Persons in News
1. Rajiv Takru, a 1979 batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, will be the new Revenue Secretary in the finance ministry. He will replace Sumit Bose on his retirement March 31, 2014.
2. A U.S. grand jury indicted Devyani Khobragade (left) on the same criminal charges contained in the first indictment dismissed by a New York court. A warrant for her arrest has also been issued. The Indian diplomat is charged with visa fraud and making false statements that could together get her a maximum of 15 years in jail if she was ever tried and convicted.
3. A day after the Socialists lost more than 150 towns and cities to the right or far-right in municipal elections, French President Francois Hollande reacted to an electoral rout for his Socialist Party by naming popular Interior Minister Manuel Valls (above) as prime minister.
4. North Korea blasted South Korean President Park Geun-Hye’s proposal on laying the groundwork for reunification through economic exchanges and humanitarian aid as the “daydream of a psychopath”.
5. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca is the new President of the Republic of Malta. She is the second female President of the island nation after 27 years.
6. Taavi Roivas was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Estonia, succeeding Andrus Ansip. At 34, he is the youngest government leader in the European Union.
7. Nobel-winning novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez, (left) considered one of the most important voices of the 20th century, has died at the age of 87 in Mexico City.
Places in News
Seven members of a polling team and five CRPF personnel were among 15 killed as Naxals struck twice in a day, blowing up a bus and an ambulance in Bijapur and Bastar districts of Chhattisgarh. Ten persons, including five paramilitary personnel, were also injured in the two incidents.
Awards & Honours
61st National Film Awards
Best Hindi Film: Jolly LLB
Best Actor: Rajkummar Rao (Shahid, Hindi) and Suraj Venjaramoodu (Perariyathavar, Malayalam)
Best Actress: Geetanjali Thapa (Liar’s Dice, Hindi)
Best Feature Film: Ship of Theseus
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Best Director: Hansal Mehta (Shahid)
Best Supporting Actor: Saurabh Shukla (Jolly LLB)
Best Supporting Actress: Amruta Subhash (Astu) and Aida El Kashef (Ship of Theseus)
Best English Film: The Coffin Maker
Best Location Sound Recordist: Nihar Ranjan Samal (Madras
Best Sound Design: Bishwadeep Chatterjee (Madras
Best Re-recordist of the Final Mixed Track: D. Yuvaraj (Swapaanam, Malayalam)
Best Choreography: Ganesh Acharya (Maston Ka Jhund, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)
Best Songs: Kabir Suman (Jaatishwar)
Best Background Score: Shantanu Moitra (Na Bangaaru Talli, Bengali)
Best Lyrics: Na. Muthukumar (Thanga Meengal, Tamil)
Best Playback Singer (Male): Rupankar Bagchi (Jaatishwar, Bengali)
Best Playback Singer (Female): Bela Shende (Tuhya Dharma Koncha, Marathi)
Best Editing: V. J. Sabu Joseph (Vallinam, Tamil)
Best Production Design: Ashim Ahluwalia, Tabsheer Zutshi, Parichit Paralkar (Miss Lovely, Hindi)
Best Costume Designer: Sabarni Das (Jaatishwar, Bengali)
Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director: Fandry (Marathi)
Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration: Thalaimuraigal (Tamil)
Best Film on Social Issues: Tuhya Dharma Koncha (Marathi)
Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation: Perariyathavar (Malyalam)
Best Children’s Film: Kaphal (Hindi)
Best Non Feature Film: Rangbhoomi (Hindi)
Best Non Feature Film on Social Issues: Gulabi Gang (Hindi, Bundelkhandi)
Best Short Fiction (Non Feature): Mandrake! Mandrake! (Hindi)
Best Direction (Non Feature): Chidiya Udh
Best Environmental Film including Agriculture: Foresting Life (Hindi, Assamese)
Special Jury Awards: Yellow (Marathi) and Miss Lovely (Hindi)
Best Cinematography: Rajeev Ravi (Liar’s Dice, Hindi)
Best Original Screenplay: P. Sheshadri (December I, Kannada)
Best Adapted Screenplay: Panchakshari (Prakruti, Kannada)
Best Dialogue: Sumitra Bhave (Astu, Marathi)
Best Special Effects: Jal (Hindi)
Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Gulzar
Veteran film lyricist, director, screen writer, producer and poet Gulzar (left) has been conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2013. He is the 45th winner of the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award. The award is conferred by the Government of India for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema.
2014 Pulitzer Prizes
Journalism
Public Service: The Guardian US, and The Washington Post, for their coverage of the NSA.
Breaking News Reporting: Staff of The Boston Globe for “its exhaustive and empathetic coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings and the ensuing manhunt that enveloped the city”.
Millennium Technology Prize for Hard Disk pioneer
Prof Stuart Parkin, (left) a British scientist whose work made it possible for hard disks to radically expand in size has been awarded the Millennium Technology Prize. He developed a type of data-reading head capable of detecting weaker and smaller signals than had previously been possible.
Sports
1. India’s swashbuckling opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan has been named as one of the Five Cricketers of the Year, an honour dating back to 1889, by Wisden for his performance in 2013. The 28-year-old Mr Dhawan was the highest run-scorer during India’s triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy, amassing 363 runs in five ODIs at an average of 90.75. He was awarded Man of the Series for his performance that included centuries against South Africa and West Indies.
2. Laureus World Sports Awards 2014
v World Sportsman of the Year: Sebastian Vettel (Motorracing)
v World Sportswoman of the Year: Missy Franklin (Swimming)
v World Team of the Year: Bayern Munich (Football)
v World Breakthrough of the Year: Marc Márquez (MotoGP)
v World Comeback of the Year: Rafael Nadal (Tennis)
v World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Marie Bochet (Skiing)
v World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Jamie Bestwick (BMX)
v Spirit of Sport Award: Afghanistan Cricket Team
v Sport for Good Award: Magic Bus, the sports-based community project in India.
3.Sri Lanka wins T20 World Cup
Sri Lanka lifted their maiden World Twenty20 title at the third time of asking following their six-wicket victory against former champions India at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. With this win, Sri Lanka finally managed to break their jinx of losing the finals of global events, having gone down in the decider of the 50-over World Cup in 2007 and 2011 and T20 World Cup in 2009 and 2012.
4. Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne
Winner: Nico Rosberg (Germany/Mercedes)
Second: Kevin Magnussen (Denmark/McLaren-Mercedes)
Third: Jenson Button (Britain/ McLaren-Mercedes)
Bahrain Grand Prix, Manama
Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Britain/Mercedes)
Second: Nico Rosberg (Germany/Mercedes)
Third: Sergio Perez (Mexico/Force India-Mercedes)
Malaysian Grand Prix, Kuala Lumpur
Winner: Lewis Hamilton (Britain/Mercedes)
Second: Nico Rosberg (Germany/Mercedes)
Third: Sebastian Vettel (Germany/Red Bull-Renault)
TENNIS
2014 Sony Open
Men’s
Winner: Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Runner-up: Rafael Nadal (Spain)
Women’s
Winner: Serena Williams (U.S.)
Runner-up: Li Na (China)
Economy & Business
1. Indirect tax collections grew by 5.6 per cent to `4,41,826 crore in the April–February period of FY14 amid a slowing economy. Total collection of indirect taxes – excise, customs and service tax – in February rose by 5 per cent to `43,794 crore, against `41,714 crore in the same month last fiscal.
2. Fiscal deficit widened to `5,99,299 crore in the April–February period of 2013–14, or 114.3 per cent of the target for the fiscal. The deficit, which is the gap between expenditure and revenue, was 97.4 per cent during April–February a year ago.
3. The Central Government reduced potash subsidy by `3.33 per kg for 2014–15 financial year resulting in saving of `900 crore to the exchequer, but said the move would not lead to increase in retail prices.
4. China’s economic growth slowed further to 7.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2014, showing signs of waning momentum despite reforms, innovation and restructuring by the Chinese leadership to revitalise the world’s second largest economy.
Miscellaneous
1. In a bid to keep detailed tab on various parties’ expenditure for campaigning, the Election Commission (EC) has introduced a single-window clearance system in every state.
2. The school dropout scenario in India is “extremely high” as over 80 million children are not completing the full cycle of elementary education, while eight million are out of school over a period of years, according to UNICEF.
3. Russian ‘invasion’ of Crimea brews crisis in Ukraine
Seeking to ‘stabilise the situation in Ukraine ’, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered partial withdrawal of troops from the eastern border of Ukraine
4. Expedite proceedings against MPs and MLAs in criminal cases, SC orders
In order to expedite proceedings against sitting MPs and MLAs in criminal cases, the Supreme Court set a deadline for lower courts to complete trial in cases involving lawmakers within a year of framing of charges.
5. Rich are getting richer: Gates is richest again!
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates (left) has regained the title of the world’s richest man in Forbes magazine’s annual billionaire list that includes 56 India–based billionaires, led by Reliance Industries Limited Chairman Mukesh Ambani. Mr Gates is back at the top spot after a four-year hiatus, reclaiming the title of world’s richest person from Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim Helu, who had ranked No.1 for the previous four years.
6. Spate of accidents involving Indian Navy ships continues
The Indian Navy suffered yet another mishap with gas leakage in an under-construction warship in the Mazagaon Docks in Mumbai, claiming the life of a Commander and hospitalisation of two dockyard employees.
7. China & Philippines clash over ownership of reef
Tension between China and the Philippines over the ownership of a reef in the disputed South China Sea escalated as Beijing lodged a protest opposing Manila’s plea filed in an international tribunal on the issue.
8. Sri Lanka hails India’s stand on UNHRC resolution
An elated Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa (left) ordered the release of all 98 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody for alleged poaching, a day after India abstained from voting on a U.S.-backed UN resolution censuring Colombo on its human rights record.
9. Outward FDI from India picks up amidst signs of recovery
Outward foreign direct investment from India, which was on slippery road during the past two fiscals, has seen some signs of recovery in the current fiscal with the total deal value touching U.S.$29.34 billion so far, says a report.
10. NABARD rolls out called Joint Liability Group
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is to roll out a new concept called Joint Liability Group (JLG) to provide institutional credit to small farmers like share croppers, oral lessees and agricultural labourers.
11. FDI dips by 3% to U.S.$22 bn in 2013
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in India dipped by 3 per cent to U.S.$22.03 billion in 2013. In 2012, India attracted U.S.$22.78 billion of FDI, according to the data by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).
12. RBI issues new bank licenses for IDFC and Bandhan
Ending days of suspense, the Reserve Bank of India granted banking licences to infrastructure financing firm IDFC and microfinance institution Bandhan from among 25 applicants that included corporate heavyweights ADAG Group, Aditya Birla Group, and Bajaj Group.
13. World Bank projects 5.7% GDP growth for India in 2014
The World Bank said it was cautiously optimistic about economic prospects in South Asia in 2014 because of growing exports and investment as it emphasized that the risks to growth were becoming more domestic, including an increasingly vulnerable banking sector.
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