CurrentAffairsMarch2015

Month March2015

Type All

294CurrentAffairswerefoundinMonthMarch2015forTypeAll

1. RetirementfundbodyEPFO(Employees'ProvidentFundOrganisatio)raisedagelimitforvesting(MeanstoAvailBenefits)ofpensionbyto
60from58Years.
2. 10Mar,201546thFoundationdayofCentralIndustrialSecurityForce.
3. 100thyearofAlbertEinsteinsTheoryofGeneralRelativitycelebratedacrosstheworldon20032015.
4. 11Mar,201530thFoundationdayNationalCrimeRecordsBureau(NCRB).
5. 12MarIndependenceDayofMauritius.IndianPMNarendraModiVisitedMauritiusonthisoccasion.
6. 12MarchWorldKidneyDay(SecondThursdayofMarch).
7. 14thFinanceCommissionReport
MainSuggestionsInclude
Risingshareofstatesincentraltaxesfrom32%to42%toallowgreaterfiscalpolicyspacetostates,evenatthecostofleavingless
revenueforcentr'sschemesandprogrammes.
TaxDevolutiontobebasedonArea,Populcation,Demography,IncomeDistance&ForestCover
50%weightistobegiventodistancefromhighestpercapitaincomedistrict,followedbypopulation(1971census)at17.5%,
demography(2011census)at10%,areaat15%andforestcoverat7.5%
Fiscaldeficitshouldcomedownto3.6%ofGDPin201516fromprojected4.1%in201415andthen3%infollowingyearandkept
atthatforthreemoreyears.
Centre'sdebtTocomedownfrom45.4%ofGDPinFY15to43.6%inFY16and36.3%byFY20.
StatesshouldempowerlocalbodiestoimposeAdvertisementtaxtoaugmenttheirrevenues
StatesbetakenawayfromoperationofNSSFwitheffectfromnextfinancialyear.
8. 15MarchWorldConsumerDay.ThemefortheWCRD2015isHelpingconsumerschoosehealthydiets.
9. 15thAfricanMinisterialConferenceonEnvironmentheldinCairo(Egypt)
10. 15thNationalParaAthleticchampionshipsheldinGhaziabad(UttarPradesh).
11. 18throundofBoundaryissuestalksbetweenIndiaandChinaonheldinNewDelhiwithNationalSecurityAdviserAjitDovalrepresenting
IndiaandChinarepresentedbyYangJiechi,StateCouncellorofChina.
12. 1998AsianGamesgoldmedallistDingkoSinghincludedinNationalBoxingSelectionpanel.ArjunaawardeeGopalNDevangwillbeheadof
the10memberselectionpanelthatwillremaininofficetill2016.
13. 1stCounterTerrorismConferenceheldinJaipur(Rajasthan),organisedbyIndiaFoundationandSardarPatelUniversityofPoliceSecurity
andCriminalJustice.Conference'sCentralthemewasIntegratedApproachtoCounterTerrorismandCBRN(Chemical,Biological,
Radiological,Nuclear)Terrorismwasoneofthesubthemes.
14. 20MarchIrancelebratedstartofnewyearsfestivalofIranCaleldNowruz,aholidayhavingitsrootsinpreIslamictraditions.
15. 20MarchWorldOralHealthDay.
16. 20MarchWorldSparrowDay.Themefor2015isILoveSparrows.
17. 21MarchInternationalDayfortheEliminationofRacialDiscrimination.
18. 21MarchInternationalDayofForests.2015themeisForestsandClimateChange.
19. 21MarchWorldForestryDay.2015themeisForestsandClimateChange.
20. 21MarchWorldPoetryDay.ItandwasdeclaredbyUNESCO(theUnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganization)in1999.
21. 22MarchFormationdayofStateofBihar.OnthisdayBritishcarvedoutbiharstatefromBengalPresidencyin1912.
22. 22MarchWorldWaterDay.

23. 24MarchWorldTB(Tuberculosis)Day.
24. 26MarchIndependenceDayofBangladesh.
25. 29thIndiaCarpetExpoinauguratedinPragatiMaidan(Delhi).
26. 3yearoldarcherDollyShivaniCherukuriofAndhraPradeshenteredIndianBookofRecordsbyscoring388pointsintherecurvesegmentin
sevenandfivemetersdistances.
27. 3MarchWorldWildlifeDay.
28. 3MarchNationalDayofBulgaria(SoutheastEuropeanCountry).
Mar3,1878LiberationofBulgariafromOttomanEmpire.
29. 30thAaharInternationalFair2014organizedbyITPO(IndianTradePromotionOrganization)startedinPragatiMaidan,Delhi.
30. 3rdUnitedNationsWorldConferenceonDisasterRiskReductionsummitheldinJapanFromMarch1418,2015.HomeMinisterRajnath
SinghtoattendonIndia'sBehalf.
31. 44ArmouredRegimentofIndianArmyhonouredbyPresidentsStandardsformeritoriousanddistinguishedserviceforover30years.
32. 46thDadaSahebPhalkeAwardgiventoActorShashiKapoor.
33. 62ndNationalFilmAwards
BestFeatureFilm:Court(Marathi,Hindi,Gujarati&English)
IndiraGandhiAwardforBestDebutFilmofaDirector:AshaforJaoarMajhe
BestDirection:SrijitMukherjiforChotushkone(Bengali)
BestActress:KanganaRanautforQueen
BestActor:VijayforNanuAvanallaAvalu(Kannada)
BestSupportingActor:BobbySimhaaforJigarthanda(Tamil)
BestSupportingActress:BaljinderKaurforPagdiTheHonour(Haryanavi)
BestChildActor:KaakkaaMuttai(Tamil)
BestFemalePlaybackSinger:UttaraUnnikrishananforAzhagu,Saivam(Tamil)
BestDialogues:VishalBhardwajforHaider
BestLyrics:NA.MuthukumarforAzhagu,Saivam(Tamil)
BestMusicDirectionSongs:Haider
BestChoreography:SudeshBismil,Haider
BestFilms(LanguageWise)
Hindi:Queen
Assamese:Othello
Bengali:Nirbashito
Rabha:Orong
Haryanvi:PagdiTheHonour
Punjabi:Punjab1984
Tamil:KuttramKadithal
<
Telugu:ChandamamaKathalu
Malayalam:Ain
Marathi:Killa
Odiya:AadimVichar
Kannada:Harivu
Konkani:NachomIAKumpasar
34. 8MarchInternationalWomen'sDay.ThemeMakeitHappen.
35. AnewlandcustomsstationinauguratedatIndoMyanmarbordertradecentreinChamphaidistrictofMizoram.
36. ActorAmitabhBachchanisappointedasbrandambassadorbyGovernmentforcampaignagainstHepatitisB.
37. ActressRaniMukerjihasbeenhonoredbyNationalAwardfortheBestRepresentationoftheCauseofSafety,SecurityandProtectionof
WomenandGirlChildbyNationalInstituteofGenderJustice(NIGJ).
38. AditiAryaofDelhiwonfbbFeminaMissIndia2015title.FirstrunnerupwasAafreenRachelVazofKarnatakaandsecondrunnerupwas
VartikaSinghofUttarPradesh.
39. AdmiralSirGeorgeZambellas,FirstSeaLordandChiefofNavalStaff,RoyalNavyofUnitedKingdomvisitedIndia.
40. AgricultureMinisterRadhaMohanSinghattendedBRICSfarmmeetinBrazilfromMar1113,2015.

41. AgricultureMinistryapprovedsettingupofpricestabilisationfund(PSF)withcorpusofRs.500croretobeusedtosupportmarket
interventionsformanagingpricesofperishableagrihorticulturalcommodities.
Initially,fundwillbeusedforonionandpotatoonly.LosseswillbesharedbetweentheCentreandStates
PSFwillbeusedtoadvanceinterestfreeloanstoStategovernmentsandCentralagenciestosupporttheirworkingcapitalandother
expensesonprocurementanddistributionforsuchcommodities.
Commoditieswillbeprocureddirectlyfromfarmersandwillbemadeavailableatreasonablepricestoconsumers.
42. AkramChehayeb,AgricultureMinisterofLebanonVisitedIndia.
Onthisoccasion,IndiaInvitesEntrepreneursFromLebanontoInvestinMegaFoodParksandColdChain.I
43. ArunKSinghhasbeenappointedasIndia'sAmbassadortoUSA.
44. AsperDatabyWorldSteelAssociation(WSA),IndiahasovertakenUSAasthirdlargeststeelproducerintheworldafterChinaandJapan
withproductionof14.56milliontonnes(MT)infirsttwomonthsof2015.
45. AshokKumarAnguranaappointedasSecretaryinDepartmentofAnimalHusbandryinMinistryofAgriculture.
46. AshuSuyashisappointedasManagingDirectorandChiefExecutiveOfficer(MD&CEO)ofCreditratingagencyCrisil
47. AsianDevelopmentBank(ADB)releasedAsianDevelopmentOutlook(ADO)reporttitledFinancingAsiasFutureGrowth.
AsperADOreport,IndiawillovertakeChinaintermsgrowthrateinFinancialYear(FY)2015,and2016.
ChinasForacastedgrowthrate
7.4%inFY2014
7.2%inFY2015
7.0%inFY2016.
India'sforecastedgrowthrate
7.4%FY2014
7.8%inFY2015
8.2%in2016
DevelopingAsiawillgrowatasteady6.3%in2015and2016thesamepaceas2014.
48. AssamstateAssemblypassedaresolutionurgingtheCentretocontinuethespecialstatusforthestateforbeingabackwardandproblems
riddenstatewithlimitedavenuesforinternalrevenuegeneration.
49. AtalPensionYojna(APY),announcedintheBudget,willbelaunchedon01062015andwillfocusonallcitizensinunorganisedsector
entitlingthemtopensionofuptoRs5,000permonthafter60yearsofage.
50. AustraliawonICCCricketWorldCup2015defeatingNewZealandatMelbourneCricketGround(Australia).
AustralianCaptainMichaelClarkeretiredfromODIcricket
51. AustralianNationalUniversityScientistsfoundworldslargestasteroidimpactzoneinWarburtonBasinofcentralsAustralia.
52. AustraliancricketteamcreatedWorldCuprecordforhighestscoreof417inamatchagainstAfghanistanandbrokePreviousrecordof413
runsmadebyIndiaagainstBermudainCWC2011.
53. BaburamBhattarai,formerPrimeMinisterofNepalVisitedIndia.
54. BaldevSharmahasbeenappointedaschairmanofNationalBookTrust.
55. BharatPurihasbeenappointedasChiefofPidiliteIndustries.
56. BiharChiefMinisterNitishKumarpresentedBiharStatebudgetforfinancialyear201516withoverallsize120685.32crorerupees.Ithasplan
expenditureof57437croresandnonplanexpenditureofRs.63259crore.
57. Book"AatankKeSaayeMen"hasbeenauthoredbyDocumentaryfilmmakerGarimaSanjay.
58. BookFacesandPlacesiswrittenbyDeepakNayyar.
59. BookFoodforAlliswrittenbyUmaLele
60. BookGod'sBankers:AHistoryofMoneyandPowerattheVaticanauthoredbyGeraldPosner.
61. BookIndianParliamentaryDiplomacySpeakersPerspectivehasbeenwrittenbyformerloksabhaspeakerMeiraKumar.
62. Britain'sCardiffisnamedasworldsfirstsustainablefishcity.
63. BritishBroadcastingCorporation(BBC)releaseddocumentaryfilmIndia'sDaughterdirectedbyLesleeUdwinandisbasedonDelhigang
rapeofthe23yearoldNirbhayathattookplaceon16December2012.
64. BritishIrishVisaSchemecameintoforceinIndiathatallowsIndianstotraveltoUnitedKingdom(UK)andIrelandonasinglevisitvisafrom
eithercountry.
65. CNNIBNannouncedIndianoftheYearAwards2014
IndianoftheYear2014NarendraModi
PoliticsArunJaitley

SportsJituRai
BusinessNChandrasekaran
EntertainmentChetanBhagat
PublicServiceTongamRina
GlobalIndianSatyaNadella
LifetimeAchievementISRO(IndianSpaceResearchOrganization)
66. CabinetCommitteeonEconomicAffairs(CCEA)approvedlaunchingRs.4,500croreNationalSupercomputingMission(NSM)withaimof
bringingIndiaintoleagueofworldclasscomputingpowernations.
67. ChinalaunchedmassiveSilkRoadInfrastructureprojectworth79.8billionUSDinnorthwestprovinceofGansuaspartofChinasambitious
SilkRouteplanthatwilladdmorethan60000kilometresofroadnetworkincluding4070kmexpresswaysovernextsixyears..
68. ChristineLagarde,chiefofInternationalMonetaryFundvisitedIndia.
69. CommitteeonRailwaytrafficoptimizationledbyMohd.JamshedsubmitteditsreporttoMinistryofRailways.
CommitteeSuggestedMeasurestoIncreasePassengerTrafficanduseofSatelliteSuggestedforOperationandSafetyNeeds.
70. ConfederationofIndianIndustry(CII)signedaMemorandumofUnderstanding(MoU)withNationalUniversityofSingapore(NUS)to
improveIndiasratingoneaseofdoingbusinessandbringitamongstthetop50countriesintheindex.
Indiaiscurrentlyat142ndspotinindexofEaseofdoingbusiness.
71. Cuba'sVicePresidentMiguelDazCanelVisitedIndia.
72. CyclonePamHitVanuatu,anOceanianislandnationlocatedintheSouthPacificOcean.
73. DefenceAcquisitionCouncil(DAC)approvedbuying38PilatustraineraircraftsfromSwitzerlandatacostof1500crorefortrainingIndianAir
Forcefighterpilots.
74. DefenceMinisterShriManoharParrikarVisitedJapan.
75. DelhiGovernmentlaunchedIndiasfirsterationcardservicethatwillbelinkedwithAadhaarcardstoenablebeneficiariesofPublic
DistributionSystem(PDS)togetcardsonlinewithouthassles.
76. DelhiHighCourt(HC)becamefirstcourttosetupdedicatedcommercialtoensurespeedydisposalofcasesanddesignatedfourbenchestoact
ascommercialcourts.
77. DickCostolo,CEOofSocialNetworkTwitter,VisitedIndia.
78. EarthHour2015organisedbyWorldWideFundforNature(WWF)observedgloballyon28March2015from8:30pmto9:30pmIndian
localtimewithtaglineClimateChange.ItwasnintheditionofEarthHourstartingin2007.
EarthHour2015wasobservedacross172nationsandterritoriesandaround1400+iconiclandmarksoftheworldswitchedoffthelights.
79. ElectionCommissionofIndialaunchedNationalElectoralRollPurificationandAuthenticationProgramme(NERPAP)tobringanerror
freeandauthenticatedelectoralrollbyLinkingofAadhardatawithElectoralDatabase.
80. FamousIndianBoxerMaryKomannouncedtoretirefromboxingafter2016BrazilOlympics.
81. FamousSportsJournalistKBaskaranPassedAway.
82. FamousjournalistVinodMehtaPassedAway.
83. FilmmakerAdoorGopalakrishnanwonBishwaratnaBhupenHazarikaInternationalSolidarityAwardbyAssamgovernment.
84. FinanceMinistrysanctioned250crorerupeestoAndhraPradeshtosetupSpecialPurposeVehicle(SPV)fortheimplementationofthe
PolavaramMultiPurposeIrrigationProjectand1500CrorerupeesforsettingupnewcapitalinAndhraPradesh.
85. FirstIndoNepalFriendshipMotorRallyconcludedatIndiaGateinNewDelhiaimedatstrengtheningbilateralrelationsbetweenIndiaand
Nepalandspreadingthemessageofroadsafety.
86. Flight4U9525ofGermanwingsAirbusA320,budgetcarrierairlineofGermanysLufthansa,crashedinFrenchAlps.
87. FootballClubChelseawontheFootballLeagueCup201415bydefeatingTottenhamHotspur.
88. ForbesannualGlobalBillionaires2015list
BillGatescofounderofMicrosofttoppedthelistforthe16thtimewithworthof79.2billionUSDdollars.
UnitedStatestoppedlistwith536Billionaires,followedbyChina(213),Germany(103)richpeopleandIndia(90).
CarlosSlimHelufromMexicotelecommunicationsmogulrankedsecondwithworth77.1billionUSDandWarrenBuffet,chiefofBerkshire
HathawayIncwasrankedthirdwith72.7billionUSD.
MukeshAmbaniisrankedRichestIndianwith21BillionUSDWorthandoverallrank39.
89. ForeignSecretarySJaishankarcompletedhisSAARCYatraandvisitedAfghanistan,Pakistan,BangladeshandBhutan.
90. FormerAustralianPrimeMinisterMalcolmFraserpassedaway.
91. FormerBiharChiefMinister(CM)RamSundarDaspassedaway
92. FormerMaldivianPresidentMohamedNasheedSentencedTo13yearImprisonmentbycountryscriminalcourtundertheantiterrorismlaws.

93. FormerMizoramChiefMinisterBrigThenphungaSailodied.
94. FormerUnionministerMVeerappaMoilyhasbeenselectedforprestigiousSaraswatiSammanfor2014forhisfamousKannadapoem
RamayanaMahanveshanam.
95. FortuneMagazinereleasedlistof2015rosterofWorlds50GreatestLeaders
PrimeMinisterofIndiaNarendraModiat5thrankandNobelPrizewinnerKailashSatyarthiat28thrank.
ListtoppedbyAppleCEOTimCook,FollowedbyEuropeanCentralBankPresidentMarioDraghiatsecondandChinesePresidentXi
JingpingatthirdRank.
96. FourteenthMultiParametricGeophysicalObservatory(MPGO)inauguratedinPortBlair(AndamanandNicobarIsland)andPortBlair
MagneticObservatoryinauguratedtomonitorseismicactivities.
97. GoogleappointedRuthPoratasChiefFinancialOfficer(CFO).
98. GovernmentappointedKeralaFinanceMinisterKMManiaschairmanofEmpoweredCommitteeofStateFinanceMinistersasakeypersonfor
theCentretorolloutGoodsandServicesTax(GST)ontargeteddateofApril1,2016.
99. GovernmentappointedNewchairmanforVariousDRAT(DebtRecoveryAppellateTribunal)
VKMathurasChairmanofAllahabadbenchofDRAT.
GirijaShankarasChairmanofChennaibenchofDRAT.
100. Governmentapproved33%reservationforwomeninpoliceforcesofallUnionterritories(UTs)includingdelhi.
101. GovernmentdecidedtohikeWagesofGovernmentownedBanks'Employeesby15%anddecidedtokeepholidayonalternatesaturdaywith
othersaturdaysbeingfullyworkingdaysunlikecurrentlypolicyofhalfdaysworkoneachsaturdayinthemonth.
102. GovernmentdecidedtomovetheRashtriyaSwasthyaBimaYojanafromLabourandemploymentministrytotheMinistryofHealthandfamily
welfare.
103. GovernmentgaveinprincipleapprovalforconceptandinstitutionalframeworkofSagarmalaProjectaimedatdevelopmentofportsandto
provideinfrastructuretotransportgoodstoandfromportsefficiently.
104. GovernmentinaugeratedworkonanApparel&GarmentMakingCentreandaWeaversServiceCentreinNagalandaspartofNERTPS
(NorthEastRegionTextilePromotionScheme)withtotaloutlayofRs.1038croresin12thFiveYearPlan.
105. GovernmentissettingupanIndianCulinaryInstitute(ICI)atTirupati,AndhraPradeshwithaNorthernRegionCentreatNoida,Uttar
Pradesh.
106. GovernmentlaunchedeCPMP(ElectronicCoalProjectsMonitoringPortal)fortrackingprojectsentailinginvestmentsrelatedtocoal.
107. GovernmentsetuptaskforcesfordevelopmentofAjmer(Rajasthan),Allahabad(UttarPradesh)andVishakhapattanam(AndhraPradesh)as
SmartCities.
108. GovernmentsignedMemorandumofUnderstandingwithMauritiusonCooperationinTraditionalSystemsofMedicineandHomoeopathyto
enhancebilateralcooperationintraditionalmedicinesincludingmedicinalplants.
109. GovernmentwillsetupanIntegratedNationalWaterwaysTransportGrid(INWTG)thatcoversfiveNationalWaterways.
110. GovernmentsBetiBachao,BetiPadhao(SaveGirlchild,EducateGirlchild)programmehasbeenformallylaunchedinNortheastandthe
SaihaDistrictinMizoramhasbeenselectedforthisuniqueinitiative.
111. Growthofeightcoresectorindustries(coal,crudeoil,naturalgas,refineryproducts,fertilizer,steel,cementandelectricity)inIndiaslowedto
1.8%inJanuary2015ascomparedto3.7%in2014.
112. GujaratLegislativeAssemblypassedGujaratControlofTerrorismandOrganizedCrime(GUJCOC)Bill,2015.
ItwasearlierreturnedbyPresidentofIndiathricetothestategovernmentforreconsideration.
AccordingtoacontroversialprovisionintheBill,recordingofphonecallsinterceptedbyinvestigatingagencieswillbeadmissibleinthe
courtasevidence.
113. HRDministryhaslaunchedawebbaseddigitalgenderatlasasatooltomaptheprogressongirleducationthroughoutthecountryInorderto
monitorhowvariouseducationprogrammesareworking.
114. Handicrafts&CarpetSectorSkillCouncilhasbeenlaunchedontheoccasionof20thHandicraftsExportAwardsPresentationtopromoteskill
developmentamongartisans,craftpersonsandworkersinthissector.
115. HaryanaGovernmentdecidedtointroduceSpecialIdentificationTagswithuniqueidentificationnumbersforHaryanacows,anindigenous
breedfoundinthestate.
116. HaryanaGovernmentlaunchedaschemeforgirlchild'AapkiBetiHumariBeti'withanaimtocombatthedecliningchildsexratioin
Haryana.
117. HaryanaGovernmentpassedHaryanaGauvanshSanrakshanandGausamvardhanBillon16Marchwithtwoamendments,prohibiting
theslaughterofcowanditsprogenyandprovidingpunishmentofupto10yearswithfineBetween30,0001lakhRupeesforanyviolation.
118. HaryanagovernmentpresentedstateBudgetfor201516.Overallsizeofthestatebudgetis68985.87crorerupeeswith52312.10crore

revenueexpenditureand16673.77croresofcapitalexpenditure.
119. HighCourtofDelhidisclosedthatofficeoftheAttorneyGeneralofIndiafallsunderambitoftheRighttoInformation(RTI)Act,2005asitis
notmerelyalawyerforthegovernment,butalsoisaConstitutionalAuthority.
120. HimachalPradeshbecamefirststateassemblyinIndiatolauncheVidhanMobileappthatcouldbeaccessedbyallmembers45minutesbefore
thequestionhourshavinginformationaboutthedaybusiness.Itwillsaveabout8Crorerupeesspentinanyearonpaperwork.
121. HindipoetGopaldasNeerajwonRashtriyaKaviPradeepSammanfortheyear201213givenbyDepartmentofCultureofMadhyaPradesh
government.
122. HockeyIndiaconferredMajorDhyanChandLifetimeAchievementAwardonlegendaryBalbirSinghSenior.
123. HockeyIndiagavefirstHockeyIndiaAnnualAwards
DhruvBatraAwardforPlayeroftheYearBirendraLakra(Male)andVandanaKatariya(Female).
JamanLalSharmaAwardforInvaluableContributionHarendraSingh
OutstandingAchievementOneThousandHockeyLegsforexceptionalcontributiontowardsthesport.
JugrajSinghAwardforUpcomingPlayeroftheYear(Male)HarmanpreetSingh
AsuntaLakraAwardforUpcomingPlayeroftheYear(Female))NamitaToppo
BaljitSinghAwardforGoalkeeperoftheYearPRSreejesh
PargatSinghAwardforDefenderoftheYearDeepika
AjitPalSinghAwardforMidfielderoftheYearManpreetSingh
DhanrajPillayAwardforForwardoftheYearAkashdeepSingh
124. ISROsuccessfullylaunchedIRNSS1D,thefourthsatelliteintheIndianRegionalNavigationSatelliteSystem(IRNSS)fromSatishDhawan
SpaceCentreSHAR,SriharikotabyPolarSatelliteLaunchVehicle,PSLVC27as28thconsecutivelysuccessfulmissionofPSLV.
125. IndiaArtistBhartiKherconferredwiththeKnightoftheOrderofArtsandLetters,highestculturalawardofFrance.
126. IndiaSignedLoanAgreementof$300MillionwithAsianDdvelopmentBankforImprovingRegionalRoadConnectivityalongNorthBengal
NorthEasternRegion(NER).
ADBisbasedinManila(Philippines).
127. IndiaandKyrgyzstansignedamemorandumofunderstanding(MoU)oncooperationinthetextilessectorontheoccasionofKyrgyzstans
ministerofenergyandindustryKubanychbekTurdubaevvisitingIndia.
128. Indiasigned$43millionloanagreementwithWorldBankforPartialRiskSharingFacilityforEnergyEfficiency(PRSF)projecttohelp
enterprisesandEnergyServiceCompanies(ESCOs)mobilizecommercialfinanceforinvestmentsinenergyefficiencyinitiatives.
129. IndiasignedUS$500millionloanagreementwithWorldBankforSmallIndustriesDevelopmentBankofIndia(SIDBI)forMSMEGrowth
InnovationandInclusiveFinanceProject.
130. IndiasuccessfullytestedindigenouslydevelopedBeyondVisualRange(BVR)airtoairmissile,Astra.
ItissmallestofmissilesdevelopedbyDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)withlengthof3.8metreswithrangeof110
KM.
131. Indiatohost7thAsianMinisterialConferenceonDisasterRiskReduction(AMCDRR)in2016.
ItwasdeclaredbyHomeMinisterRajnathSinghonhisvisittojapanforthirdUnitedNationsWorldConferenceonDisasterRisk
ReductionorganisedinSendai,Japan.
132. IndiatosetuptextileclusterinafricastartingfromEthiopia(AcountryinHornofAfrica).
133. IndiavotedinfavourofaRussiadraftedresolutionalongwith42OtherCountriesthatproposedremovingbenefitsforsamesexpartnersof
UNstaff.Theresolutiondidnotpassas80nationsopposedit.
FifthCommitteeoftheGeneralAssembly,dealingwithadministrativeandbudgetaryissues,votedagainsttheRussianproposalaimedto
stopmaritalbenefitsgiventoUNemployeeswithsamesexspouses.
134. India'sspaceagencyIndianSpaceResearchOrganisation(ISRO)hasbeenselectedforGandhiPeacePrize2014forsocial,economic
transformationthroughnonviolencemeans.
135. IndiabornNobellaureateSirVenkatramanRamakrishnanhasbeenelectedaspresidentofBritain'sprestigiousRoyalSociety.
RoyalSocietydatesbackto1660anditspresidentisakeyadvocateforscienceintheUKandtheworld.
RamakrishnanwillsucceedgeneticistSirPaulNurse,alsoaNobellaureate.
VenkatramanRamakrishnansharedthe2009NobelPrizeinChemistrywithThomasA.SteitzandAdaE.Yonathforstudiesofthe
structureandfunctionoftheribosome.
136. IndianITCompanyTCShasbeenrecognizedastopemployerinEuropeforthethirdconsecutiveyearbyTopEmployersInstitute.
137. IndianOlympicAssociation(IOA)presidentN.RamachandranhasbeenappointedasvicechairoftheAssociationofNationalOlympic
Committees(ANOC)internationalrelationscommission.

138. IndianOpenBadminton2015
Men'sSinglesKidambiSrikkanth(India)wonbydefeatingViktorAxelsen(Denmark).
Women'sSinglesSainaNehwal(India)wonbydefeatingRatchanokIntanon(Thailand).
139. IndianPMNarendraModiAmong30MostInfluentialPeopleOnInternetinaTime'sSurvey.
140. IndianPanoramaFilmFestival3rdEditionstartedinShillong,Meghalaya.
141. IndianPlayerKidambiSrikanthwonmen'ssinglestitleinSwissOpenGrandPrixGoldBadmintonTournamentafterbeatingViktorAlexsonof
Denmark.
142. IndianRailwayCateringandTourismCorporation(IRCTC)LaunchedRuPaydebitcardserviceincollaborationwithUnionBankofIndia
andtheNationalPaymentCorporationofIndiatoenableRailwaypassengerstobooktickets,doshoppingandpayservicebillsusingRuPaypre
paidcards.
RuPayisIndiasowncardpaymentgatewaynetworklikeVisaandMasterCardthatprovidesalternativesystemforbankstoprovidea
debitcardservice.
143. IndianRailwayssignedMemorandumofUnderstanding(MoU)withLifeInsuranceCorporationofIndia(LIC)toaugmentitsresourcesfor
betterexecutionofprojects.LICwillmake1.5LakhCroreRupeesFinancialAssistancetoIndianRailwaysforimplementingRailwayprojects
overthenextfiveyearsfromFinancialYear201516.
144. IndianSainaNehwalbecamefirstIndianwomanBadmintonPlayertoberankedasworldNo.1Player.
145. IndianWellsTennis2015(HeldinCalifornia(USA))
MensSinglesSerbiasNovakDjokovicwonhisfourthtitlebydefeatingSwitzerlandsRogerFederer.
WomensSinglesSimonaHalepofRomaniadefeatedJelenaJankovicofSerbia
Women'sDoublesSaniaMirza(India)andMartinaHingis(Switzerland)defeatedRussiansEkaterinaMakarovaandElenaVesnina.
146. IndianauthorAmitavGhoshshortlistedforthe2015ManBookerInternationalPrizeamongthe10finalistsfortheprize.
147. IndianecologistMadhavGadgilandUSScientistDr.JaneLubchencowerenamedwinnersofTylerPrizeforEnvironmentalAchievement2015
fortheirengagementindevelopmentofconservationandsustainabilitypolicies
Tylerprizewasstartedin1973andisawardedbyInternationalTylerPrizeExecutiveCommitteewiththeadministrativesupportofthe
UniversityofSouthernCaliforniainhonorofexceptionalworkforenvironmentalsciencesandpolicyqualitiesforthecause.
148. IndianenvironmentalactivistRajendraSingh,hasbeenconferredtheprestigiousStockholmWaterPrizethisyearforhisinnovativewater
restorationeffortsandcouragetoempowercommunitiesinIndianvillages.
ItisknownasNobelPrizeforwaterhasbeengiventoRajendraSinghforhiseffortsforbringingwaterwaterto1,000villages.
149. IndianAmericanRenuKhatorelectedasChairpersonofBoardofDirectorsoftheAmericanCouncilonEducation(ACE)whichisamajor
coordinatingbodyforUScollegesanduniversities.
150. IndianAmericanVijayKumarhasbeenappointedasDeanofUSA'sPennsylvaniaStateUniversity.
151. IndianAmericanauthorAkhilSharmawonFolioPrize2015forhisnovelFamilyLife.
TheFolioPrizewasinstitutedin2014andrecognisesbestEnglishlanguagefictionfromaroundtheworld,publishedinUnitedKingdom
(UK)duringtheyear.
152. IndianAmericanbiologistMurtySKambhampatiwonUSpresidentialawardforexcellenceinscience,mathematicsandengineering
mentoring.
153. IndianAmericanphysicianRahulJindalhasbeenselectedforprestigiousFulbrightNehruDistinguishedChairtoIndia.TheAhmedabad
basedHLTrivediInstituteofTransplantationScienceswillhostDr.RahulJindalforthedurationofthechair.ThisInstituteperformsabout400
kidneytransplantsinayearandhasdevelopedinnovativetransplanttolerancemodels.
154. IndianoriginSouthAfricaneducatorGanasenReddyhasbeenawardedwithKwaZuluNatal2015NationalTeachersAward(Lifetime
AchievementAwardforteachinginSouthAfrica)attheannualNationalTeachingAwardsinSouthAfrica.
OtherIndianOriginAwardessareSilasPillay,AnnelineGovenderandCarynReddy.
155. IndianoriginlawyerKannanRameshhasbeenappointedasaJudicialCommissionertoSingaporesSupremeCourtbenchfortwoyears.
156. IndiasfirstPolarRemotelyOperatedVehicle(PROVe)startedresearchinNorthAntarctica.IthasbeenbuiltbyNationalInstituteofOcean
Technology(NIOT)underUnionMinistryofEarthSciences.
157. InjetiSrinivashasbeenappointedaschiefofSportsAuthorityofIndia.
158. InsuranceAustraliaGroupLtd(IAG)announcedtoraiseitsstakeinSBIGeneralInsurancefrom26to49%.
159. InternationalEnergyAgency(IEA)releaseddataforcarbondioxide(CO2)emissionsin2014andstatedthatemissionsofCO2fromenergy
sectorremainedsamein2014astheywerein2013.
GlobalemissionsofCO2were32.3billiontonnesin2014,whichissameasthatin2013.
CausesforhaltinCO2emissionsincudechangingpatternsofenergyconsumptioninChinaandOrganisationforEconomicCooperation

andDevelopment(OECD)countriesasthesehavebeenfocusingongreatergenerationofenergyfromrenewablesources,suchas
hydropower,solarandwind,andlessburningofcoal..
160. IslamicRepublicofIrancelebratedthestartofthenewyearsfestivalofIranCaleldNowruz,aholidaythathasitsrootsinancient,pre
Islamictraditions.
161. JackMa,ChiefofChineseECommerceGiantAlibabaVisitedIndia.
162. JagmohanDalmiyahasbeenelectedasPresidentoftheBoardofControlforCricketinIndia(BCCI).
163. JapanandFrancesignedadealonmilitaryequipmentandtechnologytransfersforcooperationandjointdevelopmentindefencesector.
164. Japanorganisedworld'sfirstOtakuExpoasapartofaspecialcomicbookfairheldeveryfiveyears.
OtakuisaJapanesetermforpeoplewithobsessiveinterests,commonlyanimation.
165. JugalKishoreMohapatraisappointedasruraldevelopmentsecretary.
166. KarnatakawontheireighthRanjiTrophytitleofcricketdefeatingTamilnadu.
167. KathmanduVaranasiKathmandubusserviceflaggedoffjointlybyIndiaandNepal.
168. KatsushiInoueappointedasPresidentandChiefExecutiveOfficer(CEO)ofHondaCarsIndiaLimited(HCIL).
169. KavinderGuptaofBharatiyaJanataPartyhasbeenelectedasspeakeroftheJammuandKashmirassembly.
170. KeralaAssemblyspeakerGKarthikeyanpassedaway
171. KeralaTourismwonsilverGoldenGateawardforitsglobalmultimediacampaignforpromotingthebackwatersofKeralaatInternationale
TourismusBorseBerlin(ITBBerlin)2015,Germany.
172. KeshariNathTripathi,(GovernorofWestBengal)isappointedasGovernorofMizoramafterremovingAzizQureshiastheGovernorof
Mizoram.
173. KewalKSharmahasbeeneappointedasDelhiChiefSecretary.
174. KumarPBarve,firstIndianAmericantobeelectedtoaUSstatelegislature,willrunfortheUSCongressinthe2016elections.
175. LeeKuanYew,FormerPrimeMinisterofSingaporePassedAway.
176. LokSabhaPassedCoalMines(SpecialProvisions)Bill2015thatprovidesforauctionandallocationofcoalminesthroughabiddingprocess.
177. LokSabhapassedInsuranceLaws(Amendment)Bill,2015thatwillreplaceInsuranceLaws(Amendment)Ordinance,2014.Proposed
amendmentsinthebillaimtobringimprovementsinexistinglawsrelatingtoinsurancebusinessinIndia.
TheBillhikesForeignDirectInvestment(FDI)capintheinsurancesectorto49%from26%.
178. LokSabhapassedLandAcquisition(amendment)Bill,2015byvoicevote.
ThebillamendstheRighttoFairCompensationandTransparencyinLandAcquisition,RehabilitationandResettlement(RFCTLARR)
Act,2013.
Beforebeingpassed,GovernmentmadeamendmentsintheBillthatwaspromulgatedon29December2014.Nineamendedprovisions
whichwereacceptedincludes
RemovedexemptionsforSocialInfrastructureProjectsinpublicprivatepartnershipmode
Landthatwillbeacquiredforindustrialcorridorswillbelimitedtoonekilometreoneithersideofhighwaysandrailwaylines
Compulsoryemploymentwillbeprovidedtoonememberofafarmingfamilythatissellingitsland
hasslefreegrievanceredressalmechanismoflandloserswillbeputinplace
Farmerswillgetrighttocomplainoverlandacquisitionredressalofgrievancesatdistrictlevel
Ceilingonlandforacquisitioninindustrialcorridors
Panchayat'snodmaybemandatoryforacquiringtriballand
Governmentmayacquirelandforgovernmentbodies,corporations
LandacquisitionrehabilitationandresettlementAuthoritycannowholdhearingswheretheacquisitioncantakeplace.
Termprivateentitywasreplacedwithprivateenterprise
179. LokSabhapassedMotorVehicles(Amendment)Bill,2015thatseekstoamendMotorVehiclesAct,1988tobringerickshawsandecartsinto
theambitoftheAct.
180. LokSabhapassedWarehousingCorporations(Amendment)Bill,2015thatwillsettheCentrefreeofresponsibilityofbeingafinancial
guarantortoCentralWarehousingCorporation(CWC).
181. LokSabhapassedtheCitizenship(Amendment)Bill,2015byvoicevote.TheBillseekstoamendtheCitizenshipAct,1955whichregulatesthe
acquisitionanddeterminationofcitizenshipanddetailsregistrationofOverseasCitizensofIndiaandtheirrights.
182. LokSabhapassedtheRepealingandAmendingBill,2014thatseekstorepeal35obsoletearchaiclaws.
183. LomSabhapassedaBilltoincludecertainsynonymousnamesofcommunitiesinScheduledCastescategoryinHaryana,Karnataka,Odisha
andDadraandNagarHaveli.ItwaspassedbyRajyasabhaonFeb24.
184. MaharashtraGovernmentannouncedtoincludesaleofgutkaunderSection328ofIndianPenalCode(IPC)tomakeitanonbailableoffence.

185. MaharashtraGovernmentlaunchedBhagyashreeschemeforgirlchildreplacingSukanyascheme.
Stategovernmentwilldeposit21200rupeesinbankforgirlchildborninaBelowthePovertyLinefamily.
Bhagyashreeschemeaimsatprovidingonelakhrupeeonmaturityafterthegirlcompletes18yearsofage.
TheschemewillbejoinedwithBetiBachaoBetiPadhaoschemeofgovernment.
186. MaharashtraGovernmentscrapped5%reservationstoMuslimsingovernmentjobsinMaharashtrathatwasannouncedbytheerstwhile
CongressNCPgovernmentjustbefore2014Assemblypolls.
187. MaharashtragovernmentannouncedtorenameMumbai'sGirgaumChowpattyas'SwarajBhoomi'inhonouroffreedomfighterLokmanyaBal
GangadharTilak.
188. MaharashtragovernmentapprovedissuingAadharlinkedrationcardstocheckfakebeneficiariesandbringintransparencyinthePublic
DistributionSystem(PDS).
189. Maharashtragovernmentstartedhelpline18002332688forsocial,physicalandpsychologicalissuesfacedbyadolescents.
190. March23WorldMeteorologicalDayobservedwiththemeClimateKnowledgeforClimateAction.
WorldMeteorologicalDayiscelebratedeveryyearon23Marchtocommemoratetheentryintoforcein1950oftheconventionthatcreated
theWorldMeteorologicalOrganization.Meteorologyistheinterdisciplinaryscientificstudyoftheatmosphere.
191. March30RajasthanDiwas(markingtheunificationoftheerstwhileprincelystatesintheregionintotheStateofRajasthan).
192. MarekSawicki,MinisterofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentofPoland,visitedIndia.
193. MassnestingofendangeredspeciesOliveRidleyseaturtlesstartedinriverRushikulyainGanjamdistrictofOdisha.
194. MemorandumofAgreement(MoA)signedbetweenCouncilforResearchinAyurvedicSciences(CCRAS)andNationalResearchDevelopment
Corporation(NRDC)tocommercialiseayurvedicmedicinesandtechnologiesdevelopedatCCRAS.
195. MercersQualityofLivingReport2015
Vienna,Austriascapitalisthecitywiththebestqualityoflivingintheworld.
SingaporeishighestrankingAsiancity
DubairanksfirstacrossMiddleEastandAfrica
InSouthAsiaColombo(132)rankshighestfollowedbyIndiancitiesHyderabad(138)andPune(145).
196. MinistryScience&TechnologyandEarthScienceslaunchedBIRACAceFundaimedatacceleratinggrowthofentrepreneursin
Biotechnology.ItwillbeoperatedbyBiotechnologyIndustryResearchAssistanceCouncil(BIRAC)aPublicSectorUndertakingunderMinistry
ofScience&Technology.
197. MinistryofAYUSHstartedweeklyprogrameonDoordarshannamedAyushmanBharataimedatpopularisingtraditionalIndianmedicines
throughinteractionwithexpertsofAyurveda,Yoga,Unani,SiddhaandHomeopathy.
198. MinistryofCorporateAffairsreleaseddataoftoptenCorporateof2014comprisingeightpublicsectorundertakingsandtwoprivate
companies.
Intermofassets,RelianceIndustriesLtd(RIL)isthelargestcorporatewithassetsworth3.68lakhcrores
IndianOilCorporation(IOC)issecondwithassetsworth2.52lakhcrores,HousingDevelopmentFinanceCorp(HDFC)isthirdwithassets
worth2.25lakhcrorerupees.
OtherentitiesinthetoptenarePowerFinanceCorporation,NationalThermalPowerCorporation(NTPC),RuralElectrification
Corporation,PowerGridCorporation,LICHousingFinance(music),SteelAuthorityofIndiaLimitedandBharatSancharNigamLimited.
199. MinistryofDevelopmentofNorthEasternRegion(DoNER)appointedOlympicBronzemedallistboxerMCMaryKomasthebrand
ambassadoroftheNorthEastregion.
200. MinistryofHealthandWelfarelaunchedMediaCampaignforMissionIndradhanushincludingsongcomposedbylyricistJavedAkhtar.The
campaignwaslaunchedforcreatingawarenessregardingtheimportancetofullyimmunizeeverychildagainstallvaccinepreventablediseases
inthecountry.
MissionIndradhanushaimstocoverallundervaccinatedchildrenby2020againstsevenvaccinepreventablediseasesthatinclude
diphtheria,whoopingcough,tetanus,polio,tuberculosis,measlesandhepatitisB.
201. MinistryofPetroleum&NaturalGasorganisedUrjaSangam2015:ShapingIndiasEnergySecurity,aninternationalenergysummitinNew
Delhi.
202. MinistryofShipping,RoadTransport&HighwayslaunchedwebsiteShippingSamvadtoinviteinnovativeideasandsuggestionsfrom
publicandexpertsofIndianmaritimesectorforimprovementsinshipping,portsandinlandwaterways.
203. MinotiApte,IndianpancreaticcancerresearcherinAustraliahasbeennamedNewSouthWales(NSW)Womanoftheyear2015forher
contributionstomedicalresearch,tertiaryeducationandtheIndiancommunity.
204. Mr.RamkumarPrasadShah,theChiefJusticeofNepal,visitedIndia.
205. MuftiMohammedSayeedofPeople'sDemocraticPartyhasbeenappointedas12thChiefMinisterofJ&K.

206. MumbaiHighCourtdirectedMaharashtragovernmenttosetuparedressalmechanismforcomplaintsfiledbycitizensagainstnoisepollution
levels.
207. Myanmarsgovernmentand16ethnicrebelgroupssignednationwideceasefireagreementtoend65yearsofcivilunrestandarmedconflictin
thecountry.
208. NShakthanelectedasspeakeroftheKeralaAssemblyreplacingGKarthikeyanwhodiedrecently.
209. NASA'sDawnspacecraftcompletedOrbitaroundDwarfPlanetCeresandbecamefirstspacecrafttoorbitaroundadwarfplanet.
210. NTPCLtd.BecomesFirstPSUtoIssueBonusDebentures.Governmentreceived618.06crorebonusdebenturesamountingtoRs.7725.76crore
andRs.2060.75croreasdividenddistributiontaxbyvirtueofits74.96%shareholdinginNTPC.
211. NamibianPresidentHifikepunyePohambawontheworldsmostvaluableindividualaward,theMoIbrahimprizeforAfricanleadership.
Awardisworth$5m(3.2m)awardandgiveneachyeartoaleaderwhogovernedwell,raisedlivingstandardsandthenleftoffice.
212. NarayanDesai,NotedGandhianandformerChancellorofGujaratVidyapithpassedaway.
213. NationalDisasterManagementAuthority(NDMA)Committeesanctioned2000crorerupeestothedroughtaffectedareasinMaharashtrafor
year2014.
214. NationalGreenTribunal(NGT)directedIndianRailwaystoimposefineof5000rupeesforlitteringorthrowingwasteontherailwayplatforms
andtracks.
215. NationalInstituteofImmunology(NII)signedagreementvariousDelhicollegesforparticipationofitsScientists/facultyinteachingof
undergraduatestudentsinthesecollegesunderaprogrammetitledasScienceSetu.
216. NationalPaymentsCorporation(NPCI),thatmanagesretailpaymentssysteminIndia,haslinked15crorebankaccountswithAadhaar
numbers.
Targetistolinkbankaccountsof17croreDBT(DirectBenefitTransfer)beneficiarieswithAadhaarby30June2015.
217. NewZealandcricketerDanielVettoriretiredfromallformsofInternationalCricket.
218. Newzealand'sMartinGuptillscoredhighesteverscoreof237inCricketWorldCuphistory,PlayingagainstinSouthAfrica.
219. NewExecutiveDirectorsappointedforGovernmenrOwnedBanks
CharanSinghUCOBank
VenkatRamMurtiBankofBaroda
RPMaratheBankofIndia
HarideeshKumarCanaraBank
NKSahooAllahabadBank
PawanKumarBajajIndianOverseasBank
RaviShankarPandeySyndicateBank
KishorePirajiKharatUnionBankofIndia
RCLodhaCentralBankofIndia
220. NineIndianAmericansAwarded$50,000SloanResearchFellowshipsamong126USandCanadianresearchersselectedbyTheAlfredP.Sloan
Foundationasrecipientsofthe2015SloanResearchFellowships.
NandiniAnanth,PrabalDutta,ShyamGollakota,ShantanuJadhav,HemamalaKarunadasa,NealMankad,SureshNaidu,Padmini
RangamaniandVivekShende.
221. OnlineRetailerFlipkartacquiredmobileadnetworkAdiQuitytoincreaseadvertisingreachofFlipkart.
222. PCVaishhasbeenappointedaschairmancummanagingdirector(CMD)ofNationalTextileCorporation(NTC).
223. PMNarendraModiVisitedIndianOceanislandnationSeychellesandsignedfouragreementswiththetoboostsecurityandmaritime
partnership.
Cooperationinhydrography,renewableenergy,InfrastructuredevelopmentandSaleofnavigationchartsandelectronicnavigational
charts.
PMalsolaunchedtheCoastalSurveillanceRadarProjectinSeychelles.
224. PMNarendraModiannouncedsettingupofShaheedBhagatSinghPGInstituteforHorticultureResearchandEducationatAmritsar,Punjab
on84thMartyrdomDayatNationalMartyrsMemorialinHussainiwalainPunjab.
225. PMNarendraModibeganhisofficialVisittoThreeislandcountriesinIndianOceanSeychelles,MauritiusandSriLanka.
226. PMNarendraModiinaugurated2unitsof600MegaWatt(MW)eachofShreeSingajiThermalPowerProjectKhandwadistrictofMadhya
Pradesh.
227. PMNarendraModilaunchedfirstindigenouslydevelopedRotavirusvaccinenamedRotavactoboostIndiaseffortstocombatinfant
mortalityduetodiarrhea.
vaccinewillbeavailableatapriceof1USdollarperdosemakingitthecheapestvaccineavailableforrotavirusglobally.
228. PMNarendraModilaunchedmultipurposeandmultimodalplatform,PRAGATI(ProActiveGovernanceandTimelyImplementation),

aimedataddressingcommonmansgrievancesandmonitoringimportantprojects.
229. PakistansuccessfullytestfiredfirstindigenouslydevelopedarmeddroneBurraqalongwithitslaserguidedmissileBarq.
230. PakistansuccessfullytestedShaheenIIIsurfacetosurfacenuclearcarryingballisticmissilewithrange2,750km.
231. PedroMorenes,DefenceMinisterofSpainVisitedIndiaandsignedanagreementonMutualProtectionofClassifiedInformationtoprovide
frameworkforcooperationindefenceresearchanddevelopment.
232. PradipKumarMohantyisappointedaschiefjusticeofOdishaHighCourt.
233. PresidentPranabMukherjeeconferredthehighestIndianCivilianHonorBharatRatnatoformerPrimeMinisterAtalBihariVajpayee.
MadanMohanMalaviyawasalsoposthumouslyawardedBharatRatna.
234. PresidentPranabMukherjeegavehisassenttoMaharashtraAnimalPreservation(Amendment)Bill1995(asperprovisionsinArticle201of
ConstitutionofIndia)thataimstobanslaughterofbullsandbullocksinMaharashtra.
235. PresidentPranabMukherjeepresentedStreeShaktipuraskarsandNariShaktiPuruskars2014ontheoccasionofInternationalWomensDay.
StreeShaktipuraskarsareconferredonsixwomenintheareaofwomensendeavorandexceptionalcontributioneachyear.Awardcarries
acashprizeof3lakhrupeesandacitation.
AwardeesofStreeShaktiPrize2014

Award

Winner

Cause

Rani
Lakshmibai

SeemaPrakash,
Madhya
Pradesh

WorkingforvulnerableandmarginalisedCommunities

Rani
Rudramma
DeviAward

AsthaSansthan Forprotectingwomensrights,gender
(NGO),
mainstreaming,issuesrelatingtoviolence
Rajasthan
againstwomentribalrights,foodsecurity,
transparencyandrighttoworkandothers.

MataJijabai
Award

Chandraprabha
rehabilitationofdestitute,divorced,disabledwomenand
Bokey,
rehabilitationoforphanchildren.
Maharashtra

ofMadhyaPradeshSince2000(particularlyKorkutribe)

workinginruralareassince1960forempowermentand

KannagiAward Dr.P
Bhanumati,
Kerala

foundingAssociationforMentallyHandicappedAdults

RaniGaidinliu SisterMariola,
ZeliangAward Rajasthan

workingwiththeinmatesatAjmerJail,Rajasthansince
1997andlobbyingforPrisonsWithoutWalls.

DeviAhilyabai AnyayRahit
HolkarAward Zindagi(NGO),
Goa

Worksforcombatingtraffickingofpersonsfor

(AHMA)workingforwelfareofthepoordestitute
mentallychallengedadultssince1996.

commercialsexualexploitationsince1997.

236. PrimeMinisterNarendraModiappointedaschancellorofViswaBharatiUniversityforthreeyears.
237. RBIacceptedtofocusoninflationtargetingasatoolforMonetaryPolicyFrameworkasperanagreementbetweenGovernmentandReserve
BankofIndia.
InInflationtargeting,centralbankdecidesforamediumtermtargetinflationrate.
RBIwillhavetomaintainConsumerPriceIndex(CPI)basedinflationtargetsbelow6%byJanuary2016and4%from201617with2%
plus/minusrange.
NewframeworkwillmakeRBImoreaccountableasitwillexplaintogovernmentifitfailstomeetinflationtargets.
ThistransitionfrommonetarytargetingsuggestedbyChakravartyCommittee(1988)toInflationtargetingsuggestedbyUrijitPatel
Committeeissimilartothepracticeadoptedbycentralbanksindevelopedcountries.
238. RafaelNadal(Spain)wonArgentinaTennisOpenbeatingJuanMonaco(Argentina).
239. RailwayministerSureshPrabhuhassetuptwocommitteesinlinewiththepromisesmadeinhismaidenrailbudgetlastmonth,including
InnovationCouncil'KayaKalp'headedbyformerTataGroupchairmanRatanTatatosuggestwaystoturnaroundtheailingorganisation.The
othercommittee,underformerDIPPsecretaryAjayShankar,hasbeensetuptorevampministry'sPPP(publicprivatepartnership)celltoget
privateinvestment.
240. RajyaSabhapassedCitizenship(Amendment)Bill,2015thatwaspassedbyLokSabhaon2March2015.
BillseekstomergethePersonofIndianOrigin(PIO)andOverseasCitizenshipofIndia(OCI)schemesandprovide30daybreaktoperson
whoappliesforIndiancitizenshipiftheyleaveIndianforsometime.
241. RajyaSabhapassedInsuranceLaws(Amendment)Bill,2015thatseekstoincreaseforeigninvestmentlimitto49%from26%.TheBillwas

earlierpassedinLokSabhaon4March2015.
242. RanglalJamudaappointedasSecretaryinMinistryofFoodProcessingIndustries
243. RenownedornithologistK.S.LavkumarKhacharPassedAway.
Ornithologistissomeonewhostudiesornithologythebranchofsciencedevotedtobirdsincludingbirdsongs,flightpatterns,physical
appearance,migrationpatternsandmore.
244. ReserveBankofIndia(RBI)reducedreporateby25basispointsto7.5%.ThisisthesecondtimesinceJanuary2015thatRBIreducedthe
reporateby25basispoints.NewMonetaryPolicyRatesAre
RepoRate7.50%
ReverseRepo6.50%
BankRate8.50%
MarginalStandingFacility(MSF)Rate8.50%
CRR(CashReserveRatio)4%
SLR(StatutoryLiquidityratio)21.5%
245. ReserveBankofIndia(RBI)signeda400millionUSDcurrencyswapagreementwithCentralBankofSriLanka.
246. RogerFederer(Switzerland)wonDubaiOpenforseventhtimebydefeatingNovakDjokovic(Serbia).
247. Rupeee1notereleasedafteragapofover20yearswithsignatureofFinanceSecretaryonit.ThenotewasreleasedatShrinathjitemplein
Nathdwara,RajasthanbyFinanceSecretaryRajivMehrishi.
248. SMVijayanandisappointedasSecretaryinMinistryofPanchayatiRaj.
249. SecurityandExchangeBoardofIndia(SEBI)BoardapprovedSEBI(InternationalFinancialServicesCentres)Guidelines,2015aimedto
provideanenablingenvironmentforsettingupofcapitalmarketinfrastructurelikestockexchanges,clearinghouses,depositoryservices,etc.,in
suchcentres.
250. Serviceswon69thSantoshTrophyFootballTournamentbeatingPunjabinPunjab.
251. SheikhTamimbinHamadAlThani,theEmirofQatarvisitedIndia.
252. ShippingMinistrysignedanagreementwithToyotaforexportofautomobileunitsthroughKamarajarPortLimited(KPL).
253. SingerLataMangeshkarwaspresentedwithLaadliVoiceoftheCenturyawardatthesixtheditionoftheNationalMediaandAdvertising
AwardsforGenderSensitivityheldinMumbai.
LaadliVoiceoftheCenturyawardLataMangeshkar
BestmovieawardQueen
LaadliGrandPrixawardadvertisingagencyOgilvyandMatherforitsadvertisementonTitanRaga
LaadliextraordinaireawardCharuKhuranaforalandmarkjudgmentinSupremeCourtregardingBollywoodsbiasagainst
womenmakeupartists.
254. SirajHussainappointedasSecretaryinDepartmentofAgricultureandCooperation.
255. SocialnetworkingsiteFacebookacquiredshoppingsearchengineTheFindtomoveintoecommerceeffectively.
256. SohailAmanisAppointedasnewChiefofPakistanAirForce.
257. SpanishCarolinaMarinwonAllEnglandBadmintonChampionshipbeatingIndia'sSainaNehwal.
258. SriLankagovernmentconferredcountry'shighestmilitaryrankoffieldmarshaltoformerarmychiefSarathFonseka.
259. SriLankasuspendedworkonconstructionofacontroversialUSD1.5billionChineseportcityprojectinColombo.
260. SriLankanCricketerKumarSangakkaracreatedrecordofcenturiesinfourconsecutivematchesinCricketWorldCup.
261. SriLankancricketerKumarSangakkaraannouncedretirementfromTestcricket
262. StateGovernmentsBudgets201516
Assam
50%PowerSubsidyforBelowPovertyLineFamilies.
Rs.100crorefordistributionofYarnandBlanketstothePoor.
Rs.10000forBPLFamiliesforconductingdaughters'MarriagesandRs.10000forwomenselfhelpgroupsinthestate.
ExemptionofDrugsfromVAT(ValueAddedTax).
Bihar
BudgetSize120685CroreRupeees
PlannedExpenditure57437Crores
NonPlannedExpenditure63259Crores
Chhattisgarh
BudgetsizeRs.67547Crores

NewBioControlLaboratoryinRaipurand10NewVeterinaryHospitalsacrossstate.
CalleditaYouthOrientedBudgetwith16%ofplannedoutlaydedicatedtogrowthofYouthinthestate.
Haryana
PresentedbyHaryanaFinanceMinsterCaptainAbhimanyu.
VAT(Valueaddedtax)removedfromBioFertilizersandVATreducedto5%onLEDLights,PipeFittingsandPrefabricatedSteel
Structures.
HimachalPradesh
PresentedbyHimachalPradeshChiefMinsterVirbhadraSingh.
BudgetsizeRs.28339Crores
EntrytaxonIndustrialInputschargedonNewindustrieswillbereducedto1%from2%.
VATonLEDBulbswillbereducedto5%from13.75%and21Lakhhouseholdswillbeprovided3LEDBulbsatarateof150each.
Jharkhand
PresentedbyChiefMinsterandFinanceMinisterRaghubarDas.
BudgetsizeRs.55492Crores
State'sFirstwomenengineeringcollegetobeestablishedinRamgarh.
10927PoshanSakhi(WomenHealthWorkers)wouldbeappointed.
AtalGramJyotiYojanaandTiklaMajhiKrishiPumpYojanawouldbeenactedin201516.
Cowslaughterwouldbepreventedthroughenactingaspecialactforit.
TejaswiniSchemetobeIntroducedin17Districtstomakethegirlsselfreliant.
DalBhatYojanatobeempoweredthroughopeningof370NewCentres.
MukhyaMantriVidyaLaxmiYojanatobeintroducedtopromoteGirlsEducation.
Karnataka
PresentedbyChiefMinsterKSiddaramaiah.
BudgetsizeRs.72600Crores
VATonCigarettes,Cigars,Gutkhaandothermanufacturedtobaccohikedfrom17%to20%
Salestaxrateincreasedbyone%onpetrolanddiesel
Annabhagy,RunamukthaScheme,VasathiBhagyaandPashuBhagyaschemetobeenactedsoon.
SocialandEducationdoortodoorsurveytobedonetoassessthecurrentscenario.
Maharashtra
PresentedbyMaharashtraFinanceMinisterSudhirMungantiwar.
BudgetsizeRs.72600Crores.
LocalBodytaxtobeabolishedfromAugust1.CompensationofRevenuebyenhancingVATtaxrate.
NoVATonServiceTax.TaxonLEDBulbstobereducedto5%.
Excisedutyoncountryliquortobe200%ofthemanufacturingcostorRs.120/litrewhicheverishigher.
Telangana
PresentedbyTelanganaFinanceMinisterEatalaRajendra.
BudgetsizeRs.115689Crores.
Uttarakhand
PresentedbyUttarakhandFinanceMinisterIndiraHridayesh.
BudgetsizeRs.32310Crores.
Punjab
PresentedbyPunjabFinanceMinisterSParimnersinghdhindsa.
BudgetsizeRs.79314Crores.
Rajasthan
PresentedbyRajasthanFinanceMinisterandChiefMinisterVasundharaRaje.
MukhyaMantriAdarshGramPanchcyatYojanatobeenactedsoon.
Under'DigitalRajasthanandGoodGovernance'segment,PrimaryAgricultureCreditSociety(PACS),LargeAgriculture
MultipurposeSociety(LAMS)and15,000EMitracentreswillbemadebusinesscorrespondents
NewITandegovernancepolicy,videoconferencingatallATALSewaKendras,establishmentofDistrictLevelOfficerofIT
UttarPradesh
PresentedbyUttarPradeshChiefMinisterAkhileshYadav.

BudgetsizeRs.302687Crores.
AgriJunctionSchemetobestartedforHelpingFarmersandruralyouthwithagriculturalknowledgeselfsufficientbysettingup
morethan1000onestopshopsin201516.
KanyaVidyaDhanandLaptopDistributionschemetoberelaunched.
MadhyaPradesh
PresentedbyMadhyaPradeshFinanceMinisterJayantMalaiya.
BudgetsizeRs.131199Crores.
263. SunilSabharwal,anIndianAmericaninvestorhasbeenrenominatedasanAlternateExecutiveDirectorattheInternationalMonetaryFund
(IMF)bytheUnitedStates(US).
264. SupremeCourt(SC)ofIndiadeclaredSection66AoftheInformationTechnology(IT)Act,2000asunconstitutionalandstruckitdown.
Thesectionempowerslawenforcementagenciestoarrestthosewhopostobjectionablecontentonlineandprovidesforathreeyearjail
term.
ItdeclaredSection66AasunconstitutionalbecauseItviolatescitizensfundamentalrighttofreedomofspeechandexpression
providedintheArticle19(1)(a),notsavedbyArticle19(2),ofConstitutionofIndia.
265. SwedenBasedStockholmInternationalPeaceResearchInstitute(SIPRI)releasedTrendsinInternationalArmsTransfers2014reportand
statedthatIndiaisworld'slargestimporterofweaponsandmilitaryequipmentwith15%ofglobalimports,withRussiabeingitsmajority
supplier.USAIslargestExporter,followedbyRussiaandChina.
266. ThreeSouthAsianwomenNiloofarRahmani(Afghanistan),NadiaSharmeen(Bangladesh)andTabassumAdnan(Pakistan)wereselected
forInternationalWomenofCourageAwardforyear2015givenbyUSSecretaryofState.
267. ThreeSupportVesselsT38,T39andT40commissionedintotheIndianNavy.
268. TimesHigherEducationreleasedWorldReputationRankings2015.UnitedKingdomhas12of100mostrenownedhighereducation
institutionsintheworld.
HarvardUniversity(US)isat1stpositionfollowedbyCambridgeUniversity(UK)at2ndandOxfordUniversityonthethird.Massachusetts
InstituteofTechnology(US)hasslippedto4thplacein2015from2ndplacein2014.
GermanyisbestrepresentednationafterUSandUK,withsixtop100universities.
NoIndianInstitutionhasbeengivenplaceinthetop100,AsiasbestperformerisUniversityofTokyo(12thposition).
269. Traditionaltropicalgrass,Darbha,hasbeenidentifiedasanecofriendlyfoodpreservativeinaresearchbyCentreforNanotechnologyand
AdvancedBiomaterials(CeNTAB)andCentreforAdvancedResearchinIndianSystemofMedicine(CARISM)oftheSASTRAUniversity,
Thanjavur(Tamilnadu).
270. TripuraBiodiversityBoardlaunchedaprojecttolinkconservationtoeconomicconcerns.
Theprojectwilllinkconservationofbioresourceswithlivelihoodandeconomicconcernsoftheownersthroughaccessbenefitsharing.
AimistostrengthenimplementationofBiologicalDiversityAct,2002andBiologicalDiversityRules,2004bycreatingawarenessamongst
thevariousstakeholdersaboutrealeconomicvaluesofbioresources.
271. TripuraGovernmentlaunchedNortheastIndiasfirstKisanCallCentreinAgartalatogiveimmediatesolutionsandadvisorytofarmers
regardingseedprocurement,agrometric,fertilizer,soilhealth,pesticidesusageandmarketingoftheproduces.
272. UK'sRenownedfantasyauthorTerenceDavidJohnPratchettpassedaway.
273. USPresidentBarackObamanominatedDavidHaleasAmbassadortoPakistan
274. USmathematiciansJohnFNashJrandLouisNirenberghavebeennamedasjointwinnersofAbelPrizefor2015fortheircontributionsto
mathematicalsciences.TheawardisgivenbyNorwegianAcademyofSciencesandLetters.
275. USTGloballaunchedWomensSafetyAppiSafeforThiruvananthapuramCityPolice.
276. UnionCabinetapprovedApproachandKeyComponentsofeKranti:NationaleGovernancePlan(NeGP)2.0asanimportantpillarofDigital
IndiaprogrammeandenvisagedbytheDepartmentofElectronicsandInformationTechnology(DeitY).
277. UnionCabinetapprovedaBillforputtingharshpenaltiesforthosehavingunaccountedmoneyabroad.
Thebillwillgivepowerstotaxauthoritiestotrackanddealwithillegalwealthaccountedabroad.
OffenderswillnotbepermittedtoapproachtheSettlementCommission.
Penaltywillne300%oftaxestobeleviedontheconcealedamount,and10yearsimprisonment.
278. UnionHRDMinisterSmritiIranihasbeennamedasYoungGlobalLeaderfromIndiabytheWorldEconomicForum(WEF).
279. UnionMinisterofChemicals&FertilizersShriAnanthKumarlaunchedPharmaJanSamadhanschemeasawebenabledsystemforredressal
ofconsumersgrievancesrelatingtopricingandavailabilityofmedicines.
280. UnionMinisterofStateforConsumerAffairs,FoodandPublicDistributionRaosahebDadaraoDanveresigned.
281. UnionMinistryofEnvironmentlaunchedNationalAirQualityIndexinApril2015asameasuretounderstandairqualitybymonitoringthe

eightmajorpollutantsthatimpacthealth.
282. UnionMinistryofEnvironment,ForestandClimateChangerevoked3yearoldbanonmininginGoa.
Ironoreextractionin72minesoutoftotal89minesinthestatewillberesumednow,Remaining17miningareasarelocatedwithinthe
onekilometreradiusofwildlifesanctuaries.
283. UnitedArabEmirateswillhost17thAsianFootballConfederation(AFC)AsianCupin2019.
284. ViceAdmiralPMurugesanappointedasViceChiefofNavalStaff.
285. ViceAdmiralSPSCheemaTakesOverasnewChiefofWesternNavalCommand.
286. VikasSwaruphasbeenappointedasanofficialspokespersonoftheMinistryofExternalAffairs.
287. VisitBritain,NationaltourismagencyofBritainchooseBollywoodactorSaifAliKhantopromoteanIndiacentriccampaign,Bollywood
Britain.
288. WestBengalAnnouncesIndiasFirstTransgenderDevelopmentBoard.
289. WildlifeManagementofPalwanchaannouncedecorestorationprojectforKinnerasaniSanctuaryinTelangana.
290. Women'sAdvancementIndexbyMasterCard
Indiahaslowestscoreof44.2ofthe16AsiaPacificcountriesthoughithasimprovedfromthe38.1scorein2007.
NewZealandhashighestscoreof77,followedbyAustralia(76),andthePhilippines(72.6).
291. WorldHealthOrganization(WHO)incollaborationwithMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfareannouncedlaunchingofNationalHealth
SystemsResourceCentre(NHSRC),asasfirstWHOCollaboratingCentreinSouthEastAsiaRegionforPriorityMedicalDevicesandHealth
TechnologyPolicy.
292. WorldJusticeProject(WJP)releasedOpenGovernmentIndex2015.
Outof102countries,Swedentoppedthelistintermsofopennessinthegovernment,followedbyNewZealandandNorwayatsecondand
thirdplaces.
Cambodia,Iran,Myanmar,UzbekistanandZimbabweareatlastintheIndex.
Indiahasbeenplacedatthe37thpositioninthe2015Index.
293. WorldsLargestandTallestIndianFlagUnfurledInFaridabad(Haryana).
294. YukiyaAmano,DirectorGeneraloftheInternationalAtomicEnergyAgencyVisitedIndia.