Top current affairs of 2014 --------------------------------- (National, International, Economy): ------------- National ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2014 introduced in Lok Sabha >>It is also called Constitution (122nd Amendment) Bill. >>It seeks to introduce Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. >>Inserts article Articles 246A, 269A and 279A in the Constitution. >>Provides for Union Finance Minister headed GST Council. >>Sets in a uniform and integrated indirect tax regime in India. . . >>>14th Finance Commission submitted its report to President >>It covers the period between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2020. >>The Commission headed by former RBI Governor Y V Reddy. >>Provides for devolution of tax receipts from the Centre to the States. >>Article 280 of Constitution provides for appointment of Finance Commission. >>First and 13th Finance Commission was headed by K C Neogy & Dr Vijay Kelkar resp. . . >>>Union government decriminalized Attempt to Suicide >>For this purpose Section 309 of Indian Penal Code removed. >>20th Law Commission headed by Justice A P Shah recommended in its 210 Report. >>210th Report on Humanization and Decriminalization of Attempt to Suicide. >>France was the first country to decriminalize this offence . . >>> Lok Sabha passed the Repealing and Amending (Second) Bill, 2014 >>Introduced as a periodic measure for updating the list of laws in force. >>Seeks to repeal 90 laws and pass amendment to two laws. >>Proposes to amend the two laws to rectify typographical errors >>The laws are Railways (Amendment) Act, 2008 and the Indian Maritime University Act, 2008. . . >>>Karnataka Mobile One App launched for m-governance. >>Launched by President Pranab Mukherjee in Bengaluru. >>First such app in India to usher in an era of mobile governance. >>Developed under the ICARE program of Karnataka government. >>Expected to provide more than 4000 services to citizens. . . >>>Social Justice Bench constituted on social issue >>Constituted by Supreme Court on 3 December 2014. >>Started operation on 12 December 2014. >>The brainchild of Chief Justice of India H L Dattu. >>Two-judge bench to be headed by Justice Madan B Lokur. >>The other member is Justice U U Lalit. . . >>>627 names of Indians holding black money abroad submitted to SC >>Includes details of treaties India signed with France and other nations. >>Half of the 627 names are Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). >>Most of them have accounts with HSBC Bank, Geneva. >>SIT headed by Justice M B Shah is probing black money case . . >>>Union government unveiled new counter-Naxal doctrine >>Proposes four-pronged approach to deal with Naxals. >>These are Security, Development, Rights and Entitlement and Public Perception Management. >>Focus on security interventions in worst LWE-affected areas. >>In moderately-affected areas, security and development initiatives will be focus. >>In less affected areas, development interventions will take precedence . . >>>Swachh Bharat Mission launched >>Launched on occasion of 145th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi >>Aims at making India clean by 2019 >>The year 2019 will be 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi >>Nine people nominated to inspire people to join the Mission . . >>>SC quashed allocation of 214 coal blocks >>Quashed by SC bench headed by Justice R M Lodha >>Allocations were arbitrary and illegal >>4 out of 218 coal blocks not cancelled >>Includes one of NTPC and SAIL each and two of Sasan UMPP owned by Anil Ambani . . >>>Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) launched >>It was launched on 28 August 2014 >>Aims to open 15 crore bank accounts by 15 August 2015 >>It is a mega financial inclusion plan >>Each person covered to be provided bank accounts and RuPay debit cards >>Also provision for inbuilt insurance cover of 1 lakh rupees . . >>>India: first Country to Ratify the Marrakesh Treaty >>India ratified the treaty on 30 June 2014 >>Will facilitate access to published works for blind and visually impaired persons >>The treaty was signed in Marrakesh, Morocco on 28 June 2013 >>It has been signed by 64 countries . . >>>SC ruled Shariat Courts are illegal >>No legal status has been granted to the Sharia Courts >>Its fatwas/decrees are illegal if it violates fundamental rights >>The decision was delivered by SC bench headed by Justice C K Prasad >>The judgement given on a petition filed by Vishwa Lochan Madan in 2005 . . >>>India became permanent signatory to Washington Accord >>India signed the Accord on 13 June 2014 >>Joined a select group of 17 countries who joined the Accord >>Global employment opportunities for India’s technical and engineering graduates to increase >>Accord promotes mobility and quality assurance of engineers across international boundaries . . >>>Sumitra Mahajan elected as Speaker of 16th Lok Sabha >>She replaced Meira Kumar >>Became the second women presiding officer of the Lok Sabha >>She was elected to 9th Lok Sabha in 1989 for the first time >>2014 elections was her eighth continuous term as Member of Parliament . . >>>Telangana became the 29th state of India >>It achieved statehood on 2 June 2014 >>Ten districts of the then Andhra Pradesh became part of Telangana >>Chandrasekhar Rao sworn-in as the first Chief Minister >>ESL Narasimhan is the Governor of Telangana >>Hyderabad is the joint capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh . . >>>Narendra Modi sworn-in as 15th Prime Minister of India >>He was sworn-in on 26 May 2014 >>He took oath with 45 Council of Minister including 23 Cabinet Ministers >> First Prime Minister of India born in independent India >>For the first time 25% of the Cabinet post allocated to women >>Swearing-in ceremony attended by heads of seven SAARC countries . . >>>16th Lok Sabha Elections 2014 >>The election results for 543 constituencies declared on 16 May 2014 >>Bharatiya Janata Party emerged victorious with 282 seats >>Congress led incumbent government just secured 44 seats >>BJP won the majority for the first time since independence >>The elections were conducted in nine phases from 7 April – 12 May 2014 . . >>>Karnataka: first state in India to launch Health Adalat >>The Health Adalat was launched in Gulbarga, Karnataka. >>Aims to ensure that all health facilities extended by the government reached all sections of society. >>During Health Adalat the department will interact with public representatives. . . >>>Debroy Panel on restructuring Railway Board >>The Panel would submit its report till the end of 2015 >>The seven-member panel will be headed by economist Bibek Debroy >>Mandated to estimate the financial needs of railways and ensure policies to raise resources >>Restructuring of railway board announced in Union Budget 2014-15 . . >>>Film Liars Dice: Indias official entry for Oscar Awards 2015 >>The movie has been directed by Geethu Mohandas >>It is nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film category >>12-member jury headed by eminent filmmaker T Hariharan nominated it >>Leading casts are Geetanjali Thapa and Nawazuddin Siddiqui >>The 87th Oscar Awards will be held in the US on 22 February 2015 . . >>>C Rangarajan Committee on Poverty >>Total number of poor in India at 363 million or 29.6 percent of the population >>The daily per capita expenditure pegged at 32 rupees for the rural poor >>The daily per capita expenditure pegged at 47 rupees for the urban poor >>Poverty line is pegged 972 rupees per month for rural India >>Poverty line pegged at 1407 rupees per month for urban India . . >>>Largest Solar Power Plant of India launched >>130-MW Welspun Solar Plant launched at Bhagwanpur in Neemuch, MP >>It is also the Asias Largest Solar Power Plant. >>It was constructed at a cost of 1100 crore rupees. >>The Project will raise Indian solar capacity by 7 percent. . . .------------------------------------------ International ------------------------------------------ >>>US President signed Ukraine Freedom Support Bill, 2014 >>The Act authorizes administration to impose sanctions on Russia >>The sanctions to be imposed if needs arises >>Sanctions were imposed on Russia over Ukraine crisis >>Authorizes 350 million US dollars in lethal and non-lethal military aid Ukraine . . >>>Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe re-elected . . >>>Nobel Prize presented >>Peace Prize winners Kailash Satyarthi & Malala Yousufzai >>Physiology Prize winners John OKeefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser >>Literature Nobel Prize winner French author Patrick Modiano >>Physics Nobel Prize winner Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura >>Chemistry Nobel Prize Eric Betzig from Janelia Research Campus, Stefan Hell, Gottingen >>Economic Nobel Prize given to Jean Tirole . . >>>First World Soil Day observed on 5 December 2014 >>The Day was observed by the UNFAO >>UNFAO and GSP declared the year 2015 as UN International Year of Soils >>Events held to raise idea that soil is a critical component of natural system >>The day coincides with birthday of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej . . >>>Corruption Perceptions Index 2014 released >>This was the 20th edition >>Measures perceived levels of public sector corruption in 175 countries >>India with a score of 38 was ranked 85th >>The index was topped by Denmark with a score of 92. Index is prepared by Transparency International . . >>>Time Magazine released list of 25 Best Inventions 2014 >>Mangalyaan named among the best inventions of 2014 >>Magazine describes it as a technological feat >>It is described as Supersmart Spacecraft- Mangalyaan >>The list also includes two inventions of Indians namely Blue Room and tablet toy, Osmo . . >>>The G20 Summit 2014 concluded >>The Summit saw release of Brisbane Action Plan >>Action Plan comprises of 800+ reforms to boost global growth >>Sets an ambitious goal to lift G20 growth by 2.1 percent by 2018 >>Seeks to reduce the gender gap in labour force participation rates by 25 percent by 2025 . . >>>25th anniversary of Fall of Berlin Wall celebrated >>The fall of the Berlin Wall happened on 9 November 1989 >>It was the most significant event in recent German history >>The Berlin Wall was built in 1961 by East Germany >>It was built to stop people fleeing from East Germany to the West >>The Wall stretched for 155 kilometers of which only 3 kilometer remains now . . >>>Forbes list of Worlds Most Powerful People 2014 released >>The list gives the annual ranking of the World’s 72 Most Powerful People >>The list was topped by Russian President Vladimir Putin. >>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ranked 15th >>Mukesh Ambani is ranked 36th on the list . . >>>India re-elected to UNHRC >>It was re-elected for the period 2015-2017 >>India received the highest 162 votes in the Asia Pacific group >>India’s first term as member due to end on 31 December 2014 >>14 other member states also elected to UNHRC for a three-year term >>The UNHRC promotes and protects human rights . . >>>India-Vietnam signed 7 pacts >>Pacts signed to strengthen Strategic Partnership >>Signed during President Pranab Mukherjee visit to Vietnam >>President gifted sapling of the holy Bodhi Tree to Vietnam >>Diplomatic relations between the two countries established in 1972 >>The strategic relationship between the two countries established in 2007 . . >>>Inaugural Tang Prizes 2014 presented in Taipei >>The Tang Prize is treated as Asias version of the Nobels Winners of the inaugural Tang Prizes are Sustainable Development - Gro Harlem Brundtland former Premier of Norway Sinology – Chinese American, Historian Yu Ying-shih Biopharmaceutical Science - James P Allison of US and Tasuku Honjo of Japan The Rule of Law - Albie Sachs, former justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa . . >>>Unity Deal signed in Afghanistan >>Unity deal signed between Abdullah Abdullah and Ghani Adhmadzai >>The deal ended three-month stalemate over government formation in Afghanistan >>The stalemate was due to allegations that elections were rigged >>The deal calls of creation of post of CEO who will be the acting Prime Minister . . >>>Ebola Virus Disease outbreak >>More than 7000 patients died due to the Ebola Virus in West Africa. >>Ebola Virus disease first surface in Guinea in March 2014 >>Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia are the countries affected >>Ebola disease was first detected in Congo basin of Zaire . . >>>Fields Medal 2014 >>The Fields Medal Awards held in Seoul, South Korea. >>The award recognized contributions of four medalists. >>Artur Avila, Manjul Bhargava, Martin Haire, Maryam Mirzakhani are the recipients >>The Fields Medal was first awarded in 1936. >>First winner were Finnish mathematician Lars Ahlfors and American mathematician Jesse Douglas. . . >>>Prayuth Chan-ocha elected Prime Minister of Thailand >>He is a former Army Chief of Thailand . . >>>6th BRICS Summit: Fortaleza Declaration >>Held in Fortaleza, Brazil on 15 July and 16 July 2014. >>Theme of the Summit was Inclusive Growth: Sustainable Solutions. >>The participating countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa >>The BRICS Network University will be established >>BRICS Development Bank to be established . . >>>UNSC adopted resolution to probe into MH-17 plane crash >> Resolution adopted by 15-member UNSC unanimously. >> It demands free access to the crash site of Malaysian plane MH17. >>It insisted on dignified and respectful treatment of bodies of the victims. . .---------------------------------------- Economy & Corporate --------------------------------------------- >>>Advisory Group on Integrated Development of Power >>The Group was headed by Suresh Prabhu >>It has suggested opening up of the coal sector >>Called for improvement in Coal India Ltd and its subsidiaries >>Expedite reforms in the distribution sector with targeted actions . . >>>SBI Mutual Fund launched Shariah Equity Fund >>The fund is aimed at attracting investments from Muslim populations of India. >>The fund approved by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board >>SBI MF fourth fund house in India to have an Islamic equity fund. >>India second country outside the Islamic world where a state-owned bank is offering such fund >>The UK is the first country who issued sovereign Islamic bonds in June 2014 . . >>>Kotak Mahindra Bank first bank in India to fully own insurance business >>RBI gave permission to the bank for setting up Kotak General Insurance >>Kotak General Insurance will be the 29th non-life insurance company in the country >>The CEO of the company will be Mahesh Balasubramanian >>The bank already promotes life insurance with Old Mutual of South Africa . . >>>SEBI de-recognised Delhi Stock Exchange (DSE) >>De-recognised on account of serious irregularities in demutualisation process >>SEBI demutualisation rules requires every stock exchange to sell brokers 51% equity >>DSE was incorporated in 1947 >> It is an amalgamation of Delhi Stock and Share Brokers Association Ltd and the Delhi Stocks and Shares Exchange Ltd >>>Shell India won 18000-crore rupees tax dispute case >>It won the tax case against Income Tax department >>The decision given by Bombay High Court >>Decision based on legal principle laid down in the Vodafone case >>It ruled that transfer pricing does not arise in case of transfer of shares >>The case pertains to alleged under pricing of shares issued by Shell India . . >>>Alibaba made the record of earning 9.3 billion US dollars on a single day >>Alibaba shipped 278 million orders out of which 43 percent were mobile devices >>It achieved the staggering figure on Singles Day shopping event >>The event celebrates the bachelorhood of Young single Chinese >>Alibaba is a Chinese e-commerce giant founded by Jack Ma . . >>>SoftBank of Japan to invest 10 billion dollars in India >>Will invest in Indias IT and communications sector in coming years >>Announced to invest 627 million US dollars in Snapdeal >>Signed definitive agreement to invest 210 million US dollars in ANI Technologies >>Chairman and CEO of the SoftBank is Masayoshi Son . . >>>Union government de-regulated diesel and hiked natural gas rates >>The price of diesel to be market-linked >>The retail rates will reflect price changes in the global market. >>The government will no longer provide subsidy on diesel. >>This is the first reduction in diesel rates since 2009. . . >>>Google closed Orkut >>Orkut is a social network site >>Google announced to shut down Orkut in June 2014. >>Old users of Orkut can take back up of pictures till September 2016. >>Orkut was started in 2004 and named after its creator, Orkut Buyukkokten. >>Google has moved to a new platform the Google Plus. . . >>>Union government decided to wind up HMT Watches >>The unit has been incurring losses since 2000 >>HMT Watches is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hindustan Machines Tools (HMT) limited . . >>>RBI fixed the upper age limit at 70 years for M.D. and CEO in private sector banks >>The decision was taken to comply with the Section 196(3) of the Companies Act, 2013 >>Individual bank’s boards free to prescribe a lower retirement age for whole time Directors >>Earlier, no maximum age was specified and decisions were taken case by case . . >>>Union Government granted Navratna Status to CONCOR >>CONCOR is the 17th Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) to achieve Navratna Status. >>The status was accorded by the Department of Public Enterprises. >>CONCOR current Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) is Anil Kumar Gupta. >>It deals in Export-Import and domestic trade and commerce policy of India. . . >>>Expenditure Management Commission constituted >>The Commission will be headed by Bimal Jalan >>He is a former RBI Governor >>Commission will suggest the way for managing public finances by reducing subsidies. . . >>>ICICI Bank became the first bank in India to launch EMI facility on Debit Card >>This was so far available only for credit cardholders. >>Will enable customers to convert their high value transactions into easy installments >>Facility available to debit cardholders with minimum fixed deposit of 10000 rupees . . >>>C S Verma elected as First President of Indian Steel Association . . >>>DIPP notified Press Note 8 allowing 100% FDI in Rail infrastructure. >>FDI in rail infrastructure will be through automatic route >>FDI will not be allowed in train operations and safety >>Proposals involving FDI beyond 49 percent in sensitive areas to be placed before the Cabinet Committee on Security >>Definitions of infrastructure and common facilities have also been widened . . >>>Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley presented Union Budget 2014-15 >>This was the first budget of newly appointed government led by Narendra Modi. >>It focussed on providing good infrastructure like public transport, solid waste disposal. >>Emphasized on skill development and entrepreneurship in the budget. >>Announced that the FDI cap in Defence sector would be raised to 49 percent. ----------------------------------------- Admin
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 07:21:08 +0000