Weekly Current Affairs (28th Jan to 3rd Feb, 2013) NATIONAL 1.

India, Rwanda ink MoU in Water Resources Development and Management India and Rawanda inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral co-operation in Water Resources Development and Management. The pact targets various areas of co-operation with focus on planning, design and implementation of marshland and hillside irrigation, watershed management, water governance, and training and capacity building of farmers and functionaries in the water sector. Objective: To realize the goal of achieving food security in Rwanda and thereby to encourage further the already existing amicable relations b/w the two nations. Rwanda, (the Republic of Rwanda): A sovereign state in central and east Africa. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 2. Indias first ebiz government-to-business portal launched Promoting the National e-Governance Plan, the Govt the launch of an eBiz portal which will offer Government-to-Business (G2B) services for Indias investor and business communities. Developed by: Infosys in a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) mode. Objective: The portal provides a single-window service to enable businesses and investors to save time and costs and improve the business environment. Government-to-Business (G2B) services for Indias investor and business communities. A 247 facility for information and services, and will also offer joined-up services where a single application submitted by a customer, for a number of permissions, clearances, approvals and registrations, will be routed automatically across multiple governmental agencies in a logical manner. 3. India successfully test fires K-5 ballistic missile from underwater India has advanced towards completing its nuclear triad capability by successfully test firing a nuclear-capable medium range K-5 ballistic missile from an underwater platform in Bay of Bengal. Once complete, the nuclear triad will render India the ability to fire nuclear-loaded missiles from land, air and sea. It is the first underwater missile to have been fully developed by India and can be launched from a submarine. 4. BHEL and GAIL Granted Maharatna Status by the Union Government of India Eligibility of a company to get a Maharatna status For any company to qualify for Maharatna status, the annual turnover should be over 25000 crore Rupees in past three years, as per the guidelines issued by Department of Public Enterprises. The net worth of the PSU should be more than 15000 crore Rupees in past three years. The net profit should be over 5000 crore Rupees during past three years. 5. Section 126 of the Representation of the People, 1951 prohibits displaying any election matter by means, inter alia, of television or similar apparatus, during the period of 48 hours before the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in a constituency. Violation of the

Weekly Current Affairs (28th Jan to 3rd Feb, 2013) aforesaid provisions of Section 126 is punishable with imprisonment upto a period of two years, or with fine or both. 6. The Union Cabinet has approved the proposals submitted by the Department of Personnel & Training for moving official amendments to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 as reported by the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha. 7. Lok Sabha has passed Whistle Blowers Protection Bill 2011 to protect identity of whistleblowers and safeguard against their victimization. Further, Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Bill 2011 has been introduced in Parliament. The Bill elaborately covers definition of benami property and transaction, and prohibits benami transactions. The bill has called for the stringent punishment for benami transactions.

INTERNATIONAL 1. Britain vulnerable to triple-dip recession With the shriveling of Britains economy shrank by 0.3% in the final quarter of 2012 and 0% growth in its GDP for the year as a whole, the country is facing an elevated risk of a triple dip recession. UK is grappling with the economic problems created by the high debt inherited by the government and eurozone crisis. There are fears that if Britains economy shrinks also in the current first quarter then the country might enter its third recession since the 2008 global financial crisis. Britain is not a member of the eurozone but has been affected by the neighboring blocs ongoing financial crisis. The activity has been impacted also by deficit curbing austerity measures from the nations Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government. 2. US Senators introduce Malala Yousufzai Scholarship Act A bill in the name of Pakistani peace activist MalalaYousafzai has been introduced by two top American Senators. The legislation named Malala Yousufzai Scholarship Act is aimed at expanding scholarship opportunities for disadvantaged young women in Pakistan. 3. Milos Zeman won the Czech Republic Presidential Election 2013 As per the Czech Republic Presidential election results declared on 25 January 2013, Milos Zeman won and thus became the countrys first elected President through direct elections. He won 55 percent as compared with 45 percent of Karel Schwarzenberg. Milos Zeman is the former Prime Minister of Czech Republic and head of the Citizens Rights Party while Karel Schwarzenberg is foreign minister in the present centre-right coalition government. Zeman succeeds Vaclav Klaus.The main issues in the election were anti-corruption measures, national security, accession to the eurozone, appointment of judges and Presidential pardons of convicts. ECONOMY 1. India to grow at 5.9% in 2013: IMF
As per the projections of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Indias economy is expected to expand at the rate of 5.9% in 2013 and a higher growth of 6.4% in 2014 in line with the modest strengthening of global economic outlook.

Weekly Current Affairs (28th Jan to 3rd Feb, 2013) 2. RBI relaxes rules for FII in debt The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has notified certain relaxations in the rules for FII in debt, these are: The investment limit in Government Securities (G-Secs) by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and long-term investors has been enhanced by $5 billion to $25 billion from current $20 billion. The investment limit in corporate bonds by FIIs has also been increased by $5 billion $50 billion from current $45 billion. 3. RBI cuts repo rate and CRR, slashes growth forecast to 5.5% The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) eased its tight monetary policy by slashing its key interest rates by 0.25% and released Rs 18,000 crore additional liquidity into the system to stimulate growth through reduced cost of borrowing. RBI cut the Repo Rate by 0.25% to 7.75% and Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) by similar margin to 4%. The cut in repo rate is expected to bring down the borrowing rates individuals and corporate. The slash in CRR, which is the portion of deposits that banks have to keep with RBI, would enhance the availability of funds. The RBI, however, has cut down the growth projections for the current financial year to 5.5% from its earlier estimate of 5.8% 4. The Eight core industries (Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Petroleum Refinery, Fertilizer, Steel, Cement and Electricity) have a combined weight of 37.90 per cent in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The combined Index was 154.6 in December 2012 with a growth rate of 2.6% compared to their 4.9% growth in December 2011. The decline in growth in December, 2012 was on account of negative growth witnessed in the production of Coal, Natural Gas and Fertilizers. PERSONS 1. Kirti Chakra to Army Major Abup J Manjali Major Abup J Manjali of the Rashtriya Rifles has been awarded the Kirti Chakra on this Republic Day for the exhibition of exceptional valor in counter- terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Manjali is the only soldier to be awarded the second- highest peacetime gallantry award Kirti Chakra on this Republic Day. AWARDS 1. At 105, Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan is the oldest to get Padma Award Hindustani vocalist Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan (105) has become the oldest person to be chosen for this years Padma Shri award. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. India to test fire sub-sonic missile Nirbhay As per Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India would test fire sub-sonic, medium range cruise missile Nirbhay in Feb 2013. The missile is being developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a DRDO lab. Nirbhay: 1. All-weather low-cost medium-range cruise missile with stealth and high accuracy. 2. Range of 1,000 km.

Weekly Current Affairs (28th Jan to 3rd Feb, 2013) 3. It will carry a ring laser gyroscope for high-accuracy navigation and a radio altimeter for the height determination. 4. Capable of being launched from multiple platforms on land, sea and air and shall be inducted into Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force. 5. Capable of carrying nuclear warheads. 6. Capable of flying at different altitudes ranging from 500 m to 4 km above the ground. 7. Good loitering capability, control and guidance with high degree of accuracy for maximum impact. 8. Nirbhay will supplement the Brahmos cruise missile by carrying warheads beyond the 300-km range. 2. NASA Scientists Discovered a 10-M-Year Old Star That Could Still Produce Giant Planets Scientists from NASA in the last week of January 2013 discovered an old star called TW Hydrae, which they believe could create new planets even now. TW Hydrae is 176 light years away from the Earth. NASA announced that the disk of material which surrounds TW Hydrae could be huge enough for creating the planets in a number which could be larger than our solar system. The findings were created using the Herschel Space Telescope of European Space Agency, in the mission where NASA is also a participant. SPORTS 1. Djokovic first ever to win 3 consecutive Australian Open mens singles titles The Serbian professional tennis player Novak Djokovic became the first man to win three successive Australian Open titles in the professional era when he beat Andy Murray in the finals of mens singles at Australian Open 2013 2. Bryan brothers clinch mens doubles Australian Open 2013 American siblings Bob and Mike Bryan clinched the mens doubles title in Australian Open 2013. The pair defeated the Dutch team of Robin Haase and Igor Sijsling to win their record 13th Grand Slam doubles title. 3. Victoria Azarenka lifts Australian Open 2013 womens title Belarus tennis star Victoria Azarenka vanquished Chinese opponent Li Na to clinch the 2013 title of Australian Open for the second successive time.