The BCCI Awards are a set of annual cricket awards given by the Board of Control for Cricket in

India (BCCI). These award in various categories recognise and honour the best Indian
international and domestic cricketers of the past year. The awards were first given in 200607.
Recipients of 2014-15 BCCI Awards are
C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award: Syed Mujtaba Hussain Kirmani.
Polly Umrigar Award: Virat Kohli.
Lala Amarnath Award for Best all-rounder in Ranji Trophy: Jalaj Saxena (Madhya Pradesh).
Lala Amarnath Award for Best all-rounder in Domestic Limited-Overs Competitions: Deepak Hooda
(Baroda). Madhavrao Scindia Award Highest Scorer in Ranji Trophy: Robin Uthappa (Karnataka).
Madhavrao Scindia Award Highest Wicket-Taker in Ranji Trophy: R Vinaykumar (Karnataka).
Madhavrao Scindia Award Highest Wicket-Taker in Ranji Trophy: Shardul Thakur (Mumbai).
A. Chidambaram Trophy Best Under-23 Cricketer: Almas Shaukat (Uttar Pradesh).
A. Chidambaram Trophy Best Under-19 Cricketer: Anmolpreet Singh (Punjab).
A. Chidambaram Trophy Best Under-16 Cricketer: Shubman Gill (Punjab).
A. Chidambaram Trophy Best Woman Cricketer (Sr): Mithali Raj (Indian Railways).
A. Chidambaram Trophy Best Woman Cricketer (Jr): Devika Vaidya (Maharashtra).
Best Umpire In Domestic Cricket: O Nandan
Best Overall Performance: Karnataka State Cricket Association.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Indias biggest state owned gas importer Petronet LNG has signed a revised contract with RasGas
of Qatar to import gas at a significantly lower price than earlier. Under the new contract, Rasgas
will supply Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Petronet at 6-7 dollar per million British thermal units
(mmBtu) from January 1, 2016. It would supply to 7.5 million tonnes of LNG India until the longterm contract ending in April 2028 The new rate is sharply lower than 12-13 dollar per mmbtu
agreed earlier and has been revised after falling global prices of oil and gas, saving consumers
around Rs.4,000 crore. Comment The new price formula between the two companies is a win-win
situation for both countries. It also marks Union Governments biggest diplomatic win to leverage
Indias position as one of the worlds biggest energy consumers by striking better price bargains
for its companies. It also indicates that tumbling oil prices and a global gas glut due to
overproduction and fall in demand due to global economic slowdown are compelling exporters
especially OPEC countries to offer better deals to retain their share in global energy trade

The Union Government has signed a Financing Agreement of 50 million dollars with the World
Bank for Nai Manzil Scheme- Education and Skills Training for Minorities. Under this agreement,
the credit will be facilitated by the International Development Association (IDA), World Banks
concessionary lending arm. This credit will be in the form of loan which carries a maturity of 25
years, including a 5-year grace period. The loan funds will be used for interventions under this
scheme improve the employability and performance of minority youth in the labour market. The
total project size is 100 million dollars, out of which 50 million dollars will be available as IDA
credit and the remaining balance funding from the Union Budget.
About Nai Manzil Scheme The central scheme is designed to address educational and livelihood
needs of minority communities lagging behind in terms of educational attainments. It aims to
provide educational intervention by giving the bridge courses to the trainees and getting them
Certificates for Class XII and X from distance medium educational system. It seeks to provide
trade basis skill training in four courses at the same time of formal education, in field of (i)
Manufacturing (ii) Engineering (iii) Services (iv) Soft skills. It intends to cover people in between
17 to 35 age group from all minority communities as well as Madrasa students. This scheme will

provide new avenues for minorities for continuing higher education and also open up employment
opportunities in the organised sector.

The Union Government is going to roll out LPG-like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for
kerosene from 1st April 2016. The scheme in the initial phase will be implemented in selected 26
districts of eight states. These states are Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan.
Under the scheme People will buy kerosene at market rate (un-subsidised price) but will get
subsidy directly in their bank accounts. The cash subsidy paid to users under it will be equivalent
to the difference between current Public Distribution System (PDS) price and market rate of
kerosene. During the initial phase, kerosene subsidy will be credited to eligible beneficiaries in
advance to avoid any inconvenience of payment of un-subsidised price. Comment The move will
help Government to curtail or reduce subsidy outgo for kerosene which in 2014-15 was about
24,799 crore rupees. It will also help in plugging the leakages in the kerosene subsidy system.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4th January: World Braille Day

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Telangana Government has launched e-Vahan Bima Scheme to issue motor insurance policy in
digital form. With this, Telangana became the first state in the country to legally accept motor
vehicle insurance policy in digital form.

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