens issues, scholarships in Hindu studies,
Spiritual disciplines, social institutions & movements, sciences, religion & spirituality,
polity, philosophy, language & literature, history, historiography & geography.
Subject Areas of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism are presented lucidly and authentically
covers the vast panorama of Hinduism, giving a faithful record of the worlds oldest
living spiritual tradition.
The project is founded, guided, inspired and led by spiritual leaders, Pujya Swami
Chidanand Saraswat and it is a colossal product of more than 1000 esteemed
scholars from around the world.
The Encyclopedia was published by Mandala Earth Publications, an esteemed
publisher of California, USA. The Encyclopedia was compiled and edited at the
University of South Carolina for many years.
The first Encyclopedia was Encyclopedia Britannica and some of the others
Encyclopedia are French and German, Jewish Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Religion
and Ethics, Encyclopedia of Social Sciences which is replaced by International
Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Book titled A Man and A Motorcycle written by Bette Dam on

Hamid Karzai launched
A Man and a Motorcycle, How Hamid Karzai Came to Power: Bette Dam
A book titled A Man and A Motorcycle, How Hamid Karzai Came to Power written by
Bette Dam was launched in September 2014. Bette Dam is a Dutch journalist based
in Afghanistan.
The book reveals about the life of former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and his
journey towards the highest office of the land and the situation in Afghanistan.
In the book, Dam writes that Karzai was under a lot of pressure from the west as well
as key domestic players; however, he was more in touch with the internal figures than
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the west.
Contrary to the belief that Karzai was a puppet of west who wanted to bring in western
style of democracy, she has concluded in the book that President Karzai had his own
special ways and strategies of handling various situations. He was much more like
an Afghan from Kandahar and was very experienced.
Further she reveals that Afghanistan is not like other strife-torn countries like Iraq.
The life in Afghanistan is 99 percent normal though one would not know about this.
Through her book, written after a two years of extensive research, Damn tells that
the biggest challenge that would be faced by the new government headed by Ashraf
Ghani will be tackling corruption as 99 percent people do not trust the government.
She believes that the new government will help bring peace and stability in the country.
Syntheism Creating God in The Internet Age authored by

Alexander Bard released
Syntheism Creating God in The Internet Age: Alexander Bard
A book titled Syntheism Creating God in The Internet Age authored by Alexander
Bard was released in the first week of October 2014.
According to Bard, internet age is going to have Syntheism to keep people online.
Syntheism is a word taken by Greek work Syntheos and means humanity creates
God as opposed to the God creates humanity, basis of the traditional monotheistic
religions.
About Alexander Bard

Bard is an Activist, musician and a religious leader
In 2012, he founded a new religion called Syntheism in which he claimed that the
internet is God. He justified his idea behind formation of religion by saying that
if man creates God, than it was time to create a religion that is relevant to 21st
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century
Bard along with Jan Sderqvist has written three books on internet revolution
collectively known as The Futurica Trilogy. This Triology includes
a) The Body Machines (2009)
b) The Global Empire (2002)
c) The Netocrats (2000)
Worthy Fights authored by Panetta and Newton released

Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace: Leon Panetta and Jim
Newton
A book titled Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace authored by
Leon Panetta, and Jim Newton was released on 7 October 2014. Panetta is a former
Defence Secretary and ex-CIA Director and Newton is an editor of the Los Angeles
Times.
The authors in the book have said that Pakistani spy agency ISI have close ties
with terror groups and is an open secret. It also accuses ISI by telling that this was
the reason why the US did not share the intelligence about the raid on Osama bin
Ladens hideout with Islamabad.
Panetta through the book for the first time came in a different tone in relation to
ISI links with terror outfit. Earlier, he has been a strong advocate of US-Pakistan
relationship and always came out in strong defence of ISI and the Pakistan Army
whenever allegations of spy agency having links with the terrorist outfit was raised.
He has issued certificates to ISI on allegations of its links with terror outfit.
About Leon Panetta

He was the director of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 20092011 in the
first term of the Obama Administration and later served as his Defence Secretary
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from 20112013
The Italian American Democrat was a member of the US House of Representatives
from 19771993,
He was the director of the Office of Management and Budget from 19931994 and
President Clintons chief of staff from 19941997
He is the founder of the Panetta Institute for Public Policy
He has served as professor of public policy at his alma mater, Santa Clara University
About Jim Newton

He is editor at large of the Los Angeles Times
He has worked with Los Angeles Times for twenty-five years as a reporter, editor,
bureau chief, and columnist
He is the author of two critically acclaimed biographies, namely
a) Justice for All: Earl Warren
b) The Nation He Made and Eisenhower: The White House Years
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ACCIDENT | INCIDENT
Cargo rocket Antares of NASA carrying supplies to ISS exploded
after launch
The Antares, an unmanned two-stage cargo rocket carrying supplies to the International
Space Station (ISS) exploded just seconds after the launch. The explosion took place
at Wallops Island site of Virginia, the US on 28 October 2014.
In the incident, the first stage of Orbital Sciences two-stage Antares rocket burst into
flames as it rose from its launch pad.
The two-stage Antares rocket was carrying 32 satellites, companys Cygnus capsule
and food for the astronauts to ISS. According to NASA though no one was injured
but 5500 pounds of cargo was destroyed. The launch was worth 125 million pounds.
This was the Orbital Sciences third official cargo mission to ISS for NASA under the
terms of 1.9 billion US dollars contract under which the company was to send eight
delivery missions. The Orbital Science Company first launched Antares rocket on its
maiden flight in April 2013.
The explosion did not caused any immediate issues for the ISS since the Russian
Space Agencys robotic Progress 57 spacecraft was launched successfully from
Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on 29 October 2014.
Orbital Science formed an accident investigation team with assistance from NASA
and the Federal Aviation Administration of the US to find out the reasons for explosion.
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Gandhi Maidan in Patna: 32 people killed in stampede
A stampede occurred at Gandhi Maidan in Patna during the Ram Leela ceremony on
3 October 2014. In the stampede at least 32 people were killed and about 15 were
injured. The injured have been admitted to the Patna Medical College and Hospital
(PMCH).
The tragedy occurred at the time when people were returning from the ground after
watching the Ravan Vadh (killing of demon king) ceremony.
After the incident the state and union government announced a relief compensation
of 3 lakh rupees and 2 lakh rupees, respectively for the families of the dead. Apart
from this, the State Home Secretary and Additional Director General of Police have
ordered a high level probe into the incident. The probe team has been asked to
submit the report within 24 hours.
Cause of Stampede
The stampede was caused due to rumors of snapping of an electrical wire. The
rumors sparked panic in the public resulting into stampede.
Krishak Express and Lucknow-Barauni express collided near

Gorakhpur station
Gorakhpur Station under North Eastern Railway zone: LucknowBarauni express
and Krishak Express collided
Barauni bound Lucknow Barauni express on 30 September 2014 collided with the
coaches of Lucknow bound Maduadih-Lucknow Krishak Express near Gorakhpur
station at Nandnagar railway crossing. The collision led to derailment of four coaches
of Krishak express in which at least 12 passengers have been killed and 44 others
were injured.
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After accident, the civil and railway officers reached the spot to monitor the relief
and rescue operations and admitted the injured passengers in nearby hospitals. The
drivers of Krishak express have been suspended for overshooting the signal and an
inquiry has been ordered by the railway under Commissioner Rail Safety PK Bajpai
to ascertain the cause of the incident.
Apart from this, the railways had opened the helpline numbers at several places
including Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Deoria and Barauni (Bihar).
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DEFENCE | SECURITY
Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rafting Expedition on River Siyom,
Arunachal Pradesh
Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rafting Expedition was conducted on the Siyom River in
West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The expedition was organised by Army
Adventure Node Centre, Aalo, under the aegis of 5 Mountain Brigade of Indian Army
from 1 October to 3 October 2014.
During expedition, the team covered 85 km over three days through the rapids of the
Siyom River from Thumbin to Pangin in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Both team had 10 Army personnel including two officers. The expedition was flagged
off by Lt Gen Bipin Rawat, GOC Spear Corps on 1 October 2014 at Thumbin and was
flagged in by the Maj Gen Sunil Srivastava, GOC 56 Infantry Division on 3 October 2014
at Pangin. The Indian Army team was led by Maj Sachin Nikam and the Bangladeshi
team was led by Maj Mohd Nazmus Sadat. The Bangladeshi team reached India on
18 September 2104 and was trained by the Indian White Water Rafting node at Aalo.
This expedition is being considered as a bid to foster ties between the Army of the
two neighbouring countries.
About Siyom River

River Siyom also known as the Yomgo originates in Tibet and enters India by
meandering through steep gorges on the India-China border at an elevation of about
3700 meters. After entering India it joins Siang (Brahmaputra) at Pangin, about 30
kilometers road distance from Aalo. It is the largest river of the West Siang district of
Arunachal Pradesh.
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REPORT | SURVEY
India became the worlds fourth largest steel producer by delivering 62.41 Million
Tonnes (MT) output from January 2014 to September 2014. The findings were
published on 21 October 2014 in the World Steel Association (WSA) data.
India has been the worlds fourth largest steel maker since 2010. As per the World
Steel Association (WSA) data, the steel production of India grew by 1.8 percent
during the January-September period of 2014. India produced 61.27 MT of steel in
the same period in 2013.
India was preceded by China, Japan and the United States. China logged 2.3 percent
growth by producing 618 MT steel during the January-September period of 2014.
Japan remained at the second position with 83.1 MT production and United States
stood at the third spot with 66.33 MT production.
Time released its annual list of The 25 Most Influential Teens of

2014
Time on 13 October 2014 released its annual list of The 25 Most Influential Teens
of 2014. Time compiled its list of 25 teens counting accolades shared by siblings
and partners. The list released after analyzing their social media following, business
successes and cultural importance.
The youngest were Sasha Obama and fellow 13-year-old Mone Davis, a pitching
sensation who led her Philadelphia boys baseball team to the Little League World
Series and landed a spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
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Sasha Obama is a daughter of US President Barak Obama.

Others in the list were Grammy-winning New Zealand singer Lorde aged 17 and Nobel
Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai aged 17. Malala Yousafzai is the Pakistani education
activist winner. They were all on the unranked list dominated by 20 females.
The dominant categories were athletes, actors and singers.
Tavi Gevinson is the 18-year-old fashion writer and founder of popular online magazine
Rookie. She was noted as emblematic of the contemporary teen in the Internet age.
Transgender activist Jazz Jennings, 14, and Hong Kong pro-democracy activist
Joshua Wong, 18, also made the list.
Actors in the list

Actors taking center stage were Kiernan Shipka, 14, of Mad Men, Rico Rodriguez,
16, of Modern Family and The Equalizers Chloe Grace Moretz, 17.
Pop singers Becky G, 17, and Austin Mahone, 18, earned plaudits as did New Zealand
pro golfer Lydia Ko, 17, and Afghan National Cycling Team member Salma Kakar, 17.
Jaden Smith, 16, son of actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, was recognized
for acting and his Twitter following, while reality TV stars the Jenner sisters Kendall,
18, and Kylie, 17, were noted for their burgeoning Hollywood and merchandising
careers.
Entrepreneurs in the list

Teens noted for business success include 15-year-old Erik Finman, founder of the
online tutoring site Botangle.com; YouTube fashion star Bethany Mota, 18, and
actress-turned-stockpicker Rachel Fox, 18.
Irish trio Ciara Judge, 16, Emer Hickey, 17, and Sophie Healy-Thow, 17, were noted
for their discovery of bacteria that deposits nitrogen from the atmosphere into soil.
Los Angeles teen chef Flynn McGarry, 15, joined stars of Twitters Vine short-form
video service, Nash Grier, and singer Shawn Mendes, both 16.
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Also in the spotlight were 19-year-olds Megan Grassell, founded of the Yellowberry
clothing company that makes bras for teens, and South African-Australian YouTube
star and actor-musician Troye Sivan.
Global Hunger Index Report 2014 released: India Ranked at

55th Position
2014 Global Hunger Index- The challenge of hidden hunger
The 2014 Global Hunger Index (GHI) was released on 13 October 2014 by the
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Welthungerhilfe and Concern
Worldwide.
It revealed that two billion people were suffering from hidden hunger even though
the levels of hunger in many developing countries decreased. The 2014 GHI was
calculated for 120 developing countries and countries in transition, 55 of which have
a serious or worse hunger situation.
Highlights of Global Hunger Index Report 2014

The 2014 GHI presented a multidimensional measure of national, regional, and global
hunger. It showed that the world has made progress in reducing hunger since 1990,
but still has far to go as the levels of hunger remain alarming or extremely alarming in
16 countries. Globally, 805 million people still suffer from hunger.
Regionally, the highest hunger levels are observed in Africa South of the Sahara and
South Asia which have also experienced the greatest absolute improvements since
2005. South Asia saw the sharp absolute decline in GHI scores since 1990. Progress
in addressing child underweight was the main factor behind the improved GHI score
for the region since 1990.
From 1990 to 2014, 26 countries reduced their scores by 50 percent. In terms of
absolute progress, Angola, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chad, Ghana, Malawi, Niger,
Rwanda, Thailand, and Vietnam witnessed the biggest improvement in scores since
1990.
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The severity of hunger was found to be low in 44 countries. These countries include
Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Turkey.
Moreover, countries like Burundi and Eritrea were classified as extremely alarming as
per the 2014 GHI. However, reliable data for the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and Somalia was sorely lacking.
Country
Global Hunger Index 2014 Scores by Ranks

Rank
Score
Mauritius
5.0
Thailand
5.0
Albania
5.3
Columbia
5.3
China
5.4
Malaysia
5.4
Peru
5.7
Syrian Arab Republic
5.9
Honduras
6.0
Suriname
6.0
Gabon
11
6.1
El Salvador
12
6.2
Guyana
13
6.5
Dominican Republic
14
7.0
Vietnam
15
7.5
Ghana
16
7.8
Ecuador
17
7.9
Paraguay
18
8.8
Mongolia
19
9.6
Nicaragua
19
9.6
Bolivia
21
9.9
Indonesia
22
10.3
Moldova
23
10.8
Benin
24
11.2
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Mauritania
25
11.9
Cameroon
26
12.6
Iraq
27
12.7
Mali
28
13.0
Lesotho
29
13.1
Philippines
29
13.1
Botswana
31
13.4
Gambia, The
32
13.6
Malawi
32
13.6
Guinea-Bissau
34
13.7
Togo
35
13.9
Guinea
36
14.3
Senegal
37
14.4
Nigeria
38
14.7
Sri Lanka
39
15.1
Guatemala
40
15.6
Rwanda
40
15.6
Cote d lvoire
42
15.7
Combodia
43
16.1
Nepal
44
16.4
North Korea
44
16.4
Tajikistan
44
16.4
Kenya
47
16.5
Swaziland
47
16.5
Zimbabwe
47
16.5
Liberia
50
16.8
Namibia
51
16.9
Uganda
52
17.0
Tanzania
53
17.3
Angola
54
17.4
India
55
17.8
Congo, Republic
56
18.1
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Bangladesh
57
19.1
Pakistan
57
19.1
Djibouti
59
19.5
Burkina Faso
60
19.9
Lao PDR
61
20.1
Mozambique
62
20.5
Niger
63
21.1
Central Republic African
64
21.5
Madagascar
65
21.9
Sierra Leone
66
22.5
Haiti
67
23.0
Zambia
68
23.2
Yemen, Republic
69
23.4
Ethiopia
70
24.4
Chad
71
24.9
Sudan/South Sudan
72
26.0
Comoros
73
29.5
Timor-Leste
74
29.8
Eritrea
75
33.8
Burundi
76
35.6
Hidden Hunger
One form of hunger that is often ignored or overshadowed by hunger related to
energy deficits is hidden hunger which is also called micronutrient deficiency. It
affected some 2 billion people around the world.
Hidden hunger can coexist with adequate or even excessive consumption of
dietary energy from macronutrients such as fats and carbohydrates and also with
obesity in one person or community.
Poor diet, disease, impaired absorption and increased micronutrient needs during
certain life stages, such as pregnancy, lactation, and infancy are among the causes
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of hidden hunger.
Possible solutions to hidden hunger include food-based approaches: dietary
diversification, fortification of commercial foods and biofortification, in which food
crops are bred with increased micronutrient content.
Food-based measures require long-term, sustained and coordinated efforts to
make a lasting difference. On the other hand, vitamin and mineral supplements
can help vulnerable populations combat hidden hunger in short span of time.
Moreover to eliminate hidden hunger, Governments and multilateral institutions
need to invest in and develop human and financial resources, increase coordination
and ensure transparent monitoring and evaluation to build capacity on nutrition.
Governments must also create a regulatory environment that values good nutrition.
This could involve creating incentives for private sector companies to develop
more nutritious seeds or foods.
Indias Performance as per 2014 Global Hunger Index

India improved its position in the Global Hunger Index in 2014 as it climbed to 55th
position among 76 emerging economies from 63rd position in 2013. Though, it is
still trailing behind countries like Thailand, China, Ghana, Iraq, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
A sharp reduction in the percentage of underweight children has helped India improve
its hunger record. Indias improved ranking is due to its progress in dealing with
underweight children.
However, India remains home to the largest number of chronically malnourished and
stunted children under five. In the first GHI in 2006, India ranked 96 among 119
countries.
About Global Hunger Index

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is designed to comprehensively measure and
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track hunger globally and by country and region. It is calculated each year by the
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
The GHI highlights successes and failures in hunger reduction and provides insights
into the drivers of hunger. To reflect the multidimensional nature of hunger, the GHI
combines three equally weighted indicators in one index number:
1. Undernourishment: The proportion of undernourished as a percentage of the
population (reflecting the share of the population with insufficient calorie intake)
2. Child underweight: The proportion of children younger than the age of five who
are underweight (low weight for age reflecting wasting, stunted growth, or both),
which is one indicator of child undernutrition
3. Child mortality: The mortality rate of children younger than the age of five
(partially reflecting the fatal synergy of inadequate dietary intake and unhealthy
environments).
The GHI ranks countries on a 100-point scale. Zero is the best score (no hunger) and
100 is the worst, although neither of these extremes is reached in practice. A lower
GHI score implies better nutritional standard and a higher rank for a country.
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SUMMIT | CONFERENCE
Cairo International conference held to raise fund for
reconstruction of Gaza strip
Cairo International conference on 12 October 2014 was held to raise the fund for
reconstruction of Gaza Strip. At the conference, International donors pledged 5.4
billion US dollar for reconstruction of Gaza Strip of Palestine over three years.
The half of the 5.4 billion US dollar pledged amount will be dedicated to reconstruction
and the assistance will be distributed in response to the daily needs of Palestinians.
The US pledged 212 million US dollar
United Arab Emirates and Turkey both committed 200 million US dollar
Qatar alone promised 1billion US dollar
European Union promised 568 million dollar
India promised 4 million US dollar
During the conference, Palestinian government led by Mahmoud Abbas unveiled
reconstruction plan with major share of assistance to build housing. Israel was
absent in conference and Palestine referred to maintain the August 2014 ceasefire
agreement between Israel and Palestine to maintain peace in the region.
In the conference, President of Egypt Sisi urged government and people of Israel to
put an end to the conflict that started in June 2014. The conference was attended
by delegates representing about 50 nations and 20 regional and international
organizations. The US aid to the Palestinians especially will go to security, economic
development, food and medicine, and shelter, water and sanitation projects.
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COMMITTEES | COMMISSIONS
Union Government constituted Vishwanathan committee to
provide Bankruptcy code for SMEs
Union Government on 20 October 2014 constituted Vishwanathan committee to
provide Bankruptcy code for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The committee
was formed under the Union Finance Ministry.
The committee will be headed by former Lok Sabha secretary-general and former
law secretary T K Vishwanathan. The committee will prepare a report on corporate
bankruptcy framework for SMEs by February 2015.
The formation of the committee is the first step to provide small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) with an exit option in case of bankruptcy. The announcement is in
tune with a budget promise made by Union finance minister Arun Jaitley to introduce
an entrepreneur-friendly legal bankruptcy framework.
Terms of Refrence
The Vishwanathan committee will go into a whole gamut of bankruptcy issues
including early detection and resolution of financial distress and protection of
stakeholders interest.
It will also suggest liquidation procedure for smaller firms and necessary reforms
required to the rescue mechanism.
Comment
A recent study by industry body Assocham said 74 per cent of sick SMEs in India
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attributed their sickness and lower capacity utilisation to low availability of fund as 92
per cent of all SMEs remained dependent on personal and family savings and many
even sustained money borrowed from friends and relatives at higher rates of interest.
A study shows 79 small business units are turning financially unviable in India every
day or three units every hour.
According to data compiled by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development
Institute, of the 1.33 crore SME units, more than two lakh are sick now. Around 29000
units are being added to the sick list every year. This has led to an outstanding bank
credit of over 7000 crore rupees.
For long, SMEs have been demanding a framework. The banking industry has also
become skeptical about funding SMEs against their receivables.
SMEs industries account for 40 per cent of the GDP of India and 45 per cent of over
300 billion US dollar annual exports.
Madhava Menon panel submitted its report with guidelines on

government ads
The Supreme Court appointed high-powered committee headed by Professor
NR Madhava Menon submitted its report to the court on 6 October 2014. The
committee in its report has framed guidelines to regulate expenditure and contents
of advertisements paid out of tax payers money.
The three-member committee that also comprised TK Viswanathan, former Secretary
General of Lok Sabha and Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar has recommended that
names and pictures of political parties and their office bearers like presidents should
not be mentioned in government advertisements. It supported its recommendation by
stating that there had been misuse and abuse of public money on such advertisements.
However to keep politics away from such ads, it emphasized that only the pictures and
names of the President, the Prime Minister, Governor and Chief Ministers should be
published. The committee also endorsed the suggestions of the Election Commission
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that there must be severe restrictions on such advertisements six months prior to
election.
Apart from this, the committee also recommended that a deadline should be fixed
to prohibit their publication and the poll panel should be authorised for the purpose.
The committee also recommended that there should only be a single advertisement,
preferably by Information and Broadcasting Ministry, in respect of commemorative
advertisements, which are given on birth and death anniversary of an important
personality.
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ABBREVIATIONS | TERMS
Trudy: A Tropical Storm that struck Mexico
Trudy is a Tropical Storm that struck Mexico on 19 October 2014. It was in news after
it made its landfall on the Pacific coast about 125 kilometers to east of Acapulco.
With landfall, it killed six people and also prompted evacuations.
Trudy carried life-threatening flash floods and mudslides across the hilly and
mountainous areas. Its heavy rainfall caused a landslide on a farm in the indigenous
town of Tlacoachistlahuaca in the southern state of Guerrero. It also led mudslide in
Ometepec and Cochoapa.
Some 2000 people were evacuated from three towns in the mountain region hardest
hit by Trudy. Another 300 people were evacuated in three other Guerrero towns,
where a river threatened to overflow and cause dangerous flooding. Landslides and
flooding has also cut off access to 16 other towns and damaged a main road to
Acapulco.
The storm was formed around 140 kilometers to the southwest of Mexico on 17
October 2014.

Treason Act of 1351: Act passed during the reign of English King Edward III
Britains Treason Act of 1351 passed during the reign of English King Edward III was
in news in October 2014. It was in news as there are chances that Britain would use
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the medieval law to charge its citizens if they go to fight with Islamic State of Iraq and
Syria (ISIS) insurgents in Iraq and Syria.
In his statement to the media the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that any
British citizen who had sworn personal allegiance to the so-called Islamic State could
have committed an offense under the Treason Act of 1351.
The Treason Act 1351 is an Act of the Parliament of England which codified and
curtailed the common law offence of treason. It is one of the earliest English statutes
still in force, although it has been very significantly amended.
The Act was passed at Westminster in the Hilary term of 1351, in the 25th year of the
reign of Edward III and was entitled A Declaration which Offences shall be adjudged
Treason. The Act was last used to prosecute William Joyce (was hanged) in 1945 for
collaborating with Germany in World War II.
This Act is still in force in the United Kingdom (as of August 2013) and carries a
maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Until 1998, the Act carried death sentence
to.
Background
Earlier, David Cameroon, the British Prime Minister had warned that fighters of ISIS
pose a grave threat to Britain. Britains police and intelligence reports have suggested
that they have seen a rise in potentially deadly plots.
Security officials of the country have predicted that some 500 Britons, mainly with
Muslim immigrant backgrounds, are fighting in Iraq and Syria for ISIS and their return
could carry out an attack on Britain.
Cyclonic storm Hudhud

Hudhud is in news because is expected to cross north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining
Odisha coast between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur.
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Cyclonic storm named Hudhud is the deep depression over north Andaman Sea
crossed the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is expected to reach east cost of India.
Hudhud name derives from the Hoopoe bird, a colorful bird found across Afro-Eurasia
suggested by Oman.
The Wind speed range of Hudhud is expected to be 130-140 kmph and may reach
up to 155 kmph.
A very severe cyclonic storm Phailin with wind speed of more than 210 kmph had hit
Odisha coast at Gopalpur caused extensive damage in 2013.
Bio Cremations: environment friendly alternative to cremate

human body
The practice of Bio cremations was in news recently because some nations like
Belgium and the Netherlands of European Union are planning to legalise this method
of cremations. So far, it has been legalised only in the US and Canada.
In 2011, a Florida funeral home became the first in the world to perform a bio cremation
and since then, over 3000 people in the US have chosen the procedure.
A bio cremation is a practice that ensures that the human body is turned into a
liquid and not into ashes. The process is also known as chemical hydrolysis. It is
an environmentally-friendly alternative to present day trend of the disposal of dead
bodies.
The process
At present, the only legal way to cremate the dead in the continent is to exhume the
body or bury it.
The Bio Cremation technology replaces the use of flame with the utilization of water,
blended with an alkali solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH).
The process uses 95 per cent water and 5 per cent alkali instead of direct flame and
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fossil fuels to cremate human remains.
The body is placed in a stainless steel cremation chamber where water (95%), an alkali
additive (5%), heat and pressure are added. Bio Cremation uses this combination to
perform the cremation, gently reducing the body to bone fragments and a sterile
solution that is recycled to the earth.
The average adult body takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Upon completion
of the cremation cycle, bones are dried and processed to a powdery substance
which is then placed in an urn and given back to family.
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ART | CULTURE
The Festival of India, year-long festival was inaugurated on 27 October 2014 in
Tokyo, Japan. The festival was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Culture
and Tourism, Shripad Naik and Tourism Minister of Japan Akihiro Ohta.
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi during his visit to Japan in August 2014
announced the Festival of India in Japan will be conducted to enhanced people to
people contacts between the two countries.
The Festival of India represents major cultural expedition of India into Japan on a
large scale for the first time since 1988, almost 26 years ago. It is one of the largest
events of India conducted in Japan Covering 20 cities.
The Festival is being conducted in two phases:

The October phase-I comprise a series of dance productions being presented by
the Kalakshetra Foundation, the Manipur Dance Academy and the Kuttiyattam
Kendra in Japan.
The February 2015 phase-II will comprise the Buddhist art exhibition which will be
presented in the Tokyo National Museum.
The other events include, a Buddhist conference being conducted by the International
Buddhist Council of India and Buddhist exhibitions by the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara.
It also includes Film Festival and Food Festival.
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Harbin Ice Festival celebrated in Hong Kong
The Harbin Ice Festival was celebrated in Hong Kong. The festival will be held from 1
November 2014 to 10 November 2014. In the Harbin Ice Festival India will showcase
her culture, art, food and fashion.
The aim of the festival is to bring awareness about Indian culture to the people of
Hong Kong and China.
There will be special focus on creating trade relations between the people of the two
countries. This is to further the endeavour to celebrate 2014 as a Year of Friendship
and Exchange between India and China.
Some of the biggest names in art, heritage and culture will showcase Indian performing
arts and craft, food, fashion and more through dance, music and theatre performances,
exhibitions and workshops. This event will bring Indian cultural awareness to the
local Chinese community for the first time in such a large scale.
The original Harbin Ice Festival is a popular winter festival that takes place in the
town of Harbin and is known for its ice sculptures.
Efforts have been made to recreate the ice exhibition in Hong Kong and light it up
using coloured LED lights.
Month-long Akashdeep ritual started in Varanasi to honour

fallen soldiers
The month-long ritual Akashdeep (skylight) started in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on 10
October 2014 to honour the soldiers who laid down their lives for the motherland
since Independence in 1947.
The month-long ritual is observed by lighting up the lanterns dedicated to fallen
soldiers on the banks of River Ganges in Varanasi. The ritual is observed in the Hindu
month of Karthik every year by peoples from all walks of life.
The ritual dates back to the ancient rimes, when it was observed to honour the
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sacrifices of the dead soldiers in the epic Mahabharata war. But it was rekindled in
Varanasi after Kargil war in 1999 with Pakistan.
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EXHIBITION | FARE
The first border haat (market) facility on zero line on the Indo-Bangla international
border in Tripura was inaugurated on 20 October 2014. The facility was opened to
boost bilateral trade by Union Minister of Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman and her
Bangladesh counterpart Tofil Ahmed at Srinagar in south Tripura.
This hatt on the Srinagar-Ramgarh border is second in North-East after Meghalaya.
Selected commodities from both countries would be trade during, the border hatt
period. As per notification, people residing living within a distance of 5 km from the
border are entitled to do business at the haat. Business in haat would take place
once in a week initially.
It is anticipated that the haat would cater the livelihood option to more than thousand
of marginal income families and small traders of both the countries. It would be
beneficial for people of the region as no tax would be imposed on the items to be
sold in the haat and currencies of both the countries will be allowed.
Biggest electronics trade exhibition of Japan CEATEC concluded

The biggest electronics trade exhibition of Japan CEATEC concluded on 11 October
2014 at Makuhari Messe International convention complex in Chiba prefecture of
Japan. CEATEC stands for Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies. The
five-day exhibition had started on 7 October 2014.
The main highlight of the exhibition was the introduction of sign and display technology
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solutions by Japanese companies like Fujifilm which provides total solutions for wideformat print system.
The technology will come handy for the outdoor advertising industry in India and
ASEAN region where the trend of outdoor advertising on billboards and POP is fast
catching up.
The technology mainly uses graphics based on Ultra-Violet (UV) inks. UV inks are
used because they remain protected in outdoor climate and do not evaporate, so the
system can be installed in one room.
On the other hand, the harmful VOC - solvent based ink systems are used to the
conventional wide-format printing machine, which required the separate forced
exhaust facility.
About CEATEC
CEATEC provides a platform for companies and organizations from all over the world
to showcase their cutting-edge products, services and technologies. The event
also serves as key industry networking and information-gathering opportunity, with
numerous seminars and other activities offered during the fair.
Union MNRE announced the organisation of the first RE-INVEST

Promotion Meet & Expo
The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy ( MNRE) on 30 September 2014
announced the organisation of the first Renewable Energy Global Investors Meet &
Expo (RE-INVEST). The meet is scheduled to be held on 15 February 2015 in New
Delhi.
The central theme of the meet is to attract large scale investments in the renewable
energy sector in India. The event, which is the follow-up to the Make in India initiative,
is proposed to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
It will be the first major platform for investment promotion in the renewable energy
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sector at the level of Government of India.
Highlights of the RE-INVEST Promotion Meet & Expo

RE-INVEST will be jointly organised by Indian Renewable Energy Development
Agency (IREDA), Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) and Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Moreover, other leading industrial and sector specific Associations including
ASSOCHAM and PHDCII will also be closely associated.
RE-INVEST will enable the global investment community to connect with renewable
energy stakeholders in India. Over 1000 delegates are expected to attend the
Meet.
The event is expected be attended by over 200 investors including domestic and
international.
RE-INVEST will be the culmination of a conference and exhibition of manufacturers,
project developers, investors and other players in the renewable energy space to
showcase manufacturing capabilities, latest technologies, financing options and
investment opportunities.
International companies in the renewable energy space from different countries
will also have the opportunity to exhibit and showcase at the Expo to a wide
Indian audience.
Renewable Energy Sector in India

Renewable Energy Sector is contributing about 6.5 percent in the electricity mix of the
country. FDI up to 100 percent under the automatic route is permitted in Renewable
Energy Sector.
Major initiatives by the Government including accelerated depreciation, generation
based incentive, feed-in-tariff, viability gap funding is expected to add massive
investments in the renewable energy sector.
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DAY | WEEK | YEAR

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas observed on 31 October to commemorate
the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was observed on 31 October 2014 to commemorate the 139th
birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The decision to observe 31 October as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Integration
Day was taken by the Union Government to reiterate Indias strength and buoyancy
against adversaries.
The day was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who paid floral tributes
at the statue of Sardar Patel and also flagged off the Run For Unity in New Delhi.
The Run for Unity campaign is the key highlight to pay tribute to the efforts made by
Sardar Patel to unite India. A nationwide marathon took place on the Rashtriya Ekta
Diwas.
During the occasion, the PM praised Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who is also known as
the Iron Man of India who gave Ek Bharat (United India) and requested the people to
work towards creating Shresth Bharat (Foremost India).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also remembered former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
on her death anniversary, who was assassinated 30 years ago October 31 by her
own bodyguards.
About Vallabhbhai Patel

Vallabhbhai Patel was born on 31 October 1875 at Karamsand in Gujarat.
He was barrister who studied in London and practiced in Godhra, Borsad and
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Anand places of Gujarat.
He played a key leadership role in organising peasant movements in Kheda,
Borsad and Bardoli in Gujarat and promoted the Quit India Movement against the
British Raj.
He joined the Indian National Movement under Mahatma Gandhi and grew up to
become one of its tallest leaders.
He was the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India.
He is credited for the integration of over 500 independent princely states in 194749 from the British colonial provinces by Independence Act 1947.
He is known as the Iron Man of India or Bismarck of India and he is also remembered
as the Patron Saint of Indias civil servants for establishing modern all-India
services.
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage observed globally on 27

October
27 October: World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage was observed across the world on 27 October
2014 with the theme Archives at Risk: Much more to do.
The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage aims to raise general awareness of the need
for urgent measures to be taken to safeguard audiovisual document. It also focuses
on acknowledging the importance of audiovisual documents as an integral part of
national identity.
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage

On this day, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) works with organizations, governments and communities to promote the
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on October 27 every year. Activities and events
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that take place during the day include:
Competitions such as a logo contest to promote the World Day for Audiovisual
Heritage.
Local programs organized as a joint effort between national film archives,
audiovisual societies, television or radio stations and governments.
Panel discussions, conferences and public talks on the importance of preserving
important audiovisual documents are held.
Special film screenings are organised.
Background
Audiovisual documents like films, radio and television programmes are our common
heritage as they contain the primary records of the 20th and 21st centuries. They
help to maintain the cultural identity of the people.
However, many sound recordings, moving images and other audiovisual material are
lost because of neglect, natural decay and technological obsolescence. Organizations
such as UNESCO felt that more audiovisual documents would be lost if stronger and
concerted international action was not taken.
Thereby, the UNESCO General Assembly in 2005 approved October 27 as the World
Day for Audiovisual Heritage to raise awareness of the importance of Audiovisual
documents as integral part of national identities and draw attention to the urgent
need to protect them.
Since then the World observes this day every year by organizing activities around a
theme agreed upon by the Coordinating Council of Audio-visual Archive Associations
(CCAAA), the UNESCO designated body to oversee the yearly celebrations of the
day.
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27 October: Infantry Day
68th Infantry Day was observed across India on 27 October 2014 to pay homage to
war heroes.
The day was observed by performing the wreath-laying ceremony at the Parachute
Regiment Training Centre War Memorial, JC Nagar in Bangalore, Karnataka.
Background
Indian Armys first Infantry contingent including troops of the 1 Sikh Infantry Battalion
on 27 October 1947 landed at Srinagar Airfield and fought a courageous battle to
liberate the Kashmir valley from the intruders. Till then, the princely State of Jammu
and Kashmir was under attack by the tribal raiders supported by the troops of the
newly formed Pakistani Army.
To commemorate this gallant action by the Infantry, 27 October is celebrated as the
Infantry Day.
International Stammering Awareness Day observed across the

world
International Stammering Awareness Day (ISAD) was observed on 22 October 2014.
The day was observed to raise public awareness about the people who have the
speech disorder of stuttering, which is also known as stammering.
During the ISAD, Stammering associations like British Stammering Association
(BSA), individuals and groups around the world organised events to raise awareness
of stuttering.
The British Stammering Association (BSA) conducted ISAD Online conference titled
we speak with one voice in which people posted comments and questions about
stuttering or stammering. This ISAD online conference is conducted annually between
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1 October and 22 October. It also had Ask an Expert section about stuttering or
stammering.
First International Stammering Awareness Day was observed in 1998. It is joint project
between International Stuttering Association (ISA), International Fluency Association
(IFA) and European League of Stuttering Associations (ELSA).

The Police Commemoration Day was observed in New Delhi on 21 October 2014
with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh as chief quest. The day was observed as a
mark of respect to brave police martyrs, who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.
During the celebration, the Memorial parade was held and Union Home Minister
Rajnath Singh announced a national Police Memorial will be set up soon as homage
to the police.
About Police Commemoration Day

The Annual Conference of Inspectors General of Police of States and Union
Territories held in January 1960 decided that 21 October would henceforth be
observed as Police Commemoration Day.
The day was observed to mark the memory of these gallant personnel who were
killed in Ladakh and all other Police personnel killed on duty during the year.
Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day observed on

21 October
21 October: Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day
Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders (GIDD) Prevention Day observed across the World
on 21 October 2014. The day was observed to create awareness of the need to
prevent iodine deficiency.
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One third of the world population is exposed to the risk of iodine deficiency disorders.
Over 740 million people in 130 countries are facing the health problem.
In India, more than six core people are suffering from iodine deficiency disorders
including endemic goiter and 88 lakh people from mental or motor handicaps.
UNICEF Gujarat office launched an IDD awareness campaign on GIDD prevention
day at a Higher Secondary School in Gandhinagar in collaboration with Health and
Education Departments of Government of Gujarat to promote consumption of iodized
salt.
Indias Contribution
In 1962, Government of India launched National Goiter Control Program and in
1992, it was renamed as National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Program. The
program was launched to prevent the Iodine Deficiency that may lead to Goiter, still
births, abortions, congenital anomalies increased infant mortality, mental deficiency,
deaf mutism, squint & dwarfism.

16 October: World Food Day
World Food Day was observed across the world on 16 October 2014 with the theme
Family Farming: Feeding the world, caring for the earth.
The UN General Assembly has designated 2014 as the International Year of Family
Farming. This is a strong signal that the international community recognizes the
important contribution of family farmers to world food security.
The aim of World Food Day 2014 is to focus world attention on the significant role of
family farming in eradicating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition,
improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment, and
achieving sustainable development, in particular in rural areas.
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Why family farmers need support to reduce food losses?
Family farming is inextricably linked to national and global food security. Both in
developing and developed countries, family farming is the predominant form of
agriculture in the food production sector.
Mostly, family farmers lack access to good seeds, adequate storage for crops,
transportation and well-functioning markets, as well as financing. By supporting
family farmers in these areas, it is possible to reduce food losses and increase
farmers incomes.
Around 500 million out of the 570 million farms worldwide are family farms. These
farms account for the production of fruit, vegetables, grain, livestock and fisheries, as
well as non-wood forest products. The farms are managed and operated by a family
and rely predominantly on family labour.
In Brazil, family farmers provide an average of 40 percent of the production of major
crops, while working on less than 25 percent of the farmland. While in the US, family
farmers produce 84 percent of all produce working on 78 percent of all farmland.
World Food Day (WFD)

World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16 October globally in honor of the date
of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
in 1945. The day is celebrated widely by many other organisations concerned with
food security including the World Food Programme and the International Fund for
Agricultural Development.
World Food Day was established by FAOs Member Countries at the 20th General
Conference of FAO in November 1945. The Hungarian Delegation suggested the idea
of celebrating the WFD worldwide during the General Conference.
Since then, it is being observed every year in more than 150 countries, raising
awareness of the issues behind poverty and hunger. World Food Day was first held
on 16 October 1981.
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International Day for the Eradication of Poverty observed on 17
October
17 October: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was observed across the world on 17
October 2014. The theme for the day was Leave no one behind: think, decide and act
together against extreme poverty.
The 2014 theme recognises and underscores the demanding challenge of identifying
and securing the participation of those experiencing extreme poverty and social
exclusion in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which will replace the Millennium
Development Goals.
The day was observed to promote peoples awareness on the need to eradicate
poverty and destitution worldwide.
Actions performed to observe the day includes

The official commemoration on 17 October at UN Headquarters in New York was
organised in partnership with the International Movement ATD Fourth World, the NGO
Sub-committee for the Eradication of Poverty and the UN Department of Economic
and Social Affairs, supported by the Missions of France and Burkina Faso to the UN.
The commemoration was done to recognize people living in poverty as critical
partners for fighting the development challenges we face.
Earlier, on 16 October 2014, a panel discussion was organised at the United Nations
Headquarters titled, Beijing+20 - Leaving No One Behind: Women, Poverty, and
Participation. The discussion was organised to explore the disproportionate effects
of poverty on women and womens contributions to ending poverty.
About International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is being observed annually since
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1993, the year when the United Nations General Assembly, by resolution 47/196,
designated this day to promote awareness on the need to eradicate poverty and
destitution in all countries.
Apart from this, fighting poverty remains at the core of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) and the development of the post-2015 development agenda.
Global Handwashing Day observed across the world on 15

October
Global Handwashing Day (GHD) was observed across the world on 15 October 2014.
Theme for 2014 GHD is Clean Hands Save Lives.
GHD is a campaign to motivate and mobilize millions around the world to wash their
hands with soap as handwashing with soap is a key approach to disease prevention.
Handwashing with soap is the most effective & inexpensive way to prevent diarrheal
& acute respiratory infections, which take the lives of millions of children in developing
countries. Together, they are responsible for the majority of all child deaths.
About Global Handwashing Day (GHD)

Global Handwashing Day (GHD) was created at the annual World Water Week 2008
held in Stockholm from 17 to 23 August 2008. The purpose for creation of the day
was to initiate the Public Private Partnership for Handwashing (PPPHW).
The first Global Handwashing Day took place on 15 October 2008, the date that
was appointed by the UN General Assembly in accordance with year 2008 as the
International Year of Sanitation. The theme for Global Handwashing Days inaugural
year was Focus on School Children.
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Third International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) was observed
across the world
Third International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) was observed across the world on 11
October 2014. The theme was Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of
Violence.
The theme of IDGC was selected in recognition of the importance of investing in and
empowering girls during adolescence and preventing and eliminating the various
forms of violence they experience.
On this day, Governments, the UN system, civil society, and public and private
institutions were called on to join forces and reaffirm their commitment to end the
scourge of violence against adolescent girls and to promote their empowerment by
Investing in adolescent girls to equip them with skills, confidence, and life options:
through family, schools, technical and vocational education and training, and
health, social and economic support systems
Making infrastructure, services, and technology accessible to girls and effective in
meeting their needs for safety, connectivity and mobility
Facilitating adolescent girls engagement in civic, economic and political life
Continuing to advocate for making violence against girls and women visible and
unacceptable both in private and public domains
Strengthening data, measurement and the evidence base in relation to the
empowerment of and violence against adolescent girls
In India, as a part of IDGC, PM Narendra Modi invited ideas on Beti Bachao, Beti
Padhao, exhorted the people of India to pledge to create an atmosphere for equality
for the girl child and to end gender-based discrimination in India.
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About International Day of the Girl Child
The United Nations adopted a resolution in 2011 and designated 11 October as
International Day of the Girl Child for promoting the rights of girls and addressing the
unique challenges they face.
IDGC is intended to draw attention to the uncontested fact that everywhere in the
world girls face some sort of discrimination.
The first IDGC was observed in 2012 with the theme Ending Child Marriage and the
second IDGC was observed in 2013 with the theme Innovating for Girls Education.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrated 82nd Air Force Day in New Delhi on 8 October
2014.
Air Force Day started with a grand parade and an air show at Hindon Air Force
Station in New Delhi. The parade commenced with spectacular fly past comprising
of Mi-17, Mi-25, Mi 35 helicopters and three C-130J Hercules aircrafts.
The fly past also comprised aircrafts like the MIG-21, MIG-29, Sukhoi-30 MKI,
Globemaster, Hercules and Mirage 2000 which performed various daring manoeuvres
like dolphin, cross over, lower, closer and double crisscross mid-air, mesmerising the
audience.
Navy Chief Admiral RK Dhowan, Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag and former
cricketer Sachin Tendulkar attended the parade. Sachin Tendulkar was conferred
with the honorary title of Group Captain in 2010 and was the first person with no
aviation background to get the honour.
About Air Force Day

The Air Force Day is observed because Indian Air Force was officially established on
8 October 1932. It was then called Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF). After India became
a Republic in January 1950, the prefix Royal was dropped to rename it as Indian Air
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Force.

9 October: World Post Day
World Post Day was observed globally on 9 October 2014. This day is observed
to create awareness of the role of the postal sector in peoples and businesses
everyday lives as well as its contribution to the social and economic development of
countries.
On this day, various programme and activities were undertaken with an aim to
generate awareness of their Posts role as well as activities among public and media
on a national scale.
Across the world, the day was celebrated in variety of ways and they include
In certain countries, World Post Day was observed as a working holiday
In some countries, the day was used by Many Posts as an event to introduce or
promote new postal products and services
Some Posts also used World Post Day to reward their employees for good service
In some countries philatelic exhibitions were organized and new stamps and date
cancellation marks are issued.
World Post Day celebrations in India

In India, the day will be celebrated as a part of the National Postal Week which will
continue till 15 October 2014. This week is observed in different forms and they are
10 October will be the Savings Bank Day
11 October will be the Mails Day
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13 October will be Philately Day
14 October will be observed as Business Development Day
15 October will be observed as Personal Life Insurance Day when insurance
claims settlement will be given priority with the name to bring down pendency in
claims settlement to zero.
On all these days school children will be involved to educate them on functioning of
the Postal Department. Customer Forums meeting will also be held in various postal
circuits.
About World Post Day

The day is observed annually on the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal
Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern.
Universal Postal Union Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969 declared a day to be
observed as the World Post Day. Since that declaration, the day is being observed
and celebrated in different countries across the world.
At the time of establishment in 1874, UPU had 22 founding member countries but at
present it has 192 member countries.

First Monday of October: World Habitat Day
United Nations celebrated World Habitat Day on 6 October 2014. The United Nations
has designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day.
The theme of 2014 World Habitat Day is Voices from Slums.
Each year, World Habitat Day takes on a new theme chosen by the United Nations.
Theme was based on current issues relevant to the Habitat Agenda. The themes
are selected to bring attention to UN-Habitats mandate to promote sustainable
development policies that ensure adequate shelter for all.
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The World Habitat Day 2014 campaign aims to recognize life in slums and give a
voice to slum dwellers for improving quality of living conditions in existing slums.
About World Habitat Day

World Habitat Day was established in 1985 by the United Nations General Assembly
through Resolution 40/202. It was first celebrated in 1986.
The purpose of World Habitat Day is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities,
and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter.
It is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility
to shape the future of our cities and towns.

World Animal Day was observed across the world on 4 October 2014. Unofficially
also known as World Animal Lover Day is observed to pay tribute to all animals and
people who loves animal and respect them. The Day is observed across the world
in different ways irrespective of their nationality, faith, religion and political ideology.
The World Animal Day is observed with an aim to improve animal welfare standards
across the world through support and involvement of individuals, groups and
organisations that care about animals. The day is unique in itself as its celebration
unites the animal welfare movement around the world, embracing all animals and the
unique concerns of each and every country.
World Animal Day

World Animal Day was started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence, Italy
as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. 4 October was chosen as
a day as it is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
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MISCELLANEOUS
President Pranab Mukherjee released postage stamp on
Anagarika Dharmapala
President Pranab Mukherjee on 25 October 2014 released a commemorative postage
stamp on Sri Lankan Buddhist monk Anagarika Dharmapala. Dharmapala is credited
to have revived Buddhism in India in the 19th century.
Earlier, the Sri Lankan government released the commemorative postage stamp on
150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda where the Sri Lankan government
shared the idea of a postage stamp on Dharmapala.
Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala was one of the founding contributors of Sinhalese Buddhist
nationalism and was also a pioneer in the revival of Buddhism in India. He not only
embraced Buddhism but also lent it Sinhalese nationalist character.
In 1891, Anagarika Dharmapala went on a pilgrimage to the Mahabodhi Temple at
Bodh Gaya where Lord Buddha had attained enlightenment. He decided to work
towards restoring its glory.
Accordingly, the Maha Bodhi Society at Colombo was founded in 1891. Dharmapala
joined the Theosophical Society and spearheaded the reform and revival of
Ceylonese Buddhism and its propagation.
In 1893 Dharmapala attended the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago as a
representative of Southern Buddhism which was the term applied at that time to
the Theravada. There he met Swami Vivekananda.
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He later entered the order of Buddhist monks as Venerable Sri Devamitta
Dharmapala and is considered a Bodhisattva in Sri Lanka. He was predestined as
a bhikkhu at Sarnath in 1933 and died there in December 1933.

Tihar Jail Authority on 21 October 2014 set up an e-library for women inmates in
Tihar jail. The move is a part of initiatives taken by the jail administration to train the
inmates and help them find jobs so that they may not revert to criminal activities.
The library is aimed at helping the women inmates to sharpen their technical skills,
besides, providing education and entertainment.
E-library or e-learning will make the inmates get used to computer applications and
become tech-savvy. The e-library will go a long way in equipping women inmates
with requisite skills and knowledge so that they can enter into job market after their
prison terms.
Srilankan President Yal Devi Express flagged off from Palai after
25 years
Srilankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 13 October 2014 flagged off Yal Devi
Express from Palai after 25 years. The train will be extended to Jaffna.
The India Railway Construction International (IRCON) has now completed the
restoration of the railway lines from Palai to Jaffna. IRCON is an Indian railway
subsidiary.
The Jaffna railway station features many modern facilities including novel
communication electronic signal system.
Currently, Yal Devi is running between Colombo and Palai. Four trains will be deployed
from Jaffna to Colombo and Colombo Fort to Jaffna. The Yal Devi will cost 360 rupees
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for the 3rd class and 600 rupees for the 2nd class.
Background
The rebuilding of the track began in March 2011 and was carried out in stages. The
work took a full three years, with workers on the 146-km (91-mile) single track.
The services of the trains to the northern peninsula of Jaffna ground was halted 25
years ago after dozens of passengers were killed in attacks by guerrillas seeking an
independent homeland for Sri Lankas minority Tamils.
The railway was ripped up to make bunkers after a truce between the Tamil Tiger
rebels and government forces collapsed and fighting erupted in June 1990.
Reopening the railway was a priority to allow reconstruction materials to be brought
into the area devastated by years of war and restore a key lifeline to Jaffna which is
also the political capital of the Northern Province.
Prime Minister connected to people over radio with programme,

Mann Ki Baat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 3 October 2014 addressed the countrymen over
radio for the first time in his programme Mann Ki Baat. Mann ki Baat is a new initiative
of Modi to reach out to maximum populace
In his address, he advocated for use of Khadi products as homage to Mahatma
Gandhi and said that the use of Khadi at least as a handkerchief or bed sheet would
benefit poor and light the lamp of prosperity in their house. He also impressed upon
people to generate confidence among them including the specially-able children.
He cited two examples so that people can shed despondency and use their skills for
betterment and prosperity of the country. The examples were a short story of Swami
Vivekananda about how a lion brought up by sheep rediscovered his prowess after
coming in touch with another lion.
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He promised to make such radio broadcast a regular affair and invited ideas from the
citizens while noting that he had been receiving a number of suggestions since it was
announced that he would be addressing the nation over radio.
History of Radio talks by leaders

The radio talks were first started by the US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He started
the process of communication with his countrymen to deal with the effects of the 2nd
World War and economic downfall in US. Historians have categorized Roosevelts
programme as relief, recovery and reform. In this relief meant for unemployed people,
recovery meant boosting the economy back to normal and reform meant long-term
fixes of what was wrong mainly in terms of financial and banking systems.
Further, the process was once again started by President Ronald Reagan in 1982. At
present, President Barack Obama every week communicates with his countrymen
through a video chat.
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WORLD DAIRY
October 2014
1 October 2014
Maryland University Researchers developed a tool to predict how organisms
respond to climate change
24th International Day of Older Persons observed across the world
2 October 2014
3 October 2014
US partially lifted 40 year ban on arm sales to Vietnam to boost defence in South
China Sea
Scientists at Ohio State University developed worlds first rechargeable solar
battery
EU Competition Commission approved Facebook WhatsApp deal worth 19
billion US dollar
4 October 2014
17th Asian Games Incheon 2014 held in South Korea
Shah Rukh Khan received Global Diversity Award 2014 at the House of Commons
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5 October 2014
6 October 2014
John OKeefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser named for 2014 Nobel Prize
in Physiology
New York Times issued Apology for Racist Cartoon on Indias Mars Mission
French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi met with an accident during Japanese
GP
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg granted an honorary Knighthood
World Bank released South Asia Economic Focus report
USA Swimming suspended Olympic champion Michael Phelps for 6 months
Researchers developed a technology that makes visible the movements of HIV
virus
Anbang Insurance Group Co Ltd acquired New York luxury hotel Waldorf Astoria
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7 October 2014
Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace authored by Leon
Panetta and Jim Newton released
Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura won 2014 Nobel Prize for
Physics
8 October 2014
Eric Betzig, Stefan W Hell and William E. Moerner won the 2014 Nobel Prize for
Chemistry
Pratima Dharm appointed as the first Hindu priest at Georgetown University
Syntheism Creating God in The Internet Age authored by Alexander Bard released
ATSB released Flight Path Analysis Update on lost Malaysian plane MH370
ICC banned Zimbabwe bowler Prosper Utseya and Bangladeshi bowler Sohag
Gazi for illegal action
Super-Resolved Fluorescence Microscopy: Surpassing the limitations of the light
microscope
9 October 2014
Bio Cremations: environment friendly alternative to cremate human body
French author Patrick Modiano won the 2014 Nobel Prize for Literature
WB group launched Global Infrastructure Facility in partnership with institutional
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investors
Italian court cleared the ex-CEOs of Finmeccanica of corruption charges in VVIP
chopper scam
US Department of Defence approved two technology transfer licenses to India
Cipla Medpro signed collaboration pact with Teva for selling drugs in South Africa
10 October 2014
Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai won the Nobel peace prize 2014
India and UK government launched UK-India Financial Partnership
11 October 2014
Third International Day of the Girl Child observed across the world
12 October 2014
Turkey to allow US led coalition to use its Incirlik Air Base to fight against ISIS
British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton won inaugural Russian Grand Prix
Amazon and Future Groups signed deal to jointly sell goods online
13 October 2014
Uranus like planet discovered in a binary star system 25000 light-years away
Time released its annual list of The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014
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British House of Commons passed symbolic motion to recognise Palestinian state
14 October 2014
Pakistan based BGA appealed to IPAB against GI tag of basmati rice to MP
India-Norway signed 13 agreements to promote bilateral relations
15 October 2014
Vanita Gupta appointed as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in DoJ of
US
Tamil poet Iqbal named for Singapores highest cultural award, Cultural Medallion
Switzerland to provide information on black money in time-bound manner
India and UK signed MoU on Cultural Cooperation
16 October 2014
Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela elected as non-permanent
members of UNSC
RBI & CBK signed MoU on Supervisory Cooperation and Exchange of Supervisory
Information
Indian-born scientist Sanjaya Rajaram received World Food Prize 2014
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17 October 2014
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty observed on 17 October
18 October 2014
South African Tourism launched Gandhi-Inspired Tourist Attraction project
Egypt signed contracts with six international firms to dredge new Suez Canal
UNSC urged world to step up help for Iraq to halt militants offensive
19 October 2014
20 October 2014
US tightened its guidelines for health workers treating patients with Ebola virus
India and China agreed to set up hotline between their army headquarters to curb
incursions
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Yuko Obuchi resigned
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21 October 2014
Anita M Singh appointed as Chief of Staff of NSD in US Justice Department
Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day observed on 21 October
22 October 2014
Google announced changes to its search engine to curb online piracy
Indian-origin Sahil Doshi won 2014 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist
Challenge
International Stammering Awareness Day observed across the world
23 October 2014
Canadas parliament attacked
24 October 2014
A C N Nambiar described as a Soviet spy by declassified documents of National
Archives
United Nations Day observed across the world on 24 October
International Polio Day observed across the world
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25 October 2014
EU doubles assistance to combat Ebola to 1 billion euros
26 October 2014
UK and the US ended combat operations in Hemland province of Afghanistan
Dilma Rousseff re-elected as Brazil President for second four-year term
Former mushroom and poultry farmer Leah Kalanguka crowned as Miss Uganda
2014
Sania Mirza and Cara Black won doubles title of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals
Singapore
Serena Williams won the Singles title of BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore 2014
27 October
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage observed globally on 27 October
Union Government launched website for Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana
28 October
Cargo rocket Antares of NASA carrying supplies to ISS exploded after launch
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UNICEF released a report on child poverty titled Children of the Recession
Sir Schindler Nicholas Winton awarded Order of the White Lion of Czech Republic
Amitabh Bachchan summoned by US court for instigating violence during 1984
riots
World Economic Forum released Global Gender Gap Report 2014
29 October
International Internet Day observed globally on 29 October
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami sentenced to death for
war crimes
World Bank released Doing Business 2015: Going Beyond Efficiency Report
ECI elected as Chair of General Assembly of AAEA for the next two years
51 countries signed pact in tax evasion crackdown
Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh inducted into Don Bradman Hall of Fame
30 October
Deeper integration for peace, prosperity chosen as the theme for 18th SAARC
Summit
Protestors set ablaze Parliament of Burkina Faso against vote to allow President
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another term
Sweden became the first European Union country to recognize the State of
Palestine
31 October
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INDIA DAIRY
October 2014
1 October 2014
Union MNRE signed MoU for setting up first-ever Offshore Wind Power Project in
India
National Voluntary Blood Donation Day celebrated across the country on October
2 October 2014
ki Aur
West Bengal government constituted task force to probe into Burdwan blast
3 October 2014
Prime Minister connected to people over radio with programme, Mann Ki Baat
4 October 2014
Chennai Super Kings won 2014 Champions League Twenty20 title
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5 October 2014
TS GENCO and BHEL signed MoU for power generation in Telangana
6 October 2014
ASKeA in Tonk district decided to end its 150 year old tradition of sacrificing camel
Madhava Menon panel submitted its report with guidelines on government ads
DIPP approved 33 defence proposals
7 October 2014
President of India presented the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award 2014
Union Government launched year-long birth centenary celebrations of Ghazal
singer Begum Akhtar
Union Government launched attendance.gov.in website to monitor attendance of
staff
Union Science and Technology Minister launched microscope with 3-D feature
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8 October 2014
Railways Revenue earnings up by over 12 percent during April 2014 - September
2014
Union Government to sell LED bulbs at 10 rupees against 400 rupees
Union Government launched Pashmina Promotion Programme (P-3)
GOLIL tied up with Mahindra & Mahindra Limited for supplying lubricants
9 October 2014
Book titled A Man and A Motorcycle written by Bette Dam on Hamid Karzai
launched
Actor Aamir Khan appointed as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia
Kundu Committee on Post Sachar Evaluation submitted its report to the Union
government
DIPP constituted a special team Japan Plus to fast track Japanese investments
10 October 2014
Gujarat government set up SPV to promote Vadodara as Cultural capital
International edition of Encyclopedia of Hinduism by India Heritage Research
Foundation released
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Month-long Akashdeep ritual started in Varanasi to honour fallen soldiers
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg arrived New Delhi
JP Morgan cut India 2014-15 growth forecast to 5.1 percent from 5.3 percent
Union MoUD constituted 17-member Committee on decongesting roads of New
Delhi
Union Health Minister launched National Mental Health Policy of India
GGSS School of Hisar won the U-17 Girls title of 55th Subroto Cup Football
tournament
Bombay High Court ruled in favour of Vodafone in 3200 crore rupees tax case
Karnataka government prohibited strike at Bosch plant in Bangalore
11 October 2014
Poet-diplomat Abhay K honoured with Asia-Pacific Excellence Award
Union Ministry of S&T launched The Maithreyi International Visiting Professorship
Prime Minister launched Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana to realise Gram Swaraj
12 October 2014
Union Finance Minister to set inflation targets for RBI
JagranJosh.com MBA Champion Competition Launched
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13 October 2014
Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rafting Expedition on River Siyom, Arunachal Pradesh
Mary Kom voted as Indias Most Valuable Player in Asian Games 2014
Tata Value homes launched www.tatavaluehomes.com to sell homes online
14 October 2014
Union Ministry of H&FW banned the import of animal tested cosmetics in India
Exports increased 2.73 percent in September 2014: Union Ministry of Commerce
JagranJosh.com MBA Champion Competition Launched
Union Finance Ministry approved 25 FDI proposals with total investment of 1546
crore rupees
IOC to invest 4 billion US dollar in British Columbia, Canada to source LNG
Kotak Mahindra Bank launched Facebook-based funds transfer platform KayPay
IMImobile Ltd acquired UK-based mobile messaging platform TxtLocal Ltd
15 October 2014
Sadiq, a 10-year-old terminally ill boy, became Hyderabads police commissioner
for a day
Union Ministry of S&T launched a Joint Indo-Canadian Science Programme
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Karnataka Lokayukta ordered probe into misuse of 32 crore rupees funds for
afforestation
IndiGo signed a MoU to buy 250 A320neo planes from Airbus Group
16 October 2014
ACC approved appointment of Rajiv Mehrishi as the Union Finance Secretary
ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan announced to launch GSLV Mark-III in 45 days
DoPT amended the selection procedure for the post of chief of CVC
Union government launched Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Karyakram
Government to import potatoes for 1st time to check rising prices
ISRO re-positioned Mars Orbiter, Mangalyaan to save it from Comet Siding Spring
17 October 2014
India successfully test-fired nuclear capable Nirbhay cruise missile
Union Home Ministry announced to rename 12 cities and towns of Karnataka
18 October 2014
Union Government launched Jammu Kashmir Arogya Gram Yojna Farming scheme
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in J&K
Union Cabinet approved inter-governmental MoU to upgrade Chabahar port of
Iran
19 October 2014
Five year old Indian boy Harshit Saumitra become the youngest to reach the EBC
Union Government decided to re-launch Direct Benefit Transfer scheme
Indian batsman Virat Kohli claimed number two slot in the ICC rankings
BJP emerged as the largest party in the 2014 Assembly Elections of Maharashtra
BJP won the Assembly Elections of Haryana; secured majority for the first time
20 October 2014
Uttarakhand Cabinet approved reconstruction of Kedarnath temple area
Union Government constituted Vishwanathan committee to provide Bankruptcy
code for SMEs
21 October 2014
BCCI decided to initiate legal proceedings against WI Cricket Board
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Current Affairs
Government ordered merger of NSEL with its holding company FTIL
22 October 2014
AIBA provisionally suspended Sarita Devi and her coaches for Asian Games
incident
23 October 2014
24 October 2014
J&K Minister Sham Lal Sharma resigned
Ashwika Kapur won 2014 Panda Award for her film on a Kakapo parrot
25 October 2014
Union MoD cleared the deal worth 8000 crore rupees to buy anti tank missiles
from Israel
President Pranab Mukherjee released postage stamp on Anagarika Dharmapala
380
Current Affairs
26 October 2014
Delhi HC issued notice to AGI to suggest ways to reform the Indian Easement Act
of 1882
Jairam Ramesh designated as the head of Future Earth Engagement Committee
Para-swimmer Sharath Gayakwad broke 28-year old record of P T Usha at Asian
Para Games
27 October
Biography of Muhammad Iqbal titled Iqbal: The Life of a Poet, Philosopher and
Politician released
Sandeep Saxena appointed as the new Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu
Union Government disclosed names of black money account holders in an affidavit
to SC
Union Government scrapped ongoing selection process of CMDs, EDs in PSBs
Japanese telecom giant Softbank announced to invest 627 million US dollar in
Snapdeal
Emaar MGF Land Limited tied up with PayU India for its online payment service
381
Current Affairs
28 October
Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar elected VP of Asia Broadcasting Union
ING Vysya Bank CEO Shailendra Bhandari resigned
Surya Prakash appointed as Chairman of Prasar Bharti Board
Sudhir Maheshwari announced to resign from ArcelorMittal
Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana
Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced TB-Mission 2020
Supreme Court rapped Union Government over delay in Delhi government
formation
India and Vietnam signed seven Memoranda of Understandings
India to modernise Vietnams defence forces
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry joined hands with Hannover Milano
Fairs India
SunEdison signed MoU with Rajasthan Government to set up 5000MW solar
projects
NRI investors sue ICICI Venture over losses
29 October
Richest man of Japan Masayoshi Son announced his biggest ever investment in
India
Union Government submitted a list of 627 Indians holding black money abroad to
SC
382
Current Affairs
30 October
Union Government decided to include LoP in the Lokpal Selection Panel
Government announced 5 lakh rupees compensation to kin of 1984 Sikh riots
victims
31 October
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas observed on 31 October to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Sardar Patel
Foundation for Worlds tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel laid in Gujarat
383
Current Affairs
ONE LINERS
October 2014
Union government accorded in-principle approval for setting up six more STPIs
in - Odisha
In Uttar Pradesh, an army chopper that crashed in Bareilly killed three officials
including - two Majors and a pilot
The Reserve Bank of India relaxed Know Your Customer (KYC) norms by allowing
- self-certification of documents for opening bank accounts
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched - Swachh Bharat (Clean India) campaign
Thirty two people were killed in a stampede that occurred at the main Dussehra
event at - Gandhi Maidan in Patna
Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rafting Expedition was conducted on the - Siyom River in
West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the countrymen over radio for the first
time in his programme - Mann Ki Baat
World Animal Day was observed across the world on - 4 October
Rajasthan became first Indian state to start olive refinery that is located in Lunkaransar area of Bikaner
NASAs Earth Observatory claimed that worlds fourth-largest lake has dried and
is at the verge of vanish - Aral Sea
ISIS militants beheaded British aid worker - Alan Henning
In Cricket Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won - the Champions League Twenty20
(CLT20) 2014 title
Bollywood actor who 2014 received Global Diversity Award 2014 at the Britains
House of Commons - Shah Rukh Khan
384
Current Affairs
Researchers at University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences
Appalachian Laboratory have developed a tool to overcome the major challenge
of predicting - how organisms may respond to climate change
A reputed newspaper of United States that issued an apology to its readers for its
racist cartoon on Indias Mars Mission - The New York Times
USA Swimming suspended Olympic champion swimmer from all competition for
six months for violating the organizations code of conduct - Michael Phelps
Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the co-owner of the Indian
Super League franchise - Chennaiyin FC
Britain and Ireland inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on - new joint
Visa cooperation
The Mauritian parliament was dissolved to pave the way for elections that could lead to changes in the countrys constitution
Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh launched the ingeniously
manufactured - Broad Spectrum Confocal Microscope that generates 3D images
of objects
Madhava Menon panel submitted its report to Supreme Court with guidelines on
- government ads
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was bestowed an honorary knighthood
from - Queen Elizabeth II
A book titled Syntheism Creating God in The Internet Age is authored by Alexander Bard
Georgetown Universitys first Hindu priest (Chaplain) is - Pratima Dharm
Author of book Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace - Leon
Panetta, and Jim Newton
World Post Day was observed globally on - 9 October
Chairperson of Sangeet Natak Akademi who tendered her resignation - Leela
385
Current Affairs
Samson
The US Department of Defence, Pentagon, approved - two previously-stalled
technology transfer licences to India
Roger Federer won his maiden ATP Shanghai Masters trophy by defeating - Gilles
Simon
Cyclonic Storm Hudhud that struck the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and
Odisha. Its name was kept on the national bird of Israel - Hoopoe bird
Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) removed former IPL Commissioner - Lalit
Modi as its President
National Kishore Kumar Award for 2012-13 was conferred on noted lyricist Sameer
Indian shuttler who won the 50000 dollar Dutch Open Grand Prix badminton
tournament - Ajay Jayaram
According to contingent sponsors Samsung India Most Valuable Player of Indias
Incheon Asian Games campaign was - MC Mary Kom
British lawmakers voted in favour to recognise Palestine as - an official state
Scientists from the Australian National University (ANU) based in Canberra found
that the sea levels have risen more in past century - as compared to any century
in past 6000 years
Germanys President honoured the bravery of peaceful protesters - who stood up
to the communist dictatorship in East Germany 25 years ago
Australian author Richard Flanagan won the 50000 pounds Man Booker Prize for
his wartime novel - The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Global Handwashing Day (GHD) was observed across the world on - 15 October
Author of book, Final Test: Exit Sachin Tendulkar - Dilip DSouza
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was observed across the world
on - 17 October
386
Current Affairs
India and Norway signed 13 agreements during state visit of - President Pranab
Mukherjee
ISRO repositioned its Mars Orbiter, Mangalyaan as a precautionary step against
the expected -Comet Siding Spring that was supposed to fly by Mars
Union Government appointed US-based economist Arvind Subramanian as Chief Economic Advisor (CEA)
Venezuela, Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand and Spain were elected as nonpermanent members of - United Nations Security Council
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved appointment of Rajiv
Mehrishi as - the Union Finance Secretary in Department of Economic Affairs
Indian-origin Singaporean poet and writer who was named for the 2014 Cultural
Medallion, the highest cultural award of Singapore - KTM Iqbal
The Union Urban Development Ministry appointed PSN Rao as the new Chairman
of - the Delhi Urban Art Commission
The Reserve Bank of India signed a pact with the Central Bank of Kenya for Supervisory Cooperation and Exchange of Supervisory Information
Dr. Raghuram Rajan was conferred with - Euromoneys Central Bank Governor of
the Year Award 2014
Britain would use an act to charge citizens who prefer to fight with ISIS insurgents
in Iraq and Syria - Treason Act of 1351
Astronomers in October 2014 discovered a new planet that resembles Uranus in
a binary star system 25000 light-years away near - the constellation Sagittarius
India successfully defended its Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) Under-21 Hockey title
at - Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, Johor Bohru, Malaysia
India was re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) - for
the period of 2015 to 2017
Union Government ordered merger of the scam-hit firm, National Spot Exchange
387
Current Affairs
Ltd (NSEL) with its holding company Financial Technologies India Ltd (FTIL) and
invoked - Section 396 of the Companies Act for the merger
2014 Liberty Medal was conferred at the National Constitution Centre in Philadelphia
to - Malala Yousafzai
Retirement fund body Employees Provident Fund Organisation has started a new
facility to transfer provident funds of foreign employees to - bank accounts in their
own countries
India and China have agreed to step up engagements between their militaries
by setting up hotlines between the Army headquarters - to address incidents of
incursions
The US has tightened its guidelines for health workers who are treating patients
with Ebola virus - calling for new competency training
For abrupt cancellation of their tour to India, BCCI will initiate legal proceedings
against - West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)
The 2014 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge was won by - Sahil
Doshi, an Indian-American student
Ashwika Kapur became the first Indian woman to win prestigious Wildscreen
Panda Award for her film - Sirocco - how a dud became a stud
Noted freedom fighter who worked for Netaji Subhash Chandra Boses Azad Hind
Fauj died after prolonged illness in Almora, Uttarakhand - Jagdish Sharan Pande
Senior Google vice-president who broke the world altitude record for highest freefall parachute jump set by Austrian Felix Baumgartner is Alan Eustace
International Boxing Association (AIBA) provisionally suspended Indian boxer for
protesting against a controversial verdict, at 2014 Incheon Asian Games - Laishram
Sarita Devi
South Africas football captain and goalkeeper who died on 26 October 2014 after
being shot - Senzo Meyiwa
First BJP leader and first non-jay person in 18-years to be sworn-in as the tenth
388
Current Affairs
Chief Minister of Haryana - Manohar Lal Khattar
Sania Mirza of India and Cara Black of Zimbabwe won the doubles title of - the
BNP Paribas Womens Tennis Association (WTA) Finals Singapore
The Union Finance Ministry on 27 October 2014 launched a dedicated website
for - Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana
Brazilian incumbent President was re-elected for her second four-year term - Dilma
Rousseff of center-left Workers Party
68th Infantry Day was observed across India to pay homage to war heroes on - 27
October
Person who was described as a Soviet Spy by the declassified documents of the
National Archives of Britain - Former Indian ambassador, Arathil Candeth Narayan
Nambiar
Telecom giant of Japan that has pledged to make an investment of 10 billion US
dollars in Indias IT and communications sector in coming years - SoftBank
First copy of book titled Tulsi Smriti Granth on Acharya Tulsi was received by - the
President Pranab Mukhejee
Union Finance Ministry canceled the current selection process for the posts of
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) and Executive Director (ED) of - Public
Sector Banks
Union Government submitted list of 627 Indians holding black money abroad to
the Supreme Court (SC) after it was - harshly rapped for providing a protective
shield to account holders
Taiwan banned its government officials from higher studies in mainland China for
- national security reasons
India and Saudi Arabia agreed to cooperate in different areas of - hydrocarbon
sector
2014 Worlds Children Prize was awarded to - Malala Yousafzai
389
Current Affairs
2014 Worlds Childrens honorary awards were given to - Indira Ranamagar and
John Wood
Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh entered - Bradman Hall of Fame
390
Current Affairs
October 2014
DESCRIPTIVE QUESTIONS
1. Answer the following on not more than 50 words
(i) Cargo Rocket Antares
(ii) Rashtriya Ekta Diwas
(iii) Festival of India in Japan
(iv) Border Haat
(v) Hudhud
(vi) Treason Act of 1351
(vii) GSLV Mark-III
(viii) IRNSS-1C
(ix) Bio-cremations
(x) Syntheism
2. Critically analyse the visit of President of Vietnam to India and briefly discuss the
bilateral relationship between India and Vietnam from the perspective of Indias
relation with China.
3. It has often been observed that Nobel Peace Prize has largely been politically
driven and reflects the geo-strategic issues of the present day. Examine the
viewpoint taking into account 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.
391
Current Affairs
4. Write on the following in not more than 200 words
(i) Saansad Adarsh Yojna and Gram Swaraj.
(ii) National Mental Health Policy and Mental Health status in India.
(iii) Supreme Courts view on Lokpal Selection Panel and the Union Governments
response.
(iv) Briefly bring out the Constitutional perspective involved in Government formation
in Delhi.
(v) Critically analyse the new counter-Naxal doctrine.
5. Write on following in not more than 200 words

(i) Growing threat of ISIS and world leaders response. Examine
(ii) 13 agreements signed between India and Norway
(iii) Emergency rule in Burkina Faso
(iv) UN draft resolution on Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Indias stand
(v) Working mechanism on border between India and China. Will it be able to solve
the long standing border issue between India and China?
6. It will take another 81 years for the world to achieve gender equality. Analyse
the statement taking into account 2014 Global Gender Gap Report. Also bring
out the status of India in achieving gender equality.
7. India recently signed 8000 crore rupees defence deal with Israel becoming the
largest importer of arms in the world. Do you think importing of arms will help
India overcome the security and strategic calculus in the region? Compare your
viewpoint vis--vis domestic production of arms in India.
392
Current Affairs
8. Write on following in not more than 50 words.
(i) Kailash Satyarthi
(ii) Arvind Subramanium
(iii) Patrick Modiano
(iv) Masayashi Son
(v) Jawhar Sircar
(vi) Manjul Bhargava
(vii) A CN Nambiar
(viii) Ashwika Kapur
(ix) Anita M Singh
(x) Jean Tirole
9. Write on the following in not more than 200 words.

(i) National Air Quality Index
(ii) Ocean Health Index
(iii) Minamata Convention on Mercury
(iv) New York declaration on Forests
(v) Aral Sea and its present status
10. Union government recently de-regulated diesel price and linked it to the market.
Critically analyse how this move will help solve the problem of over-subsidisation
in India and consequently the problem of fiscal deficit.
393
Current Affairs
394
Current Affairs
Offer Price `35
395
Current Affairs
396
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Current Affairs

October 2014 | www.jagranjosh.com

PICK OF THE MONTH

World Economic Forum released Global Gender Gap Report 2014

Union Home Ministry drafted a new counter-Naxal doctrine

Union MoEFCC launched the National Air Quality Index

Union Government approved reforms in Monetary Policy Framework

ISRO successfully launched third navigation satellite IRNSS 1C

Incheon Asian Games 2014

WHO declared Nigeria as Ebola Free country

Ocean Health Index for the year 2014 released

Worlds first womb-transplant baby born to a Swedish woman

SoftBank of Japan to invest 10 billion dollars in India

China overtook US to become the worlds largest economy in PPP terms

India voted against UN draft resolution on NPT

India-Saudi Arabia agreed to cooperate in hydrocarbon sector

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami sentenced to death for

India re-elected to UN Economic and Social Council

Taiwan banned officials from studying in China

51 countries signed pact on tax evasion crackdown

UK and the US ended combat operations in Hemland province of Afghanistan

Dilma Rousseff re-elected as Brazil President for second four-year term

Parliament of Australia lifted ban on facial coverings in Public areas

India and Nepal signed Power Trade Agreement

India re-elected to UNHRC for 2015-2017

Pakistan based BGA appealed to IPAB against GI tag of basmati rice to MP

India, China concluded two-day talks on border mechanism

Joko Widodo sworn in as Indonesia President

South African Tourism launched Gandhi-Inspired Tourist Attraction project

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Yuko Obuchi resigned

Nigeria and Boko Haram sealed deal on freeing girls

Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela elected as non-permanent

India pledged 4 million dollar aid for Gaza reconstruction

India-Norway signed 13 agreements to promote bilateral relations

British House of Commons passed symbolic motion to recognise Palestinian state

Indian Embassy in Kuwait simplified visa procedure

India and UK government launched UK-India Financial Partnership

WB group launched Global Infrastructure Facility in partnership with institutional

US Department of Defence approved two technology transfer licenses to India

October 2014 | www.jagranjosh.com

Mauritian Parliament dissolved for elections

U.S. Supreme Court allowed gay marriage in five more states

UK and Ireland inked single visa deal

Pakistan recorded highest number of polio cases in 14 years

Union Government decided to include LoP in the Lokpal Selection Panel

Minority government can be formed in Delhi: SC

Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced TB-Mission 2020

Union Government launched Jammu Kashmir Arogya Gram Yojna

Union Cabinet approved inter-governmental MoU to upgrade Chabahar port of Iran

Union Government decided to re-launch Direct Benefit Transfer scheme

Union Government started training for Ebola Caregivers

Union government launched Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Karyakram 103

OilMin sets up Talukar panel on delays in gas discovery project of ONGC

Union Government to sell LED bulbs at 10 rupees against 400 rupees

Union Government launched Pashmina Promotion Programme (P-3)

Union Government launched attendance.gov.in website to monitor attendance of

Union Government launched Swachhta Udyami Yojana Swachhta Se Sampannta

Swachh Bharat Mission launched by Narendra Modi