CurrentAffairsApril2015

Month April2015

Type All

298CurrentAffairswerefoundinMonthApril2015forTypeAll

Appointments
1. AndhraPradeshGovernmentappointedChadalavadaKrishnamurthyasChairmanofTTD(TirumalaTirupatiDevasthanamsBoard).
2. BrijbhushanSharanSinghreelectedaspresidentofWrestlingFederationofIndia(WFI)forfouryears.
3. CommunistPartyofIndia(Marxist)CPI(M)electedSitaramYechuryasfifthgeneralsecretaryoftheparty.
4. FinlandsoppositionCentrePartyledbyJuhaSipilawonGeneralElections.JuhaSipilawillbe44thPrimeMinisterofFinland.
5. GeneralMuhammaduBuhariofAllProgressivesCongress(APC)partywonPresidentialElectionsofNigeria.
6. GulshanRai,DirectorGeneralofIndianComputerEmergencyResponseTeam(CertIn)appointedasIndiasfirstcybersecuritychiefas
SpecialSecretaryforcybersecurityforPrimeMinistersOffice(PMO).
7. IndiabornRajaRajeswarisworninascriminalcourtjudgeoftheNewYorkCityandbecamefirstIndiabornwomanjudgeofNewYork
City.
8. IndianAmericanVivekMurthyappointedas19thUSSurgeonGeneral.Hebecameyoungestevertoholdthispost.
9. KVijayRaghavan,SecretaryinDepartmentofBiotechnologyhasbeenelectedaForeignAssociateofUSNationalAcademyofSciences.
HewasalsorecentlyelectedaFellowoftheRoyalSociety(London)forhisachievementsinoriginalresearch.
10. LorettaLynchappointedasfirstblackfemaleAttorneyGeneralofUnitedStatesofAmerica.
11. MayilsamyAnnaduraiappointedasDirectorofISROSatelliteCentre(ISAC),Bengaluru.
12. MeenakshiMadanRaisworninasfirstladyjudgeofSikkimHighCourt.
13. MohanKumarappointedIndia'sAmbassadortoFrance.
14. MukeshKhannaisappointedasChairpersonofChildren'sFilmSocietyofIndia
Children'sFilmSocietyIndia(CFSI)wasfoundedbyJawaharLalNehruin1955underMinistryofInformationandBroadcasting.
15. NasimZaidiisappointedasnew(20th)chiefelectioncommissionerofIndiareplacingHariShankarBrahma.
16. NeerajKumarappointedchiefadviserofAntiCorruption&SecurityUnitofBoardofControlforCricketinIndia.
17. OmaralBashirreelectedasPresidentofSudan.Heisholdingthispostsince1989.
18. ProfessionalServicesComppanyKPMGelectedLynneDoughtieasfirstwomenCEOandChairman.
19. RajeevShuklaappointedaschairmanoftheIndianPremierLeague's(IPL)GoverningCouncilbytheBoardofControlforCricketin
India(BCCI).
20. RajivRanjanVermahasbeenappointedasDirectorGeneralofRailwayProtectionForce.
21. S.K.BhagatisappointedasAdditionalDirectorGeneralinCentralReservePoliceForce(CRPF)andRajivRaiBhatnagarappointedas
AdditionalDirectorGeneralinCentralIndustrialSecurityForce(CISF).
22. SaudiArabiaKingSalmanbinAbdulazizappointedhisnephewMohammedbinNayefasCrownPrinceandDeputyPrimeMinister.
23. SumitMazumderelectedasPresidentofConfederationofIndianIndustry(CII)fortheyear201516replacingAjayShriram.
24. SunilKumarSinhaAppointedasChiefJusticeOfSikkimHighCourt.
25. SupremeCourtappointedVivekPriyadarshitoleadtheprobeonIPLscandal.
26. ThomasBach,presidentofInternationalOlympicCommittee(IOC)namedasambassadorofHeForShecampaignbyUNWomenfor
genderequality(establishedbyUnitedNations(UN)Women).
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Awards

1. 24thYudhvirFoundationMemorialAwardwillbegiventoPrajwalafounderSunithaKrishnanforherworkinrescue,restorationand
rehabilitationofvictimsintraffickingandhersupportforHIVpatients.
2. AdielYosef,a22yearoldIndianoriginsoldierinIsraeliarmyreceivedPresidentialMedalofExcellencebyIsraelGovernment.
3. ActorAnilKapoorconferredwithDeenanathMangeshkarAward2015alongwithMarathiactorDilipPrabhavalkar.RishiKapoorand
ZakirHusainwereconferredwiththisawardin2014.
4. ActorShahRukhKhanhonouredwithDadasahebPhalkeFilmFoundationAward2015formovieHappyNewYear.
5. AsianBankerAchievementAward2015
CoreBanking(MidSizedBank):INGVysyaandFIS
CoreBanking(EmergingBank):Kanbawza(KBZ)BankandOracleFinancialServicesSoftwareLimited
CorporatePayment:AxisBankandArteriaTechnologies
HRSystem:AxisBank,CognizantTechnologyServices,MobitrailandTejoraTechnologies
Outsourcing(NewBank):BharatiyaMahilaBankandFIS
TechnologyLeadershipAchievement:AmitSethi,ChiefInformationOfficer,AxisBank
ATMandKiosks:CathayUnitedBank&NCRSystem,Taiwan
BranchAutomation:StandardCharteredBank(HongKong),AvayaHongKongandGRGBankingSolutions
CloudBasedProject:PhilippineBusinessBankandIBM
CRM:IndusIndBankandTalismaCorporationt
Data&Analytics:KBKookminBankandIBMKorea
FinancialSupplyChain:ChinaMerchantsBank
LendingPlatformImplementation:CathayUnitedBankandIBMTaiwan
MobileBanking:ChinaMerchantsBank
MultiChannel:BankofChina(HongKong)andAvayaHongKong
Outsourcing(ExistingBank):BankofQueenslandandHewlettPackard
RetailPayment:HongLeongBankandSilverlakeMobilityEcoSystem
SmartBranch:ANZandGTSONewZealand
SocialMediaEngagement:DBSandNCS
TreasuryManagementSystem:BankofCommunications,MisysandKMeritTechnology(Suzhou)
OutstandingTechnologyImplementation:DBSandInfosys
6. BJPleaderYashwantSinhaconferredwithOfficeroftheLegionofHonourforvaluablecontributiontothoughtoninternationalissues,it
isthehighestFrenchcivilianhonor.
7. BollywoodactorShahRukhKhanhonouredbyOutstandingContributiontoCinemaawardat5thAsianAwardsinLondon
PreviouswinnersinthiscategoryincludedIrrfanKhan(2014),AnupamKher(2013)andYashChopra(2011).
ListofAwardees
Category

Winners

FoundersAward

Dr.AmarBose,FounderofBose
Corporation

EntrepreneuroftheYear

JackMa,Founder&CEOof
Alibaba

OutstandingAchievementin
Cinema

ShahRukhKhan,Bollywood
actor

OutstandingAchievementin
Sport

KumarSangakkara,Cricketerof
SriLanka

BusinessLeaderoftheYear

TheHindujaBrothers

OutstandingAchievementin
Television

SanjeevBhaskar,Comedian,
actorandbroadcaster

OutstandingAchievementinArt JohnRocha,Designer
&Design
OutstandingAchievementin
Science&Technology

SirTejinderSinghVirdee,
Experimentalparticlephysicist

OutstandingAchievementin

ZaynMalik,Englishsingerand

Music

songwriter

8. CentralBoardOfExciseandCustomsAwardedthePrimeMinistersAwardforExcellenceinPublicAdministrationfor201213.
9. DelhiInternationalAirportLimited(DIAL)wonprestigiousGoldenPeacockNationalQualityAwardfortheyear2015.
10. GoogleIndiawonRandstadAward2015forMostAttractiveEmployerinIndiawithSonyIndiaasrunnerup.OtherAwardswere
ManufacturingTataSteel
FMCGP&G
AutomobileHondaIndia
MicrosoftIndiahasbeeninductedintotheHallofFamecategorythisyearforwinningthecovetedRandstadAwardtitleforfour
consecutiveyears.
RandstadAwardsaregiveneachyeartoencouragebestpracticesfortalentattractionandtoidentifythebestEmployerBrandin
thecountry.
11. IndianFilmMargaritaWithstarringKalkiKoechlinwontheAudienceAwardforBestFeatureFilmhonouratWashington,DC
InternationalFilmfestival.
12. IndianOriginPersonGopinathPillaiawardedwithoutstandingserviceawardinSingaporebyNationalUniversityofSingapore(NUS).
HeisservingasAmbassadoratLargeofSingaporeandspecialenvoytoAndhraPradesh.
13. IndiannovelistSiddharthaGigoowon2015CommonwealthShortStoryPrizeforAsiaregionforhisworkUmbrellaMan,ataleofsurreal
meditationonmentalhealthandtheenvironment.Hewillnowcompetewithotherfourregionalwinnerslaterin2015.
OtherregionwinnersareAfricaLesleyNnekaArimah(Nigeria),CanadaandEuropeJonathanTel(UK),CaribbeanKevin
JaredHosein(Trinidad),PacificMaryRokonadravu(Fiji)
14. MarathiLitterateurBhalchandraNemadeconferredwith50thJnanapithAward.Theawardincludes11lakhrupeesandacitation.His
novel,Kosala,writtenin1963wasconsideredasapathbreakinginMarathiliterature.
15. MariyamAsifSiddiqui,a12yearoldMuslimgirlwonthefirstplaceinaBhagwadGitacompetitionorganisedbytheInternational
SocietyforKrishnaConsciousness(ISKCON).
16. MinistryforDevelopmentofNorthEastRegion(DoNER)headedbyitsMinisterDr.JitendraSingh,receivedWebRatnaAward2014by
MinistryofInformationTechnology(IT)forexemplaryeffortsbyDoNERMinistryforpromotingegovernanceinitiatives.
17. NewZealandcricketteamcaptainBrendonMcCullumconferredwithSirRichardHadleeMedalfor201415ashighestcricketinghonour
ofNewZealand.
18. PMNarendraModicongratulatedIslamicscholarandactivistMaulanaWahiduddinKhanforhiswinningSayyidinaImamAlHassan
IbnAliPeaceAwardinDubai.
19. PakistanGovernmentconferreditstopcivilianawardNishanePakistanonChinesePresidentXiJinpingforhisoutstanding
contributioninpromotionofrelationshipbetweenthetwocountries.
20. ParisbasedSyrianLebaneseArabpoetAdonishasbeenchosenfor2015KumaranAsanWorldPrizeforpoetry,institutedbythe
KumaranAsanMemorialAssociation.
21. PratapSingh,a15yearoldIndianoriginschoolboyintheUnitedKingdomawardedwithInstituteofPhysics(IOP)Prizeforconducting
anexperimentthatverifiedaneffectofAlbertEinsteinstheoryofspecialrelativity.
22. PresidentPranabMukherjeeconferredNationalGeoscienceAwardsfor2013upontwentythreegeoscientists.
23. PresidentPranabMukherjeepresentedGallantryAwardsandDistinguishedServiceDecorations.2KeertiChakra(AjayVardhan,Kosh
BahadurGurung)and11ShauryaChakrasPresented.
24. PulitzerAwards2015(Pulitzerisanawardforachievementsinnewspaperandonlinejournalism,literature,andmusicalcompositionin
theUnitedStates)
InternationalreportingNewYorkTimesforcoverageofEbolaoutbreakinWestAfrica.
FeaturephotographyDanielBerehulakwonPulitzerPrizeforthe.
PublicServiceCharleston,SouthCarolina'sPostandCourierforitsseriesondomesticviolence.
Investigativereporting
WallStreetJournalforMedicareUnmasked.
EricLiptonforreportingonhowlobbyistscanswaycongressionalleadersandstateattorneysgeneral.
ExplanatoryreportingZacharyMiderofBloombergforshowinghowUScorporationsdodgetaxes.
LocalreportingRobKuznia,RebeccaKimitchandFrankSuracioftheDailyBreezeofTorrance,Californiafortheirlookat
corruptioninasmall,cashstrappedschooldistrict.
FeaturewritingDianaMarcumoftheLosAngelesTimesfordroughtcoverage.
CommentaryprizeLisaFalkenbergoftheHoustonChronicle.

EditorialcartooningAdamZyglisoftheBuffaloNews.
FictionawardAnthonyDoerrforAlltheLightWeCannotSee
DramaprizeStephenAdlyGuirgisforBetweenRiversideandCrazy.
HistoryprizeElizabethA.FennforEncountersattheHeartoftheWorld:AHistoryoftheMandanPeople
BiographyDavidI.KertzerforThePopeandMussolini:TheSecretHistoryofPiusXIandtheRiseofFascisminEurope.
PoetryGregoryPardioforDigest
25. SangeetaBhatia,IndianoriginscientistatMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology(MIT)inUSAwonprestigious2015HeinzAwardin
Technology,Economy,andEmploymentcategoryin20thHeinzAwardsforherworkintissueengineeringanddiseasedetectionand
developingartificialhumanmicroliversfordrugtesting.OtherWinnersAre
Category

Awardee

Artsand
Humanities
category

RozChast(Illustratorand
prolificcartoonist)

Environment
category

Dr.FredericaPerera

HumanCondition WilliamMcNultyand
JacobWood(Foundersof
organization
thenonprofit
TeamRubicon)

PublicPolicy

Dr.AaronWolf(Professor
atOregonState
University)

26. SubadhraDeviRai,IndianoriginSingaporeannursenamedforInternationalAchievementAward2015bytheFlorenceNightingale
InternationalFoundation(FNIF)oftheInternationalCouncilofNursesforherworkinhealthcaresectorofwomenandrefugees.
27. SusantaLahiri(India)andKatteshV.Katti(USA)receivedHevesyMedalAward2015fortheircontributionsinfieldsofradioand
nuclearchemistryattheTenthInternationalConferenceonMethodsandApplicationsofRadioanalyticalChemistryheldinUSA.
28. TataSteelconferredwithPrimeMinistersTrophyfor8thTimeatRourkelaforbeingtheBestPerformingIntegratedSteelPlantinthe
countryduringtheperformanceyear20102011.
29. TribalCooperativeMarketingDevelopmentFederationofIndiaLimited(TRIFED)underMinistryofTribalAffairs,haswon"National
AwardforExcellenceinTraining2015"inacontestbyDepartmentofPersonnelandTraining.
30. TwoIndiansAnandaKumarandPramodPatilwonWhitleyAwardsworth35000pounds(alsoknownasGreenOscar)fortheir
contributiontowildlifeconservationataceremonyinRoyalGeographicalSociety,London.
31. USPresidentBarackObamawillhonorMicrosoftsIndianoriginCEOSatyaNadellawiththeChampionsofChangeawardforbringing
aboutchangewithinhiscompanytosupportworkingfamilies.
32. UttarPradeshGovernmentconferredSahityaShiromaniSammanandRashtraRatnSitaraeHindawardonHindipoetGopaldas
NeerajandHindilitterateurUdayPratapSingh.CMAkhileshYadavalsounveiledthepoetrybookofGopalDasNeerajnamedGeetsri.
Top

Books
1. BookMyLittleEpiphanieshasbeenwrittenbyMs.AishaChaudharyandreleasedbyVicepresidentHamidAnsari.
2. BookSuleimanCharitrawrittenbyKalyanaMallalaunched.
3. PrimeMinisterNarendraModireleasedabookPreModernKutchiNavigationTechniquesandVoyagestranscribedandeditedby
AshokB.Rajeshirke.
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Committees
1. AndhraPradeshGovernmentconstitutedSpecialInvestigationTeam(SIT)underRavishankarAyyanartoprobeChittoorfiringCase.
2. CommitteeheadedbyDr.HariGautamforrecommendingrestructuringandstrengtheningofUGC(UniversityGrantsCommission)
submittedreporttoMinistryofHumanResourceDevelopment.
3. GovernmenthassetupcommitteeheadedbyAjayShankartoexaminethepossibilityofreplacingmultiplepriorpermissionswithpre

existingregulatorymechanism.
4. GovernmentlaunchedFasterAdoptionandManufacturingofHybridandElectricvehicles(FAME)IndiaSchemetoboostsalesofeco
friendlyvehiclesinthecountryaspartoftheNationalMissionforElectricMobility.
5. MinistryofMinorityAffairshasstartedimplementationofNaiRoshnischemeforLeadershipDevelopmentofMinorityWomenfrom
201213toempowerminoritywomenbyprovidingknowledge,toolsandtechniquesforinteractingwithGovernmentsystems,Banksand
otherinstitutions.
6. MinistryofWaterResources,RiverDevelopment&GangaRejuvenationconstituteda'TaskForce'chairedbyBNNavalawalaon
InterlinkingofRiverstolookintotheissuesrelatingtoInterlinkingofRivers(ILR)inthecountry.
7. NationalTransportDevelopmentPolicyCommittee(NTDPC),underchairmanshipofRakeshMohansubmitteditsreportsuggesting
reformsfordevelopmentofvariousmodesoftransportcategorizedasimmediatereformsandlongrungoals.Immediatereformshave
beensuggestedatnational,stateandmetropolitanlevels.However,longtermgoalsarefornationalandmetropolitanlevels.
Atnationallevel,CommitteesuggestedformationofahighlevelandindependentOfficeofTransportStrategy(OTS)andtomove
towardsinvestmentandstrategyfortransportasanintegratedsystem.
Atstatelevel,Committeehassuggestedtoestablishurbantransportasasubjecttostatelevelandtodevelopformalmechanismsfor
stateparticipationindecisionsaboutinitiation,siting,sizeandotheraspectsofairportsandrailbasedtransport.
Atmetropolitanlevel,theCommitteehassuggestedforcreationofUnifiedMetropolitanTransportAuthority(UMTAs)asstatutory
authority.
8. NitishKumar,ChiefMinisterofBiharconstitutedcommitteeheadedbyChiefSecretaryAnjaniKumarSinghtoconsiderdemandofhike
inpayforfixedpayteachers.
9. OdishaGovernmentlaunchedacheapmealschemeAaharforprovidingsubsidisedfoodtourbanpoor.
10. PrimeMinisterlaunchedPradhanMantriMUDRA(MicroUnitsDevelopmentandRefinanceAgency)YojanainNewDelhiforhelping
smallentrepreneursinthecountrywiththeme

Top

Days
1. 01AprOdishaDay,alsoknownasUtkalaDibasainmemoryofformationofstateon1April1936.
2. 02AprMahavirJayanti.
3. 05AprEasterDay.(MarkstheresurrectionofJesusChristfromthedead,FirstSundayafterthefullmoonthatoccursonorafter21
March).
4. 05AprIndianNationalMaritimeDay.Onthisdayin1919,navigationhistorywascreatedwhenSSLoyalty,thefirstshipoftheScindia
SteamNavigationCompany,journeyedtotheUnitedKingdom.TheNationalMaritimeDaywasfirstcelebratedon5thApril,1964.
5. 07AprWorldHealthDayCelebratedwithTheme"Fromfarmtoplate,makefoodsafe."
6. 11AprilIndia'sNationalSafeMotherhoodDay
7. 17AprilWorldHemophiliaday.Startedin1989tohonorFrankSchnabelthefounderofWFH(WorldFederationofHemophilia).
8. 18AprilWorldHeritageDay.
9. 22AprEarthDay.Itwasfirstcelebratedin1970.Themefor2015isItsOurTurntoLead.
10. 25AprWorldMalariaDay.Themefor2015isInvestinthefuture:Defeatmalaria.
11. 27AprilFreedomdayofsouthafrica.Itcelebratesfreedomandcommemoratesthefirstpostapartheidelectionsheldonthatdayin
1994.
12. 27AprilKingsDayoftheNetherlands(AlsoknownasKoningsdag).ThedatemarksthebirthofKingWillemAlexander.
13. 27AprilNationalDayofTogo(WestAfricanCountry).
14. 29AprilWorldDanceDay
15. Apr14,2015124thBirthAnniversaryofDr.BhimraoAmbedkar.
16. Apr21CivilServicesDay(Ninth).
Onthisoccasion,IncomeTaxDepartmenthasbeenawardedthePrimeMinistersAwardforExcellenceinPublicAdministrationfor
EasyTaxCompliancethroughQualityService.
17. Apr23,2015WorldBookandCopyrightDay.Fortheyear2015,UNESCOdesignatedIncheon,SouthKoreaastheWorldBookCapital
2015foritsprogrammetopromotereadingamongpeopleandunderprivilegedsectionsofthepopulation.Itwasfirstcelebratedin1995.
18. Apr24NationalPanchayatiRajDiwas.
19. April24WomensPoliticalEmpowermentDayinIndia.TheInstituteofSocialSciences,NewDelhihasbeencelebratingApril24as
WomensPoliticalEmpowermentDaysince1994.

20. SushmaSwaraj,MinisterforExternalAffairsandShripadNaik,(MinisterinAYUSHMinistry)launchedthelogoforInternationalDayof
YogatobeheldeachyearonJune21.

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Defence
1. AgniIIISurfacetoSurfaceballisticmissilesuccessfullytestfiredfromWheelarIsalndofftheOdishacoastintheBayofBengal.Ithas
rangeof3,500km5,000km.
2. Fourteenth(14th)editionofIndoFrenchnavalexerciseVARUNAstartedinGoa.
3. GuidedmissiledestroyerVisakhapatnam,thefirstshipofProject15BlaunchedatatMazagonDockLimited(MDL)
4. INSTarangini,theSailTrainingShipofIndianNavyleftforLokayan2015withthemeTakingforaBroaderReach.AspartofLokayan
15,TaranginiwillbeonaneightmonthvoyagethroughEuropeandwillparticipateintheannualTallShipRacesundertheaegisofSail
TrainingInternationalandwilltravel17thousandmiles.
5. IndiasuccessfullytestfiredDhanushSurfacetoSurfacenuclearcapableballisticmissilewithrange350KM.
6. IndianAirForcelaunchedOperationRaahattoevacuate4000IndiannationalsfromYemen.
7. IndianArmylaunchedOperationMaitriforreliefeffortsinEasrthquakehitNepal.
8. IndianNavywilldecommissionINSViraatinFeb2016.Itistheaircraftcarrierthathadaservicelifeof56yearsfirstasHMSHermesin
theRoyalBritishNavyandinitspresentavatarsince1987.
9. IndianNavysFirstScorpeneclassstealthsubmarineKalvariundockedatMazagonDockLimited(MDL)byDefenceMinisterManohar
Parrikar.
10. JapanandUnitedStates(US)revisedtheirdefencedealafter18yearsforgreatercooperationbetweenmilitariesduetogrowingglobal
securityconcerns.
11. PakistanandRussiaagreedtoholdfirsteverjointmilitaryexercise.
12. KhargaCorpsUnitoftheIndianArmyareunderamajorexerciseinRajasthanTohonetheircombatskillsandvalidatestrike
capabilitieswithmorethan20,000troopsparticipatingintheexercieCodenamedBRAHMASHIRA.
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Economy
1. BankofBaroda(BoB)tiedupwithUAEExchangetoofferinstantmoneytransferfacilitytoitsNonresidentIndian(NRI)customers
thatwillallowcustomerstosendmoneytotheirdesiredbankaccountsinBoBinIndiainMinutes.
2. ConfederationofIndianIndustry(CII)signedaMemorandumofUnderstanding(MoU)withtheEuropeanBankforReconstruction
andDevelopment(EBRD)todeepenpartnershipbetweenIndiancompaniesandthebankinthosecountrieswherethebankhas
operations.
3. DenaBanksignedaMemorandumofUnderstanding(MoU)withLifeInsuranceCorporation(LIC)ofIndiatoprovideinsurancecover
toallAadhaarlinkedsavingsaccountholdersofthebank.
4. DirectorateGeneralofCentralExciseIntelligence(DGCEI)finedCadburyIndiaLimitedwith570crorerupeesforexciseduty.
5. Employees'ProvidentFundOrganisation(EPFO)suspendedthe1000rupeesminimummonthlypensionscheme(EPS)95)fromApril
2015andwillhitabout32lakhpensioners.Governmentnotifiedresumingtheschemewithfinancialaidfromthegovernment.
6. ForeignTradePolicy201520announcedbyMinisterofCommerce&IndustryMrs.NirmalaSitharaman

ThenewfiveyearForeignTradePolicy,201520providesaframeworkforincreasingexportsofgoodsandservicesaswellas
generationofemploymentandincreasingvalueadditioninthecountry,inkeepingwiththeMakeinIndia.
Introducestwonewschemes,namelyMerchandiseExportsfromIndiaScheme(MEIS)forexportofspecifiedgoodstospecified
marketsandServicesExportsfromIndiaScheme(SEIS)forincreasingexportsofnotifiedservices.
ForgrantofrewardsunderMEIS,thecountrieshavebeencategorizedinto3Groups,whereastheratesofrewardsunderMEIS
rangefrom2%to5%.UnderSEIStheselectedServiceswouldberewardedattheratesof3%and5%.
7. GlobalRatingAgencyMoody'sforecastedIndianeconomywillgrowat7.5percentin2015.Thisgrowthrateismarginallyhigher
comparedwith7.2percentin2014.
ThegrowthprojectionscomeafterMoodysrevisedIndiassovereignratingsoutlooktopositive(Baa3)fromstable.Another
ratingsagency,Fitch,hadreaffirmeditsstableoutlookonIndia.
8. GovernmenrtapprovedReserveBankofIndia(RBI)forenteringintoanagreementwiththeCentralBankofSriLankaforextending
$1.1billionasaspecialCurrencyswapoutsidetheFrameworkonCurrencySwapArrangementforSAARCMemberCountries.
IndiahasaFrameworkonCurrencySwapArrangementforSAARCMemberCountriessince2012.Thefacilityisavailabletoall
SAARCmembercountrieswithafloorof$100millionandceilingof$400millionwithinanoveralllimitof$2billionandisvalidtill
November14,2015.
9. GovernmentallowedEmployeesProvidentFundOrganisation(EPFO)toinvest5%ofitscorpusinExchangeTradedFunds(ETFs)to
bringaroundfivethousandcrorerupeesintothestockmarketsduringfiscal201516.
10. Governmentapprovedspendingofaboutonelakhcroreonurbandevelopmentundertwonewurbanmissionsoverthenextfiveyears
namelySmartCitiesMissionandtheAtalMissionforRejuvenationandUrbanTransformationof500cities(AMRUT)withoutlaysof
Rs.48,000croreandRs.50,000croresrespectively.
11. GovernmentdecidedtolinkinterestratesofStatePFs(GeneralProvidentFundandothersimilarfunds),SuperannuationandGratuity
FundsfortheFY201516toPublicProvidentFund(PPF)ratesandfixtherates8.7%perannumapplicabletothefollowing.
TheGeneralProvidentFund(CentralServices)
TheContributoryProvidentFund(India).
TheAllIndiaServiceProvidentFund
TheStateRailwayProvidentFund.
TheGeneralProvidentFund(DefenceServices).
TheIndianOrdnanceProvidentFund.
TheIndianOrdnanceFactoriesWorkmensProvidentFund
TheIndianNavalDockyardWorkmensProvidentFund.
TheDefenceServicesOfficersProvidentFund
TheArmedForcesPersonnelProvidentFund.
Recently,GovernmentannouncedtokeepinterestratesforPPFandotherSmallSavingsSchemesintact.Notethatinterest
ratesfor5yearSeniorcitizenSavingSchemeandSukanyaSamriddhiAccountSchemewereincreasedfrom9.2to9.3%and9.1
to9.2%forwelfareofgirlchildandseniorcitizens.
12. GovernmentextendeddeadlineforrollingoutNationalFoodSecurityAct(NFSA),2013bysixmonthstohelpremainingstatesadoptand
implementthelawassoonaspossible.
13. GovernmentplanstopushforGreenBondstomeetitstargettoinstall100gigawatts(GW)ofsolarpowerand60000MWofwindpower
by2022forwhichitneeds200billionUSD.
GreenBonds(ClimateBonds)arefixedincomefinancialinstrumentslinkedtoclimatechangesolutions.Thesebondsaredollar/
rupeedenominatedandareanewassetclass.Likenormalbonds,thesecanbeissuedbygovernments,multinationalbanksor
corporations.
14. IndianRailwaysreported12.16%IncreaseinearningsinFY201415withRs.157880.50croresascomparedtoRs.140761.27crorein
201314.
15. IndirectTaxescollectionsforFinancialYear(FY)201415hasexceededRevisedEstimatestargetofFY201415byRs.4,000crore.The
totalcollectionsason31032015isRs.5,46,479crorebasedontheprovisionalreportasagainsttheRevisedEstimatestargetofRs.
5,42,325crorefortheFY201415.
16. IndustrialCreditandInvestmentCorporationofIndia(ICICI)BanklaunchedTapnPay,anearfieldcommunicationsenabled
paymentserviceincollaborationwithTechMahindra.
Thispaymentserviceisbasedonthenearfieldcommunications(NFC)technologywhichwillenableitscustomerstomakeoverthe
counterpaymentswithoutusingcash.

ItwillallowuserstotapNFCenabledtagormobilephoneatmerchantspointofsaledeviceforpayments.
Itisaprepaidaccountwhichwillbeavailabletocustomersofanybankbysimplyregisteringforit.
ICICIBankcustomerscanalsotransfermoneytotheTapnPayaccountthroughanSMS.
17. InternationalMonetaryFund(IMF)releasedWorldEconomicOutlook(WEO)April2015ReportUpdatetitledUnevenGrowth:Short
termandLongtermFactors.
Globalgrowthisforecastedat3.5%in2015and3.8%in2016.
Growthinadvanceeconomieswillreboundsupportedbythedeclineinoilprices.
GrowthinUSAisprojectedtoexceed3%in201516.
Growthforemerginganddevelopingeconomies(exceptIndia)willgetslightlyslowfrom4.6%in2014to4.3%in2015.
Indiasgrowthisprojectedtostrengthenfrom7.2%in2014to7.5%in2015and2016.
Forthefirsttimesince1999,IndiasgrowthratemayeclipseChinasandthereisincreasingdivergenceinthegrowthpathsofthetwo
countries.IndiaistryingtoshiftfromconsumptiontoinvestmentledgrowthatatimewhenChinaisgoingoppositeway.
18. KeepinginviewthecanearrearsmountingtoRs21,000crores,CabinetCommitteeonEconomicAffairs(CCEA)decidedtoraiseimport
dutyonsugarfrom25to40%andremoveexcisedutyonethanoltohelpmillsclearduestofarmers.
19. OnlineRetailerFlipkartacquiredDelhibasedmobilemarketingautomationcompanyAppiteratetofocusmoreonthemobilesegment.
20. OnlinemarketplaceSnapdealacquiredRupeePower,adigitalfinancialproductsdistributionplatform.
21. RBI(ReserveBankofIndia)notifiedhikeinFDI(ForeignDirectInvestment)limitinInsuranceSectorto49%fromthepresent26%.
22. RajyaSabhapassedRegionalRuralBanks(Amendment)BillthatwaspassedbytheLokSabhaon18122014
TheBillamendstheRRBAct,1976whichprovidesforincorporation,regulationandwindingupofRegionalRuralBanks(RRBs).
ItremovesthefiveyearlimitcapthatwasputonthesponsorbankstoassisttheupcomingRRBs.
Amountofauthorizedcapitalraisedtoto2000crorerupeesandminimum1crorerupeesasthepreviouslimitofmaximumfive
crorerupeesandminimum25lakhrupees.Capitalof2000RupeesisdividedintoRs200croreoffullypaidshareofRs10each.
ThebillallowsRRBstoraisetheircapitalfromsourcesotherthanthecentralandstategovernments,andsponsorbanksaswas
mandatedundertheRRBAct.AspertheAct,50%ofcapitalissuedwasheldbyUniongovernment,15%byconcernedstate
governmentand35%bythesponsorbanks.
Raisethetenureofadirector(excludingtheChairman)tothreeyearsandmaxsixyears.
Changethedateofclosureandbalancingofbooksto31Marchfrom31Decemberearlier.
23. ReserveBankofIndiaapprovedamalgamationofINGVysyaBankwithKotakMahindraBankwitheffectfrom1April2015.
24. SearchEngineGooglesignedastrategicpartnershipwithconsultingfirmPricewaterhouseCooperstotargetDigitalIndiaProjectsand
largeenterprisedealstopushitselfintolargeegovernanceprojectsandimprovethesalesforitscloudservicesinIndia.
25. SecuritiesandExchangeBoardofIndia(SEBI)raisedtransactionlimitinexchangetradedcurrencyderivativesto15millionUSDfor
bothforeignanddomesticinvestorsfromEarlierlimitof10millionUSD.
Top

International
1. ArtificialLimbsManufacturingCorporationofIndia(ALIMCO)signedMoUwithM/sMotivationU.Kforworkingtogethertoproduce
affordablewheelchairshavingcompliancetoWHOguidelines.
2. AsperareportbyPowerReactorInformationSystem(PRIS)ofInternationalAtomicEnergyAgency(IAEA),Therearethirtyone
countriesintheworldwhichgenerateelectricityfromnuclearsource.Indiaisranked13thintermsofgenerationandat7thpositionin
termsofnumberofreactorsinoperation.
3. CalbucovolcanoofChileeruptedafter42years.
4. ChinaandPakistansignedanagreementonChinaPakistanEconomicCorridor(CPEC)planworth46billionUSD.Aspartofthe
agreement,Chinawillprovideupto37billionUSDininvestmentforenergyprojectstogenerate16400MWofpowerandConcessional
loanswillcovernearly10billionUSDinfrastructureprojects.
5. ChinaquashedbidofTaiwantobecomeafullmemberoftheAsianInfrastructureInvestmentBank(AIIB)forlackofappropriatename.
6. Earthquakeofmagnitude7.9onRichterscalestruckNepal.ReportingofLossoflivesofmorethan5000People.Tremorsalsofeltacross
India,BangladeshandPakistan.
7. Ernst&Young(EY)releasedreportGlobalIPOTrends2015withfocusonglobaltrendsinInitialPublicOfferings(IPO)intheQuarter1
Q1of2015
ShanghaiStockExchange(SSE)reachedtopinInitialPublicOfferings(IPO)byraising5.4billionUSD.FollowedbyMadridSE(5.3
billionUSD),NewYorkSE(3.5billionUSD),LondonSE(3.4billionUSD),BursaMalaysiaSE(3billionUSD)andSwissSE(2.5

billionUSD).
8. GovernmentapprovedsigningofashippingagreementbetweenIndiaandJordanforstrengtheningcooperationandtoprovide
sustainedmutualassistanceandadviceonmerchantshippingandotherrelatedmaritimematters.
9. IBMannouncedinvesting3billionUSDtobuildanInternetofThings(IoT)unitoverthenextfouryears.
10. India&FranceSignedanMou(MemorandumofUnderstanding)toEstablishaMarineBiologyInstituteduringthevisitofPM
NarendraModitoFrance.
11. IndiaelectedtofourUnitedNations(UN)agenciesUnitedNationsChildrensFund(UNICEF),WorldFoodProgram(WFP),
CommissiononCrimePreventionandCriminalJustice(CCPCJ)andtheGoverningCouncilofUNHabitat.
IndiawaselectedtothesebodiesattheCoordinationandManagementMeeting(CMM)ofUNECOSOC(theUnitedNations
EconomicandSocialCouncil)atUNheadquartersinNewYork(USA).
12. India'aNumaligarhRefineryLimited(NRL)andBangladeshPetroleumCorporation(BPC)signedagreementtoexportpetroleum
productstoBangladesh.
13. India'sBharatHeavyElectricalsLimited(BHEL)andRussianINTMAsignedamemorandumofunderstanding(MoU)tosetupagas
basedpowerprojectinKazakhstan.
14. Iran,P5+1andtheEuropeanUnion(EU)concededonaframeworkagreementinSwitzerlandcalledasJointComprehensivePlanof
Action(JCPOA)intendedtostopIranfromdevelopingnuclearweapons.
15. JapancreatedaJointWorkingGroup(JWG)betweenMinistryofExternalAffairsandMinistryofEconomy,TradeandIndustryof
JapantoendthedelayincivilnuclearwithIndia.
16. NationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration(NASA)ofUSAnamedAsteroid316201afterMalalaYousafzai,thewinnerof2014Nobel
PeacePrize.TheasteroidissituatedinthemainasteroidbeltbetweenMarsandJupiter.
17. NormandyFour(groupcomprisingofforeignministersoffournationsRussia,Ukraine,GermanyandFrance)formedfourworking
groupsforceasefireonUkraineconflict.
18. NuclearPowerCorporationofIndia(NPCIL)andAREVAofFrancesignedanAgreementforproposedJaitapurNuclearPowerProject
forsettinguptwoEPR(EvolutionalPressurisedReactor)rectorsof1650MWeeach.
19. PMNarendraModigiftedpaintingTreeofLifetoFrenchPresidentFrancoisHollandeduringhisvisittoFrance.
20. PakistanSupremeCourtsuspendeddeathsentencesissuedbytherecentlyestablishedMilitaryCourts.
21. ParliamentofSriLankaadopted19thConstitutionAmendmenttoreducePowersofExecutivePresidentandmakeaConstitutional
Councilformakingkeygovernmentappointments.
22. PrimeMinisterNarendramodigiftedreproductionsofsomemanuscriptsandpapersbySirVCRamantotheGermanChancellorAngela
MerkelduringhisvisittoGermany.
SirCVRamanreceivedNobelPrizeinphysicsin1930forhisworkonscatteringoflight.
23. RoyalDutchShellLimited(Netherlands)acquiredBGGroup(Britain)forabout70billionUSDtogainedgeintheracetobuildmarket
shareforLiquefiedNaturalGas(LNG).
24. RussiaandArgentinasignedagreementsoneconomicandenergycooperationduringArgentinePresidentCristinaFernandezde
KirchnertoMoscow.AgreementsIncluded
RussiawillfinancethehydroelectricplantinArgentinasNeuquenRiver.
RussiasRosatomnuclearcorpwillbuildanewreactoratArgentinasAtucha3nuclearpowerplant.
25. RussialiftedbanondeliveryofS300MissileSystemtoIraninthebackdropofanagreementreachedon2April2015betweenP5+1,the
EUandIrantopreparethefinaldraftofJointComprehensivePlanofAction(JCPOA)by30June2015.
Undertheagreement,Iranagreedtostopdevelopingnuclearweaponsinreturnforliftingeconomicsanctionsimposedonitbythe
internationalcommunity.
26. Seoul(capitalofSouthKorea)awardedthetitleofGlobalEarthhourCapital2015onwinningEarthHourCityChallenge(EHCC)of
WorldWildlifeFund(WWF).
27. Seychelles(EastAfricanIslandNation)became161stMemberofWTO(WorldTradeOrganization).
28. SocialProgressIndex(SPI)2015byUSA'snonprofitorganisationSocialProgressImperative
SPI2015ranks133countriesintermsofsocialprogressfromhighesttolowestandclassifiedintosixtiersfromVeryHighSocial
ProgresstoVeryLowSocialProgress.
Indiawithscoreof53.06isranked101st.In2014,Indiahadscoreof50.24andwasranked102outof132countries.
TopthreecountriesonSocialProgressareNorway,Sweden,andSwitzerlandwithscoresbetween88.3687.97
SPI2015andBRICScountries
AmongtheBRICScountries,Brazilat42ndrankleadsthepackwithascoreof70.89andIndiawithascoreof53.06isplacedat101

positionandistheworstcountryintermsofsocialprogress.OtherBRICScountriesandtheirranksare:SouthAfrica(63rd),Russia
(71st)andChina(92nd).
SPI2015andSAARCcountries
AmongtheSAARCcountries,SriLankaat88thrankleadswithascoreof60.10andAfghanistanwithascoreof35.40isplacedat
131andistheworstcountryintermsofsocialprogress.OtherSAARCcountriesare:Nepal(98)Bangladesh(100),India(101)and
Pakistan(122).
29. SouthAmericanCountryVenezuelaannouncedtocutworkingdayforpublicsectorworkersto5.5hourstoconserveenergy,downfrom
89hoursaspartofnationwideelectricityrationingplan.
30. TERI(TheEnergyandResourcesInstitute)signedagreementwithtwoglobalresearchinstitutes,FridtjofNansenInstitute(FNI)and
INTASAVECARIBSAVEGroupforcooperationonissuesrelatedtoclimatechange.
31. TurrialbavolcanoinCostaRicaeruptedleadingtoriseofacolumnofgasandashinthesky.
32. USA'sOklahomastateGovernmentpassedabillthatallowsuseofnitrogengas(nitrogeninducedhypoxia)asamethodofexecution.
OklahomawillbecomethefirststateintheUnitedStatesthatwillallowuseofnitrogenforexecution.
33. UkraineGovernmentpassedalegislationtoequateCommunismwithNazism(nationalistsocialist)andbannedboththeregimes.
34. UnionCabinetapprovedsigningandratifyingInterGovernmentalAgreementonDryPortsofInternationalImportanceasafollowupof
ResolutionoftheUnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific(UNESCAP)aboutdevelopmentofdryports
withinmembercountriesofUNESCAPincludingIndia.
35. UnitedNations(UN)releasedareporttitledGlobalEWasteMonitor2014compiledbyUnitedNationsUniversityasinsightsintothe
locationandcompositionoftheworldsfastgrowingewasteproblem.
Asperthereport,intheyear2014volumeofewasteisestimatedaround41.8millionmetrictonnesandexpectedtoriseby21%to
50millionMtin2018.
USandChinaproducedthemostewasteoverallin2014at32%.Indiacameinfifth,behindtheUS,China,JapanandGermany.
36. WorldBankestablishedPollutionManagementandEnvironmentalHealth(PHEM)programon2015EarthDayinWashington,D.C
withcapitalof45millionUSD.PMEHwillinitiallyrunfrom2015to2020andwillfocusonairqualitymanagementincountriesfacing
rapidurbanization.FivemajorurbanareasinIndia,China,Egypt,NigeriaandSouthAfricawillbepreferredinparticular
37. WorldBankreleasedMigrationandDevelopmentReport2015
TopfiveremittancerecipientcountriesareIndia(70BillionUSD),China,Philippines,MexicoandNigeria.
ThetopfivemigrantdestinationcountriesUnitedStates,SaudiArabia,Germany,RussiaandtheUnitedArabEmirates(UAE).
Globalremittances,includinghighincomecountriestogrowby0.4%to586billionUSD.
38. WorldBankreleasedSouthAsiaEconomicFocusreport
EconomicgrowthofSouthAsiaregionwillincreasefrom7%in2015to7.6%by2017primarilyduetodeclineinoilpricesand
increasinginvestment.
India'sGDPgrowthratewillreach7.5%in201516and8%by2017.
Indiahastakenencouragingstepstodecoupleinternationaloilpricesfromfiscaldeficitsandtointroducecarbontaxationto
addressthenegativeexternalitiesfromtheuseoffossilfuels.
39. WorldEconomicForum(WEF)releasedreporttitledUrbanDevelopmentRecommendationsforIndiaundertheFutureofUrban
DevelopmentandServices(FUDS)InitiativeincollaborationwithAccenture
Reporthighlightsimportanceofmoreprivatesectorparticipationtobridgetheurbaninfrastructureandservicesfundinggapof110
billionUSDdollarswideningduetoIndiasrapidurbanpopulationgrowth.
WEFmadethreerecommendationsonurbandevelopment
Integratespatialplanningatallgovernmentallevelstointegratehousing,strategicandurbaninfrastructure.
Createastablepolicyframeworkforprivateinvestmentinurbaninfrastructure.
Createinstitutionstostimulatecapacitybuildingandattracttalenttogrowbusinesses.
AboutFUDSInitiative
WEFFutureofUrbanDevelopmentandServices(FUDS)Initiativeisapartnerintransformationtocitiesaroundtheworldas
theyseektoaddressmajorurbanchallengesandtransitiontowardsbeingsmarter,moresustainable.ThereportonIndiaisthe
thirdintheFUDSInitiative.ThefirsttwopresentedtheresultsoftheinitiativesengagementwiththreeChinesecities:Tianjin,
DalianandZhangjiakou.
40. WorldHappinessReport2015examinedfor158countriesbyUNSustainableDevelopmentSolutionsNetwork
ToppedbySwitzerlandandfollowedbyIceland,Denmark,NorwayandCanada.
TogoisleastHappy(158th)aheadjustofBurundi(157)andSyria(156).
Indiaisat117thPlaceinthereport.

ThestudyisbasedondatafromGallupWorldPollandconsidersvariablessuchasrealGDPpercapita,healthylifeexpectancy,
corruptionlevelsandsocialfreedoms.
WorldHappinessReport2015revealstrendsindatasurveyedbyGallupovertheperiod201215,revealanaveragescoreof5.1(out
of10).
Top

Meetings
1. 13thUNCongressonCrimePreventionandCriminalJusticeheldinDoha(Qatar).IndiandelegaationwasledbyMinisterofLawand
JusticeDVSadanadGowda.
2. 20thNationalOilSpillDisasterContingencyPlan(NOSDCP)andPreparednessmeetingheldinGoa.
3. 5thmeetingoftheSAARC(SouthAsianAssociationofRegionalCooperation)HealthMinistersheldinNewDelhi.
4. AfourdayInternationalConferenceonLowTemperatureScienceandBiotechnologicalAdvancesheldinDelhiasanattempttoassess
thepresentstatusandtoformulatefutureplansonlowtemperaturescienceandbiotechnologyinvariousAsiaandothercontinents.
ConferencewasorganisedbyICARNBPGR,NationalAcademyAgriculturalSciences,IndiaincollaborationwithSocietyforLow
TemperatureBiology(SLTB),UKandRoyalBotanicGardens(RBG),Kew,UK.
5. ConferenceofStateEnvironmentandForestMinistersheldinNewDelhi.
6. Globalcommunitypledgedfinancialsupportof3.8billionUSDforcrisishitSyriaatthethirdInternationalHumanitarianPledging
ConferenceforSyriaheldinKuwaitcity(Kuwait).
7. IndiaisdesignatedasChairtoNinthMeetingofInternationalRenewableEnergyAgency(IRENA)Counciltobeheldon10th&11th
June,2015inAbuDhabi(UnitedArabEmirates).
8. NationalSummitonCorporateSocialResponsibilityorganizedinDelhibyConfederationofIndianIndustrywiththemePartneringthe
NationalAgendaandinauguratedbyPresidentPranabMukherjee.
Top

National
1. 2015EducationforAll(EFA)GlobalMonitoringReport(GMR)releasedwiththemeEducationforAll20002015Achievementsand
Challenges.
ReporthighlightedachievementsmadebyIndiainreducingtheOutofSchoolChildrenandachievingthegenderparityatthe
elementaryleveltherebycontributingtotheglobalprogressintheEFAgoals.
2. 45daylongannualfishingbaninterritorialwatersofEasternCoastalZoneofIndia(includingAndaman&NicobarIslands)startedto
safeguardfishintheirbreedingseason.
3. AndhraPradeshCabinetapprovedAmaravathiasnewcapitalcityofthestate.
AndhrapradeshwasBifurcatedinTelanganaandAndhraPradeshandErstwhileCapitalHyderabadwentwithTelengana.
4. AndhraPradeshgovernmentsignedMoUwithIISLCompanyforreplacingstreetlightsin13municipalitieswithLEDlightsandmaintain
forsevenyears.
5. AsperrecentCensus2011DatareleasedbytheGovernment,Indiansarenowgettingmarriedathigheragethanadecadeagowitha
declineinfertility.
Femalemeanageatmarriagehasincreasedfrom18.3to19.3years,whereastheincreaseinmaleisfrom22.6to23.3yearsduring
Census200111.
Proportionofdivorcedhasmarginallyincreased.Proportionofmarriedwomentototalnumberofwomenis49.9%in2011asagainst
47.7%in2001.Formales,itis46%in2011asagainst43.6%in2001.
Onfertility,itisobservedthatfertilityrateatnationallevelhasdeclinedfrom2.5to2.2during200111.
6. BharatHeavyElectricalsLimited(BHEL)commissioneda600MWthermalunitatDhabrainJanjgirChampaDistrictofChhattisgarh.
7. BharatHeavyElectricalsLimited(BHEL)commissionedfourth600MWthermalunitofOPJindalSuperThermalPowerProject(STPP)
ExtensioninRaigarhdistrictofChhattisgarh.
8. CabinetCommitteeonEconomicAffairs(CCEA)approvedMaharashtraStateCooperativeCottonGrowersMarketingFederation
(MSCCGMFL)toundertakeMinimumSupportPrice(MSP)operationsforCotton.
9. CabinetCommitteeonEconomicAffairs(CCEA)approvedextensionof2yearsforcompletionofprojectssanctionedtillMarch2012
underSubMissiononBasicServicestotheUrbanPoor(BSUP)andIntegratedHousingandSlumDevelopmentProgramme(IHSDP)
componentsofJawaharlalNehruNationalUrbanRenewalMission(JNNURM).

10. DepartmentofSpace,DepartmentofLandResources(DoLR),MinistryofRuralDevelopmentsignedanMoUondevelopmentofWeb
GeoPortal'Shrishti'andMobileApp'Drishti'forMonitoringofIWMP(IntegratedWatershedManagementProgramme)watersheds.
11. FourthLighthouseMuseumofIndiatobeopenedatKannur(Kerala).
OtherthreelighthousesmuseumsAlappuzha(Kerala),ChennaiandMahabalipuram(TamilNadu).
12. GovernmentallowedNationalHighwaysAuthorityofIndia(NHAI)toissueTaxFreeInfrastructureBondsofRs.24000croreand
CapitalGainTaxExemptionBondsofRs.4000croreinthefinancialyear201516.
13. Governmentannouncedtostarttollfreehelplinefortuberculosispatientstoenablethemtoreachouttomedicalcarebygovernment
withease.
14. GovernmentapprovedNCAOR(NationalCentreforAntarcticandOceanResearch)'sacquisitionofAPolarResearchVehiclewithcost
1050CroreRupeesforResearchinAntartica,ArticandSouthernOceanRegion.
15. Governmentcancelledlicencesofnearly9,000NonGovernmentalOrganisationsforviolationofForeignContributionRegulationAct
(FCRA)duetononfilingannualreturnsforthe20092011.
16. GovernmentextendedTouristVisaschemeto31morecountries,bringingthetotalnumberofcountriesundertheschemeupto76.
17. GovernmentextendedcontroversialArmedForcesSpecialPowersAct(AFSPA)toalmostentirestateofArunachalPradeshduetoserious
lawandordersituationinthestate.
18. GovernmentlaunchedonlinesystemforsubmissionoftheLongTermVisa(LTV)applicationsbyPakistaninationalstoaddressdifficulty
oftheminoritycommunitiesinPakistanwhocometoIndiaforpermanentsettlement.Theapplicationscanbesubmittedonlinethrough
indianfrro.gov.in/frro.
19. GovernmentlaunchedwebsiteofCommitteeforthePurposeofControlandSupervisionofExperimentsonAnimals(CPCSEA)and
pressedtheneedforminimizinguseofanimalsforcarryingoutexperiments.
20. GovernmentreconstitutedNehruMemorialMuseumLibrarySociety(NMMLS)ontheoccasionofits41stAGM.
21. GovernmentrejectedOdishaGovernment'sproposaltograntmininglicensetoSouthKoreansteelmajorPoscoforitsproposed12billion
USDmegasteelplantatParadipinOdisha.
22. GovernmenttransferredtrainingandapprenticedivisionsofDirectorateGeneralofEmploymentandTraining(DGET)fromLabour
MinistrytoMinistryofSkillDevelopmentandEntrepreneurship.
DGETcomprises12000IndustrialTrainingInstitutes(ITIs)acrossthecountry.
23. GovernmentwilldevelopBuddhistcircuitunderitsnewlylaunchedSwadeshDarshanschemecoveringBodhGaya,RajgirandVaishali
inBiharandKapilavastu,Sarnath,SravastiandKushinagarinUttarPradesh.
24. GovernmentwillsetupnationalinstituteonmedicinalplantsforwhichallocationofRs.100crorehasbeenmadeduringthe12thfive
yearplan.
25. GujarathasledinimplementationofSwachhBharatMissionduring201415.
Outof2,70,069householdtoiletsconstructedduringthelastfinancialyear,Gujarataloneaccountedfor60%ofthemhavingbuilt
1,65,376householdtoilets.MadhyaPradeshsecondandKarnatakathird.
26. HaryanaDepartmentofSchoolEducation(DPSE)approved10%reservationforEconomicallyWeakerSections(EWS)andBelow
PovertyLine(BPL)categorystudentsfromClassesItoXIIinprivateunaidedschools.
27. HaryanagovernmentgavestatusofCabinetMinistertoyogaguruRamdev,whohasbeenappointedasthestatesbrandambassadorto
promoteyogaandayurveda.
28. HaryanagovernmentstartedworkonRs50croreSaraswatiriverexcavationandRevivalproject.
29. IndiasfirstInternationalFinancialServicesCentre(IFSC)becameoperationalatGIFTCityinGujarat.
30. InformationandBroadcastingMinisterArunJaitleyinauguratedVividhBharatiServiceofDelhionFMModeon100.1Megahertz
frequency.
31. KeralagovernmentlaunchedSubodhamprojecttoendliquorabuseaspartofPunarjani2030Projecttocompletelyeradicatethe
menaceofsubstanceabuseinKerala.
32. MaharashtraGovernmentconstitutedataskforceonagriculturedevelopmentandpovertyalleviationtoaddresstheissues.
33. MaharashtraGovernmentdecidedtodiscontinuecolonialerapracticeofpoliceguardofhonourgiventoministersandtopofficials.
34. Maharashtragovernmentdecidedtousenonconventionalresourcestogenerate14,400MWelectricityby2019andtocutdowncostand
reducecarbonfootprint.
35. MajorIndianSteelCompanies,signedaMemorandumofAgreementwithMinistryofSteelforsettingupofSteelResearch&Technology
MissionofIndia(SRTMI)topromotenewbeginningintheR&Dinsteelsector.
36. ManoharLalKhattarChiefMinisterofHaryanadedicatedtheNationalTransmissionAssetManagementCentre(NTAMC)of
POWERGRIDtothenation.

37. MinisterofRailwaysSureshPrabhulaunchedESamikshaformonitoringimplementationofRailwaybudget201516,
announcements/commitments.
38. MinisterofStateforTextiles(I/C),SantoshKumarGangwar,laidfoundationstoneforanApparel&GarmentMakingCentrein
ArunachalPradesh.
39. MinistriesofRailways,Coal&OdishaGovernmentSignedagreementforUndertakingRailInfrastructureforEvacuationofCoal.
40. MinistryofCultureTookoverLalitKalaAkademiaftercomplaintsregardingallegedadministrativeandfinancialirregularitiesinLalit
KalaAkademi.
41. MinistryofHomeAffairschangednameoftheschemeTouristVisaonArrivalElectronicTravelAuthorizationto'eTouristVisa'(eTV).
42. NationalGreenTribunalruled10yearolddieselvehiclescannotrunonDelhiNCRroads.
43. NumberofseatsinLegislativeAssemblyofAndhraPradeshandTelanganaarelikelytobeincreasedfrom175and119to225and153,
respectivelysubjecttotheprovisionscontainedinArticle170ofConstitution.
44. PercapitawateravailabilityinIndiaisreducingprogressivelyduetoincreaseinpopulation.Averageannualpercapitaavailabilityof
waterwas1816cubicmetersin2001andhascomedownto1545cubicmetersin2011.
45. PiplantriVillageofsouthernRajasthan'sRajsamanddistrictisinnewsforhonouringthebirthofagirlchildbyplanting111trees.
46. PresidentPranabMukherjereleasedCommemorativePostageStamponbicentennial(200th)AnniversaryofOldSeminaryinKottayam
(Kerala).
47. PresidentPranabMukherjeeinauguratedaculturalfestivaloftheNorthEastorganizedbyGovernmentofMeghalayainNewDelhiwith
theme"SongsanddancesofNorthEast".
48. RailwaysMinisterSureshPrabhulaunchedUTSONMOBILEappforspeedybookingofunreservedtrainticketsonMobileunder
OperationFiveMinutesmeantforbookingunreservedticketsin5Minutes.
49. RailwayswillUseTechnologyofCSIRIndianInstituteofPetroleum(CSIRIIP)(Dehradun)toSetupPlantsforPlastictoDiesel
Conversion.
50. RajajiNationalParkinUttarakhanddeclaredasIndia's48thTigerReserveandUttarakhand'sSecondafterJimCorbettNationalPark.
51. RajasthanGovernmentopenedwomenmilkbankJeevanDharainJaipurtocurbhighinfantmortalityrateofRajasthan.
52. RajasthanGovernmentsignedaMoUwithVedantaGrouptoimprove3056AnganwadiCentresinfivedistricts
53. SupremeCourt(SC)askedUnionGovernmenttoreexaminetheJuvenileJustice(CareandProtectionofChildren)Act,2000andmake
itmorestringentatleastincasespertainingtoheinouscrimeslikerapeandmurder.
54. SushmaSwaraj,MinisterforExternalAffairsandShripadNaik,(MinisterinAYUSHMinistry)launchedthelogoforInternationalDayof
YogatobeheldeachyearonJune21.

55. Thane(Mumbai)namedasNationalEarthHourCapital2015asitemergedaswinnerintheEarthHourCityChallenge(EHCC)2015
conductedbyWorldWildlifeFund(WWF).
56. TwelvecitiesAmaravati(AndhraPradesh),Gaya(Bihar),Dwaraka(Gujarat),Amritsar(Punjab),Ajmer(Rajasthan),Kanchipuram(Tamil
Nadu),Vellankani(TamilNadu),Puri(Odisha),Varanasi(UttarPrasesh),Mathura(UttarPradesh),Kedarnath(Uttarakhand)and
Kamakhya(Assam)havebeenidentifiedfordevelopmentunderPilgrimageRejuvenationandSpiritualityAugmentationDrive(PRASAD)
underHeritageCityDevelopmentandAugmentationYojana(HRIDAY)scheme.
57. UnionCabinetapprovedintroductionofCommercialDivisionandCommercialAppellateDivisionofHighCourtsandCommercial
CourtsBill,2015inthecurrentsessionofParliament.
Thebillaimstosetupcommercialdivisionsincourtsforspeedydisposalofhighvaluecommercialdisputes.
Thebillisbaseduponrecommendationsin253rdReportofLawCommissionaboutestablishmentofCommercialCourts,

CommercialDivisionsandCommercialAppellateDivisionsintheHighCourts.
58. UnionHomeAffairsMinistrysuspendedregistrationofGreenpeaceIndiaSociety(GIS)for180daysforactingagainstpublicand
economicinterestsofthecountry.
GreenpeaceIndiaSocietyisanIndianchapterofGreenpeaceInternational,anonprofitenvironmentalorganizationworkingon
variousissuesrelatedtotheenvironmentinIndiasince2001.
59. UnionHomeMinistryhasplacedtheinternationalfundingorganisationFordFoundationonitswatchlistonthebasisofinputsreceived
fromsecurityagencies.
ItwasnoticedthatFordFoundationisfundingentitiesnotregisteredunderForeignContributionRegulationActcausingserious
violationofAct.
Aspersection46ofForeignContributionRegulationAct2010,MinistryinstructedRBItoensurethatfundscomingfromitbe
broughttoMinistry'snotice.
RBIwillinstructallbankstoensureanyfundflowfromtheFordFoundationtoanyentityshouldbedoneafterclearanceofHome
ministry.
60. UnionMinisterforPower,CoalandNew&RenewableEnergyPiyushGoyallaunchedthreeNTPCMobileScienceLabs(MSL)for
revolutionizingeducationinruralIndia.
MSLisavehiclewithLCDTVcarryingworkingScienceModelstoemphasizecuriosityinruralchildren.TheseMSLswillbeinitially
deployedatNTPC'songoingprojectsatDarlipalli,PakriBarwadihandKahalgaonandaimtocover140000studentexposuresin
threeyears.
61. UnionMinisterforScienceandTechnologyandEarthSciences,HarshVardhanlaidfoundationstoneforoceanresearchfacilityof
ESSONIOTinNelloreDistrictofAndhraPradeshatacostofoverRs.250croreswillallowtestingofvariousequipmentandoperationsto
beundertakeninactualseaconditions.
62. UnionMinisterofStateforTourism(IC)MaheshSharmalaunchedVisitKerala2015campaigntopromotingKeralatourism.
63. UnionMinistryofInformationandBroadcasting(I&B)receivedtheISO9001:2008certificationfromtheBritishStandardsInstitute
(BSI)inrespectofvariouslicencesissuedbyministryforthebroadcasts,printmediaandfilms.
ISO9001:2008CertificationTheISO9001:2008certificationisastandardfortheQualityManagementSystemandbasically
focuswhattheorganizationdotofulfillCustomer'sQualityRequirements,ApplicableLegal&Regulatoryrequirements,Develop
CustomerSatisfactionandAttainContinualImprovementofitsperformances.
64. UnioncabinetapprovedamendmenttotheJuvenileJusticeBilltoprovidethatifaheinouscrimeiscommittedbyapersoninthe1618
agegroup,itwillbeexaminedbytheJuvenileJusticeBoardtoassessifthecrimewascommittedasachildorasanadultand
punishmentwillbeadjudgedaccordingly.
Top

Persons
1. AllanDonaldresignedasbowlingcoachofSouthAfricaCricketteam.
2. AmericanSingerJackEly(famousforsongLouieLouie)passedaway.
3. AustralianForeignMinisterJulieBishopVisitedIndia.
4. ChhurimSherpaofNepalbecamefirstwomantoclimbtheMountEverestsummittwiceinaweek.
5. China'sMinisterofReligiousAffairsMr.WangZuoanVisitedIndia.
6. ColinBarnett,PremierofWesternAustraliaVisitedIndia.
7. DefenceMinisterManoharParrikarVisitedKorea.
8. EminenthistorianChristopherAlanBayly(UK)died.
9. ForeignMinisterofSpain,JoseManuelGarciaMargallovisitedIndia.HeProposedtocooperateindevelopingDelhiasglobaland
smartcity.
10. FormerChiefMinisterofOdishaJanakiBallabhPatnaikdied.
11. HarounAliSuleiman,MinisterforLabourandPublicServices/Personnel&TrainingofTanzaniavisitedIndia.
12. IndianPMNarendraModiVisitedFrance,GermanyandCanada
France
NuclearPowerCorporationofIndia(NPCIL)andAREVAofFrancesignedanAgreementforproposedJaitapurNuclear
PowerProjectforsettinguptwoEPR(EvolutionalPressurisedReactor)rectorsof1650MWeeach.
PMNarendraModigiftedpaintingTreeofLifetoFrenchPresidentFrancoisHollandeduringhisvisittoFrance.Ithasbeen
madebyOdishaartistBhaskarMahapatra.

India&FranceSignedanMou(MemorandumofUnderstanding)toEstablishaMarineBiologyInstituteduringthevisitof
PMNarendraModitoFrance.
IndiaaskedFrancetosupply36Rafalefighterjetsinflyawaycondition.
MoUbetweenISROandFrenchNationalCentreforSpaceStudies(CNES)onIndoFrenchMeghaTropiquessatellitewhich
waslaunchedonboardIndianlaunchvehiclePSLVonOctober12,2011.
Germany
PrimeMinisterNarendramodigiftedreproductionsofsomemanuscriptsandpapersbySirVCRamantotheGerman
ChancellorAngelaMerkelduringhisvisittoGermany.SirCVRamanreceivedNobelPrizeinphysicsin1930forhisworkon
scatteringoflight.
Canada
CanadianPrimeMinisterStephenHarperpresentedancientIndiansculptureParrotLadytoPMNarendraModi.
IndiaandCanadaissuedJointStatementtitleNewVigour,NewSteps(,)toelevatetheirbilateralrelations
toastrategicpartnership.
NarendraModigiftedMiniaturePaintingtitledGuruNanakDevtoStephenHarper.
IndiaandCanadasignedanuclearagreementonsupplyofuraniumtoIndia.Asperthe350millionUSDagreement,
CanadianCamecoCorporationwillsupply7.1millionpoundsofuraniumtoIndiatill2020.
MOUbetweenGrandChallengesCanadaandDepartmentofBiotechnologyofIndianGovernmentforinvestmentofCAD$2.5
millioninhealthinnovationsinIndia.
13. IndiasacemountaineerMalliMastanBabudied.
14. MayorofHouston(cityinTexasstateofUSA),AnniseParkerVisitedIndia.
15. MinisterofState(IndependentCharge)forPetroleumandNaturalGas,DharmendraPradhanvisitedEasternAfricanCountry
Mozambique.
16. MisaoOkawa,aJapanesewomanwhowasrecognizedbyGuinnessWorldRecordsastheworldsoldestperson(116Years),diedon1
April.
17. MustafaKamal(Bangladesh)resignedfromthepostofPresidentofInternationalCricketCouncil
18. NepaleseMinisterofYouthandSports,ShriPurushottamvisitedIndiaToseeksupportfromIndiafordevelopmentofCricket.
19. NotedTamilWriterD.Jayakanthan(JnanpithAwardee)PassedAway.
20. PMNarendraModiLaidfoundationstoneofDr.AmbedkarInternationalCentreinDelhi.
21. PMNarendraModiLeftforhistrinationVisittoFrance,GermanyandCanada.
22. PresidentofAfghanistanAshrafGhaniVisitedIndia.
23. PresidentofInternationalOlympicCommittee,Mr.ThomasBachvisitedIndia.
24. RenownedHindipoetKailashVajpeyiPassedAway.
25. RiSuYong,theForeignMinisterofNorthKorea,visitedIndia.
26. StanislavGross,FormerCzechRepublicPrimeMinister,died.
27. SunitaTomar,knownasfaceofIndia'santitobaccocampaignPassedaway.
28. SuryaBahadurThapa,formerPrimeMinisterofNepalPassedAway.
29. ThreeIndianracewalkersKhushbir,Manish,Sandeepqualifiedfor2016RioOlympicsaftercompletingtheirraceinstipulatedtime
duringIAAFRaceWalkingChallengeinPortugal.
30. Time's100MagazineIssued100MostInfluentialPeopleList
ListToppedbyAmericanrapperandsingerKanyeOmariWest.
YoungestPersonontheListisPakistanieducationactivistMalalaYousafzai.
OldestpersononthelistisTunisianPresidentBejiCaidEssebsi(88Years).
IndiansIntheList
PrimeMinisterNarendraModi.
CEOofICICIBankChandaKochchar.
MicrosoftCEOSatyaNadella
VikramPatel,GoabasedpsychiatristandprofessorofmentalhealthatLondonSchoolofHygieneandTropicalMedicineand
cofounderofaGoabasedmentalhealthresearchNGO,Sangath.
31. USASecretaryofTransportationAnthonyFoxxvivitedIndiaandsignedMemorandumofCooperation(MoC)ontransportation.
32. UnitedNations(UN)peaceenvoytoYemen,JamalBenomarresigned.
33. VladimirV.Makei,ForeignMinisterofBelarusvisitedIndia.

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Science
1. ArachnologistsfoundrarespidersbelongingtoSparassidaeandSalticidaefamiliesinKerala.
2. IndianSpaceResearchOrganisationsuccessfullytestfiredindigenouscryogenicengineCE20for645seconds.Thisachievementwill
pushIndiaintobiggerleagueofnationscapableoflaunchingsatellitesweighinguptofivetonnes.ItwillenableGSLVtoputMarkIIIinto
geostationaryorbitbytheendof2016.
3. ResearchersatStanfordUniversity(USA)createdanaluminiumsmartphonebatterythatchargesinonlyoneminute.
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Sports
1. ArchanaGirishKamathandAnezkaIlcikova,theIndoCzechRepublicpairwoncadetgirlsdoublestabletennistitleattheFrenchjunior
andcadetopendefeatingFrenchpairofLucieGauthierandLeiliMostafavi.
2. CricketSouthAfrica(CSA)announcedtostartAfricaT20Cuptopromotethegameandnurtureyoungtalentinthecontinentfeaturing
Zimbabwe,Kenya,Namibia,hostsSouthAfricaand12CSAaffiliates.
ThetournamentwillbeaWorldCupstylecompetition,consistingoffourpoolsoffourteamseachwiththewinnersofeachpool
advancingtothesemifinalsandeventuallytothefinal.
3. GeorgiawonWomensWorldTeamChessChampionshipbydefeatingChinainChina.
4. Gujaratcricketteamwon201415SyedMushtaqAliT20TrophydefeatingPunjab.
5. IndianRailwaywon5thHockeyIndiaSeniorMenNationalHockeyChampionshipheldatPunebybeatingUttarPradeshinfinal.
6. IndianTennisPlayerYukiBhambriwonTFUzbekistanF1FuturesSinglesdefeatingDzmitryZyrmontofSerbia.
7. IndianshooterApurviChandelawonBronzeat10meterAirrifle(women)inInternationalShootingSportFederation(ISSF)Rifle/Pistol
WorldCupheldinChangwon(SouthKorea).
8. IndianshooterJituRaiwonBronzeat10meterAirPistolMeninInternationalShootingSportFederation(ISSF)Rifle/PistolWorldCup
heldinChangwon(SouthKorea).
9. LaureusWorldSportsAwardsfor2015(China)
IndianCricketerSachinTendulkarelectedasmemberofLaureusSportsAcademy.
SportsmanoftheYear:NovakDjokovic,theSerbiantennisstar
SportswomanoftheYear:GenzebeDibaba,theEthiopiansprinter
TeamoftheYear:GermanyMensFootballTeam
ComebackoftheYear:SchalkBurgerofSouthAfrica,whofoughtthroughlifethreateningmeningitistowinbackhisplaceinthe
Springboksrugbyteam
SportspersonoftheYearwithaDisability:TatyanaMcFadden,thewheelchairracer
ActionSportspersonoftheYear:AlanEustace,heholdstheworldrecordforthehighestaltitudefreefalljump
10. LewisHamilton(UK)ofMercedesteamwonChineseFormulaOne(F1)GrandPrix.
11. LinDan(China)wonmen'stitleatBadmintonAsiaChampionships2015inChinabydefeatingTianHouwei(China).
12. MagnusCarlsenofNorwaywonShamkirchesstournamentinAzerbaijandefeatingAzerbaijaniRaufMamedov
13. MalaysiaOpenBadminton2015
MaleChinasChenLongwonbebeatingChina'sLinDan.
FemaleSpainsCarolinaMarinwonbybeatingChina'sLiXuerui.
14. MiamiOpenTennis2015
Women'sdoublesSaniaMirza(India)andMartinaHingis(Switzerland)Won.
Men'sSinglesNovakDjokovic(Serbia)wonbybeatingAndyMurrayofBritain.
Women'sSinglesSerenaWilliams(USA)wonbybeatingSuarezNavarroofSpain.
15. NewZealandwon2015SultanAzlanShahCupmenshockeytournamentdefeatingAustraliainMalaysia.
16. NobelwinningGermanwriterGunterGrasspassedaway.
17. NovakDjokovicofSerbiawonMonteCarloMastersTennistitlebydefeatingTomasBerdychofCzechRepublic.
18. SaniaMirza(India)andMartinaHingis(Swiss)wonWTAFamilyCircleCupdoublestitlebeatingAustralianCroatianpairofCasey
DellacquaandDarijaJurak.
SaniaMirzabecamefirstfemaletennisplayerfromIndiatoachievetheworldnumberonerankindoubles.

19. SportsMinistrySignedMoUwithIIFCL(IndiaInfrastructureFinanceCompanyLimited)forsupportingBadmintonsport.
20. UnionSportsMinistrysuspendedrecognitionofParalympicCommitteeofIndia(PCI)forpoormanagementandconductof15th
NationalParaAthleticsChampionshipsinGhaziabadinMarch2015.
21. WladimirKlitschko(Ukraine)wonworldheavyweightboxingfor18thtimeinarowbeatingBryantJennings(USA).
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