13 May
1. Who has recently launched a new global review of data on women empowerment?
Answer: Hillary R Clinton
BACKGROUND:
Hillary R Clinton launched a new global review of data on women empowerment on 14 February 2014. The global review of data will analyse the advancement of women and girls around the world since the mid 1990s. Clinton announced the new partnership at New York University between the Clinton Foundation and the Gates Foundation.
2. On which date was the Women’s Day of India observed recently?
Answer: Feb 13
BACKGROUND:
National Women’s Day of India was observed on 13 February, 2014. The day is observed on the date of birth of India’s first women governor Sarojini Naidu. Sarojini Naidu was born on 13 February 1879 and died on 2 March 1949. This was the 135th birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu.Her birthday has been selected to be observed as a National Woman Day in recognition of the works done by her for upliftment and development of women in India. Her name and birth date was proposed to celebrate as the National Women’s Day in India by members of Bhartiya Mahila Sangh and Akhil Bhartiya Mahila Sammelan.
About Sarojini Naidu
• Sarojini Naidu is also known as the Nightingale of India
• She was a child prodigy, a poet and an activist during the independence of India
• From 1947 to 1949, she served as the first woman to become the governor of an Indian state of United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
• In 1925, she served as second woman to become President of the Indian National Congress and the first Indian woman to do so
• Naidu joined the Indian national movement after the partition of Bengal in 1905
• In 1928, the British Government awarded her with the medal Naidu Kaiser-i-Hind for her work during the plague epidemic in India
3. Which Indian airline company has signed an agreement to buy 50 Embraer Jets?
Answer: Air Costa
BACKGROUND:
Vijayawada-based airline Air Costa signed an agreement with Brazil-based Embraer for 50 Embraer Jets E2s. The deal has an estimated value of 2.94 billion dollar. Air Costa currently operates a fleet of four aircraft in the southern Indian cities of Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and other cities.
4. Recently Telengana Bill was passed in Lok Sabha. Which state does it divide?
Answer: Andhra Pradesh
BACKGROUND:
The Telengana bill dividing Andhra Pradesh was passed in the Lok Sabha on 18 February 2014. The Lok Sabha passed the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Bill 2014 that aims to create the 29th State of India. The Bill saw the light of the day in the Lok Sabha due to support from the main opposition party in the Lok Sabha Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Moving the bill for consideration and passage, the Centre announced that the Union Government will give special financial package to Seemandhra, residual part of Andhra Pradesh, to address the grievances of the people of Seemandhra region.
5. Which language has the Cabinet recently approved as a Classical Language?
Answer: Odia
BACKGROUND:
Union Cabinet on 20 February 2014 gave its nod for classifying Odia, the official language of Odisha as a classical language to give impetus to scholarships in the language. Odia is the first language from the Indo-Aryan linguistic group to be billed in the list of classical language. The proposal to give Odia a status of classical language was moved by the Culture Ministry. As per the eighth schedule under Articles 344 (1) and 351 Odia (Oriya) of Constitution of India is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India. Odia is the sixth language to be become the classical language of the country. The other five Indian languages that have been declared as the classical languages of which four are Dravidian languages are:
• Tamil was classified in 2004
• Sanskrit was classified in 2005
• Telugu was classified in 2008
• Kannada was classified in 2008
• Malayalam was classified in 2013
The five international languages of the world that has been classified as the classical languages are Chinese, Sanskrit, Arabic, Greek and Latin.
6. Which place in Delhi was ranked as the 8th most expensive office location in the world?
Answer: Connaught Place
BACKGROUND:
Connaught Place (CP) in Delhi was ranked as the world’s eighth most expensive office location in a report released by the Cushman & Wakefield on 18 February 2014. The Connaught Place in Central Delhi fell four places from 4th rank in 2013 due to an appreciation in both the dollar and euro against the rupee in 2013 and also limited activities. London has been ranked as the world’s most expensive office market for the second consecutive year.
7. Which missile was recently test-fired successfully from ITR Complex in Chandipur?
Answer: Akash Missile
BACKGROUND:
India on 21 February 2014 successfully test-fired indigenously developed surface-to-air Akash Missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) launch complex-3 at Chandipur in Odisha coast. The missile that was launched targeted a floating object that was supported by Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA) Lakshya. The intercepting floating object PTA Lakshya aircraft was flown from launch complex-2 at a definite altitude over the sea.
About Akash Missile
The Akash (sky) is an all-weather medium-range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system developed in India. It provides multidirectional and multi-target area defence. The missile system was indigenously developed as part of the integrated guided-missile development programme (IGMDP). In operation from 1983 to 2007, the programme developed a range of missiles, including the Nag, Agni and Trishul missiles and the Prithvi ballistic missile.
8. Which IIT has developed a ready-to-eat food paste for malnourished children?
Answer: Kharagpur
BACKGROUND:
Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur developed ready-to-eat food paste for malnourished children on 16 February 2014. According to UNICEF estimates, one in every three malnourished children in the world lives in India. Malnutrition in early childhood has serious, long-term consequences because it puts them at greater risk of disease and early death. The World Health Organisation has issued guidelines stating that ready-to-use therapeutic foods could be used to manage severe acute malnutrition in community settings. With an estimated 8.1 million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in the country, it was regarded as an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children below five years of age in India.
9. Which country will host the World Bridge Championship in 2015?
Answer: India
BACKGROUND:
World Bridge Championship for Bermuda Bowl (men) and Venice Cup (women) will be hosted by India for the first time in October 2015. This was announced by the World Bridge Federation (WBF). Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Panaji in Goa have been shortlisted to host the World Bridge Championship. About 550 players from 66 countries are expected to be seen in action in this world meet. The World Bridge Federation (WBF) conducts the World Bridge Team Championships every two years. This is the premier tournament in international bridge and sees the top teams from each geographic region competing against one another for the Bermuda Bowl trophy. Additionally, there are separate trophies for the top women`s team as well as the top senior team (D`Orsi Trophy) globally.
10. Name the noted Hindi writer and Jnanpith Award winner who died recently.
Answer: Amar Kant
BACKGROUND:
Hindi writer Amar Kant died due to ill health at his residence in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh on 17 February 2014. He was 89. His short stories and novels portray the common people’s life and often his works were being compared with the legendary Prem Chand.
About Amar Kant
• Amar Kant was born in 1925 in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. Amarkant took active part in the Quit India Movement of 1942.
• Amar Kant prominent novels are Inhin Hathiyaron Se, Katili Raah Ke Phool, Sookha Patta, Kale Ujle and Beech ki Deewar. Other story collections are Zindagi Aur Jonk, Desk Ke Log, Maut Ka Nagar, Mitra Milan and Kuhasa.
• Kant received the 45th Jnanpith Award in 2009 along with Shree Lal Shukla, Hindi satirist of Raag Darbari fame.
• He also won Sahitya Akademi Award in 2007. He won Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Inhi Hathiyaron Se, a voluminous work set against the backdrop of Quit India Movement.
• Kant also received Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan Award, Maithli Sharan Gupta Award and Amarkant Keerti Samman from Madhya Pradesh government and Vyas Samman in 2009.
11. Name the Marathi film which has bagged the Crystal Bear award at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival.
Answer: Killa
BACKGROUND:
Killa, a Marathi film won the Crystal Bear (Glasernen Bar) for the best film award by the Children’s jury in Generation Kplus section at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival. The film has been directed by Avinash Arun.The jury in its citation for the award to the film said that the film deals with the universal conflict of migration and how it impacts the lives of people, especially children made them want to discover India. The film Killa convinced the jury in all respects with good camera work and the great actors.
12. With which mobile company has Bharti Airtel signed an agreement recently?
Answer: Loop Mobile
BACKGROUND:
Largest telecom operator of India Bharti Airtel signed a strategic agreement with Loop Mobile on 18 February 2014. Under the agreement Bharti Airtel will acquire the mobile network and 3 million subscribers of Loop Mobile in Mumbai circle.With this deal, Bharti Airtel will become the largest mobile operator with 7 million subscriber base in Mumbai relegating Vodafone to second position with 6.8 million subscriber base.
13. India and which other country has signed agreements to expand cooperation in Key Areas?
Answer: Bahrain
BACKGROUND:
India and Bahrain signed three agreements in New Delhi during the state visit of Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Kingdom of Bahrain to India. The two sides signed the agreements with a decision to expand their cooperation in key areas that includes trade and business.
14. Which famous company has acquired WhatsApp for 19 billion dollar?
Answer: Facebook
BACKGROUND:
Social media giant Facebook Inc acquired WhatsApp for 19 billion dollars in a cash and stock deal on 19 February 2014. Whatsapp is a mobile messaging company. Under the Agreement:
- WhatsApp co-founder and CEO Jan Koum will join Facebook Board of Directors.
- The acquisition will not impact the WhatsApp’s brand, which will be maintained and the company’s headquarters will remain in California’s Mountain View.
- WhatsApp’s core messaging product and Facebook’s existing messenger app will continue to operate as standalone applications.
- The acquisition price included 4 billion dollars in cash, about 12 billion dollars worth of Facebook shares and 3 billion dollars in restricted stock units to be granted to WhatsApp’s founders and employees.
About WhatsApp
WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. Jan Koum co-founded WhatsApp with Brian Acton in 2009, both former Yahoo executives.
15. With which UN organization has West Bengal recently signed an agreement to launch a campaign about safe drinking water and sanitation?
Answer: UNICEF
BACKGROUND:
West Bengal government and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched a campaign on 20 February 2014 to educate people about safe drinking water and safe sanitation practices. The campaign is meant to generate demand for improved water supply in unreached habitations and gradually provide access to piped water supply for all by 2020. The week-long campaign will be observed from 20 to 25 February across all the districts, blocks and gram panchayats. Various entertainment activities like street play, magic show, puppet show, motivational songs, skits performances by local artists etc will be orgainsed during Gram Mela in each block to educated people. Inadequate access to safe water and sanitation services, coupled with poor hygiene practices, kills and sickens thousands of children every day, and leads to impoverishment and diminished opportunities for thousands more.
16. In which district of Rajasthan was India’s first Minority Cyber Village inaugurated by the Minister for Minority Affairs, Mr. K Rehman Khan?
Answer: Alwar
BACKGROUND:
Chandoli has been selected as the first village for the pilot project as it holds more than 80 percent of minority population and also because the minorities of the Mewat region is still backward in education. The project will be carried in other areas after the success of the pilot project.
About the Cyber Village
• The Cyber village project will provide computer education to people in the age group of 15 to 59.
• Further also, institution under the project will be instituted in the villages with substantial population of minority
• Under this project experts will provide training of commuter skills to the people of chandoli
17. India has called for comprehensive institutional & structural reforms in SAARC at the 35th meet SAARC Foreign Ministers in Maldives. Expand SAARC.
Answer: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
BACKGROUND:
India on 20 February 2014 called on for comprehensive institutional and structural reforms in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).Salman Khurshid, the Union Foreign Minister at the 35th meet of the Foreign Ministers at Bandos Island Resort in Maldives emphasized that there is a need for clearly defining the relations between SAARC and the observer nations.
18. Which bank has signed three health insurance pacts with New India Insurance?
Answer: Bharatiya Mahila Bank
BACKGROUND:
Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) signed Pact with New India Assurance Company on 21 February 2014. The pact aims to deliver three unique innovative health insurance policies for women account holders of the bank. The policies named as BMB-Sakhee, BMB-Nirbhaya and BMB-Parivar Suraksha. The policies will provide customised health insurance package for women. This was the first launch of women centric insurance policies.
19. Which country’s nuclear power plant’s radioactive water leaked recently?
Answer: Japan
BACKGROUND:
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) on 20 February 2014 said that around 100 tonnes of highly radioactive water have leaked from a storage tank at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant. The leakage of the highly contaminated water was discovered on 19 February 2014 and it happened after a valve was left open. This is the latest leak reported at the Fukushima Plant that has seen huge volumes of radioactive water since 2011 quake-tsunami disaster. This leak of the contaminated water will affect waters across the pacific in the foreseeable future.During the incident of earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011 crippled the plant in which the cooling systems for the reactors were knocked by the waves leading to meltdowns at three of them.
20. Who was recently elected PM of Italy?
Answer: Matteo Renzi
BACKGROUND:
Matteo Renzi was sworn-in as Italy’s Prime Minister replacing Enrico Letta, who resigned from the office on 14 February 2014. Apart from this a new cabinet of 16 ministers also took the sworn of their offices at the Presidential palace in Rome. Renzi, 39 is the Italy’s youngest Prime Minister and he is the third prime minister to reach office without winning an election. Renzi belongs to the Democratic Party, who was the former mayor of the Florence. The Renzi’s 16-member cabinet is the smallest cabinet of the country. This cabinet is also the youngest one with an average age of 48. Half of the cabinet ministers are women in Italian history. Italy’s new Finance Minister is Pier Carlo Padoan who is a deputy secretary-general and chief economist of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
21. Name the 12 year old boy of Indian Origin who has developed a low cost Braille Printer.
Answer: Shubham Banerjee
BACKGROUND:
By using a 350 dollar LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 set, he had developed a Braille Printer to help blinds. The invention was named as Braigo, a mash-up of Braille and LEGO. Users can type in letters, and the Braigo’s needle will hammer out the translated message in raised dots on paper. LEGO Mindstorms EV3 is a remarkably powerful and functional robotics kit people of any age can use to build some impressive and complicated projects.
About Braille Printer
Braille printers receive data from computer devices and emboss that information in Braille onto paper through the use of solenoids that control embossing pins.Braille printers typically print on heavyweight paper and use up more pages for the same amount of information than pages printed on a regular printer.They are also slower and noisier. Inter-point printers are Braille printers that emboss Braille on both sides of a page. The price of a Braille printer is directly related to the volume of Braille it produces.
22. Who has recently won the ATP men’s singles tennis title?
Answer: Somdev Devvarman
BACKGROUND:
Somdev Devvarman, the India’s top singles star on 23 February 2014 lifted his third ATP Challenge Tennis title after beating top seed Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-3, 6-1 in the final of the USD 100000 ONGC-GAIL Open in RK Khanna Tennis stadium, New Delhi. This was the fourth Challenger level final for Somdev and the first since 2010, when he achieved success in Izmir, Turkey. His first title came in 2008 in Lexington, USA.
23. Name the Eminent painter who died recently.
Answer: Prokash Karmakar
BACKGROUND:
Prokash Karmakar, an eminent painter died on 24 February 2014 following age-related illness. He was 81. His paintings reflected the degenerating society and the confusion that prevails in modern India. Karmakar was influenced by the works of Picasso and other impressionists of the 19th century Impressionism movement. The term impressionist was coined by Louis Leroy, a French art critic in 1874 based upon the painting impression, Sunrise on Monet’s painting. This term was created to define loose, undefined and unfinished style that was used by Monet and several other artists.
About Prokash Karmakar
• His works are a part of famous galleries like Lalit Kala Akademi in Lucknow and Delhi, National Gallery of Modern Art, Academy of fine Arts in Kolkata
• He started holding street exhibitions in 1956, which brought him into the limelight his and his first exhibition was held in 1959 on the railings of Indian Museum, Calcutta
• He was born in 1933, Kolkata (then Calcutta)
24. Who has won the Protein Science Young Investigator Award for 2014?
Answer: Madan Babu
BACKGROUND:
Madan Babu, an Indian-born scientist, won the Protein Science Young Investigator Award for 2014 at Cambridge, UK on 20 February 2014. The Protein Science Young Investigator Award is given by the Protein Society for important contribution made in the study of proteins. Madan received the award for his contributions to the understanding of the principles of regulation in biological systems, especially in the fields of intrinsically disordered proteins and gene regulation. With this award, he became the first scientist of Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) to win the award. At present Madan Babu heads the Regulatory Genomics and Systems Biology group at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
About the Award
The Award recognises important contributions to the study of proteins, by a scientist in the early stages of an independent career. The award is named after The Protein Society’s academic journal, Protein Science.
25. Name the Committee which has recently submitted its report on New Bank Licences to RBI.
Answer: Bimal Jalan Committee
BACKGROUND:
Bimal Jalan Committee on New Bank Licenses submitted its report to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 25 February 2014. The report contains names of entities eligible for bank licences.The committee was constituted by RBI under the chairmanship of Bimal Jalan in October 2013. RBI had constituted the committee to examine the criteria, business plans and corporate governance practices of applicants applying for new bank Licenses. Other members of the committee are former RBI Deputy Governor Usha Thorat, former Securities and Exchange Board of India Chairman C B Bhave and Nachiket M Mor, Director of the Central Board of Directors of the RBI. The central bank issued guidelines for licensing of new banks on 22 February 2013. There are around 25 players in the group to get bank license, among them primarily are Public sector units, India Post and IFCI and private sector Anil Ambani group and Aditya Birla group. Bajaj Finance, Muthoot Finance, Religare Enterprises and Shriram Capital have also applied. In the past 20 years, the RBI has licensed 12 banks in the private sector in two phases. Ten banks were licensed on the basis of guidelines issued in January 1993. Kotak Mahindra Bank and Yes Bank were the last two entities to get banking licenses from the RBI in 2003—04.
26. According to which UK based NGO,India accounts for 29 percent of newborn deaths globally?
Answer: “Save the Children”
BACKGROUND:
Save the Children, UK-based NGO released a Report titled Ending Newborn Deaths on 25 February 2014. India alone accounts for a 29 percent of the global deaths of newborns on their very first day of birth. The report claimed that about one million babies die every year across the world on their first and only day of life. The report also highlighted that if we end preventable newborn mortality than about two million newborn babies could be saved. The highlights of the report are:
• The report said India made considerable progress in the arena of healthcare during the past decade but glaring inequalities still rule the roost. Theses inequalities stem from geographical, social, cultural, and economic factors.
• Though Under-five mortality, India has reduced more than half since 1990 from 126 per 1000 live births to 56, but it is three times higher among the poorest households of India vis-a-vis the richest. Also the new born mortality over the same period has come down from 51 per 1000 live births to 31 but it is much higher among the poor.
• The world has made amazing progress in reducing child mortality during the past decade, nearly halved from 12 million to 6.6 million.
• 2.9 million Babies died across the world within 28 days of being born in 2012. The number of deaths in this newborn period is four times higher in Africa than it is in Europe.
• 6.6 million Children died before their fifth birthday in 2012, most from preventable causes. This number has almost been halved since 1990, but still means that 18000 children died every day.
• 51 percentages of births in sub-Saharan Africa were not attended by a midwife or other properly qualified health worker and 41 percentages in south-east Asia.
• Meanwhile, Pakistan ranked among the countries with the highest stillbirth rates at 40.7 per 1000 births, followed by Nigeria (32.7), Sierra Leone (30.8) and Somalia (29.7).
27. Name the world’s fastest car which recently recorded a speed of 435 kilometer per hour.
Answer: Venom GT
BACKGROUND:
Engineers of US firm Hennessey have developed the world’s fastest car Venom GT with a top speed of 435 kilometers per hour. The firm set a new record for the fastest car in the world during a test run at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on 25 February 2014 by beating the previous best record of 431 kilometer per hour set by the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.During the test run, the driver Brain Smith broke the record and stopped on 5.1 kilometer stretch of tarmac rather than using a high-speed oval to give the car a running start. Although, Venom GT has broken the record of fastest car of Bugatti but the place in the Guinness book of records will be retained by Bugatti only. The record of Venom will not be entered into the record book because Hennessey has verified the speed independently and the car can only be driven on the NASA landing strip. To replace the record of Bugatti the book requires cars that run in two directions to account for variables including gradients and wind direction.
28. Which Indian airline triggered an airfare war by slashing fares up to 75 percent?
Answer: Spicejet
BACKGROUND:
Spicejet, the low-cost carrier on 24 February 2014 triggered a third round of airfare war by slashing ticket prices up to 75 percent. This facility will be available for its Super Summer Sale to the customers. This step was also followed by its rivals namely GoAir and IndiGo for the same period. In last one month this is the third time that the Kalanithi Maran-promoted carrier took this step to entice the customers.
29. Who has been sworn in as the Prime Minister of Egypt recently?
Answer: Ibrahim Mahlab
BACKGROUND:
Ibrahim Mahlab was sworn in as new Egypt Prime Minister on 25 February 2014. He is a former member of Hosni Mubarak’s political party. Mahlab was the housing minister in the previous administration. He will head Egypt’s sixth government since the 2011 uprising that toppled the govt.Ibrahim Mahlab will replace Hazem el-Beblawi government.
30. Name the company which is to set up an 18 MW Solar Park in Tamil Nadu.
Answer: Sun Edison
BACKGROUND:
Sun Edison a US-based solar energy firm, announced on 25 February 2014 to set up a solar park in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. The 18 megawatt (MW) park will work on a model where parcels of the solar assets will be sold to different customers who wish to own solar plants either captive power consumption or to avail themselves of the accelerated depreciation scheme. The accelerated depreciation schemes helps the owner, write off the cost of the asset as depreciation during the first year of ownership to save taxes and allows to sell the renewable energy credits.
31. Who has been recently appointed the next ONGC chief?
Answer: Dinesh Sarraf
BACKGROUND:
Dinesh Sarraf has been appointed the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on 26 February 2014.The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PSEB) recommended Dinesh K Sarraf as the next head of the country’s most valuable company ONGC.Dinesh Sarraf will replace Sudhir Vasudeva who will be due to retire on 28 February 2014. Sarraf is currently working as the head of OVL. He had successfully transformed ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) into an aggressive overseas firm, stitching 4 deals worth over 11 billion dollar since taking charge of the company. Dinesh Sarraf had previously worked as the director (Finance) of ONGC.
32. Who has won the National Billiard Championship title?
Answer: Sourav Kothari
BACKGROUND:
Sourav Kothari won the National Billiard Championships held in Lucknow on 26 February 2014. He beat Alok Kumar. This is the first maiden title for Saurav Kothari since he turned professional in 2007.
33. On which date, was the National Science Day recently observed across India?
Answer: 28 February
BACKGROUND:
India on 28 February 2014 observed National Science Day to mark the discovery of the Raman Effect by Indian physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (CV Raman). In 2014, the theme of the day is Fostering Scientific Temper and Energy conservation. This day is celebrated every year on this day to spread a message about the significance of scientific applications in the daily life of the people.The National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) in 1986 asked the Government of India to designate 28 February as National Day.
What is Raman Effect?
Raman Effect is also termed as the Raman scattering and it speaks about the change in the wavelength of light (inelastic scattering of a photon) when it passes through a transparent sample of a chemical compound. This change in the wavelength is caused due to deflection of the molecules.The Raman Effect was discovered by CV Raman and for this discovery he was awarded with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. The American Chemical Society in 2013 designated Raman Effect as an International Historic Chemical Landmark. In 1998 the Raman Effect was designated as a National Historic Chemical Landmark in recognition of its significance as a tool for analyzing the composition of liquids, gases and solids.
34. Anamaddhi Hanamachhaastri died recently. Who was he?
Answer: A renowned Telugu writer
BACKGROUND:
Anamaddhi Hanamachhaastri, the renowned Telugu writer died in Kapada town of Andhra Pradesh. He was 90. • He wrote over 30 books in Telugu, which includes Maa seema Kavulu, Vidurudu, Tyaagamoorthulu and Mahasoudham
• For his contribution to Telugu literature, he was conferred with a doctorate by Telugu University Hyderabad
• In memory of CP Brown, he established a library in Kadapa. Brown was a British officer who helped to preserve ancient Telugu manuscripts
• He was born on 5 September 1926 in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh
35. Who has won the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2013?
Answer: Chandi Prasad Bhatt, the noted Gandhian environmentalist and social activist won the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2013 on 28 February 2014.
BACKGROUND:
• Bhatt was one of the pioneers of the Chipko movement (His founded Dasholi Gram Swarajya Sangh became the mother-organisation to Chipko movement) for which he was awarded with the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1982
• In 2005, he was awarded with Padma Bhushan
• He was born in 1934
• He is known for his work on Subaltem social ecology and in one of the first modern environmentalists
Chipko Movement
A decision of a group of peasants in a remote Himalayan village (Reni village of Chamoli, Uttrakhand) to stop a group of loggers from felling a patch of trees has been termed as Chipko Movement. The name was dubbed as the protesters hugged trees to protect them from being felled. This landmark struggle to protect trees started on 27 March 1973 and can be considered as the modern Indian environmental movement.
About Gandhi Peace Prize
The government of India launched the International Gandhi Peace Prize in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It is a very prestigious Award and carries an amount of 10 million rupees, a citation and a Plaque. The Award is selected by a Jury under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister.
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