August 2012

AUGUST 2012

AUGUST 2012

NASAs Curiosity Rover took its First Drive on the Surface of Mars ..................................... 12

NASAs New Robot Rover Curiosity touched the Surface of Mars ....................................... 12

Indias NSE became the Worlds Largest Bourse in Equity Segment as per WFEs Global

Ranking .................................................................................................................................. 13

CAG pegged Public Exchequers Loss at 1.86 Lakh Crore in Coal Blocks Allocation Scam ... 13

Russia formally became a Member of the World Trade Organisation ................................. 14

Antony Jenkins appointed as the New Group Chief Executive of Barclays .......................... 14

India successfully test-fired Medium Range Ballistic Missile Agni II ................................. 14

Power Tripped in Northern, Eastern and North Eastern Grids: Indias Biggest Power

Blackout ................................................................................................................................ 15

International ................................................................................................................................. 16

US and Pakistan inked NATO Supply Agreement ................................................................. 16

Election Commissions of India and South Korea signed MoU to Strengthen Democracy ... 16

India allowed FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) from Pakistan.............................................. 16

US Imposed Sanctions on Banks Handling Iranian Oil Transactions ..................................... 17

India signed Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) with Monaco ............................ 17

US Senate passed Bill to label Haqqani Network as a Foreign Terrorist Organization ........ 18

India and Israel signed Collaborative Academic Research Programme Agreement ............ 19

India and Belgium signed Agreement for the Modernisation of Indian Railways ................ 19

Pakistan Supreme Court annulled New Law Protecting the Prime Minister ........................ 20

United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution on Syria ......................................... 21

Sudan signed a Deal with South Sudan over Oil Payments .................................................. 21

Pakistans Supreme Court summoned Prime Minister over Corruption Cases against

President ............................................................................................................................... 22

Libya's NTC Handed Power to Newly Appointed National Assembly ................................... 22

Current Affairs PDF August 2012 Page 3

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Current Affairs PDF August 2012

China signed Economic Agreements with North Korea which includes the Development of

SEZs ....................................................................................................................................... 23

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation suspended Syrias Membership ................................. 23

Joint Statement on the First India-CELAC Troika Foreign Ministers Meeting Held in New

Delhi ...................................................................................................................................... 24

UN Security Council decided not to extend the UN Observers Mission in Syria ................. 25

Ecuador Granted Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange Political Asylum ................................. 26

Lakhdar Brahimi appointed New Joint Special Representative of UN and Arab League for

Syria ....................................................................................................................................... 26

India to cut Import Duties on 234 Items from Pakistan ....................................................... 27

Myanmar abolished Censorship of the Country's Media ..................................................... 27

India, Iran and Afghanistan agreed for Transit Co-operation through Chabahar port ........ 28

Supreme Court of Pakistan granted Three-week Time to Prime Minister ........................... 28

India China agreed to set up Joint Working Group on Trade and Investments ................... 28

India, Afghanistan and Iran to set up Joint Working Group to spur Trade .......................... 29

India and Iran decided to expand Trade and Economic Cooperation .................................. 29

International Atomic Energy Agency set up Special Task Force for Iran .............................. 30

National ......................................................................................................................................... 31

Special Court convicted 32 People in Naroda Patiya Riot Case ............................................ 31

Supreme Court of India upheld the death sentence of Mumbai Terror Attack Convict Ajmal

Amir Kasab ............................................................................................................................ 31

The Government approved a Complete Ban on Employment of Children .......................... 32

Government of India enacted Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 ............................... 32

Supreme Court of India ordered Better Healthcare for Bhopal Gas Tragedy Victims ......... 32

BCCC asked TV Channels to be Extra-cautious while Showing Violence against Women.... 33

Bimal Gurung sworn in as the Head of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration ................... 33

Union Cabinet approved the Launch of Satellite to study Mars .......................................... 34

Special Tribunal approved MHA Move to declare SIMI as an Unlawful Organization ......... 34


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Union Government approved Relaxation in Policies Related to Transfer of Government

Land ....................................................................................................................................... 35

Power Tripped in Northern, Eastern and North Eastern Grids: Indias Biggest Power

Blackout ................................................................................................................................ 35

Economy ........................................................................................................................................ 36

Growth of Eight Core Sectors slipped to 3.6 percent in June 2012 against 5.6 percent in

June 2011 .............................................................................................................................. 36

EGoM approved 50% Diesel Subsidy to farmers in Drought Hit Areas to save Kahrif Crop . 37

RBI signed MoU with Financial Regulators of 9 Countries to promote Sharing of

Information ........................................................................................................................... 38

Indias Fiscal Deficit reached 37 Percent of the Budget Estimate ........................................ 39

RBI directed NBFCs to maintain Net-owned Funds (NOF) at Rs 3 crore by 31 March 2013 39

Union Cabinet sets Base Price for Auction of 2G Spectrum at 14000 Crore Rupees ........... 40

Indias NSE became the Worlds Largest Bourse in Equity Segment as per WFEs Global

Ranking .................................................................................................................................. 40

RBI permitted Banks to lend to Telecom Companies for the Upcoming Auction for

Spectrum ............................................................................................................................... 41

Fitch Ratings revised the Indian Retail Sector Outlook for the second half 2012-13 to

Negative ................................................................................................................................ 42

Indias Industrial Output declined to 1.8 Percent in June 2012 ........................................... 43

Moodys cut Indias Growth Forecast to 5.5 Percent ........................................................... 43

Indias FDI Inflow plunged 53 Percent in April-June Quarter of Fiscal 2012-13 ................... 44

Indias Exports declined to 22.4 Billion Dollar in July 2012 .................................................. 44

Indias Headline Inflation eased to 6.87 Percent in July 2012 .............................................. 45

Inter-ministerial group recommended Linking Patented Drug Prices to Per-capita Income 45

PMEAC pegged Indias Growth at 6.7 Percent in the Fiscal Year 2012-13 ........................... 46

Indias Retail Inflation declined to 9.86 percent in July 2012 ............................................... 47

Regulator SEBI permitted seven Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) to start Operation in

India ...................................................................................................................................... 47


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Union Finance Ministry approved 49 Percent FDI in Insurance and Pension Sector ........... 48

India eased External Overseas Borrowing Rules to enable Easier Access to Cheap Dollar

Funds ..................................................................................................................................... 49

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) called for Deterrent Penal Provisions against Units in

SEZs ....................................................................................................................................... 50

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) transferred a Surplus of Rs 16010 crore to the Union

Government .......................................................................................................................... 51

SEBI allowed Partial Flexibility in IDRs for Investors ............................................................. 51

State .............................................................................................................................................. 52

Uttarakhand announced a Substantial hike in Land Compensation to Victims ................... 52

Orissa is the first state to commence e-payment facility for government employees ........ 52

The Chief Minister of Odisha reshuffled his Cabinet Ministry ............................................. 52

EGoM decided to invest Rs. 425 crore for Gujarat Drought Relief....................................... 53

Annual Plan Size for Jharkhand finalised at 16300 Crore Rupees ........................................ 53

State Government of Goa Launched Ladli Laxmi Scheme .................................................... 54

Andhra Pradesh Government decided to put a Cap on the Tuition Fee Reimbursement ... 55

Union Cabinet Approved Three New Extension Lines in Delhi Metro .................................. 55

Union Government allocated 150 Crore Rupees to Uttarakhand for Flood Relief .............. 55

The House Sparrow was declared as State Bird of Delhi ...................................................... 56

UP Roadways introduced Bus Service from Noida to Agra via Yamuna Expressway ........... 56

SC: It will not allow resumption of Mining Activities of Iron Ore in Karnataka .................... 56

Gujarat state Government announced a Comprehensive Ban on Gutka ............................. 56

Uttarakhand Cabinet raised Maximum Age limit to 40 Years for Government Jobs ........... 57

Punjab Government set up an anti-ragging Cell to Curb the Menace of Ragging................ 57

Sikkim Lokayukta Bill received Presidential Assent .............................................................. 57

Indian Diary ................................................................................................................................... 58

Corporate ...................................................................................................................................... 61


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SBI reduced Interest Rate on Home and Car Loans by Up to 0.5 Percent ............................ 61

Toshiba launched its new Thinking LED range RZ1 of TV sets .............................................. 62

The Sahara Group acquired landmark Plaza Hotel of New York .......................................... 63

NDTV filed Lawsuit against Audience Measurement Company TAM India .......................... 63

Hero MotoCorp invested 20 million dollar in US based Erik Buell for R&D ......................... 64

SBI reduced the interest rate on the deposits of more than 5 years ................................... 64

Gilead Sciences signed with 3 Indian companies for low-cost HIV drugs ............................ 64

National Housing Bank cut Interest Rate by up to 1 percent for Urban Low Income Group65

Court restrained sale of Videocons Pebble washing machine on Whirlpool appeal .......... 65

Micro Technologies India introduced Micro Call Blocker for unsolicited Calls & SMS......... 65

Geojit BNP launched Android OS Flip Me; first mobile trading solution on NSE & BSE ....... 66

German logistics Deutsche Bahn tied up with Moser Baer for Clean Energy Project .......... 66

KNR Constructions bagged the Tollway Road Project .......................................................... 67

Siemens India Bagged 290 Million Euro NMDC Deal ............................................................ 67

Jet Airways Tied Up With HDFC Bank and Launched Credit Cards ....................................... 68

Keshub Mahindra stepped down as the Chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra ..................... 68

Hoppr launched its Service in Chennai to allow Users explore Rewards and Offers ........... 68

M&M signed MoU with Oriental Bank for Personal and Commercial Vehicle Financing .... 69

ESPN signed Hero MotoCorp, Tata Docomo and Airtel Digital as the Sponsors .................. 69

Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma was signed as the Brand Ambassador of Unicharms

Sofy ........................................................................................................................................ 69

Samsung unveiled New Tablet called Galaxy Note 10.1 Tablet in US, Britain and South

Korea ..................................................................................................................................... 70

Philippe Divry appointed as the Managing Director of Volvo India ..................................... 70

Arvind Saxena appointed the Managing Director of Volkswagen India ............................... 70

Relaxo Footwear signed Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif as its Brand .................................. 71

Bharti Group sold its Stake in Centum Learning to Everonn Education ............................... 71


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SpiceJet announced launch of Two Daily Flights to Jabalpur from Delhi and Mumbai ....... 71

The Bhilai Steel Plant won the Prime Ministers Trophy for the 10th Time ......................... 72

IDBI Bank Ltd entered into a MoU with SMERA to evaluate its MSME ................................ 72

Antony Jenkins appointed as the New Group Chief Executive of Barclays .......................... 72

McNally Bharat won 122 crore Rupees Contract from SAIL ................................................. 73

HSBC sold its Entire Stake in Federal Bank for 341 Crore Rupees ........................................ 73

Jammu and Kashmir Bank was Awarded Best Banker Prize ................................................. 73

GAIL signed pact with French Energy Giant GDF Suez to import LNG .................................. 73

Apple won Patent Infringement Case against Samsung ....................................................... 74

Sports ............................................................................................................................................ 74

London Olympics 2012 concluded as US topped the Medal Tally ....................................... 74

Medal Tally London Olympics 2012 ................................................................................... 77

Michel Phelps became the Most Successful Athlete in the Olympic History ....................... 79

Vijay Kumar bagged Silver in Olympics 25 Metre Rapid Fire Pistol Event ............................ 79

Saina Nehwal clinched Bronze in Womens Singles Badminton Event at London Olympics

2012 ...................................................................................................................................... 80

Jamaican Sprinter Usain Bolt won Gold in Mens 100 Meter Race, set Olympic Record ..... 81

Mary Kom bagged Bronze in Women Flyweight Boxing at London Olympics 2012 ............ 81

India bagged Record Six Medals in London Olympics 2012 as Sushil Kumar settled for Silver

............................................................................................................................................... 82

VVS Laxman announced Retirement from International Cricket ......................................... 83

Rory Mcllroy won the US PGA Golf Championship ............................................................... 83

IOA set up Three-Member Committee to resolve Issues in Indian Hockey ......................... 83

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore appointed as the head of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards

Committee ............................................................................................................................ 83

Roger Federer and Li Na won Cincinnati Masters ................................................................ 84

South Africa replaced England as the Worlds Number One Cricket Team ......................... 84


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Vijay Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt chosen for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2012 ........... 85

Ankur Mittal won the Bronze Medal in the Fourth International Junior Shotgun Cup ........ 86

India defeated Australia to win ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup ........................................ 86

Delhi won the 23rd Federation Cup National Throwball Championship ............................. 87

Queen Elizabeth officially opened the London Paralympic Games ...................................... 87

Englands test team captain Andrew Strauss retired from International Cricket ................ 88

Hashim Amla became the Fastest Player to reach Landmark 3000 One-Day International

Runs ....................................................................................................................................... 88

DLF announced to end its Association with Indian Premiere League .................................. 88

Environment Ecology .................................................................................................................... 89

Indian Project won the World Environment Day Challenge ................................................. 89

NASAs Scientists warned Earth might face More Heat Waves ............................................ 89

Parliamentary Panel on Agriculture recommended to ban GM Food Crops ....................... 90

Ministry of Environment and Forest issued Advisory to reduce the Impact of

Communication Towers ........................................................................................................ 90

Supreme Court extended the ban on Tourism Activities in Tiger Reserves ......................... 91

Science & Technology ................................................................................................................... 91

Study found Tumor Stem Cells multiply and Fuel Cancer .................................................... 91

A Web-based System developed for advising Farmers on Fertilizers .................................. 91

Scientists Unveiled the Origin of the Singing Mice ............................................................... 91

A New Strain of Rice developed by the Scientists that could boost Crop Yields .................. 92

One Liners ..................................................................................................................................... 92

News Capsule ................................................................................................................................ 94

Kaushik Basu Ended Tenure as the Chief Economic Advisor in New Delhi .......................... 94

9 physicists worldwide received the Fundamental Physics Prize ......................................... 94

UP Government inaugurated State Service Delivery Gateway in Lucknow ......................... 95

Indian Scientist Ashoke Sen was honoured with Fundamental Physics Prize ...................... 95


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Kofi Annan quit as the UN special envoy to Syria ................................................................. 95

Pather Panchali secured 42 rank in Sight and Sound Poll .................................................... 96

Rakesh Singh appointed as the 55th President of ICAI ......................................................... 97

Bimal Gurung Appointed as Chief Executive Officer of GTA ................................................ 97

Typhoon Damrey hit the Chinese Provinces Liaoning and Hebei ......................................... 97

Prime Minister of Fiji, Laisenia Qarase was punished for One year Prison .......................... 97

Securities and Exchange Board of India inaugurated their local office in Jaipur ................. 98

New Species of Spider named after Naturalist David Attenborough ................................... 98

Former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Keshubhai Patel launched Gujarat Parivartan Party ...... 98

Gunman killed 6 at Sikh Temple in Oak Creek in Wisconsin................................................. 99

Naresh Chandra Committee submitted its Report on National Security ............................. 99

Syed Nasim Ahmed Zaidi appointed New Election Commissioner ...................................... 99

First Meeting of the India-CELAC Troika Foreign Ministers was held in New Delhi ........... 100

India successfully test-fired Medium Range Ballistic Missile Agni II ............................... 100

Typhoon Haikui slammed into the East Coast of China ...................................................... 101

The Re-Designed Website of the President of India was Launched ................................... 101

Scientist identified a new Oxidant in the Atmosphere ....................................................... 101

Raghuram Rajan appointed the New Chief Economic Advisor in the Finance Ministry .... 102

Pak Government Honoured Saadat Hasan Manto with the Nisan-i-Imtiaz ........................ 102

Scientists found a Stem Cell Therapy to prevent Osteoarthritis ........................................ 103

The Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders visited India ..................................... 103

The Fiji Government gave Methodist Church Permission to held its Annual Meeting ...... 103

Time, CNN suspended Fareed Zakaria for Plagiarism ......................................................... 103

Pakistan Government honoured Gopi Chand Narang with Sitara-i-Imtiaz ........................ 104

Prime Minister Shram Awards for year 2011 announced .................................................. 104

Rogelio Sierra Diaz, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba visited India ........................ 104


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Noted Indian Cinematographer Ashok Mehta passed away .............................................. 105

Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange would be Granted Political Asylum by Ecuador .......... 105

Lakhdar Brahimi was appointed the New UN Arab League Envoy for Syria ...................... 105

PJ Kurien elected the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha .................................................... 106

Maharashtra recorded the Maximum Number of Deaths due to SAEs during Drug Trials 106

Vayalar Ravi assumed Charge as Union Minister for Science and Technology .................. 107

Poonam Kishore Saxena appointed as Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes .......... 107

First Type of Tea prepared 1000 Years Ago by Native Americans ...................................... 107

Charles L Bennett received the Gruber Cosmology Prize 2012 .......................................... 108

Six Top Sporting Coaches to receive Dronacharya Award for 2012 ................................... 108

The Castle Naggar in Himachal Pradesh was given Heritage Status ................................... 108

Sonia Gandhi ranked Sixth in the Forbes List of 100 Most Powerful Women in the World

............................................................................................................................................. 109

NASAs Curiosity Rover took its First Drive on the Surface of Mars ................................... 109

Twitter banned Six Accounts Similar in Appearance to PMO Account .............................. 110

Indian American Karl Mehta was selected to Work on Five High -Impact Projects ............ 110

Species of Rat that doesnt Chew discovered in Indonesia ................................................ 110

Air Force Version of Pilot-less Target Aircraft Lakshya-1 was successfully Test-flown ...... 111

Senkaku Islands became the Bone of Contention between China and Japan ................... 111

Veteran Actor AK Hangal passed away in Mumbai ............................................................ 111

US Astronaut Neil Alden Armstrong passed away .............................................................. 112

Delhi Government presented Lifetime Achievement Awards ............................................ 112

The CII held the Eleventh Energy Efficiency Summit in Hyderabad ................................... 113

PM Nair appointed the Director General of National Disaster Response Force & Civil

Defence ............................................................................................................................... 113

The NCR Planning Board approved the Controversial Greater Noida Master Plan 2021 .. 113

The Book Challenged Official Story of Osama bin Laden Killing ......................................... 114


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Archaeologists discovered 2000-Year Old Sculpture in Mexico ......................................... 114

Raghuram Rajan took over as the Chief Economic Advisor of in Union Finance Ministry . 114

Ordnance Factory Board signed a MoU for a Joint Venture with Rosoboronexport, Russia

............................................................................................................................................. 115

Aditi Mukherjee won the prestigious Norman Borlaug Award .......................................... 115

G Ashok Kumar took over as the Southern Naval Command Chief .....

August 2012

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