1 April 2015 Current AffairsAahar Scheme Launched In OdishaOdisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched his governments much-hyped subsidised Aahar scheme on the occasion of the States Foundation Day on 1 April. The scheme was launched in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela in the first phase. The Chief Minister launched the scheme in two towns first at the Capital Hospital premises in Bhubaneswar followed by Government Hospital in Rourkela.

Gulshan Rai Takes Charge As Indias First Cyber Security ChiefGulshan Rai, the Director General of Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-In), on 1 April took charge as Indias first cyber security chief under the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) as Special Secretary for cyber security. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2015 had created this new post in PMO and had appointed Rai as its head.

Andhra Pradesh Govt Approves Amaravathi as new State CapitalThe Andhra Pradesh Government on 1 April approved Amaravathi town, the ancient seat of power of Satavahana rulers, as its new capital coming up in the Vijayawada-Guntur region, which is also known for its historical and spiritual significance.

Worlds Oldest Person Misao Okawa DiedMisao Okawa, a Japanese woman who was recognized by Guinness World Records as the worlds oldest person, died on 1 April . She was 117. Okawa was born in a kimono shop on March 5, 1898. She was awarded the Guinness World Records title of oldest living person as well as the oldest living woman on 27 February 2013, a few days before her 115th birthday.

Renowned Hindi Poet Kailash Vajpeyi DiedRenowned Hindi poet Kailash Vajpeyi was died on 1 April in New Delhi. He was 79. Kailash Vajpeyi was born in 1936 at Hamirpur of Uttar Pradesh and began his career as a journalist and subsequently started teaching at Delhi University. Vajpeyi was awarded with Sahitya Akademi award in 2009 for his work Hawa mein hastakshar (Signature in the air). He also received the Vachaspati title from Lucknow University. Born in 1936 at Hamirpur of Uttar Pradesh, he has published over 28 books, including 14 volumes of poetry. His works include renowned titles such as Sufinama, Sankrant apart from essays that also have been translated in English, Spanish and German.

2 April 2015 Current AffairsIndian-Origin Nurse To Be Honoured In SingaporeDr Subadhra Devi Rai, a nurse and a senior lecturer at the School of Health Sciences (Nursing) at Nanyang Polytechnic in Singapore, was named for the 2015 International Achievement Award by the Florence Nightingale International Foundation (FNIF) of the International Council of Nurses.Rai was selected as the recipient of the award for her outstanding work in the health of women and refugees.

Tata Steel Won Prime Ministers Trophy For 8th TimeTata Steel was conferred with the Prime Ministers Trophy on 2 April at Rourkela for being the Best Performing Integrated Steel Plant in the country during the performance year 2010 2011. In recognition of the Companys outstanding performance, the Prime Ministers Trophy was presented by the Honble Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to T V Narendran, Managing Director, India & South East Asia, Tata Steel. The Company was adjudged as the best steel plant for the eighth time since this trophy was instituted in 1992-93.

McCullum Received Sir Richard Hadlee MedalNew Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has been named the winner of the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal for 2014-15. McCullum won the award for his remarkable performance both as a player and the captain during the 2014-15 season. The highest cricketing honour of New Zealand was presented to him during the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Awards presentation ceremony held in New Zealands capital Auckland.3 April 2015 Current AffairsPresident Pranab Mukherjee Gives Assent To Re-promulgation Of Land OrdinancePresident Pranab Mukherjee on 3 April gave his assent to re-promulgate the Land Acquisition Ordinance as per Article 123 of Constitution. On March 31, the Union Cabinet had made a recommendation to the President in this regard as the government failed to convert the ordinance into legislation due to stiff opposition in Rajya Sabha.The new ordinance, which is the 11th by the Narendra Modi government, includes nine amendments that were part of the bill passed in Lok Sabha last month.

Captain Anoop Kumar Sharma Takes Over As CEO of Essar ShippingCaptain Anoop Kumar Sharma has taken over as whole-time director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Essar Shipping Ltd (ESL). He replaced Ramakrishnan A. R. who had retired from service on 31 March 2015. Sharma has been associated with ESL since August 2008.

Muslim Girl Mariyam Asif Siddiqui Won Bhagwad Gita ContestMariyam Asif Siddiqui, a 12-year-old Muslim girl won the first place in a Bhagwad Gita competition organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Siddiqui who studies in Class 6 of Cosmopolitan High School at Mira Road near Mumbai won the contest from among 4500 students of 195 schools.4 April 2015 Current AffairsIndia Ranks 119 On 2015 FM Global Resilience IndexIndia has been ranked a low 119 out of 130 countries on an index that measures business resilience of nations based on economic, risk quality and supply chain factors, dropping seven notches from last year, reports PTI from New York. The 2015 FM Global Resilience Index has been topped by Norway for being the country best suited for companies seeking to avoid disruptions in their global supply chain operations.

Union Government Extends National Food Security Act deadline By 6 MonthsUnion Government again has extended rolling out deadline for National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 by six months. The deadline, which has already been extended twice for implementing the food law, was ending on April 4. The extension will help remaining states adopt and implement the law within next six months. Only 11 states and Union Territories have so far implemented the National Food Security Act which was passed by Parliament in September 2013. The rest 25 states/UTs have not implemented it yet.

K.N. Tripathi Sworn In as Governor of MizoramWest Bengal and Bihar Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi took additional charge of Mizoram. He was sworn in as 16th Governor of Mizoram on 4 April 2015. Justice Michael Zothankhuma of the Gauhati High Court administered oath of office to him at Raj Bhavan in Aizawal. Tripathi was given additional charge of Mizoram after Union Government had sacked then Governor Aziz Qureshi.

Minor Planet Named As 4538 Vishyanand After Indian Chess Legend Viswanathan AnandIndias first chess grandmaster, Vishwanathan Anand has been granted the honor of having a minor planet named after him. With this privilege, Anand joins former world chess champions Alexander Alekhine and Anatoly Karpov who have had a similar honour bestowed on them.The minor planet, now known as Vishyanand, was previously identified as planet 4538 and is located somewhere between the planets of Mars and Jupiter. Minor planet 4538 Vishyanand was discovered on 10 October 1988 by Japanese astronormer Kenzo Suzuki. Initially, the planet was unnamed for almost 10 years.5 April 2015 Current AffairsNovak Djokovic and Serena Williams Won The 2015 Miami Open Singles TitlesSerbian ace tennis player Novak Djokovic and American ace tennis player Serena Williams won the 2015 Miami Open Mens and womens singles titles of the respectively at Crandon Park Tennis Center in Miami, Florida. In the Mens Singles final matchDjokovic defeated Britains Andy Murray by 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-0 score. This was Djokovics fifth Miami Open trophy. Serene Williams defeated the twelfth seed Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-2, 6-0 to secure the title for eighth time. With this win, Williams has won 66 singles titles, one behind Billie Jean King of the US.

Chen Long and Carolina Marin Won Malaysia Open TitlesChinas Chen Long and Spains Carolina Marin clinched the mens and womens singles titles, respectively, in the $500,000 Malaysia Open Super series Premier badminton tournament at the Putra Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on 5 April.

Sania Mirza and Martina Hignis Won Miami Open Womens Doubles TitleIndias Sania Mirza and Switzerlands Martina Hingis pair has won 2015 Miami Open Womens doubles Title. In the title clash played in Miami, Florida, the duo defeated the Russian pair of Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova by 75, 61 score. This was second consecutive team title for the Indo-Swiss pair. Earlier on 21 March 2015, Mirza and Hingis had won the Indian Wells Open.6 April 2015 Current AffairsPM Narendra Modi Launched National Air Quality IndexPrime Minister Narendra Modi on 6 April launched the National Air Quality Index (AQI) for monitoring the quality of air in major urban centres across the country on a real-time basis and enhancing public awareness for taking mitigative action. As part of the endeavour, the Union Environment Ministry proposes to extend the measurement of air quality to 22 state capitals and 44 other cities with a population exceeding one million. The AQI has been at present launched for 10 cities Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Faridabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. It will have one number, one colour and one description to inform the public about air quality in a simple and easily understandable format.

Rajeev Shukla Appointed as Chairman of IPL Governing CouncilFormer Union minister and Congress leader Rajeev Shukla was re-appointed as the chairman of the Indian Premier Leagues (IPL) Governing Council by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).Former Union Minister and Congress leader Shukla was the IPL chairman till 2013 when he resigned from the post in the aftermath of the IPL spot-fixing scandal.

Arab poet Adonis Selected For 2015 Kumaran Asan World Prize For PoetryParis- based Syrian-Lebanese Arab poet Adonis has been chosen for 2015 Kumaran Asan World Prize for poetry, instituted by the Kumaran Asan Memorial Association to honour poets of international stature and introduce them to Indian readers. Adonis, author of more than twenty volumes of poetry in Arabic and widely translated into almost all languages is a perennial contender for the Nobel Prize for many years. Born Ali Ahmad Said Esber in Western Syria in 1930, he was imprisoned for a while because of his secular and nationalistic positions.7 April 2015 Current AffairsGujarat Won Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 TrophyGujarat won the 2014-15 Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy played at the KIIT Cricket Stadium, Bhubaneshwar. In the final clash, Gujarat defeated Punjab by two wickets.

RBIs First Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement 2015-16Governor Raghuram Rajan-led Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its first bi-monthly monetary policy review has decided to keep the repo rate and cash reserve ratio unchanged.Following are the highlights of RBIs first bi-monthly monetary policy statement 2015-16 :-* Short-term lending rate (Repo) unchanged at 7.5%.* Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) unchanged at 4%.* Statutory Liquidity Ratio unchanged at 21.5%* Estimates GDP growth at 7.8% in FY16, up from 7.5% in FY15 .* Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation forecasted at 5.8% by March 2016* 100% CPI inflation to dip to 4% in August 2015.* Hailstorms in March affected 17% of the rabi crop sown area .* Future rate cuts will depend on interest rate reduction by banks.* India better prepared to deal with volatility post US Federal Reserve rate action.* State cooperative banks to be allowed to set up off-site/ mobile ATMs without prior approval from RBI.* RBI to formulate scheme for market making by primary dealers in semi-liquid and illiquid G-Secs.

Union Cabinet Approved Amendments To Real Estate BillAmendments to the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2013, were approved by the Union Cabinet on 7 April. The Bill is pending in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill paves the way for the creation of a regulator to protect home buyer interests as well as ensure accountability and transparency. With the amendments the provisions of the Bill are also applicable to commercial real estate.

World Health Day 2015 Observed Across The WorldWorld Health Day 2015 was observed across the world on 7 April 2015. The day provides an opportunity for individuals to get involved in activities that can lead to better health. The theme for World Health Day 2014 is From farm to plate, make food safe. The theme was selected by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to bring focus on growing global burden of food borne diseases and underscore the need for coordinated cross-border action across the entire food supply chain i.e. from farm to plate. First World Health Day was celebrated on 7 April 1950 and marks the anniversary of the WHO in 1948. In 2013, the theme of the World Health Day was Control your blood pressure.8 April 2015 Current AffairsPrime Minister Narendra Modi Launched MUDRA BankPrime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 April launched the Micro Units Development Re-finance Agency (MUDRA) Bank in New Delhi. MUDRA Bank will primarily serve the financial needs of small entrepreneurs and will also act as a regulator for Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs). It is being set up through a statutory enactment and will be responsible for developing and refinancing through the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, which was also launched on this occasion. MUDRA Bank has a corpus of Rs 20,000 crore and a credit guarantee corpus of Rs 3,000 crore. Initially it will work as part of the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

Sri Lankas Kumar Sangakkara Named Wisden Cricketer of the Year For 2014Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara has been named the cricketer of the year in the 2015 Wisden Cricketers Almanack. Sangakkara joined Indias Virender Sehwag as the only two players to be named as Wisdens Leading Cricketer in the World for a second occasion. Sangakkara won the award after a stellar 2014 that saw him score an all-time record 2,868 international runs in the calendar year, including a triple century. His feats, which added to an already brilliant career, included a man-of-the-match performance in Sri Lankas World Twenty20 final win over India in 2014.

BVR Mohan Reddy Elected As new Chairman of NASSCOM For 2015-16National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) on 8 April announced that the Executive Council has elected BVR Mohan Reddy, Founder and Executive Chairman, Cyient Ltd. (formerly Infotech Enterprises) as the Chairman of NASSCOM for 2015-16. He succeeds R Chandrasekaran, Executive Vice Chairman of Cognizant India, who served as Chairman of NASSCOM for the year 2014-15. The Executive Council also announced the election of CP Gurnani, CEO and MD of Tech Mahindra as the Vice Chairman of NASSCOM for 2015-16.

Sumit Mazumder Elected As new President of CII for Year 2015-16Sumit Mazumder has been elected president of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for the year 2015-16. He is the Chairman and Managing Director of the TIL Limited, Indias largest manufacturer of material handling equipment. He will succeed Ajay Shriram, Chairman of DCM Shriram Consolidated Ltd.9 April 2015 Current AffairsLegendary Tamil writer D Jayakanthan DiedLegendary Tamil writer D Jayakanthan, who charted a new course in Tamil literature with his bold and progressive works, died in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He was 81. Jayakanthan was famously known as JK among novelists and literary enthusiasts. Apart from being novelist, he was also journalist, essayist, pamphleteer, filmmaker and critic. He has written around 40 novels and 200 short stories and used his pen effectively against social injustices and economic inequality. He was also associated with undivided Communist Party of India (CPI). He was founder of the Indo-Russian Cultural and Friendship Society. His popular novel, Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal, which was later made into a film, won him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1972. He was also a recipient of the Jnanpith Award in 2002.

Nuclear-Capable Dhanush Missile Successfully Test FiredIndia on 9 April successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Dhanush ballistic missile with a strike range of 350 km from a naval ship off the Odisha coast. The surface-to-surface Dhanush, a naval variant of Indias indigenously-developed Prithvi missile, was test fired from a ship in the Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the defence force.The single-stage, liquid-propelled Dhanush having 350 km range has already been inducted into the armed forces and is one of the five missiles developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP. Dhanush missile is capable of carrying conventional as well as nuclear payload of 500 kg and hit both land and sea- based targets.The previous trial was successfully conducted on 14 November 2014.

Former Air Chief Marshal of IAF Hrushikesh Moolgavkar DiedFormer Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (retired) Hrushikesh Moolgavkar was died in Pune on 9 April. He was 95. Moolgavkar had been a recipient of the prestigious Param Vishisht Seva medal and Mahaveer Chakra. Moolgavkar had the honour of leading the fly-past on Indias first Independence Day on 15 August 1947, and also on Republic Day on 26 January 1951. He had led the fly-past as a Squadron Leader. Selected and commissioned as a Pilot Officer in Royal Indian Air Force on 30 November 1940, he was appointed as the Chief of Air Staff on 1 February 1976.His major achievement as Chief of Air Staff was implementation of new measures that brought down the accident rates. After serving IAF for 38 years, he retired on 31 August 1978.10 April 2015 Current AffairsIndia and France Signed 17 AgreementsIndia and France signed 17 agreement and made three announcements during Prime Minister Narendra Modis first visit to the country on 10 April. These included deals on Rafale fighter jets, Jaitapur nuclear reactor, renewable sources of energy, railways, smart city and several others.

Arun Kumar Jha Appointed CEO of Khadi and Village Industries CommissionArun Kumar Jha was on 10 April appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Mumbai. Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has appointed him to the post of CEO (Joint Secretary level post) in order to balance period of his overall 5 year tenure up to September 2016. Arun Kumar Jha, a 1985-batch officer of Indian Economics Service, is presently working as Director General, National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

Former Australian Cricket Captain Richie Benaud DiedFormer Australia cricket captain and renowned commentator Richie Benaud has died on 10 April. He was 84. In his Test cricket career, he had played 63 matches. His debut match was against West Indies in 1952. He had made 2201 runs and had taken 248 wickets. In 1958, he was appointed captain of Australian Test Team. He had led the team in 28 Test matches. He had scored 23 centuries in first class cricket. After retiring from cricket he pursued his career in journalism and broadcasting. In 1960, he made first radio cricket commentary for BBC in Britain. His last commentary was in 2005 Ashes series.11 April 2015 Current AffairsApurvi Chandela Won Bronze In ISSF Rifle and Pistol World CupCommonwealth Games gold medal winning Indian shooter Apurvi Chandela won Bronze medal in the 10-metre air rifle event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Rifle and Pistol World Cup on 11 April in Changwon, South Korea. She won the bronze after she shot score of 185.6 in the qualifying fifth final round. With this win, Apurvi Chandela has qualified for the 2016 Olympics, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is the second Indian shooter to bag an Olympic quota place after Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medallist Jitu Rai.

Seoul Succeeds In WWFs Earth Hour City Challenge 2015Seoul city, the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea, was awarded the title of Global Earth hour Capital 2015 after it won the Earth Hour City Challenge (EHCC) of World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Total 163 cities from 16 countries participated. The city of Balikpapan, Indonesia was recognized as the Most Loveable City for 2015 and Thane city was named as the National Earth Hour Capital 2015 of India.

India Designated As Chair To The Ninth Meeting of IRENA in Abu DhabiIndia has been designated as Chair to the Ninth Meeting of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Council which is scheduled to be held on 10-11 June 2015 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).India will chair the meeting of the 21 member council, which will guide the agencys future programmes and activities and helps set the agenda for the meeting of the annual Assembly to be held in January 2016.12 April 2015 Current AffairsNew Zealand Won Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey TournamentNew Zealand won the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament title for the second time on 12 April. In the final match, New Zealand defeated World Champions Australia by 3-1 goals in the penalty shoot-out. India won the bronze i.e. finished third by defeating South Korea by 4-1 goals in the penalty shoot-out after both the teams were tied at 2-2 at regulation time.

Retired Lieutenant General Hanut Singh DiedLieutenant General Hanut Singh (retd), the recipient of the Mahavir Chakra and hero of 1971 Indo-Pak war, was died in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. He was 82. He commanded the 17 Horse, or the Poona Horse regiment in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. He was honoured with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC). He retired from the Army in 1991. Lt. Gen. Singh, who was a cousin of former union minister Jaswant Singh, was born in the year 1933 in Jasol in Rajasthans Barmer district.

Sania Mirza Is First Indian To Be World No.1 In Womens DoublesSania Mirza created history on 12 April when she became the first female tennis player from India to achieve the world number one rank in doubles. She achieved this feat after winning WTA Family Circle Cup along with her Swedish partner Martina Hingis. With this win Sania scored 470 points, making her tally to 7965 and surpassing Italys Sara Errani (7640) and Roberta Vinci (7640) to the number one rank in the ranking table.

Lewis Hamilton Won The Chinese Formula One Grand PrixLewis Hamilton of Mercedes team won the Chinese Formula One (F1) Grand Prix on 12 April. With this win, reigning world champion Hamilton took his second victory of the season and his fourth at Chinese GP.13 April 2015 Current AffairsBHEL commissions 600-MW Thermal Unit In ChhattisgarhBharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) on 13 April commissioned 600 MW unit of a thermal power project for the Dainik Bhaskar Power Limited (DBPL) at Dhabra in Janjgir Champa district of Chhattisgarh. This is the second unit of this power project commissioned by BHEL the first 600 MW was commissioned in 2014. With the total installed capacity of 11,400 MW the share of BHEL stands at 68 per cent of the total installed capacity in state.

Nobel Laureate German Novelist Gunter Grass DiedThe Nobel-winning legendary German writer Gunter Grass passed away on 13 April 2015 at the age of 87 years. He was born on 16 October 1927 in the Free City of Danzig (now Polands Gdansk). His writings mainly focused on the Nazi era, the horrors of the war and the destruction and guilt that remained after defeat of Germany. He was best known for his first novel The Tin Drum that was published in 1959. The book was a key text in European magic realism and was adapted as a film of the same name, which won both the 1979 Palme dOr and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He served in the German military during World War II and was jailed between 1945 and 1946. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1993. In 1999, he was awarded Nobel Prize for literature for his efforts to revive German literature after the Nazi era. Hermann Kesten Prize (1995). He was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1993.

Haryana Grants Ramdev Cabinet Minister StatusThe Haryana government on 13 April decided to give status equivalent to Cabinet Minister to yoga guru Ramdev, who has been appointed as the states brand ambassador to promote yoga and ayurveda in January 2015.

National Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2014 NotifiedThe National Judicial Appointments Commission(NJAC)Bill, 2014 and 99 Amendment Act,2014 come into force as were proposed to come into force on date at which Central Government would notify them in the Official Gazette and finally it has been notified on 13 April . The National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014 will replace traditional old methond of collegium system of appointing judges of Supreme Court and high courts as now decision regarding appointment of judges of High courts and Supreme Court will be taken by NJAC.14 April 2015 Current AffairsAllan Donald Resigned As Bowling Coach Of South AfricaFormer South African cricketer Allan Donald on 14 April 2015 resigned as the bowling coach of South Africa Cricket team. The resignation coincided with the end of his four year tenure. Donald was appointed in June 2011 as part of Gary Kirstens management team and continued in the role under Russell Domingo from August 2013.

MHA renames Visa On Arrival Scheme To E-Tourist VisaUnion Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on 14 April decided to rename Tourist Visa on Arrival-Electronic Travel Authorization (TVoA-ETA) scheme as e-Tourist Visa (eTV) scheme. The renamed scheme will come into effect from 15 April 2105. Government of India had launched Tourist Visa on Arrival enabled by Electronic Travel Authorization (TVoA-ETA) on 27th November, 2014 to 44 countries at nine airports to facilitate short duration international travellers. Since the launch of the scheme, one lakh ten thousand (1,10,000) Visas have been issued by Government under this scheme.

Arun Jaitley Inaugurates Vividh Bharti FM service In DelhiUnion Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley on 14 April inaugurated FM service of Vividh Bharti from Delhi at the All India Radio (AIR), New Broadcasting House. With this launch, the services of Vividh Bharati of AIR will be available to listeners in and around Delhi. The service will also be available on mobile phones.

India Tops Global Remittances List With $70 BillionAccording to World Banks Report on Remittance, India has topped the list of global remittances in 2014, with migrant Indians sending $70 billion back to the country. Indias largest neighbour China received $64 billion in inward remittances during the same year. Saudia Arabia, the US, Germany, Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) continue to remain the top five migrant destination countries for remittances to India. China, Philippines, Mexico and Nigeria, apart from India, are the top five remittance recipient countries, in terms of value of remittances. Total remittances in 2014 reached USD 583 billion. This is more than double the official development assistance (ODA) in the world. India received USD 70 billion, China USD 64 billion, the Philippines USD 28 billion. However, the increase was negligible, since the remittances stood at $ 69.97 billion in 2013.15 April 2015 Current AffairsDjokovic Named Laureus World Sportsman Of The YearThe Laureus World Sports Awards for the year 2015 were given in seven categories on 15 April at Shanghai in China. Tennis star Novak Djokovic was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the second time. Djokovic was first bestowed the honour in 2011 following his first Wimbledon title, and has again collected the top gong after beating Roger Federer to his second last July. World indoor champion Genzebe Dibaba was named sportswoman of the year. The middle-distance runner became the first sportsperson from Ethiopia to win an award in any category at the prestigious event, which began in 2000. Dibaba was rewarded for her 2014 season in which she set world indoor records for 1500m and 3000m as well as a world indoor best for two miles.The full list of winners is:-*Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Novak Djokovic (Serbia) Tennis*Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Genzebe Dibaba (Ethiopia) Athletics*Laureus World Team of the Year- Germany (mens) Football*Laureus World BreakThrough of The Year Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Formula One*Laureus World Comeback of the Year- Schalk Burger (South Africa) Rugby Union*Laureus World Sportsperson of TheYear With a Disability Tatyana McFadden (US) Wheelchair racing/cross-country skiing*Laureus World Action Sportsperson of The Year Alan Eustance (US) Skydiving

Dr. Mohan Kumar Appointed as new Ambassador To FranceDr. Mohan Kumar, presently Ambassador of India to Bahrain, was appointed as the next Ambassador of India to France. He is a 1981-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer. He will succeed Arun Kumar who was appointed Ambassador to the United States.

Justice Meenakshi Becomes First Woman Judge of Sikkim High CourtMeenakshi Madan Rai was sworn in as the first lady judge of the Sikkim High Court on 15 April. Governor of Sikkim Srinivas Patil administered the oath of office to her at Raj Bhavan in Gangtok. After taking oath of office, she took charge as judge.

Canada To Supply Uranium For Indias Nuclear Plants For Next 5 YearsCanada has agreed to supply 3,000 metric tonnes of uranium to India under a $254 million five-year deal to power Indian atomic reactors. The $350-million uranium agreement, which was signed by Cameco and the Atomic Energy Commission of India in the presence of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Stephen Harper, marked a new chapter in Indias ties with Canada, which had imposed sanctions on India after its nuclear tests.16 April 2015 Current AffairsIndia Successfully Test Fires Nuclear Capable Agni III Ballistic MissileIndia on 16 April successfully test fired its nuclear-capable Agni-III ballistic missile with a strike range of more than 3,000 km from Wheeler Island off Odisha coast. The test-fire was conducted from a mobile launcher by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) with the logistic support from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The Agni-III missile is powered by a two-stage solid propellant system. With a length of 17 metres, the missiles diameter is 2 metres and launch weight is around 50 tonnes.

Former Nepal PM Surya Bahadur Thapa DiedFormer Nepal Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa was died in Gurgaon, Haryana. He was 87. Bahadur Thapa started his political career by executing underground student movement in 1950. In 1958, he was elected to the Assembly and became Chairman of the Advisory Council. In 1959, he was elected to the Upper House. He served as Prime Minister of Nepal for five times. He worked under three different kings and his terms were in 1963-64, 196569, 197983, 199798 and 2003-04. He had been the first Prime Minister of the Panchayat System.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella To Be Honored with Champion of ChangeAwardUS President Barack Obama plans to honor Microsofts Indian-origin CEO Satya Nadella with the Champions of Change award for bringing about change within his company to support working families.

Susanta Lahiri Awarded Hevesy Medal Award 2015Professor Susanta Lahiri, Chemical Sciences Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, received the Hevesy Medal Award 2015 at the Tenth International Conference on Methods and Applications of Radio-analytical Chemistry for his outstanding contributions to heavy ion induced radioisotope production, tracer packet technique, converter targets, and green chemistry.17 April 2015 Current AffairsIndia Ranks 125th In the World For Fixed Broadband PenetrationAccording to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) report, India ranks 125th in the world for fixed broadband penetration. Some of our neighbours like Bhutan and Sri Lanka are ahead of us. In the wireless or mobile broadband segment, India is ranked at 113th with a penetration of 3.2 per 100 inhabitants. The regulator also suggested the need to revamp government bodies involved in decision making that impact spread of broadband including that of Wireless Planning Commission (WPC) custodian of spectrum at Department of Telecom.

Vankadarath Saritha Joined As First Woman Bus Driver of the DTCVankadarath Saritha on 17 April joined as the first woman bus driver of the Delhi Transport Corporation. She is a 30-year-old driver from Nalgonda in Telangana. She has been posted in day-time duty at the Sarojini Nagar depot.

Former Czech Republic Prime Minister Stanislav Gross DiedFormer Czech Republic Prime Minister Stanislav Gross has died at the age of 45. He was the youngest Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 2004 to 2005 at the age of 34.

World Hemophilia Day was Observed Across The WorldWorld Hemophilia Day was observed on 17 April 2015 across the world. The day is observed to advocate for the global efforts to ensure appropriate care and treatment of diseases, which are the oldest known genetic bleeding disorders caused by Genetic Deficiency. 17 April is observed as the World Hemophilia Day every year across the world. Hemophilia generally is a blood disorder that effects a huge population across the world. The disease is generally transmitted to the daughter from his father at the time of birth, who further becomes the carrier of hemophilia cells of the defected gene to her children. This is a non-curable disease but can be handled, if treated finely. World Hemophilia Day aims to increase awareness of this disease and other bleeding disorders as well as where we have been, where we want to go, and that together, we can close the gap in care. Hemophilia B is the second most common kind of bleeding disorder, also termed as factor IX deficiency.18 April 2015 Current AffairsWorld Heritage Day was Observed On 18 April 2015The world on 18 April 2015 celebrated the World Heritage Day to celebrate the International Day for Monuments and Sites. The 2015 World Heritage Day also marked 50th anniversary of ICOMOS. The first world Heritage Day was celebrated on 18 April 1982 by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in Tunisia and was approved in 1983 by UNESCO. World Heritage Day or the International Day for Monuments and Sites is observed with an aim to encourage local communities and individuals throughout the world to consider the importance of cultural heritage in their lives, identities and communities. It is also aimed to promote awareness of its diversity and vulnerability and the efforts required to protect and conserve it. The day generally is celebrated across the world by organizing several events like exhibitions, excursions, scientific conferences and symposia, photography competitions, excursions and others.

Indian Economy To Grow at 7.5 Percent In 2015Global Rating Agency Moodys forecasted that Indian economy will grow at 7.5 percent in 2015. This growth rate is marginally higher compared with 7.2 percent in 2014. As per the report, Indias economy is on a cyclical upswing and forward-looking indicators suggest domestic demand is gathering momentum.

Shah Rukh Khan Won Asian Award In LondonBollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan won an Outstanding Contribution to Cinema honour in London at the fifth annual The Asian Awards, where he was seen partying with the likes of One Directions former band member Zayn Malik. The Asian Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals born in or with direct origin from across pan-Asia in all disciplines of life from business and the arts, to sport and public service. Previous winners in the cinema category include, Irrfan Khan, Anupam Kher and Yash Chopra.19 April 2015 Current AffairsNasim Zaidi Takes over as new CECNasim Zaidi has assumed charge as the 20th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on 19 April. He succeeds HS Bramha. A 1975-batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, Brahma , who hails from Assam, was elevated as the 19th Chief Election Commissioner in January 2015 and had a stint of a little over three months. Zaidi has earlier served as Election Commissioner since July 2012. Before joining the Election Commission, Zaidi had served the nation as a long time civil servant of the Indian Administration Service (1976- Batch).

Kerala Govt Launched Subodham Project To End Liquor AbuseKerala government has launched a major campaign Subodham, in a bid to wean people away from addiction to liquor. Liquor consumption has alarmingly increased in Kerala over the years and has spread to all sections of the society. The Subodham is supported by the UNICEF, as well as, several religious leaders, non-governmental organisations and other stake holders. It is the first step towards Punarjani 2030 Project an initiative of Kerala government to completely eradicate the menace of substance abuse in the state. Besides, the government has also decided to introduce anti-drug and alcohol awareness content in the curriculum from the next academic year.

Lewis Hamilton Won The Bahrain Formula 1 Grand PrixFormula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, representing Mercedes, won the Bahrain Grand Prix for the second year in a row on 19 April. Ferraris Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) made his entry into the podium with second place while Hamiltons Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg (Germany) came third.

Sitaram Yechury Elected as new General Secretary of CPI(M)Sitaram Yechury was elected as the new General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on 19 April at partys 21st Congress held in Visakhapatnam. Sitaram Yechury was unanimously elected CPI (M)s new General Secretary to replace Prakash Karat, who has completed three terms as General Secretary of the party.20 April 2015 Current AffairsNavys Stealth Destroyer Visakhapatnam LaunchedIndian Navys new stealth destroyer named INS Visakhapatnam was launched on 20 April at the Mazgaon Docks Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It has been designed indigenously and has been fitted with advanced features. It will be the first of P15-B stealth destroyers (under Kolkata-class) and will be propelled by four gas turbines. The ship weighed approximately 3,000 tons during the launch. The 163-metre-long vessel will be propelled by four gas turbines, and is designed to achieve a speed of over 30 knots at a displacement of approximately 7,300 tons. The vessel is expected to be commissioned in the Navy in 2018.

Neeraj Kumar Appointed BCCIs ACSU chiefFormer Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar was appointed as chief advisor of the Board of Control for Cricket in Indias (BCCI) Anti Corruption & Security Unit (ACSU) for a term of one year. The decision to appoint Neeraj Kumar to the top post was taken at the Governing Council Meeting of the Indian Premier League New Delhi, which was chaired by IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla. He will succeed Ravi Sawant as his term ended and will have term of one year.

ICICI Bank Launches NFC payments Service with Tech MahindraIndias largest private sector lender ICICI Bank has launched a new service called Tap n Pay which enables Near Field Communications (NFC) payments for users using NFC enabled tag or mobile phone at the merchants point-of-sale device. It was launched by bank in collaboration with Tech Mahindra. ICICI Banks Tap-n-Pay payment service is based on the near-field communications (NFC) technology. It can be used for merchant payments by merely tapping a NFC-enabled mobile phone or a tag on the counter. One important feature of this service is that it is a close-end one, only for a close group of customers, like canteen payments at the work place, and not universal like a debit or credit card. Any person having any bank account, and not limited to ICICI customers, can avail the service. For making payments, the user will have to bring the NFC tag or the mobile phone near a device at the merchants facility and the amount will automatically get debited from the prepaid account, without keying-in any code.21 April 2015 Current AffairsChinese President Conferred with Nishan-e-PakistanPakistan Government on 21 April conferred Nishan-e-Pakistan, top civilian award on Chinese President Xi Jinping. The award was given for Xis contribution in promoting Chinas relationship with Pakistan. The Nishan-e-Pakistan is Pakistans highest civil award given by the government for the highest degree of service to the country. The award was established in March 1957.

Former Odisha Chief Minister J.B Patnaik DiedFormer Governor of Assam and three-time Chief Minister of Odisha Janaki Ballav Patnaik , passed away in Tirupati on 21 April. He was 89. Patnaik was born in Puri district on January 3, 1927. He was Chief Minister of Odisha from 1980 to 1989 and again from 1995 to 1999. He was also the Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly from 2004 to 2009. He was appointed Assam Governor in 2009 and occupied this post till 10 December 2014.

CSA launched Africa T20 CupCricket South Africa (CSA) on 21 April launched the 16-team Africa T20 Cup which will be the African curtain-raiser to the 2015-16 season.The tournament was planned to promote the game and nurture young talent in the continent. The tournament featuring Zimbabwe, Kenya, Namibia, hosts South Africa and 12 CSA affiliates will run from 4 September to 4 October 2015.

Indian Railways Launches E-Samiksha To Monitor Rail Projects OnlineIndian Railways on 21 April 2015 launched online monitoring mechanism E-Samiksha to monitor rail projects. It aims at monitoring implementation of various ongoing projects of Indian Railways on real-time basis including Rail Budget proposals. E-Samiksha is designed by National Informatics Centre (NIC). It has been developed to make it a highly interactive web-based, user-friendly and customised system.22 April 2015 Current AffairsUnion Cabinet Approved Amendment To Juvenile Justice BillThe Union cabinet on 22 April approved amendment to the Juvenile Justice Bill to provide that if a heinous crime is committed by a person in the 16-18 age group, it will be examined by the Juvenile Justice Board to assess if the crime was committed as a child or as an adult. The union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved introduction of Amendment to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill 2014.

Rajaji Becomes Second Tiger Reserve In UttarakhandRajaji National Park in Uttarakhand is declared as Indias 48th Tiger Reserve after The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) granted final approval. With this announcement, Uttarakhand got its second tiger reserve after the Corbett Tiger Reserve. The notification was announced by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat while releasing logo of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve. The Rajaji National Park that came into existence in 1983 is spread across three districts of Uttarakhand namely Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal in an area over 820 square km. The park is a home to 315 bird species, 40 species of reptiles and fish and 400 Asian elephants. The park was named after the last Governor-General of independent India, C Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji. C. Rajagopalachari was one of the first recipients of Indias highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 1954.

International Mother Earth Day was Observed on 22 AprilThe world on 22 April 2015 observed the International Mother Earth Day. This day is observed with an aim of spreading awareness to protect earths environment. The theme selected for 2015 is Its our turn to lead. International Mother Earth Day also known as Earth Day is being celebrated across the world since 1970. The first Earth Day was celebrated on 21 March 1970, the day of vernal equinox that year. The concept of observing Earth Day is the brainchild of John McConnell, who proposed the idea of a global holiday called Earth Day at a UNESCO conference on Environment in 1969. He chose the vernal equinoxthe first day of spring in the northern hemisphere, the first day of autumn in the southern hemispherebecause it is a day of renewal. Vernal equinox is a day on which the night and day are of the same length, everywhere on Earth. Further the UN Secretary-General U Thant on 26 February 1971 signed a proclamation that stated that the United Nations would celebrate Earth Day annually on the Vernal Equinox as the international Earth Day. A month later, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson founded a separate Earth Day as an environmental teach-in first held on 22 April 1970.23 April 2015 Current AffairsIndian-American Vivek Murthy Takes Over As U.S. Surgeon-GeneralThirty-seven-year-old Indian-American Vivek Murthy was sworn-in as the U.S. Surgeon-General by Vice-President Joe Biden on 23 April. Vivek Muthy became the youngest-ever in-charge of the countrys public health. As the US Surgeon General, Murthy carries the rank of Vice Admiral. Dr. Murthy is the countrys 19th Surgeon General.

Dr Sunitha Krishnan To Get 24th Yudhvir Foundation Memorial AwardThe 24th Yudhvir Foundation Memorial Award will be given to Prajwala founder Dr. Sunitha Krishnan for her extraordinary achievement in the rescue, restoration and rehabilitation of victims in trafficking and her exemplary care and support to HIV patients. Dr. Sunitha Krishnan co-founded the anti-trafficking organization named Prajwala (1996) as a transition centre for second-generation prevention with 12 children in Mehboob Ki Mehndi in Hyderabad. She is the recipient of numerous national and international awards including the Stree Shakti Award by Govt. of India (2003), Perdita Houston International Human Rights Award by United Nation (2006), Outstanding Woman Award by National Commission for Women India (2013), in recognition of her exemplary crusade for social change. She also finds a name in the Limca Book of Records for Womens Empowerment (2014).

Google India Tops Randstad Survey For Most Attractive EmployerGoogle India has bagged the Randstad Award 2015 for Most Attractive Employer in India, while Sony India has been adjudged the runner-up. The sector-specific special recognition awards this year were awarded to Tata Steel (manufacturing), P&G (FMCG), and Honda India (Automobile). In line with the Randstad Award philosophy, Microsoft India has been inducted into the Hall of Fame category this year for winning the coveted Randstad Award title for four consecutive years. The Randstad Award is hosted each year to encourage best practices for talent attraction and to identify the best Employer Brand in the country based on the perceived attractiveness of a company.

World Book and Copyright Day was Celebrated On 24 AprilUnited Nations (UN) observed World Book and Copyright Day across the world on 23 April 2015. The day is an opportunity to recognise the power of books to change our lives for the better and to support books and those who produce them. World Book and Copyright Day or World Book Day is marked annually on 23 April, a symbolic date for World Literature. In 1995, UNESCO decided that the World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on 23 April. On this day in 1611, Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, Haldor K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Meja Vallejo. The connection between 23 April and books was first made in 1923 by booksellers in Spain as a way to honour the author Miguel de Cervantes, who died on that day. For the year 2015, UNESCO designated Incheon, South Korea as the World Book Capital 2015 in recognition of its programme to promote reading among people and underprivileged sections of the population.24 April 2015 Current AffairsIndia Ranks 117th In World Happiness Report 2015According to the World Happiness Report 2015, India ranks at 117th spot out of 158 nations that were included in the list of happy countries. Whereas Pakistan is ranked at 81 and Bangladesh is at 109. In 2013s report India was at 111th position. It means India lost six happy slots to other nations.The report was topped by Switzerland followed by Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Canada. In the ranking the US is at 15th position, ranked 15, UK at 21st, Singapore features at 24th spot, Saudi Arabia (35), Japan (46) and China (84).The 10 least happy of 158 countries include Afghanistan, war-torn Syria joined and eight sub-Saharan countries in Africa namely Togo, Burundi, Benin, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Chad. The report was published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) an initiative under the United Nations.

Rajya Sabha Passed Private Bill For Transgender RightsIn a historic legislative action, the Rajya Sabha approved a private members bill on the rights of transgenders on 24 April. The bill was passed unanimously by voice vote in the upper house of Parliament. Usually a private members billintroduced by a legislator who is not a member of the cabinetis withdrawn after discussion in the upper House. The bill was introduced by Rajya Sabha member Tiruchi Siva of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on 12 December2014. It came up for discussion in 2015 February and March before being put to vote on 24 April 2015.

Indian-Origin Soldier Awarded Presidents Medal In IsraelA 22-year-old Indian-origin soldier with Israeli army has been awarded the Presidents Medal of Excellence for his outstanding service. diel Yosef, who immigrated to Israel from Mumbai four years ago, got the award for serving in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Presidents Medal of Excellence is awarded every year based on recommendations from commanders of various IDF units for the significant service and outstanding contribution to the Israeli army and the State of Israel.

National Panchayati Raj Day was Observed On 24 AprilNational Panchayati Raj (PR) Day was observed across India on 24 April 2015. This day marks the passing of the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 that came into force with effect from 24 April 1993. The Amendment institutionalized Panchayati Raj through the Village, Intermediate and District levels Panchayats. This registers a defining moment in the history of decentralization of political power to the grassroots level. On the day, the best performing Gram Panchayats and Gram Sabhas were honoured with Panchayat Sashaktikaran Award 2015 and Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Award 2015.25 April 2015 Current AffairsWorld Malaria Day Observed Across The WorldWorld Malaria Day was observed on 25 April 2015 across the world. The theme, set by the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, is Invest in the future: Defeat malaria. This reflects the ambitious goals and targets set out in a draft post-2015 strategy to be presented to the World Health Assembly in May. The new strategy aims to reduce malaria cases and deaths by 90% by 2030 from current levels. Four countries have been certified free of malaria in the last decade and the post-2015 strategy sets the goal of eliminating the disease from a further 35 countries by 2030.The day was observed to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control. On the Occasion, World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a manual to help countries to assess the technical, operational and financial feasibility of moving towards malaria elimination.World Malaria Day was instituted by WHO Member States during the World Health Assembly of 2007. The day was celebrated on 25 April every year.

NASA develops First 3-D Printed Full-Scale Copper Rocket Engine PartNASA engineers have developed the first full-scale, 3-D printed copper rocket engine part. The part developed was a combustion chamber liner that operates at extreme temperatures and pressures using additive manufacturing technique. Combustion chamber was manufactured by using selective laser melting machine in the Laboratory located in Marshall Space Flight Centres Materials and Processing. 3-D printing or additive manufacturing technique has the potential to reduce the time and cost of making rocket parts. It can help to manufacture engine parts 10 times faster and reduce the cost by more than 50 per cent.

Govt To Launch Toll Free Helpline For TB patientsThe health ministry is set to launch a toll free helpline to reach out to tuberculosis patients across the country. Any suspected patient can call or even give a missed call on the helpline number and government health workers will contact the person to check the status of TB as well as provide medical intervention. India accounts for almost 25% of the 8.6 million TB cases reported worldwide. The number of drug resistant tuberculosis cases estimated in India is also significantly high at 110,000.26 April 2015 Current AffairsGopinath Pillai Awarded Outstanding Service Award For His Services In SingaporeIndian Origin diplomat, Gopinath Pillai is awarded outstanding service award in Singapore for his services. The award was given by National University of Singapore(NUS). Current he is serving as Ambassador-at-Large of Singapore and special envoy to Andhra Pradesh.

Anil Kapoor Conferred with Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award 2015Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor conferred with prestigious Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award 2015. The award was presented to him by writer and historian Babasaheb Purandare. Dilip Prabhavalkar, Marathi actor was also selected for this award for the year 2015. The award was instituted in 1999 in memory of father of Lata Mangeshkar. It carries Rs. 1,01,001 and a memento. Rishi Kapoor and Zakir Husain were conferred with this award in 2014.

50th Jnanpith Award Conferred On Marathi Litterateur Bhalchandra NemadeMarathi Litterateur Bhalchandra Nemade was conferred with 50th Jnanapith Award. He received the award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event in Parliament House in Delhi. The award includes 11 lakh rupees and a citation. His novel, Kosala, written in 1963 was considered as a path breaking in Marathi literature.

Bharatiya Mahila Bank Won The Asian Banker Achievement Award 2015Bharatiya Mahila Bank Ltd has won The Asian Banker Achievement Award 2015 for Technology Implementation in the category of Best Outsourcing Project (New Bank). It was awarded for Technology Implementation in the category of Best Outsourcing Project (New Bank).27 April 2015 Current AffairsIndian-Origin Scientist Sangeeta Bhatia Won 2015 Heinz AwardSangeeta Bhatia, an Indian-origin scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), won the prestigious 2015 Heinz Award in the Technology, the Economy, and Employment category. Bhatias team has developed artificial human microlivers for drug testing. These artificial microlivers are being used to test the toxicity of drug candidates by many biopharmaceutical companies. She is also using these microlivers to model malaria infection and test drugs that can eradicate malaria parasites completely in the laboratory. This model seeks to eradicate malaria parasites completely as the reservoirs of parasite remains in the liver even after a patients symptoms subside. This was the 20th Heinz Award which is given annually since 1993.

India Crowned Champions at Presidents Cup Boxing TournamentIndia was crowned champions at the 22nd Presidents Cup Open International Boxing Tournament on 27 April. This is for the first time that India was crowned champions at the Presidents Cup which was held at Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia. India finished the tournament on top with 33 points that included 4 Gold and 1 Bronze. Mongolia was placed second in the tournament.

Loretta Lynch Sworn In As U.S. Attorney GeneralLoretta Lynch has sworn-in as United States first African-American woman Attorney General. She is 83rd Attorney General of country. She succeeded former attorney general Eric Holder, who left the position on 24 April 2015 after serving as Attorney General for six years.

Omar Hassan al-Bashir Won The Presidential Election of SudanIncumbent President of Sudan Omar Hassan al-Bashir won the Presidential election of the country. He won another term in office with 94 percent of votes. This win has extended Bashirs tenure as President of the country for another five-year term. He had been in power in Sudan since 1989.28 April 2015 Current AffairsNovelist Siddhartha Gigoo Won Commonwealth Short Story PrizeSrinagar-born novelist Siddhartha Gigoo has won the 2015 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Asia region for Umbrella Man, a tale of surreal meditation on mental health and the environment. With this win he will compete with the other four regional winners for the 5000 pounds grand prize which will be announced in London on 8 September 2015.

ISRO successfully Tests Indigenous Cryogenic Engine with Four-tonne CapacityThe Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested an indigenous cryogenic engine on 28 April which will allow launch vehicles to carry satellites of up to four tonnes. It will also give boost to Indias interplanetary probes and manned space missions.

Railways Won 5th Senior Mens National Hockey ChampionshipRailway Sports Promotion Board won 5th Senior Mens National Hockey championship 2015. In the final match, they defeated Uttar Pradesh Hockey by 5-3 goals which was played at Pune. While in this championship, the 3rd Position was secured by Air India Sports Promotion Board who had outplayed Hockey Gangpur-Odisha by 5-3 goals.

Raja Rajeswari Is The New York Citys First India-born Woman JudgeChennai-born Raja Rajeswari has been sworn-in as a criminal court judge in New York by Mayor Bill de Blasio, becoming the first India-born woman to be appointed a judge in New York City. Rajeswari, who had migrated to the U.S. from Chennai as a teenager, previously worked with the Richmond County District Attorneys Office for her entire career in several bureaus including Criminal Court, Narcotics, Supreme Court, and the Sex Crimes Special Victims Bureau, where she last served as Deputy Chief.29 April 2015 Current AffairsLogo For International Day of Yoga LaunchedThe logo for International Day of Yoga was launched on 29 April by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik. The United Nations General Assembly had on December 11 adopted an India-led resolution declaring June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. The logo was selected by the Committee of Yoga experts, which was constituted by Union Ministry of AYUSH and has been approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Union Cabinet Approved Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013The Union Cabinet on 29 April approved amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 by pursuing the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013. The proposed amendments are mainly aimed at laying down more stringent measures to tackle corruption.

Mukesh Khanna Appointed as new Chairperson of CFSIActor and producer Mukesh Khanna has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Children Film Society of India (CFSI). He was appointed by Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as successor of Amole Gupte. Actor-director Amole Gupte, who took the post in 2012, had resigned from the office in June 2014.30 April 2015 Current AffairsLok Sabha Passed Finance Bill 2015The Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill, 2015 by a voice vote on 30 April. As many as 41 amendments moved by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley were passed, including for tax relief to foreign investors with income from securities transactions, royalties and technical service exempted from the contentious minimum alternative tax (MAT).

India Ranks 13th In Generating Electricity From Nuclear SourceIndia stands at the 13th place world-wide in generating electricity from nuclear source and expects to increase the installed nuclear power capacity from 5,780 MW to 10,080 MW by 2019. This information was given by Minister of State (MoS) Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply in the Rajya Sabha to an unstarred question. The ranking was based upon the data published by Power Reactor Information System (PRIS) of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2014.

Two Indians Won Whitley Awards For Wildlife ConservationTwo Indians have been awarded with the prestigious Whitley Awards for their contribution to wildlife conservation. Dr Ananda Kumar, a conservationist from India, was awarded the prize, in honour of his work using innovative communication systems to enable human-elephant coexistence in southern India. Another winner of the Whitley Award, dubbed Green Oscar is Dr Pramod Patil. He has been awarded for his work to protect the iconic great Indian bustard in the Thar Desert. The awards were presented at a ceremony in Royal Geographical Society, London. The winners of the award received a Whitley prize worth 35000 pound.

India Extends E-Tourist Visa Scheme To 31 More CountriesIndia will provide e-tourist visa to 31 more countries, including France and Canada, enabling the citizens of these nations easy entry to the country. The e-tourist visa had been launched in November 2014 for 45 countries from nine designated Indian airports. With the latest addition, the total number of countries under this scheme will go up to 76. According to reports, the scheme will be extended to more countries in a phased manner. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre further intends to extend the scheme to 150 countries by the end of this fiscal year.