October 2014

OCTOBER 2014

• State Bank of India (SBI), and Export- Import Bank of Korea signed a loan for an Untied Two-Step Line of Credit for a USD 500 million to support Indian companies importing Goods and Services from Korea.
• Government decided to honor boxer Manoj Kumar with Arjuna Award.
• Government decided to honor boxer Manoj Kumar with Arjuna Award.
• Third International Tourism Mart was held in Shillong, Meghalaya.
• Thousands of people in Newyork city did protest against Wall street for climate change in protest named as Flood Wall Street.
• As per govt orders, tobacco producers must now show warning on 85% of packaging on both sides of their Tobacco products.
• USA Navy invented worl'd first Humanless robotic Boat with CARACaS (Control Architecture for Robotic Agent Command and Sensing) Technology.
• UK and Ireland signed agreemnt of use of same short-stay visa for visiting both these countries.
• India provided 1 Million USD help to UN Women (United Nations entity for gender equality and empowerment of women).
• Ban on e-Rickshaw has been lifted off in Capital Delhi.
• Govt started Scheme of Rs.1000 Minimum Monthly pension for the subscribers of EPF (Employee Provident Fund Organization).
• Airline Indigo announced to buy 250 Airbus A320 Aircrafts From USA Based Maker Airbus worth Rs. 26 Billion USD.
• Reserve Bank of India reduced free usage of other bank automated teller machines (ATMs) to 3 per month from 5. Also, number of free Transactions from own bank ATM is also limited to 5 now. Post limit charges are Rs. 20 Transaction.
• To expand financial inclusion,RBI will create a framework for licensing small banks and payment banks to meet credit and remittance needs of small businesses, unorganized sector etc.
• Untold Story of Indian Public Sector” - authored by UD Choubey,
• Lajja has been written by Taslima Nasrim.
• RBI Committee headed by P. J. Nayak recommended for diluting govt stake in public sector banks to below 50 %.
• RBI Committee headed by P. J. Nayak recommended for diluting govt stake in public sector banks to below 50 %.
• World Smile Day - First Friday of October (Oct 3 in 2014).
• 1 Oct - World Vegetarian Day.
• 1 Oct - China's National Day
• 2 Oct - Birth anniversary of M K Gandhi and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji. Declared as International Day of Non-Violence by UN.
• 3 Oct - German Unity Day.
• 4 Oct - World Animal Day.
• 5 Oct - World Teachers Day.
• 6 Oct -World Habitat Day.
• 8 Oct - Indian Airforce Day.
• 9 Oct -World Sight Day and World Post Day.
• 10 Oct - World Mental Health Day and Indian National Postal Day.
• 11 Oct - International Day of the Girl Child.
• 14 Oct - World Standards Day.
• 16 Oct - World Food Day.
• 17 Oct - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
• 23 Oct - Mole Day. Mole-O'Ween is theme for 2014.
• 24 Oct - United Nations Day, World Polio Day and World Development Information Day.
• Latest GDP Growth Rate Predictions for India by Various Financial Agencies ->
• Asian Development Bank - 5.5% (2014-15), 6.3% (2015-16)
• World Bank - 5.6 % (2014-15), 6.4 % (2015-16)
• International Monetary Fund - 5.6 % (2014-15), 6.4 % (2015-16)
• FICCI - 5.6% (2014-15)
• Fitch - 5.6 % (2014-15), 6.5 % (2015-16)
• RBI - 5.5 % (2014-15)
• UNESCAP -
• National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) - 5 % (2014-15)
• China Open Tennis Tournament 2014 ->
• Novak Djokovic (Serbia) won in men's Category by beating Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic).
• Maria Sharapova (Russia) won in Women's Category by beating Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic).
• Indian VIP Visits to Foreign Countries ->
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Visited USA.
• Indian President Pranab Mukherjee Visited Norway and Finland.
• Government launched Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Karyakram to Promote Manufacturing of Several Commidities in India and power up the Make in India Campaign.
• The Marine Cyclone named Hudhud affected Andhra Pradesh and Odisha States. Indian Navy took charge along with NDRF (National Disaster Relief Force) and named it Operation Lahar.
• Nobel Awards 2014 -
• Peace - Kailash Satyarthi (India) and Malala Yousafzai (Pakistan). Kailash is the 10th Nobel Prize Winner from India.
• Economics - Jean Tirole (France)
• Physics - Shuji Nakamura (Japan), Hiroshi Amano (Japan), Isamu Akasaki (Japan)
• Chemistry - William E. Moerner (USA), Eric Betzig (USA), Stefan Hell (Romania)
• Medicine and Phsysiology - John O’Keefe, May-Britt Moser, Edvard Moser
• Literature - Patrick Modiano (France)
• Government started cleanliness campaingn at a large scale with name of 'Swatch Bharat Abhiyaan'.
• After a journey of over 10 months, Indias Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) arrived at Mars on 24 September 2014. India became fourth country to reach mars after USA, Russia and ESA (European Space Agency) and first country to succeed in first attempt. India made it possible at only cost of approx Rs. 450 Crores.
• NASA's MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) reached Mars Orbit on Sep 21, 2014, Three days before India's MOM (Mars Orbiter Mission) Spacecraft Mangalyaan reached Mars Orbit.
• Chinese Province Hong Kong saw a huge protest called Umbrella Revolution to demand complete Democracy led by 18 Year old Joshua Wong.
• Rajiv Mehrishi has been appointed as new Finance Secretary replacing Arvind Mayaram.
• Arvind Subramanian has been appointed as new chief economic advisor in the finance Ministry.
• Actor Aamir Khan has been appointed as United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund's (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador for South Asian region.
• Government has named vigilance commissioner Rajiv as the acting central vigilance commissioner (CVC).
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has named Suresh Prabhu as his sherpa for the G-20 annual summit to be held in Australia.
• Jens Stoltenberg (Norway) has been appointed as 13th Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) headquartered in Brussels (Belgium).
• Rajat Sharma (India TV) has been appointed as chief of news Broadcasters Association.
• Rizwan Akhtar has been appointed as new chief of Pakistan's ISI (Inter Services Intelligence).
• Le Yucheng has been appointed as China's new Envoy to India.
• India's former envoy to United Nations Hardip Singh Puri has been named as secretary-general of The Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM), launched by International Peace Institute (IPI).
• Man Booker Award 2014 -
• Australian Novelist Richard Flanagan has been awarded Man Booker award 2014 for His Novel 'The road to the deep north'
• Defence Scientist and Creator of Brahmos Missile Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai has been given the 15th Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award.
• Noted lyricist Sameer will be honoured with the National Kishore Kumar Award for 2012-13,
• Actor Shahrukh Khan has been honored by Global Diversity Award 2014 by British House of Commons.
• Indian Anoop Jain has been honored by Waislitz Global Citizen Award 2014 for his Acts towards Sanitation works.
• Indian Shakti Devi has been honored by International female peacekeeper award 2014.
• Saiyid Hamid honored by with Sir Ross Masood Lifetime Achievement Award 2014.
• Tang Prize 2014 Conferred -
• Sustainable Development - Gro Harlem Brundtland (Norway)
• Sinology - Yu Ying-shih (China)
• Biopharmaceutical Science - James P Allison of US and Tasuku Honjo of Japan
• The Rule of Law - Albie Sachs (South Africa)
• Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar award 2013 for contribution in scientific research has been given to 10 Scientists.
• Right Livelihood Award 2014 -
• Edward Snowden (USA)
• Alan Rusbridger (UK)
• Asma Jahangir (Pakistan)
• Basil  Fernando (Sri Lanka)
• Bill McKibbben (USA)
• Volcanoes at Mount Ontake (Japan) and Mount Sinabung (Inndonesia) Erupted without Warning.
• Worthy Fights : A memoir of leadership in war and peace has been written by Leon E Panetta.
• A man and the Motorcycle has been written by Pete Ham and is based on Hamid Karzai (Former Afghan President).
• Playing it my way is the autobiography of Sachin Tendulkar.
• 6th Meet of Home Ministers of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Countries held in Nepal. Indian Home minister Rajnath singh participated on India's Behalf.
• Times magazine has named Alok Shetty as Leader of Tomorrow for his actions towards creating houses designs for people living in Slum areas.
• Indian Cricketer Kapil dev has been honored by Lifetime Achievement award by UK Parliament's House of Commons.
• Joseph Clancy has been named as Director of the U.S. Secret Service.
• Sweden became first country to recognize Palestine as a separate nation.
• Rajasthan has Decided to disqualify candidates for Government Jobs who consume any Tobacco Products.
• Narendra Batra has been appointed as chief of Hockey India.
• Foreign VIP Visits to India -
• Bhutan King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Visited India.
• Akihiro Ota, Japan's land, infrastructure, transport and tourism minister Visited India.
• Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg Visited India
• Amazon founder Jeff Bezos visited India.
• Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Muhammad Visited India.
• Estonia became first former soviet nation to approve same sex marriage for Males.
• Nadir patel has been appointed as Canana's new envoy to India.
• Indian Badminton Player Ajay Jayaram won the Dutch Open Tournament beating Maulana Mustafa (Indonesia).
• Government constituted a committee under NTPC Chairman Arup Roy Choudhury to study the proposal for using surplus cash of Profitable PSUs to nurse ailing PSUs that can be revived back to health.
• ISRO successfully launched IRNSS 1C, third of seven satellite constellation of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) by Lauch Vehicle PSLV C-26.
• India successfully test fires nuclear cruise missile Nirbhay with strike range more than 700 KM.
• Iran has put ban on Viber, Tango and Whatsapp.
• Frank Bainimarama has been appointed as Prime Minister of Fiji.
• John key has been reappointed as prime minister of New Zealand for the Third time.
• International meet on reconstruction of Gaza after Intense Israel-Hamas Conflict held in Cahira (Egypt).
• Powerful Typhoon Vongfong struck southern Okinawan islands of Japan.
• PM Narendra Modi connected to people through Radio with program titled 'Man Ki Baat' to express his views over pressing issues and pass his messages to the common people.
• Supreme Court slashed down the National Tax Tribunal Act as unconstitutional and stated that it interfere upon the power of the judiciary.
• The 3000 MW Dibang hydel project in Arunachal Pradesh has been cleared by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC). It will be india's largest Hydro Power Project.
• Indian Film Liar's Dice has been nominated for Oscar Awards 2014.
• Govt launches Indian New born Action Plan to reduce infant deaths.
• Government approved buying Barak Missiles worth Rs. 1000 Crores from Israel.
• Government Cleared Transmission Connectivity and Grid Connectivity over Border with Nepal to ease mutual electricity trade in future.
• Nepal cleared Indian firm GMR's Proposal to build a $1.4 billion hydroelectric plant in the northwest of the Nepal.
• India Helped Sri Lanka with $800 Million USD to restart rail link to northern peninsula of Jaffna ground.
• G-20 Countries' Finance Ministers Met in Cairns, Australia.
• 3rd Meet of SAARC Countries' Cultural Ministers held in Delhi.
• As per stats issued by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Consumer Price Index based Inflation came down to 6.46 % in September 2014 which is lowest in 2.5 Years, On the other hand, wholesale price index based inflation also came down to 2.38% which is lowest in Five years.
• SEBI has put 3 years ban on Real Estate Major DLF Limited.
• RBI in its Fourth Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Review, Reduced the liquidity provided under the export credit refinance (ECR) facility from 32 per cent of eligible export credit outstanding to 15 per cent. All other key monetary Policy rates kept unchanged.
• Rating Agency Standar and Poor's has upgraded India's Credit Rating from Negative to Stable as a major positive sign for India.
• Chinese Online Retailer Alibaba.com became largest Market Value Online company after its IPO (Initial Public Offering) as it collected funds of $25 Billion USD through Stocks after listing on NYSE (New York Stock Exchange).
• Private sector Bank Kotak Mahindra Bank launched a Facebook-based instant fund transfer service named KayPay to enable users to send money to friends on the social media network .
• Online store Amazon and India's retailer Future Group have signed deal to sell goods Online amid high competition in the sector.
• China tested upgraded version of its 10,000-km range nuclear capable Dongfeng missile.
• United Nations' Climate Summit 2014 held in New York, USA.
• 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP-12) held in South Korea.
• As per recent Satellite images, Aral Sea that existed between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan,has dried up completely.
• Indian pharmaceutical company Cipla to set up Plant in Iran.
• Shanghai Masters Tennis Tournament 2014 -
• Singles - Roger Federer (Switzerland) won by beating Gilles Simon (France).
• Doubles - Bob and Mike Bryan (USA) won by beating Julian Benito (Switzerland) and Edouard Roger Vasselin (France).
• Chennai super kings won the Champions League T-20 Trophy 2014 by beating Kolkata Knight Riders.
• Indian Viswanathan Anand won the Bilbao Chess Masters Final 2014.
• 20th Asian Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championship 2014 held in Mumbai, india. China stayed at the top of tally.
• Indian Amee Kamani won Silver in Australian open Snooker Championship 2014. She lost to Jessica Woods (Australia) in the final.
• First Domestic Indian Football League started with 8 Participant Countries and name 'Indian Super League.
• Delhi Metro has been ranked second among 18 international Metro systems in terms of overall customer satisfaction as per Recent Online surveys.
• India's First Olive Oil Refinery has been set up in Bikaner (Rajasthan).
• Jayalalitha, Former Chief Minister of Tamilnadu has been Imprisoned by State High Court on grounds of corruption charges.
• Tamilnadu Government started Amma Cement Yojana to provide low cost Cement to common households at rate of Rs. 190 / Pakcet as compared to Market rate of Rs.300-350.
• International Tourism Meet held in Himachal Pradesh on Occasion of International Tourism Day on Sep 28.
• Uttar Pradesh Government started a Mahila Samman Kosh Fund with Initial Funding of Rs. 300 Crores to help females in need.
• Uttar Pradesh became first state to implement Road Security Policy and formed a Rs. 100 Crore fund for the same.
• To provide help to victims of crime against women, Nirbhaya centres will be opened in all the districts of Uttar Pradesh.
• Government issued Coins of Rs. 100 and 5 Denominations to commemorate Famous cultural singer Begum Akhtar on her 100t Birthday.
• As per a report by IMF (International Monetary Fund), China has became world's largest economy with $17.4 Trillion Evaluation. US is in second place with $17.4 trillion and India at third with $6 Trillion Evaluation.
• Rajasthan became first Indian state to ratify and implement National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill (NJAC).
• Steam Locomotive 'Akbar' is to recommissioned for Tourism Service to Sariska Tiger Reserves in Rajasthan.
• India and Russian Air Force Joint Exercise Avia Indra-2014 held in Russia.
• India is going to be the partner country at 'Hannover Messe 2015' to be held in Germany.
• National Conference on Agriculture on Rabi Campaign 2014 held in Delhi.
• Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) and Axis Bank signed an agreement for Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) at the Toll Plazas on the National Highways. It will enable vehicles to pay toll automatically without stopping at toll gates.
• Railways set up a committee under Bibek Debroy to recommend steps to mobilise resources for major projects and set up a Rail Tariff Authority.
• PM Narendra Modi Inaugurated a Mega Food Park in Tumkur, Karnataka.
• G Gopalakrishnan Committee on suggested reforms for capacity Building in Banks and Non Banks suggested to have a Common Banking Aptitude test for appointment of higher authorities and have a Chief Learning Officer in the management.
• Europe won the Ryder Cup Golf Tournament 2014.
• USA's Champion swimmer Michael Phillips has been banned by American Olympic Association for 6 Months.
• O Panneerselvam has been appointed as new (17 th) Chief Minister of Tamilnadu.
• Sachih Tendulkar and Steve Waugh choosen for Prestigious cricketers' Panel 'Bradman Honorees'.
• Writer and filmmaker M.T. Vasudevan Nair has been chosen for the Kerala governments J.C. Daniel Award for lifetime achievement in Malayalam cinema for the year 2013.
• Indian Person Pulak Ghosh is appointed as a member of the UN Secretary-General's Big Data Privacy Advisory Group.
• Mahendra Mohan Gupta has been elected as Chairman of Press Trust of India.
• Nehru Gazing at Tomorrow has been written by H R Bharadwaj.
• Government started National Academy for Athletics and National Golf Academy at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• Somalia (Country in Horn of Africa) had its first ever Bank ATM Opened.
• 11th Metropolis World Congress held in Hyderabad, India with theme 'Cities for all'.
• Government Organized 4th International Buddhist Conclave in Bihar to showcase Buddhist heritage and pilgrim sites of India.
• Government started a container shipping service to Myanmar to boost India's Look East Policy.
• Five Major Telecom Providers Teamed up to lay down 8000 KM High Speed Connectivity Through Bay of Bengal called BAY OF BENGAL GATEWAY CABLE SYSTEM (BBG).
• Darjeeling's Makaibari has become most expensive tea in India with Price of $1,850 / kg.
• A 5,000-year-old stepwell has been found in Dholavira (Gujarat) is largest so far and three times bigger than the Great Bath at Mohenjo Daro.
• Gujarat became first state to form Marine Commando Force to protect international boundary.
• Government issued rules for minimum 25 per cent public shareholding in listed govt firms for sale of PSU shares of approx Rs. 60,000 crore over three years.
• Government notified establishment of MANAS (Maulana Azad National Academy of Skills) in Delhi for skill development among Minorities.
• IT Major Microsoft to set up local data centers in India by end of 2015.
• USA Scientists invented first Solar battery that is rechargeable by Air, Light.
• India, Japan,US,China and Canada to jointly make worlds biggest telescope on Hawaii Island named 30-Meter Telescope or TMT.
• As per a recent report, HIV Virus Started from Kinshasa, Capital of African Country Congo.
• Vocalist T. M. Krishna has been chosen for the fifth Indira Sivasailam Endowment Medal and Concert.
• Punjab University won the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy 2013-14 (Highest Inter-University National sports Title).
• State Bank of India (SBI) has issued First Multicurrency International Debit Cards.
• The Gods of Antarctica has been written by 13 Year Old Yashwardhan Shukla.
• The Children Act has been written by Ian McEwan.
• Wolf in White Van has been written by John Darnielle.
• Pratima Dharm has been appointed as first Hindu Priest sat the USA's Georgetown University.
• India's First Semi High-Speed train between Delhi-Agra will be called 'Gatimaan Express'.
• Bangladesh Parliament has been given the right to impeach (Act Against) Supreme Court judges.
• Indian Teenager Neha Gupta Nominated for International Children's Peace Prize 2014.
• Indian Origin Thomas Kailat has received US National Medal of Science.
• Largest Cave by Volume has been found in China's Miao Room cavern.
• Government has imposed anti-dumping duty on sulphur black imports from China.
• After SBI, Largest Private Bank ICICI Bank also allowed children above 10 years to open savings bank account.
• Railways won in male and female categories of National Senior Powerlifting Championships 2014 held in Goa.
• Cramer ball has been appointed as new CEO od Jet Airways.
• Uhuru Kenyatta (Former President of Kenya) has became the first president ever to appear in International court of Justice.
• China to launch a constellation of marine surveillance satellites named HY-3 in 2019 for monitoring ships,oil rigs and marine disasters.
• A Global Investors Summit was organized in Madhya Pradesh to attract Foreign Investors.
• Union Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) constituted a 17-member Committee under secretary in MoUD (Currently Shankr Agarwal) to suggest ways to decongest roads of New Delhi.
• Assam government launched an 'Angel Fund' to help first generation entrepreneurs of the state to start business start-ups.
• World bank released its report titled 'South Asia Economic Focus Report' and predicted 5.4% GDP[ Growth Rate for South Asia in 2014, 6 % in 2015 and 6.4 % in 2016.
• Government started Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Yojana for welfare of people under poverty line in rural and urban areas.