Current Affairs April 2014

World’s oldest man, Arturo Licata died at the age of 111. He was awarded the Guinness World Records title of oldest living man on 28 February 2014.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) adopted the new Consumer Price Index (CPI) combined as the key measure of Inflation.

Karim Massimov was named as the new Prime Minister of Kazakhstan after Serik Akhmetov resigned from the post.

NATO condemning the annexation as illegal on 1 April 2014 suspended all cooperation with Russia over the Crimea crisis.

Singapore enacted new law from April 1, 2014 to maintain public order in Little India.

The U.S. House of Representatives on 1 April 2014 passed a package of aid for Ukraine and sanctions for Russia.

Mexicans on 1 April 2014 celebrated the 100th birth anniversary of late Nobel Prize winning poet and essayist Octavio Paz.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced on 1 April 2014 its first Bi-monthly Monetary Policy statement 2014-15.

RBI has capped the Ways and Means Advances limit for the first half of the new financial year 2014-15 at 35000 crore rupees for Union Government.

Dhole -The Asiatic Wild Dog was spotted for the first time in the Jaldapara National Park (West Bengal).

Indian lost number one status in the latest ICC Twenty20 rankings by Sri Lanka. Kohli and Ashwin attained their career-high positions in the list.

Lewis Hamilton won the Bahrain Grand Prix of Formula One car racing.

An Israeli startup StoreDot on 8 April 2014 developed a new smart phone battery called Nanodots.

Andrea Petkovic defeated Jana Cepelova to win her first WTA title in last three years at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, United States.

INS Vikrant was sold to IB Commercial for 60 crore. It is India’s first aircraft carrier and played an important role during 1971 Indo-Pak war.

Ratan Tata on 10 April 2014 received the Knight Grand Cross (GBE) award by UK Government.

Ratan Tata on 10 April 2014 was appointed as a member of the Board of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA).

World Bank has projected that the economic growth rate of India for the fiscal year 2014-2015 will be 5.7 percent.

Sachin Tendulkar adorned on the cover page of the 151st edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack published in London.

Viktor Orban was re-elected as Prime Minister of Hungary for the second consecutive four-year term.

Heartbleed is a new security threat which adversely impacts the online safety of internet users worldwide.

Shompens is one of the stone-age tribes for the first time casted their votes in Great Nicobar.

Shikhar Dhawan named as one of the Five Cricketers of the Year 2013 . Others are Joe Root, Charlotte Edwards, Chris Rogers, Ryan Harris and Dale Steyn.

Novelist Sue Townsend on 11 April 2014 died after a short illness..

State Bank of India (SBI) on 11 April 2014 launched its Twitter handle account.

President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee on 11 April 2014 appointed Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha as Next Chief Justice of India.

Stuart Parkin won Millennium Technology Prize 2014.

Gulabi Gang documentary based on the life of an activist Sampat Devi will be screened at the 14th New York Indian Film Festival.

Justice G Rohini appointed as the next Chief Justice of Delhi High Court. She will be the first women Chief Justice in the Delhi High Court.

Kenyan Wilson Kipsang won the London Marathon for second time.

The Union Ministry announced on 12 April 2014 that legendary poet Gulzar was selected for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2013.

Delhi based MRF driver, Gaurav Gill won Whangarei Rally by a lead of 11.9 seconds on 13 April 2014.

A book entitled The Accidental Prime Minister: the making and unmaking of Manmohan Singh written by Sanjaya Baru was released.

India became net steel exporter in 2013-14 after a gap of six years.

President of India conferred Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for the year 2013 at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.

The Union Home Ministry on 13 April 2014 for the first time approved the recruitment of young women as combat officers in Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

The upgraded solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2 was unveiled on 13 April 2014 at Payerne Air Force Base of Switzerland.

Eight franchisees of Indian Super League of All India Football Federation announced on 13 April 2014. The ISL is scheduled to be held in September-November 2014.

Asian Development Outlook 2014 released by the Asian Development Bank on 1 April 2014.

India increased the scholarships for Omani student from 125 to 150 on 1 April 2014.

World Autism Awareness Day was celebrated on 2 April 2014.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 2 April 2014 granted in-principle approvals to IDFC Ltd and Bandhan Financial Services Pvt. Ltd to start new banks in India . The two entities, Bandhan based in Kolkata and IDFC based in Mumbai that has received the approvals are non-banking finance companies. Bandhan is a microfinance institution and IDFC is classified as an infrastructure finance company.

The RBI in its first bi-monthly monetary policy statement for 2014-15 directed banks not to impose financial penalty.

Amadeus-Oxford Economics report titled Shaping the Future of Travel was released on 2 April 2014.

Union Government on 2 April 2014 appointed senior IPS officer D K Pathak as the new Director General of Border Security Force (BSF).

Amazon launched an internet-connected TV set-top box or video streaming device called Fire TV on 2 April 2014.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on 3 April 2014 recieved the Most Efficient Navratna Award for the year 2013.

NASA has announced suspension of majority of its ongoing engagement and ties with Russia except for the cooperation aboard on ISS.

FIFA had rejected the call of US senators to ban Russia from 2014 World Cup in response to Kremlin’s position on Ukraine.

Google on 3 April 2014 launched 360 degree online view of Angkor Wat in Cambodia under Streetview project.

RBI has appointed R Gandhi as the Deputy Governor on 3 April 2014 for a period of three years. He is the successor of Anand Sinha.

Marie-Lousie Coleiro Preca Sworn-in as President of Malta, island state, in Valletta.

Qatar based Doha Bank announced that it will be open its first branch in Mumbai in India.

SEBI has revamped its committee on disclosures and accounting standards, which advises it on matters related to disclosure requirements.

ISRO had launched India’s 2nd regional navigational satellite IRNSS 1B from Sriharikota Space Station.

Europe has launched Sentinel-1A, a satellite designed to monitor Earth for climate change and environmental damage and help disaster relief operations.

Bangladesh agreed to provide transit facility for a 6000 megawatt Indian power transmission line.

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Anja Niedringhaus on 4 April 2014 shot dead by a policeman in Afghanistan.

Election Commission has banned publication and dissemination of exit polls of any kind from 7 April to 12 May 2014.

US President Barack Obama on 4 April 2014 nominated Sunil Sabharwal as the next US Alternate Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

India was ranked 102 out of 132 countries on the Social Progress Index (SPI) published by the US-based non-profit organisation Social Progress Imperative.

MS Dhoni won United Kingdom’s 2014 Asian award for outstanding achievement in sports .

Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) notified rules on providing insurance cover for public deposits.

Former President of Guinea Kumba Yala died at the age of 61 due to cardiac arrest.

South Korea on 4 April 2014 developed a ballistic missile capable of striking most of North Korea.

A new law came into force in UK on 6 April 2014 that will permit the sale of home tests for HIV in Britain.

Pro-Russian activists of Donetsk on 7 April 2014 proclaimed their independence from Ukraine.

Koyal Rana won the title of fbb Femina Miss India 2014. Jhataleka Malhotra and Gail Nicole Da’Silva were the 1st and 2nd runner-ups respectively.

Sri Lanka defeated India in the final match to win the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2014 at Shere Bangla stadium of Mirpur, Dhaka.

Itanagar on 7 April 2014 received its first passenger train and became the second state capital after Guwahati to be put on the railway map of India.

Lowland of Jhumpa Lahiri has been shortlisted for the 2014 Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction along with other five books.

India’s Heena Sidhu clinched World’s No. 1 spot in 10 mts air pistol event.

Ashish Bose, veteran demographer died in New Delhi due to illness on 7 April 2014.

Ravi Chauhan on 7 April 2014 was appointed as Managing Director for SAP India.

ICC announced the men’s Team of the Tournament of the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014, with India’s MS Dhoni named captain.

Australian cricket team had won the Women’s World Twenty20 Cup 2014 cup by defeating England in the final match in Mirpur, Dhaka.

Dada Saheb Phalke awardee, V K Murthy died on 7 April 2014 at his residence in Shankarapuram. He was 91.

Iwao Hakamada has been awarded with an honorary championship belt by WBC. He was released after 48 years in prison following a murder conviction.

Punjab won the 4th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2014 (Division A) by defeating Hokey Odisha at Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

World Health Day 2014 was observed across the world on 7 April 2014.

Lee Chong Wei won the men’s singles title of 250000 US dollar India Super Series Badminton in New Delhi by defeating Chen Long of China.

PC Parakh book entitled, Crusader or Conspirator? Coalgate and other Truths was released in New Delhi.

A team of Scientists led by Manu Prakash from Stanford University developed an amazingly cheap microscope namely Foldscope.

India-born poet Vijay Seshadri won the prestigious 2014 Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category for his collection of poems entitled 3 Sections.

Supreme Court recognised transgender as the third category of sex and directed the government to work for upliftment of the category.

Researchers in the UK on 14 April 2014 for the first time announced to conduct a test on patient of artificial blood made from human stem cells.

Baroda won the National Syed Mustaq Ali Cricket T20 Trophy after defeating Uttar Pradesh in the final match by three runs.

Dipika Pallikal of India lost the title clash of the Texas Open squash tournament by Egyptian Nour El Sherbini at Houston, United States.

World Economic Forum (WEF) released 13th Edition of the Global Information Technology Report 2014 on 14 April 2014 in New York. India was ranked 83 among 148 economies in terms of leveraging information and communications technologies for growth and well being.

Bluefin 21 – a robotic submarine – was deployed on 14 April 2014 to solve the mystery of the lost Malaysian plane MH370.

Supreme Court has directed that woman employee of central government can get uninterrupted leave for two years for childcare.

SEBI had asked the stock exchanges to consider shifting the securities of seven companies to normal trading category from restricted segment.

Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram has been designated as new Finance Secretary by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

State Bank of India on 15 April 2014 launched digital banking facilities for the convenience of SBI customers.

State Bank of India (SBI) on 15 April 2014 launched a financing scheme for women fashion boutique owners.

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision on 15 April 2014 issued Final standards for measuring and controlling large exposures of banks to customers.

Election Commission of India (ECI) on 15 April 2014 launched the Election VIsitors Programme (EVP) 2014 for foreign delegates of 50 countries.

Portal, RAILSAVER was inaugurated by the Indian Railways with an aim to improve energy efficiency in Indian Railways.

Inflation based on WPI reached 3-month high of 5.7% in March 2014.

Government of India (GOI) extended the Tourist Visa-on-Arrival Scheme to the citizens of the South Korea (ROK) with effect from 15 April 2014.

The European Parliament on 15 April 2014 approved banking union reforms to minimise the risk of EU taxpayer-funded bailout.

Pakistan successfully test-fired short range ballistic missile Hatf-III named Ghazanvi.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) panel announced that Cherrapunji regained the world record for highest rainfall in 48 hours with 2493 millimeters.

Google has acquired the maker of high-altitude solar powered drones, Titan Aerospace to bring deliver internet in the remotest corners of the world.

The 61st National Film Awards Announced . Ship of Theseus won Best Feature Film Award.

Cognizant has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire itaas, a digital video solutions company.

Asia-Pacific navies of 22 countries including India signed Maritime Communication Agreement.

Archie Comics has declared that the famous comic character Archie will die in the July 2014 issue after ruling the comics market for 73 year.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the Nobel laureate died at the age of 87 in Mexico.

Admiral RK Dhowan took over as 22nd Chief of Indian Navy . He is a successor of Admiral DK Joshi, who was the 1st Defence forces chief to resign in India.

South Korean ferry carrying 459 passengers and crew drowned on 16 April 2014 off the south of the Korean Peninsula.

Union Cabinet on 16 April 2014 approved the appointment of Narendra Kothari as Chairman of the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC).

Real Madrid won the Copa del Ray Football tournament of Spain on April 16, 2014.

A giant torch was unveiled on 17 April 2014 in honour of Indian spiritual leader Chinmoy Kumar Ghose in New York, USA.

3D model of the human malaria parasite genome at three different stages in life cycle of parasite.

Astronomers had discovered an Earth-sized planet in habitable zone, named Kepler-186f orbiting Kepler-186 system in the constellation Cygnus.

First double-decker flyover of India was opened for public use on 18 April 2014 in Mumbai.

World Heritage Day was observed on 18 April 2014.

A new robot called Borewell Robot was developed by M.Manigandan to rescue kids who fall into borewells.

Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal on 18 April 2014 pleaded guilty at a US court for violating federal election laws by using straw donors.

SEBI has issued detailed corporate governance norms for listed companies to encourage companies to adopt best practices on governance.

Abdelaziz Bouteflika won the Presidency for the fourth time consecutively in Algeria.

High content of manganese was detected by the State Public Works Department (PWD) in Selaulin reservoir of Goa on 19 April 2014.

Joshna Chinappa won inaugural Richmond Open at the Country Club of Virginia.

Trends in Vogue on 19 April 2014 entered into an agreement with Bhartiya Mahila Bank (BMB) to promote women Entrepreneurship.

Neighbourhood Trees Campaign launched on International Mother Earth Day.

Bengaluru FC Club on 21 April 2014 won the I-League Football title in their debut season.

Benfica on 21 April 2014 won the 33rd Portuguese Football league title after four years.

Life-sized Atlas Anthropomorphic rescue robot has been developed Boston Dynamics. It has been developed to visit the places that are dangerous to humans.

Suresh Kumar Reddy appointed as the First ambassador to ASEAN.

International Mother Earth Day observed across the world on 22 April 2014.

Cadbury India Limited on 22 April 2014 announced to change its name to Mondelez India Foods Limited.

Chitra Magimairaj on 22 April 2014 won the World Women’s Senior Snooker Championship at Leeds, Britain by defeating Alena Asmolava of Belarus.

SC asked the Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee to further investigate IPL 2013 spot fixing and betting scandal.

Donna Vekic won the BMW Malaysian Open 2014 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

GIRO Advisory Group (GAG) under the chairmanship of Prof. Umesh Bellur on 23 April 2014 has submitted its report to Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Japanese foods firm Nissin Foods on 23 April 2014 appointed Gautam Sharma as the Managing Director (MD) of its Indian arm Indo Nissin.

SC ordered special audit of property of Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple under the supervision of Vinod Rai.

AIFF has launched AIFF Academy Certification initiative to set a standard of Youth Development in the Country through a certification model.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 23 April 2014 issued uniform accounting standards for Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs).

India has launched a new academic programme in Pretoria under which unemployed South African youths can benefit from internships in India.

The Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) decided to allow the use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) during flights.

Vic Gundotra on 24 April 2014 resigned from the Internet Company Google.

US President Barack Obama on 24 April 2014 nominated 3 Indian-Americans to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Indian-Americans include – US Air Force officer Lieutenant Colonel Ravi Chaudhary, Prominent community leader Shekar Narasimhan,Popular film and television actor Maulik Pancholy.

Lalit Gupta Committee on Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) submitted its report to DGCA on 24 April 2014.

Indian Squash Player Saurav Ghosal won Dato Alex Lee Award 2013 on 24 April 2014.

Gujarat High Court has restored the RBI’s power to decide the period after which a bad loan can be called a Non-Performing Asset (NPA).

SC referred the matter of remission of the life imprisonment of seven convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case to the Constitutional Bench.

Facebook launched FB Newswire for journalists on 24 April 2014.

Time Magazine released the 100 most influential people in the world on 24 April 2014.

World Malaria Day was observed on 25 April 2014 across the world.

The US and Japan issued a Joint Statement emphasizing robust trilateral relation with India on April 25, 2014.

The 15th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2014 was held in Tampa Bay, USA from 23 April to 26 April 2014.

John Travolta honoured the Most Popular All Time International Star in India at IIFA awards.

The US software giant, Microsoft completed acquisition of Nokia’s mobile handset business excluding the Nokia’s Chennai factory.

India successfully test-fired new Interceptor Missile named Prithvi Defence Vehicle.

Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha sworn-in as the 41st Chief Justice of India on April 27, 2014. His swearing-in ceremony was administered by the President of India.

Adhiban won the silver medal at the Asian Continental Chess Championship in Sharjah.

Pope Francis on 27 April 2014 declared his two predecessors, John XXIII and John Paul II, saints in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

Prime Minister of South Korea Chung Hong-won was resigned.

Silver nanowires-based nanoscale Fingerprints developed to protect credit cards.

A World Bank report said that India has emerged as the third largest economy of the World in 2011 in terms of the Purchasing Power Parity.

To prove innocence of Bhagat Singh in the murder case of the Lahore SSP, John P Saunders in 1928, a FIR was registered in Pakistan.

Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana (MGPSY) was launched in UAE in tie up of a leading Indian financial and health care service player and the UAE Exchange.

A Standford Study found that the South Asian monsoon has been experiencing dangerous increase in extreme wet and dry spells since 1980.

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) on 29 April 2014 allowed intra circle 3G roaming for service providers.

Indo-French DanSe DialogueS festival celebrated across the seven cities in India.

George Clooney stepped down from his role as UN’s Messenger of Peace amid the reports of his engagement Amal Alamuddin.

Indian environmental activist, Ramesh Agrawal won the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize that is commonly called as the Green Nobel.

For the first time London got its Web Domain name .London on April 29, 2014.

SC appointed Hudson McHugh as 3rd arbitrator to resolve dispute of Centre and Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) on KG basin.

British actor Bob Hoskins died of pneumonia at the age of 71 in London.

IIT Guwahati placed under 50 years old institutes in Times Higher Education 100 rakings 2014.

World Health Organisation (WHO) released a report Antimicrobial resistance: global report on surveillance on 30 April 2014.

NBA banned Donald Sterling, team owner of Los Angeles Clippers for life after racist remark.

SC reconstituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to monitor probe into the black money case under the chairmanship of retired judge MB Shah.

Delhi received its first Dolby Atmos audio technology, in its one of the oldest Cinema, named Delite Cinemas.

US Senate Republicans on 30 April 2014 blocked a Bill to increase the federal minimum wage for the first time since 2009.

The deadline for switching to new format bank cheques under the Cheque Truncation System (CTS) ended on 30 April 2014.

Hard Choices authored by Hillary Rodham Clinton will be released on 10 June 2014. The book will be published by Simon & Shuster.

HDFC Bank set World Record for Blood collection in a single day.

Union Government has decided to continue export subsidy of 3300 rupees/tonne on raw sugar shipments for months of April and May 2014.

Shaik Abdul Hameed won the 2014 Thailand Tour title of Asian Bowling Federation.

Veteran pro-democratic Journalist of Myanmar Win Tin on 19 April 2014 died due to his respiratory problems.

Meb Keflezighi and Rita Jeptoo won the Boston Marathon 2014 in male and female category, respectively.

Wawrinka won the Monte Carlo Masters Tennis title on 20 April 2014 by defeating Roger Federer, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2.

The unsung hero of the NASA’s Apollo Program John C. Houbolt died 20 April 2014 after the complications from Parkinson’s disease.

IFFCO got permission from Quebec Provincial Government to set up Urea plant.

Canadian author Alistair MacLeod on 20 April 2014 died due to a heart stroke.

US Government on 20 April 2014 approved powdered alcohol brand Palcohol.

Film series titled Brazuca around the World launched by adidas to excite football fans for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.

TCS joined top 10 global IT services companies club: HfS Research Survey.

Indian-American Professor Rajendra Singh named as Solar Champions of Change.

KOI-3278: A Self-lensing Binary Star System found in Lycra constellation.

Rajeev Suri appointed as President and CEO of Nokia Corporation.

India’s lone gorilla, Polo died in Mysore zoo due to respiratory infection and age related ailments. It was gifted by Ireland’s Dublin Zoo.

A Southern California mite Paratarsotomus macropalpis set a new record as world’s fastest land animal.

The Philippines and the United States signed a 10 year long defence pact on 28 April 2014.

An Egyptian Court on 28 April 2014 sentenced to death 683 alleged supporters of the Mohammed Morsi.

Luis Suarez was named as the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year. Eden Hazard was voted as the Young Player of the Year.

Indian Golfer Anirban Lahiri was ranked 67 in World Golf Ranking which was released on 28 April 2014.

NR Narayana Murthy hounoured with ‘Global Indian Award’ in Canada.

Paralympic swimmer Sharath Gayakwad won two Bronze and single Silver at the IDM Berlin 2014.

UN and IOC signed an agreement to use the power of sports to promote peace and economic development.

EU imposed a temporary ban on import of Alphonso mangoes and four vegetables from India. The ban will come into effect from 1 May 2014.

Wimbledon prize amount for 2014 has been increased by 10.8 percent to 25 million Pound.

Scientists on 29 April 2014 for the first time developed Solar Jet Fuel using Sunlight, water and carbon dioxide (Co2).

SAIL bagged contracts to supply over 1.17 lakh tonnes of rails for two global tenders for major upcoming passenger rail line projects in India.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 29 April 2014 prohibited dumping of sewage and waste materials at wetlands.