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VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE

CURRENT AFFAIRS

TNPSC

( MARCH - 2015)

Main Office at

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epr;rak; CURRENT AFFAIRS

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INDEX

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NO

TITLE PAGE

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1. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 1

2. NATIONAL AFFAIRS 9

3. SPORTS 22

4. AWARDS & PERSONALITIES 24

5. UNION BUDGET - 2015 29

6. STATE BUDGET - 2015 32

TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS

www.vetriias.com Page 1

I. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

1. World Wildlife Day observed globally

3 March: World Wildlife Day

The World Wildlife Day was observed on 3 March 2015. The 2015 theme of the day is

Wildlife crime is serious, let’s get serious about wildlife crime.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at its 68th session held on 20 December

2013 decided to proclaim 3 March as World Wildlife Day. The date is the day of the

adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna

and Flora (CITES) in 1973.

2. World’s largest and tallest Indian flag unfurled in Faridabad

World’s largest and tallest Indian national flag was unfurled on 3 March 2015 at Town

Park in Faridabad, Haryana.

3. International Women’s Day 2015 observed with theme Make it Happen

International Women’s Day was observed across the world on 8 March 2015. The theme

for the year 2015 is Make it Happen and it encourages effective action for advancing and

recognizing women.

The theme was declared by United Nations.

1911: At Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured for the first

time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March.

1975: United Nations designated 1975 as International Women's Year

In China, Nepal and Madagascar the official holiday is granted for women only.

4. Solar powered plane Solar Impulse-2 took off to round-the-world odyssey

from Abu Dhabi

The solar-powered plane named Solar Impulse-2 took off to round-the-world odyssey from

Abu Dhabi. This will be the first round-the-world flight powered by solar power.



The aim of this round-the-world voyage is to create awareness about replacing old polluting

technologies with clean and efficient technologies.

About Solar Impulse-2

Solar Impulse is the only airplane of perpetual endurance, able to fly day and night on

solar power, without a drop of fuel.

Solar Impulse-2 is a 2.3 tonne plane with top sped of 87 miles per hour (mph) and can

carry just one passenger and emits precisely zero Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

5. India and Mauritius inked five MoUs to give impetus to bilateral relations

India and Mauritius inked 5 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to give new impetus

to bilateral co-operation between the two nations.

This is the first visit to Mauritius by an Indian Prime Minister in over three decades.

The five MoUs which were signed between the two nations include

MoU in the field of Ocean Economy

MoU on Programme for Cultural Cooperation for the year 2015-18

MoU on the Protocol for the importation of fresh mango from India

MoU for the Improvement in Sea and Air Transportation Facilities at Agalega Island of

Mauritius

MoU on Cooperation in the field of Traditional System of Medicine and Homeopathy

6. India and Seychelles signed four agreements to boost security cooperation

India signed four agreements with the Indian Ocean island nation Seychelles to boost

security and maritime partnership.

The four agreements were signed in following categories:

Cooperation in hydrography

Cooperation in renewable energy

Cooperation in Infrastructure development



Cooperation in Sale of navigation charts and electronic navigational charts Modi also

launched the Coastal Surveillance Radar Project in Seychelles, describing it as another

symbol of the cooperation between the two countries.

7. World Kidney Day 2015 observed with theme Kidney Health for All

World Kidney Day (WKD) was observed globally on 12 March 2015. The theme for the year

2015 is Kidney Health for All.

The day is a global health awareness campaign that focuses on the importance of the kidneys

and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems

worldwide.

World Kidney Day started in 2006.

8. Global CO2 emissions from energy sector stalled for the first time in 40 years

in 2014: IEA

International Energy Agency (IEA) released the data on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

According to it, the global emissions of CO2 from energy sector stalled in the year 2014.

As per the preliminary data released, global emissions of CO2 stood at 32.3 billion tonnes in

2014 which is same as in the year 2013.

9. World Consumer Rights Day 2015 observed with the theme Helping consumers

choose healthy diets

15 March: World Consumer Rights Day

WCRD was first observed on 15 March 1983 and has since become an important occasion for

mobilizing citizen action.

In 2014, WCRD was observed with the theme Fix Our Phone Rights

10. Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of Singapore died

Lee Kuan Yew, the statesman and founding father of Singapore died. Yew, who in 1959

became the first Prime Minister of Singapore, was widely recognised as the founding father

of modern Singapore and also the Architect of Modern Singapore. He transformed

Singapore from a small port city and a malaria-infested backwater to a wealthy global hub.



11. World Sparrow Day observed with the theme I Love Sparrows

20 March: World Sparrow Day

On 20 March 2010, the Indian Postal Department released a stamp of the house sparrow on

20 March 2010.

In 2012, Sparrow was declared as the state bird of Delhi by the then Delhi Chief Minister

Sheila Dikshit.

12. International Day of Forests observed with the theme Forests and Climate

Change

21 March: International Day of Forests

The theme highlights forest-based solutions to address climate change mitigation and

adaptation, and more broadly forests and sustainable development.

21 March was established as the International Day of Forests by the United

Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 28 November 2012. International Day of Forests

was observed for the first time on 21 March 2013.

About Forests and their status

One third of the Earth’s land mass (about 31 percent of global land area) is covered by

forests, which performs vital function around the world and is a home for more than 80

percent of the terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects.

13. World Water Day 2015 observed with the theme Water and Sustainable

Development

In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March as the first World

Water Day.

14. World Meteorological Day 2015 observed with the theme Climate Knowledge

for Climate Action

• 23 March: World Meteorological Day

WMO became the UN's specialized agency for meteorology, operational hydrology and

related geophysical sciences in 1951. It originated from the International Meteorological



Organization (IMO), which was founded in 1873. At present, WMO is represented by 189

member states and territories.

The theme for World Meteorological Day 2014 was Weather and Climate: Engaging Youth.

15. World Tuberculosis Day 2015 observed globally

24 March: World Tuberculosis Day.

The theme for the year 2015 is continuation of the 2014 theme Reach the 3 Million. The

main sub-theme and message for the year 2015 is Reach, Treat, and Cure Everyone.

The WTD is annually celebrated on 24 March to commemorate the day on which Dr.

Robert Koch discovered the cause of tuberculosis, the TB bacillus in 1882. The day aims to

build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to

eliminate the disease.

16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sri Lanka

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi visited Sri Lanka. This was the first bilateral visit by

an Indian Prime Minister to Sri Lanka since 1987.

He also became the first Indian Prime Minister to make journey to Jaffna and Talaimannar

region of Sri Lanka.

17. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Seychelles

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi visited. With this, Modi became the first Prime

Minister of India to visit Seychelles in 34 long years.

During this visit, India and Seychelles signed four agreements to boost security cooperation.

These include agreements on

Cooperation in hydrography

Cooperation in renewable energy

Cooperation in Infrastructure development

Cooperation in Sale of navigation charts and electronic navigational charts



18. Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan

The Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) was held in

Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan from 14 March to 18 March 2015.

India to host seventh Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk

Reduction in 2016

Also, this will be the first AMCDRR to be hosted by India in the post-2015 framework for

Disaster Risk Reduction, though India had hosted the Second AMCDRR in 2007.

The conference in 2016 will be held in collaboration with the United Nations Office for

Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).

Previous Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction

First AMCDRR held in China in 2005

Second AMCDRR held in India in 2007

Third AMCDRR held in Malaysia in 2008

Fourth AMCDRR held in Republic of Korea in 2010

Fifth Asia Ministerial conference held in Indonesia in 2012

19. ISRO won Gandhi Peace Prize 2014

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) won Gandhi Peace Prize 2014.

The Indian space agency successfully launched Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) and at a very

cost effective price of 450 crore rupees. The launch makes India the first Asian country to

enter the Martian sphere of influence.

ISRO became the fourth space agency after National Aeronautics and Space Administration

(NASA) of the US, Russian Federal Space Agency (RFSA) and European Space Agency to

have undertaken a mssion to Mars.

About the Award

The Gandhi Peace Prize for social, economic and political transformation through non-

violence was instituted in the year 1995 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of

Mahatma Gandhi.



Previous recipients of the award includes

Julius K Nyerere, former Tanzanian President (he was the first recipient of the award in 1995)

Nelson Mandela, former South African President

20. Earth Hour 2015 observed globally from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm local time

Earth Hour 2015 was observed globally on 28 March 2015 from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local

time. The tagline for the global campaign was Change Climate Change. This was the ninth

edition of the Earth Hour that started in 2007.

Earth Hour 2015 was observed across 172 nations and territories and around 1400+ iconic

landmarks of the world switched off the lights.

Earth Hour is organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) since 2007 when it was

first observed in Sydney, Australia.

21. WJP released Open Government Index 2015 Report

World Justice Project (WJP) released the Open Government Index 2015.

Out of the 102 countries assessed in the 2015 Index, Sweden topped the list in terms of

openness in the government. It is followed by New Zealand and Norway at second and third

place respectively. Cambodia, Iran, Myanmar, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe are positioned last

in the Index.

The Index used four dimensions namely Publicised laws and government data, right to

information, complaint mechanisms and civic participation to assess openness in

government functioning.

India’s position in the Index

India has been placed at the 37th position in the 2015 Index.

22. China-backed AIIB to be joined by France, Germany, Italy

AIIB: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) reported that France, Germany

and Italy have agreed to join the AIIB after the United Kingdom (UK) decided to join the

bank.



UK was the first Western nation to join the bank disregarding reservations expressed by the

United States (US) which raised concerns over its transparency.

India along with 20 other countries on 23 October 2014 signed an agreement to become the

founding member of the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).



II. NATIONAL AFFAIRS

1. Lok Sabha passed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2015

The Lok Sabha passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2015 . The Bill seeks to amend

the Citizenship Act, 1955 which regulates the acquisition and determination of citizenship

and details registration of Overseas Citizens of India and their rights.

Provisions of the Bill

It allows the Union Government to relax the requirement of 12 months stay or service if

special circumstances exist in cases related to citizenship by registration and

naturalization. Relaxation up to 30 days may be permitted by the government.

It provides additional grounds for registering an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card such

as Minor children whose parent(s) are Indian citizens, spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI/

PIO cardholder subjected to certain conditions, great-grandchild of a person who is a

citizen of another country, but meets one of several conditions of Citizenship Act, 1955.

2. Baldev Sharma appointed as chairman of National Book Trust

Union Ministry of Human Resource Development appointed Baldev Sharma as chairman

of National Book Trust (NBT).

He replaced A. Sethumadhavan

3. Union Railways Ministry launched Customer Complaint Web Portal and

Mobile Application

The Union Railways Minister launched a Customer Complaint Web Portal and Mobile

Application.

This Customer Complaint-cum-Suggestion portal and mobile App can be freely

downloaded and will be useful to track the status of the complaints registered on this

portal with the help of mobile App.

The passengers who want to complain or make any suggestions may download the mobile

App from the URL www.coms.indianrailways.gov.in. The passengers can also file their

complaints and suggestions on the same web page.



4. Union Government and RBI signed an agreement on Monetary Policy

Framework

Bank of India (RBI) signed an agreement on Monetary Policy Framework. The agreement

empowers the RBI to go for inflation targeting that is common in developed countries and

it also empowers RBI to monitor its monetary policy framework.

As per the agreement, RBI will aim to bring down the inflation below six percent by

January 2016 and inflation target for 2016-2017 and subsequent years will be 4 percent +/-

2 percentage points.

5. Rani Mukerji awarded by National Institute of Gender Justice for representing

the cause of women

Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji was awarded with the National Award for the Best

Representation of the Cause of Safety, Security and Protection of Women and Girl Child by

National Institute of Gender Justice (NIGJ).

Rani is the first ever film personality to be felicitated with this prestigious award. She was

awarded for creating awareness about child trafficking in New Delhi.

The past awardees include Anna Hazare, Pratibha Patil, Pandit Jasraj and Mahashweta

Devi.

6. Lok Sabha passed Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2015

Lok Sabha passed the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2015. The Bill will replace the

Insurance Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014.

The Ordinance amends the Insurance Act, 1938 (the Act), the General Insurance Business

(Nationalisation) Act, 1972 and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority

(IRDA) Act, 1999.

Provisions of the Bill

It seeks to remove archaic provisions and incorporate modern day practices emerging

in a changing dynamic environment, which includes private participation.

It hikes Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cap in the insurance sector to 49 percent

from present 26 percent.



It calls for establishment of Life Insurance Council and the General Insurance

Council. They will act as self-regulating bodies for the insurance sector.

7. Prime Minister inaugurated two units of Shree Singaji Thermal Power Project

in Khandwa, MP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two units of 600 Mega Watt (MW) each of

Shree Singaji Thermal Power Project at Dongliya village in Khandwa district of Madhya

Pradesh.

The first phase of Shree Singaji Thermal Power Project with 1200 MW capacity has been

developed by Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Company Limited (MPPGCL) at an

expense of 7820 crore rupees

8. UST Global launched Women’s Safety App iSafe for Thiruvananthapuram City

Police

UST Global has launched women safety App iSafe. It is a mobile-based app for women’s

safety. The app was launched ahead of the International Women’s Day on 8 March.

Through the app, women will be able to send instant alerts to the police control room by

using the panic button or just by the long press of volume rocker (down) key of their

mobile phones. The police control room receives the alert along with information of the

location.

9. Aapki Beti Humari Beti scheme launched in Haryana

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched a scheme for girl child - Aapki Beti

Humari Beti. The scheme was launched with an aim to combat the problem of declining

child sex ratio in the state.

Key Characteristics of the Scheme

Under the scheme, the first girl child born on or after 22 January 2015 in Schedule

Caste (SC) and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families will be eligible to receive 21000

rupees.

The second girl child born on or after 22 January 2015 of all families will also receive

the same amount.



Families where twin girls or multiple girls are born will also get 21000 rupees per girl

child.

The Scheme will be implemented in both rural and urban areas of the state covering

first-born girl child of SC and BPL families all second girl child born on or after 22

January 2015 of all families.

10. First Kisan Call Centre of North-East opened in Agartala, Tripura

First Kisan Call Centre (KCC) of North-East was opened in Agartala, Tripura. KCC was

financed by the Tripura government. It will be run by a private enterprise with experts of

agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and animal husbandry.

The Kisan Call Centre will give immediate solution and real time advisory to farmers if they

need expert consultation regarding seed procurement, agro-metric, fertilizer, soil health,

pesticides usage and marketing of the produces.

11. Maharashtra government started helpline for distressed adolescents

The State Government of Maharashtra started a helpline 18002332688 to address the

social, physical and psychological issues faced by adolescents.

This helpline has been set up under the aegis of National Adolescent Health Programme

(Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram) which was launched on 7 January 2014 as a part

of the National Health Mission.

12. Karnataka clinched eighth Ranji title of cricket

Defending champions Karnataka won their eighth Ranji Trophy title of cricket. In the title

clash played at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, Karnataka defeated Tamil Nadu by an

innings and 217 runs.

13. Union Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers launched Pharma Jan Samadhan

scheme

The Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers Ananth launched the Pharma Jan

Samadhan scheme. It is a web enabled system for redressal of consumers’ grievances

relating to pricing and availability of medicines.



The system was created by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). The

ministry also released Compendium of Ceiling Prices of Essential Medicines 2015 prepared

by NPPA.

Pharma Jan Samadhan scheme

The Pharma Jan Samadhan scheme will put in place a speedy and effective complaint

redressal system with respect to availability and pricing of medicines.

It will serve as a robust e-governance tool for protection of consumers’ interests

through effective implementation of the Drugs (Price Control) Order, 2013.

It will provide consumers with an on-line facility to redress their complaints relating

to over-pricing of medicines, non-availability or shortage of medicines, sale of new

medicines without prior price approval of NPPA, and refusal of supply for sale of any

medicine without good and sufficient reason.

Once the complaint is redressed, NPPA will initiate action on the complaint within 48

hrs of its receipt.

14. Ashu Suyash appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of

CRISIL

Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL) appoint Ashu Suyash as the

Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company.

Her appointment was confirmed by the Board of Directors of the Company.

She will succeed Roopa Kudva and will take charge from June 2015.

15. Supreme Court quashed the Union Government’s decision to include Jats in

the Central OBC list

The Supreme Court of India (SC) quashed the Union Government’s decision to include

Jats in the Central Other Backward Classes (OBC) list.

The SC declared the Union government’s decision as null and void because of the following

reasons:

The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) in its report had rejected the

Union government’s request for recommending inclusion of Jat community in the



central list of backward classes because they do not form socio-economic backward

class. However, the Union Government overlooked the commission’s

recommendation and issued a notification on 4 March 2015 including Jats in the

Central OBC list.

As per the Mandal Commission’s recommendation though Caste is a prominent factor

it cannot be the sole factor of determining the backwardness of a class.

Inclusion of politically organised castes like the Jats in OBC list is not good for other

backward classes.

16. HDFC Bank launched mobile app Chillr to instantly transfer money to any

person in India

HDFC Bank launched a mobile application Chillr that allows customers to instantly

transfer money to any person in India. Chillr is a first-of-its kind application that is linked

directly to customers’ bank accounts and is exclusively for customers of HDFC Bank.

17. Air-to-Air missile Astra successfully test fired from ITR Chandipur in Odisha

Indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile, Astra, was

successfully test fired at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur in Odisha . It was

test-fired aboard a Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft.

The present test was a part of the series of tests planned to test the missile’s subsystems

like propulsion, navigation and guidance and the smooth separation of the missile from the

aircraft, etc.

18. Union Ministry of Environment to launch National Air Quality Index

The National Air Quality Index is a simple, composite, and easy to understand measure of

air quality.

The index will measure the eight major pollutants that impact health - particulate matter

(PM 10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, ammonia

and lead - and disseminate information on associated health risks through a colour-coded

easy to identify format.



19. Amitabh Bachchan roped in as Brand Ambassador for Campaign against

Hepatitis B

Bachchan was roped in as the brand ambassador for India’s fight against Hepatitis B after

his successful stint as UNICEF’s goodwill brand ambassador of pulse polio campaign in

India.

The campaign against Hepatitis B will be launched in April 2015. The campaign is a part of

the Union Government’s ambitious child immunization programme named Mission

Indradhanush, against seven vaccine-preventable diseases.

Besides Hepatitis B, Mission Indradhanush will include diphtheria, whooping cough,

tetanus, polio, tuberculosis and measles. The government aims to achieve the target by

2020.

20. Union Cabinet approved 33% women reservation in police forces of all Union

Territories

The Union Cabinet approved 33 percent reservation for women in police forces of all Union

territories (UTs) including Delhi police, through direct recruitment in non-gazetted posts

like constables to sub-inspectors.

The reservation will also cover reserved categories like SCs, STs and OBCs. The reservation

would apply to all existing vacancies in police forces of the UTs and any vacancy arising

later.

21. Union Cabinet approved Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) to

impart skill training to youth

The Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) with an

outlay of 1500 crore rupees. The programme aims to impart skill training to youth with

focus on first time entrants to the labour market and class 10 and class 12 drop outs.

The scheme will cover 24 lakh persons and skill training would be based on the National

Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and industry led standards.



22. National Action Plan for Skill Training of Persons with Disabilities launched

in New Delhi

National Action Plan for Skill Training of Persons with Disabilities was launched in New

Delhi.

The National Action Plan is a partnership between the Ministry of Skill Development and

Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disability

for skilling 2.5 million Persons with Disability (PwD) over seven years between 2015 and

2022.

23. Supreme Court declared Section 66A of Information Technology Act, 2000 as

unconstitutional

The Supreme Court (SC) of India declared Section 66A of the Information Technology

(IT) Act, 2000 as unconstitutional and struck it down. The section empowers law

enforcement agencies to arrest those who post objectionable content online and provides

for a three-year jail term.

It declared Section 66A as unconstitutional because

It violates the citizens fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression

provided in the Article 19 (1)(a), not saved by Article 19(2), of the Constitution of

India.

The vagueness of language used in the Section 66A (like the words grossly offensive

and of menacing character) is prone to misuse by enforcement authorities.

It cannot withstand the clear and present danger test and the tendency to create

public disorder test as given in Article 19(2) of the Indian Constitution. Article 19(2)

provides for enactment of law by the state to provide reasonable restrictions on the

provisions contained in Article 19(1)(a).

24. Union Ministry of Health and Welfare launched Media Campaign for Mission

Indradhanush

The campaign was launched for creating awareness regarding the importance to fully

immunize every child against all vaccine preventable diseases in the country.



The week-long drive will start on World Health Day on 7 April 2015 and will be repeated on

the 7th day of each of the following four months. It will cover all children less than two

years of age and pregnant women.

About Mission Indradhanush

Mission Indradhanush depicting seven colours of the rainbow, aims to cover all those

children by 2020 who are either unvaccinated or are partially vaccinated against seven

vaccine preventable diseases which include diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio,

tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B.

25. Indian Railways launched RuPay pre-paid debit cards

Indian Railways launched its own RuPay pre-paid card. The card will enable passengers to

book their Rail tickets and do shopping using RuPay pre-paid debit cards. Card can be

availed from either the Union Bank or the IRCTC.

The RuPay pre-paid card was launched by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism

Corporation (IRCTC), the Railways' tourism and catering arm, in collaboration with the

Union Bank of India.

RuPay is India's own card payment gateway network and provides an alternative system

for banks to provide debit card service.

26. Twitter Samvad launched for direct communication between Government and

Citizens

Union Government launched new platform named Twitter Samwad that facilitates direct

communication between leaders, government agencies and citizens. This platform was

launched in association with social networking service Twitter. The service is aimed to

boost the nation's e-governance plans.

27. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched PRAGATI platform for redressal of

grievances

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Pro-Active Governance and Timely

Implementation (PRAGATI) platform. PRAGATI is a multi-purpose and multi-modal

platform aimed at addressing grievances of common man.



PRAGATI aims at simultaneously monitoring and reviewing Union Government

programmes and projects as well as projects flagged by State Governments.

Features of PRAGATI

It is a three-tier system (PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries

of the States).

Prime Minister will hold a monthly programme where he will interact with the

Government of India Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries through Video-conferencing

enabled by data and geo-informatics visuals.

PRAGATI is a robust system that will help in for bringing e-transparency and

e-accountability with real-time presence and exchange among the key stakeholders.

28. KM Mani appointed as chairman of the Empowered Committee of State FM’S

on GST

Kerala Finance Minister KM Mani was appointed as the Chairman of the Empowered

Committee of State Finance Ministers on Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the Union

Finance Ministry.

About Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers

The Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers was originally set up on 17 July

2000 by the Union Government. In 2004, it was registered under Societies Registration

Act, 1860.

The members of the Empowered Committee are all the Ministers in charge of

Finance/Taxation of all State Governments and Union Territories with legislatures,

Additional Secretary (Revenue), Government of India and Member Secretary, Empowered

Committee.

29. Delhi HC became the first court in India to set up commercial courts for speedy

disposal of cases

Delhi High Court (HC) became the first court in India to set up dedicated commercial

courts within it to ensure speedy disposal of cases.



Chief Justice of Delhi HC G Rohini designated four benches to act as commercial courts.

Out of this, two single judge benches with original jurisdiction will deal with the suits

involving commercial disputes relating to intellectual property rights, arbitration,

insurance, banking, taxation, company cases etc.

The other two benches with appellate jurisdiction will hear appeals against the commercial

disputes cases.

30. ISRO successfully launched IRNSS 1-D Navigational Satellite

The Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) 1-D satellite was launched

successfully by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from the Satish Dhawan

Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The satellite will provide

navigation, tracking and mapping services.

The satellite was placed in geosynchronous orbit by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle

(PSLV)-C27. This is the twenty eighth consecutively successful mission of the PSLV.

About IRNSS

IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system designed to provide position

information in the Indian region and 1500 km around the Indian mainland. IRNSS would

provide two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Services (SPS) - provided to all

users and Restricted Services (RS)- provided to authorised users only.

By using the IRNSS as a platform the Government of India is planning to launch its own

Global Navigational Satellite Services, GINS (Global Indian Navigation Satellite) system,

similar to Global Positioning System (GPS) of the the US.

31. Himachal Pradesh Government launched India’s first e-Vidhan Mobile app

The app could be accessed by all the members 45 minutes before the question hours on

android and tablets having information about the day business.

With this launch, Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha became the first state assembly in the

country to launch e-Vidhan Mobile app. This e-Vidhan system will help the state to save

about 8 crore rupees per annum that is spent on the paper.



32. Union Cabinet gave its approval for the Approach and Key Components of e-

Kranti

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for the

Approach and Key Components of e-Kranti: National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) 2.0.

e-Kranti is an important pillar of the Digital India programme and the programme has

been envisaged by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY).

33. Union Ministry of Home Affairs proposed initiatives for women security under

Nirbhaya Fund

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) proposed three policy initiatives to enhance

security of women in the country under the Nirbhaya Fund.

The initiatives are: Central Victim Compensation Fund (CVCF), Investigative Units on

Crime Against Women (IUCAW) and an initiative to prevent and monitor obscene online

content.

About Nirbhaya Fund

The Nirbhaya Fund was set up by the Union Government in 2013 with 1000 crore rupees

corpus for empowerment, safety and security of women and girl children. The Fund is

administered by the DEA under the Union Ministry of Finance. Union departments and

ministries are eligible to forward proposals intended for women safety to the DEA to avail

funds under the scheme.

34. Union Ministry of Finance approved 1500 crore rupees for AP Capital

construction

Union Ministry of Finance allocated 1500 crore rupees to Andhra Pradesh (AP) for the

construction of necessary infrastructure in the new capital.

The AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 mandates Hyderabad as a common capital for Telangana

and Andhra Pradesh for a period of ten years.

The new capital of AP is proposed to be constructed in the Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali-

Mangalagiri (VGMT) area on the banks of Krishna river and is named as Amaravathi.



35. Fourteenth Multi-Parametric Geophysical Observatory (MPGO) inaugurated in

Port Blair

MPGO: Multi-Parametric Geophysical Observatory (MPGO)

The term MPGO was in news as the Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth

Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated Port Blair Magnetic Observatory (PBMO) at

Shoal Bay No. 8 in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The observatory is a part of the network of 14 MPGOs which has been set up by the Indian

Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) under Union Ministry of Science and Technology and

Earth Sciences.

The purpose of the observatories is to monitor seismic and co-seismic signals by using

multi techniques.

36. India: The largest importer of arms

India was the largest importer of major arms in 2010–14, accounting for 15 percent of the

global total. Between 2005–2009 and 2010–14 imports increased by 140 percent.

In 2010–14 India’s imports were three times larger than those of its regional rivals China

and Pakistan.



SPORTS

1. Australia created the record for highest ever score of 417 in Cricket World Cup

Australian cricket team created the World Cup record for highest-ever score of 417 for 6 in

a match against Afghanistan in Perth. It defeated Afghanistan by 275 runs which was the

biggest winning margin in the tournament’s history.

The previous record of highest runs in a World Cup match was held by India and it was 413

run at a loss of 5 wickets. The record was created on 19 March 2007 against Bermuda

played at Queen's Park Oval and India won the match by 257 runs.

2. Kumar Sangakkara created history by scoring four successive centuries in a

Cricket World Cup

Sri Lanka’s batsman Kumar Sangakkara on 11 March 2015 entered the record books by

scoring four consecutive centuries in a Cricket World Cup. He achieved the feat when he

scored 124 runs against Scotland in the Pool A match of the 2015 Cricket World Cup in

Hobart, New Zealand.

With this, he became the first cricketer to achieve this feat in the One Day Internationals

(ODI) history.

With five World Cup centuries, Sangakarra is second only to the record of six centuries

held by Sachin Tendulkar.

3. Martin Guptill scored the highest-ever score of 237 in Cricket World Cup

history

Martin Guptill, the batsman of New Zealand cricket team, scored the highest-ever score of

237 not out in Cricket World Cup history.

World Cup history. Chris Gayle had scored 215 off 147-balls against Zimbabwe on 24

February 2015.

Overall, Guptill is the fifth batsmen in the world to score a double century in One Day

Internationals (ODIs) history The other four batsmen include three Indians namely Sachin

Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma (two double centuries) and Chris Gayle.



4. Australia defeated New Zealand to win ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

This was the Fifth Cricket World Cup for Australian cricket team. Its previous wins came in

the years 1987, 1999, 2003, and 2007. With this win, Australia also became the second

host country to win the title. India in 2011 had become the first host country to win the

title.

Sachin Tendulkar was named as the 2015 Cricket World Cup Ambassador by the ICC for

the second time, after 2011 Cricket World Cup where he was the ambassador.

5. Saina, Srikant won India Open Super Series Badminton Women's & Men's

Singles titles

Indian shuttlers, Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth on 29 March 2015 won the women’s

and men's singles titles of the 275000 dollar India Open Super Series badminton

tournament.

Earlier Saina Nehwal became the first woman badminton player from India to be ranked

number one in the world. She is the second Indian player to achieve this feat, after Prakash

Padukone.

6. Balbir Singh Senior conferred with Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement

Award of Hockey India

Hockey India conferred Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award on legendary

Balbir Singh Senior.

Balbir Singh Senior was a member of three Olympic gold medal winning Indian team, viz.,

London Olympics (1948), Helsinki Olympics (1952) and Melbourne Olympics (1956). He

was the Vice Captain of the Indian Hockey team during Helsinki Olympics and Captain

during Melbourne Olympics.

7. United Arab Emirates won the bid to host AFC Asian Cup 2019

United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 9 March 2015 won the bid to host Asian Football

Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup 2019. The AFC Asian Cup 2019 will be the 17th edition of

the games.

It will be the second time that the UAE will host the Asian Cup. Earlier, UAE had held the

AFC Asian Cup in 1996.

AFC Asian Cup is an international football tournament organised by the Asian Football

Confederation (AFC).



IV. AWARDS & PERSONALITIES

1. President presented Stree Shakti Puraskars and Nari Shakti Puruskars for the

year 2014

The Stree Shakti puraskars are conferred on six women in the area of women’s endeavor

and exceptional contribution each year. The award carries a cash prize of 3 lakh rupees and

a citation.

Winners of the Stree Shakti Puruskar 2014

Award Winner Cause

Rani Lakshmibai Award Seema Prakash, Madhya

Pradesh

For working for the cause of

vulnerable and marginalised

Communities of Madhya Pradesh

Since 2000 particularly for the

Korku tribe of the state.

Rani Rudramma Devi Award Astha Sansthan (NGO),

Rajasthan

For protecting women’s rights,

gender mainstreaming, issues

relating to violence against women

tribal rights, food security,

transparency and right to work and

others.

Mata Jijabai Award Chandraprabha Bokey,

Maharashtra

She is a social worker and is

working in rural areas since 1960.

Her field of work includes

empowerment and rehabilitation of

destitute, divorced, disabled women

and rehabilitation of orphan

children.

Kannagi Award Dr. P Bhanumati, Kerala For founding Association for

Mentally Handicapped Adults

(AHMA) working for welfare of the

poor destitute mentally challenged

adults since 1996.

Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award Sister Mariola,

Rajasthan

For working with the inmates at

Ajmer Jail, Rajasthan since 1997

and has been lobbying for Prisons

Without Walls.

Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Award Anyay Rahit Zindagi

(NGO), Goa

The organisation works towards

combating trafficking of persons

subjected to commercial sexual

exploitation since 1997.



The Nari Shakti Puraskars have been conferred for the first time in 2015

Winners of the Nari Shakti Puruskars for the year 2014 includes Rashmi Anand from

Delhi, Nandita Krishna from Tamil Nadu, Dr. Laxmi Gautam from Uttar Pradesh, Latika

Thukral from Haryana, Dr. Sailakshmi Balijepally from Tamil Nadu, Neha Kirpal from

Delhi, P Kausalya from Tamil Nadu and Dr. Swaraj Vidwan from Uttarakhand.

2. Madhav Gadgil and Dr. Jane Lubchenco won Tyler Prize for Environmental

Achievement 2015

Indian ecologist Madhav Gadgil and US Scientist Dr. Jane Lubchenco were on 23 March

2015 named for the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement 2015.

Madhav Gadgil became the second Indian to receive the award after MS Swaminathan in

1991. He received the award to help dramatically improve crop yields in India.Ecologist

Madhav Gadgil was the Chairman of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP).

The Tyler prize was instituted in 1973. It is awarded by the International Tyler Prize

Executive Committee with the administrative support of the University of Southern

California.

3. 62nd National Film Awards announced

The list of winners

Best Actress: Kangana Ranaut for Queen

Best Supporting Actress: Baljinder Kaur for Pagdi The Honour (Haryanavi)

Best Supporting Actor: Bobby Simhaa for Jigarthanda (Tamil)

Best Actor: Vijay for Nanu Avanalla Avalu (Kannada)

Best Female Playback Singer: Uttara Unnikrishanan for song

Azhagu in Saivam (Tamil)

Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Mary Kom

Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of A Director: Asha Jaoar Majhe

(Bengali)

4. Nobel Laureate John Nash won Abel Prize 2015 for work on partial differential

equations

Nobel Laureate John F Nash Jr. won the Abel Prize 2015 for his work on partial differential

equations.



The Abel Prize is an international prize presented annually by the King of Norway to one or

more outstanding mathematicians.

The award was established in 2001 by the Government of Norway and complements the

Holberg Prize in the humanities.

The Abel Prize has often been described as the mathematician's Nobel Prize, competing in

that respect with the much older Fields Medal.In 2014, it was won by Yakov G Sinai.

The first Abel Prize was won by Jean-Pierre Serre, Professor at Collège de France, Paris in

2003.

5. President presented Bharat Ratna award to Atal Bihari Vajpayee

President of India Pranab Mukherjii presented Bharat Ratna award to Former Prime

Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his home. Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian

honour.

He is the seventh prime minister to receive the award after Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira

Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Morarji Desai, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Gulzarilal Nanda.

The award giving ceremony is usually held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, but an

exception was made keeping in mind the poor health of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

His other awards are:

Padma Vibhushan in 1992

Lokmanya Tilak Award in 1994 by Government of India

Best Parliamentarian Award in 1994.

Bharat Ratna Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant Award in 1994

6. Madan Mohan Malaviya posthumously awarded Bharat Ratna

Freedom fighter and educationist, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya was conferred the

highest civilian award of the country Bharat Ratna (posthumous). His family members

received the award from President Prabab Mukherjee

The award was given to Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya or Mahamana Malaviya’s family for his

outstanding work in the field of education and the country's freedom struggle.



Pandit Malaviya was born on 25 December 1861 in Allahabad. He was the founder of

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and Hindu Mahasabha.

Besides, President also presented Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri

awards.

List of Awardees

Award Recipient

Padma Vibhushan Lal Krishna Advani

(Senior BJP leader)

Sardar Parkash Singh Badal

(Akali Dal leader and Punjab Chief Minister)

Jagadguru Rambhadra Acharya

Padma Bhusan Dr. Swapan Dasgupata

David Frawley

Bill Gates

Melinda Gates

Needamangalam Gopalaswami

Saichiro Misumi

Sudha Rangunathan

Harish Narendra Salve

Shri Satpal

Dr. Ashok Seth

Padma Shri Sanjay Leela Bhansali (film maker)

Dr Randeep Guleria (physician)

Prasoon Joshi (writer)

Pran Kumar Sharma (Posthumous)

(creator of popular cartoon character Chacha

Chaudhary)

PV Sindhu (shuttler)

Sardar Singh (Hockey star)

Arunima Sinha (amputee Everest climber)



Prof Alka Kripalni

Manjula Anagani

Kanyakumari Avasarala

Prof. Huang Baosheng

Naresh Bedi

Jean-Claude Carriere

Gyan Chaturvedi

Jaya Kumari Chikkala

Prof. Ashok Gulati

Dr. Randeep Guleria

George L Hart

Rahul Jain

Prafulla Kar

Ushakiran Khan

Harsh Kumar

N Purushothama Mallaya

Dr. Janak Palta McGilligan

Tarak Janubhai Mehta

Chewang Norphel

Dr. Tejas Madhusudan Patel

Dr. Raghu Rama Pillarisetti

Bimla Poddar

Dr. N Prabhakar

Dr. Prahalada

Dr. Saumitra Rawat

Dr. Annette Schmiedchen

Brahmdev Sharma ‘Bhaiji’

Prof. (DR.) Nikhil Tandon



UNION BUDGET 2015

TAXATION

• Abolition of Wealth Tax.

• Additional 2% surcharge for the super rich with income of over Rs. 1 crore.

• Rate of corporate tax to be reduced to 25% over next four years.

• No change in tax slabs.

• Total exemption of up to Rs. 4, 44,200 can be achieved.

• 100% exemption for contribution to Swachch Bharat, apart from CSR.

• Service tax increased to14 per cent.

AGRICULTURE

• Rs. 25,000 crore for Rural Infrastructure Development Bank.

• Rs. 5,300 crore to support Micro Irrigation Programme.

• Farmers credit - target of 8.5 lakh crore.

INFRASTRUCTURE

• Rs. 70,000 crores to Infrastructure sector.

• Tax-free bonds for projects in rail road and irrigation

• PPP model for infrastructure development to be revitalised and govt. to bear majority of

the risk.

• Atal Innovation Mission to be established to draw on expertise of entrepreneurs, and

researchers to foster scientific innovations; allocation of Rs. 150 crore.

• Govt. proposes to set up 5 ultra mega power projects, each of 4000MW.

EDUCATION

• AIIMS in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and

Assam.

• IIT in Karnataka; Indian School of Mines in Dhanbad to be upgraded to IIT.



• PG institute of Horticulture in Amritsar.

• Kerala to have University of Disability Studies

• Centre of film production, animation and gaming to come up in Arunachal Pradesh.

• IIM for Jammu and Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh.

DEFENCE

• Allocation of Rs. 2, 46,726 crore; an increase of 9.87 per cent over last year.

• Focus on Make in India for quick manufacturing of Defence equipment.

WELFARE SCHEMES

• GST and JAM trinity (Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar and Mobile) to improve quality of life

and to pass benefits to common man.

• Six crore toilets across the country under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

• MUDRA bank will refinance micro finance orgs. To encourage first generation SC/ST

entrepreneurs.

• Housing for all by 2020.

• Upgradation 80,000 secondary schools.

• DBT will be further be expanded from 1 crore to 10.3 crore.

• For the Atal Pension Yojana, govt. will contribute 50% of the premium limited to

Rs. 1,000 a year.

• New scheme for physical aids and assisted living devices for people aged over 80.

• Govt. to use Rs. 9,000 crore unclaimed funds in PPF/EPF for Senior Citizens Fund.

• Rs. 5,000 crore additional allocations for MGNREGA.

• Govt. to create universal social security system for all Indians.



RENEWABLE ENERGY

• Rs. 75 crore for electric cars production.

• Renewable energy target for 2022: 100K MW in solar; 60K MW in wind; 10K MW in

biomass and 5K MW in small hydro

TOURISM

• Develpoment schemes for churches and convents in old Goa; Hampi, Elephanta caves,

Forests of Rajasthan, Leh palace, Varanasi, Jallianwala Bagh, Qutb Shahi tombs at

Hyderabad to be under the new toursim scheme.

• Visa on Arrival for 150 countries.

GOLD

• Sovereign Gold Bond, as an alternative to purchasing metal gold.

• New scheme for depositors of gold to earn interest and jewellers to obtain loans on their

metal accounts.

• To develop an Indian gold voin, which will carry the Ashok Chakra on its face, to reduce

the demand for foreign coins and recycle the gold available in the country.

FINANCIAL SECTOR

• Forward Markets Commission to be merged with the Securities and Exchange Board of

India

• NBFCs registered with the RBI and having asset size of Rs 500 crore and above to be

considered as ‘financial institution’ under Sarfaesi Act, 2002, enabling them to fund SME

and mid-corporate businesses

• Permanent Establishment norms to be modified to that mere presence of offshore fund

managers in the country do not lead to “adverse tax consequences.”



STATE BUDGET - 2015

Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Wednesday spared the common man by levying no

new taxes in the state budget for 2015-16 while announcing various concessions on the value

added tax(VAT). The government has decided against imposing additional taxes despite the

severe financial burden and the slow growth in the state's tax revenues.

• He exempted fishing accessories like ropes, floats, twine, fishing lamps, swivels and

mosquito nets from VAT while reducing rates on cardamoms, LED lamps, air

compressors, cell phones and pump sets.

• Electricity tax on power generating plants using biomass would be withdrawn the

government has estimated the revenue deficit for 2015-16 at Rs.4,616.02 crore with

revenue receipts projected at Rs.142,681.33 crore and the revenue expenditure put at

Rs.147,297.35 crore.

• With capital expenditure projected at Rs.27,213.17 crore, the fiscal deficit is estimated at

Rs.31,829.19 crore.

• The major revenue streams for the state are commercial taxes (Rs.72,068.40 crore), state

excise (Rs.7,296.66 crore), and motor vehicles tax (Rs.4,882.53 crore).

• The tax revenue is expected to log a modest growth of around 12 percent over last fiscal.

• The share of central taxes is projected at Rs.21,149.89 crore while grants-in-aid from the

central government will be Rs.16,376.79 crore.

• The state's net borrowings would be raised to Rs.30,446.68 crore against the permissible

levels of Rs.32,990 crore.

• The total outstanding debt for the state by the end of the fiscal is estimated at Rs.211,483

crore.

• Rs.59,185 crore has been allocated towards subsidies and freebies.

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