Professional Documents
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Starred Articles: GKCA Update 1 To 31 Mar
Starred Articles: GKCA Update 1 To 31 Mar
www.testfunda.com Page 1 of 16
GKCA Update
1st to 31st Mar
AAP, has been attacking R-Infra for buying power priced higher at over Rs 6 per unit when the cost of
generation is around Rs 3.50. AAP also demanded that the R-Infra should remove Regulatory Assets, losses
accumulated in previous years that can be recovered by a discom, on the ground that discoms were used to
making imaginary losses and later recovering them from customers. AAP has stated that Rs 22,000 crore were
lost in Maharashtra in three years due to corruption and inefficiency in the state government and power firms.
AAP had accused Mumbai's power discoms, R-Infra and Tata PowerBSE -3.25 % of making a wrongful gain of Rs
434 crore in the three years ended March 2013, by overstating taxes while calculating costs. The charges,
made by AAP members Anjali Damania, Preeti Sharma Menon and Satish Jain, were strongly denied by the
company at the time and they filed a defamation case against them. In its petition, R-Infra has refuted the
allegations made by AAP and has stated that the party's allegations were -incorrect, false, malicious,
misleading, and defamatory- and sought the court's intervention to restrain AAP from repeating such charges.
They said that the party was targeting them for political mileage.
08 Malaysia Airlines flight with 227 passengers goes missing in air, no evidence
of crash
Mar World > Malaysia Airlines Accident
A Malaysia Airlines flight Flight MH370 carrying 227 passengers, including two infants, and 12 crew members
bound for Beijing lost contact with air traffic control after leaving Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur on Saturday
8th March, 2014. The flight has been missing since then and there has been no trace of a crash anywhere in
the South China Sea region. The plane, captained by a veteran MAS pilot, had relayed no indications of
distress, and weather at the time was said to be good. There had been rumours of plane debris being found
near the coast of Vietnam, where flight controllers lost contact with it. It was later proved to be untrue. Ships
and aircraft from seven countries and high-capacity satellites of the US and China have been scouring the seas
around Malaysia and south of Vietnam for trace of the aircraft. Conspiracy theories have been doing the
rounds including that of a terrorist attack on the plane. However, the US has ruled out any such possibility. The
passengers on board were of 14 different nationalities, with majority of them Chinese. There were also 5
Indians on the flight. Airlines experts have said that the flight might have disintegrated mid-air and the vast
expanse of water was making it difficult for search parties to find any remains.
17 India remains the biggest arms buyer over the last 5 years
Mar India > Arms Buyer
India remains the biggest buyer of arms in the world, importing nearly three times as many weapons as its
nearest competitors China and Pakistan over the last five years, according to the Stockholm International
Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Indian imports of major weapons rose 111 per cent in the last five years
compared to 2004-08 and its share of total global arms imports increased from seven to 14 percent. India had
replaced China as the world’s largest arms buyer in 2010. India has a huge defence spending to keep up with
better-equipped Chinese forces and a range of military challenges in its hostile neighbourhood. The main
supplier of arms to India in 2009-13 was Russia, accounting for 75 per cent of all imports. India has lately
started procuring arms from other sources, particularly the US.
www.testfunda.com Page 3 of 16
GKCA Update
1st to 31st Mar
18 Putin signs treaty to include Crimea as part of Russia amidst threat of more
sanctions
Mar World > Crimea
Ignoring sanctions from the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a draft treaty with Crimean leaders,
making Crimea a part of Russia. The events unfolded two days after Crimeans voted in a disputed referendum
to break away from Ukraine. While his actions were cheered in Crimea and Russia, Ukraine’s government
called Putin a threat to the world. The US, Japan and the EU have warned of more sanctions on Russia. But
Putin said they won’t deter Russia and sought India and China’s support. The U.S. President Barack Obama has
slapped sanctions on 11 Russians and Ukrainians blamed for the seizure, including Ukraine’s ousted president
Victor Yanukovich, and Vladislav Surkov and Sergei Glazyev, two aides to Putin. Obama's order cleared the way
to sanction people associated with the arms industry and targets "the personal wealth of cronies" of the
Russian leadership. The EU has imposed visa restrictions and freezed assets of 21 Russian and Ukrainian
officials.
20 Scientists 3-D printing to develop artificial heart tissue that mimics natural
Mar heart muscle
Science and Technology > Artificial Heart
Researchers at the Harvard Medical School in Boston and the University of Sydney in Australia have been able
to create artificial heart tissues in the lab that mimics the mechanical and biological properties of the native
heart. The artificial tissue has worked properly when implanted in animals. Natural proteins that form gelatin-
like materials called hydrogels have been utilized to help in the regeneration of various tissues in the body and
a human protein called tropoelastin has been used to develop a new family of gels that give the hydrogels
resilience and strength. On it, the researchers grow actual heart cells. To make sure the cells form the right
structure, researchers have used 3-D printing and micro engineering techniques to create patterns in the gels.
These patterns coax the cells to grow the way the researchers want them to.
Awards
02 Oscars 2014 Winners
Mar Oscars
The 2014 Oscars were handed out at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. '12 Years a Slave' was named best
picture, while supporting actress honors went to the film's Lupita Nyong'o. John Ridley won best adapted
screenplay.
Overall, 'Gravity' won the most Oscars with a total of seven. 'Dallas Buyers Club' took home three awards,
including wins for best actor Matthew McConaughey and supporting actor Jared Leto.
Cate Blanchett was named best actress for 'Blue Jasmine', while Alfonso Cuaron won best director for 'Gravity'.
Ellen DeGeneres hosted the show.
www.testfunda.com Page 5 of 16
GKCA Update
1st to 31st Mar
Bank Specific
17 State Bank of India to sell off Rs. 5000 crore bad loans to ARCs
Mar State Bank of India
The State Bank of India (SBI), for the first time since it started, will sell around Rs. 5,000 crore of its Rs. 67,799
crore non-performing assets to Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) before the end of the month. Normally
ARCs pay 5-10 per cent of the total bad loans being bought in cash and the rest could be security receipts (SRs).
The bank had reported Rs 11,400 crore or 5.73 per cent of its assets as bad loans in the December quarter. This
pulled down its net profit by a whopping 34 per cent to Rs 2,234 crore. Banks, mostly state-run ones, are in a
hurry to sell close to Rs 43,000 crore to ARCs by the end of the month as the total bad assets in the system
rose to 4.1 per cent of the total advances, exceeding four times the amount in the past quarter. The urgency to
offload bad loans comes as the RBI has been encouraging lenders to clean up bad loans. The banks also want
to avoid higher loan loss provisions that will set in from next March, by when all restructured loans would be
classified as non-performing accounts attracting higher provisions.
Corporate
09 Google might face $ 5 billion penalty from CCI, Facebook-WhatsApp deal
might also come under the scanner
Mar Google
Internet search giant Google, which is facing investigation from the Competition Commission of India (CCI),
might end up paying a $ 5 billion penalty, if it is found to have violated competition norms of India. The case
relates to Google abusing its dominant position in the internet search engine space and has been before the
CCI since the last two years. Google said that it has been cooperating fully with the CCI and that the US Federal
Trade Commission had already given Google a clean chit in a related case in the United States.
The complaint against Google was first filed by advocacy group CUTS International way back in late 2011.
Later, matrimonial website matrimony.com also filed a complaint.
Facebook's $19 billion deal to acquire WhatsApp may also face a detailed scrutiny by the CCI, especially since
both players have significant presence in India. All merger and acquisition deals of companies having their
presence in India have to get approval from the CCI. The CCI has still not received an application from
Facebook or WhatsApp for the deal.
www.testfunda.com Page 6 of 16
GKCA Update
1st to 31st Mar
Economy
24 India seeks more Chinese investment to bridge trade deficit
Mar Trade Deficit
India sought to increase Chinese investments into the country, especially from China's largest business hub
Shanghai, to bridge the ballooning USD 35 billion trade deficit. During a meeting with Shanghai Mayor Yang
Xiong, Indian Ambassador to China Ashok K Kantha highlighted the potential for expanding and diversifying
trade and economic cooperation.
www.testfunda.com Page 7 of 16
GKCA Update
1st to 31st Mar
China-India bilateral trade dipped to USD 66.5 billion last year and India has been asking China to boost
investments to bridge the trade deficit.
India
04 After Penguin, another publisher recalls Wendy Doniger's previous book
Mar Wendy Dongier
Following Penguin, another publisher, Aleph, has recalled Wendy Doniger’s book, 'On Hinduism'. Penguin had
earlier recalled Dongier’s work, The Hindus: An Alternative History'. Aleph Book Company, promoted by Rupa
publishers has said that it doesn’t want to get involved in any controversy and hence was recalling the book.
'On Hinduism' was published in 2013 while 'The Hindus: An Alternative History' was published in 2009.
Bookshops across the country have seen a rise in sale of Doniger’s books following renewed interest in
Doniger's work post- Penguin's withdrawal of her book. Penguin had recalled the books following protests by
an organization called the ' Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti, on grounds that its contents were "derogatory and
offensive to Hinduism" and misrepresented facts. The Samiti scaled up the protests last week and demanded
'On Hinduism' be withdrawn as well, as it too was "malicious and offending.
10 Study reveals three out of four working women in India have health
Mar problems
Working Women
A recent survey by Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) has found that three out of
four working women in the country suffer from health disorders. The survey found that about 42% of working
women are suffering from lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, obesity, depression, backache, heart
ailments while 22% are afflicted with chronic diseases such as obesity, depression, diabetes, high cholesterol,
heart, kidney disease, etc. The study was conducted in ten cities including, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and
Mumbai to mark International Women’s Day on March 8.
10 Supreme Court sets deadline for trial against MPs and MLAs
Mar Supreme Court
The Supreme Court set a deadline for lower courts to complete trial in cases involving lawmakers within a year
of framing of charges. A bench headed by Justice R.M. Lodha also said that trial courts will have to give
explanation to the Chief Justice of the respective high court if the trial is not completed within a year. The
bench, however, said the period can be extended by the Chief Justice of the High Court if he is satisfied with
the reason given by trial judge for not completing the trial within this period.
24 Money can now be withdrawn from Bank of India ATMs without an account
Mar Bank of India
Bank of India became the first state-run lender to allow withdrawal of funds to individuals from its ATMs
without an account in the bank. The bank launched a domestic remittance service called 'Instant Money
Transfer (IMT)' that allows card-less cash withdrawal from its select ATMs which are tuned for this facility.
The IMT allows a customer to send money to a receiver only by using the receiver's mobile number through
the bank's ATM or using retail internet banking facility. The receiver may withdraw money from designated
Bank of India ATMs without using a debit card.
The receiver would receive partial details for cash withdrawal on mobile phones. The sender will be charged of
IMT fee of Rs 25 for every IMT transaction, he or she issues to a receiver or beneficiary.
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GKCA Update
1st to 31st Mar
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GKCA Update
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18 Government plan to connect rural India with Bharat Broadband by end-
2013 moves beyond deadlines
Mar Bharat Broadband
A government project that aims to connect all of India down to its villages, Bharat Broadband, remains a case
of missed deadlines. What was supposed to have been in place by end-2013 has moved little beyond pilots —
fibre being laid in just 40 development blocks covering 800 panchayats. The Rs 20,000-crore project, started in
2011, planned to lay down fibre in 250,000 panchayats, providing Internet connectivity to 600,000 villages and
deliver services like education, healthcare, e-governance and e-commerce online.
24 BJP distances itself from “Har Har Modi’ slogan; senior leader Jaswant Singh
to contest as independent
Mar BJP
Narendra Modi has asked his supporters not to use the ‘Har Har Modi’ slogan following protests by Hindu
seers and opposition parties. The BJP has also clarified that their official slogan is “Ab ki baar, Modi sarkaar.”
Earlier, Shankaracharya of Dwarka Peeth Swaroopanand Saraswati had objected to the slogan and registered a
protest with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat asking him to stop such “vyakti puja” (eulogising of individual). Political
parties like Samajwadi Party and Congress have also protested against BJP’s slogan, saying it disrespected Lord
Shiva.
Upset at being denied a Lok Sabha ticket from his home district of Barmer in Rajasthan, senior BJP leader
Jaswant Singh has filed his nomination papers as an independent from the district. Although, he has accused
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and party president Rajnath Singh of betraying him, Singh will
remain the member of BJP for now. Singh had previously won the Lok Sabha ticket from Darjeeling in 2009. He
will now be fighting the elections against BJP candidate Colonel Sona Ram Choudhary, who had left the
Congress a few days ago to join the BJP and enjoys the backing of Vasundhara Raje. The BJP senior leadership
has indicated that there will be no reversal of decision.
World
03 Rolls-Royce Faces Indian Corruption and Bribery Investigation
Mar Rolls Royce
India’s defence ministry has ordered an investigation into the purchase of jet fighter engines from Britain’s
Rolls-Royce in a deal reportedly worth $1.6 billion.
The deal, which was signed in 2011 between the British automaker, which also makes airplane engines, and
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, or HAL, will be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
British police had arrested two men in connection to UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) probe into the aerospace
and defence giant over allegations of bribery and corruption in February 2014.
The Defence Ministry has also put on hold to all deals with the British engine manufacturer till the completion
of the investigation process.
www.testfunda.com Page 13 of 16
GKCA Update
1st to 31st Mar
The play, which bagged the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award 2013 after its opening in
Scotland, will have a short run at the Southbank Centre in London until March 12. It will then travel to
Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore over the coming months.
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GKCA Update
1st to 31st Mar
Foreign journalists are unable to get visas to enter North Korea, but overseas academics and students can.
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GKCA Update
1st to 31st Mar
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