Current Affairs (Events) 2013
Govt. of India signed an agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a $60 million loan [7/19/2013]
Government of India signed an agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a $60 million loan for improving urban services and strengthen municipal and project management capacity in several towns in North Karnataka. The agreement is for the 3rd Project under the overall facility of $270 million for the North Karnataka Urban Sector Investment Program (NKUSIP).
The third tranche loan under the North Karnataka Urban Sector Investment Program will develop sewerage networks in six towns, and help the rehabilitation and expansion of potable water systems in two more towns. More than 100,000 households will benefit from the improvements.
Obama nominates Indian-American Nisha Biswal as assistant secretary of state for South Asia [7/19/2013]
President Barack Obama nominated Nisha Desai Biswal, an accomplished Indian-American administrator, to head the South Asia bureau in the US state department. Desai will become the first person of Indian or even South Asian origin to head the bureau, which oversees US foreign policy and relations with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan.
Shalini Singh bags Prem Bhatia award for political reporting [ 7/13/2013]
Shalini Singh, a Deputy Editor with The Hindu, has bagged the prestigious Prem Bhatia Award for Political Reporting-2013. She has been selected for her ‘excellent coverage of several key issues,’ particularly her ‘reporting of the telecom and Coalgate scandals.’
Veteran actor Pran passes away in Mumbai [ 7/12/2013]
Legendary actor Pran, loved and feared in equal measure by moviegoers for his roles in Bollywood hits like 'Milan', 'Madhumati' and 'Zanjeer', passed away at a suburban hospital here this evening at the age of 93.
Setting up of National Aviation University in India [ 7/11/2013]
The Union Cabinet gave its approval to the proposal for setting up of a National Aviation University (NAU) in the name of Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University at the District of Rae Bareli in the State of U.P. as a Central University.
Setting up of Indira Gandhi National University for Women at Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh [7/11/2013]
The Union Cabinet has approved setting up a National University for Women in Uttar Pradesh by the name of “The Indira Gandhi National University for Women”. This will be the first university ofthe country to be established exclusively for women. The university will be located at Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh. A bill, namely, the Indira Gandhi National University for Women Bill, 2013 will be introduced in the coming Monsoon Session of Parliament. After the passage of the Bill, steps will be taken to set up the University. The cost involved is Rs.500 crore during the 12th Plan period.
Formation of National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTC) [ 7/11/2013]
The Union Cabinet approved constitution of National Capital Region Transport CorporationLimited (NCRTC) under the Companies Act, 1956 with initial seed capital of Rs.100 crore as per Company Act, 1956 for designing, developing, implementing, financing, operating and maintaining Regional Rapid Transit system (RRTS) in National Capital Region (NCR) to provide comfortable and fast transit to NCR towns and meet the high growth in transport demand. This company may form subsidiary companies for implementing each corridor.
The seed capital of Rs. 100 crore shall be contributed as follows:-| Central Government | ||
| Ministry of Urban Development | : | 22.5% |
| Ministry of Railways | : | 22.5% |
| National Capital Region Planning Board | : | 5.0% |
State Government
| Government of NCT Delhi | : | 12.5% |
| Government of Haryana | : | 12.5% |
| Government of Rajasthan | : | 12.5% |
| Government of UP | : | 12.5% |
Tagore Award For Cultural Harmony, 2013 to be Conferred on Zubin Mehta [ 7/10/2013]
Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony, 2013 is being conferred on the noted Maestro, Zubin Mehta. A High-level Jury under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and comprising the Chief Justice of India, Justice Altamas Kabir, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Smt. Sushma Swaraj and Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi after detailed discussions on 4th July, 2013, unanimously decided to select Shri Zubin Mehta to be the second recipient of the Tagore Award, 2013 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to cultural harmony.
The annual award was instituted by the Govt. of India during the commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. The first Tagore Award was conferred on Pt. Ravi Shankar, the Indian Sitar Maestro in 2012.
The award carries an amount of Rs. 1 crore, a citation in a scroll, a plaque as well as an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item. The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or sex.
Wimbledon Tennis 2013 Winner [ 7/7/2013]
Andy Murray beat Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 to become the first Briton to win the Wimbledon men's singles title since 1936.
Marion Bartoli (FRA) win the Wimbledon womens single title for 2013 by defeating Sabine Lisicki(GER).
Bob Bryab (USA) and Muke Bryan (USA) win the Wimbledon mens double title 2013 by defeating Ivan Dodig (CRO) and Marcelo Melo (BRA).
Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) and Shuai Peng (CHN) win the Wimbledon womens double title 2013 by defeating Ashleigh Barty (AUS) and Casey Dellacqua (AUS).
Daniel Nestor (CAN) and Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) win the Wimbledon mixed double title 2013 by defeating Bruno Soares (BRA) and Lisa Raymond (USA)
Sujatha Singh Appointed as Foreign Secretary [ 7/3/2013]
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Smt.Sujatha Singh, IFS(1976), presently Ambassador of India to Germany, as the next Foreign Secretary with effect from August 1,2013 for a tenure of two years.
Director General BPR&D Appointed [ 7/3/2013]
Shri Rajan Gupta, IPS (PB:78) has been appointed as Director General, Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) till the date of his superannuation i.e. 31.03.2015, from the date of assumption of the post or until further orders, whichever event takes place earlier.
LT Gen Vijay Kumar Saxena takes over as Director General of Army Air Defence [ 7/3/2013]
Lieutenant General Vijay Kumar Saxena assumed the appointment of the 8th Director General of the Corps of Army Air Defence on 01 Jul 2013. The General Officer has taken over the reins from Lieutenant General Kuldip Singh who superannuated from service on 30 Jun 2013, after a distinguished career of nearly 40 years.
Lieutenant General Vijay Kumar Saxena, the incoming Director General is an alumni of National Defence Academy 1975 batch. Gen Saxena, is also an alumni of Defence Services Staff College, College of Defence Management and the coveted National Defence College. The Officer has had to his credit, two tenures in the Military Operations Directorate, Instructional experience in India and abroad and Command experience of his unit and formation in active Counter Insurgency Operations in the Northern Command. The Gen Officer has also had a stint as Brigadier General Staff (Information Warfare) at HQ Northern Command besides serving as Deputy Director General Equipment, as well as, Operations in Army Air Defence Directorate and Additional Director General of Army Air Defence at Army HQ.
ISRO Successfully Launches India’s First Navigation Satellite IRNSS-1A [ 7/2/2013]
ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C22, has successfully launched IRNSS-1A, the firstsatellite in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. This is the twenty third consecutively successful mission of PSLV. The ‘XL’ configuration of PSLV was used for the mission. Previously, the same configuration of the vehicle was used thrice to launch Chandrayaan-1, GSAT-12 and RISAT-1 satellites.
IRNSS-1A is the first of the seven satellites constituting the space segment of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System. IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellitesystem designed to provide position information in the Indian region and 1500 km around the Indian mainland. IRNSS would provide two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Services (SPS) – provided to all users – and Restricted Services (RS) provided only to authorised users.
Najeeb Jung to be new Delhi LG; K K Paul is Meghalaya governor [ 7/2/2013]
Jamia Millia Islamia vice-chancellor Najeeb Jung was on Monday appointed Delhi lieutenant-governor replacing Tejendra Khanna while former Delhi Police commissioner K K Paul was appointed Meghalaya governor replacing Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary.
President Pranab Mukherjee also appointed former Punjab Congress chief Virendra Kataria as LG of Puducherry succeeding Iqbal Singh while Lt Gen (retired) A K Singh replaced Lt Gen (retired) Bhopinder Singh as LG of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said.
Lieutenant General Anil Chait Takes over as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to CISC [7/1/2013]
Lieutenant General Anil Chait, has taken over as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) here today. The General Officer in his career spanning over 39 years has held various coveted Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. The General Officer has a vast operational experience across the entire spectrum of conflict.
Lieutenant General Anil Chait, in his formative years has been associated with the Special Action Group (The Black Cats) of the National Security Guards and was awarded the VishishtSeva Medal. He has served with an infantry division, as Colonel General Staff on the Line of Control during Operation Parakram. The General Officer has tenanted staff assignment in the Military Secretary’s Branch in the Colonel’s rank and the Perspective Planning Directorate in the Brigadier’s rank dealing with formulation of National and Military Security Strategy & Policy.
The General Officer commanded an Armoured Regiment, an Independent Amoured Brigade and an Infantry Division with distinction on the Western Borders. The General brought glory to the Indian Military and the Nation by organizing the 4th Edition of Military World Games successfully. He has the proud distinction of attending the US Army War College and being awarded the Medal of Excellence.
