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August 2013 Current Affairs Study Material

INTERNATIONAL
Bangladesh
Court
Disqualifies
Jamaat-e-Islami
Party
On 1 August a Bangladesh court has disqualified the countrys largest Islamic party from taking part in the next
general election.The High Court panel ruled that the opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami partys regulations
violate the constitutional provision of secularism.
Robert
Mugabe
Re-elected
As
President
Of
Zimbabwe
On 3 August Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front), the political party of the incumbent
President Robert Mugabe has won the Presidential election of Zimbabwe .Mugabe won 61 percent of the vote
against the 34 percent won by the Morgan Tsvangirai, the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe of Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) party.With this win, Mugabe has won his seventh term to the office of the President
of Zimbabwe .Robert Mugabe is one of the leaders of the guerrilla movements against white-minority rule of
Zimbabwe and was elected to power in 1980.
China
Built
Port
Terminal
Opens
In
Sri
Lanka
On 5 August Sri Lankas President, Mahinda Rajapakse declared open the new International Container
Terminal of the Colombo harbour.The $500 million Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) was built
by China Merchants Holdings.The new South Port is the only harbor in South Asia that can accommodate the
Triple-E Class vessels.85-pct of the investment is by CICT and the remaining 15-pct has been funded by the by
the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
Ibrahim
Boubacar
Keita
Elected
As
New
President
of
Mali
On 12 August Former Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was elected as President of Mali.He won the

Malis Presidential elections , after his opponent and Ex-Finance Minister Soumala Cisse, conceded defeat. He
was Prime Minister of Mali from 1994 to 2000 and President of the National Assembly of Mali from 2002 to
2007. He founded a political party, Rally for Mali (RPM), in 2001 and he has led the party since then. In addition
to serving in the National Assembly, Keita was a member of the Parliament of the Economic Community of
West African States.
Britain
Parliament
Votes
Against
Possible
Military
Action
In
Syria
On 29 August the Britain Parliament rejected a proposal for military action in Syria .By a 285 to 272 margin
British MPs rejected the governments motion to support in principle military action against Syria.

INDIA & WORLD

India
Signs
DTAC
protocol
with
Morocco
On 8 August India signed a Protocol amending the India Morocco Double Taxation Avoidance Convention
(DTAC) in New Delhi .The Protocol was signed by Dr Sudha Sharma, Chairperson, Central Board of Direct
Taxes on behalf of Government of India and H.E. Mr. Larbi Reffouh, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to
India on behalf of Government of the Kingdom of Morocco.The Protocol is based on international standards of
transparency and exchange of information. It provides for effective exchange of information including banking
information between tax authorities of the two countries.
5th
India

China
Strategic
Dialogue
Held
In
Delhi
The 5th India-China Strategic Dialogue was held at New Delhi on 20 August .The Indian side was led by
Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and the Chinese side was led by Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin.The two
sides discussed several issues including enhancing understanding on the utilization of trans-border river
waters, expanding bilateral trade and investment while addressing problems of the large and growing deficit
faced by India, ways of maintaining peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the IndiaChina border areas, methods of boosting cultural cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges and
expansion of scientific and technological cooperation.
India
Third
Largest
Internet
Using
Nation
On 21 August According to research firm com Score latest report titled India Digital Future in Focus 2013 ,
India with 73.9 million Net users is the worlds third largest Internet population, overtaking Japan (4th position)
but behind China (First position) and the US. (Second position) Riding on a 31 per cent year-on-year increase,
Indias online population grew to 73.9 million.With an extended online universe in excess of 145 million the
market is at a tipping point for online businesses.India overtook Japan by adding 17.6 million users in 2012.
Indians
Third
Largest
Immigrant
Group
In
US
On 23 August According to the Migration Policy Institute latest study report , Indians have emerged as the thirdlargest immigrant group in the US behind Mexicans and Chinese, with nearly 1.9 million of them living in the
country.Indian population in the US has grown to over 150 times its size since 1960, when the slightly more
than 12,000 Indian immigrants represented less than 0.5 per cent of the total immigrant population of 9.7
million immigrants.Till 2011, Indian-born immigrants accounted for almost five per cent (1.86 million) of
Americas 40.4 million immigrants.Almost one-third of all Indian immigrants resided in just two states- California
and New Jersey.More than a quarter of them lived in three major metropolitan areas- New York, Chicago and
San Jose.Two per cent of all unauthorised immigrants in the United States were also from India.
India
and
Iraq
Signed
Energy
Cooperation
Agreement
On 23 August India and Iraq signed an agreement on energy cooperation to boost the bilateral ties.The
agreement was signed along with three other agreements after comprehensive talks between Prime Minister
Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on strategic bilateral, regional and international
issues. Iraq is an important Gulf nation and has emerged as Indias second largest crude oil supplier after
Saudi Arabia.

India
Announced
Rs
5,000
crore
For
Bhutan
On 31 August India announced an aid of Rs 5,000 crore, including a special package of Rs 500 crore, for
Bhutan as part of commitment to its continued socio-economic development, a move that assumes significance
against the backdrop of unease in the bilateral ties recently. India will contribute Rs 4500 crore towards
Bhutans 11th Plan, as well as Rs 500 crore towards an Economic Stimulus Package.The decision was
announced after talks in NewDelhi between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Bhutan Prime Minister
Tshering Tobgay.

NATIONAL
India
Lost
220
Languages
In
Last
50
Years
On 9 August A two-year survey by Bhasha Research and Publication Centre based in Vadodara has revealed
that India has lost around 20 per cent of its languages over the last 50 years.Officials of the survey, called the
Peoples Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI) has held that the country had 1,100 languages in 1961 of which 220
have vanished. The survey has found 780 languages and might have missed another 100, which makes it
around 880.The 1961 census had recorded that India had 1,652 languages in all but the number was narrowed
down to 1,100 later for variants of same languages were also included in the list. The 1971 census registered
only 108 languages for it was decided that only those languages with over 10,000 speakers will be included.
Rajya Sabha Passed The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2012
On 13 August Rajya Sabha passed a bill to make registration of marriages mandatory.The Registration of
Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2012, which was passed by Rajya Sabha, seeks to provide compulsory
registration of marriages irrespective of religion. The registration of marriages will not apply to those who have
registered their marriage under any other law.At present, there is provision for registration of only births and
deaths.
Lok
Sabha
Passed
National
Food
Security
Bill,
2013
On 26 August Lok Sabha passed the National Food Security Bill, 2013.The Bill seeks to give legal rights to get
subsidized grains every month to 67 percent of the overall population (of which 75 percent is rural and 50
percent is urban population).A beneficiary will be entitled to 5 kg of rice, wheat or coarse cereals at Rs. 3, Rs. 2
and Re. 1 per kg a month, respectively.The beneficiaries will be identified by the States based on parameters
prescribed by the Union government.Once the Bill gets its nod in the Rajya Sabha and Presidents accent,
India will join the selected league of countries that guarantee food grants to a majority of its population.
Rajya
Sabha
Passed
The
Marriage
Laws
(Amendment)
Bill,
2010
On 26 August the Rajya Sabha passed The Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010 was passed by voice
vote .It seeks to amend the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and the Special Marriages Act, 1954 which provides for
irretrievable breakdown on marriage as a ground for divorce as well as grants women the right to a share in the
property of their husbands.Under the new bill, a provision has been made to restrict the grant of decree of
divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage if the court is satisfied that adequate provision for
the maintenance of children born out of the marriage has not been made consistently with the financial
capacities of the parents.
Lok
Sabha
Passed
Land
Acquisition
Bill

The Lok Sabha passed the landmark land acquisition and rehabilitation bill on 29 August 2013 that aims to
provide fair compensation to those whose land is taken, brings transparency to the process and details
measures for rehabilitation of those displaced.The bill, which will now be called, The Right to Fair
Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2012, replaced a
nearly 120-year-old law enacted during British rule in 1894.
Companies
Bill
2013
Receives
Presidents
Assent
The new Companies Bill has received Presidents assent, that will make it into a law replacing the nearly sixdecade old regulations that govern corporates in the country.The Companies Bill 2013 received assent from the

President Pranab Mukherjee on 29 August 2013.The Companies Bill 2012 was passed in Rajya Sabha on 8
August 2013 . Earlier, the bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 18 December 2012. With the Presidents
assent, the Companies Bill 2012 became the Companies Act, 2013 (New Act).The new Bill, providing for
sweeping changes in the way companies operate and are regulated in the country, received Parliamentary
approval earlier this month. It would replace the Companies Act 1956.

STATES
Karnataka
Becomes
First
State
To
Establish
Calamities
Relief
Fund
On 5 August Karnataka Government has become the first state in the country to establish State Natural
Calamities Relief fund of Rs. 125 crore.The Relief Fund will provide for a natural calamities relief fund which
would provide for building capital assets and relief in respect of man-made disasters that are not covered under
the state disaster response fund guidelines of the Government of India.
First
Public
Sector
Breast
Milk
Bank
Inaugurated
In
Kolkata
On 7 August A modern and sophisticated breast milk bank was inaugurated at the state-run Seth Sukhlal
Karnani Memorial Hospital (SSKM) by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee . This novel scheme was
launched to cater to the basic needs of a child who is just born, but does not get the milk from the mother or
when the mother dies after giving birth to the child.The breast milk bank would help specially to non-lactating
mothers. The stored milk can be used to feed babies whose mothers fall ill during the six-month lactating period
after pregnancy.
Indias
First
Cyber
Forensic
Laboratory
(CFL)
Established
In
Tripura
The first Cyber Forensic Laboratory (CFL) of India was established in Tripura on 11 August .The lab was
established at the Tripura High Court and the purpose of the lab is to facilitate information related to court
cases. The CFL was inaugurated by Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B. Lokur.
Agar-Malwa
Becomes
The
51st
District
Of
Madhya
Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh government gave nod to creation of the new district of Agar-Malwa, taking the number of
districts in the state to 51.The district will come into existence on 16 August.The new district will be created by
bifurcating Shajapur district; it will comprise the tehsils of Agar, Badoud, Susner and Nalkheda. Headquarters
would be at Agar town.Spread over 2,785 square km, Agar-Malwa will have population of 4.80 lakh.
Sonia
Sonia
Gandhi
Launches
Food
Security
Scheme
In
Delhi
On 20 August Congress president Sonia Gandhi launched the Centre-Sponsored Food security scheme on
the occasion of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis 69th birth Anniversary.Delhi was the first state to
implement the scheme.Under the scheme, a total of 73.5 lakh people will get foodgrain at highly subsidised
rates.The food security programme would provide subsidised grains for 67 per cent of the population and would
see government spending an estimated Rs. 1,25,000 crore to supply 62 million tonnes of grains. Under the
scheme, beneficiaries would get wheat at Rs. 2 a kg, rice at Rs. 3 a kg and coarse grain at Rs. 1 a
kg.Congress party ruled northern states Haryana and Uttarakhand have also launched this scheme.
Maharashtra
Cabinet
Approved
Anti-Black
Magic
and
Superstition
Ordinance
On 21 August the Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the Anti-Black Magic and Superstition Ordinance after
the death of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar.The decision was taken by the state cabinet in wake
up of the protests that followed after the murder of Dabhokar in Pune on 20 August 2013.Dabholkar was at the
forefront of a campaign to persuade the Maharashtra government to pass an anti-superstition and black magic
bill.
Rajasthan Government Laid Foundation Stone For Worlds Largest Solar Park
On 21 August State Government of Rajasthan laid the foundation stone for worlds biggest solar park at Bhadla
of Jodhpur District of Rajasthan.The solar park with generation capacity of 3000 MW would be commissioned

in phased manner. In its first phase the solar park will generate 1000 MW.Solar Park would be established in 10
thousand hectare land and Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide 3000 crore rupees loan for
development of transmission lines of this solar park.

CONFERENCES
BRICS
Business
Council
Meeting
Held
In
Johannesburg
The first BRICS Business Council Meeting was held on 19 20 August 2013 in Johannesburg , South
Africa.The objective of the meet is aiming to increase the trade and investment ties between participating
economies.The two-day meeting was attended by the Chairpersons of the respective chapters of the BRICS
Business Council that attended the meeting are: Jose Rubens de la Rosa (Brazil), Sergey Katyrin (Russian
Federation), Onkar Kanwar (India) and MA Zehua (China).The meeting was chaired by Patrice Motsepe,
Chairman of the South African and BRICS Business Council.In a joint statement following the first BRICS
Business Council meeting ,the council made several recommendations includes urging governments to
facilitate convenience in expediting multiple entry business visas for longer periods, as well as considering a
proposal to create a BRICS business travel card ; Enhancing connectivity; and Creating a BRICS business
portal, which will be facilitated by the BRICS Business Council Secretariat, among others.The council has
agreed to work together in areas such as infrastructure, mining and mineral beneficiation, value-added
manufacturing development, skills development and sustainable development.BRICS an acronym for the
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa group of countries.The BRICS Business Council was established
during the 2013 BRICS Summit in Durban in March, with South African businessman Patrice Motsepe named
chairman of the body.
Second
ASEAN
Defence
Ministers
Meeting

Plus
Held
In
Brunei
The 2nd ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus has concluded in Brunei on 29 August .Defense ministers
from ASEAN signed a declaration of commitment to enhance peace and security in the Asia-Pacific
region.They committed to adhere to the principles of equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit and respect for
international laws in the handling of disputes. The defense ministers also agreed to promote better
understanding and confidence-building measures among defense establishments.ASEAN Defence ministers
meeting firstly convened in Vietnams capital Hanoi on October 12, 2010, the regional event has involved 18
member states, including ministers from the 10 ASEAN nations.ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus was
established in 2010.This forum is convened every two years.The third ADMM-Plus is scheduled to be held in
Malaysia in 2015.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Malayalam
Poetess
Sugathakumari
Awarded
With

Saraswati
Samman
2013

On 2 August Renowned Malayalam poetess and social activist Sugathakumari has been conferred with the
prestigious Saraswati Samman 2012 for Manalezhuthu (the Writings on the Sand), a collection of poems in
Malayalam.Manalezhuthu was published in the year 2006.Saraswati Samman Award was instituted by KK Birla
Foundation in 1991.This award is given every year to the literary work in any Indian language which is the part
of Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
US
Presidential
Medal
To
Bill
Clinton
and
Oprah
Winfrey
On 8 August Barack Obama, the US President would confer the Presidential Medal of Freedom on former US
President, Bill Clinton and talk show queen, Oprah Winfrey. It is the highest civilian honour of America.
Indian
American
Professor
Received
Top
US
Environmental
Award
On 16 August An Indian American professor of biological and agricultural engineering has been recognised by

a top US environmental and water resources institute for his pioneering work in hydrology. Vijay P Singh,
professor and Caroline ; William N Lehrer distinguished chair in the department of biological and agricultural
engineering at Texas A&M University, was named a recipient of the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award by the
American Society of Civil Engineers Environmental and Water Resources Institute (ASCE-EWRI).Singh is an
internationally recognised and pre-eminent engineer specialising in water resources engineering and hydrology.
His work has developed the application of kinematic wave theory to the point where it is widely used throughout
the world in hydrologic models used for water resource modelling, flood planning and hydrologic design.
Harshwanti Bisht Selected For Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal 2013
On 12 August Professor of economics, and conservationist, and mountaineer Dr. Harshwanti Bisht has been
selected to receive the Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal 2013.The award is presented for
remarkable service in the conservation of culture and nature in mountainous regions.In 2003 the Sir Edmund
Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal was initiated by unanimous resolution of the Namche Conference: Parks,
People and Mountain Tourism.
Malala
Yousafzai
Wins
International
Childrens
Peace
Prize
On 27 August Pakistani school pupil and education activist Malala Yousafzai won the International Childrens
Peace Prize 2013. The peace prize carries a cash value of 100000 euros (133000 US dollars) which is
invested in projects relating to the winners cause. The International Childrens Peace Prize is an initiative of
the Amsterdem-based Dutch KidsRights Foundation. It was launched in the year 2005 by former Soviet
President Mikhail Gorbachev, when he chaired the Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome. Since then, the
prize has been awarded every year by a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. The prize is presented annually to an
exceptional child, whose courageous or otherwise remarkable actions have made a difference in countering
problems, which affect children around the world.
Mandela
Is
The
First
Recipient
Of
Mahathir
Award

For
Global
Peace
On 27 August Former South African President Nelson Mandela was awarded the first Lifetime Campaigner for
Peace and Freedom of the Mahathir Award for Global Peace .Current South African President Jacob Zuma
received the award on behalf of Mandela, who is in a critical condition in a hospital in Pretoria.The Mahathir
Award for Global Peace is a peace award instituted by the Mahathir Global Peace Foundation. The foundation
was formed to contribute to worldwide peace efforts.Mahathir bin Mohamad is a Malaysian politician who was
the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia. He held the post for 22 years from 1981 to 2003, making him Malaysias
longest serving Prime Minister.

SPORTS & GAMES

India
Won
Bronze
Medal
at
Junior
Women
Hockey
World
Cup
On 4 August Indian Junior Women Hockey team won its first ever Bronze medal in ERGO Hockey Junior World
Cup at Monchengladbac, Germany .India defeated England by 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out.Indian forward Rani
was declared the Best Player of the ERGO Junior Women Hockey World Cup 2013.The Netherland team won
the final against Argentina and clinched the trophy for a record third time.
Parimarjan
Negi
Won
Politiken
Cup
On 4 August Indian Grandmaster Parimarjan won the Denmarks Politiken Cup at Copenhagen, Denmark by
gaining 9 out of the total possible 10 points. He defeated the seventh seed, Italian Sabino Brunello in just 31
moves of Ruy Lopez.
Jadeja
First
Indian
After
Kumble
To
Top
ODI
Bowlers
List
On 4 August Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja became the first Indian bowler to top the bowlers chart in the
latest ICC ODI Player Rankings after former captain Anil Kumble claimed the pole position way back in
1996.Overall, Jadeja is the fourth India bowler after Kapil Dev (March 1989), Maninder Singh (December 1987November 1988) and Kumble to claim the number-one spot in ODIs.

Franklin
Wins
Record
6
Golds
at
World
Swimming
Championships
On 5 August American swimmer Missy Franklin became the first woman to win six gold medals at a worldchampionships.She claimed her record sixth gold medal of the world championships , swimming the leadoff leg
for the Americans in the 400-meter medley relay in Barcelona, Spain.Missy Franklin won four golds and a
bronze at the 2012 London Games, joins American men Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz as well as German
woman Kristin Otto with six golds in either a world or Olympic competition.Franklin became the winningest
female swimmer ever at a world meet, eclipsing the record that was shared by Tracy Caulkins, who won five
times in 1978, and Libby Trickett, who did it in 2007.
PV
Sindhu
Won
Bronze
Medal
at
World
Badminton
Championships
On 10 August Indian shuttler P V Sindhu lost to the Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in the semi-final match at
the World Badminton Championships at Guangzhou, China.P V Sindhu now became the only second Indian
singles player to win a medal after Prakash Padukone .Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa had won the
doubles bronze in London in 2011.
World
Badminton
Championship
2013
Winners
Womens Singles :- Thailands Ratchanok Intanon won the womens singles title ,after defeated Li Xuerui
(China) in the final at the World Badminton Championships at Guangzhou.This is the first time any shuttler from
Thailand
has
won
a
gold
at
the
Worlds
in
any
category.
Mens Singles :- Chinas Lin Dan reinforced his claim to being the greatest badminton player in history after he
defeated arch rival Malaysian Lee Chong Wei in the World Championship final to become the first man to win
five world singles titles.
Rogers
Cup
Tennis
Tournament
2013
Winners
Womens Singles :- On 11 August Serena Williams (U.S) won the Rogers Cup Tennis Tournament Womens
singles title ,after defeated Romanias Sorana Cirstea in the final at Montreal (Canada).Serena Williams won
the
Rogers
Cup
womens
title
for
the
third
time.
Mens Singles :- Rafael Nadal (Spain) won his third Rogers Cup Mens Singles title , after defeated Canadas
Milos Raonic in the final.
Marion
Bartoli
Retires
From
Tennis
On 14 August Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli of France announces her retirement from professional
tennis.She announced the retirement after losing in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters to Romanias
Simona Halep. She is ranked seventh in the world.Besides Wimbledon 2013, Bartoli won seven other WTA
Tour titles, the first one was in Auckland in 2006. Recently she won two tournaments both in 2011 at
Eastbourne and Osaka, Japan, prior to Wimbledon.
2013
World
Championships
in
Athletics
Winners
The 14th World Championships in Athletics are held in Moscow, Russia from 1018 August 2013. Russia (17
medals )topped the medal table with seven gold, four silver, and six bronze medals.The US (25 medals) came
in second place at the event, receiving six gold, 13 silver, and six bronze medals. Jamaica (19 medals )placed
third, with its athletes earning six gold, two silver, and one bronze.
Winners
Of
The
2013
World
Championships
in
Athletics
:* Jamaicas Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce both won three gold medals in the mens and womens
100 m, 200 m and 4 x 100 m relay respectively to become the most successful athletes at the event.Usain Bolt
moved to the top of the all-time World Championships medal table by winning three gold medals.It was Bolts
second three gold performance at the World Championships.With this victory Usain Bolt has joined the club of
highest (8) gold medal winners list along with American womens 200m specialist Allyson Felix, and retired US
track
stars
Carl
Lewis
and
Michael
Johnson
including
relays.
* Christina Obergfoll of Germany won the womens javelin title with a throw of 69.05 metres .
* French athlete Teddy Tamgho claimed gold in the mens triple jump event ,, with a jump measuring 18.04m.
* In the Mens 1, 500 metres race Kenyan Asbel Kiprop ( 3min:36.2 sec) won the gold and Eunice Jepkoech
Sum
of
Kenya
won
gold
in
Womens
800
metres
race
(1min
:57.38
sec)
*
Womens
10,000
meters
Race
:Tirunesh
Dibaba
(Ethiopia)
*Mens 10,000 meters Race :- Double Olympic champion Mo Farah of Britain created history once again in
Moscow as he became the first British man to win a 10,000m world title.The Somalia-born Mo Farah went

down in the history books as just the second man to win the 5000 and 10,000m races at the Olympics and the
world
championships.
*
Mens
20
kilometres
Walk
:Aleksandr
Ivanov
(Russia)
* Womens Marathon :- Kenyas Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat becomes the first women in history to defend her
world
championship
marathon
title.
* Shot put :- New Zealands Valerie Adams has become the first woman to win four individual world athletics
titles
in
the
same
event.
*
Mens
110
metres
Hurdles
:David
Oliver
(USA)
*
Mens
400metres
Hurdles
:Jehu
Gordon
(Trinidad)
*
Womens
400
metres
Hurdles
:Zuzana
Hejnova
(Czech
Republic
)
* Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva won gold..Yelena Isinbayeva is a two-time Olympic gold medalist
(2004 and 2008), a three-time World Champion (2005, 2007 and 2013), the current world record holder in the
event, who is widely considered the greatest female pole-vaulter of all time.
Cincinnati
Tennis
Tournament
2013
Winners
Womens Singles :- On 18 August Victoria Azarenka of Belarus won the Cincinnati Tennis Tournament
womens singles title.Azarenka defeated Serena Williams of the U.S in the final at Cincinnati (U.S )
Mens Singles :- In the Mens category Rafael Nadal (Spain) has won the Cincinnati Tennis Tournament title
for the first time.He defeated John Isner (U.S) in the final.Nadals five Masters titles this season are a career
best. Hes tied with Novak Djokovic for most Masters titles in a season since 1990. Hes won seven of the nine
Masters events during his career.
Sania
Mirza

Jie
Zheng
pair
Won
New
Haven
Open
Title
On 24 August Indias Sania Mirza won the womens doubles title at the New Haven Open Tennis tournament
along with her partner Jie Zheng of China.Sania and Jie defeated the pair of Anabel Medina Garrigues (Spain)
and Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) in the final at Yale.This is Sania Mirzas 17th WTA doubles title and the third
Title in 2013.
Australias
Aaron
Finch
Hits
T20
World
Record
Australian batsman Aaron Finch hit a new record in Twenty20 Internationals in Southampton (England), when
he scored 156 runs off 63 balls against England at Southampton on 29 August.Finch mashed 14 sixes and 11
fours in his innings and surpassed the previous international record of 123, scored by New Zealands Brendon
McCullum.In the process he also became the first Australian to score a T20 international century.

ECONOMY
Union
Cabinet
Approved
the
Setting
up
of
Bharatiya
Mahila
Bank

On 8 August the Union Cabinet approved the proposal for setting up of Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) with
an initial corpus of Rs 1,000 crore.The proposed bank will be headquartered in New Delhi.The Mahila Bank will
start with 6 branches one each in north, south, east, west, central and north eastern part of the country.The
proposed bank is likely to begin operations by November this year.
India Signed Agreement With World Bank For Low Income Housing Finance Project
On 14 August the government of India and the World Bank signed a $100 million credit agreement aimed at
helping low-income households in Indian cities access loans to purchase, build or upgrade their dwellings.The
Low Income Housing Finance Project would be implemented by the National Housing Bank (NHB).The credit
agreement for the Low Income Housing Finance Project was signed between the Government of India,
National Housing Bank (NHB) and World Bank in New Delhi.
Muslims
Have
Lowest
Living
Standard
In
India
According to the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) study titled Employment and Unemployment
Situation Among Major Religious Groups in India among various religious groups,Muslims have the lowest
living
standard
in
the
country

* According to the survey data , Muslims average per capita expenditure of just Rs 32.66 in a day.At the other
end of the spectrum, Sikh community enjoys a much better lifestyle as the average per capita spending among
them is Rs 55.30 per day, while the same for Hindus is Rs 37.50. For Christians it is Rs 51.43.
* At all-India level, the average monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) of a Sikh household was Rs 1,659 while
that for a Muslim household was Rs 980 in 2009-10.The average MPCE for Hindus and Christians were Rs
1,125 and Rs 1,543, respectively.The survey said that average monthly per capita consumption at all-India
level was Rs 901 in villages and Rs1,773 in cities. Overall, the average MPCE was Rs 1,128.
* Muslims were at the bottom in rural areas, with an average MPCE of Rs 833, followed by Hindus at Rs 888,
Christians
at
Rs1,296
and
Sikhs
1,498.
* In urban areas, Muslims average MPCE was also the lowest at Rs 1,272 followed by Hindus at Rs 1,797,
Christians Rs 2,053 and Sikhs at Rs 2,180.
Per
Capita
Income
Up
6.7%
in
2004-12
On 25 August According to official sources data ,the per capita income in the country increased 6.7 per cent per
annum during 2004-05 to 2011-12, while the percentage of poor declined by 2.2 per cent over the period.For
2011-12, the Planning Commission has estimated percentage of people living below the poverty line at 21.9 per
cent.The poverty line in 2011-12 in terms of monthly per capita consumption expenditure was estimated at Rs
816 in rural areas and Rs 1,000 in urban areas.State-wise, Uttar Pradesh had highest number of people living
below poverty line during 2011-12 at 598.19 people below poverty line out of every lakh.It was followed by
Bihar at 358.15 people (per lakh), Madhya Pradesh 234.04 people, Maharashtra 197.92 people and West
Bengal at 184.98 people living below the poverty line.
27
crore
People
Live
Below
Poverty
Line
In
India
Indias population was estimated at 123 crore as of March 1, 2012, while as many as 27 crore people lived
below the poverty line in 2011-12, Minister of State for Planning Rajeev Shukla explained in a written reply to
Rajya Sabha on 29 August.As per the Population Census of 2011 conduced by the Office of Registrar General
of India, the population in the country was estimated at 121 crore as of March 1, 2011.The poverty ratio in the
country has decreased to 21.9 per cent in 2011-12 from 37.2 per cent in 2004-05.The rate of decline between
2004-05 and 2011-12 is three times faster than experienced between 1993-94 and 2004-05.As per the
Millennium Development Goals Report 2013, the poverty rate in India fell from 49 per cent in 1994 to 42 per
cent in 2005 and 33 per cent in 2010.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Australias
Most
Powerful
Super
Computer
Unveiled
On 1 August Australias most powerful supercomputer Raijin was unveiled in Canberra.Raijin, named after
the Japanese God of thunder and rain, has costed USD 45.2 million to build and will cost USD 10.85 million a
year to run.The super computer, unveiled at Australian National University (ANU),and it is the 27th most
powerful computer in the world.
Indias
DRDO
Launches
Explosive
Detection
Kit
In
US
On 2 August the India-developed US-manufactured Explosive Detection Kit (EDK) was launched at the US
Chamber of Commerce building in Washington.In a first of its kind of reverse technology sharing between India
and the US, an innovative Explosive Detection Kit developed by Indian scientists would be manufactured in
America and sold globally for quick detection and identification of combinations of explosives.This was probably
for the first time that technology developed by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) was
being manufactured and marketed in the US.
Japan
Sends
Worlds
First
Talking
Robot
Into
Space
On 4 August Japan has successfully launched the worlds first talking humanoid robot called Kirobo in to
space. The robot was sent by H2B rocket from the island of Tanegashima. The rocket carried food, water and
other supplies. Kirobo will serve as a companion for Japanese astronauts.Kirobo was put through a series of
zero-gravity and other safety tests prior to sending him into space. Kirobo is 34 centimetres tall and can speak

Japanese. It will provide emotional support for people in space. Kirobo will talk to JAXA astronaut Koichi
Wakata when he arrives at the space station in November. The name of Kirobo is a merging of Kibo and robot.
Kirobo was designed by scientists and engineers at the University of Tokyo. It is equipped with voicerecognition and face-recognition technology, as well as a camera, emotion recognition software and natural
language processing.
Japan
Unveils
Largest
Warship
On 6 August Japan has unveiled its biggest warship since the Second World War as part of a plan to bolster its
defense of territorial claims in disputed waters.The ship, named the Izumo, is classified as a helicopter
destroyer, though its flattop design makes it look like an aircraft carrier.The ship is nearly 250 metres (820ft
feet) long and is designed to carry up to 14 helicopters.Japanese Defense Ministry announced the ship is not
intended to be used as an aircraft carrier and will not be used to launch fighter jets.It will also be used to bolster
the nations ability to transport personnel and supplies in response to large-scale natural disasters.
Pinaka
Rockets
Successfully
Test
Fired
On 7 August India successfully test fired two rounds of indigenously developed Pinaka rockets from a multibarrel rocket launcher (MBRL) from a defence base in Chandipur-on-sea near Balasore, off the Odisha
coast.The tests were routine trials conducted for training purpose. The tests were conducted by personnel from
Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune unit at Proof and Experimental
Establishment (PXE) firing point-2. Pinaka is an area weapon system with a range of 40 km.Pinaka system can
fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds. Ten rounds of Pinaka rockets were tested from the same base on 30
and 31 January and 28 February this year.

INS
Arihant

Nuclear
Reactor
Activated
On 10 August India has activated the reactor on board the INS Arihant nuclear submarine, the first to be
designed and built in India.With this success, India became a member of the exclusive club of countries that
have built their own nuclear powered submarines along with Russia, US, UK, China and France.After the
nuclear reactor is activated, INS Arihant has been undergoing trials at Navys key submarine base in
Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and would be launched for sea trials soon since the nuclear reactor has
gone critical.Nuclear triad has the ability to fire nuclear-tipped missiles from land, air and sea.Arihant means
destroyer of enemies in Sanskrit is an Indian submarine, which is 111 meter long, 11 broad and 15 meter
tall.The 6,000 tonne vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building
Centre in Visakhapatnam ,at a cost of around Rs 15,000 crore .INS Arihant, was introduced to the public on 26
July 2009 at a symbolic launch ceremony by Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs wife Gursharan Kaur.India
operates the INS Chakra, which is an Akula II class submarine leased from Russia for ten years and has plans
of building two more nuclear submarines indigenously.
ICGS
Rajveer

Commissioned
On 10 August Seventh in the series of eight inshore patrol vessels (IPV), ICGS Rajveer was commissioned at
Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) by defence secretary R K Mathur in the presence of vice-admiral Anurag G
Thapliyal, director general of Indian Coast Guard.The IPV is equipped with the most advanced and
sophisticated navigational and communication sensors and equipment. The ship is propelled to a maximum
speed of 31.5 knots and has an endurance of 1,500 nautical miles. The special feature include an integrated
Bridge System, Integrated machinery control system and an indigenously built 30mm gun mount with fire
control system.
India
Launched
First
Indigenous
Aircraft
Carrier

INS
Vikrant

India launched its first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on 12 August .Defence Minister A K Antonys
wife Elizabeth launched the 37,500 tonne carrier INS Vikrant at Kochi shipyard.This will mark Indias entry into
a select club of countries capable of designing and building a carrier of this size. Other countries capable of
designing and building an equivalent size ship are the US, the UK, Russia and France.Fighter aircraftMig-29K,
Light Combat Aircraft and Kamov-31 helicopterswill deployed on board the carrier which will also carry an
array of other weapons systems.INS Vikrant has a length of 260 metres and it is 60 metres wide.It is behind
schedule by three years.The carrier is expected to be delivered to the Navy by the end of 2018.
India
Successfully
Test
Fired
Nuclear
Capable

Prithvi-II

Missile
On 12 August India has successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile

from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at (Odisha)
Chandipur.Prithvi-II missile was launched by the personnel of the Strategic Force Command (SFC) from ITRs
Launch Complex-III as part of routine user training. The missile scientists of the Defence Research and
Development Organisation(DRDO) monitored the launch operations.The missile, with a range of 350 km,
developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) .The missile, 9 metres in height
with a launch weight of 4.6 tonnes, is capable of carrying a warhead of more than 500 kg.The last users trial of
Prithvi-II was successfully carried out from the same base on on December 20, 2012.
Voyager
Becomes
First
Man-Made
Object
To
Leave
The
Solar
System
According to the new research shows ,NASAs long-lived Voyager probe crossed into interstellar space last
year, becomes the first man-made object to leave the solar system.Voyager 1 space craft was launched in
1977 along with a sister probe, Voyager 2, to observe the outer planets. Voyager 1 is now approximately 120
times farther away from the sun than Earth. Voyager 2 is heading out of the solar system in a different
direction.The probes are powered by the slow decay of radioactive plutonium. Voyager 1 will begin running out
of energy for its science instruments in 2020. By 2025, it will be completely out of power.
Indias
Super
Hercules
Lands
At
Highest
Airfield
On
LAC
The Super Hercules C 130 J transport plane landed at the worlds highest and recently-activated Daulat Beg
Oldie airstrip in Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir for the first time on 20 August .The Daulat Beg Oldie
airstrip located at 16614 feet (5065 metres) in the Aksai Chin area..In April, the area saw a 21-day stand-off
between Indian and Chinese troops who came and pitched tents in the vicinity of the airfield and returned only
after several rounds of flag meetings between both sides.The achievement will enable the armed forces to use
the heavy-lift aircraft to induct troops, supplies, improve communication network and also serve as a morale
booster for maintenance of troops positioned there.C-130J is capable of lifting upto 20 tonnes of load.
Indias
First
Defence
Satellite
GSAT-7
Launched
Successfully
Indias first exclusive defence satellite GSAT-7 was successfully launched by European space consortium
Arianespaces Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana on 30 August.This launch will push
ahead Indias maritime security.GSAT7 has been built at an expense of 185 crore rupees and will act as the
countrys maiden dedicated spacecraft for defence applications.The frequency bands of GSAT-7 will help
space-based marine communications. It has coverage over India landmass as well as surrounding seas.Earlier,
satellite communication in ships was through Inmarsat, a major provider of global mobile satellite
communications services.The state-of-the-art satellite carrying payloads operating in UHF, S, C and Ku bands,
had a lift-off mass of 2625 kg and is based on ISROs 2500 kg satellite bus with some new technological
elements, including the antennae.According to ISRO, GSAT-7 is an advanced communication satellite to
provide wide range of service spectrum from low bit rate voice to high bit rate data communication.Payload of
the GSAT7 is designed to provide communication capabilities to users in distant oceanic regions. Its solar
arrays generate 2900 W of electrical power.
US
Scientists
Created
the
Most
Precise
Clock
of
the
World
The National Institute of Standards and Technology Scientist from U.S , revealed in the month of August 2013
that they created the most precise clock of the world. The ticking rate of this clock varies less than two parts in
one quintillion, or ten times better than any clock in the world. The clock is made up of the element ytterbium.
This element can be used for technological advancements beyond the timekeeping. The clock can be used for
various purposes such as checking temperature, navigation systems as well as magnetic fields.The co-author
of the study which revealed the clock, Andrew Ludlow explained that the stability of this ytterbium lattice clock
paves way for other practical applications of high-performance timekeeping.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS

Rajeev
Rishi
is
new
CMD
of
Central
Bank
of
India
On 1 August Rajeev Rishi took over as the Chairman and Managing Director of Central Bank of India .His
appointment is for a period of five years.Prior to the new appointment, Mr. Rishi served as the Executive
Director of Indian Bank, since October 2010. Before joining Indian Bank, he was the General Manager of
Oriental Bank of Commerce.Rajeev Rishi, who belongs to Chandigarh, holds a BA and an LLB and an expert in
Banking.
Arundhati
Bhattacharya
Appointed
Managing
Director
Of
SBI
On 2 August Arundhati Bhattacharya was appointed the managing director and chief financial officer of the
State Bank of India(SBI).She is the first managing director at SBI, which is Indias largest bank.Arundhati
succeeded Diwakar Gupta.
Hassan
Rouhani
Sworn
In
As
Irans
New
President
On 4 August Hassan Rohani was sworn in as the new President of Iran in the ceremony held at the Iranian
Parliament in Tehran.Rouhani is the seventh (different) President of Iran after the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Raghuram
Rajan
Appointed
as
the
New
Governor
of
RBI
On 6 August Chief economic adviser Raghuram Govind Rajan has been appointed as the Governor of the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI).Rajan will have a term of three years.He will be the 23rd Governor of RBI.He is 50
years of age and so far, he is the youngest person to become the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.He
was appointed as the youngest-ever Economic Counselor and Director of Research (chief economist) at the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) from October 2003 to December 2006.Rajan was appointed as Chief
Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Finance, Government of India on 10 August 2012.
Dilip
Trivedi
is
new
CRPF
chief
On 17 August Senior IPS officer Dilip Trivedi has been appointed as the new chief of the countrys largest
paramilitary force CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force). Trivedi, a 1978-batch officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre
has served in various positions in the state police and has also served in the Centre as ADG of the IndoTibetan Border Police.He succeeded Pranay Sahay who retired on 31 July 2013.
Michel
Djotodia
Sworn
In
As
Central
African
Republic
President
On 18 August Former rebel leader Michel Djotodia was formally sworn in as the Central African Republics
President.Djotodia has been in charge of the country during the chaos that followed the rebels seizure of
control in March 2013, when they swept into power from their northern bases, overpowering South African
forces protecting former leader Francois Bozize.Djotodia was a leader of the Seleka rebel coalition in the
December 2012 rebellion; following a peace agreement, he was appointed to the government as First Deputy
Prime Minister for National Defense in February 2013.
Robert
Mugabe
Sworn
In
As
Zimbabwe
President
On 21 August Robert Mugabe has been sworn in for a new five-year term as President of Zimbabwe.Mugabe of
Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front) party won the Presidential election (Parliamentary
Election) by winning 61 percent votes in his favour on 3 August .
Parthasarathi
Shome
Appointed
As
Chairman
Of
TARC
On 26 August the Union Government of India set up a commission under the chairmanship of Parthasarathy
Shome to review tax laws and suggest ways for a stable and non-adversarial tax administration.The sevenmember Tax Administration Reform Commission (TARC) will have a 18-month tenure to suggest various
measures including an appropriate organisational structure for tax governance.
Justice
N
V
Ramana
Appointed
as
Chief
Justice
of
Delhi
High
Court
On 30 August Justice Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana, Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh,was appointed
as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi.Justice Ramana replaced Chief Justice D. Murugesan, who
retired in June.Justice Ramana was appointed as a permanent judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on 27
June 2000.Ramana had enrolled as an advocate in February 1983 and has practiced in the Andhra Pradesh
High Court, central and state administrative tribunals and the Supreme Court.He holds specialisation in

constitutional, criminal, service and inter-state river laws.He has specialized in Constitutional, criminal, service
and Inter-State River laws. He has functioned as Panel Counsel for various Government organizations.

B)RESIGNS
Egypt
Vice
President
ElBaradei
Resigned
Egyptian vice-president, Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, announced his resignation in a letter to the
interim president on14 August .The resignation comes after scores were killed in a crackdown by security
forces on loyalists of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

C)DEATHS
Veteran
Music
Director
Dakshinamoorthy
Died
Venkateswaran Dakshinamoorthy, the veteran veteran carnatic musician and music director died on 2 August in
Mylapore, Chennai.The veteran was known as Swamy in the music industry and gave music to songs of more
than 125 films in Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi.He has to his credit about 859 songs that were composed by him
over seven decades of his service to the world of Music. He debuted as a Music composer in the a Malayalam
movie Nalla Thanka (Nalla Thankal in Tamil) in 1950.He was the proud recipient of Kerala State Film Award for
best music director in 1971.In 1998, he received the Kerala State Film Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Former
Air
Commodore
Jasjit
Singh
Died
On 4 August Noted strategic analyst Air Commodore (retired) Jasjit Singh died in NewDelhi. He was conferred
with the Padma Bhushan, the second highest civilian award, in the year 2006 by the former president APJ
Abdul Kalam.
Former
Union
minister
Devendra
Prasad
Yadav
Died
On 11 August Former Union minister and senior Congress leader from Bihar, Devendra Prasad Yadav, died in
NewDelhi.Yadav was a three-time Member of Parliament from Munger parliamentary seat of Bihar and had
served as Minister of State for Education between 1971-77 in Indira Gandhis cabinet.
Renowned
Naturalist
and
Ornithologist
Zafar
Futehally
Died
On 11 August Zafar Rashid Futehally an Indian naturalist, ornithologist and conservationist has died on 11
August at Kihim in Maharashtra.Zafar Futehally led the early years of the conservation movement in India and
served as a link between conservationists and corporate.He was conferred with several national and
international honours, including the Padma Shri in 1970.He also edited and published an anthology of writings
by Indian birdwatchers, India through its birds, which was published in 2007.
Former
Nepal
Prime
Minister
Man
Singh
Shrestha
Died
Former Nepalese Prime Minister Marich Man Singh Shrestha has died in Kathmandu on 15 August.He had
served as Nepals Prime Minister for about four years till April 1990, when the political parties launched an
agitation to restore democratic rights.
Kapil
Devs
Former
Coach
Desh
Prem
Azad
Died
On 16 August Desh Prem Azad, the former coach of cricketer Kapil Dev and Dronacharya awardee died in
Mohali.He trained cricketers such as Kapil Dev, Ashok Malhotra, Chetan Sharma and Yograj Singh in the late
1970s.Desh Prem Azad represented Haryana, the Maharaja of Patialas XI and Southern Punjab, while playing
19 first-class matches. In these matches, he scored 658 runs while grabbed 8 wickets in all.
Crime
Novelist
Elmore
Leonard
Died
Elmore Leonard, one of Americas best known crime novelists,has died on 20 August .Twenty-six of his books
and short stories have been adapted for the screen, including Hombre, Get Shorty, Jackie Brown, (based
on 1992s Rum Punch) and Justified, a TV shows based on 1993s Pronto, 1995s Riding the Rap and the
2001 short story Fire in the Hole. His most recent novel, Raylan, was released in 2012.
Eminent
Classical
Singer
Raghunath
Panigrahi
Died
On 25 August Eminent Indian classical singer and music director Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi died in

Bhubaneswar.Pandit Panigrahis effort to popularise poet Jayadevas Gita Govinda.Pandit Raghunath

Panigrahi was born at Gunupur in Odishas Rayaga (earlier Koraput) district.Pandit Raghunath was the first
Odia singer to be honoured by the French government for his Gita Govinda composition way back in the
70s.He was also conferred with the Padmashri award in the year 2010.
Nobel
Literature
Laureate
Seamus
Heaney
Died
On 30 August Irish writer and poet Seamus Heaney, who won the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature, died in
Dublin.Seamus Heaney was born on 13 April 1939 in Northern Ireland.Northern Ireland-born Heaney published
his first major collection of poems, Death of a Naturalist, in 1966 and went on to become one of the English
languages leading poets.Heaney worked as the professor of poetry at Oxford University between 1989 and
1994.

D)VISITORS
Afghanistan
Vice-President
Mohammad
Karim
Khalili
Visited
India
The vice president of Afghanistan, Mohammad Karim Karim Khalili visited India from 20 22 August.During the
visit Khalili met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New delhi .In the meet both nations discussed security
issues and trade among other bilateral issues.Khalili also meets Indias president Pranab Mukherjee, vicepresident Mohammad Hamid Ansari, and external affairs minister Salman Khurshid and discussed on both
countries bilateral issues.
Iraqs
Prime
Minister
Nouri
al-Maliki
Visited
India
Nouri Al-Maliki, Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq visited India from 22 -25 August.During his four day visit ,
Maliki met with the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh and President of Indian Union, Pranab
Mukherjee, Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari in New Delhi.Both the nations exchanged views on bilateral,
regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest and reached a broad consensus. The discussions enabled
better understanding and appreciation of each others concerns and perspectives and helped in forging closer
understanding at the highest political level and also several MoUs were signed between the two nations. This
was the first visit of Maliki to India

E)MISCELLANEOUS
Amazon
Founder
&
CEO
Jeff
Bezos
Buys
Washington
Post
Amazon Founder & CEO Jeff Bezos has purchased the Washington Post Newspaper of US. Seattle-based
Amazon owner Jeffrey P Bezos has agreed to buy the newspaper assets of The Washington Post Company
for USD 250 million.Bezos, whose entrepreneurship has made him one of the worlds richest men, will pay
$250 million in cash for The Post and affiliated publications to The Washington Post Co., which owns the
newspaper and other businesses.The Washington Post (WP) is an American daily newspaper. It is the most
widely circulated newspaper published in Washington, D.C., and oldest extant in the area, founded in 1877.
11-year-old
UK
girl
has
higher
IQ
than
Einstein
On 5 August An 11-year-old schoolgirl in the U.K. has achieved the highest possible score of 162 on a Mensa
IQ test, making her brainier than scientists Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein. Cerys Cooksammy-Parnell, a
grade six schoolgirl took up the test with the aim of beating her fathers score of 142. She also scored the
highest mark possible in the test, scoring 162 on the Cattell B scale.
Sharapova
Tops

Forbes

List
of
Best
Paid
Female
Athletes
On 6 August Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has topped the Forbes list of highest-earning female
athletes for the ninth-straight year, raking in $29 million over the last 12 months.American Serena Williams is
second on the list with earnings of 20.5 million US dollars, Chinese star Li Na in third with $18.2 million and
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in fourth with $15.7 million.
Indian
American
Students
Wins
National
Geographic
World
Championship
On 9 August A team of three young Indian American students defeated teams from 17 other regions to win top
honours at the 11th National Geographic World Championship in Russias St Petersburg.The team was made

up of captain Gopi Ramanathan from Sartell, Minnesota; Asha Jain from Minocqua, Wisconsin; and Neelam
Kaur Sandhu from Bedford, New Hampshire.In the biennial competition, teams of students answered questions
on physical, cultural and economic geography.Ramanathan, already has won his state geography bee twice.
He had finished seventh in the 2012 National Bee in Washington, DC. The competition was sponsored by
Google, and presented by the US National Geographic Society in partnership with the Russian Geographical
Society.
Canadian
Street
Named
After
Mahatma
Gandhi
On 15 August A street in Canadas Winnipeg city has been named after Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of
Indias 67th Independence Day. The street leading to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights will now be
known as Honorary Mahatma Gandhi Way. At a ceremony , the Mayor of Winnipeg Sam Katz explained that
the street was named so after an individual who is synonymous with the struggle for human rights.
Dhoni Beats Rafael Nadal Usain Bolt In Forbes List Of Highest Paid Athletes
On 20 August Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been ranked 16th in the latest Forbes
list of highest-paid athletes with an earning of $31.5 million (around Rs.180 crore).In the list, he was placed
above Rafael Nadal and Usain Bolt.As per the latest Forbes list of highest-paid athletes in the world, dhoni
earned $31.5 million between June 2012 and June 2013.List of places don above F1 Fernando Alonso, who is
on the 19th, Lewis Hamilton on the 26th, Novak Djokovic on the 28th, Rafael Nadal is in 30th place, and Usain
Bolt in the 40th grade.Doni has risen 15 places in this years list. It took 31 th rank in the last year. Sachin
Tendulkar is the only Indian athlete, who is one of the rank of 31 and a total annual revenue of $ 22 million (Rs
125 crore).List is topped by golfer Tiger Woods, who made $ 78.1 million last year, followed by Roger Federer,
who earned $ 71.5 million, basketball player Kobe Bryant with earnings of $ 61.9 million.The calculation is
based on earnings estimates, which includes salaries, bonuses and cash prizes from both the club and the
national team, as well as approval of revenue.
Madonna
Tops
Forbes
2013
Highest-Paid
Celebrities
List
On 27 August According to Forbes 2013 list of highest-paid celebrities Madonna was the worlds highestearning celebrity in 2012-13.Madonna made $US125 million between June 2012 and June 2013.Veteran film
director Steven Spielberg took second place in the list, while musical talent show mogul Simon Cowell tied for
third with Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James and disc jockey Howard Stern.
Most
Wanted
Indian
Mujahideen
Terrorist
Yasin
Bhatka
Arrested
Indian Mujahideen co-founder and one of Indias most wanted terrorists, Yasin Bhatkal was arrested on 30
August.Yasin has been on the run since 2008. The IM leader is wanted in a string of terror attacks in
Ahmedabad, Surat, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi and Hyderabad.Yasin, who co-founded IM in 2008 along with
brother Riaz, is also wanted in the German Bakery bomb blast in Pune on February 13, 2010.

PLACES IN NEWS
Strong
Earthquake
HitsChina
On 14 August China hit by strong earthquake with magnitude of 6.1.The earthquake occured in jolted parts of
Tibet.Due to this earthquake at least 87 people were injured and over 45,000 homes damaged .The epicenter
of the earthquake was identified nearer to the Ringo town.
Submarine INS Sindhurakshak Sinks After Major Blast In Mumbai
On 14 August in a huge setback to the Indian Navy, a conventional submarine INS Sindhurakshak exploded
after a fire on board and sank in the naval dockyard in Mumbai , in which 18 personnel, including three officers
are feared killed.A smaller intensity explosion was followed by two massive blasts, causing a major fire in the
Russian-made submarine.In 2010, a fire broke out on board Sindhurakshak leaving a sailor dead and two
others injured. INS Sindhurakshak was a Russian-made Kilo-class 877EKM(Sindhughosh-class) diesel-electric
submarine of the Indian Navy.Commissioned on 24 December 1997, it was the ninth of the ten Kilo-class
submarines in the Indian Navy.On 4 June 2010, the Indian Defence Ministry and Zvezdochka shipyard signed a

contract worth US$80 million to upgrade and overhaul the submarine. After the overhaul, it returned to India
from Russia in 2013.
1300 People Killed In Chemical Attack On Syria
On 21 August nearly 1300 people, including children were killed in in Damascus, the capital of Syria..This was
one of the deadliest chemical attacks in the civil war of Syria. Toxic gas was fired from the rockets.

ABBREVIATIONS
DRDO

Defence Research and Development Organisation

SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

AGOC Asian Games Organisation Committee
CDRI - Central Drug Research Institute
FEMA Foreign Exchange Management Act
FIPB - Foreign Investment Promotion Board
IFTU International Federation of Trade Unions
IRDA Insurance Regulatory Development Authority
NABARD - National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development
SEBI - Security Exchange Board of India
UNHCR United Nations High Commission for Refugees
WMO World Meteorological Organisation

BOOKS IN NEWS
The
Moon
Baller
Book
Released
On 5 August Former India No.1 and tennis ace Nirupama Vaidyanathans autobiographical account The Moon
Baller was released at a function held at the Madras Cricket Club.The book, which goes back in time to
chronicle the times when professional tennis for Indian women was quite unheard of, was launched by tennis
legend Vijay Amritraj.
My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions by Abdul Kalam Released
In the month of August My Journey: Transforming Dreams into Actions by former President of India, Dr. APJ
Abdul Kalam was launched by the Rupa Publication.In his new book Kalam shares the inspiration and the
lessons he learned from personal stories of his life. The book describes the lesser known events from his life.

Dhyan Chand The Wizard of Hockey Book Released

The first-of-its-kind graphic biography on former Indian Hockey player Dhyan Chand titled Dhyan Chand-The
Wizard of Hockey was launched at Dhyanchand Stadium in New Delhi on 29 August .The biography was
launched on the National Sports Day to commemorate the 108th birth anniversary of the legend.The book has
been written by Luis Fernandes, who researched extensively on the subject.The book is being printed by
comic-series publication Amar Chitra Katha.The book focussed on Dhyan Chands achievements and goalscoring feats at 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics that got him the title The Wizard.

COMMITTEES
Virginius
Xaxa
Committee
To
Asses
Status
Of
Scheduled
Tribes
On 17 August On the pattern of Sachar Committee for Muslims, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has set up a
committee to assess the status of scheduled tribes with an aim of ensuring their uplift, particularly in socioeconomic, health and education fields.Prof. Virginius Xaxa was appointed as the chairman of the sevenmember committee.The committee will finalise and present its report within nine months from the date of this
notification.The Prime Ministers decision of setting up a committee came after the government found that the
STs, who form 7.5 percent of the countrys population, are not getting enough dues despite the special status in
the constitution.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES

International
Day
of
the
Victims
of
Enforced
Disappearances
The United Nations (UN) observes the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August
30 each year.The UN General Assembly declared this day by its resolution 65/209, on 21 December 2010. The
UN General Assembly, by this same resolution also welcomed the adoption of the International Convention for
the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The involuntary or enforced disappearances are a
result of abduction, detention or arrest or other factors or reasons. Also, there are growing numbers of reports
which include ill-treatment, harassment as well as intimidation of the witnesses of these disappearances or of
the persons or the relatives who have disappeared.
National Sports Day Is Observed On 29 August

Read more: Current Affairs August 2013 Study Material |

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