1. RBI projects 5.5 % GDP growth during current fiscal
i. The Reserve Bank has said the economy is likely to grow at 5.5 per cent in the current fiscal as it sees pick-up in manufacturing and investment.
ii. As per the RBI’s annual report for the Financial Year 2013-14 released yesterday, there are signs of improvement in mining and manufacturing activity, expected pick-up in investments, improved external demand and stabilizing global commodity prices.
iii. The RBI also said that its surplus for the Financial Year 2014 fiscal declined 14.75 per cent to 52,679 crore rupees as its interest income from investments in foreign sovereign bonds declined during the year even as its investments increased.
2. Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela dies at 95
i. Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first elected black president and a global anti-apartheid icon died early Friday, at his home in the suburb of Houghton in Johannesburg, following a lengthy illness. He was 95.
ii. He was also known as Madiba in South Africa. He was receiving intensive medical care at home for a lung infection after spending three months in hospital.
iii. Fellow South Africans, our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation, has departed," Zuma said in a nationally televised address.
iv. " He is now resting. He is now at peace...Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father," he said.
v. Zuma announced that there would be a state funeral for the departed world leader. Details of the funeral have not been announced yet, but all flags will fly at half-mast until the funeral.
vi. He was the first black South African to hold the office of President from 1994 to 1999, and the first elected in a fully representative multiracial election.
About Nelson Mandela
• He was born on 1918 in Eastern Cape
• He joined the African National Congress in 1943
• In 1962, he was arrested and was convicted of incitement and leaving country without a passport. He was sentenced to five years in prison
• In 1964, he was charged with sabotage, sentenced to life
• He was freed from the prison in 1990
• In 1999, he stepped down as leader
• In 2001, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer
Awards received by Nelson Mandela
Mandela has received more than two hundred and fifty awards over four decades, some of the awards are:
• He was the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993
• He was the recipient of Bharat Ratna and Mahatma Gandhi peace award
• The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 18 July, Mandela's birthday, as Mandela Day, for his contribution to the anti-apartheid struggle
• In 1973 a nuclear particle discovered by scientists at the University of Leeds was named Mandela nelson
• In 1979 he became the recipient of the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding, by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations New Delhi, India
• In 1981, a panel of International Judges, Vienna, Austria, chose him for the Bruno Kreisky Award for merit in the field of human rights
3. Sachin & Prof C N R Rao to get Bharat Ratna on February 4
i. President Pranab Mukherjee will confer cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Prof C N R Rao with Bharat Ratna on February 4 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
ii. A formal ceremony, which is likely to be attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, will be held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
iii. The Little Master was given the honour hours after he played his 200th and last Test against the touring West Indies in November last year.
iv. Tendulkar (40) and Rao (89), both of whom are recipients of Padma Vibhushan–the country’s second highest civilian honour, join the list of 41 eminent personalities to get the award given in recognition of exceptional service of the highest order.
Note: i. Tendulkar is the first sportsman and the youngest recipient of the the Bharat Ratna. Besides Tendulkar, Rao will also be presented with the award.
ii. Prof Rao is a well recognized international authority on solid state and materials chemistry. The 89-year-old has published over 1,400 research papers and 45 books. His contributions have been recognized by most major scientific academies around the world through conferment of memberships and fellowships, and has been honoured with several national and international awards.
iii. Sachin Tendulkar and Prof Rao join the list of 41 eminent personalities to get the Bharat Ratna.
4. Bhim Sain Bassi Took Charge as the 20th Delhi Police Commissioner
i. Bhim Sain Bassi, the 1977-batch IPS officer of AGMU (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories) cadre took over the charge as the next Delhi Police Commissioner on 31 July 2013. He succeeded Neeraj Kumar.
ii. Bhim Sain Bassi is 57 years of age. As of now, he was serving as the Special Commissioner of Police (Administration).
iii. Bhim Sain Bassi is the 20th Commissioner of Delhi Police. He will remain in the office till February 2016.
iv. He was awarded with the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in the year 1996.
v. He also received President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service in the year 2002.
NOTE: Apart from him, Tihar Director General Vimla Mehra and Director General (Investigation) at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Kanwaljit Deol were in contention for this post.
i. The Reserve Bank has said the economy is likely to grow at 5.5 per cent in the current fiscal as it sees pick-up in manufacturing and investment.
ii. As per the RBI’s annual report for the Financial Year 2013-14 released yesterday, there are signs of improvement in mining and manufacturing activity, expected pick-up in investments, improved external demand and stabilizing global commodity prices.
iii. The RBI also said that its surplus for the Financial Year 2014 fiscal declined 14.75 per cent to 52,679 crore rupees as its interest income from investments in foreign sovereign bonds declined during the year even as its investments increased.
2. Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela dies at 95
i. Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first elected black president and a global anti-apartheid icon died early Friday, at his home in the suburb of Houghton in Johannesburg, following a lengthy illness. He was 95.
ii. He was also known as Madiba in South Africa. He was receiving intensive medical care at home for a lung infection after spending three months in hospital.
iii. Fellow South Africans, our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation, has departed," Zuma said in a nationally televised address.
iv. " He is now resting. He is now at peace...Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father," he said.
v. Zuma announced that there would be a state funeral for the departed world leader. Details of the funeral have not been announced yet, but all flags will fly at half-mast until the funeral.
vi. He was the first black South African to hold the office of President from 1994 to 1999, and the first elected in a fully representative multiracial election.
About Nelson Mandela
• He was born on 1918 in Eastern Cape
• He joined the African National Congress in 1943
• In 1962, he was arrested and was convicted of incitement and leaving country without a passport. He was sentenced to five years in prison
• In 1964, he was charged with sabotage, sentenced to life
• He was freed from the prison in 1990
• In 1999, he stepped down as leader
• In 2001, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer
Awards received by Nelson Mandela
Mandela has received more than two hundred and fifty awards over four decades, some of the awards are:
• He was the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993
• He was the recipient of Bharat Ratna and Mahatma Gandhi peace award
• The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 18 July, Mandela's birthday, as Mandela Day, for his contribution to the anti-apartheid struggle
• In 1973 a nuclear particle discovered by scientists at the University of Leeds was named Mandela nelson
• In 1979 he became the recipient of the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding, by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations New Delhi, India
• In 1981, a panel of International Judges, Vienna, Austria, chose him for the Bruno Kreisky Award for merit in the field of human rights
3. Sachin & Prof C N R Rao to get Bharat Ratna on February 4
i. President Pranab Mukherjee will confer cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Prof C N R Rao with Bharat Ratna on February 4 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
ii. A formal ceremony, which is likely to be attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, will be held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
iii. The Little Master was given the honour hours after he played his 200th and last Test against the touring West Indies in November last year.
iv. Tendulkar (40) and Rao (89), both of whom are recipients of Padma Vibhushan–the country’s second highest civilian honour, join the list of 41 eminent personalities to get the award given in recognition of exceptional service of the highest order.
Note: i. Tendulkar is the first sportsman and the youngest recipient of the the Bharat Ratna. Besides Tendulkar, Rao will also be presented with the award.
ii. Prof Rao is a well recognized international authority on solid state and materials chemistry. The 89-year-old has published over 1,400 research papers and 45 books. His contributions have been recognized by most major scientific academies around the world through conferment of memberships and fellowships, and has been honoured with several national and international awards.
iii. Sachin Tendulkar and Prof Rao join the list of 41 eminent personalities to get the Bharat Ratna.
4. Bhim Sain Bassi Took Charge as the 20th Delhi Police Commissioner
i. Bhim Sain Bassi, the 1977-batch IPS officer of AGMU (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories) cadre took over the charge as the next Delhi Police Commissioner on 31 July 2013. He succeeded Neeraj Kumar.
ii. Bhim Sain Bassi is 57 years of age. As of now, he was serving as the Special Commissioner of Police (Administration).
iii. Bhim Sain Bassi is the 20th Commissioner of Delhi Police. He will remain in the office till February 2016.
iv. He was awarded with the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in the year 1996.
v. He also received President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service in the year 2002.
NOTE: Apart from him, Tihar Director General Vimla Mehra and Director General (Investigation) at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Kanwaljit Deol were in contention for this post.
