Current Affairs Today Current Affairs February 2015 Compilation of Current Affairs as Published on GKTODAY [Useful for SSC, Bank PO, Bank Clerical, IBPS etc. Examinations] Published by: GKTODAY.IN © 2015 GKToday | All Rights Reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, without the prior written permission richindia | Unique ID: from2776 | [email protected]. 1 / 87 Current Affairs : February 2015 Month Highlights Persons in news - Appointments / Elections Kanagasabapathy J Sripavan • He was recently appointed as second Tamil Chief Justice of Sri Lanka. The last Tamil chief justice was Herbert Thambiah, who left the position in 1991. Anish Aggarwal • Appointed as Director (Pipelines) at India's largest oil refining and marketing company, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). Dr.Nandita Chatterjee • Dr. Nandita Chatterjee has taken charge as the new Secretary in the Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA). Mary McGowan Davis • Former US judge Mary McGowan Davis was appointed as the new head of United Nations Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC’s) Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict. LC Goyal • LC Goyal has taken charge as the Union Home Secretary. He replaced Anil Goswami, who had resigned following a controversy over the arrest of former Union Minister Matang Singh in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam. Ajay Banga • United States Government has appointed Ajay Banga as member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN). ACTPN is the US president’s private-sector advisory panel on international trade and helps him to coordinate trade related policies and resolve disagreements. Dr. M.O. Garg • Dr M.O. Garg has taken charge as Director General (DG) of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR). CSIR is government’s autonomous research agency, established in 1942. Presently, CSIR has over 4,500 scientists working across 38 laboratories and employs over 9000 scientific and technical personnel. Pramod Asthana • Pramod Asthana is the head of the special investment team (SIT) recently set up by Union Home Ministry to probe 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases. The SIT is constituted for re-investigation of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases on the recommendation of government-appointed committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice G.P. Mathur. Balasubramaniam Venkataramani • Balasubramaniam Venkataramani has been appointed as new MD & CEO of Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX). He will replace then MD & CEO Manoj Vaish. Arvind Kejriwal richindia | Unique ID: 2776 | [email protected] • Arvind Kejriwal was sworn-in as 8th Chief Minister of Delhi. Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung administered the oath of office and secrecy to him at oath taking ceremony held at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi. In 2015 Delhi Assembly elections, AAP staged a historic victory by sweeping 67 of the 70 seats. This will be Arvind Kejriwal‘s second term as Delhi Chief Minister. Nitish Kumar • Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister (CM) of Bihar for the 4th time. In 2000, for first time he was made CM of Bihar but had resigned within 7 days. In 2005, he was sworn in as the CM of Bihar for second time and in 2010 for third time. In May 2014 he had resigned from the CM post taking the responsibility of his party’s (JDU) dismal performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic © 2015 GKToday | All Rights Reserved | www.gktoday.in 2 2 / 87 Current Affairs : February 2015 • Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic is Croatia’s first female President . She was sworn in on 15 February 2015. She is Croatia’s fourth president since its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Chrishantha de Silva • Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed Major general Chrishantha de Silva as the new Sri Lankan Army chief. Zoe Konstantopoulou • New speaker of the Hellenic Parliament. Greek Parliament has elected Zoe Konstantopoulou, a member of the left wing party Syriza as its new speaker. Nickolay Mladenov • Nickolay Mladenov has been appointed by United Nations as new Special Coordinator for Middle East peace Process and Personal Representative to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority. Places in News Surajkund • Located in Haryana and venue of 29th Surajkund mela. This year's theme state was Chhattisgarh and partner country was Lebanon. Bannerghata • The Bannerghata Biological Park in Karnataka is to be developed as India's 1st solar fenced elephant sanctuary. The park has joined hand with PETA for this. Sikandara • Located in Uttar Pradesh, near Agra. Site for tomb of Mughal emperor Akbar. Lots of blackbucks (Antilope cervicapra) found here but now they are threatened by increasing number of Jackals. • The Uttar Pradesh Government is now taking up a Jackal Research & Translocation Project to relocate the Jackals somewhere else to save the antelopes. Monrovia • Monrovia is capital of African country Liberia, which is struggling with Ebola Virus in recent times. Here, first large-scale human trials of two experimental vaccines against Ebola virus began in February. • Liberia was worst hit country from Ebola. Most hit are three Western African countries viz. Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Kolkata: First Wi-Fi-enabled metro city • Kolkata is slated to become India’s first Wi-Fi-enabled metro city as the service was launched from Park Street in city by state's chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The government of the state says that it will roll out this facility in phased manner in all wards under Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Ganjam • Ganjam district in Odisha is known for its Ganjam coast, rich in mineral resources. In February 2015, the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) has signed a MoU with public sector Indian Rare Earth Ltd (IRE) to set up a mineral separation plant here. Mumbai (Permanent Judicial Museum) • Permanent Judicialrichindia Museum | Unique was ID: 2776inaugurated | [email protected] at Bombay High Court as a part of the Sesquicentennial Celebration (150th year) of the Bombay High Court. It is first of its kind museum in Maharashtra designed by Advocate Rajan Jaykar. It displays antique items associated with the rich history of the 150 year old court. We note that first judicial museum in the country was opened at Supreme Court of India premises in Delhi. Jamaica • Jamaica is a Caribbean country which recently passed a law to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana up to 57 grams for personal use. Marijuana is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of Cannabis sativa – the hemp plant. Medicinal values of marijuana is used as a drug for controlling pain for medical issues, like cancer, nervous © 2015 GKToday | All Rights Reserved | www.gktoday.in 3 3 / 87 Current Affairs : February 2015 system diseases, glaucoma, migraines, etc. It also can be used to treat nausea and improve appetites for people with HIV or other chronic illnesses. Sports Leander Paes & Martina Hingis • Winners of 2015 Australian Open mixed doubles title in Tennis Nicol David • Female squash player of Malaysia. She set a new record by topping the world squash rankings for 106th month. She is first Asian to achieve this record. She was also appointed as United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) National Goodwill Ambassador for Malaysia. Saeed Ajmal • Saeed Ajmal is a Pakistani Cricketer, who was suspended by ICC for an illegal bowling action in September 2014. Now, after bowling retests and remedial work; International Cricket Council (ICC) has cleared his bowling. Anirban Lahiri • Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri has won the Malaysian Open 2015. Anil Kumble (ICC Cricket Hall of Fame) • Former India Captain and ace spinner Anil Kumble has been chosen to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. He is the 4th Indian cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. Others are Bishen Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar who were inducted into Hall of Fame in 2009. Chris Gayle first batsman to hit double century in World Cup history • West Indies opener batsman Chris Gayle created history by becoming the first batsman to score a double century in the World Cup. He made this record by scoring 215 runs off just 147 balls in a world cup match against Zimbabwe. India's Sachin Tendulkar is the First cricketer to reach double century landmark. He made 200 runs against South Africa in 2010. Hero Hockey India League 2015 • Ranchi Rays won the third edition of Champions of Hero Hockey India League (HHIL) 2015. Hockey India League is organized by Hockey India. Number of teams is Five which are franchisee based. Teams have players from India and around the world. The event is sanctioned by International Hockey Federation (FIH). AB De Villiers • South African cricketer AB De Villiers has hit the fastest 150 in one-day internationals (ODI’s). He achieved this feat in 64 balls in World Cup Pool B match against West Indies. Persons in news: Died Carl Djerassi • Father of the birth control pills. He developed a synthetic molecule norethindrone- a key component of the first birth control pill. Richard von Weizsaecker • Germany's former president. He was president during the reunification of East and West Germany. richindia | Unique ID: 2776 | [email protected] Mrinalini Mukherjee • She was an acclaimed Indian sculptor and artist, best known for her sculptures, crafted using knotted hemp ropes and cast bronzes. She was the first Indian artist whose work was displayed at the Sydney Biennale in 1986. Atmaram Bhende • Atmaram Bhende was a veteran Marathi theatre artist and film actor. He was considered the doyen of Marathi experimental theatre and had graced the Marathi stage for more than six decades. Kesava Reddy © 2015 GKToday | All Rights Reserved | www.gktoday.in 4 4 / 87 Current Affairs : February 2015 • Kesava Reddy was a renowned Telugu novelist, well known for his novels and stories on social problems of the country.