march 2015 ca

Rs. 27/-

Current

Affairs March 2015

Exclusively prepared for RACE students

#38, Burkit Road, T Nagar, Chennai-17 Ph: 044 6456 3030, Mob: 9043303030, www.theRace.in

Blog- Http://raceinstitute.blogspot.in

Free for RACE

Students

http://www.therace.in/

R.A.C.E Rapid Academy of Competitive Exams

[Unit of Seeman Education]

Exclusively prepared for R.A.C.E Students NO. 38, Burkit road, T. Nagar, Chennai-17 Ph: 044-64563030 Mob: 9043303030 www.theRace.in

2

Current Affairs

March 2015

National Affairs March 01

25th Foundataion Day of NASSCOM

NASSCOM - National Association of

Software and Services Companies.

Ending 49days of Governor Rule, PDP leader

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed took over as new

Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP's Nirmal Singh sworn in as Deputy

Chief Minister.

Along with 24 ministers (13 from PDP and 11

from BJP), his cabinet marked the entry of BJP for

the first time in the state government.

J&K Governor N N Vohra

Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram

Manjhi has launched a new front Hindustani

Awam Morcha to counter Nitish Kumar's JDU.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has

approved financial aid worth 426.83 crore

rupees from the Prime Ministers National Relief

Fund for flood affected people of Jammu and

Kashmir.

March 02

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

2015, a Bill to amend the Citizenship Act, one of

the six items on which government had issued

ordinances, was passed by the Lok Sabha. This

bill seeks to remove disparity between Persons

of Indian Origin cardholders and Overseas

Citizens of India cardholders.

63rd All India Police wrestling cluster

started in Delhi.

A total of 1600 sports personnel from 37

teams of various police forces took part.

Hosted by the Indo Tibetan Border Police

Force.

The Minister of State for Information &

Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh

Rathore addressed the inaugural ceremony

The Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu

launched a ‗Customer Complaint Web Portal

and Mobile Application‘ (android/windows based

mobile App).

The Complaint Management System

(COMS) portal consists of the following

applications:

A mobile app based complaints and

suggestions application A web based

complaints and suggestions application on URL

www.coms.indianrailways.gov.in.

A SMS based complaints and suggestions

application on the number +919717630982.

Centralized Public Grievance Redress and

Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) will also be

provided.

Soon after taking oath, J&K Chief Minister

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has stoked a

controversy saying Hurriyat, militant outfits and

―people from across the border‖.

http://www.coms.indianrailways.gov.in/




3

India‟s total carbon emission during 2013

stood at 15.63 million tonnes as compared to

15.39 million tonnes in 2012.

This was disclosed by the Union Govt. on 2

March 2015 in Lok Sabha.

The reason given for around 1.5% increases

in carbon emission in 2013 - Introduction of new

routes for airlines and overall increase in

aircraft movement

The new Chairman of the National Book

Trust (NBT) appointment Baldev Sharma

Baldev Sharma is a former editor of

“Panchajanya” – the mouthpiece of the RSS.

His appointment was done by cutting short the

tenure of incumbent A.

Sethumadhavan by 6 months.

NBT is an autonomous publishing house

run under the Ministry of Education (Govt. of

India) and.

It publishes low-cost books on a variety of

subjects.

Social activist Anna Hazare has announced

a 1,100km foot march – on the lines of the

historic Dandi March by Mahatma Gandhi – to

put pressure on the BJP government at the Centre

to stay clear of amending Land Acquisition Act.

This protest was organized under the banner of

Hazare‟s organisation Bhrashtachar Virodhi

Jan Andolan Nyas and was supported by several

other farmers‘ groups.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar will visit

Islamabad 3rd march on a two-day visit as part

of his 'SAARC Yatra'

March 03

The world's largest and tallest Indian

tricolour was unfurled at Town Park in

Faridabad.

The flag weighs 48 kilograms and has 96

feet by 64 feet dimension.

It was hoisted at a height of 250 feet (75

meters), making it the largest and the highest

hoisted Indian flag in the world.

The bill banning cow slaughter in

Maharashtra pending for several years, received

the President's assent.

This measure has taken almost twenty years

to materialize and was initiated during the

previous SenaBJP government.

Under the new law, anyone selling beef or in

possession of it can be jailed for up to five

years and fined Rs.10,000.

Insurance Bill introduced in Lok Sabha

The long-pending Insurance Bill – that

seeks to increase the Foreign Direct

Investment cap in the sector to 49 per cent —

was introduced in the Lok Sabha.

Union Minister of State for Finance Jayant

Sinha sought permission of the Lok Sabha to

introduce the Insurance Laws (Amendment)

Bill, 2015

Uttarakhand Government has decided to take

at least 25,000 elderly people of the State on Char

Dham Yatra for free under the scheme 'Mere

Bujurg Mere Teerth'.




4

The scheme "Mere Bujurg Mere Teerth ' was

launched last year for the people above 65 years

of age in the state.

The Election Commission of India has

launched National Electoral Roll Purification

and Authentication Programme (NERPAP)

throughout the country from March 3rd with the

prime objective of bringing a totally error free

and authenticated electoral roll.

During the programme, EPIC data of

electors will be linked with Aadhar data of

UIDAI for the purpose of authentication.

NERPAP will focus on improving image

quality of electors along with sorting issues

like corrections of errors etc.

A Bill seeking to pave the way for plying of e-

rickshaws on Delhi roads was passed by the Lok

Sabha.

It is the third ordinance to be replaced by a

bill passed by the Lower House since Monday,

the others being the Citizenship (Amendment)

Bill and the Mines and Minerals (Development

and Regulation) Amendment Bill.

INCOIS launches app for fishermen

The app, developed in-house by the

Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for

Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) Marine

Fishery Advisory Services team is for the

benefit of fishermen.

For those using basic phones the Centre

unveiled an SMS service in local languages. The

text messages will provide potential fishing

zone advisory on a real time basis.

March 04

The Lok Sabha also passed the Coal Mines

(Special Provisions) Bill, 2015, to allow e-

auction of coal blocks after the Supreme Court

cancelled their allocation leading to uncertainty in

the coal sector, amid opposition by Left and some

other opposition parties.

As a British filmmaker's interview of

Mukesh Singh, one of the 16 December gang rape

convicts for a documentary in which he showed no

remorse triggered a storm.

This documentary was made by Leslee

Udwin.

Telangana government has decided to launch

the E-Panchayat programme in 18 Village

Panchayats in Domokonda of Nizamabad

district initially.

Rani Mukerji awarded by National Institute

of Gender Justice for representing the cause of

women

Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji was on 3 March

2015 awarded with the National Award for the Best

Representation of the Cause of Safety, Security

and Protection of Women and Girl Child by

National Institute of Gender Justice (NIGJ).

March 05

The controversial BBC documentary titled

"India's daughter" about the 16th December

2012 Delhi gang rape victim Nirbyaya has been

uploaded on video sharing website YouTube.

The Union government had banned the

telecast of this documentary in India.




5

BBC telecasts the documentary even as Union

Home Ministry asks not to broadcast it.

Haryana government has decided to

introduce "Shri Mad Bhagwad Gita‖ for students

of all classes in schools following the

recommendation of the State Council of

Educational Research and Training.

Maharashtra government has scrapped

the five per cent reservation for Muslims in

government jobs as announced by the former

Congress NCP government just before Assembly

polls last year.

The Centre has out rightly rejected the

recommendation of a high level Committee to

reduce the coverage of beneficiaries from 67% to

40% under National Food Security Act.

The Shanta Kumarled Committee had

recommended the government to revisit the UPA‘s

National Food Security Act.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

inaugurated the first phase of the Singaji

Thermal Power Project at Dongliya village in

Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa District.

The first phase of the Singaji Thermal Power

project is of 1200 megawatt capacity.

The project will give impetus to the state

government's 'Atal Jyoti Abhiyan', which aims at

providing 24 X 7 power supply across the state.

An agreement for developing the first smart

sub-city in East Delhi was signed between

National Building Construction Corporation

Ltd (NBCC) and Delhi Development Authority

(DDA) on 4 March 2015.

“East Delhi Hub Project” which will be the

first transit oriented development (TOD) smart

city in Delhi.

March 06

Haryana govt is contemplating on framing a

law under which registration of pregnancy would

be made compulsory within first three months

of pregnancy.

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij said that

aim of the law is to check female foeticide in the

state.

The HRD ministry has set up a 3 member

committee to probe alleged misappropriation

of funds received under the Sarva Siksha

Abhiyan by an NGO run by activist Teesta

Setalvad, who is facing heat along with her

husband in a separate case of embezzlement.

Head of the committee Supreme Court

lawyer Abhijit Bhattacharje

Members

SA Bari (Gujarat Central University vice

chancellor)

Gaya Prasad(Senior HR ministry official)

To commercialise Ayurvedic medicines,

National Research Development Corporation

(NRDC) has signed a pact with Central Council

for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS).

The scope of the Memorandum of

Agreement (MOA) also includes providing

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) services to

CCRAS in India and abroad.




6

March 7

Artificial glacier in the form of Ice stupa to

store water inaugurated in Phyang village of

Ladakh

Artificial glacier in the form of Ice stupa was

inaugurated at Phyang village in Ladakh region of

Jammu and Kashmir. Phyang village is a desert

region of Ladakh.

The purpose of building such stupa is to store

water to green the entire desert of Phyang

which has an area of 1500 acres.

March 07

The Budget Sessions of both Andhra

Pradesh and Telangana Assemblies began.

The Budget Sessions of both Assemblies are

being held simultaneously for the first time after

the organisation of these states last year.

Telangana Finance Minister E. Rajender

will present the Annual Budget on 11th March

2015, while his Andhra Pradesh counterpart

Yanamala Ramakrishnudu will present the

budget on 12th March 2015.

Governor for both states: ESL Narasimhan.

To mark International Womens Day, Union

Health and Family Welfare Ministry organizing

3day special Health Camps throughout country

from 8th to 10th March 2015.

Under the initiative, special health checkup

camps will be held at the District Hospitals, Sub

district Hospitals (SDHs) and Community

Health Centers (CHCs) on three days.

These will offer free of charge health checkup

to all women, including pregnant women across the

country.

Union health and Family Welfare Minister

: J P Nadda

The shocking incident of a mob breaking into

a jail, pulling out a rape-accused and then

lynching him on streets took place in Dimapur

city of Nagaland.

Gujarat sees 80% coverage of LPG

customers under DBTL

Gujarat has reported 80 per cent penetration

of the Direct Benefit transfer of LPG (DBTL)

scheme Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh (PaHaL) of

the total active LPG consumers in the state.

March 08

A unique calender featuring Acid Attack

Survivors was launched to mark International

Women's Day and to commemorate the third

anniversary of the 'Stop Acid Attacks' campaign

and is an initiative of 'Chaanv' an NGO.

Shot in the backdrop of Taj Mahal in Agra, 11

women overcome their fear and were a part of it.

The Government has decided to recruit women

officers in Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)

for the first time ITBP is the designated security

force to secure 3,488 km of the Line of Actual

Control with China.

March 09

President Pranabh Mukherjee laid a wreath

at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate this morning to




7

March 8

commemorate the Centenary of First World War

(1914-1918).

The Ministry of Human Resource

Development, Department of School

Education and Literacy, presented the Digital

Gender Atlas for advancing girls' education in

India in New Delhi.

The tool, which has been developed with the

support of UNICEF, will help identify low

performing geographic pockets for girls,

particularly from marginalised groups such as

scheduled castes, schedule tribes and Muslim

minorities, on specific gender related education

indicators.

Social activist Anna Hazare announced that

he will start a foot-march against the land bill

later this month with other social activist who‘s like

Anna Hazare.

March 10

Prime Minister Narendra Modi saluted the

bravery of CISF personnel on the 46th Raising

Day of the CISF.

CISF - Central Industrial Security Force

The CISF came into existence in 1969 to

provide integrated security cover to public

sector undertakings and now has strength of

around 1.4 lakh personnel.

Government to move nine amendments to

the Land Acquisition Bill to ensure its passage in

Parliament

The Amendments include hassle free

mechanism for redreassal of grievances and

mandatory employment for farm labourers affected

by acquisition.

Delhi, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are India‟s

best-ranked States in terms of gender related

Education indicators, according to the new data

from the Ministry of Human Resource

Development and UNICEF.

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, are

among the worst performers.

March 11

Maharashtra government has started a

helpline to address the social, physical and

psychological issues faced by adolescents.

The helpline was inaugurated by Maharashtra

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis‟ wife

Amruta Fadnavis.

Currently, the annual budget for the scheme is

5.7 crore rupees.

The Rajya Sabha has passed the Motor

Vehicle (Amendment) Bill, which will pave the

way for plying of e-rickshaws on the roads of the

National Capital Region.

The Bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha on

March 3.

India's literacy rate rose to 72.98 % in

2011.

Replying to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha

Human Resource Development Minister Smriti

Irani said, as per census 2011, the number of

illiterates has declined to 28.27 crore in the

country from 30.41 crore in 2011.




8

March 12

Parliament passed the controversial

Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which

replaced an ordinance promulgated in December

last year, by voice vote

This bill proposes to raise foreign investment

in the sector to 49% from the current 26% but

with a rider that management control should be

with Indians.

New city 'NAINA' to come up over 600

square km near Navi Mumbai airport

As a part of the smart city mission of the

Centre, the state government will develop 30

towns, focusing on "themes" such as

education, medical, entertainment, industry,

etc.

March 13

The 3rd edition of the Indian Panorama

Film Festival began at Shillong.

This festival was inaugurated by Meghalaya

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma with the screening

of award winning Marathi film ―Dr Prakash Baba

Amte: the Real Hero‖ directed by Samruoddhi

Porey.

Twelve award winning films will be

screened including nine feature films and three

non-feature films in nine languages during the

three-day festival.

The Union Minister of Chemicals &

Fertilizers Ananth Kumar launched ‗Pharma Jan

Samadhan‟ scheme.

It is a web enabled system for redressal of

consumers‘ grievances relating to pricing and

availability of medicines, created by National

Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).

Mr Kumar also released Compendium of

Ceiling Prices of Essential Medicines 2015

prepared by NPPA.

The Law Commission of India submitted its

report on electoral reforms to the Union Law

Ministry.

Recommendations

Restrict candidates to contest from one

constituency only

Appoint CEC and two ECs through a collegium

Ban Independents from contesting polls

Commission rejects the idea of compulsory

voting

Regulating government sponsored ads six

months prior to date of expiry of the House

Period for calculating election expenses of

candidates should be extended to apply from the

date of notification to date of results

Amend Companies Act to require AGM

resolution for contribution from the company's

funds to a political party.

March 14

Union government is contemplating to relax

the criteria of disability.

Union minister for social justice and

empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot said that

government is mulling to reduce the parameter




9

of body deformity percentage from 40 to 25 for

disability certificate.

With a view to strengthen security measures

for women in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party led

government decided to form a women security

force to be deployed at 'dark stretches' across

the city which are crime prone for women.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said

they have also decided to deploy marshals in all

DTC buses from 6 PM to 12 midnight.

March 15

The Haryana Govt is going to introduce

teaching of Bhagavad Gita in schools across

the state from coming academic session.

The government will also introduce a bill with

"stringent punishment for cow slaughter in the

ongoing budget session of the assembly."

Haryana Chief Minister : Manohar Lal

Khattar

Haryana Agriculture Minister : Om

Prakash Dhankhad

In order to ensure women safety, Delhi

government has ordered all taxi operators to

install GPS in their vehicles, failing which fitness

certificate will not be issued to them.

The decision came months after a 25 year old

woman was allegedly raped by a driver enlisted

with the US based cab service, Uber, in December

last year inside the taxi in which GPS was not

installed.

„Skill Up India‟ is the name of an open

source, free, online education portal that was

launched on 13 March 2015 by the Gujarat Chapter

of Code For India.

March 16

Clearing all doubts about the validity of

Aadhaar card to avail of government subsidies,

the Supreme Court confirmed that the Aadhaar

card is not compulsory, and further, officials who

insist on them will be taken to task.

Union Information and Broadcasting

Minister Arun Jaitley inaugurated the 5th

National Community Radio Sammelen at Delhi

and also presented National Community Radio

Awards.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)

is planning to launch an all – women cab

service.

This Cab service named as ― Shakti ‖

The Women drivers with commercial license

have been already selected and they will also begin

working from next month.

Delhi Airport‟s terminal 1D is all set to get

India‟s first body scanner.

United States Trade and Development

Agency (USTDA) will be giving a ‗millimetre wave

scanner‘ to Indira Gandhi International Airport

which will be installed in the coming weeks.

It will be tested for ―Indian Conditions‖ by

Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) which will

look at its health and privacy concerns.

March 17




10

First Indian - American astronaut and First

Indian Women in Space, Kalpana Chawla's (17

March 1962 - 1st February 2003) birth

anniversary.

In a major verdict, the Supreme Court set

aside centre's notification to extend the benefit

of reservations to the Jat Community.

Parliament passes Rail Budget 2015 - 16.

Lok Sabha passes General Budget

Haryana Assembly passes Haryana

Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan

Bill, 2015, which clamps a complete ban of cow

slaughter in the state and provides for a rigorous

imprisonment ranging from 3years to 10 years for

killing the animal.

The cabinet has declared the Black Money

Bill, which would give more powers to the tax

department in tracking illicit wealth stashed abroad

and provide for strict penal actions for such

offense.

The bill is likely to be introduced in the current

session of parliament.

March 18

The government has proposed a one- time

amnesty for all those who have stashed black

money abroad.

The Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (

Imposition of New Tax) Bill, 2015 cleared by the

cabinet also proposes stringent action against

offenders, including rigorous imprisonment up to

10 years.

One-time compliance opportunity to those who

have stashed illicit monet abroad will be provided.

The evader will be allowed to pay tax and

penalty on the amount.

The Delhi High Court has once again refused to

stay ban on BBC documentary 'India's Daughter'

The court also asked the Ministry of

Information and Broadcasting to issue an advisory

over the ban.

It has fixed 15th April

for the next hearing.

The National Green Tribunal has passed a

string of directions to clear the Railways of the filth

which gives it the tag of "biggest open toilet".

National Green Tribunal (NGT) has announced

a fine of Rs 5,000 on individuals spotted littering or

throwing waste on the railway platforms and

tracks.

It was announced by a NGT bench, headed by

Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar.

Rate of Railway platform ticket will be

increased from 5 to 10 rupees per person from

April, 2015.

Maharashtra has announced Local Body Tax

(LBT) would be abolished from August 1 and

extended tax exemption on essential commodities

like rice and wheat in Budget 2015-16.

As regards LBT, a compensation of Rs. 6,875

cr. will be given to the municipal corporations,

excluding Mumbai.

This was one of the main electoral promises of

the BJP.




11

March 19

International Conference on Counter Terrorism

begins in Jaipur.

Inaugurated by: Union Home Minister Rajnath

Singh.

1st National Photography and Videography

Workshop began at New Delhi.

Organised by : Ministry of Information &

Broadcasting

Inaugurated by: Minister of State for

Information & Broadcasting, col. (Retd,),

Rajyavardhan Rathore.

A MoU was signed between the Inland

Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the

Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India

(DFCCIL) at Delhi today for creation of logistics

hubs with rail connectivity at Varanasi and other

places on national waterways.

The MoU was signed in the presence of

Minister of Shipping and Road Transport &

Highways Nitin Gadkari and Minister of Railways

Suresh Prabhu.

The Lok Sabha has passed the Warehousing

Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2015.

IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched

Bharatniti.in, a public policy portal that attempts to

put in to perspective policy matters using an

"ancient yet contemporary" approach.

March 20

Delhi will become the first state in the country

to launch an E- ration card service next week.

The E- ration card will be linked with Aadhaar

cards with a view to curb corruption and increase

transparency in the system.

Rajya sabha passes Mines and Minerals

Amendment Bill.

This is the second major reform measure to

receive the approval of the legislature in the first

half of the Budget session.

The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, seeking

to hike FDI in insurance sector was the first reform

measure passed by the parliament.

Cabinet approves 33% reservation for women

in police forces of Union Territories and Delhi.

The Department of Personnel and Training

(DoPT) will organise yoga training sessions for

central government employees and their

dependents from 1st April 2015.

The government has launched

‗www.Gama.Gov.in‘, a dedicated portal to help

consumers register their grievances against

misleading advertisements.

Launched by: Consumer Affairs Minister Ram

Vilas Paswan

On a pilot basis, 'Grahak Suvidha Kendra ' was

also launched in six cities including Delhi and

Ahmedabad.

The Cabinet today approved an outlay of Rs.

1,500 cr. for the Pradan Mantri Kaushal Vikas

Yojana (PMKVY)

PMKVY scheme for skill training of youth to be

implemented by the new ministry of skill

development and entrepreneurship through the

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).




12

This scheme will cover 24 lakh persons.

Union Government launches BIRAC AcE Fund

to accelerate growth for entrepreneurs in

Biotechnology.

Union Government launched Biotechnology

Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) AcE

Fund to accelerate growth of entrepreneurs in

Biotechnology.

It was announced by Minister of State (MoS)

for Science and Technology (S&T) and Earth

Sciences Y.S. Chowdary on the occasion of the

third foundation day of BIRAC in New Delhi.

The BIRAC AcE Fund aims to address the

pressing needs of accelerating the growth of

entrepreneurs, in the field of Biotechnology.

This equity fund will be operated by BIRAC a

Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the aegis

Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of Union

Ministry of Science and Technology.

Maharashtra Government announced to

rename Girgaum Chowpatty as Swaraj Bhoomi.

Maharashtra Government announced to

rename Girgaum Chowpatty as Swaraj Bhoomi to

honour veteran freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar

Tilak.

The demand was raised by the Lokmanya Tilak

Gaurav Samiti. They demanded that the spot at

Chowpatty where Lokmanya Tilak was cremated,

and where a garden stands now, should be called

Swaraj Bhoomi.

Girgaum Chowpatty is the oldest and most

famous beach of Mumbai, Maharashtra.

The Girgaum beach was called Chau-pati

because of four channels of water that existed

there.

National Air Quality Index to debut in April.

The environment ministry will be launching the

National Air Quality Index, a simple, composite,

and easy to understand measure of air quality, on

April 6.

The index will measure the eight major

pollutants that impact health - particulate matter

through a colour-coded easy to identify format.

Each colour will indicate a level of the index.

There are six levels: Good, Satisfactory, Moderately

polluted, Poor, Very Poor and Severe.

March 21

The union cabinet has approved the Pradhan

Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana to provide skills

training to youth across the country with an outlay

of 1,500 crore rupees.

The focus under this Yojana will be on

improved curricula, better pedagogy and better -

trained instructors.

The three - day long International Conference

on Counter Terrorism organised in Jaipur concludes

today. Inaugurated by Rajnath Singh (Union Home

Minister) on 19th March 2015.

March 23

March 23 is 84th Shaheed Diwas (Martyr's

Day)

Nation pays homage to great martyrs of

freedom struggle, Shaheed -e- Azam Bhagat Singh,




13

Rajguru and Sukhdev who were hanged to death

on this very day in 1931.

Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar said India

was planning to export defence material and

training military personnel of at least 38 countries.

The government launched a major 15 - day

media campaign to educate the masses on

immunisation, ahead of implementing its ambitious

health programme "Mission Indradhanush" in April.

March 24

The Supreme Court on March 24 struck down

section 66 A of the Information and Technology

Act.

This section allows police to arrest people for

posting ―offensive content ―on the internet.

The Court said the public's right to know is

directly affected by section 66A and the section

clearly affects the right to freedom of speech and

expression enshrined under the constitution of

India.

Maharashtra government has said that those

involved in the sale of gutka would be booked

under non - bailable sections regarding the offense.

The Manufacture and sale of gutka is banned

in Maharashtra, but it is not implemented

effectively as there are no such restrictions in

neighbouring states due to which the tobbaco -

laced chewing products are smuggled in.

The State Food and Drug Minister Girish Bapat

told the Legislative Assembly yesterday that the

government is taking steps to enforce the ban

strictly.

Indian Railways has launched RuPay pre-paid

debit card service for the railway passengers.

The service was launched by Indian Railway

Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in

collaboration with the Union Bank of India (UBI)

and the National Payment Corporation of India

(NPCI).

Note: By using RuPay pre-paid cards,

passengers now can book their tickets, do shopping

and pay service bills.

These cards will be made available from UBI

offices or through IRCTC online.

For every month, first five transactions done

per card for purchase of train tickets through

IRCTC will be free.

Subsequent transaction after free usage limit,

customer will be charged extra Rs 10 per

transaction.

For first six months no transaction charges will

be levied from the customers for usage of these

services.

March 25

Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal

has sanctioned 17 new Mega Food Parks in 11

states, including Punjab and Haryana, taking the

total number of such projects across the country to

42.

Narendra Modi today launched his ambitious

multi - purpose and multi - model platform

PRAGATI.




14

Pragati: Pro - Active Governance and Timely

Implementation.

Pragati is a unique integrating and interactive

platform.

The platform is aimed at addressing common

man grievance, and simultaneously monitoring and

reviewing important programmes and the projects

of the Government of India as well as projects

flagged by state governments.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs

chaired by PM Narendra Modi today approved the

launch of the National Supercomputing Machine, a

visionary programme to enable India to leapfrog to

the league of world.

The Delhi Government Transport Department

has requested the Department of Electronic and

Information Technology (DEITY) to blog the web -

based apps of three major taxi operator Uber, Ola,

and Taxi for Sure alleging that they were still using

their apps and providing service despite the ban.

Gujarat Philatelic Exhibition Gujpex-2015

inaugurated in Ahmedabad.

Hon. Governor of Gujarat Shri O.P. Kohli

inaugurated Gujpex-2015 at Sardar Vallabhbhai

Patel National Memorial, Ahmedabad. Gujpex-2015

is the 13th state level philatelic exhibition of

Gujarat postal circle.

March 26

The Ministry of Railways appointed Ajay

Shankar committee to review the performance of

the Public Private Partnership (PPP) cell functioning

under the railway board.

PM Narendra Modi chairs 5th National Ganga

River Basin Authority (NGRBA) meet.

The Prime Minister is the Ex - officio Chairman

of the Authority while CM of Bihar, West Bengal,

Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand are its

members.

The Previous Meeting was held on October 27

Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati.

About NGRBA:

It's an empowered planning, financing,

monitoring, and coordinating authority for River

Ganga.

Constituted: 2009

Objective: To ensure effective abatement of

pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by

adopting a holistic approach with the river basin as

the unit of planning.

Functions: All measures necessary for planning

and execution of programmes for abatement of

pollution in the Ganga in keeping with sustainable

development needs.

India‘s first Polar Remotely Operated Vehicle

(PROVe) operationalised in North Antarctica by

National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).

March 27

Delhi government has decided to put a ban on

sale, purchase and even storage of all forms of

chewable tobacco in the national capital from

Monday.

The ban also includes guktha, khaini and

zarda.

Delhi Health Minister: Satyendra Jain




15

India can save up to USD 7 billion (about Rs

43,750 crore) annually by replacing incandescent

lamps withenergy efficient LED bulbs, Power

Minister Piyush Goyal said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today

inaugurated "Urja Sangam 2015", an international

energyfocused summit at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi.

The event marked the celebration of 50 years

of operations of ONGC Videsh, the verseas arm of

explorer ONGC, Engineers India Ltd (EIL) and the

Barauni Refinery of largest refiner Indian Oil Corp

(IOC).

March 28

The Rajasthan Assembly has passed a law that

bans the slaughter, trading and unauthorised

transportation of Camels.

The Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter

and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export)

Bill, 2015 also makes causing injury to camel

punishable.

Important Note: Camel had been declared as

Rajasthan's State animal last year.

Rajasthan became the first State in the

country to fix a minimum educational qualification

for contesting elections to the Panchayati Raj

Institutions.

The Assembly has passed the Rajasthan

Panchayati Raj (amendment) Bill, 2015, which

makes.

Class VIII pass mandatory for the post of

sarpanch elections (except in tribal reserved areas,

where the minimum qualification is Class V)

Class X for Zila Parishad or Panchayat Samiti

elections.

PM Narendra Modi is leaving for Singapore

tonight to attend the funeral of former PM of

Singapore Lee Kuan Yew.

Government has already declared national

mourning tomorrow as mark of respect to Lee Kuan

Yew.

National flag will be flown at half-mast

throughout the country and there will be no official

entertainment.

91 year old Lee, Singapore's founding father

who dominated the country's politics for more than

half a century, died of severe pneumonia on 23rd

of this month.

The number of world famous one-horned

rhinos in Assam's Kaziranga National Park has

increased to over 2,400, according to a latest

census released.

The census, conducted by Assam's forest

department, counted 2,401 rhinos, which indicated

increase of 71 rhinos in the park in the past two

years.

March 29

The government today sanctioned a Rs 5,113

crore project to develop a next-generation Airborne

Warning and Control System (AWACS), which will

act as a 360 degree 'Eye in the Sky', and also

approved purchase of two Airbus A330 aircraft for

the same.

The decision was taken by the Defence

Acquisition Council, headed by Defence Minister




16

Manohar Parrikar.

It will be developed by Defence Research and

Development Organisation (DRDO).

March 30

Delhi government's decision to ban sale,

purchase and even storage of all forms of chewable

tobacco including "guktha, khaini and zarda" came

into effect.

Note: No ban will be enforced on cigarettes.

Delhi Health Minister: Satyendra Jain

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) provisionally

attached assets worth Rs.2 crore belonging to

former Union Minister of State for Coal Dasari

Narayana Rao in connection with a coal block

allocation scam case.

Uttar Pradesh Govt directs State Public Service

Commission cancelled the first paper of PCS

Prelims exam held following question paper leak.

The government announced that 10th May

2015 is the new date for this exam.

March 31

The Gujarat Assembly passed the controversial

Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime

(GCTOC) Bill 2015, a modified version of a 2003

legislation that was rejected by two presidents

earlier for violating basic principles of justice.

The law, once pursued aggressively by

Narendra Modi when he was Gujarat Chief Minister

and passed for the fourth time in the last 12 years,

gives police far reaching powers, including making

arbitrary arrests, present confessions made in

custody as evidence before courts and intercept

phone calls.

The Supreme Court issued notice to senior

Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani and 19

others on a petition challenging the 2010 Allahabad

High Court verdict discharging them of criminal

conspiracy in the demolition of Babri Masjid on

December 06, 1992.

Besides Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Union

Minister Uma Bharti and Rajasthan Governor

Kalyan Singh also have been issued notice.

The Supreme Court dismissed a plea of Jat

students seeking benefits of reservation under

Other Backward Class (OBC) in the ongoing

process of admission in postgraduate (PG) medical

and dental courses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch Air

Quality Index on 6th April 2015 to inform public

about air quality in simple understandable form.

Available on the ministry's website after the

launch, the colour coded index indicating air quality

will provide a real-time data detailing the level of

pollution in a given city.

Launched in phases, the initial phase would

cover only 10 cities with plans of expansion to

other cities in subsequent phases.

Environment Minister: Prakash Javadekar

The Kerala High Court upheld the liquor policy

of the state government and dismissed a petition

filed by the Kerala Bar Hotel Owners Association,

allowing only 24 five star hotels in the state to

serve liquor.




17

PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Rs.

12,000 crore modernisation project of Rourkela

Steel Plant in Odisha.

International Affairs March 01

Approximately 1.1 billion teenagers and

young adults are at risk of hearing loss due to

unsafe use of personal audio devices, including

smartphones, and exposure to damaging levels of

sound at nightclubs, bars and sporting events, the

World Health

Organisation (WHO) has warned.

An Egyptian court declared Hamas a

"terrorist organization", further isolating the

blockaded rulers of the Gaza Strip once openly

welcomed by the country's toppled Islamist

dominated government.

The move underlines Egypt's increasing

hostility to Hamas, which the court blamed for

violence in the country's restive Sinai Peninsula.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj

will be leaving for Sri Lanka on two day visit.

During this visit, Ms. Swaraj will call on Prime

Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and hold talks

with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

She is also expected to call on President

Maithripala Sirisena.

Her visit will set the stage for Prime Minister

Narendra Modi‟s visit to Sri Lanka (on 13th

March 2015)

This will be the first bilateral visit to the

country by an Indian premier in over 25 years.

During this visit, Modi is likely to travel to

war-ravaged Jaffna in the Tamil dominated

Northern Province and Trincomalee in the

Eastern Province.

Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam

Jaishankar is on four SAARC nations visit (SAARC

Yatra) starting with Bhutan

He called on Bhutanese PM Tshering

Tobgay and King Jigme Khesar Namgyel

Wangchuck.

The proposed merger of Forwards Markets

Commission (FMC) with SEBI as announced in

the Union Budget on 28 February 2015 is expected

to sound a death knell for the so-called „dabba

trading‟

‗dabba trading‘ - Illegal trading in

commodities market

The Reform Party is led by Prime Minister

Taavi Roivas, who at just 35 years is the

youngest prime minister in Europe

March 03

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar meets his

Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed

Chaudhury in Islamabad.

Mr. Jaishankar, who is on a visit to SAARC

capitals (SAARC Yaatra), also called on Prime

Minister Nawaz Sharif and his foreign affairs

advisors Sartaj Aziz and Tariq Fatemi during

the day.

He has already visited Thimphu and Dhaka,

and would fly to Kabul.




18

March 6


has met her Luxembourg counterpart Jean

Asselborn and urged for enhancing bilateral

investment.

The Luxembourg minister affirmed his

country's support for India as permanent

member in a reformed UN Security Council

during the foreign ministers meeting.

March 04

China will raise its defense budget by

around 10 percent this year, compared with last

year's 12.2 percent.

China's defense budget rose by 12.2 percent

last year to 808.2 billion yuan (about 131

billion U.S. dollars), riding on a multi-year run of

double-digit increases.

The figure will put the world's second

largest economy's defense spending at some

890 billion yuan (about 145 billion U.S.

dollars).

For the first time the opening prayer for the

Idaho state senate was said by a Hindu cleric

amid protests by some senators who claimed the

United States was a Christian nation and

denounced Hinduism.

Universal Society of Hinduism President

Rajan Zed, who said the prayer in Sanskrit and

English, made a call for the legislators to "act

selflessly without any thought of personal profit"

because "selfish action imprisons the world".

He was invited by Senate President ProTem

Brent Hill to be a guest chaplain and deliver the

invocation which is usually made by a Christian

chaplain at the start of the day's legislative session

in Boise.

SAARC Yatra: Foreign Secretary S

Jaishankar visits Afghanistan.

March 05

Nepal and India launched a direct bus

service, linking Capital of Nepal Kathmandu

and Varanasi.

Minister of Physical Infrastructure and

Transport, Nepal, Mr. Bimalendra Nidhi and

Ambassador of India to Nepal. Ranjit Rae

flagged off the bus.

Sri Lanka suspended a $1.5billion Chinese

luxury real estate project in Colombo until it

obtains required government approvals, a move

that risks a diplomatic row with its biggest foreign

investor.

India and Spain have signed an Agreement

on Mutual Protection of Classified Information to

provide the framework for enhanced bilateral

cooperation in areas of defence research,

development and technology cooperation.

The Agreement was signed by the Defence

Minister Manohar Parrikar and his visiting

Spanish counterpart Pedro Morenes Eulate.

Mark Lippert U.S. ambassador to South

Korea who was slashed in the face by a Korean

nationalist in an attack in capital Seoul.

Pakistani students formed a human shield

for Hindus celebrating Holi at a temple in




19

Karachi to protect and show solidarity with the

minority community.

The National Students Federation (NSF)

formed the shield at Swami Narayan Temple as

part of an attempt to promote interfaith

coexistence and cooperation among different

religious and ethnic groups.


arrives in Sri Lanka to set the stage for Prime

Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Sri Lanka,

the first bilateral visit to the country by an

Indian premier in over 25 years.

During her two day stay, Swaraj calls on

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and hold

talks with Foreign Minister Mangala

Samaraweera.

She is also expected to call on President

Maithripala Sirisena during the trip.

Modi will be in Sri Lanka on March 13, 14,

during which he will hold meetings with President

Maithripala Sirisena and other senior leaders

across the political spectrum.

Ahead of the UN climate conference in Paris

later this year, India and Egypt have decided to

form a "joint working group" for "cooperation

on environment and climate change".

This group will discuss and finalise the areas of

cooperation in the fields of climate change,

urban waste management, hazardous waste

management, environmental education and all

other facets of environmental governance in the

two countries.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar

March 07

The Socio-Economic standing of women in

India is the lowest among 16 Asia Pacific

countries, according to Mastercard‟s latest

Index of Women‟s Advancement.

Indian women stand even lower than their

counterparts from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the

survey said.

Across the region, New Zealand had the

highest overall Index score of 77, followed by

Australia (76), the Philippines (72.6) and

Singapore (70.5).

India (44.2), Bangladesh (44.6) and Sri Lanka

(46.2) had scores below 50, indicating that much

more needs to be done to achieve gender parity.

Ahead of PM Narendra Modi's Colombo

visit, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe has

stoked a controversy saying that Indian

fishermen may be shot if they intruded into Sri

Lankan waters.

He alleged that Indian fishermen were taking

away the livelihood of Northern Lanka fishermen.

March 08

International Women‟s Day is being

celebrated.

Governments, NGOs and other organizations

across the globe observe International Women's

Day on the 8th of March every year to highlight

the achievements of women while calling for

greater equality.

This year's Theme : Make It Happen




20

Union Health Ministry will celebrate the day

as Safe Motherhood Day

March 09

On his first visit abroad in 2015, Prime

Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting

Seychelles, Mauritius & Sri Lanka from 10th to

14th March.

On 11th March, in Seychelles, the Prime

Minister will have bilateral discussions with

President James Alexis Michel to strengthen our

maritime ties and enhance our development

cooperation.

On 11th12th March, in Mauritius, the Prime

Minister will have extensive meetings with Prime

Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth to further

enhance our special and unique relations and will

be the Chief Guest at the National Day

celebrations.

On 13th 14th March, in Sri Lanka, the

Prime Minister will have meetings with President

Maithripala Sirisena and other senior leaders across

the political spectrum.

Mr. Modi, who is the first Indian Prime

Minister to make a bilateral visit to the

neighbouring island in 24 years, will be

commissioning a railway line in Talaimannar,

inaugurating the cultural centre in Jaffna, and

also handing over homes that have been build by

India in the Northern province.

Foreign Secretary : S. Jaishankar

China has said that the border dispute with

India had been ―contained‖ and the two countries

should ―do more‖ to strengthen cooperation to

facilitate its settlement.

Chinese Foreign Minister: Wang Yi.

March 10

Tibetan Uprising Day observed in 10th

March

This day commemorates the 1959 Tibetan

uprising against the presence of the People's

Republic of China in Tibet.

An Indian student's internship request

was rejected by a professor in Germany citing

rape problem in India, prompting a sharp reaction

from the German envoy in Delhi who condemned it

saying India was not a country of rapists.

The United States declared Venezuela a

national security threat and ordered sanctions

against seven officials from the oil-rich country in

the worst bilateral diplomatic dispute since

socialist President Nicolas Maduro took office in

2013.

U.S. President : Barack Obama

Venezuelan President : Nicolas Maduro

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has began a

five day trip to three island nations in the Indian

Ocean Region (IOR), marking India's bid to

expand its footprint and gain more eyes across the

vast, un derobserved and under policed body of

water to its south.

His first visit was Seychelles, there he

inaugurated a Coastal Surveillance Radar

Station (CSRS) which will serve as a fresh pair of

eyes for India in the IOR.




21

India and Seychelles have signed four

agreements. Those are,

Cooperation in hydrography

Cooperation in renewable energy

Cooperation in infrastructure development

Cooperation in sale of navigation charts and

electronic navigational charts

President of Seychelles : James Alix

Michel

Modi's next stop was Mauritius.

From Mauritius, he would travel to Sri Lanka,

becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the

country in 28 years.

March 11

March 11 is World Kidney Day.

This day is observed annually on the 2nd

Thursday in March.

Mauritius celebrates 47th National Day.

Chief Guest : India's Prime Minister

Narendra Modi

PM Narendra Modi meets Mauritius President

Rajkeshwar Prayag and discusses issues of

mutual interest

India and Mauritius sign five MoUs, those

are,

MoU on Ocean Economy.

Programme for Cultural Cooperation

between India and Mauritius for the year 2015-18.

Protocol between the Department of

Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of

Agriculture of Republic of India and the Ministry of

Agro-Industry and Food Security of Mauritius for

the importation of fresh mangoes from India.

MoU for the Improvement in Sea and Air

Transportation Facilities at Agalega Island of

Mauritius.

MoU on Cooperation in the field of

Traditional System of Medicine and

Homeopathy.

Prime Minister of Mauritius Sir Anerood

Jugnuth

Sri Lanka has decided to release 86 Indian

fishermen as a goodwill gesture to mark PM

Narendra Modi's visit

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is on a

visit to Sharm el Sheikh to attend Egypt‟s

Economic Development Conference.

The economic summit, scheduled to be held in

Sharm elSheikh from March 13-15, is expected to

bring investments needed to boost Egypt‘s

economy, which has been hard hit since the

January 25 Revolution and its consequent political

instability.

March 13

World Sleep Day.

This day is observed on the Friday of the

second week of March

This day is being organized by the World

Sleep Day Committee of the World Association

of Sleep Medicine (WASM) since the year 2008.

The aim of this day is to celebrate the benefits

of good and healthy sleep and to draw society

attention to the burden of sleep problems and




22

their medicine, education and social aspects; to

promote sleep disorders prevention and

management.

India asks Pakistan to take all legal steps to

ensure that 26/11 Mumbai terror attack

mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi does not

come out of jail as Islamabad High Court orders his

release.

Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in

Colombo on a two day visit to Sri Lanka.

This is Narendra Modi's maiden visit to the

country

This is also the first bilateral tour by an

Indian premier in 28 years.

Modi visits IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping

Force) memorial near to Sri Lankan Parliament

at Colombo to pay homage to Indian soldiers who

lost their lives while discharging their

responsibilities in Sri Lanka during 1987 to 1990.

IPKF was formed under the mandate of the

Indo-Sri Lankan Accord signed between India and

Sri Lanka in 1987 that aimed to end the Sri Lankan

Civil War.

The memorial has been constructed by the Sri

Lankan government in 2008.

India and Sri Lanka signed four agreements,

those are

Exemption from visa for holders of

diplomatic passports

Cooperation in mutual assistance in

customs

MoU for youth development

To establish Rabindranath Tagore museum

at a Sri Lanka university.

March 14

March 14th is Pi Day.

This day is observed on March 14 as the

number 3/14 in the month/day date format

represents the first three digits of π (3.14).

Modi's Srilanka Visit

Modi inaugurates the restored North-South

Sri Lankan Rail link at Thalaimannar.

He handed 27000 houses at Jaffna built with

Indian assistance to the people of the civil

war ravaged Tamil heartland in northern Sri

Lanka.

He also visited Sri Lanka's historical city

Anuradhapura and offered prayers at the

sacred Bodhi tree.

The sacred Bodhi tree was planted in

Anuradhapura over two thousand years ago

(planted in 288 BC).

Srilankan President Maitripala Sirisena

accompanied Mr. Modi during the prayer ceremony.

Modi is the second international leader to visit

the region after Premier David Cameron in 2013.

PM flags off train service at Talaimannar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off a

train service at the north-western Sri Lankan

town of Talaimannar — the closest point to

India — restored after decades of civil war,

completing the reconstruction of the entire

Northern Province Railway Line.




23

A historic bronze statue of Mahatma

Gandhi was unveiled at the Parliament Square

in London.

This 9-foot statue was unveiled jointly by

British Prime Minister David Cameron and

Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

The statue stands exactly opposite Britain‟s

Houses of Parliament in the Palace of

Westminster and adjacent to iconic leaders like

anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is on a

visit to Japan to attend an international

conference on disaster risk reduction.

Japan and France signed a deal on military

equipment and technology transfers.

Japan and France also agreed to work toward

concluding an Acquisition and Cross Servicing

Agreement (ACSA), which provides a framework

for logistic cooperation between armed forces.

March 15

Viswa Upabhokta Adhikar Diwas (World

Consumer Rights Day).

On March 15, 1962 US President John F.

Kennedy gave a speech on consumer rights which

led to the creation of the Consumer Bill of Rights.

“Cyclone Pam” the powerful storm that hit

the South Pacific Ocean on 14 March 2015 to

bring heavy destruction in the island nation of

Vanuatu.

March 16

IMF Chief Christine Lagarde‟s two day India

visit began.

She called on President of India Pranab

Mukherjee and PM Narendra Modi.

The Indian economy, whose size is $ 2 trillion

as of now, is poised to overtake the combined

GDP of Japan and Germany in the next Four years

on the back of recent policy reforms and improved

business confidence in the country.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad

Zarif met in Switzerland for crucial talks to secure

an agreement on Iran‘s controversial nuclear

program.

The meeting comes before an end-of-March

deadline for the framework of a deal that

would curb Iran‟s nuclear ambitions in

exchange for relief from international sanctions.

March 18

China has become World's third largest

exporter of arms after the US and Russia.

China overtook Germany, France, and the UK

in exporting weapons between 2010 to 2014,

according to the report published by Stockholm

International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Top 5 Largest Exporters of Major Weapons :

US - 31%

Russia - 27%

China - 5%

Germany - 5%

France - 5%




24

PM Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party

claims victory in Israel Parliamentary elections.

Sri Lankan authorities handed over 168

Indian fisherman and 51 boats to the Indian

Coast Guard at the International Maritime

Boundary Line.

India will hold one of the biggest global

Yoga meets in China to celebrate the UN's first

International Day of Yoga.

Over 10,000 yoga enthusiasts are expected to

take part in the meet being organised in

Dujiangyan in chengdu from 17th June - 21st June

2015.

China was one of the 170 countries voted for

the UN Yoga Day proposed by PM Narendra Modi in

2014.

Germany, France, and Italy followed Britain

in announcing that they plan to join a proposed

Chinese - led Asian regional work, swinging

Europe's biggest economic powers behind a project

that is viewed with concern in Washington.

Britain last week became the first major

Western country to seek membership in the Asian

Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

About AIIB:

AIIB is an international financial institution

proposed by China which seeks to provide support

to infrastructure projects in Asia.

It is expected to be operational by the end

2015 and its headquarters will be located at

Beijing.

The bank is also considered as China‘s move to

balance the power with the WB, IMF and ADB

which are being controlled/dominated by the US,

EU and Japan respectively.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is

planning to collaborate with other space agencies

on inter- planetary explorations.

It was announced by Minister of State (MoS) in

the PM's office Jitendra Singh in the Lok Sabha.

Presently ISRO is having talks with space

agencies of the United States of America, Russia

and France to collaborate for inter- planetary

explorations.

Sri Lankan government has said that it may

lift a ban on several Tamil diaspora groups and

individuals imposed by the previous Mahinda

Rajapaksa regime for their alleged links to the

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to

achieve reconciliation with the country's largest

ethnic minority.

Srilankan Foreign Minister: Mangala

Samaraweera.

March 19

March 19 is World Sparrow Day

It's an International initiative by the Nature

Forever Society of India in collaboration with the

Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and

numerous other national and international

organisations across the world.

This Year's theme: I LOVE SPARROWS.

March 20

March 20 is International Day of

Happiness.




25

This day was established by the United

Nations General Assembly on 28 June 2012.

March 20 is World Day of Theatre for

Children and Young People.

India and the U.S. are in the process of

exchanging the inked copies of Administrative

Arrangements (AA) for the nuclear deal, paving the

way for the implementation of the pact which was

signed seven years ago.

The AA, text of which was finalized during the

visit of US president Barack Obama in January this

year, contains the terms and conditions for the

implementation of the landmark Indo - US nuclear

deal.

China and Japan held their first security

talks in four years in Tokyo.

The talks halted in 2011 when China and

Japan's relations fell to a new low over the Diaoyu

Island‘s territorial dispute.

March 21

March 21 is World Puppet Day.

World Poetry Day is being celebrated.

This day was declared by UNESCO (The United

Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization) in 1999.

World Down Syndrome Day is being observed

today. International Day for the Elimination of

Racial Discrimination observed across the world

today.

March 22

March 22 is World Water Day.

It's important to remember that a drop of

water is powerful and life giving.

This Year Theme: ―Water and Sustainable

Development"

India and China will hold the 18th round of

border talks in Delhi from Monday (23rd March) -

the first round of negotiations after PM Narendra

Modi came to power last year - where the two sides

are expected to focus on clarification of the Line of

Actual Control (LAC).

Special Representative and National Security

Advisor Ajit Doval would hold talks with his Chinese

counterpart and State Councillor Yang Jiechi amid

hopes to clinch a solution under the strong

leadership in both the countries.

March 23

March 23 is World Meteorological Day.

Last Year's Theme: Weather and Climate:

Engaging Youth.

This Year's Theme: Climate Knowledge for

Climate Action.

India and China today held the 18th round of

border talks on the vexed boundary issue, the first

such meeting after PM Narendra Modi came to

power last year.

Special Representative and National Security

Advisor Ajit Doval held talks with his Chinese

counterpart and State Councillor Yang Jiechi. The

fresh round of discussion on the issue is taking

place nearly six months after Chinese President Xi

Jinping's visit in New Delhi.




26

The First Vice President of Republic of Cuba,

Mr. Miguel Diaz - Canel Bermudez Mario caled on

the PM Narendra Modi.

Modi received him and expressed support for

greater cooperation, including in the areas of trade

and investment, health, bio-technology, renewable

energy, sports and human resource development

between the two countries.

March 24

March 24 is World Tuberculosis Day.

(TB Day).

4U 9525, a Germanwings Flight carrying 150

people crashed today in a mountain range in

Southern France.

India and China agreed to take steps needed

to maintain peace and tranquiility along the border

areas emphasizing it was a pre- requisite for

continued growth of bilateral relations.

Special Representatives of India: Ajit

Doval.

Special Representatives of China : Yang

Jeichi

March 25

PM Narendra Modi holds delegation level talks

with Emir of Qatar Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al -

Thani in New Delhi.

India and Qatar signed six agreements.

Transfer of sentenced prisoners.

MoU for cooperation in the field of Information

and Communication technology.

MoU between the ministry of earth science and

Qatar meteorological department for scientific and

Technical cooperation.

MoU between diplomatic institute of the

ministry of Foreign Affairs , Qatar and Foreign

service Institute of the ministry of external affairs.

MoU for cooperation in the field of Radio and

Television.

An agreement for mutual cooperation and

Exchange of news.

PM Narendra Modi will visit France, Germany

and Canada next month, on a tour expected to

focus on attracting Investment to the country.

March 26

Saudi Arabia launches a military operation

against Houthi rebels to defend legitimate

government in Yemen.

Sri Lanka's new president Maithripala Sirisena

held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping amid a

push to recalibrate his predecessor's strongly pro -

china policies and a review of major chinese

projects in the island nation.

The talks kicked off Sirisena's first visit to

China since taking office in January and follow his

recent trip to India.

The two sides were likely to discuss a $ 1.5

billion china - funded port city project in Colombo

which Mr. Sirisena's government suspended

pending scrutiny of environment impacts and

alleged corruption.

US aircraft have launched bombing raids to

support Iraqi forces fighting to recapture Tikrit




27

from the Islamic State (IS) group, after Baghdad

issued a request for air power.

Tikrit: Executed Dictator Saddam Hussein's

home town.

March 27

27th March is World Theatre Day (WTD).

This day was initiated in 1961 by the

International Theatre Institute.

Indian Government has decided to observe

National Mourning on 29th March 2015 (Sunday) to

mark respect to the Former Prime Minister of

Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew.

The National Flag will be flown at half-mast

throughout the country and there will be no official

entertainment on the day.

Lee Kuan Yew, the statesman and founding

father of Singapore, who transformed Singapore

from a small port city into a wealthy global hub,

died at the age of 91 on 23rd of this month.

Mr Lee served as the city-state's prime

minister for 31 years and continued to work in

government until 2011.

March 29

The 9th edition of Earth Hour was observed.

People across the globe show their growing

concern over climate change by switching off the

lights for an hour.

Earth Hour is a worldwide movement for the

planet organized by the World Wide Fund for

Nature (WWF).

The event is held worldwide annually

encouraging individuals, communities, households

and businesses to turn off their nonessential lights

for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m

This event observed on the last Saturday in

March, as a symbol for our commitment to the

planet.

Singapore bids final adieu to its founding

father Lee Kuan Yew.

World leaders including Prime Minister

Narendra Modi attend the funeral.

Prime Minister meets Israeli President Reuven

Rivlin in Singapore, discusses bilateral relations.

March 30

India and Japan held their Defence Ministerial

Meeting in Tokyo and agreed on several steps to

step up their cooperation and exchanges in this

area as part of the efforts to enhance Special

Strategic and Global Partnership between the two

countries.

Indian Defence Minister: Manohar Parrikar

Japanese Defence Minister: Gen Nakatani

People in News Bill Gates, with an eye-popping net worth of

nearly $80 billion, has retained his title of the

World's Richest person. – Forbes Magazine.

Mukesh Ambani has retained his position as

the richest Indian for the eighth year in a row

with a net-worth of USD 21 billion followed by

Dilip Shanghvi and Azim Premji.




28

Savitri Jindal (O.P. Jindal group) is the

richest woman of India followed by Indu Jain

(Bennett Coleman & Co) and Anu Aga

(Thermax).

The oldest woman in the world, Japan's

Misao Okawa (born in 1898), celebrated her

117th birthday.

Okawa is one of the five documented

people born in the 1800s who are still alive.

Dilip Shanghvi of Sun Pharmaceuticals,

with a net worth of $21.5 billion, surpassed

Mukesh Ambani as the world‟s richest Indian,

two days after the Reliance Industries Ltd chief

was ranked India‟s wealthiest for the eighth

consecutive year.

On the global rich list, Mr. Shanghvi moved

up to the 37th position, while Mr. Ambani slipped

to the 43rd.

The Delhi High Court upheld the 10year jail

term awarded to former Haryana Chief Minister

Om Prakash Chautala, his son Ajay Chautala

and three others for corruption in a teachers'

recruitment scam case.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been

named among the 30 most influential people on

the internet by Time Magazine.

The list also features US President Barack

Obama.

The list also includes British author of the

Harry Potter series J. K. Rowling and singers

Taylor Swift and Beyonce.

Modi has roughly 38million followers on

social networking sites Twitter and Facebook,

putting him ahead of any other leaders in the world

except Obama.

Union Minister Raosaheb Dadarao Danve,

who was made Maharasthra BJP president a few

months back, has resigned from the Council of

Ministers.

Danve, who held the portfolio of

Minister of State for Consumer Affairs,

Food and Public Distribution quit the Council of

Ministers over the principle of 'oneman,

onepost'.

A special CBI court in Dehradun sentenced

former UP minister D P Yadav to life in the 1992

Mahendra Singh Bhati murder case.

Special CBI court summons Former Prime

Minister Manmohan Singh as accused in a coal

scam case

Dr Singh says truth will ultimately prevail.

Calcutta High Court orders West Bengal

govt to pay 50,000 rupees as compensation to

Professor Ambikesh Mahapatra who was

arrested in 2012 for posting cartoons of CM Ms.

Mamata Banerjee.

The national tourism agency of England,

'Visit Britain' signed Bollywood actor and

producer Saif Ali Khan to promote an India

centric British campaign.

The actor was signed for the campaign known

as 'Bollywood Britain'.

The promotional campaign is likely to include

locations like London, Oxford, Cardiff which are

popular with Indian tourists and have also been

featured in many other Bollywood movies.




29

Former Maldives president Mohamed

Nasheed was convicted of a terrorism charge by a

criminal court and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sits on

24 hours fast protesting the Land Acquisition

Bill.

A 2 - year old Dolly Shivani Cherukuri

(from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh) enters into the

India Book of Records, as a youngest anchery.

Mizoram Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi was sacked

from his post by President Pranab Mukherjee.

Until further appointment of another Governor

in Mizoram, West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath

Tripathi would hold additional charge of the state.

Social activist Medha Patkar quits Aam Aadmi

Party.

Following the ouster of Aam Aadmi Party

founder members Yogendra Yadav & Prashant

Bhushan, she took this decision.

British physicist Stephen Hawking is getting his

name trademarked, joining the ranks of celebrities

like J.K. Rowling and David Beckham, who have

turned their names into brands.

He has also applied to get his name

trademarked for charitable purposes, giving him

the option of setting up a foundation, such as one

to promote physics or for research into motor

neurone disease, which has left him paralysed.

His trademark would cover computer games,

powered wheelchairs, greetings cards and health

care.

Passed Away:

Bombay S. Kamal Veteran Singer

Brig Thenphunga

Sailo

Former Mizoram Chief

Minister

Deepak Khaitan Vice Chairman, Williamson

Magor Group

DK Ravikumar IAS Officer (Controversial

death)

G. Karthikeyan Speaker, Kerala Assembly

K Baskaran Veteran Sports Journalist

K.S. Lavkumar

Khachar

Renowned Ornithologist

Lee Kuan Yew Singapore's founding father

Lia van Leer Queen of Israeli Cinema

Malcolm Fraser Former Prime Minister,

Australia

Narayan Desai Chancellor, Gujarat

Vidyapith

Ninan Koshy Indian political thinker,

foreign affairs expert

Ram Sundar Das Former CM, Bihar

Shahir Krishnarao

Sable

Marathi Folk legend

Sir Terry

Pratchett

Author (Discworld series)

Vinod Mehta Chairman, Outlook India

Yusuf Ali Kechery Malayalam poet

Awards and Honors March 02

The outgoing Namibian President

Hifikepunye Pohamba has won the world's




30

most valuable individual award, the Mo

Ibrahim prize for African leadership.

The $5m (£3.2m) award is given each year to

an elected leader who governed well, raised living

standards and then left office.

March 04

Rani Mukerji awarded by National Institute

of Gender Justice for representing the cause of

women

Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji was on 3 March

2015 awarded with the National Award for the Best

Representation of the Cause of Safety, Security

and Protection of Women and Girl Child by

National Institute of Gender Justice (NIGJ).

March 08

President of India Pranab Mukherjee

presented the Stree Shakti & Nari Shakti

Puruskars for the year 2015 at Rashtrapati

Bhavan.

The Stree Shakti puraskars are conferred to

six women in the area of womens endeavor and

exceptional contribution each year.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs.

300,000 and a citation.

Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Award has been

given to Anyay Rahit Zindagian NGO of Goa.

Seema Prakash of Madhya

Pradesh got Rani Lakshmibai Award.

Astha Sansthan (NGO) of

Rajasthan has been awarded Rani Rudramma Devi

Award).

Smt. Chandraprabha Bokey from Maharashtra

has been conferred Mata Jijabai Award.

Dr. P Bhanumati of Kerala gets Kannagi Award.

Sister while Mariola from Rajasthan has been

conferred Rani Gaidinliu Zeliang Award.

The Nari Shakti Puraskarshave been

conferred for the first time this year.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs 100,000

and a citation.

This years awardees are :

Smt. Rashmi Anand (Delhi).

Dr. Nandita Krishna (Tamil Nadu).

Dr. Laxmi Gautam (Uttar Pradesh).

Ms. LatikaThukral (Haryana), Ms. Neha Kirpal

(Delhi).

Dr. Sailakshmi Balijepally (Tamil Nadu), Ms.

P.Kousalya (Tamil Nadu).

Dr. Swaraj Vidwan Uttarakhand).

March 10

Former Union minister and senior

Congress leader M Veerappa Moily has been

selected for the prestigious Saraswati Samman

for 2014 for his famous Kannada poem

Ramayana Mahanveshanam'.

Divided into five volumes, 'Ramayana

Mahanveshanam' was first published in 2007 in

Kannada.

The poem has been translated into English,

Hindi, Telugu and Tamil.

Instituted by the K K Birla Foundation in

1991, Saraswati Samman is given annually for




31

an outstanding literary work in any Indian language

mentioned in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution.

This award carries a cash purse of Rs 10

lakh, a citation and a plaque.

Kerala Tourism‟s popular Global

Multimedia Campaign to promote the backwaters

has won the Golden Gate award at the

International Tourismus Borse Berlin named

ITBBerlin – 2015, the world‘s leading travel trade

event.

Indian Army‘s corps of signals ‗Daredevils‘

Display Team achieved Guinness World Record of

the most people (56) on one moving motorcycle at

Dumna Airport, Jabalpur.

The men rode a single 500 cc Royal Enfield

Bullet motorcycle a distance of 1‘100.

March 18

Union HRD Minister Smiriti Irani was

named Young Global Leader (YGL) from India

by the World Economic Forum

(WEF)

Others who have been named Young Global

Leader (YGL) in the past include British Prime

Minister David Cameron, Alibaba Group chief

Jack Ma, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, Google

chief Larry Page, and Italian PM Matteo Renzi.

March 21

Rajendra singh, an environment activist of

India widely popular as the 'Water Man' has been

conferred with Stockholm Water Prize 2015.

Sweden's king Carl Gustav will present the

rainwater harvesting pioneer with a cash prize of 1,

50,000 Dollar during the world water week.

Eminent singer Lata Mangeshkar was

presented the "Laadli Voice of the Century" award

during the sixth edition of the national Laadli Media

and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity.

Queen won the best movie award in the

ceremony.

Advertising agency Ogilvy and Mather won the

"Laadli Grand Prix" for its titan Raga - 'turn nahi

badle' advertisement.

Laadli extraordinaire award went to Charu

Khurana

March 22

President Pranab Mukherjee conferred One

Kirti Chakra and 11 Shaurya Chakra awards on

armed forces personnel, three of them

posthumously, for gallantry.

Kirti Chakra: Captain Jaidev

Shaurya Chakra (Posthumous):

Subedar Prakash Chand

Lieutenant Commander Manoranjan Kumar

Major Abhijai

Shaurya Chakra:

Major Mukul sharma

Commander Gosavi Kaustubh Vijaykumar

Major R Vamshi Krishnan

Rifleman Manga Ram

Wing Commander Huvey Upadhyaya

Major Abhishek Kumar

Major Satnam Singh

March 17




32

Naik Ansaigra Basumatary.

Kirti Chakra- It is the second highest peace

time gallantry award i.e. awarded for valour,

courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the

field of battle.

Shaurya Chakra- It is the third highest

peacetime gallantry award i.e. awarded for valour,

courageous action or self-sacrifice while not

engaged in direct action with the enemy.

The President also conferred 14 Param Vishisht

Seva Medals, three Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and

26 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals on senior officers of

the armed forces for distinguished service of an

exceptional order.

Former Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka

was today conferred the country's highest military

rank of field marshal for "achieving victory over

terrorism" by the new government.

With this Fonseka became the first Sri Lankan

to receive this highest military title which is

honorary in nature.

Fonseka is credited for being the force behind

ending the 26-year Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009 by

defeating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

(LTTE) rebels.

March 23

Veteran actor - producer Shashi Kapoor will be

conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2014.

March 24

62nd National Film Awards.

Kannada Actor Vijay bagged Best Actor for

"Nanu Avanalla Avalu" (Kannada)

Kangana Ranaut wins the Best Actress Award

for her performance in "Queen"

Chaitanya Tamhane's Marathi film court has

been named the Best Feature Film.

Srijith Mukerjee wins the Best Director Award

for Chotushkone

Mary Kom won the Best Entertainment Film.

Ottal (Malayalam) won the Best Environment

film

Vishal Bhardwaj won the Best Music Director

Award.

Sukvinder Singh won the Best Singer for Male

Utara Unnikrishnan won the Best Singer for

Female.

March 25

Bangladesh has won the prestigious Women in

Parliaments (WIP) Global Forum Award for regional

leadership in reducing gender gap in politics.

Bangladesh won this award for its outstanding

success in the regional category ―South and

Southeast Asia ".

Prime Minister: Sheik Hasina.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs: Md. Shahriar

Alam.

Noted Hindi poet Gopaldas Neeraj was

awarded with first National Kavi Pradeep Samman.

This award carries a cash prize of Rs. Two lakh

, a shawl and a citation.

I & B Ministry bags the Platinum icon award for

the comprehensive Web presence.




33

Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to be

conferred Bharat Ratna on 27th March 2015.

Madan Mohan Malaviya's family to be given the

Bharat Ratna award on 30th March 2015.

Man Booker International prize 2015 shortlist

announced.

Indian author Amitav Ghosh was shortlisted for

the 2015 Man Booker International Prize. He is the

only Indian among the 10 finalists shortlisted for

the prize.

Kolkata born, 58-year-old Mr. Ghosh had

narrowly missed out on the Booker Prize back in

2008 when he was shortlisted for his work Sea of

Poppies.

Indian contemporary artist Bharti Kher was

awarded with France‘s highest cultural award

Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier

dans l‘Ordre des Arts et des Lettres).

She was bestowed the prestigious honour for

her contribution to contemporary art landscape by

French ambassador to India Francois Richier in New

Delhi.

Madhav Gadgil and Dr. Jane Lubchenco

won Tyler Prize for Environmental

Achievement 2015

March 27

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nobel

laureate Kailash Satyarthi have been named among

the 50 greatest leaders in the world by Fortune

magazine.

Mr Modi is ranked 5th and Mr Satyarthi

occupied 28th position in the list.

The list has been topped by Apple CEO Tim

Cook followed by European Central Bank President

Mario Draghi, Chinese President Xi Jingping and

Pope Francis.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee

(90), one of the country's most respected

politicians, has been conferred the Bharat Ratna,

India's highest civilian honour.

Mr Vajpayee, was the country's first non-

Congress Prime Minister who served a full five-year

term from 1998 to 2004.

The Bharat Ratna announced for noted

educationist and freedom fighter Madan Mohan

Malviya will be given posthumously to his family

members on 30th March 2015 at the Rashtrapati

Bhavan.

Since its inception, 43 people including former

Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bhadur

Shastri, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi have

received the prestigious award.

March 28

Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal creates history by

becoming first Indian woman to be World Number

1 Badminton Player.

Indian-American biology professor, Murty S

Kambhampati, chosen for prestigious US

presidential award for excellence in the field of

science, mathematics and engineering mentoring.

India's space agency Indian Space Research

Organisation (ISRO) has been selected for the

Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2014.

Chairman: A.S.Kiran Kumar




34

March 30

Gurgaon girl Aditi Arya was crowned Femina

Miss India 2015 at the 52nd edition of

the beauty pageant.

Reigning Miss India Koyal Rana, enthroned her

successor Aditi with the crown made by PC

Jewellers.

21 contestants from across the country

participated in the beauty contest.

The first and second runners up were Aafreen

Rachel Vaz and Vartika Singh respectively.

The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee

presented the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan,

Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards at a Civil

Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Freedom Fighter Madan Mohan Malviya

posthumously conferred Bharat Ratna.

Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Adoor

Gopalakrishnan was presented with the

Bishwaratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika International

Solidarity Award by Assam Chief Minister Tarun

Gogoi.

Gopalakrishnan became the second recipient of

this biennial award, the first one being Lubna

Marium of Bangladesh in 2013.

The award carries a citation, a shawl, a

memento and Rs 5 lakh.

New Appointments March 01

Kannan Ramesh, a 49 year old Indian-

origin lawyer has been appointed as a Judicial

Commissioner to Singapore‟s Supreme Court

bench for two years.

March 02

India has named Arun Singh; currently it‘s

Ambassador to France, as its next top envoy to

the US and has informed the American

government in this regard.

A 1979 batch IFS officer, Mr Singh will be

replacing S Jaishankar, who was appointed as

Foreign Secretary on 28th January this year.

Mohan Kumar, Indian Ambassador to

Bahrain will replace Mr Singh as France

Ambassador.

Ranjan Dhawan given additional charge as

MD & CEO of Bank of Baroda

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet

has entrusted Ranjan Dhawan, Executive

Director, Bank of Baroda (BoB), additional

charge of the Managing Director & CEO of the

public sector bank for a period of three

months

After series of poll debacles Congress

appoints new PCC chiefs in five states.

Ajay Maken - Delhi.

Ashok Chavan - Maharashtra

Ghulam Ahmed Mir -Jammu & Kashmir

Bharatsinh Solanki - Gujarat

Uttam Reddy - Telangana

March 03

IAS officer Kewal K Sharma appointed as

Delhi Chief Secretary




35

March 12

IAS officer Kewal K Sharma is appointed as

Chief Secretary of Delhi. His appointment was

approved by Union Home Ministry.

At present, Sharma is the chief secretary

of Goa. Sharma was appointed as the Goa chief

secretary on 1 January 2015.

Besides serving the Governments of Delhi,

Goa and Arunachal Pradesh, Sharma served in

the United Nations (UN) Mission in Kosovo

from 1999 to 2005 as a Civil Affairs Officer.

March 05

US President Barack Obama has re

nominated Sunil Sabharwal, an independent

Indian-American investor, to a key

administration post as Alternate Executive

Director at the IMF.

First nominated in April 2014 to the position

of Alternate Executive Director of the

International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sabharwal

has been an independent investor in the payments

sector since 2006.

The government approved appointment of

nine Executive Directors (EDs) in various public

sector banks, including BoB, BoI and Canara Bank.

Allahabad Bank -NK Sahoo

Bank of Baroda -K Venkata Rama Moorthy

Bank of India -RP Marathe

Canara Bank -Harideesh Kumar B

Central Bank of India -RC Lodha

Indian Overseas Bank -Pawan Kumar Bajaj

Syndicate Bank Ravi -Shankar Pandey

UCO Bank -Charan Singh

Union Bank of India -Kishore Piraji Khara

Andhra Bank's ED post is still vacant.

March 14

Olympic medal

winning boxer MC

Mary Kom was appointed as the brand

ambassador of the Northeast to showcase the

potential of the region which offers Rs. 2.4

trillion business opportunities across various

sectors.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh‟s Akhil

Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (the highest decision

making body) re-elected Bhaiyyaji Joshi as the

Sarkaryvaha (general secretary) of the

organisation for a third consecutive term till March

2018.

Dr. Alka Beotra, Scientific Director,

National Dope Testing Laboratory, Ministry of

Youth Affairs & Sports, has been nominated to

the Executive Board of WAADS

WAADS: World Association of Anti-Doping

Scientists.

IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

appointed Aarthi Subramanian, its global head

of Delivery Excellence Group, as an Executive

Director on the Board.

Charan Singh assumes charge as UCO Bank

ED

UCO Bank has announced that Charan Singh

(54) has assumed the charge of Executive

Director of the bank from March 10.




36

Prior to this, he was General Mangager,

Bank of India, in charge of its human resources

department.

Next Ambassador of India to Romania - Riva

Ganguly Das (currently Joint Secretary in

ministry)

Wipro Chief Operating Officer (COO) -

Abid Ali Neemuchwala (first time COO)

March 19

Ratan Tata, former chairman of Tata sons

was appointed as the head of 'Kayakulp'

Council.

An innovation council of the Indian Railways.

Nobel Laureate, Deputy Director of the

British Medical Research Council's Laboratory

of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, and Fellow of

the Royal Society, Sir Venkatraman (Venky)

Ramakrishnan has been confirmed as President

Elect of the Royal Society.

March 21

Colin Macdonald appointed as Managing

Director of Renault Nissan Automotive India

(RNAIPL).

He will assume charge on 1 April 2015.

Prior to this appointment he was Deputy

Managing Director of (RNAIPL).

March 22

Katherine Viner has been appointed as editor-

in-chief of The Guardian newspaper. She will be

12th editor-in-chief and the first woman to run the

newspaper in its 194-year history.

March 23

Diplomat Vikas Swarup has been appointed as

the new official spoke person of the Ministry of

External Affairs.

Present spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin has

been appointed as Chief Coordinator of the India -

Africa Forum Summit.

Important Point to Note: Vikas Swarup is also

the author of bestseller novel Q & A, on which the

Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire was based.

Former Sri Lankan president Chandrika

Bandaranaike kumaratunga will head a special

presidential task force to identify urgent

reconciliation needs of the minority Tamil

community.

Google Inc has appointed Ruth Porat as Chief

Financial Officer (CFO).

She took the charge (March 26).

She succeeded Patrick Pichette who announced

his retirement on 10 March 2015

New Appointments:

Aarthi

Subramanian

Executive Director, TCS

Abid Ali

Neemuchwala

First COO, Wipro

Anurag Thakur Secretary, BCCI

Arun Singh India's Ambassador, US

Ashu Suyash CEO, Crisil




37

Ashu Suyash MD & CEO, Crisil

Ashwin Mittal CFO, Walmart India

Balasubramanian

Ganesh

CIO, HSBC

Baldev Sharma Chairman, National Book Trust

Bhaiyyaji Joshi General Secretary, RSS

CherWang CEO, HTC

Colin Macdonald MD, Renault Nissan

Automotive India

David Hale US ambassador to Pakistan

Dr. Alka Beotra Member, WAADS (World

Association of AntiDoping

Scientists)

Jagmohan

Dalmiya

President, BCCI

Kannan Ramesh Judicial Commissioner,

Singapore‘s Supreme Court

Katharine Viner Editorinchief, The Guardian

Katsushi Inoue President & CEO, Honda Cars

India

Kavinder Gupta Speaker, J&K Assembly

Kewal Sharma Chief Secretary, Delhi

K.M.Mani Chairman, GST Empowered

Committee

M Akhaya CVO, Department of

Telecommunications

M C Mary Kom Brand Ambassador, North East

Mohan Kumar India's Ambassador, France

Mufti Mohammed

Sayeed

Chief Minister, Jammu and

Kashmir

N Sakthan Speaker, Kerala Assembly

Narendra Modi Chancellor, Viswa Bharati

University

Nirupama Rao Independent Director ,

Network 18

Petko Draganov Special Representative, Head

of United Nations Regional

Centre for Preventive

Diplomacy (UNRCCA) for

Central Asia

Ramachandran vicechair, Association of

National Olympic Committees

(ANOC) International Relations

Commission

Ratan Tata Head, Kaya Kalp

Riva Ganguly Das Indian Ambassador, Romania

Ruth Porat Chief Financial Officer (CFO),

Google Inc

Sohail Aman New air chief, Pakistan

Sunil Sabharwal Alternate Executive Director,

International Monetary Fund

(IMF)

Uma Nath Singh Chief Justice,Meghalaya HC

Venkatraman

Ramakrishnan

Head, Britain‘s Royal Society

Vikas Swarup Official Spokesperson, Ministry

of External Affairs

Science & Technology Myanmar has announced that it has found a

rare white elephant in the jungles of the western

Ayeyarwaddy region.




38

White elephants, actually albinos, have for

centuries been revered in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos

and other Asian nations.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the

world‟s first all-electric communications

satellites successfully launched this morning, from

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida built

by Boeing.

The satellites are owned by the French

satellite provider Eutelsat and Asia Broadcast

Satellite (ABS).

SpaceX - Space Exploration

The Indian Space Research Organisation

(ISRO) has postponed the launch of India‟s

fourth Navigation Satellite IRNSS1D onboard

PSLVC27.

The launch was originally scheduled for

March 09 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in

Sriharikota.

ISRO sources say that an anomaly was

observed in one of the telemetry transmitters of

the satellite during the integrated electrical

checks of Launch Vehicle along with Satellite

after the closure of heat shield on March 03.

The next launch date of PSLVC27 with

IRNSS1D will be fixed after the technical

anomaly is rectified through further test,

simulation and analysis.

NASA‟s Dawn spacecraft reaches dwarf

planet Ceres

NASA‘s Dawn spacecraft has created history by

becoming the first mission to achieve orbit

around the dwarf planet Ceres with an aim of

providing new insights and capturing images

from the distant world.

The spacecraft was approximately 61,000

kilometres from Ceres when it was captured by

the dwarf planet‟s gravity.

Since its discovery in 1801, Ceres was known as

a planet, then an asteroid and later a dwarf

planet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched

Rotavirus vaccine Rotavac, developed by

Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech.

CMD of Bharat Biotech Krishna Ella

Pakistan has conducted a successful test

launch of the ShaheenIII surface to surface

ballistic missile, capable of carrying nuclear

and conventional warheads to a range of

2,750 km.

In a breakthrough, Japanese researchers

have successfully transmitted electric power

wirelessly to a pinpoint target using micro waves;

an advance that brings space based solar power

closer to reality.

According to Japan Aerospace Exploration

Agency, or Jaxa, the researchers were able to

transform 1.8 kilowatts of electric power into

microwaves and transmit it with accuracy into a

receiver located 55 metres away.

NASA has launched four identical space

crafts on a billion dollar mission to study the

explosive give and take of the Earth and sun‟s

magnetic fields.

The scientists of National Dairy Research

Institute have for the first time successfully




39

cloned a calf, using cells from the urine of a

buffalo.

The female calf has been named Apoorva and

is said to be normal and responding well.

Pakistan successfully tested its first

indigenous all weather armed drone and a laser

guided missile.

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif

attended the ceremony and witnessed the test fire

of the new missile on static and moving

targets.

The drone, named Burraq, has the ability to

fly in all types of weather conditions and strike its

targets with pinpoint accuracy.

India‘s indigenously developed Beyond Visual

Range (BVR) air-to-air missile Astra was

successfully launched from Sukhoi-30 fighter

aircraft to hit a simulated target at the Integrated

Test Range, chandipur in odisha.

About test:

The Missile was tested to prove the

manoeuvring capability against a simulated target

and also to validate various subsystems.

All the subsystems like propulsion, navigation,

guidance as also the smooth separation of the

missile from the aircraft were proved.

The missile developed by Defence Research

and Development Organisation (DRDO) can

engage and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic

speed (1.2 mach - 1.4 mach) in head on (up to 80

km) and tail chase (up to 20 km) modes.

The 3.8 metre tall Astra is the smallest of

the DRDO - developed missiles and can be

launched from different altitudes.

It can reach up to 110km when fired from an

altitude of 15km, 44km when launched from an

altitude of 8km and 21km when fired from sea

level.

The ISRO Mars Orbiter Mission was extended

for another Six Monthsto further explores the Red

Planet and its atmosphere.

Note: India has become the first country to

have entered the Mars sphere of influence in its

maiden attempt.

Social Media platform Twitter has launched

―Twitter Samvad ―in collaboration with the Indian

Government so as to allow people to receive tweets

as SMSes from government offices, including the

Prime Minister's office.

The service was launched by PM Narendra

Modi.

Twitter global CEO: Dick Costolo

Sports March 01

Dubai ATP Tennis Championship

Singles : Roger Federer (Switzerland)

Women's Singles : Simona Halep (Romania)

Men's Doubles : Rohan Bopanna (India) /

Daniel Nestor (Canada)

Women's Doubles : Timea Babos (Hungary) /

Kristina Mladenovic (France)

March 02




40

Jagmohan Dalmiya unanimously elected as

President of the Board of Control for Cricket

BJP leader Anurag Thakur elected as

Secretary.

New ICC ODI Rankings

Australia maintains its top position with 120

points Followed by India with 116 points.

Top 5

Australia -120

India -116

South Africa -113

Sri Lanka -108

New Zealand -107

Nadal wins first title of 2015 at Argentina

Open

March 03

Hashim Amla becomes the fastest player to

reach twenty ODI centuries.

Olympic medalist boxer MC Mary Kom

(32) has announced that she has decided to

quit boxing after the 2016 Rio Olympic Games

as her body would not be able to cope with the

rigours of the sport any further.

March 04

Australia Beat India's Record in Today's

Cricket match.

Australia Scored 417 runs against

Afghanistan. They beat India's 413 runs in world

cup history.

March 05

BCCI reprimands Virat Kohli for abusing

Indian journalist during practice session at World

Cup.

March 06

M.S.Dhoni beats Ganguli's record of most

wins by an Indian Captain in a World Cup.

March 07

Indian ace shuttler Saina Nehwal becomes

the first Indian woman player to reach the

finals of All England

Snooker shortlisted for Tokyo Olympics

The green baize game of snooker, played with

multi-coloured balls, has been short-listed

among three sports to be included in the 2020

Olympic Games in Tokyo, according to Captain

P.V.K. Mohan, president of the International

Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF).

March 08

Carolina Marin Martin of Spain has won the

prestigious Women‟s Singles Title in the All

England Open Badminton Championships

2015. She beats Saina Newhal.

March 09

Lalit Modi was unseated as the president

of the Rajasthan Cricket Associaton (RCA).

The special Annual General Meeting (AGM)

voted Modi out with a 171 verdict even as his

supporters cried foul of the entire election

process.




41

March 10

Kumar Sangakkara became the first player

to score four successive one day

International centuries

Karnataka defeat Tamil Nadu by an innings

and 217 runs to retain Ranji

Trophy title.

The United Arab Emirates won a

unanimous vote to host the AFC Asian Cup in

2019

AFC president: Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim

Al Khalifa.

March 14

Kidambi Srikanth creates history by winning

the $120,000 Swiss Grand Prix Gold

badminton championship in Switzerland

Lewis Hamilton (Britain) won the

Australian Grand Prix – first Formula 1 (F1)

Grand Prix of the season on 15 March 2015

India beats Poland 3 -1 in final to win

Women's Hockey World League Round 2

WorldCup2015 Quarter Final Fixtures:

SL Vs SA - 18th March

IND Vs BAN - 19th March

AUS Vs PAK - 20th March

NZ Vs WI - 21st March

March 14

Lewis Hamilton wins the Australian Grand

Prix.

March 18

K Sangakkara & M Jayawardhane bid

farewell to ODIs

March 19

MS Dhoni became the first Indian Captain

to lead India to 100 ODI wins.

March 20

Newzealand opener Martin Guptill hits World

cup record double century 237* from 163 balls.

He is the highest World Cup score by an

individual batsman.

March 22

Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza have completed

a dream first tournament together, beating

Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 6-3, 6-4 to

win the BNP Paribas Open women's doubles title.

It was Sania's 24th Career title and the Second

Doubles trophy this year.

March 23

Novak Djokovic wins Indian Wells Open Tennis

Men's Singles Title.

In the final match he defeated Switzerland‘s

Roger Federer

With this win Djokovic won his fourth Indian

Wells Open title and overall 50th tour-level title.

Simona Halep has won the Indian Wells Open

Tennis Women‘s Singles Title.

In the final match she defeated Serbia‘s Jelena

Jankovic.




42

It was Halep‘s third WTA titles in 2015 apart

from Shenzhen Open and Dubai Open.

Sania Mirza (India) and Martina Hingis

(Switzerland) pair have won Indian Wells Open

Tennis Women‘s Doubles Title.

In the final match they defeated Russian pair

Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.

It was Sania Mirza‘s second title of the season

2015 and 24th overall.

Vasek Pospisil (Canada) and Jack Sock (US)

pair have won the won Indian Wells Open Tennis

Men‘s Doubles Title.

In the final match they defeated Italian pair

Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fogni.

March 24

South Africans choked again as Kiwis advance

to maiden final with 4-wicket win.

South Africa-born Grant Elliott`s brilliant 84

not out, capped with a stunning six off the

penultimate ball, saw New Zealand to a four-wicket

win over the Proteas in a cliffhanger World Cup

semi-final at Auckland`s Eden Park.

NewZealand faced a revised target of 298

under the Duckworth/Lewis method after South

Africa made 281 for five in 43 overs.

March 25

Indian Open Super Series Badminton

tournament kicks off in New Delhi.

March 26

Australia will play Cricket World Cup final

against New Zealand on 29th March.

March 28

Co-hosts of World Cup, Australia and New

Zealand to fight for ICC World Cup tomorrow at

iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

March 29

World Cup 2015 Australia defeat New Zealand

by 7 wickets to win their 5th World Cup crown.

Australian skipper Michael Clarke retires from

ODI James Faulkner : 'Man of the Match'

Mitchell Starc : 'Man of the series'

Kidambi Srikanth has won India Open Super

Series Badminton Men‘s Singles Title 2015.

Saina Nehwal has won India Open Super

Series Badminton Women‘s Singles Title 2015.

March 30

International Cricket Council names World Cup

XI

This list dominated by New Zealand.

Not a single Indian cricketer found a place in

it.

The ICC team (in batting order)

Martin Guptill (NZ)

Brendon McCullum (NZ, capt)

Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka, wicketkeeper)

Steve Smith (Aust)

AB de Villiers (South Africa)

Glenn Maxwell (Aust)

Corey Anderson (NZ)




43

Daniel Vettori (NZ)

Mitchell Starc (Aust)

Trent Boult (NZ)

Morne Morkel (South Africa)

Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe, 12th man).

March 31

New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori

announces retirement from international cricket.

Malaysia Open Badminton tournament begins

in Kuala Lumpur.

Important days Days Functions

1st March 25th foundation day of NASSCOM

3rd March World Wildlife Day

4th March National Safety Day

8th March International Women's Day

10th March Tibetan Uprising Day

12th March World Kidney Day

14th March Pi Day

15th March World Consumer Rights Day

20th March World Sparrow Day

20th March International Day of Happiness

20th March World Day of Theatre for Children

and

Young People

21st March World Puppet Day

21st March World Down Syndrome Day

21st March International Day for the

Elimination of

Racial Discrimination

22nd March World Water Day

23rd March World Meteorological Day

24th March World Tuberculosis Day (TB Day)

24th March World Theatre Day

Business and economy March 02

An agreement was signed between the Centre

and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) during

February 2015 that sets inflation target for the

RBI.

Target – To bring inflation down to 6% by

January 2016

Ola acquired Taxi For Sure for $200

million in a cash and equity deal, signaling

consolidation in the $11 billion taxi industry

and also continues to operate as separate

entities.

Hero MotoCorp ropes in Allu Arjun as

brand ambassador

LIC hikes stake in RIL to 9.08%

Insurance behemoth LIC has increased its

stake in Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance

Industries Ltd by 2.09 per cent after buying

6.78 crore shares in the open market.

China has launched a massive $79.8 billion

infrastructure project in the northwest province

of Gansu which will facilitate trade and people

exchanges between China and central Asia as

part of its ambitious Silk Road plan.

Though the province does not share its borders

with any central Asian countries, it will be an




44

important stretch of the Silk Road Economic

Belt.

The six-year development project will add

more than 60,000 kilometers of road, including

4,070 km expressways, and improve the

connectivity of the existing transportation

network.

March 03

Centre and RBI sign an agreement to keep

inflation below six percent and provide price

stability with growth.

According to this agreement, the RBI would

tailor its monetary policy to achieve an

inflation rate of 4% with a flexibility band of

+/2% for the financial year 2016-17 and

thereafter.

―The RBI will aim to bring inflation below

6% by January 2016,‖ the government said.

eBay India ties up with SMEcorner.com

eBay India has partnered with SMEcorner.com,

an online platform for Small and Medium

Enterprises.

SMEcorner.com offers accessibility to loans in

six online steps, which helps combat

challenges of follow–ups, documentation,

unprofessional intermediaries and other such

issues, eBay officials said.

Further, SMEcorner.com offers tools such as

Loan Eligibility Calculator and Loan EMI

Calculator which helps entrepreneurs to

manage their loans.

Our aim is to narrow the gap between SME

enterprises and lenders by guiding and

providing them access to avenues to meet

their funding requirements,‖ said Samir

Bhatia, Founder & CEO, SMEcorner.com

LIC unveils two new plans

Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) launched

two new plans-

Jeevan Sangam a savings cum protection

single premium plan and a

new children‟s money back plan.

The proposer will have an option to choose

the Maturity Sum Assured.

The single premium payable (exclusive of

service tax) will depend on the chosen amount of

Maturity Sum Assured and age of the life

assured.

The plan will be open for sale for a maximum

period of 90 days from the date of launch.

LIC's New Children‟s Money Back Plan is a

participating non-linked money back plan.

This plan is specially designed to meet the

educational, marriage and other needs of

growing children through Survival Benefits.

In addition, it provides for risk cover on the

life of child during the policy term and also for

Periodic payments on surviving to the end of

specified durations.

International rating agency Moody‟s on 3

March 2015 downgraded the ratings of some

securities of Central Bank of India and Indian

Overseas Bank




45

The agency downgraded to BA1 from BAA3

its ratings on local and foreign-currency deposits of

Central Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank

(IOB).

Apart from this IOB‟s senior unsecured

debt was also downgraded to BA1 from BAA3.

BAA3 rating means below investment

grade ratings / Rated as medium grade, with

some speculative elements and moderate

credit risk.

BA1 rating means Judged to have

speculative elements and a significant credit

risk.

However, Central Bank of India and IOB

continue to have standalone ratings of B3 and

B2, respectively, from Moody‘s.

March 04

RBI has lowered its policy Repo Rate by 25

basis points to 7.5 per cent.

Current RBI Rates :

Bank rate - 8.5 %

Repo rate - 7.5 %

Reverse Repo Rate - 6.5 %

Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) - 4 %

Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) - 21.5 %

Marginal Standing Facility (MSF)- 8.5%

The biggest ever auction of 2G and 3G

spectrum started and this is likely to fetch the

government over Rs. 82,000 crore based on the

reserve price.

Tata AIA Life launches special drive for

lapsed policies.

Tata AIA Life Insurance announced the launch

of ‗Revive‟, a special drive to reinstate lapsed

insurance policies.

Federal Bank offers overdraft against gold

jewellery

Federal Bank has offered its consumers an

attractive ‗Apna Gold Loan‘ facility.

Customers can deposit gold coins (up to 50

gm) and jewellery with the bank, just like putting

it in a bank locker. The advantage in this case is

that the bank locker comes practically free of cost.

The bank will sanction an overdraft in the

savings account of the customer equivalent to

75 per cent of the value of gold deposited.

If a customer uses the overdraft then he has

to repay it within one year and pay interest

only for the period the money is used.

The lending rate on Apna Gold loan is 12-14

per cent a year against 32 per cent charged on

credit card cash withdrawals.

The government is however hopeful of getting

around Rs. 1 lakh crore from the sale of

radiowaves used for mobile telephony.

MetLife names Bharat Kannan as head of

employee benefits for Asia

MetLife Inc, the largest U.S. life insurer,

hired Bharat Kannan as head of employee

benefits for the Asia region.

He will report to president of Asia for

MetLife, Christopher Townsend.

Kannan joins from Aon where he spent over 11

years, most recently serving as chief executive of

Aon Insurance Brokers Malaysia.




46

Bharti Airtel Limited partnered with China

Mobile under which the two companies will work

towards the growth of the long term evolution

(LTE) ecosystem and evolving mobile

technology standards.

Both the companies will also work towards

shaping up a joint strategy for procurement of

devices that include Mifi, smartphones, data

cards, LTE CPEs and USIM.

This MOU was signed by Sunil Mittal,

Chaian, Bharti Airtel, and Xi Guohua,

Chairman, China Mobile.

March 05

US President Barack Obama has re

nominated Sunil Sabharwal, an independent

Indian-American investor, to a key

administration post as Alternate Executive

Director at the IMF.

First nominated in April 2014 to the position of

Alternate Executive Director of the

International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sabharwal

has been an independent investor in the payments

sector since 2006.

March 06

Giving a boost to affordable housing, the RBI

eased the norms for home loans for up to Rs 10

lakh by allowing banks to include stamp duty

and registration charges to the cost of a unit.

Walmart India appoints Ashwin Mittal as

CFO

Walmart India announced two executive

appointments with Ashwin Mittal as the new

Chief Financial Officer and Javier Rojo as head

of Real Estate and Business Development.

Mittal will replace Jill Anderson, currently

the CFO of Walmart India, who will soon repatriate

back to Walmart in US.

Fifteen crore Aadhar cards linked with

bank accounts

The National Payments Corporation of

India on Friday announced linking of 15 crore

Aadhar cards with various bank accounts in India.

March 07

Apple Inc. will soon join the 30-stock Dow

Jones Industrial Average, AT & T is the oldest

U.S. stock average.

March 09

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been

named as the top employer in Europe for the

third consecutive year by a top employers

certification agency, citing the Indian IT major

as an "exceptional performer" in nine core

human resources areas.

TCS, the leading IT services, consulting and

business solutions organisation, has been certified

as top employer in eight European countries the

UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany,

Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway by Top

Employers Institute.




47

March 10

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has

launched ICICI Pru Smart Life.

The savings product is designed to provide

financial protection and enable building a corpus

over long-term, the company said in a release.

ICICI Bank offers unique remittance

service to Bahrain NRIs

ICICI Bank, India‘s largest private sector

bank, has tied up with SADAD Electronic

Payments WLL to offer remittance service for

NRIs based in Bahrain, enabling them to transfer

money instantly to India from the latter‘s kiosks

spread across the Kingdom of Bahrain.

‗Touch n Remit‟, is a 24*7 remittance

service in Bahrain and is available to all NRIs, even

if they don‘t have an account with ICICI Bank.

Tata AIA launches endowment assurance

plan

Tata AIA Life announced the launch of its new

life insurance solution Tata AIA Life

Insurance Smart Growth Plus, a non-linked

participating endowment assurance plan that

allows customers to plan for life's opportunities as

well as uncertainties.

March 11

Reliance Industries Ltd is India's largest

corporate with assets worth Rs 3.68 lakh

crore, followed by state owned Indian Oil Corp

and mortgage lender HDFC.

In the list of top 10 corporates in terms of

assets, RIL and HDFC (Housing Development

Finance Corp) were the only two firms from the

private sector, data compiled by the Corporate

Affairs Ministry showed.

Indian Railways signed an MoU with Life

Insurance Corporation for raising Rs 1.5 lakh

crore for financing its capacity augmentation

projects.

Under the MoU, staterun insurance major LIC

will commit Rs 1,50,000 crore to Railways for

developing infrastructure and the investment would

be made over a period of five years.

Five public sector undertakings (PSUs) will

be closed down by the government, which has

included some of the best known state-run

enterprises like Air India, MTNL and

Hindustan Shipyard, in the list of 65 sick PSUs,

Lok Sabha was informed.

March 12

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has

raised India's growth forecast for the current

fiscal to 7.2 per cent.

Retail inflation inches up to 5.37 per cent

in February this year from the previous month, due

to higher prices of food items, including vegetables.

South Korea‟s central bank unexpectedly

lowered its key policy rate to a record low of

1.75 per cent from 2 per cent, joining efforts to

fight sluggish domestic spending and aid economic

growth.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) included

Macau and Hong Kong, the two Special

Administrative Regions of China, in the list of




48

March 23

countries whose citizens are prohibited from

acquiring or transferring immovable property in

India.

So far citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri

Lanka, Afghanistan, China, Iran, Nepal or

Bhutan were only prohibited from acquiring or

transferring immovable property in India

without prior permission of the Reserve Bank

of India, other than lease, not exceeding five

years.

March 15

Overseas inflows at Rs. 72,000 cr so far

this year

Overseas investors have pumped in nearly Rs.

14,000 crore into the Indian capital markets

within a fortnight of this month, taking the total

inflow to around Rs. 72,000 crore since the

beginning of the year.

March 20

Rovio, creator of hugely popular Angry

Birds brand, has announced that it was introducing

3D version of Angry Birds.

HDFC Bank has launched Chillr, a mobile app

that allows user to instantly transfer money to any

contact in their phonebook 24 hours a day and

seven days a week.

HDFC bank has partnered with MobME, a

kochi-based technology firm, to launch this app.

March 22

India has become the third-largest steel

producer in the world by overtaking United States

(US) in first two months of year 2015.

In the past five years, India was the fourth-

largest steel producer behind China, Japan and the

US. In 2009, US had snatched the third position

from India.

Union Ministry of Environment, Forests &

Climate Change (MoEFCC) has given coastal

regulatory zone (CRZ) nod to the 6,000-MW

Mithivirdi Nuclear Power Plant of Nuclear Power

Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) in Bhavnagar

district of Gujarat.

The clearance for setting up of "intake and

outtake facility" for the 6000-MW plant at

Mithivirdi, about 40 kms from Bhavnagar, is seen

as a big boost for Nuclear Power Corporation of

India Limited (NPCIL) that has been facing severe

opposition from local farmers and social activists.

March 23

The Union government will borrow Rs. 3.6 lakh

crore from markets in the first half of the next

financial year, which is over 50 % of the annual

target of the Rs. 6 lakh crore.

March 25

The Reserve Bank of India has signed a 400

million US Dollars currency swap agreement

with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The agreement will be valid for a period of 3

years.




49

Objective Type Questions

**Use Barcode / QR scanner App.

********

The ICC Cricket World Cup is the international

championship of One Day

International (ODI) cricket. The event is organised

by the sport's governing body, the International

Cricket Council (ICC), with preliminary qualification

rounds leading up to a finals tournament held

every four years.

* Q – Qualified for Quarter Finals

Technology used in ICC world cup 2015.

Hotspot - Hot Spot is an infra-red imaging

system used in to determine whether the ball has

struck the Batsman, bat or pad.

LED stumps - An innovation, the LED Zing

technology certainly has an interesting effect.

However, it also means the cost of each stump now

stands at $ 40,000, an amount the organisers can't

afford

to lose as a gift of memento to players.

Speed gun - The speed gun is a device that

measures the speed of the ball from one end of the

pitch to the other - and is thus used to calculate

the speed at which a bowler delivers the ball.

Spider camera - The Spidercam is a system

which enables film and television cameras to move

both vertically and horizontally over a

predetermined area, typically the playing field of a

sporting event such as a cricket pitch, football field

or a tennis court.




50

Hawk eye - Hawk-Eye is a complex computer

system used officially in numerous sports such

as cricket, tennis, football, hurling and association

football, to visually track the trajectory of

the ball and display a record of its statistically most

likely path as a moving image.

Ball spin counter – Used for measure the ball

spin/swing variation accurately.

Snickometer - A Snickometer, commonly

known as Snicko, is used in televising cricket to

graphically analyse sound and video, and show

whether a fine noise, or snick, occurs as ball passes

bat.

UHD - Ultra High Definition – UHD used for

giving High Definition Video to the Television

Viewers.

Kumar Sangakkara is the first and only

batsman to score four consecutive hundreds in

World Cup matches.

Steven Finn (England) and JP Duminy (South

Africa) made HAT TRICK Wickets against Australia.

Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma made his

Maiden World Cup Ton against Zimbabwe.

Brendan Taylor Annoncement his International

career retairement from world cup match. He

played last match with India and he scored 138

runs.

Dhoni beats ganguly‘s record in number of

wins in world cup.

Chris Gayle score 200+ in the world cup

tournament. He scored 215 runs against

Zimbabwe.

AB Devilliers made fastest 150

runs in ODI history. He reached 150

for 64 balls.

India made the record of 70 wickets in 7

matches in any other world cup history.

Hashim Amla reached fastest twenty tons in

ODI histories by beats Virat kohli.

Martin Guptill score 237 against West Indies in

world Cup history.

New Zealand enters into ICC world cup final

for first time by beats South Africa.

Co-hosts of World Cup, Australia and New

Zealand to fight for ICC World Cup on 29th at

iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

World Cup 2015 Australia defeat New Zealand

by 7 wickets to win their 5th World Cup crown.

Australian skipper Michael Clarke retires from

ODI

James Faulkner : 'Man of the Match'

Mitchell Starc : 'Man of the series'

Important Points to Note :

Australia has won the Cricket World Cup in the

years 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007.

New Zealand entered into world cup finals for

the first time in World Cup 2015.

Australia's Captain Michael Clarke New

Zealand's Captain Brendon McCullum.

Retirements:

World cup Records in 2015

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaelic_football

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurling

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket




51

1. Michael Clarke

2. Shahid Afridi

3. Daniel Vettori

4. Misbah-ul-haq

5. Kumar Sangakkara

6. Mahela Jayawardene

7. Brendan Taylor



********

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's five-day tour to

Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka from March 10-

14 infused fresh energy into India's mantle as the

fulcrum of stability in the Indian Ocean.

It signaled India's intent and capacity to ward

off extra-regional challengers and emerge as a 'net

security provider' in strategically crucial sea lanes

for global commerce and geopolitics.

SEYCHELLES

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited

Seychelles as part of three-nation tour for

cementing strategic partnership with island

courtiers of Seychelles, Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Narendra Modi is first Prime Minister to visit

Seychelles in 34 years. Previously, late Prime

Minister Indira Gandhi had visited the country in

1981.

Highlights Both nations agreed to set up joint working

group to promote ocean based economy i.e. on

Blue Economy. In this regard, India committed to

provide all help to Seychelles.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced

free visa on arrival (VoA) and free visas for three

months facility to the citizens of Seychelles.

Four agreements and MoUs were signed

between both the countries. They were signed in

the fields of renewable energy, hydro graphic

survey, electronics navigation and infrastructure

development at the island of Seychelles.

These agreements and MoU‘s were signed by

Secretary (West) Navtej Sarna from Indian side in

the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and

President of Seychelles James Alix Michel.

PM’s Visits

(March 2015)




52

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inaugurated

a Coastal Surveillance Radar system (SSRS). The

surveillance system has set up in Seychelles with

the help of India.

India also announced to provide 2nd dossier

aircraft to the island nation to enhance maritime

security.

He also unveiled the Plaque and

Operationalisation of Radar for the CSRS India-

Seychelles Cooperation Project in Sychelles

President : James Michel

Capital : Victoria

Currency : Seychellois Rupee

MAURITIUS

After the successful and historic visit to

Seychelles, Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched

down Mauritius on evening of March 11th for his

two-day visit.

Prime Minister of Mauritius Sir Anerood Jugnauth

was present at the airport to receive Prime Minister

Modi.

Highlights Expressing his gratefulness to be the Chief

Guest of National Day of Mauritius on March 12th,

Shri Narendra Modi said India and Mauritius have

always stood in solidarity and support for each

other.

He also termed the agreement on the

development of Agalega Island as a major stride in

India-Mauritius cooperation in infrastructure sector.

On March 12th, the Prime Minister began his

day by visiting the Ganga Talao in Mauritius. As

soon as Shri Modi visited there, he recalled the holy

River Ganga that flows through Varanasi.

He also praised Mauritius for enriching Hindi

literature.

He also expressed his delight to have got the

chance to address their National Assembly on the

very same day as the Prime Minister of India.

Talking about the first cyber city construction

supported by Former PM, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

in 2003, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced

for supporting a second such city in Mauritius.

Prime Minister Narenda Modi attended the

programme to mark the commissioning of the

Barracuda, a ship in the service of the National

Coast Guard of Mauritius.

Shri Narendra Modi also paid homage to the

valiant Aapravasis for their human spirit and also

described the Aapravsi Ghat as signifying the

enduring links between India and Mauritius.

A civic reception was organised in Shri

Narendra Modi‘s honour. A large number of people

drew together to watch and listen to the Indian

Prime Minister. There were chants of ―Modi Modi‖

soon after the PM arrived. Shri Modi himself was

surprised to see such a huge gathering.

In the evening of March 12th, Shri Narendra

Modi joined the National Day celebrations in

Mauritius as the guest of honour.

MoU




53

Memorandum of Understanding between India

and Republic of Mauritius in the field of Ocean

Economy.

Programme for Cultural Cooperation between

the Republic of India and the Republic of Mauritius

for the year 2015-18.

Protocol between the Department of

Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture

of Republic of India and the Ministry of Agro-

Industry and Food Security of Republic of Mauritius

for the importation of fresh mango from India.

Memorandum of Understanding for the

Improvement in Sea and Air Transportation

Facilities at Agalega Island of Mauritius.

MoU on Cooperation in the field of Traditional

System of Medicine and Homeopathy.

Prime Minister : Anerood Juganauth

President : Rajkeswur Purryag

Capital : Port Louis

Currency : Mauritian Rupee

Sri Lanka

After these both Seychelles and Mauritius visit,

he travelled to Sri Lanka as the part of three

nations Visit.

Narendra Modi reached Sri Lanka. It was the final

destination of Shri Modi‘s three nation tour. Prime

Minister of Sri Lanka, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe,

received Narendra Modi at the airport in Colombo.

Highlights It is the first standalone bilateral visit to Sri

Lanka by an Indian Prime Minister since 1987.

Lanka IOC and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation

have agreed to jointly develop the Upper Tank

Farm of the China Bay Installation in Trincomalee

on mutually agreed terms.

Early commencement of work on the ground in

the Sampur Coal Power Project. This landmark

project would meet Sri Lanka`s energy needs.

The facility of ―Tourist Visa on Arrival –

Electronic Travel Authorization‖ Scheme to Sri

Lankan citizens from the Sinhala and Tamil New

Year on 14 April 2015.

Air India will soon start direct flights between

New Delhi and Colombo.

Cooperation in developing a Ramayana Trail in

Sri Lanka and a Buddhist Circuit in India.

Organization a Festival of India in Sri Lanka

later this year. Sri Lanka is where Buddhism has

truly flourished. We will be organizing an exhibition

showcasing our Buddhist heritage as part of this

festival.

The Memorandum of Understanding on

cooperation in youth affairs is an important long

term investment in our relationship.

A fresh Line of Credit of up to US$ 318 million

for the railways sector. This will be used to procure

rolling stock, and to restore and upgrade existing

railway track.

Assistance for the construction of the

Rabindranath Tagore auditorium at Ruhuna

University in Matara.

The Reserve Bank of India and the Central

Bank of Sri Lanka have agreed to enter into a




54

Currency Swap Agreement of US$ 1.5 billion. This

will help keep the Sri Lankan rupee stable.

Modi became the first PM to visit Jaffna

(Tamil: யாழபபாணம).

Modi visits to Anuradhapura‘s Sri Mahabodhi

Tree where he and President Sirisena offered

prayers.

Prime Minister : Ranil Wickremesinghe

President : Maithripala Sirisena

Capital : Colombo

Currency : Sri Lankan Rupee



********

march 2015 ca

Documents

minister of state

new chief minister of

deputy chief minister

national affairs

suggestions application

race students r

burkit road

web based complaints