Current Affairs March 2013

                     : Current Affairs March 2013 :

                                    

                                  :national :

 India approves AirAsia’s tie-up with Tata Group

 For the First Time “The Competition Commission of  India”

    (CCI) was nominated for the Global Competition Review      

   (GCR) Awards 2013

 Dr Pablo Venegas from Cordillera Azul National Park Discovered Two New Wood lizard species called 'Enyalioides'

 The American Multinational corporation Apple bought the indoor GPS mapping firm wifi SLAM for 20 million dollars

 Reliance Life Insurance Company (RLIC) announced of launching new healthcare Scheme called Reliance Life Care.

 The Union government approved 1500 crore Rupees proposal for production of more than 2000 rockets for the Pinaka multi- barrel weapons system.

 The former President of Pakistan, Gen. Pervez Musharraf returned back to Pakistan on 24 March 2013.

 The Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Forge Limited “Babasaheb Neelkanth Kalyani” Nominated as the Chairman of IJBLF.

 The United Nations declared 20 March as the International Day of Happiness.

 World Water Day is celebrated across the world with the new theme "Water Cooperation"

 Jeff Bezos, chief executive of Amazon, recovered two Saturn V rocket engines from beneath the Atlantic Ocean.

 The Gold Medal Winner “Pietro Mennea” , the Italian athletics died at the age of 60 years

 Indian Army Got First indigenously-developed chopper called Rudra on 8 February 2013

 The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) 2013 of the World Economic Forum ranked India 65th out of 140 countries.

 The State Bank of India (SBI) planned to start around 1200 new branches in India and eight overseas branches in financial year 2013-2014

 On 11 March 2013 REC signed a bilateral term-loan agreement worth 250 million US Dollars, with the State Bank of India

 B Ashok Reddy, the Infotech Enterprises President , was elected as the new chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

 On 17 March 2013 United Arab Emirates (UAE) officially opened the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant.

      India spotted fifth on the list High Net worth Individuals (HNIs) According to the Knight Frank Wealth Report 2013.

 The President of India, released a commemorative postal stamp at XXXIII Convocation of Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) on 15 March 2013.

 India beat Australia by 6 wickets in 3rd test,lead the series 3-0

 China has become the World's Fifth-Largest Arms Exporter

 On 14 March 2013 Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi was sworn-in as the new Prime Minister of Nepal.

 On 14 March 2013 The Union Cabinet cleared Bill to Tackle Crimes against Women.

 Jagat Singh Negi Elected As the Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assembly of Himachal on 12 March 2013.

 Xi Jinping appointed as China's new president.

 On 12 March 2013 Airports Council International (ACI), declared Three Indian Airports among the Top Five of the World.

 The Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit launched a comprehensive five-in-one vaccine on 12 March 2013.

 Tata Sky launched Video on Demand service for its Tata Sky, HD subscribers.

 On 11 March 2013 Reliance Games brought Two Gaming Firms in Japan and South Korea.

 On 11 March 2013 Iran and Pakistan launched a 7.5 billion dollar gas pipeline project.

 Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) and South Korean Trade Promotion Agency (KOTRA) signed (MoU) for Korean industrial zone.

 The US and South Korea started their annual military drills on 11 March 2013 .

 According to the GallUP Polls “India” is the sixth most favourable nation for Americans.

 On 8 March 2013 International Women's Day is celebrated across the world.

 On 7 March 2013 The US President, Barack Obama signed into law, the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization 2013.

 On 8 March 2013 The President of India released the Commemorative Postage Stamp on Sahir Ludhianvi.

 On 6 March 2013 The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) cleared the investment proposal of AirAsia to Enter India’s Aviation Sector.

 On 6 March 2013 Union Minister Kapil Sibal launched the Electronics Project Proposal System (e-PPS).

 ESPN-Star Sports Decided to launch new channel –star sport2 on march 11 2013.

 On 6 March 2013 Union Public Service Commission changed the Scheme of Civil Services (MAIN) Examination pattern 2013.

:World Organisations :

 On 8 March 2013 India and Bhutan signed a currency swap agreement worth 100 million US dollars to strengthen economic co-operation between countries.

 In the month of March 2013 Japan and US agreed on free trade auto Exception.

                                       : Business :

 Mahindra Group launch its new generation electric vehicle,  e2o this month : “Mahindra Reva”

              Software giant Microsoft is developing an interactive whiteboard that “self –sketches the user pictures”

 Software giant Microsoft launches Office 365 for businesses in India.

 Sony Mobile decided to launch the New model Sony Xperia Z in India on March 6, 2013.

                                    : Economics :

 SPMCIL and Department of Economic Affairs signed the “growth-oriented MoU” to sets the Gross Operating Margin target of 511 crore Rupees for 2013-14 fiscal year.

 The Government of  Rajasthan and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Jaipur for setting up a Refinery.

 The Union Government decided to provide a financial assistance of 41.21 crore rupees to protect Pashmina goat which produces world-famous fine luxury fibre.

 The Union Government and RBI to launch 10 Rupees Plastic Notes in 5 Cities.

 World Bank forecasted the growth of over 6 percent for the Indian Economy during 2013-14.

 On 7 March 2013 The Union Government of India approved export of extra five million tonnes of Wheat.

 ‘AUDI’ German luxury car maker reported in India up to 29% growth in sales in February.

                                          : Sports :

 Tiger Woods won the third PGA Tour title 2013, regained the world number one spot.

 India won ‘Border- Gavaskar Trophy’ 2013 by Beating Australia 4-0.

 Neha Tripathi won sixth leg of Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour 2013 on 21 March 2013

 Murali Vijay moves to career best 43rd spot in ICC rankings

 New Zealand businessman ‘Ralph Waters’ selected as New chairman of 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.

 David Beckham was named as the richest footballer of the world According to the Goal Rich List 2013.

 Manorama and Deborah won Bronze for India in Hero Asian Cycling Championships on 10 March 2013.

 On 10 March 2013 Neha Tripathi won BT Pro Am of Champions golf tournament 2013 in Manesar.

 The 33-year-old Tine Baun won the women’s singles title in the All England Open Badminton Championships 2013.

 The veteran golfer Smriti Mehra won her second title in the Hero Women`s pro golf tour 2013

 Saina Nehwal Entered pre-quarterfinals of All England Championship.

 On 2 March 2013 World Number one Novak Djokovic won the ATP Dubai Open Tennis title 2013.

 Sahmim Khan won the PGTI Players Championship Title on 1 March 2013 .

 on 1 March 2013 Vijitha Bandara of Sri Lanka won Eighth NCR Cup Golf Tournament at Delhi Golf Club .

: Books And Authors :

     The Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari released a book titled 'The First Woman President of India' on 19 March 2013

 The Union Minister for Steel, Beni Prasad Verma released a Coffee Table Book titled “Indian Saga of Steel”.

 On 1 March 2013 The Vice President of India released a book titled Walking with Lions: Tales from a Diplomatic Past

: Honours And Awards :

 Navneet Kaur Dhillon was crowned Pond’s Femina Miss India 2013.

 The London based Indian origin writer,'Anil Ananthaswamy' won inaugural Physics Journalism Prize for the article “Hip Hip Array”.

 S. Venkata Mohan a scientist of the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology won the National Bioscience Award for 2012

 The 60th National Film Awards were announced Irrfan Khan Won Best Actor Award for “Paan Singh Tomar”

 79-year-old Sugathakumari the Malayalam poetess was chosen for the Saraswati Samman 2012

 Tan Twan Eng was announced as a winner of the 2012 Man Asian Literary Prize on 14 March 2013.

 On 14 March 2013 Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Awards for the year 2011 announced.

 Jessica Ennis named Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year at Laureus World Sports Awards 2013.

 On 10 March 2013 five writers honoured with the prestigious SAARC Literature Award.

 According ABP News-IPSOS Best City Survey and Awards 2013 -Nagpur won the award for most liveable Indian city & Nashik for Best Tourist-Friendly City.

 Deborah from India won a Bronze medal in the women's juniors of 500m cycle event in Asian Cycling Championship on 7 March 2013.

 The Parliamentary Award Committee announces Arun Jaitley, Karan Singh and Sharad Yadav For Outstanding Parliamentarian Award.

 The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee was conferred with the “Liberation War Honour Award” by the President of Bangladesh, Zillur Rahman on 4 March 2013.

: Personalities :

 Veteran actress and Padma Shri award winner, Sukumari passed away in a private hospital in Chennai

 Zamorin of Kozhikode P K S Raja passes away at the age 101

 'Anthony Lewis‟ Two-time Pulitzer winner died at age of 85

 The President of Bangladesh, Zillur Rahman passed away at age of 84

 Kallam Anji Reddy, the main behind Dr Reddy's Laboratories ,the second-largest drugmaker of India Died at 72.

 “Argentine Jorge Bergoglio” was elected as the new 266 pope and chose the papal name “Francis”, becoming the first pontiff from the Americas and the first from outside Europe .

 Peter Banks , The Original Guitarist for “ Rock Band Yes”died in London at the age of 65.

 Prof Veer Bhadra Mishra the Former Professor of Hydraulic Engineering and the Noted Environmentalist died at the age of 75.

   Celebrated painter Ganesh Pyne died of cardiac arrest At the Age of 97 Years.

 At the 5th CIDC Vishwakarma Award 2013 “Tapas Kumar Lahiry” won the Achievement award for Public Officer on 7 March 2013.

 The Foreign Minister of Portugal ,Paulo de Sacadura Cabral Portas visited India officially for the first time.

 On 10 March 2013 Swedish Princess “Lilian Davies” Died At the Age of 97 Years.

 On 9 March 2013 Former CBI Director Ashwani Kumar appointed as Governor of Nagaland.

 Former West Bengal Governor and industrialist 'Viren J Shah' died at the age of 86 years.

 Former Pakistan off-spinner “Haseeb Ahsan” died at the age of 73.

 'Misao Okawa', world's oldest woman, turned 115 on 5 March 2013 celebrating her birthday with proud family members.

 The chairman of local organising committee of the 2015 World Cup “James Strong” died at the age of 68.

 on 5 March 2013 MRP Rao took charge as the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) in National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

 Mukesh Gadhvi, the Congress MP from Banaskantha passed away on 1 March 2013.

 Italian musician Armando Trovajoli died aged 95.

                                     : Technology  :

 Facebook expands ad targeting system to its newsfeed.

 India and the US agreed for cooperation on future missions to the Moon and Mars after successful in Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission.

 Nokia has announced the launch of its two new budget Windows Phone 8 - Lumia 520 and Lumia 720 - in India

 Samsung Galaxy S4 is expected to be launched in India on May 1

 Karbonn launches its new smartphone Titanium S5 in India, phone has a 5-inch qHD IPS multitouch screen with Qualcomm's quad-core Snapdragon Processor

 On 12 March 2013 Japan Became First Country in the World to Extract Natural Gas from Methane Hydrate.

 Hewlett Packard launched its new business tablet “ HP ElitePad 900” in India.

 Bhabha Atomic Research Centre of India announced of developing the largest magnet of the world.

 India ranked third on the list of the countries distributing spam across the world.

 Seagate, a US-based hard disk supplier to launch its latest wireless storage Devices in India by Mar-Apr.

 Bharti Airtel launches high quality voice service in four African countries in 2013.

 LG Electronics announce they sold more than 10 million smartphones based on the high-speed long-term evolution (LTE) technology.

 Pantel Technologies has launched a new tablet PC - WS708C in India.

                                   : Environment :

 The New Zealand Government declared the worst-ever drought in 30 years in the entire North Island of the country.

     According to the Study of lion biologists of University of Minnesota: Half of Africa’s Lions Facing Extinction Threat.

                                      : Astronomy :

 Herschel space observatory Founded 15 New Very Young Stars named as ‘Protostars’.

 NASA's Swift satellite discovered one of the youngest-known supernova ‘remnants’.

 NASA scientists discovers the third-closest star system to the Sun, located only 6.5 light-years away.

 Researchers Calculated exactly 49.97 kiloparsecs to Our Closest Neighbouring Galaxy.