Current Affairs for November 2014

Russian Film Leviathan gets the Golden Peacock at the 45th IFFI [30/11/2014]

The Russian Film ‘Leviathan’ has been awarded the Golden Peacock at the 45th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The award was given to Director Andrey Zvyagintsev as well as producers Alexander Rodnyansky and Sergey Melkumov. Governor of Goa Mrs Mridula Sinha and veteran actress Waheeda Rehman jointly presented the award to the director Andrey Zvyagintsev at a glittering closing ceremony of the 45th IFFI at Goa.

New Chairperson assumes office at Appellate Tribunal for Electricity[28/11/2014]

Mrs. Ranjana Prakash Desai, former Judge of Supreme Court has taken over the charge of Chairperson, Appellate Tribunal for Electricity, New Delhi. She was administered the Oath of Office and Secrecy in the presence of other members and officers of the Tribunal and office bearers of Energy Bar Association, APTEL.

Anoop Mishra new Lok Sabha Secretary General[27/11/2014]

Anoop Mishra, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary, will be the new Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan announced the appointment on Wednesday. Mr. Mishra, a former IAS officer of the 1978 batch, will have the rank and status of Cabinet Secretary with effect from December 1, 2014 to November 30, 2016 or until further orders.

Sania named UN Goodwill Ambassador[26/11/2014]

Sania Mirza was named a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the South Asian region by UN Women. Described as a “woman of achievement” and “youth icon”, Sania will undertake initiatives to promote women empowerment in the region.

18th SAARC Summit[26/11/2014]

The 18th SAARC Summit begins at Kathmandu on 26th November 2014, with focus on deeper integration among the eight South Asian neighbours, amid high hopes that the leaders of India and Pakistan will meet to break their diplomatic ice.

PM Narendra Modi and Sushil Koirala flag-off Kathmandu-Delhi bus service[25/11/2014]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala today flagged off the Kathmandu-Delhi bus service called Pashupatinath Express from here. The route, the bus service will follow would be from Kathmandu, Bhairawa, Sanauli, Gorakhpur, Lucknow and New Delhi.

Shri Ajit Doval, NSA, appointed as the Special Representative of India[24/11/2014]

Shri Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser (NSA), has been appointed as the Special Representative of India to conduct boundary negotiations and strategic consultations with China.

Magnus Carlsen crowned world champion[23/11/2014]

In the eleventh game of the World Chess Championship, Viswanathan Anand playing with black pieces lost to Magnus Carlsen. With this win Carlsen has successfully defended his World Champion title.

Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana[21/11/2014]

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved the launch of Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) with components (i) to separate agriculture and non agriculture feeders facilitating judicious rostering of supply to agricultural and non-agricultural consumers in rural areas and (ii) strengthening and augmentation of sub transmission and distribution infrastructure in rural areas, including metering of distribution transformers/feeders/consumers. The estimated cost of the scheme for above two components is Rs.43,033 crore which includes the requirement of budgetary support of Rs.33,453 crore from Government of India over the entire implementation period.

Rajinikanth conferred Centenary Award at IFFI[21/11/2014]

South Indian cinema’s superstar Rajinikanth was bestowed with the Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year at the opening ceremony of the 45th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

China commits $45.6 bn for economic corridor with Pakistan[21/11/2014]

The Chinese government and banks will finance Chinese companies to build $45.6 billion worth of energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan over the next six years, according to new details of the deal seen by Reuters. The Chinese companies will be able to operate the projects as profit-making entities, according to the deal signed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during a visit to China earlier this month.

India thrash Nepal 6-0 to clinch SAFF Womens Championship[21/11/2014]

Indian women's football team beat Nepal in the 3rd SAFF Championship Football tournament to win their third title in the regional tournament at Islamabad.

Kotak Mahindra Banks acquisition of ING Vysya Bank [20/11/2014]

Kotak Mahindra Bank's acquisition of ING Vysya Bank is the country's first ever amalgamation of a profit earning entity post the global financial meltdown in 2008. Kotak Mahindra Bank announced amalgamation with ING Vysya Bank in a over Rs 15,000 crore deal. Post merger, the combined entity will have market capitalisation larger than Rs 1 lakh crore.

Rajiv Mehrishi appointed on board of governors of Asian Development Bank[18/11/2014]

Rajiv Mehrishi, Finance Secretary and Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, Government of India has been appointed as India's Alternate Governor on the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank.

FM to Relaunch Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP)[17/11/2014]

FM to Relaunch Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP). Available to the Investors in the Denomination of Rs. 1000, 5000, 10,000 and 50,000, with no Upper Ceiling on Investment. Investment made in the KVP will Double in 100 Months.

Kidambi Srikanth and Saina won China Open Series Premier[16/11/2014]

World No. 16 Kidambi Srikanth caused a huge upset in the final of China Open Super Series Premier as he stunned the former World No. 1, two time Olympic Champion, five time World Champion and local favorite Lin Dan. This is Srikanth’s first ever Super Series title and first ever title won by an Indian player in men’s singles category. And Saina Nehwal clinched her maiden China Open by defeating Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in women's single category.

G20 summit opens in Australia[15/11/2014]

Australia's prime minister vowed that world leaders would deliver on an initiative to add $2 trillion to global GDP, promising freer trade and more investment in infrastructure as heads of the 20 largest economies began cementing plans to drag sagging growth out of the doldrums. Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who has repeatedly promised this year's Group of 20 gathering in the Australian city of Brisbane would be more than a talkfest, said the growth plans would add millions of jobs and boost global GDP by "more than 2 percent" above expected levels over the next five years.

US and China announce historic climate accord[14/11/2014]

China and the United States, the world’s two largest carbon polluters, on 12th November 2014 announced ambitious plans to cut down on greenhouse gas emission over the next two decades. The landmark agreement, signed between President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping in Beijing, says that the US will cut down emissions by about 28 percent below 2005-levels by 2025. China has pledged to achieve the "peaking of carbon dioxide emissions around 2030 and increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 20 percent by 2030."

Rohit Sharma created history in one day cricket [13/11/2014]

Rohit Sharma created history by smashing the highest individual ODI score with a breathtaking knock of 264 as India thrashed Sri Lanka by 153 runs in the fourth cricket one-dayer. He scored his 264 off only 173 balls that had 33 fours and seven sixes.

PM launches Jeevan Pramaan Digital Life Certificate for Pensioners[10/11/2014]

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched "Jeevan Pramaan" – an "Aadhar-based Digital Life Certificate" for pensioners, in a move that could eventually benefit over a crore pensioners.

Salgaocar FC wins Durand Cup[09/11/2014]

Salgaocar FC, Goa win over Pune FC to emerge Durand Cup champion for the third time at Margao.

Modi among Forbes worlds most powerful people[06/11/2014]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his debut among the world’s most powerful people, ranked 15th on the Forbes list topped by Russian President Vladimir Putin who pipped his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama for a second year in a row. The list of 72 most powerful people in the world also included the names of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani at 36th, ArcelorMittal Chairman and CEO Lakshmi Mittal at 57th and Microsoft’s Indian-born CEO Satya Nadella at 64th.

Anita Kapur is new CBDT Chairperson[05/11/2014]

Senior IRS officer Anita Kapur has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex authority of the Income Tax department.

Vijay Kelkar new NIPFP chairperson[03/11/2014]

Thirteenth Finance Commission Chairman Vijay Laxman Kelkar has been appointed as Chairperson of the Finance Ministry’s think-tank National Institute of Public Finance & Policy (NIPFP). He replaces former Reserve Bank governor C. Rangarajan.

Pankaj Advani clinched the World billiards championship[01/11/2014]

Pankaj Advani clinch the World billiards championship (timed format) in Leeds and bagging record 12 world titles. He became the first player ever to win titles in both formats thrice, following his double in 2005 and 2008.

State Foundation Day[01/11/2014]

1st November Celebrate as State Foundation day of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh and Haryana Day.