Current Affairs - 9 February 2016

Tuesday, February 09, 2016

General Affairs

Modi Government Will Spread India's Spiritual Message, Says Amit Shah

VRINDAVAN: BJP chief Amit Shah today said the Modi government had taken measures to preserve and promote 'Sanatan dharma', while politics in the country had earlier got "detached" from religion.

The BJP government will not only make India a prosperous nation, but also spread its spiritual message worldwide, he said at the inauguration of the 125 feet high 'Priyantakju' dedicated to 'Radha-Krishna' in this holy town.

"We have a government in this country which will not only take it forward on the path to prosperity but will also spread its spiritual message worldwide," he said, adding it has taken steps to preserve Indian culture and symbols of Sanathan dharma (Hinduism).

"We saw how in the past our politics had got detached from religion, but Modiji is one Prime Minister who went to Kashi to perform 'Ganga Aarti' after being nominated the party's prime ministerial candidate," he said.

"Not only Ganga, he is taking initiatives to clean all our rivers. It was due to Modi s efforts that the UN announced International Yoga day and now the whole world is celebrating it. We do not ask for any patent. Whatever is there in Hindu culture and Sanathan dharma, it is for everyone. They can come and learn it in India," he said.

During the visit to this temple town, he said Lord Krishna established an "unbreakable" link between Gujarat and Vrindavan.

"I live in Delhi but I belong to Gujarat. There is an unbreakable link between Gujarat and Vrindavan due to Lord Krishna. I get energy to work more whenever I come here," said Mr Shah.

The new temple will help spread our culture, he added.

Addressing a gathering on this occasion, Deviki Nandan Thakur Maharaj, the president of Vishva Shanti Charitable Trust which constructed the temple, urged him to take initiatives to bring river Yamuna to Vrindavan, ban cow slaughter and end the "English medium culture" in education.

"I share your feelings. BJP governments have walked the same path and will continue to do so. The greater the blessings of people, the faster will be the progress," he said.

Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said only Hindu culture and Sanathan Dharma can take humanity on the path to peace.

Kaptan Singh Solanki, Haryana Governor, Madhya Pradesh government Minister Maya Singh, Chhattisgarh Minister Brij Mohan Agrawal, lawmakers Meenakshi Lekhi and Hema Malini and senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar were also present.

Vishwa Shanti Seva Charitable Trust also said it was adopting 125 underprivileged girls to support the Centre's 'Beti bachao beti padhao' initiative. Mr Shah distributed cycles and cheques to some of these girls.

PM Modi Says People's Participation Important To Bring About A Change

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today pitched for people's involvement to bring about a change in rural areas as he interacted with over 200 youths working in these areas under a national scheme.

PM Modi invited comments and suggestions to further refine the Prime Minister's Rural Development Fellows (PMRDF) scheme and appreciated participants for working with dedication and devotion in rural and backward areas of the country, often withstanding peer and family pressures, an official statement said in New Delhi.

After his interaction with 230 (PMRD) Fellows, he said people's participation emerges as a common theme among the presentations given today, as well as from the responses which he has received. He stressed this can be the most important aspect of bringing about a "change".

11 young participants presented brief account of their works in remote, rural, tribal and Left-Wing Extremism affected areas, on women empowerment, maternal and infant health-care, education, nutrition, livelihoods, Swachh Bharat, Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat, and people's participation in governance, the statement said.

Later, in an interactive session with the Prime Minister, several participants shared their thoughts on themes such as development of the North-East, rural education, tribal development, organic farming and welfare of the disabled.

PMDRF is an initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) implemented in collaboration with state governments. It focuses on poverty alleviation and improving the lives of the population in backward and isolated regions of India. It was announced in September 2011 and inducted its first batch of Fellows in April 2012.

During the two-year fellowship, the Fellows work closely with the District Collector of Additional Central Assistance and Integrated Action Plan districts and strive to bridge the gap between people's needs and the system's provisions by reducing developmental and governance deficits.

After successful completion of the fellowship, the PMRD Fellow is required to spend one year in public service in the State to which she/he is assigned.

Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), as a knowledge partner of MoRD, facilitates the process of selection, recruitment, training, mentoring and monitoring the work of the Fellows.

The idea behind PMRDF is to provide fresh inputs and ideas to leverage support to the reform process, infuse optimism and instill confidence among key stakeholders, and provide decision-making support to the district leadership.

Recalling a letter that he had written to all Fellows, seeking their responses on the "Narendra Modi App", PM Modi appreciated the extensive responses that he had received from them, and especially emphasised that there was not a single complaint among the responses, the statement said.

PM Modi also released a book Scripting Change - which highlighted the essence of the work being done by PMRD Fellows across the country. Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh was also present on the occasion.

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Hopes Budget Session Would Not Be A Washout

RAMPUR: Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today expressed hope that the upcoming Budget Session of the Parliament would not be a washout.

Targeting the Congress party for its "attitude" during the last two sessions, the MoS for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs said they shall have to explain their role to the nation.

"Due to the Congress' attitude in last two sessions people's Rs. 200 crore and 131 hours were wasted, though all the MPs from treasury benches were assuring the Opposition that the government was ready to discuss all issues," he told PTI in Rampur.

Keeping in view the recent two sessions, intellectuals, in journalism or elsewhere, have termed the Congress' role as "injurious" to the cause of the nation, he said.

Earlier addressing the party workers, Mr Naqvi said the BJP's mission 2017 has started taking shape everywhere in Uttar Pradesh.

"Electorate have been expressing their desire to bring back the party's rule in state, since PM Modi has launched several schemes for the welfare of the poorest of the poor," he said.

Possible Drug Price Rise Will Hit Haemophiliacs Hardest

SONEPAT: Harshal Kale fears total disability. The 26-year-old software engineer suffers from haemophilia - a genetic blood disorder that prevents clotting and needs at least Rs. 1 lakh a month for treatment.

Unable to get treatment for half his life, Harshal has massive swellings in his ankles, the result of internal blood accumulation every time he suffers an injury. He needs two shots of the Anti-Haemophiliac Factors a week to keep off further accumulation.

But the government's recent decision to withdraw custom duty exemptions for imported medicines means his cost of treatment will go up by Rs. 32,000 a month.

"I will not be able to afford it and I hope this will not lead to further deformities," Harshal said. He had quit his job in 2015 to pursue a Young India fellowship.

While the government notification is expected to raise the prices of more than 70 life-saving drugs, it is expected to hit haemophiliacs the hardest, since the medicines required to treat them have to be imported.

Anti-Haemophillic Factor (VIII and IX) is used to treat Haemophilia. On an average, in an acute case, a patient needs 4000 units of blood factor a week, 50,000 annually. With each unit costing Rs. 20, the cost of treatment annually can be Rs. 10 lakh.

This expense is likely to go up by 20% after the Factor VIII and IX being removed from the list. And it will make treatment unaffordable for India's 3 lakh patients, who are living with this condition.

The government's push for "Make in India" - which activists say is at the bottom of the withdrawal of duty exemptions - is unlikely to be of any help to them, at least in the short term.

"Though recently India has started manufacturing blood factors, the scale is extremely insufficient," said advocate Leena Menghaney, who works extensively towards affordable medicines.

"The government should have consulted the Haemophilia society before this decision because the Factor shots are imported," she added.

Suicide Bombers In Afghanistan Kill 9, Wound 23

GARDEZ, AFGHANISTAN: Two suicide bombers targeting Afghan government and military employees killed at least nine people today and wounded 23, officials said.

Six civilians died and nine were injured in a blast outside a bakery shop in Yahyakhil district of Paktika province, an area near Afghanistan's eastern border with Pakistan, district governor Musa Khan Kharuti said.

The suicide bomber apparently targeted police and government employees buying bread, a provincial police official said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Earlier in the day, three people were killed in an attack on a bus carrying Afghan army personnel in Dehdadi district, not far from the Balkh provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said.

The ministry put the number of wounded at eight, while Munir Ahmad Farhad, a spokesman for the Balkh provincial governor, said that 14, including three women, had been injured.

The bomber detonated a suicide vest near the bus as it was carrying members of the army's 209th Shaheen Corps, and all of the reported casualties were army employees, Farhad said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on the military bus in a statement released online. The statement named a resident of Wardak province, which neighbours the Afghan capital city of Kabul, as the attacker.

Buses carrying military and government employees to and from work have been common targets for insurgent groups like the Taliban, who are seeking to topple the Western-backed government in Kabul and reimpose harsh Islamic rule 15 years after they were ousted form power.

Business Affairs

Sensex ends 329 points lower, Nifty below 7,400 ahead of GDP data; IT stocks drag

The S&P BSE Sensex ended sharply lower by 329 points on Friday, while broader CNX Nifty closed below its key 7,400-mark.

The benchmark indices crashed at the fag end of the session after staying rangebound through the day ahead of the GDP data for December quarter, which is due later in the day. Analysts believe a consecutive six-day long fall in European markets affected market sentiment in the afternoon trade.

The 30-share index ended the day at 24,287, down 329.55 points, while broad-based 50-share index quoted 7,387, down 101.85 points at close.

Market breadth turned negative with 22 of the 30 Sensex components ending the day in red.

S&P BSE IT index was the top sectoral loser and lost 1.98 per cent with TCS and Infosys figuring in among top 5 Sensex losers. Tata Motors was the worst-performing stock on both the headline indices. The scrip shed 3.94 per cent on BSE.

Steel stocks hogged limelight and rallied up to 13 per cent intraday after the government set a minimum import price (MIP) of $341 to $752 per tonne for 173 steel products in a bid to protect domestic steel industry from cheaper foreign imports.

Among Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei ended over 1 per cent higher, while trade remained thin in Asia with Singapore, Hong Kong and mainland China closed for the Lunar New Year holiday. Markets in China will be closed for the entire week for the holiday.

US Dow futures fell sharply and lost over 1.5 per cent, indicating Wall Street may carry on with heavy losses seen at the end of last week.

GDP data to show economy racing, realities less rosy

India will release data on Monday showing it remains one of the fastest growing economies in the world, but economists are struggling to reconcile that rosy picture with ground realities like weak exports, investment, and flat corporate order books.

The median estimate from a Reuters poll of economists put GDP annual growth at 7.3 per cent in the quarter through December, just below 7.4 per cent in July-September.

If the data comes in line with expectations, it would be faster than 6.8 per cent growth posted by China in the same quarter.

However, very few economists are ready to take the official data at face value, reckoning that it overestimates the pace of expansion in Asia's third-largest economy.

"There are inconsistencies between the picture presented by new GDP series and many other tried and trusted real activity indicators," said Rupa Rege Nitsure, group chief economist, L&T Finance Holdings, Mumbai.

Until a year ago, India was struggling to break out of the longest stretch of below 5 per cent growth in a quarter of a century. But a change made a year ago to the method GDP is calculated transformed the lumbering South Asian giant overnight into one of the fastest growing major economies.

Yet, merchandise exports have been falling for the past 13 months. Rural spending is subdued on weak wage growth and two successive droughts.

Corporate order books are flat. While finished goods inventory to sales ratio is showing no improvement, raw material inventory to sales ratio has worsened.

With factories running nearly 30 per cent below their capacity, firms are not in a hurry to invest in new plants and machinery. Festering problem of bad loans, meanwhile, has impeded credit flow and delayed full transmission of interest rate cuts.

There are some encouraging signs, however. Robust growth in indirect tax receipts suggest a nascent revival in manufacturing sector. Foreign direct investment is up. Low inflation, thanks largely to a crash in global commodity prices, has helped bolster urban demand.

MORE REFORMS NEEDED

The new data is causing a policy conundrum for Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is due to present his third annual budget on Feb. 29.

While real economic growth is above 7 per cent, nominal GDP, which Jaitley relies on to drive tax revenue, has slowed sharply, suggesting tepid demand. The anomaly has triggered a debate within the government whether to hike borrowing and spending to stimulate sluggish demand.

A revision in salaries of millions of government employees later this year is expected to buttress consumer demand and over time create incentives for investment.

But analysts say a faster and lasting turnaround hinges upon land, labor, bank and tax reforms, which have become a victim of a persistent political gridlock in New Delhi.

"Hopes for any incremental growth beyond what we have today will depend squarely on the implementation of important reforms," said Pranjul Bhandari, chief India economist at HSBC. "In short, it's over to the government."

Development through democracy remains the biggest challenge: Ravi Shankar Prasad

In an apparent dig at China, Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday warned against the impulse to become an autocratic society for attaining faster growth and said development through democracy is more stable.

"Development through democracy is the biggest challenge today because in the heat of the moment people call for becoming some kind of an autocratic society," Prasad said during a panel discussion on India at the prestigious Harvard University.

Referring to China's fast growth rate during the past decades, he said in a democracy development may be slower but it is stable.

People in India, he said, wants the government to deliver with good governance and transparency.

China, which is ruled by the Communist Party since 1949, witnessed close to double-digit growth for over three decades.

However, growth has fallen steadily over the past five years and China clocked 6.9 per cent GDP growth in 2015, its weakest performance in a quarter century, with analysts warning of a hard landing for the world's second largest economy.

Responding to a question, Prasad opposed the idea of disbanding the Indian civil services, which he argued brings in continuity and stability.

At the same time, he felt the need of creating opportunities for bringing fresh minds to governance.

Speaking on the phenomena of regional parties in Indian politics, senior member of parliament Jay Panda said that it would be foolish to write off regional parties, which have been there for the past few decades.

"They may have in some sense reached the peak of their popularity, but they are not going away any time soon," he said, adding there is a gradual evolution of two coalition system rather than two parties in Indian polity.

Panda also referred to the massive use of social media in recent elections in India.

TRAI rules against differential pricing for Internet services

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday ruled against differential pricing for Internet services, in a setback to Facebook Inc's plan to roll out free Internet to the masses in Asia's third-largest economy.

TRAI said that Internet service providers would not be allowed to discriminate on pricing of data access for different web services.

Facebook's Free Basics plan, launched in around three dozen developing countries, offers pared-down web services on mobile phones, along with access to Facebook's own social network and messaging services, without charge.

Critics had argued that allowing access to a select few apps and web services for free violates the principle of net neutrality - the principle that all websites and data on the Internet should be treated equal.

Gold price extends gains, hits 9-mth high on global cues

Gold prices surged for the 7th straight day, moving up by Rs 30 to hit nine-month high of Rs 27,700 per 10 grams at the bullion market on Saturday, tracking a firm trend overseas and buying by jewellers to meet the wedding season demand.

On the other hand, silver held steady at Rs 35,800 per kg in limited deals.

Bullion traders said a firming trend overseas as a sell-off in equities and signs of uneven US economic growth fuelled bets that the Fed would hold off on raising rates again, boosted appeal of the precious metals, influenced gold prices in New Delhi.

Besides, sustained buying by jewellers driven by ongoing wedding season demand too helped gold to trade at nine-month high, they said.

Globally, gold climbed 1.57 per cent to $1,173.50 an ounce and silver by 1.08 per cent to $15.01 an ounce in New York in Friday's trade.

In the national capital, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity edged up by Rs 30 each to Rs 27,700 and Rs 27,550 per ten grams respectively, a level last seen on May 19 2015.

The precious metal had gained Rs 620 in the previous six days.

Sovereign, however held steady at Rs 22,600 per piece of eight grams.

On the other hand, silver ready held unchanged at Rs 35,800 per kg, while weekly-based delivery weakened by Rs 20 to Rs 35,805 per kg.

Meanwhile, silver coins continued to be traded at last level of Rs 52,000 for buying and Rs 53,000 for selling of 100 pieces.

General Awareness

Latest Current Affairs - January 2016

Appointments

AB Khare is appointed as Chairman and Managing Director of Madras Fertilzers Limited.

Achyuta Samanta is appointed as President of the 105th Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) for 2017-18.

Amitabh Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra replaced Aamir Khan as 'Incredible India' brand ambassadors.

Amitabh Kant appointed as CEO of NITI Aayog.

Andhra Pradesh government appointed N Ramesh Kumar as state election commissioner.

Archana Ramasundram appointed as Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). With this, Ramasundram became first woman to head a paramilitary force in India.

Atul Sobti took charge as CMD of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for a period of five years.

Atulesh Jindal is appointed as Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

Bhanumurthy B M is appointed as chief operating officer (COO) of WIPRO.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved Hybrid Annuity Model for implementing National Highway Projects -

Government will invest 40 % of construction cost and balance 60 % will come from private developer.

Private developer will recover his investment from government by receiving annuity payments over 15 years.

Toll collection - Highway toll tax will be collected by the government. Unlike in build, operate and transfer (BOT) toll model in which private sector collects it. Thus, private party does not have to bear traffic and inflation risks as the project cost are also inflation indexed.

D.K.Hota to be new CMD of defence PSU BEML (Bharat Earth Movers Limited).

Dr. Kamlesh Kumar Pandey has been appointed as Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) for a period of three years.

E-commerce firm Flipkart appointed co-founder Binny Bansal as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) while formr CEO Sachin Bansal will be appointed as Executive Chairman.

Filippo Grandi (Italy) has been appointed as UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Girish Luthra appointed Chief of Southern Naval Command and Sunil Lanba appointed chief of Western Naval Command.

Government appointed Devender Kumar Sikri as Chairman of Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Government reappointed Urjit Patel as Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a second three-year term.

Gurdeep Singh has been appointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

IT Firm Mindtree appointed Rostow Ravanan as CEO and MD.

IT Firm Wipro appointed Abid Ali Z. Neemuchwala as new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and T K Kurien elevated as Vice Chairman.

Industry body Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) appointed Kunal Shah(FreeCharge co-founder) as its chairman.

Janos Pasztor of Hungary is appointed as Senior Adviser to Secretary-General (Ban Ki Moon) on Climate Change.

Javed Ahmed appointed as Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh.

Jetha Bharwad elected as first Vice-Chairman of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) that sells its dairy products under brand name Amul.

Mamta Binani has been elected as President of Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) for 2016.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa won Presidential elections of Portugal.

Mary Barra elected as Chairman of General Motors (GM) Board of Directors.

Paul Kaba Thieba is named as Prime Minister of Burkina Faso.

Pavan Kapoor is appointed as India's ambassador to Israel.

Pavel Filip appointed as new Prime Minister of Moldova.

Professional networking platform LinkedIn appointed Akshay Kothari as Country Manager for India.

R Shivakumar appointed as Chairman of Assocham Karnataka Regional Council, new regional outfit of Assocham.

Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria appointed as Deputy Chief of Air Staff of Indian Air Force.

Ravi Chellam appointed Executive Director of Greenpeace India, a Non-Government Organisation (NGO).

Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan joined a task force of World Economic Forum (WEF) to study future of global financial system.

Sam Pitroda has been appointed as Technology Advisor to Odisha Government.

Sanjay Mishra has been appointed as Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh.

Shri Sailesh has been appointed as Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.

Tata Motors appointed Guenter Butschek as its chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director (MD).

Tsai Ing-wen has been elected as first female and 14th President of Taiwan.

Twitter appointed Leslie Berland as its Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).

U.S. India Business Council (USIBC) selected Edward Monser and Punit Renjen as Council board members.

Awards

14th Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards - Umaid Bhawan Palace of Udaipur (Rajasthan) named As best hotel of 2016. Top 5 hotels are -

Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur – Jodhpur, India

Shinta Mani Resort – Siem Reap, Cambodia

Bellevue Syrene – Sorrento, Italy

Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa – Hanoi, Vietnam

Achtis Hotel – Afitos, Greece

21st Critics' Choice Awards (USA BY Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) and Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) -

DRAMA

BEST PICTURE - Spotlight

BEST ACTOR - Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)

BEST ACTRESS - Brie Larson (Room)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Sylvester Stallone (Creed)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl)

BEST DIRECTOR - George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Television

BEST ACTOR (COMEDY) - Jeffrey Tambor (Transparent – Amazon)

BEST ACTOR (DRAMA) - Rami Malek (Mr. Robot)

BEST ACTRESS (COMEDY) - Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend)

BEST ACTRESS (DRAMA) - Carrie Coon (The Leftovers)

61st Britannia Filmfare Awards -

Bajirao Mastani won most awards (8).

Best Actor: Ranveer Singh (Bajirao Mastani)

Best Actress: Deepika Padukone (Piku)

Best Film: Bajirao Mastani

Best Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Bajirao Mastani).

Lifetime Achievement : Moushumi Chatterjee

Best Debutant (Male): Sooraj Pancholi (Hero)

Best Debutant (Female): Bhumi Pednekar (Dum Laga Ke Haisha)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female): Priyanka Chopra (Bajirao mastani)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male): Anil kapoor (Dil Dhadakne Do)

Best Singer (male): Arijit Singh (Sooraj dooba hai from ‘Roy’)

Best Singer (female): Shreya Ghoshal (Deewani mastani from ‘Bajirao Mastani’)

Best Choreography: Birju Maharaj (Bajirao Mastani)

73rd Golden Globe Awards -

The Revenant won 3 awards while The Martian and Steve Jobs won 2 awards each.

Picture (Drama) - The Revenant

Picture (Musical/Comedy) - The Martian

Director(Drama): Alejandro Inarritu (The Revenant).

Actor (Drama) - Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)

Actress (Drama) - Brie Larson (Room)

Actor (Musical / Comedy) - Matt Damon (The Martian)

Actress (Musical / Comedy) - Jennifer Lawrence (Joy)

Actor in a Supporting role - Sylvester Stallone (Creed)

Actress in a Supporting role - Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs)

Original Score - Ennio Morricone (The Hateful Eight)

Foreign Language Film - Son of Saul (Hungary)

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (OSCAR Academy) presented Technical Award to Indian -origin actor, producer Rahul Thakkar and Cottalango Leon.

Alejandro Aravena (Chile) won 2016 Pritzker Architecture Prize, best known for his work with “do tank” Elemental, an architecture group that aims to tackle poverty using a participatory approach that engages local communities in early stages of design process. He will receive a $100,000 grant and a bronze medal.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been chosen for K Veeramani Social Justice Award for his contribution for for upliftment of weaker and marginalised sections.

Costa Book Awards 2015 -

First Novel Award - The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley

Novel Award - A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson

Biography - The Invention of Nature: The Adventures of Alexander Von Humboldt, The Lost Hero of Science by Andrea Wulf

Poetry - 40 Sonnets by Don Paterson

Children's Book - The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

David Warner has been awarded 2016 Allan Border Medal by Cricket Australia. Other Awards are -

Test Player - David Warner

One Day International Player - Glenn Maxwell

Twenty20 International Player - Not awarded

Bradman Young Cricketer - Alex Ross

State Player - Adam Voges

Women's International Cricketer - Ellyse Perry

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar gave away RakshaMantri Awards for Excellence -

2012 - 13

Excellence in performance – HAL

Best performance in Exports – BEML

2013 - 14

Excellence in performance – BEL

Best performance in Exports – BEL

Delhi-based Journalist-writer Ankita Anand won prestigious Lorenzo Natali Media Prize for 2015 under Asia and the Pacific Amateur category for her article ‘Stirrings beneath the peepul’.

Easterine Kire from Nagaland won Hindu Literary Prize 2015 for her novel When the River Sleeps.

Employees' Provident Fund Organisation won National Award on e-Governance 2015-16 for launching Universal Account Number (UAN).

First woman Vice Chancellor of Kerala, Jancy James is selected for 2016 Prof MV Pylee Award as best academician of India.

Gallantry Awards 2016 -

President approved 365 Gallantry awards and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel including 1 Ashoka Chakra, 4 Kirti Chakras and 11 Shaurya Chakras.

Ashok Chakra - Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami (Posthumous).

Kirti Chakra - Subedar Mahendra Singh, Sepoy Jagdish Chand

Shaurya Chakra - Santosh Yashwant Mahadik, Praphul Kumar Bhardwaj, Anurag Kumar, Sandip Yadav, Harjinder Singh, Satish Kumar, Naik Kheem Singh Mehra, Dharma Ram

Government Issued list of 20 Smart Cities winning smart city challenge. Bhubaneswar (Odisha) placed at Top. Government will invest Rs 50,802 crore in the 20 cities and towns over five years.

Government conferred Jeevan Raksha Padak Awards 2015 on 50 persons - Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak (03), Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak (09) and Jeevan Raksha Padak (38 persons).

Winners of Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak are - Shri Ullas Unnikrishnan (Kerela), Munna alias Ramdars Sisodiya, (Madhya Pradesh), Ankit Kumar Mishra (Uttar Pradesh).

Government will introduce a new category of award - Most Film Friendly State/UT under National Film Awards to be conferred at the 63rd National Film Awards in May 2016.

ISRO chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar received Reva University's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ilaiyaraja has been selected for Kerala Tourism’s Nishagandhi Puraskaram 2016. Award carries Rs 150000, citation and a statuette.

Indian Author and foreign affairs expert Nisid Hajari has won the prestigious 2016 William E. Colby Award for his book Midnight’s Furies: The Deadly Legacy of India's Partition.

Indian lawyer and human rights defender Henri Tiphagne has been selected for 2016 Amnesty International Human Rights Award.

Indian writer Anuradha Roy won $50,000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature for her novel 'Sleeping on Jupiter'.

Indian-origin cancer research expert Harpal Singh Kumar has been honoured with Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for his influential work on prevention and treatment of cancer.

Israeli journalist Gideon Levy and Palestinian pastor Mitri Raheb won 2015 Olof Palme human rights prize for their fight against occupation and violence.

Madhya Pradesh won Union Government's Krishi Karman Award in maximum food grains production category for year 2014-15 for 4th consecutive year. MP produced 328 lakh tonnes foodgrains in 2013-14 period. Other winners are - Chhattisgarh(growth in production of pulses), West Bengal (good agriculture production), Odisha (best performing state in foodgrains production among category-II states).

Morton Mower (US), Michael Marmot (UK) won 2015 Prince Mahidol Award for their achievements in healthcare sector.

Noted Actress Rekha has been conferred with third Yash Chopra Memorial Award.

Noted Classical vocalist Sanjay Subrahmanyam has been conferred with prestigious 2015 Sangita Kalanidhi award by Madras Music Academy in Chennai.

Noted poet Balkrishna Garg has been honoured with second Harikrishna Devsare Baalsahitya Award 2015 for his collection of poems for children - BaalGeet.

PEN American Center gave its 2016 PEN/Allen award to author J.K. Rowling.

Padam Awards 2016 -

Padma Vibhushan -

Ms. Yamini Krishnamurthi — Art-Classical dance — Delhi

Rajinikanth — Art-Cinema — Tamil Nadu

Smt Girija Devi — Art-Classical Vocal — West Bengal

Ramoji Rao — Literature & Education-Journalism — Andhra Pradesh

Dr Viswanathan Shanta — Medicine-Oncology — Tamil Nadu

Ravi Shankar — Others-Spiritualism — Karnataka

Jagmohan — Public Affairs — Delhi

Dr Vasudev Kalkunte Aatre — Science & Engineering — Karnataka

Avinash Dixit(Foreigner) — Literature & Education — USA

Late Dhiru Bhai Ambani (Posthumous) — Trade & Industry — Maharashtra

Padma Bhushan

Anupam Kher — Art-Cinema — Maharashtra

Udit Narayan Jha — Art-Playback Singing — Maharashtra

Ram V Sutar — Art-Sculpture — Uttar Pradesh

Heisnam Kanhailal — Art-Theatre — Manipur

Vinod Rai — Civil Service — Kerala

Dr Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad — Literature & Education — Andhra Pradesh

Prof NS Ramanuja Tatacharya — Literature & Education — Maharashtra

Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard — Literature & Education - Journalism — Punjab

Prof D Nageshwar Reddy — Medicine-Gastroenterology — Telangana

Swami Tejomayananda — Other-Spiritualism — Maharashtra

Hafeez Contractor — Others-Architecture — Maharashtra

Ravindra Chandra Bhargava — Public Affairs — Uttar Pradesh

Dr Venkata Rama Rao — Alla Science & Engineering — Andhra Pradesh

Ms Saina Nehwal — Sports-Badminton — Telangana

Ms Sania Mirza — Sports-Tennis — Telangana

Ms Indu Jain — Trade & Industry — Delhi

Late Swami Dayanand Sarawasati (Posthumous) — Others-Spiritualism — Uttarakhand

Robert Blackwill (Foreigner) — Public Affairs — USA

Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry (NRI/PIO) — Trade & Industry — Ireland

Padma Shri

Smt Prathibha Prahlad — Art- Classical Dance — Delhi

Bhikhudan Gadhvi — Art- Folk Music — Gujarat

Sribhas Chandra Supakar — Art- Textile Designing — Uttar Pradesh

Ajay Devgn — Art-Cinema — Maharashtra

Ms Priyanka Chopra — Art-Cinema — Maharashtra

Pt Tulsidas Borkar — Art-Classical Music — Goa

Dr Soma Ghosh — Art-Classical Vocal — Uttar Pradesh

Nila Madhab Panda — Art-Film Direction and Production — Delhi

SS Rajamouli — Art-Film Direction and Production — Karnataka

Madhur Bhandarkar — Art-Film Direction and Production — Maharashtra

Prof M Venkatesh Kumar — Art-Folk Artist — Karnataka

Ms Gulabi Sapera — Art-Folk Dance — Rajasthan

Smt Mamta Chandrakar — Art-Folk Music — Chhattisgarh

Ms Malini Awasthi — Art-Folk Music — Uttar Pradesh

Jai Prakash Lekhiwal — Art-Miniature Painting — Delhi

K Laxma Goud — Art-Painting — Telangana

Bhalchandra Dattatray Mondhe — Art-Photography — Madhya Pradesh

Naresh Chander Lal — Art-Theatre & Cinema — Andaman & Nicobar

Dhirendra Nath Bezbaruah — Literature & Education — Assam

Prahlad Chandra Tasa — Literature & Education — Assam

Dr Ravindra Nagar — Literature & Education — Delhi

Dahyabhai Shastri — Literature & Education — Gujarat

Dr Santeshivara Bhyrappa — Literature & Education — Karnataka

Haldar Nag — Literature & Education — Odisha

Kameshwaram Brahma — Literature & Education -Journalism — Assam

Prof Pushpesh Pant — Literature & Education-Journalism — Delhi

Jawaharlal Kaul — Literature & Education-Journalism — Jammu & Kashmir

Ashok Malik — Literature & Education — Delhi

Dr Mannam Gopi Chand — Medicine-Cardio Thoracic Surgery — Telangana

Prof Ravi Kant — Medicine-Surgery — Uttar Pradesh

Prof Ram Harsh Singh — Medicine- Ayurveda — Uttar Pradesh

Prof Shiv Narain Kureel — Medicine- Paediatric Surgery — Uttar Pradesh

Dr Sabya Sachi Sarkar — Medicine -Radiology — Uttar Pradesh

Dr Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale — Medicine-Cardiac Surgery — Andhra Pradesh

Prof TK Lahiri — Medicine-Cardio Thoracic Surgery — Uttar Pradesh

Dr Praveen Chandra — Medicine-Cardiology — Delhi

Prof (Dr) Daljeet Singh Gambhir — Medicine-Cardiology — Uttar Pradesh

Dr Chandrasekar Shesadri Thoguluva — Medicine-Gastroenterology — Tamil Nadu

Dr (Mrs) Anil Kumari Malhotra — Medicine-Homeopathy — Delhi

Prof MV Padma Srivastava — Medicine-Neurology — Delhi

Dr Sudhir V Shah — Medicine-Neurology — Gujarat

Dr MM Joshi — Medicine-Ophthalmology — Karnataka

Prof (Dr) John Ebnezar — Medicine-Orthopaedic Surgery — Karnataka

Dr Nayudamma Yarlagadda — Medicine-Paediatric Surgery — Andhra Pradesh

Simon Oraon — Other -Environment Conservation — Jharkhand

Imitiaz Qureshi — Other-Culinary — Delhi

Piyush Pandey — Others-Advertising & Communication — Maharashtra

Subhash Palekar — Others-Farming — Maharashtra

Ravinder Kumar Sinha — Others-Wildlife Conservation — Bihar

Dr HR Nagendra — Others-Yoga — Karnataka

MC Mehta — Public Affairs — Delhi

MN Krishna Mani — Public Affairs — Delhi

Ujjwal Nikam — Public Affairs — Maharashtra

Tokheho Sema — Public Affairs — Nagaland

Dr Satish Kumar — Science & Engineering — Delhi

Dr Mylswamy Annadurai — Science & Engineering — Karnataka

Prof Dipankar Chatterji — Science & Engineering — Karnataka

Prof(Dr) Ganapati Dadasaheb Yadav — Science & Engineering — Maharashtra

Smt (Prof) Veena Tandon — Science & Engineering — Meghalaya

Onkar Nath Srivastava — Science and Engineering — Uttar Pradesh

Ms Sunita Krishnan — Social Work — Andhra Pradesh

Ajoy Kumar Dutta — Social Work — Assam

M Pandit Dasa — Social Work — Karnataka

PP Gopinathan Nair — Social Work — Kerala

Smt Madeleine Herman de Blic — Social Work — Puducherry

Srinivasan Damal Kandalai — Social work — Tamil Nadu

Sudhakar Olwe — Social Work — Maharashtra

Dr TV Narayana — Social Work — Telangana

Arunachalam Murugantham — Social Work — Tamil Nadu

Ms Deepika Kumari — Sports-Archery — Jharkhand

S Sushil Doshi — Sports-commentary — Madhya Pradesh

Mahesh Sharma — Trade & Industry — Delhi

Saurabh Srivastava — Trade & Industry — Delhi

Sh Dilip Sanghvi — Trade & Industry — Maharashtra

Dr Keki Hormusji Gharda — Trade & Industry — Maharashtra

Late Prakash Chand Surana (Posthumous) — Art -Classical Music — Rajasthan

Late Saeed Jaffrey (NRI/PIO/Posthumous) — Art-Cinema — UK

Michael Postel (Foreigner) — Art-Archaeology — France

Salman Amin Sal Khan (NRI/PIO) — Literature & Education — USA

Smt Hui Lan Zhang (Foreigner) — Others-Yoga — China

Predrag K Nikic (Foreigner) — Others-Yoga — Serbia

Dr Sundar Aditya Menon (NRI/PIO) — Social Work — UAE

Ajaypal Singh Banga (NRI/PIO) — Trade & Industry — US

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conferred Times Now Amazing Indians Awards 2016 -

Name

Category

Late Kallen Pokkudan

The Eco Saviours

S Ramakrishnan

Unstoppable Indians

Sunita Aralikar

Stree Shakthi

Popatrao Pawar

The Grass Roots Soldiers

Timothy

Indian at Heart

Chintakindi Mallesham

Incredible Innovators

Malavath Poorna

Young Indians, Big Achievements

Damini Sen

Young Indians, Big Achievements

Murugan S

Ordinary Indians,Extraordinary Achievement

Mathews K Mathew

Energising India

Yashraj Khaitan

Global Indians

Ruma Roka

Educators of India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented National Bravery Awards to 25 children. He also released book Life progression of ICCW National Bravery Awardees.

Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan has been conferred with Central Banker of the Year Award (Global and Asia Pacific) 2016 by The Banker, a monthly publication of Financial Times Group.

Subhashini Vasanth honoured with Neerja Bhanot Award for her endeavour to help people in distress and for empowering widows of martyrs and their families.

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali received World Peace and Prosperity Foundation Award 2016 from World Peace and Prosperity Foundation (London).

Three persons of Indian-origin - Chennupati Jagadis, Jay Chandra and Sajeev Koshy have been awarded 2016 Medal of Order of Australia, Australia’s highest civilian honour for their contribution in various fields.

Wildlife filmmaker Naresh Bedi has been conferred with V Shantaram Life Time Acheivement Award at 14th edition of 2016 Mumbai International Festival (MIFF), Mumbai.

Books

Nathuram Godse - The Story of an Assassin, written by Anup Ashok Sardesai has been released.

Book Go Set a Watchman written by Harper Lee topped 2015 US bestseller list with Around 1.6 million copies sold.

Book Jawaharlal Nehru and The Indian Polity in Perspective, edited by Prof Alexander with contributions from several eminent persons. It was released by Vice President Hamid Ansari.

Book Jinnah Often Came To Our House, written by Kiran Doshi has been released.

Book MARU BHARAT SARU BHARAT (My India Noble India ) written by Jain Acharya Ratnasundersuriswarji Maharaj has been released.

Book Objective Railway Engineering- Track, Works & Others has been issued. It Has been written by MM Agarwal.

Book The Z Factor written by Subhash Chandra has been released.

Second volume of memoirs of President Pranab Mukherjee The Turbulent Years – 1980-1996 has been released. In this book, he reminisced about crucial events of his political life including Indira Gandhi's assassination, Babri Masjid demolition, operation Blue Star and his ouster from Rajiv Gandhi's Cabinet.

Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Smriti Zubin Irani launched Veer Gaatha series of books on Param Veer Chakra awardees.

Committees

Andhra Pradesh government re-established 2 member Commission for Backward Classes under K.L.Manjunath.

Committee to simplify income tax laws headed by R.V. Easwar submitted its report -

Deferring the contentious Income Computation and Disclosure Standards (ICDS) provisions and making the process of tax refunds faster.

Deletion of a clause in IT Act, 1961 that allows the IT department to delay tax refund due beyond six months.

Treat stock trading gains of up to 5 lakh rupees as capital gains and not business income.

TDS rates for individuals must be reduced to 5 per cent from current 10 per cent.

Exempting non-residents not having a Permanent Account Number (PAN), but seeking to provide their Tax Identification Number (TIN) for applicability of TDS at a higher rate.

Eligibility criteria under presumptive tax scheme to be increased to 2 crore rupees from 1 crore rupees to make it easy for small businesses.

Government appointed a one person committee under Kamlesh Chandra, Retired Member of Postal Services Board, to Review Wage Structure of Gramin Dak Sevaks.

Government approved setting up an Empowered Committee of Secretaries under Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary in order to process recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) in an overall perspective.

Government constituted a committee under Arvind Panagariya (vice-chairman of NITI Aayog) to faten the implementation of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor meant for bullet trains between Mumbai-Ahmedabad.

Human Resource Development ministry set up 12-member committee on Yoga Education in Universities, which is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Yoga guru H.R. Nagendra.

Justice RM Lodha Committee submitted its report to Supreme Court suggesting reforms in Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

No Minister or government servant should become a BCCI office-bearer.

BCCI officers' term should not exceed more than two consecutive terms and no one will hold more than two posts at the same time.

One association from each state should be a member of the BCCI.

Members like Railways and Services who don't have competitive presence should be relegated to affiliate status without voting rights.

A steering committee headed by G K Pillai with Mohinder Amarnath, Diana Eduljee and Anil Kumble as members should be created to decide on creating a Players' association.

Management of the BCCI should be conducted by a CEO, who should be assisted by six managers.

Creation of 3 Committees for smooth functioning of BCCI - Ombudsman, Ethics Officer and Electoral Officer.

Ministry of Law & Justice constituted an expert committee to review Specific Relief Act, 1963 that provides for law relating to certain kind of specific relief and has not been amended since its inception.

Ministry of information and broadcasting constituted a committee under noted film-maker Shyam Benegal to suggest measures to revamp workings of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in line with best practices followed globally.

Noted Actors Kamal Hassan and Gautam Ghosh included in Shyam Benegal Committee on functioning of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Rajasthan government launched Mukhyamantri Jal Swavalamban Abhiyan scheme to ensure effective implementation of water harvesting and water conservation.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) released first report of Alternative Investment Policy Advisory Committee (AIPAC) headed by N R Narayan Murthy, to suggest measures for development of alternative investment funds (AIFs) and startup eco-system in India.

For creating a favourable tax environment, exempted income of AIFs should not suffer tax withholding of 10 %.

Indirect transfer provisions of IT Act should not apply in case of transferring investments in an India-centric vehicle to another investor.

Clarify rules for investment by non-resident Indian investors in AIFs.

Days

10 Jan - 11th World Hindi Day.

12 Jan - Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. It is celebrated as National Youth Day in India.

15 January - Indian Army Day. On this day in 1949, Lt. General Kodandera Madappa Cariappa became first Indian Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army (independent India) by succeeding British Army General Roy Butcher (last British Commander-in-Chief of India).

20 Jan - Statehood day of Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura. Three states were formed on 20 Jan, 1972.

23 Jan - Birth Anniversary of Great Freedom Fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. PM Narendra Modi declassified digital copies of 100 secret files relating to Netaji on this occasion.

24 Jan - National girl child day.

25 Jan - National Voters' Day. Being Celebrated from 2011. It marks formation of Election Commission of India on 25 January 1950.

25 Jan - Statehood day of Himachal Pradesh. Created in 1971.

26 Jan, 2016 - 67th republic day of india. It marks date on which Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950.

French President Francois Hollande was chief guest of Republic Day function. With this he beamce 5th highest dignitary from France to be Chief Guest of Indian Republic Day parade.

French Troops also Marched during Republic Day Ceremony. It was 76-member contingent 35th Infantry Regiment of the French Army led by Lt Col Paul Bury

Parade was led by Lieutenant General Rajan Ravindran.

Among Services category, Assam Regiment adjudged as best marching contingent. In category of Para-Military Forces and other auxiliary marching contingents, Border Security Force contingent adjudged best.

26 January - International Customs Day.

27 Jan - International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It commemorates victims of Holocaust - estimated 11 million Jewish, Romani people being killed by German Nazi Forces.

28 Jan - Birth Anniversary of Noted Freedom Fighter Lala Lajpat Rai. Commemorative Coin of 150 rupees & Circulation Coin of 10 rupees released on this occasion.

30 Jan - Anti-Leprosy Day. It commemorates M K Gandhi, who was killed by Nahruram Godse on 30 January 1948.

4 January - World Braille Day. Marks birth anniversary of Louis Braille (04-01-1809).

Jan 18 - National Immunization Day. President Pranab Mukherjee launched Pulse programme for 2016 on this occasion.

Defence

15th Joint exercise of Indian and Japanese Coast Guards - Sahayog-Kaijin 2016 started in Bay of Bengal.

Border Security Force launched Operation Cold along border in Rajasthan;s several areas with Pakistan to contain any infiltration in fog and cold wave weather conditions in western desert.

For the first time in history of India's Republic Day parade, a contingent of 130 French soldiers will march down the Rajpath along with Indian troops in presence of France's President Francoise Hollande who will be chief guest this year.

Government approved 33 % posts of Constables for women in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to enhance their representation.

Government approved raising 17 Indian Reserve Battalions in Jammu & Kashmir and 4 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected states (J&K - 5, Chhattisgarh - 4, Jharkhand - 3, Odisha - 3, Maharashtra - 2). Major number of vacancies will be filled through local youths.

INS Kadmatt, second ship of Project Kamorta class Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvettes has been commissioned into Indian Navy.

India - France Joint military exercise Shakti-2016 began in Rajasthan.

India successfully test-fired Pinaka II multi barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) System at Pokhran in Rajasthan. Pinaka is an unguided rocket system capable of neutralising large areas with rapid salvos. Range of Pinaka II is 60 km.

India will host a 7-day military exercise Exercise Force Eighteen in March 2016 in Pune (Maharashtra).

Indian Air Force successfully tested Akash surface to air missile with supersonic speeds (Mach 2.8 to 3.5) and range of 25 kms.

Japan unveiled its first stealth fighter aircraft X-2.

Joint Navy Exercise Between India and Oman - NASEEM AL BAHR Started.

Pakistani Terrorists attacked IAF Airbase at Pathankot (Punjab).

Reliance Defence Limited will set up a world class naval facility in Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) with Initial investment of 5000 crore rupees.

Three Mi-25 gunship helicopters of Indian Air Force supplied by India to join Afghan Air Force. Decision for delivery of Mi-25 gunship helicopters was made during recent visit of Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar to India.

Economy

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited signed Memorandum of Understanding with Andhra Pradesh government for investment of 38500 crore rupees to take up various projects at Visakhapatnam. It was signed during 22nd Confederate of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit in Vishakhapatnam.

Airbus Group appointed Ashish Saraf as Vice-President (Industry Development, Strategic Partnerships and Offsets). He will look over Group's existing Make in India initiatives.

Andhra Bank launched Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) at all its branches across to provide inter-bank electronic fund transfer service.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) and India signed an $80million loan agreement to continue improving infrastructure in two North Eastern State Capital cities - Agartala(Tripura) and Aizwal (Mizoram). It is third tranche of $200 million financing facility under North Eastern Region Capital cities Development Investment Program.

Asian Development Bank will extend a $625 million loan for proposed $840 million Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor.

Bank of Japan announced to adopt a negative interest rate policy from February 2016. The Bank of Japan will charge 0.1% interest rate on some part of the deposits that commercial banks make with Bank of Japan. It means that instead of receiving money on deposits, commercial banks must pay interest to keep their money with the Central bank.

Bombay Stock Exchange launched a new service for algorithm trading test facility for investors on its derivatives and equity platform. It will Enable testing trading algorithms in different trading segments including equity, equity derivatives and currency derivatives, based on the live and historical market data.

Cab aggregator Uber started a new partnership 'uberExchange' with Invest India to provide mentorship for Indian entrepreneurs.

Central Statistics Office (CSO) of Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released first revised estimates of national income, consumption expenditure for 2014-15 and second revised estimates of to 2013-14 -

Nominal Gross Domestic Product for 2014-15 was 124.88 lakh crore while in 2013-14 it was 112.73 lakh crore (10.8 % Growth)

Real GDP (base year 2011-12) for 2014-15 and 2013-14 was 105.52 lakh crore and 98.39 lakh crore respectively. It means 7.2 % growth during 2014-15, and 6.6 % during 2013-14.

Previous Real GDP estimates for FY 2014-15 and 2013-14 was 7.3 and 6.9 respectively.

Per capita income - Estimated at 79412 and 86879 rupees respectively for 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Per capita private final consumption expenditure (PFCE) for 2013-14 and 2014-15 was 52022 and 56772 respectively.

Competition Commission of India approved Reliance Capital Asset Management's takeover of Goldman Sachs’s mutual funds and exchange-traded funds business in India for 7132 crore rupees.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation signed agreement with Kerala Rapid Transit Ltd (KRTL) for Rs. 6,728-crore 'light metro' in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.

Digital payment startup TranServ launched India's first Social Mobile Wallet named Udio. The digital wallet seeks to address gap between real and virtual modes of payment as it has more social experience.

During second tranche of Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) Scheme from 18 to 22nd January, 2016, 3.16 lakh applications were received for total subscription of 2790 Kilograms of gold worth Rs. 726 crores by Banks.

Exim Bank and Andhra Pradesh Government signed an agreement for promotion of exports in Andhra Pradesh.

Government abolished export duty on iron ore pellets to make it more competitive amid weakening prices due to subdued demand.

Government announced to develop 36 projects in 2015-16 with investments of Rs.14,225 crores and capacity enhancement by 162 MTPA (million tonnes per annum). In 2014-15, total 26 projects were awarded with investment of Rs.10,543 crore and capacity enhancement of 155 MTPA.

Government approved "Stand Up India" scheme to foster entrepreneurship among 250,000 women and scheduled castes and tribes people, with a corpus of Rs.10,000 crore, and extend loans up to Rs.1 crore for new projects.

Government approved creation of a Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units Development Refinance Agency (MUDRA) loans and to convert MUDRA Ltd. into MUDRA Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) Bank as a wholly owned subsidiary of SIDBI. The Fund is expected to guarantee more than Rs 1,00,000 crore worth of loans to micro and small units in the first instance.

Government approved enhancement of Authorized Share Capital of National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) from 1000 crore to 1200 crores.

Government granted Infrastructure Status to Shipyard Industry to ease its financial stress. The shipyards will be able to avail flexible long-term funding at lower costs.

Government launched Sahaj Scheme for online booking of LPG cylinders as part of Government’s 2016-Year of Consumers initiative.

Government proposed Modifications in Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) -

Premature withdrawl under Medium and Long Term Deposits will be allowed after 3 years and any Long Term Deposit after 5 years, subject to a reduction in payable interest.

Fees to be paid to Banks for their services will be 2.5 % for Medium and Long Term Gold Deposits

Gold depositors can also give their gold directly to refiner rather than only through Collection and Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs).

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) modified licensing condition for refiners from existing 3 years refining experience to 1 year refining experience.

Quantity of gold collected will be expressed up to 3 decimals of a gram, to give the consumer better value for gold deposited.

CPTC/Refiner will test gold and determine its purity which will be basis on which the deposit certificate will be issued.

Government also launched website www.finmin.nic.in/swarnabharat and toll free number 18001800000 to provide all information of the schemes.

As on 20-01-2016, total of 900.087 kilo grams of gold have been mobilized through the scheme. It is expected that these modifications will make the scheme more attractive for potential depositors.

Government will start LPG - like Direct Benefit Transfer scheme for kerosene from 1st April 2016, Initially in 26 districts of eight states. Under the scheme, People will buy kerosene at market rate and will get subsidy directly in their bank accounts. Subsidy paid will be difference between Public Distribution System (PDS) price and market rate of kerosene.

Govrnment increased Rate of basic customs duty on certain specified medical devices from 5% to 7.5% along with additional customs duty on these medical devices being 4%. Basic customs duty is being reduced to 2.5%.

ICICI Bank partnered with FINO PayTech to foray into payments bank space.

FINO Paytech is among 10 entities that have received licence from RBI to start a payment bank.

ICICI Group purchased about 16 % stake in FINO PayTech.

Tie-up with ICICI Bank will help FINO to extend services which a payments bank is not allowed to offer.

India Decided to implement Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)'s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) guidelines from 01 April 2016.

BEPS refers to tax planning strategies that would exploit gaps and mismatches in tax rules to artificially shift profits to low or no-tax locations where there is little economic activity, resulting in little or no overall corporate tax being paid.

These norms were announced by OCED to close tax loopholes that cost countries upwards of 100 billion USD a year.

With implementation of BEPS guidelines, it will become mandatory for Indian companies to make country-by-country reporting to follow guidelines. BEPS will be major significance for developing countries like India that strongly rely on corporate income tax.

India Signed Loan Agreement with World Bank for US$ 250 million aid for Bihar Kosi Basin Development Project.

India Signed Loan Agreement with World Bank for US$ 250 million aid for Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project.

India signed a loan agreement of about Rs. 1000 crore with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for pollution abatement of River Mula-Mutha in Pune under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). Interest rate is 0.30% per annum.

India signed an agreement with World bank for IDA assistance of US$ 50 million for Nai Manzil- Education and Skills Training for Minorities programme. Total project budget is 100 million USD.

India’s gas importer Petronet LNG signed a contract with RasGas of Qatar to import gas at significantly lower price (6-7 dollar per million British thermal units (mmBtu) ) than earlier (12-13 dollar mmBtu). Under the contract, Rasgas will supply 7.5 million tonnes of LNG to India until April 2028.

LIC is offering a new limited-premium non-linked and with-profit endowment assurance plan Jeevan Labh from ages 8 to 59 years. Premium is payable for a limited period while risk is covered for whole policy term. Plan is available. Maximum age at maturity is 75 years.

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas launched an online initiative to seek suggestions from LPG consumers, which will help in providing efficient and friendly service.

NHAI signed Memorandum of Understanding with National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and North East Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR) for use of spatial technology for monitoring and managing National Highways.

National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog collaborated with IDFC Bank to conduct an enterprise survey of manufacturing firms to assess the ease of doing business.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) received environmental clearance for a Rs 53000 project in Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin in Andhra Pradesh. Project includes drilling 45 development wells.

Over 20 crore bank accounts opened under PMJDY Till Now with deposits of Over Rs. 30,000 crores.

Paytm acquired Shifu for $8 million (about 50 crore) to offer more personalised user experience. Shifu is a context-aware personal assistant application. It mines smartphone usage patterns and makes personalised recommendations.

President Pranab Mukherjee approved Sugar Cess (Amendment) Bill 2015 to raise the ceiling of a cess as an excise duty on the production of sugar. The Bill proposes to increase ceiling of sugar to Rs 200 per quintal from existing Rs 25 per quintal specified in principal Sugar Cess Act 1982.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled Start-up India, Stand-up India action plan to boost startup ventures in the country -

Start-up profits to be tax-free for 3 years and also no labour inspections for 3 years.

Compliance regime based on self-certification for labour and environmental laws.

Easy exit policy for start-ups with 90 days.

Tax exemption to be provided on capital gains if money is invested in another start up.

Government to create Rs. 10,000 crore corpus fund for development and growth of innovation driven enterprises. It will be Rs. 2500 crore a year for four years.

Liberalised Fast-track mechanism for start-up patent applications under intellectual property rights protection with 80% cost rebate.

Easy participation in public procurement by easing norms of minimum turnover/experience.

Quikr acquired property search website Commonfloor.com for an undisclosed amount.

RBI asked Banks to open more branches in villages with no banking facilities and population over 5000.

RBI asked banks to stop Rs 1,000 notes without security thread after receiving complaints.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed penalty of 1 crore on State Bank of Travancore for violation of RBI Norms.

Revised World Economic Outlook (WEO) report by International Monetary Fund kept India's growth projection unchanged at 7.3 % in FY2016 and 7.5 % in FY2017.

Sikkim become India's first fully organic state by converting around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land into sustainable cultivation.

State Bank of India launched dedicated specialized branch for start-ups called SBI InCube in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

State Bank of Travancore (SBT) tied up with Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to provide customers of to pay their electricity bills online.

Telangana become first state to accept e-motor insurance policies (e-Vahan Bima).

Telangana government started 600 MW Kakatiya thermal power plant Stage-II at Bhoopalapally in Warangal district. It is first major power plant to be commissioned i Telangana after State's formation in June 2014.

Uttar Pradesh became Fourth state after Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to formally join Centre's UDAY scheme meant for revival of Discoms (State Power Utilities).

World bank approved 250 Million USD for Andhra Pradesh Disaster Recovery Projec. It includes 20 Million USD funding restoration of Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Visakhapatnam. It was severely damaged during cylcone Hudhud recently.

International

2015 Corruption Perception Index releases by Berlin-based Transparency International (168 Countries) -

India - With score of 38 (out of 100), India ranked 76th. India improved its ranking compared to 85 and 94 in 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Top 5 Countries - Denmark (1st with score 91), Finland, Sweden, New Zealand, Netherlands

Bottom 5 Countries - Somalia (rank 168), North Korea (167), Afghanistan (rank 166), Sudan (rank 165), South Sudan (rank 164), Angola (163)

BRICS - South Africa (61), India (76), Brazil (76), China (83) and Russia (119).

24th New Delhi World Book Fair started with China as Guest of Honour country. Theme is Vivid Bharat – Diverse India.

A T Kearney’s 2016 Global Services Location Index rated India as top outsourcing destination in terms of financial attractiveness and business environment, out of 55 countries analysed. India is followed by China and Malaysia.

A new social security agreement signed between India and Australia came into operation, enabling people of both nations to avail retirement benefits in each other’s country.

According to international real estate consultant JLL - Delhi and Mumbai are among world's top 30 most powerful, productive and connected cities. Mumbai is ranked 22nd while Delhi is 24th. List is topped by Tokyo (Japan).

As per recently released United Nations (UN) World Economic Situation and Prospects 2016 Report -

India will be fastest growing big economy in world in 2016. India’s growth rate will be 7.3 % in 2016 and 7.5 % in 2017.

In 2016 and 2017 - South Asia will to be the world’s fastest-growing region with India accounting for over 70 % GDP.

Asia Pacific 2016 Wealth Report by New World Wealth -

Tokyo is the top Asia Pacific city with 2,64,000 millionaires. India’s Mumbai (41,200 millionaires) ranked 12th and delhi (20600) ranked 20th.

Over past 10 years, Jakarta (Indonesia) was fastest growing major city in Asia Pacific in terms of millionaire growth., followed by Hangzhou, Tianjin, Mumbai and Delhi.

Hong Kong topped list ofg Multi Millionaires (Worth Over 10 Million USD) with 9,650 such individuals, Mumbai ranked eighth (2,690) and Delhi 14th with 1,340 Multi Millionaires.

There were, 12,60,000 millionaires in Japan, China second (654,000) and Australia third with 290,000 millionaires.

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) officially started in Beijing (China) with Total 57 member nations and 100 billion USDCapital -

Lou Jiwei elected as first Chairman of Bank’s Council and Jin Liqun elected its first President.

China is highest contributor with 30.34 % stake in authorized capital and 26.06 % voting rights. India is second largest shareholder with 8.52 % stake and voting share of 7.5 %.

India’s Dinesh Sharma has been elected to the board of directors of AIIB.

Bangladesh Cabinet approved a proposed Citizenship Law that expandes scope for dual citizenship for expatriate (Living outside) Bangladeshi nationals. Before this, a provision was available for Bangladeshis having nationality of the UK and the US only.

Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index -

Top 6 Richest - Bill Gates ($78 billion), Amancio Ortega ($69.7 billion), Warren Buffett ($59.4 billion), Jeff Bezos ($55.8 billion), Carlos Slim ($48.6 billion), Mark Zuckerberg ($47.5 billion)

India - Mukesh Ambani (31st), Ajim Premji (54th), Shiv Nadar (71st).

China’s country code domain .cn become world’s most commonly used in internet by surpassing Germany’s .dedomain. According to the data by China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC) - .Cn had 1.63 crore users.

Chinese technology company Lenovo announced partnership with Google for project Tango. Lenovo will launch new smartphones that can map Physical world surroundings without external signals like satellite-based global positioning system (GPS). Google’s Project Tango gives a mobile device the ability to navigate physical world, similar to humans.

Eritrea issued a law to make it mandatory for men to marry at least two wives (Polygamy).

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley visited Uk and Switzerland.

Forty-five Indian - origin people named in Forbes' annual list of global achievers under age of 30, out of total 600 names.

France declared state of economic emergency to redefine France's economic and social model and tackle unemployment.

Friendship bus service between India and Nepal flagged off via Uttarakhand after a gap of 27 years.

Global Economic Prospect report by World Bank -

India's Growth Rate in 2016 will be 7.8 % and 7.9 % in 2017 and 2018. Also, Failure to pass Goods and Services Tax bill may hamper government’s ability to increase infrastructure spending.

China will grow at 6.7 % in 2016 and 6.5 % in 2017 and 2018.

South Asia Region will be a bright spot in developing economies with growth rate up to 7.3 % in 2016

Government approved India-Bahrain Agreement on Cooperation in Combating Terrorism and Trafficking in Illicit Drugs, Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances and Precursors Chemicals.

Government approved Memorandum of Understanding with Bangladesh for Mode of Operation of Border haats on India-Bangladesh Border signed in 2010.

Government approved Memorandum of Understanding with Maldives for cooperation in field of Health.

Government approved Memorandum of Understanding with United Kingdom in field of Public Administration and Governance Reforms.

Government approved Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) signed between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) with its counterparts in Malaysia, Singapore and Japan.

Government approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Civil Aviation with Singapore.

Government approved agreement with Russia for joint research in Basic and Exploratory Sciences.

Government shipped First consignment of 6 Made in India Metro Train Coaches to Australia from Mumbai port. It is first shipment of planned 450 coaches to be exported to Australia over 2.5 years.

IFC, a member of World Bank Group tied-up with Madhya Pradesh government to set up a 750-Mw Rewa ultra-mega solar power project. It will be largest single-site solar power project in the world.

INSEAD Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) 2015-16

It assessed 109 countries in terms of talent competitiveness of its human capital.

India ranked 89th as compared to 78th rank in 2014-15.

Top 5 - Switzerland (1st), Singapore (2nd), Luxembourg (3rd), United States (4th), Denmark (5th)

Bottom 5 - Madagascar (109), Burkina Faso (108), Ethiopia (107), Tanzania (106) and Mali (105).

Illumina, world's largest DNA sequencing company launched GRAIL to develop blood-based cancer tests.

India and Armenia Signed Protocol amending Double Taxation Avoidance Convention.

India and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will jointly explore environment of Ladakh under NASA’s Spaceward Bound programme. During their 10-day expedition in August 2016, scientists will study similarities of certain parts of the region’s topography and microbial life to the surroundings of Mars. Ladakh was chosesn as it offers cold, high altitude (3500 - 5500 meters ), high UV exposed with Mars analogue topological features.

India and Pakistan exchanged list of nuclear installations under Agreement on Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear installations. This exchange is done on 1st of January every year. It was 25th such exchange, starting in 1992.

India asked Iran for early completion all necessary procedures for India's participation in $5 billion Farzad-B gas field project, during Iranian Finance Minister Ali Taiebnia's Visit to India.

India overtaken Thailand as the world's largest rice exporter in 2015 by shipping (exporting) 10.23 million tonnes of rice.

India's Jet Airways entered into Frequent Flyer Partnership with Bangkok Airways with tie-up of loyalty and rewards management programme of Jet Airways named JetPrivilege and FlyerBonus (loyalty scheme of Bangkok Airways).

Indian consulate in Afghanistan city of Mazar-i-Sharif attacked by unidentified gunmen.

International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) Quota and Governance Reforms 2010 become effective -

Gives boost to representation of emerging economies like India, China, Brazil, Russia. India’s voting rights increased from 2.3% to 2.6%. China’s voting rights increased from 3.8% to 6 %.

Capital resources of IMF doubled to $659 billion from $329 billion.

Shares of European and Gulf countries reduced and that of emerging nations particularly China are increased. China now has 3rd largest IMF quota and voting share after US and Japan. India, Russia and Brazil are also among top 10 members of IMF.

International Short Film Festival srarted in Warangal (Telangana).

International electronics and technology trade show Consumer Electronics Show (CES) That brings together renowned companies and industry professionals under one roof, held in Nevada (USA).

Iran signed a deal to buy 118 Airbus planes worth $25billion USD (Approx 160000 Crore INR).

Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. topped in global vehicle sales in 2015 by selling 10.151 million vehicles. Toyotya retained its status as top-selling automaker for fourth straight year. German automaker Volkswagen AG ranked second (9.93 million) and General Motors (GM) ranked third (9.8 million).

Kenya published new broadcast regulations that place strict limits on sexual content, In order to protect children.

Madhya Pradesh Government signed four MOUs with Singapore to collaborate in urban planning, skill development, clean energy and food processing.

Memorandum of Understanding signed between Indian Space Research Organization and Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research for cooperation in area of outer space.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change held first national stakeholder consultation meeting for BIOFIN (Biodiversity Finance Initiative). BIOFIN is a global partnership seeking to address biodiversity finance challenge in a comprehensive manner to mobilise resources for biodiversity across the world.

Mosquito-borne Zika virus has created a panic over birth defects in Latin America countries with Brazil experiencing largest impact. It causes babies being born with abnormal condition called microcephaly (smaller heads which can cause brain damage). Indian Government also formed a Panel for checking situation for same in India.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) suspended its InSight Mars mission due to vacuum leak in critical seismometer instrument. It was scheduled to lift off in March 2016.

Nepal Government formed a 4-member eminent persons group to look into India-Nepal ties in totality and review all bilateral treaties with India.

Nepal elected to UNICEF executive board, representing group of Asia-Pacific countries for 2016-2018. Nepal's Permanent Representative to United Nations (UN), Durga Prasad Bhattarai elected as vice-president to Bureau of Executive Board of UNICEF for 2016.

Nokia Corporation completed acquiring French telecom equipment company Alca-Lucent for 15.6 billion euros.

North Korea claimed to have successfully tested a Hydrogen bomb (kind of a Nuclear Bomb). The strong explosion caused earthquake measuring about 5.1 on richter scale.

Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) (USA) released 2016 Nuclear Security Index with theme Building a Framework for Assurance, Accountability, and Action.

Index assessed global nuclear security conditions in 176 countries in potential theft of weapons and potential sabotage of nuclear facilities.

Among 24 nations with over 1 kilogram of nuclear-usable weapons materials, ranks are

Safest - Australia (1), Switzerland (2), Canada (3), Poland (4)

Least Safe -India (21), Pakistan (22), Iran (23) and North Korea (24). India improved two ranks by participating in bilateral assistance activities with USA and putting in place the IAEA Additional Protocol. Japan is the most improved state.

Oldest Christian monastery in Iraq (approx 1400 years) has been destroyed by Terrorist group Islamic State.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) members signed corporate tax avoidance agreement to stem fiscal (tax) evasion by multinational companies (MNCs), it is about sharing information between member nations.

Oxfam released report titled An Economy for the 1%, analyzing growing trends of concentration of wealth across the world.

Report was named such by taking cue from report of Credit Suisse that revealed that the richest 1 % had accumulated more wealth than rest of the world put together.

In 2015, just 62 individuals had same wealth as other 3.6 billion people. It was 388 individuals in 2010.

Wealth of richest 62 people risen by 44 % since 2010 to 542 542 billion USD.

Wealth of bottom half of Humanity fell by just over a trillion dollars in 2010-15.

Paris based Reporters Without Borders (RWB) stated that India is Asia’s deadliest country for journalists. Out of 110 journalist dying in 2015, 9 were Indians.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation stone of International Solar Alliance (ISA) Headquarters and inaugurated interim Secretariat of ISA in National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) Gurgaon.

Somalia agreed on Election Model outlined by Mogadishu Declaration that calls for electoral process in Somalia to establish a new, bicameral Federal Parliament in 2016. Term of non-elected Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) will end in 2016 after serving for four years.

South Korea's Parliament adopted a resolution, denouncing Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)'s fourth nuclear test and urging DPRK to dismantle its nuclear programme.

UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) 2015 human development index (HDI) -

Norway at top of List, Australia 2nd with Switzerland at third place.

India Ranked 130th with Sri Lanka being ranked 73rd (Best in South Asia Region). Others - China (90), Bhutan (132), Bangladesh (142), Nepal (145), Pakistan (147).

US News and World Report, WPP’s BAV Consulting and Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania released inaugural Best Countries report, evaluating 60 nations across wide range of criteria -

Best Countries Rankings

Germany

Canada

United Kingdom

United States

Sweden

Australia

Japan

France

Netherlands

Denmark

India is ranked as the 22nd best country in the World.

Sweden is recognized as most modern, Best Country to Raise Kids and best for Green Living.

Denmark is Best for Women.

United States of America is named most powerful country

India has No. 1 upcoming economy.

Germany is best country for entrepreneurship

Luxembourg is most business friendly.

Italy is country with richest tradition

Brazil is No. 1 nation to visit.

Canada tops list of countries with best quality of life.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) launched 2.8 billion USD appeal to reach 43 million children in humanitarian emergencies worldwide.

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Report Trends in International Migrant Stock : The 2015 Revision -

Number of international migrants reached 24.4 crore in 2015 (41 % increase compared to 2000).

India has largest diaspora with 1.6 crore Indisna living outside India.

17.7 crore of 24.4 crore migrants are of working age (20 - 64), 2 crore migrants are refugees.

In Europe, Northern America and Oceania, international migrants are over 10 % of population.

In in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Caribbean, less than 2 % of population are migrants.

USA has 19 % of all migrants, followed by Germany, Russia, Saudi Arabia, UK and UAE.

United States (US) based software Firm Cognizant Technology acquired cloud-based computing firm KBACE Technologies.

United States and Jordan signed a Joint Action Plan to improve efforts against nuclear and radiological smuggling.

Vietnam lifted temporary ban that it had put on import of Indian Groundnuts.

World Bank released report titled World Development Report 2016 : Digital Dividends. It explores impact of internet and mobile phones on economic development across the world.

World Bank appreciated Aadhaar scheme of India as it saved 1 billion USD by bringing down corruption.

World’s offline population is mainly in India and China, but over 1.2 million people are still offline in North America. There are more contributions to Wikipedia from Hong Kong, China, than from all of Africa combined.

World Economic Forum in its Global Risks Report 2016 said that involuntary migration and extreme weather events are top two risks for world in 2016.

World Health Organization declared end of Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa.

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) released World Tourism Barometer report with trends in tourism for 2015.

International tourist arrivals grew by 4.4 % in 2015 with total 118.4 crore in 2015. 2015 is 6th consecutive year of above-average growth from 2010 onwards.

World's largest blue star sapphire that weighs 1404.49 carats has been discovered in a mine in Sri Lanka. It is worth 100 million USD.

Meetings

19th National Conference on e-Governance held in Nagpur (Maharashtra).

4th India - Africa Hydrocarbons Conference held in New Delhi, aimed at enhancing greater cooperation between India and African continent in field of Hydrocarbons.

Annual World Economic Forum meeting held in Davos (Switzerland).

Conference of Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) on Afghan Peace and Reconciliation process was held in Islamabad (Pakistan).

International Conference of Family Planning held at Bali (Indonesia). J P Nadda (Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare) attended on India's Behalf.

Kerala will host a three-day Nypunyam International Skill Summit in Feb 2016 to bridge gap between job market requirement and skill level of available workforce.

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated 21st International Conference on Frontiers in Yoga Research and its applications (INCOFYRA) at Jigani (Bengaluru).

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated five-day 103rd Indian Science Congress (January 3 to 7, 2016) in Mysore (Karnataka) Theme of ISC 2016 is Science and Technology for Indigenous Development in India.

National

12 day Event Nandi Natakotsavam began in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.

20th National Youth Festival organized in Naya Raipur (Chhattisgarh) with mascot being state animal of Chhattisgarh - Wild Buffalo.

According to the 2011 census, Sikh community have lowest sex ratio with 828 girls on every 1000 boys in age of 0 - 6 years. Jains have second worst sex ratio (889), followed by Hindu (913), Muslim (943) and Christians (958). Overall child sex ratio in country was 918 girls against 1,000 boys.

After USA, Japan also lifted sanctions on Iran. It was decided by japan after United Nations atomic energy agency confirmed that Iran has fully taken steps to curb its disputed nuclear programme.

All India Radio (AIR) launched audio broadcast channel for connoisseurs of art, especially classical music. The Channel is known as 'RAAGAM'.

Andhra Pradesh Government launched Giriputrika Kalyana Pathakam Scheme to support the tribal women in their livelihood.

Andhra Pradesh government launched Janma Bhoomi – Maa Vooru (My native place – My village) campaign to focus on welfare schemes across the state.

Andhra Pradesh government organised Flamingo Festival from 9-10 January, 2016, to create awareness on conservation of these rare species.

As per World Economic Forum (WEF) report - oceans will have more plastics than fish by 2050 if ongoing practice of dumping plastics continues.

Every year, 8 million tonnes of plastics leak into ocean, equivalent to dumping one garbage truck into ocean every minute.

As per a decision by NTPC and Odisha Pollution Control Board, Thermal Power companies in Odisha will have to transport fly ash free of cost to road construction site within 100 kms perimeter of their plant.

Asia's oldest stock exchange - BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) will get its own postage stamp. BSE recently became fastest stock exchange clocking a median trade speed of six micro seconds.

Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) commissioned second of three 660MW units at 1,980MW Lalitpur super thermal power project (STPP) in Uttar Pradesh.

Bihar Government approved 35 % reservation for women in government jobs in the state.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved setting up over 5,000 MW of Grid-Connected Solar PV Power Projects on build under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). Total investments expected under this scheme is about Rs 30,000 crore.

Central Government, Jharkhand state Government and JBVNL (Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) under the UDAY (Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojana) Scheme. It is First MOU Signed under UDAY.

Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (Hisar, Haryana) Scientists successfully produced a cloned buffalo offspring named Cirb Gaurav. CIRB became India's second (after National Dairy Research Institute) and world's third institute to produce cloned buffalo.

Clean energy firm ReNew Power Ventures commissioned 40 megawatt wind power project in Karnataka. Taking its total wind capacity to 693 megawatts.

Denmark's Parliament (Folketing) apprpved to confiscate (Seize) asylum seekers’ personal possessions in order to pay their upkeep.

First phase of National Family Health Survey 4 -

Out of 11 states and 2 UTs surveyed, Women’s literacy gone up by 12.15% while sex ratio declined to 985 females per 1000 males. Uttarakhand has highest sex ratio (1015), followed by Meghalaya (1005).

Child marriage reduced by 13.17% for females and 6.7% for males.

The NFHS-4 is the fourth in a series of national surveys after 2005-06 (NFHS-3), 1998-99 (NFHS-2) and 1992-93 (NFHS-1).

For speedy trial of cases relating to witchcraft incidents, Jharkhand Government decided to set up fast track courts in five districts.

Four States - Uttar Pradesh , Bihar , Odisha and Maharashtra joined UDAY (Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana). So far, 15 States /UTs have voluntarily joined UDAY which covers 90 % of total debt of Discoms.

Girls First initiative reportedly resulted in improving emotional and physical well-being of school children in Bihar. As per study, emotional resilience increased by 33 % and health knowledge by 99 %.

Goa Government approved reclassification of coconut tree as palm through passage of Goa Preservation of Trees (Amendment) Bill, 2016. Bill seeks to omit Section 1-A of Goa, Daman and Diu Preservation of Trees Act, 1984 that included coconut under definition of tree.

Goa Government launched Goa e-Suvidha Portal for tracking mechanism to fast track projects. It aims at resolving issues in setting up infrastructure and other large projects with targeted investment between 50 - 1,000 crores.

Goa government declared Feni as heritage brew outside the state. It attained Geographical Indication (GI) status in 2010.

Google and RailTel launched free Rail Wire Public Wi-Fi service for railway passengers at Mumbai Central Station.

Government approval Policy on Promotion of City Compost to help circulating compost produced from city waste for purpose of farming and agriculture.

Provision for Market development assistance of Rs. 1500 per tonne of city compost has been added.

To ensure environment friendly city compost, eco-Mark standard has been made mandatory.

It will be mandatory for Government companies to use City Compost for purpose of their horticulture.

Government approved amendments in Power Tariff Policy 2006 for betterment of power sector and also to achieve objectives of Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) with focus on 4 Es - Electricity for all, Environment for a sustainable future, Efficiency to ensure affordable tariffs, Ensure financial viability and Ease of doing business to attract investments.

Government approved establishment of two National Centres of Ageing-one each at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and Madras Medical College, Chennai.

Government approved fitting of roof top solar energy panels over 10000 houses of Economically Weaker Sections in Tamil Nadu at a cost of 253 crore rupees under Prime Minister's Awas Yojana (PMAY).

Government decided to merge Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs with Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), to avoid duplication of work and improve efficiency.

Government declared that Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) (Jammu & Kashmir) shall be a deemed-to-be-university for five years from its disaffiliation from Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi and Tibetan Medicines and Astrology Department, Dharamsala.

Government launched Ganga Gram Yojana to develop 1600 villages in Uttar Pradesh (UP) situated along banks of Ganga River.

Government launched skill development programme for Muslim girls in Jammu and Kashmir under its Nai Manzil initiative.

Government sanctioned 50000 crore rupees for development of infrastructure projects in Tamilnadu.

Government signed a loan agreement with World Bank for Neeranchal National Watershed Project. Total budget of Project is 2142 crore rupees, of which 50 % will be povided by World Bank.

Himachal Pradesh Government will spend 15 crore rupees on Swachh Bharat Mission in tribal district of Kinnaur.

IRB Infrastructure Developers got tender for 10050 crore Zojila Pass tunnel road project in Jammu and Kashmir. This tunnel project is country’s biggest road project by cost. Zojila Pass tunnel (14.08 KM) will be longest in South Asia once completed. Presently, Chenani-Nashri tunnel (9 km) is country’s longest road tunnel.

India's largest tricolour hoisted atop tallest pole in Ranchi. It is world's largest and highest hoisted Indian flag with Dimensions - 66 feet (height) * 99 feet (Width).

Indian Bureau of Mines signed MoU with National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) to monitor mining activities in the country through satellite technology.

Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar launched two safety and awareness initiatives by Mumbai Railway Police - SAMEEP (Safety Alert Messages Exclusively For Passengers) and B-SAFE.

India’s grid-connected solar power generation capacity crossed 5,000 Mega Watt.

Government plans to achieve 175 Giga Watt (GW) of power generation capacity from renewable sources by 2022. It includes 100 GW from solar and 60 GW from wind.

Under National Solar Mission, Government increased solar power generation capacity target from 20,000 MW to 100 GW by 2022.

Top grid-connected states are Rajasthan (1,264.35 MW) and Gujarat (1,024.15 MW).

International Kolkata Book Fair (worlds largest non-trade book fair) held in Kolkata (West Bengal). Bolivia is theme country of this year.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das inaugurated state's land bank web portal, jharbhoom.nic.in, that will help investors know land-related information.

Jharkhand government added ongoing crisis of drinking water in list of special local disasters of the State.

Kerala Government approved implementation of Sampoorna Arogya Keralam Project with objective of bringing together major health services initiated by Kerala’s Government.

Kerala become first state to achieve 100 % primary education. Kerala was able to achieve it through its flagship primary education equivalency drive Athulyam Scheme.

Magh Bihu (harvest festival of Assam) celebrated accross Assam. It marks end of harvesting season.

Maharashtra Government issued norms for erecting memorials of national leaders, freedom fighters and politicians. The guidelines say that There will not be more than 2 memorials of a national leader in the state, both in 2 separate administrative divisions.

Maharashtra Government signed memorandum of understanding with Tata Trust for skill training programme for youth underKushal Maharashtra, Rojgaryukt Maharashtra initiative.

Maharashtra's first Solar Power operated Mini-Water Supply Plant commissioned in Hingna village of Nagpur district. It will facilitate villagers to get pure water at low cost. It delivers 10,000 Litres of purified water every day and runs completely on solar power on 1800 Watt panels.

Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed by Railways with Governments of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh for Formation of Joint Venture Companies for Development of Railway Infrastructure in these States.

Minister for Fertilizers and Chemicals Ananth Kumar announced sanction of greenfield petrochemical complex, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Visakhapatnam and a Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET) in Vijayawada.

Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal announced setting up of CCL (Central Coalfields Limited) Sports University in Jharkhand with capacity of 1400 students and 15 sports academies.

Ministry of Home Affairs enhanced honorarium of Special Police Officers (SPOs) of Jammu and Kashmir to 6000 from Rs. 3000 per month. The honorarium is given by State Government and reimbursed by Central Government under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme.

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways decided to skip BS V Emission Norms and upgrade from BS-IV to BS-VI emission norms directly by 01-04-2020.

Ministry of Shipping started Project Green Ports with two verticals - Green Ports Initiatives and Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. Aim is to make Major Ports across India cleaner and greener.

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Department of Telecommunication (DoT) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop and implement National Action Plan for Skill Development in Telecom Sector.

Nati folk dance of Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh named in Guinness World Records Book as the largest folk dance in world. Kullu Dussehra is a centuries-old festival, dedicated to the girl child. In colourful Kullu folk dance (Nati), 20000 dancers performed at Dhalpur ground during Kullu Dussehra festival on October 26, 2015.

National Academy of Sciences of India will set up a Cauvery river gallery in Mysuru (Karnataka).

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) for web-based monitoring of watershed projects.

Web-based monitoring will be undertaken for India-German Watershed Development (IGWDP) projects in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Telangana.

NRSC will create a page for NABARD on Bhuvan web-portal and will develop software tools for real time monitoring of projects.

Organised by the Pune Construction Engineering Research Foundation (PCERF), 2016's Constro exhibition held in Pune with focus on Smart City concept.

Presdent Pranab Mukherjee given assent to five key bills -

Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2015 - Facilitates an arbitrator will have to settle a case within 18 months.

Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 - Aims to prohibit commission of offences against members of SCs and STs and establishing special courts for trial cases of such offences.

Atomic Energy (Amendment) Act, 2015 - It will allow Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) to have joint ventures with other public sector undertakings in nuclear field.

Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Act, 2015 - Enhances monthly bonus calculation ceiling to Rs. 7,000 per month from Rs. 3,500. It also enhances eligibility limit for payment of bonus from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 21,000 per month.

Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Act, 2015 - It enables setting up commercial benches in select high courts.

President Pranab Mukherjee Imposed President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh and suspending Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh (As per article 356(1) of Constitution). It is to due to constitutional breakdown in Arunachal Pradesh as reported by Governor of Arunachal Pradesh.

Puducherry Government launched MITRA (Mobile Initiated Tracking and Rescue) application to ensure protection of women, children and elderly in time of distress.

Railways inaugurated E-enabled Track Management System (TMS) and Mobile Application of TMS to bring efficiency in handling huge volumes of data statistics and dynamic analysis of various resources. Track Inventory Management System was also launched on Northern Railway to track materials inventory, construction and track machines organization in 225 units of Northern Railway.

Rajasthan government inaugurated state's second biological park Machia Biological Park in Jodhpur.

Red Panda Winter Festival 2016 started in Sikkim. It will last till 31 January.

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 came into force to ensure more stringent provisions for prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated Mumbai Port Trust's second liquid chemical berth at Mumbai. Cargo handling capacity of the Port will increase by 2.5 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes) per annum.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minsiter Thaawarchand Gehlot launched job portal for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) at URL -www.disabilityjobs.gov.in. PwDs can avail different facilities such as self employment loan, Skill training, scholarships and information about jobs on this platform.

Somnath Temple became Gujarat’s first temple to deposit its Approx 35 kg idle gold in Gold Monetisation Scheme of Government.

State election commission of Bihar announced that having toilets at home for all candidates to contest in panchayat elections.

Sterlite Grid commissioned Transmission Project to Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) ahead of schedule under Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) incentive regime. RAPP is first power transmission line to be been commissioned ahead of schedule since implementation of TBCB scheme.

Supreme Court directed Gujarat government to make functional the Gujarat State Cooperative Tribunal by filling up vacant posts.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa launched Amma Call Centre as an initiative for quick delivery of government services.

Tamil Nadu government launched Amma Seeds scheme to provide certified quality seeds to farmers to increase agricultural production.

Telangana beceme first State to introduce compulsory gender education at the graduate level. State government introduced bilingual textbook Towards a World of Equals in this regard.

Union Ministry of Shipping will launch River Information System (RIS) for Inland Waterways to improve navigation as government is set to expand the network across the country through National Waterways Bill, 2015.

Persons

11-year-old Indian-origin girl in UK, Kashmea Wahi achieved top possible score of 162 on a IQ test of Mensa. It has put her in league of scientists like Albert Einstein and Steven Hawking.

A Pakistani Artist, Adnan Sami has been presented with Certificate of Naturalization by Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju. It grants Adnan with the citizenship of India.

Aparna Kumar(IPS officer) from Uttar Pradesh, became India’s first civil servant to successfully scale Antarctica’s highest peak Mount Vinson Massif (17,000-feet).

Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Passed Away.

Denmark's pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk appointed Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar as brand ambassador for disease awareness campaign 'Changing Diabetes' initiated by Novo Nordisk in India.

Dr. Rafael Reif, President of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) Visited India.

Eminent Tabla player Shankar Ghosh passed away.

Eminent tabla player Pandit Shankar Ghosh passed away.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Israel and Palestine.

Former Chief Justice of India Sarosh Homi Kapadia passed away.

Former Sikkim governor Rama Rao passed Away.

German - American software engineer Ian Murdock passed away. He was founder of Debian GNU/Linux distribution project, one of Linux’s most popular open-source operating systems.

Government approved India becoming a member country of International Energy Agency - Ocean Energy Systems (IEA-OES). This will help in testing Indian prototypes as per international requirements and norms.

Its an Inter-governmental organization established in 1974 as per framework of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Presently has 29 member countries with Headquarters in Paris (France).

Government approved New crop Insurance scheme - Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, aimed at farmers’ welfare.

There will be a uniform premium of 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops and 5 % for commercial and horticultural crops.

There is no upper limit on Government subsidy and no capping on premium rate like it was before.

Government of India extended supported for Spirit of India Run by Mr. Pat Farmer (Australia), an ultra Marathon Runner. He will run over 4000 km in 60 days starting from Kanyakumari and finishing in Kashmir. He will initiate his run on January 26th, 2016 celebrating India's Republic Day and Australia Day.

India's mountaineer Arunima Sinha successfully scaled Mount Aconcagua in Argentina as 5th successful summit of her Mission 7 Summits. She became First Female amputee in world to climb 5 highest Mountains of the World. Mt. Aconcagua (6,960.8 metres) is highest mountain outside Asia.

Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar visited Sri Lanka.

Jacob-Farj-Rafael Jacob passed away. He was vital in India’s victory in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Motoo Hayashi visited India for participating in 8th India-Japan Energy Dialogue.

Jin Liqun, President Designate of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (Headquarters - Beijing(China)) visited India.

Marvin Minsky, pioneer of artificial intelligence passed away.

Mr. Soomilduth Sunil Bholah, Minister of Business, Enterprises and Cooperatives of Mauritius Visited India for 1st Joint Committee Meeting with India. Mauritius exclusively offered Biofarming Technology to India.

Noted Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan passed away.

Noted Gujarati writer and poet Labhshankar Thakar passed away.

Noted Hindi writer and journalist Ravindra Kalia passed away.

Noted Hollywood actor Abe Vigoda passed away.

Noted Indian classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai passed away.

Noted Italian film director Ettore Scola passed away.

Noted Kannada lyricist and film-maker Lakshman Rao Mohite (Geethapriya) passed away.

Noted Malayalam film actress Kalpana Ranjani passed away.

Noted Marathi writer Dattatraya Bhikaji Kulkarni passed away.

Noted Musician David Bowie (USA) passed away.

Noted filmmaker Anil Ganguly passed away.

Noted journalist Arindam Sengupta passed away. He was Managing Editor of Times of India.

Noted journalist and scholar Aroon Tikekar passed away.

President of France, Francois Hollande Visited India.

He became Chief Guest of 67th Republic Day Ceremony of india.

India and France singed 14 pacts for enhancing cooperation in various fields. Signed Agreements Include -

French President Francois Hollande committed $325 million over next five years for global development of solar energy

MoU on purchase of 36 Rafale Aircrafts.

Space: Implementation Arrangement between ISRO and CNES (France)

Railways - Agreement between Indian Railways and Alstom for production of 800 electric locomotives in Madhepura plant in Bihar and Agreement for joint study for renovation of Ambala (Punjab) and Ludhiana (Punjab) railway stations.

Food safety, Public Administration.

Cultural exchange -Declaration of Intent (DoI) for conducting Bonjour India (French festival) in 2017 and Namaste France (Indian festival) in 2016.

Science & Technology,

Higher Education & Research - MoU between IIT Mumbai and Thales Systemes Aeroportes for Industry Sponsored Ph.D (Doctorate) Fellowship.

Prestigious Yale School of Management (USA) named its deanship in honour of PepsiCo’s India-born CEO Indra Nooyi as she gifted undisclosed amount to her alma mater (Yale School of Management).

Railways Minsiter Suresh Prabhu Visited USA.

Renowned Kannada filmmaker and lyricist Geethapriya passed away.

The first female F1 (Formula One) driver Maria Teresa de Filippis (Italy) passed away.

Walid Muallem, Syria's foreign minister Visited India.

World’s oldest man, Yasutaro Koide (Japan) passed away at age of 112.

Science

A new genus of tree hole-breeding frogs named Frankixalus and a new bird species named Himalayan Forest Thrush discovered in parts of northeast India bordering China.

Chinese scientists have developed a new bio-artificial liver that can help patients to survive from liver failure long enough for an organ transplant.

Friends of Marine Life (FML) NGO Workers discovered fast-growing alien species Snowflake Coral (Carijoa riisei) off coast of Thiruvananthpuram and Kanyakumari.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) of United Kingdom granted license to Francis Crick Institute to use new gene editing techniques on human embryos.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched PSLV-C31 carrying IRNSS-1E, India’s fifth navigation satellite out of seven satellites constituting India Regional Navigation Satellite System.

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) announced discovery of synthetic elements with atomic numbers 113, 115, 117 and 118. These eleents complete 7th row of periodic table. IUPAC has invited suggestions related to permanent names and symbols from scientists who discovered these.Temporary Naming of elements is -

Element 113 - Temporary working name - ununtrium, Symbol - Uut

Element 115 - Temporary working name - ununpentium, Symbol - Uup

Element 117 - Temporary working name - ununseptium, Symbol - Uus

Element 118 - Temporary working name - ununoctium, Symbol - Uuo

International team of scientists led by Indian-American Sukanya Chakrabarti devised a new method - galactoseismology, to detect dwarf galaxies dominated by dark matter.

Japanese astronomers discovered second largest black hole in Milky Way. They mapped high-velocity compact cloud called CO-0.40-0.22 with a mass 100000 times that of the Sun around 200 light years away from the centre of Milky Way.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revealed that global average temperature for 2015 was highest among all years since modern record keeping that began in 1880.

During 2015, average temperature across globe was 1.62°F (0.90°C) above 20th century average. It surpassed previous record set in 2014 by 0.29°F (0.16°C).

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) formalized its ongoing program for detecting and tracking near-Earth objects (NEOs) as Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO). It will supervise all NASA-funded projects to find asteroids that pass near orbit of Earth around the sun.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully launched SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Jason-3 Ocean-monitoring satellite. It was 4th mission in joint US-European series of satellite missions that measure height of ocean surface.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA’s) Kepler spacecraft discovered over 100 planets orbiting other stars.

USA removed various sanctions against Iran after International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran has met its commitments under Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) to stop its nuclear programme (known as Vienna agreement).

Sports

15-year-old cricketer Pranav Dhanawade created world record by scoring 1009 runs (not out) in HT Bhandari Cup, an under-16 inter-school tournament in Mumbai (Maharashtra).

2016 Brisbane International Tennis -

Men's Singles - Milos Raonic (Canada)

Women's Singles - Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)

Men's Doubles - Henri Kontinen (Finland ) / John Peers (Australia)

Women's Doubles - Martina Hingis (Switzerland ) / Sania Mirza (India)

2016 Syed Modi International Grand prix Gold Championship Badminton Title -

Men’s singles - Kidambi Srikanth by defeating Huang Yuxiang of China.

Women’s singles - Title Sayaka Sato (Japan) won by defeating Sung Ji Hyun (South Korea).

34th National Rowing Championships held in Hyderabad (Telangana).

Australia Green won Hopman Cup 28th edition by defeatig Ukraine in Australia.

According to Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings, Indian Siril Verma is been ranked as World No. 1 in junior men's singles category.

Argentina's Lionel Messi won 2015 Ballon d’Or award for world’s best football player for record fifth time. USA’s Carli Lloyd won women's world player of the year award.

Australia withdrew from Under-19 Cricket World Cup Tournament to be held in Bangladesh due to security reasons.

Australian Open 2016

Men's Singles - Novak Djokovic (Serbia ) by defeating Andy Murray (UK)

Women's Singles - Angelique Kerber (Germany) by defeating Serena Williams (United States)

Men's Doubles - Jamie Murray ( United Kingdom)/ Bruno Soares (Brazil)

Women's Doubles - Martina Hingis (Switzerland) / Sania Mirza (India)

Mixed Doubles - Elena Vesnina (Russia) / Bruno Soares (Brazil)

BCCI Awards 2014-2015

C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement -Syed Mujtaba Hussain Kirmani

Polly Umrigar Award - Virat Kohli (Cricketer of The Year)

A. Chidambaram Trophy for Best Cricketer - Almas Shaukat (Under-23), Anmolpreet Singh (Under 19), Shubman Gill (Under 16)

A. Chidambaram Trophy Best Woman Cricketer: Mithali Raj (Sr), Devika Vaidya (jr)

Lala Amarnath Award for Best all-rounder - Jalaj Saxena (Ranji Trophy), Deepak Hooda (Domestic Limited-Overs)

Madhavrao Scindia Award Highest Scorer in Ranji Trophy - Robin Uthappa (Karnataka)

Madhavrao Scindia Award Highest Wicket-Taker in Ranji Trophy - R Vinaykumar, Shardul Thakur

Best Umpire In Domestic - O Nandan

Best Overall Performance - Karnataka State Cricket Association

Brazilian racing driver Pietro Fittipaldi won 2015 MRF Challenge Formula 2000 in Sriperumbudur (Tamil Nadu).

Cricketrs Ajit Chandila is banned for life while Hiken Shah banned for five years for involvement in match-fixing activities.

Defence Acquisition Council approved major changes in new Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016.

It allows government funds up to 90 % of development costs to private companies to push research and innovation.

A new category will be created to promote domestic manufacturing and it will be mandatory for 40 % of content to be sourced locally.

Validity of Acceptance of Necessity has been brought down to six months from earlier one year. It will help the defence forces to issue tenders faster.

Delhi Acers won maiden Premier Badminton League title by beating Mumbai Rockets.

England's cricketer Matthew Hobden passed away.

Government permitted jallikattu, Tamil Nadu’s traditional bull-taming sport, ahead of the Pongal festival. It was prohibited in 2011.

India defeated Pakistan to win first Blind T20 Asia Cup in Kochi (Kerala).

India won 2015 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) championship for record seventh time. In finals played at Thiruvanantapuram (Kerala), India defeated Afghanistan by 2-1 score.

India's Jehan Daruvala won 2016 Lady Wigram Trophy motor race, which is one of New Zealand's prestigious sports events.

Indian Badminton Player Pusarla Venkata Sindhu won 2016 Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold Badminton title by defeating Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed Infinity Optimal Solutions (IOS) for managing sponsorship and public relations for IOA for all major events.

Indian shooter Apurvi Chandela broke world record (score 211.2) as she won gold in the women's 10 metre air rifle event at Swedish Cup Grand Prix.

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin became No. 1 Test bowler in latest ICC Rankings.

International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey Stars awards 2015 -

Male Player of The Year - Robert Van der Horst (Netherlands')

Female Player of the Year - Lidewij Welten (Netherlands)

Goalkeeper of the year (Women) - Joyce Sombroek (Netherlands)

Goalkeeper of the year (Men) - David Harte (Ireland)

Rising Star (Women) - Lily Owsley (Great Britain)

Rising Star (Men) - Chrisopher Rühr (Germany)

Ishika Shah won 12th Sub-Junior National Snooker championship in Indore (Madhya Pradesh).

Japan's Izumo Takuto and Hong Kong's Zhu Chengzhu won in boys' and girls' categories in Even Sports 2015 ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals in Indore (Madhya Pradesh).

Kayaker Rene Holten Poulsen named as Denmark’s sportsperson of the year 2015.

Magnus Carlsen (Norway) won Qatar Masters Open chess tournament.

Mohammedan Football Club bestowed life-time membership to Actor Amitabh Bachchan. It is one of oldest and leading football clubs in India.

Nagjee International Club Football Tournament will be held in Kerala in February 2016. Brazil's Ronaldinho Gaucho will be its Brand Ambassador.

Navneet Kaur Santosh Kadale won two gold medals in 34th Senior National Rowing Championship in Hyderabad (Telangana).

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) won 26th Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey tournament by defeating Indian Railways.

Philippines' Miguel Tabuena voted as Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of Month for December 2015.

Ronnie O'Sullivan won his sixth Snooker Masters title after defeating Barry Hawkins in London (UK).

Russia's Marat Safin has been inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Russian Ivan Popov won 14th Parsvnath Delhi International Open Chess Title.

Sourav Kothari won National Billiards Championship by defeating Siddharth Parekh.

South African Graham Xavier Ford named chief coach of Sri Lankan cricket team for second term.

Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) won 2016 Chennai Open tennis by defeating Borna Coric (Croatia). Its his 4th chennai open win.

Switzerland's Roger Federer became First male to win 300th matches at Grand Slams. He reached this milestone be defating Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) at a match during Ausralian Open 2016. All time record is set by Martina Navratilova (306 wins at grand slams).

Tennis's governing bodies constituted Adam Lewis headed Independent Review Panel (IRP) to safeguard integrity in tennis.

The 4th All India Police Archery Championship held in Nagaland.

Uttar Pradesh won Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy by defeating Baroda.

Vijay Chaudhari won 59th Maharashtra Kesri Wrestling Championship.

Virender Sehwag appointed as mentor of Kings XI Punjab team for season 9 of Indian Premier League (IPL).

WTA Apia Internatioanl Title -

Women's Doubles - Sania Mirza (India) and Martina Hingis (Switzerland)

Men's Singles - Viktor Troicki

Women's Singles - Svetlana Kuznetsova

Wayne Rooney has been voted 2015 England Player of the Year for fourth time.

West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul announced his retirement from international cricket.

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