Current Affairs 2014 May Week 4 for SBI PO

Current Affairs 2014 May Week 3 for SBI PO

Economy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asks Ministers to fix 100 day timetable

Strong step to fulfill commitment of good governance, Modi asked his ministers to come up with a plan of action for the first 100 days to show their efficiency and delivery in their work.

Myanmar to launch first stock exchange in 2015

Myanmar is all set to launch its first stock exchange by October 2015.

• The propose stock exchange will be operated by the Myanmar Economic Bank in partnership with Japan’s Tokyo Stock Exchange and Daiwa Securities Group.

Delhi Metro completed its crucial tunnel from between INA and South Extension.

• Total length of tunnel is 925 m long.
• It is part of 58.467 km long corridor between  Majlis Park in Mukundpur to Shiv Vihar for Phase III.
• The deadline fixed for the project is end of 2016.
• The corridor consists of total 14 km length in the underground section lines.

Bolivian Presidents opens the first World’s highest cable-car system

• First part of the operation inaugurated between Capital La Paz and El Alto.
• The journey will complete through the Andes Monuments with a height of 4,000 m above the sea level.
• Austrian company Doppelmayr has completed the project.

Business incubation centres in every DU college

• According to DU Vice Chancellor, every college in Delhi University will now have businees incubation centers.
• These Centers will grant Rs.12 lakh each to students who will come with innovative business ideas.

NDA government to build 100 smart cities

•  Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu announced that the NDA government would kick-start building 100 smart cities shortly.
• The move has envisaged in the BJP’s poll manifesto releases before election.
• According to the 2011 census, 32 percent of the country’s population lives in urban areas.
• In 2001, the percent was 28 percent whereas it was only 17 percent in 1991.

Indian economy grew at 4.7 percent in 2013-14

The Indian economy grew at 4.7 percent in the entire 2013-14 financial year, marking a second straight year of below 5 percent growth.

• According to Central Statistics Office data, the gross domestic product grew at 4.6 percent in the fourth quarter (January-March) of the last fiscal.

Goa to start sea plane service by July

According to Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, To encourage the tourism, Goa is all set launch its sea plane service by July.

• Trial for the project is under process in the Mandovi River in the state in June.
• The project will be operated by Mumbai based Mehair Civil Aviation Company.

Smart phone sale to touch 1.2 bn units in 2014

 Smart phones sale in India is expected to reach 1.2 billion – a 23.1 percent increase over 2013 – by the end of 2014.

• The survey was concluded by International Data Corporation (IDC).

Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan to form new economic bloc Eurasian Economic Union

 The leaders of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have signed a treaty to create an economic union that intends to boost trade ties between the three countries.

• It will be based on the European Union-style bloc to facilitate the free flow of people, capital and goods within the three countries.
• The agreement, forging the Eurasian Economic Union, will come into force on January 1, 2015

Syria has suffered $143.8-bn economic loss due to civil war

 United Nations has said that Syria has suffered $143.8 billion in economic losses due to the continuing civil war in the country.

Isuzu Motors enters North India

 Isuzu Motors launches new vehicles and entered in India, a emerging market in the world.

• Isuzu Motors opened its first outlet in the Gurgaon in a bid to enter the north India market.

eTailing announces pact with US company

The well known ecommerce company of India, eTailing India, a knowledge platform announced a pact with IRCE, a global e-commerce exhibition in the US

• Both the companies have signs the pact to promote each others’ events and reach out to a larger international audience.

Madagascar: US remove restrictions on aid

US have removed restrictions on assistance to Madagascar which will provide some relief for the country.

Proposed Airport in Kerala hits eco barrier

A tribunal cancelled the environment sanction for the proposed Rs.2,000-crore KGS Aranmula international airport project in Kerala.

KGS Aranmula international airport project is proposed about 110 km from the state capital and 30 km from the famed Sabarimala temple.

$147-million loan to Jubilant Pharma

• The International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank is lending $147.5 million (Rs.863 crore) to Jubilant Pharma.
• Jubilant Pharma is Singapore-based subsidiary of drug major Jubilant Life Sciences which has get grant to ensure access to affordable drugs in underserved markets in India and other countries.

Plastic banknotes to be released in Scotland in 2015

• To mark the 125^th anniversary of the Forth Bridge, Scotland’s Clydesdale Bank will next year release Britain’s first plastic banknotes.
•  Forth Bridge -a rail bridge in Britain, will completed its 125^th anniversary, and it was included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2014.
• The Forth Bridge was opened March 4, 1890 as the first major structure of steel in Britain.

People in News

Hiroshi Naka: Vice President and Auditor General of World Bank

• Hiroshi Naka, who belongs to Japan, was appointed as the Vice President and Auditor General of World Bank.
• Naka will take the charge as the Vice President in July 2014.
• Jim Yong Kim is the President of World Bank who announced the appointment.

Mukul Rohatgi : New Attorney-General of India

• Rohatgi was appointed as the 14th Attorney-General of India.
• He will succeed to Gulam Vahanvati.

William S. Pinckney: Amway CEO

• Amway CEO, arrested by Khammam police of Andhra Pradesh in India and send jail for 14 days.

B.G. Srinivas: Ex Infosys’ President 

• High Profile technocrat is all set to join PCCW Ltd, a Hong Kong based company which deals withtelecom, media, IT solutions, property development and investment.
• Ex-Infosys’ president Srinivas was in news as he quit Indian IT bellwether Infosys Ltd. 

Murlidhar Sharma and Bhola Nath Jha: Litchis Farmers 

• Murlidhar Sharma and Bhola Nath Jha are the litchi farmers from Bihar are the persons who have been selected as their organic litchis will be gifted to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi.

Ajit Doval: National Security Adviser

• Former Intelligence Bureau Chief Ajit Doval has been appointed as the National Security Adviser on 30 May 2014.
• He has served as Intelligence Bureau Chief during 2004-2005.

Nripendra Misra: Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

• Nripendra Misra, former Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) was appointed as the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

• He was appointed after passing of a ordinance by Union Cabinet to amend Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act, 1997 to enable his appointment as Principal Secretary to the PM.

Events in News

St. Petersburg’s 311th birthday celebrated in Russia 

• St. Petersburg celebrated the 311th anniversary of its founding.
• St. Petersburg, known as Russia’s cultural capital of Russia, witnesses a series of ceremonies and activities involving the general public.

Malaysia expo in Bangalore

• Malaysia’s state-run external trade development corporation (Matrade) organizes the expo to explore a major export destination.

• Earlier Matrade had organized similar expositions at Chennai in 2013, Pune in 2012 and Mumbai in 2011.

1 MW solar power project: Oragadam

• Famous Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems global major Danfoss is setting up a 1 MW solar power plant at its upcoming facility in Oragadam.
• The 1MW solar power project has been to set up in Oragadam , which is 55 km from Chennai.

North India’s tallest residential tower 

• Noida is to witness the North India’s tallest residential tower.
• Real estate player Brys Group is to invest Rs.900 crore-Rs.1,000 crore  for the project.

Summit on Financing Africa’s Iinfrastructure : Senegal 

• President Macky Sall of Senegal will host a summit on financing Africa’s infrastructure
• The Conference will be organized here from June 14-15 in Dakar.

Soyuz TMA- 13M: Russian spaceship

• A Russian spaceship flies with three astronauts to International Space Station (ISS).
• The three astronauts are Maxim Surayev of Russia, Gregory Wiseman of NASA of the US, and Alexander Gerst from the European Space Agency.
• All the three astronauts are expected to carry out a 167-day mission at the ISS.
• They will join Russia’s Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev, and NASA’s Steve Swanson.

Global Investors’ Meet (GIM 2015): Bangalore

• Event to be organize by Karnataka in Next Year.
• Karnataka has invites South American nation of Peru to participate in global investors’ meet.

Espadrilles: Summer shoe trend for 2014

• Organized in London, Espadrille shoes is trending event for the noted celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian, Beyonce Knowles, Kate Bosworth and Katy Perry.

Miscellaneous

Himachal Pradesh funding to restore ancient temples

• Himachal Pradesh government has been providing adequate funds to restore and maintain historical temples in the state.
• Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh announced during his visit to ancient Narain Temple in Shimla district which was recently re-constructed by spending Rs.3 crore.

Food Park to be set up in Ludhiana

• A Food Park has been envisaged in Ludhiana which will be spread over an area of 100 acres at Ladowal in the district.
• It would encourage crop diversification among farmers and promote food processing industry in the state.
• Estimated cost for the Food Park is about Rs.150 crore.

SIT formed on black money

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi government forms a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe black money.
• Director of CBI, RAW, Financial Intelligence will also be a part of the SIT.

McDonald against use its logo 

• The Multinational Fast Food Company McDonald’s has asked protestors to stop using its logo in protest in Thailand.
• Thailand is witnessing heavy protest against the military coup.

‘Diya Aur Baati Hum’: Inspiring most Indian women

• According to survey, “Diya Aur Baati Hum” serial telecasted on Star Plus is the most inspiring fictional story on Hindi general entertainment channels.
• The serial which is about a girl’s grit and gumption to become an IPS officer telecasts on Star Plus.

Audit of Padmanabhaswamy temple

• The audit of the famous Padmanabhaswamy temple was begun by Ex-CAG Vinod Rai.
• Former CAG Vinod Rai who was asked by the Supreme Court to undertake the audit of the properties, assets and accounts of the past 25 years of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple.

Stove launched which reduce toxic emission 

• The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) in collaboration with the Jindal Stainless launched a smokeless stainless steel stove.
• The effort will ensure high reduction in toxic emissions during cooking.

World’s simplest and fastest robots: the Raptor 

• The Raptor is a Korean sprinter robot can which is assumed to beat Usain Bolt!
• South Korean scientists have taken inspiration from the prehistoric Velociraptor dinosaur to create one of the world’s simplest and fastest robots – the Raptor.
• Raptor is capable of reaching a top speed of 46 km an hour which is faster than sprinter Usain Bolt – the fastest man on earth.

Dragon V2: New space taxi

• Dragon V2 is a new spaceship that would be able to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS).
• Scientist hopes that new vessel will be ready for manned missions by 2017 or 2018.
• The Taxi was unveiled in California.

Sports

IPL Spot-Fixing

• Court orders property attachment process against Dawood Ibrahim, his aide Chhota Shakeel and three others, who are absconding in connection with the IPL spot-fixing case.

FIFA World Cup 2014

• Brazil has announced for a pollution-cutting measures to make FIFA World Cup 2014 more eco – friendly.
• FIFA World Cup 2014 is scheduled to be held from 12 June to 13 July 2014 in Brazil. 

Books/ Authors

“To Dad, With Love”: Book On Rakesh Roshan

• Book written by Sunaina Roshan, daughter of Rakesh Roshan.
• Book is all about a pictorial biography on her father and actor-filmmaker Rakesh Roshan.

Dilip Kumar: Substance and Shadow, Biography of Dilip Kumar

• Dilip Kumar: The Substance and the Shadow; has been penned by Udaya Tara Nayar.
• Dilip Kumar: The Substance and the Shadow, has been published by Hay House India and Penguin Books India.

Awards

Scripps National Spelling Bee Awards

• Sriram J Hathwar and Ansun Sujoe , the Indian-Americans jointly won the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee.
• It was for the first time since 1962 that Scripps National Spelling Bee ended in a tie.

Vyas Samman for the year 2013

• Vishwanath Tripathi, eminent Hindi writer was awarded with the prestigious Vyas Samman for the year 2013.
• He received the award for his work Vyomkesh Darvesh at 23rd edition of the annual ceremony.