Sri Lankan Government dissolved national cricket board.

Petra Kvltova won her first womens singles Wimbledon title. Novak Djokovic won his first mens singles Wimbledon title. Thailand army accepted Pheu Thai Partys victory in general elections. China retained Badminton Asia Youth Under 19 Championship Mixed Team title. WTO ruled against China rare earth hoarding. Japan ordered safety test of n-plants. US president Obama held first twitter town hall answering questions. 135th and final space shuttle, Atlantis, launched from NASA. Space shuttle docked at ISS for last time. Republic of South Sudan became worlds newest country and Africas 54th nation. US suspended $800m aid to Pakistan. 1000 French troops to exit Afghanistan by 2012 end: Sarkozy News Corp withdrew bid for BSkyB. 15 killed in Karachi political violence. Italian Senate approved 4 year austerity budget. US recognized Libyan rebels as legitimate government. Darren Clarke won the British Open Golf Championship. Russia launched Spektr-R radio telescope into space. Hina Rabbani Khar sworn in as first Pakistani woman Foreign Minister. UN declared famine in South Somalia. Space shuttle Atlantis ended final voyage after landing in Florida Greece go a new bailout deal. British singer Amy Winehouse found dead in her flat in London. Ex-rebe Tamila party swept poll in North Sri Lanka. Syrian government adopts draft law for multipartism. Walt Disneyoffered to acquire UTV for about Rs. 2000 Cr. Russia, partners plan to sink ISS by 2020 Britain expelled all Libyan envoys and recognized rebel council as sole governmental authority. Libyan rebels celebrate British recognition. Recently Scientist decoded the full DNA sequence genome of Potato. The first woman Prime Minister of Thailand is Yingluck Shinawatra. The Centurys longest and darkest total lunar eclipse occurred in the early hours on June 16, 2011. Scientists at the Tuberculosis Research Centre (TRC) in Chennai recently hit upon a new molecule recently discovered by scientists with anti-bacterial properties is Transitmycin Vietnam in June 2011 kicked off the first phase of a joint plan with former enemy the USA to clean up environmental damage left over from the chemical defoliant Agent Orange-a lasting legacy of Vietnam War. The winner of Anuvrat Ahinsa International Peace Award is Thomas Cloud Daffern The winner of US Open (Go1f) Championship for the year 2011 is Rory Mcllroy The winner of French Open (Tennis championship) Men,s Single Titles this year is Rafael Nadal The winner of Womens Singles Title in French Open Tennis Championship 2011 is Li Na Ban Ki-Moon was recently elected on U.N. Secretary General for a -Second term The International Labour Organization on June 16, 2011 passed a landmark treaty giving protection to an estimated 52.6 million domestic workers across the world.

The man whose party won Turkish Parliamentary elections in June 2011 is Recep Tayyip Erdogan Jenson Button won the Canadian Grand Prix on June 12, 2011 in Montreal after overtaking Red Bulls Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel. World Food Prize (WFP) this year has been conferred on Brazils Lula da Silva and Ghanas J.A- Kufuor The new Director General of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a Jose Graziano da Silva of Brazil The Movie The Tree of Life directed by reclusive U.S. Director Terrence Malick clinched the Palmed Or at the 64th Cannes Film Festival. Palme Or is the most prestigious awards of Cannes film Festival. The movie is a fantastical family drama uniting Brad Pitt and Sean Penn on screen. Red Bulls Formula one World Champion Sebastian Vettel won Spanish Grand Prix on May 22, 2011. It was his fourth win in five race this season with McLarens Lewis Hamilton finishing second in the race. Portuguese star Christiano Ronaldo broke the La Liga goal-scoring record with his 39th and 40 league goals of the season for Real Madrid against on Almeria on May 21, 2011. Ronaldo had his record- breaking goal to overtake the previous best of 38 set by Athletic Bilbaos Telmo Zarra in 1951 and equaled by Real Madrids Mexican legend Hugo Sanchez in 1990. Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raja Gilani inaugurated Pakistans nuclear plant at Chashma in Punjab on May 12, 2011. The second unit of Chashma Nuclear power plant Chasnupp-2 was built in collaboration with China which is expected to produce 330 megawatt of electricity. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been chosen for the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Wards for International Understanding 2009 for her enormous efforts toward sustainable and equitable development. It was officially announced on May 9, 2011. Formula one World Champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull won the Turkish Grand Prix on May 8, 2011. Australias Mark Webber finished second in the race. It was vettels 13th career win. Novak Djokovic defeated world No.1 Rafael Nadal to win the Madrid Master of Tennis Championship in May 2011. It was his 32nd Consecutive win of defeat-free 2011 the best season start since John Mc Enroes 42 match streak in 1984. The Leaders of two main Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have signed a reconciliation agreement paving the way the for the formation to transitional national unity government by election. The pact was signed in first week of May 2011. Ivory coast rocked by fierce fighting Flghting flared. In Libya as flared, In Libya as Mexico created history with first bio-fuel Fight -Adel Safar named as Syria PM Burnese military chief Gen. Than Shwe retired Bangladeshs Mohammad Yunus lost the final legal battle to remain as Grameen Bank Chief. British astrophysicist Martin Rees won the Templeton Prize. 7.4 magnitude quake rattled Japan again. Yemen Prez Saleh rejected deal to step down- Russia began refuelling Iran N-plant. Film director Sidney Lumet died. Sebastien Vettel won the Malaysian Grand Prix F-1 racing. Ivory Coasts strongman Laurent Gbagbo captured from bunker. Japan raised N-threat to Chernobyl level Russia celebrated 50 years of conquest of Space. Former Egyqt Prez Mubarak and his sops detained for probe.

Syria Prez Assad formed new Cabinet- Worlds oldest man Walter Bruening died. US Prez Obama began his 2012 fundraising campaign. An Egypt court ordered the dissolving of Mubaraks party. Israel became CERN group member. Goodluck Jonathan won Nigerias presidential elections. Pak tested short-range .Hatf-9 N-missile. Rivals rejected Nigeria vote results. Prez. Assad ended state of emergency in Syria. CERN atom smasher set new record for beam intensity. Yemen Prez Saleh reportedly agreed to Gulf nations exit plan. Former Sony chief Norio Ohga died- Rafael Nadal won Barcelona Open tennis title. China swept all 5 gold medals in Asian Badminton Championships. Italy, France called for changes to Schengen treaty. Lobsang Sangay elected PM of Tibetan governmnt-in-exile. Thailand, Cambodia armies agreed Fateh and Hamas reached agreement on reconciliation. The winner of Chinese Grand Prix is Lewis Hamilton The Australian who recently smashed a record of 15 sixes in Aussies in against Bangladesh is a Shane Watson Britains Newspaper of the year Award has been conferred on -The Guardian. The winner of Malaysian Grand Prix is Sebastian Vettel The winner of Asian Biliards Alok Kumar The winner of Global Diversity Award for Sport 2010 is Kapil Dev The number one pair in ATP Tennis Doubles ranking is Paes and Bhupathi. The winner of US Masters (Golf) is Charl Schwartzel US sent warships to Libya. Pak minister Shahbaz Bhatti assassinated. Egyptian PM Ahmed Shafiq resigned. Maoists joined new Nepal government. Former Nepal PM Batteries passed away. Libya reported heading towards civil war. 6.2 magnitude quake hit north Chile. Egypt got new interim cabinet. Libya rebels rejected Gaddafi exit talks New cabinet took oath in Egypt. Space shuttle Discovery landed back on Earth wrapping tip a career of 27 years. Gaddafi forces recaptured Libyan town of Zawiyah. 8.9 magnitude quake struck off the coast of Japan; Tsunami alert across Pacific. After shocks rocked Japans east coast. Gaddafis troop seized Libyan oil town of Brega. Both: Austin party won Russia region polls. Tibet cabinet obeyed Dalai Lamas retirement. Fierce crackdown in Bahrain broke up protests. Iran sent bio-capsule into space. UNSC resolution imposed no fly zone Over Libya. Power restored at the tsunami -stricken Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan. UN Secy-Gen Ban- ki-Moon urged Libya to comply with Security Council resolution to stop all hostilities against its own civilians. Egyptians voted for constitutional amendments. Yemen Prez Ali Abdullah Saleh offered to step down.

 Legendary Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor died. Portugal PM resigned after debt plan nixed. 70 died in Myanmar quake. Canadian government fell after no-confidence vote. Sebastian Vettel won Australian GP racing. China introduced partial sea burial so as to not waste space. Assyrian govt resigns. International Current Affairs March, 2011: Descriptive Points The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters has chosen John Willard Melnor of the Institute for Mathematical Sciences in the University of Stony Brook USA for the award of its prestigious Abel Prize for the year 2011. Mexicos billionaire Carlos Slim remained the richest person in the world with $ 74 billion in assets while NRI steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal has been ranked sixth and Indian Industrialist Mukesh Ambani is placed ninth in US magazine Forbes annual list of worlds top billionaires this year. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on March 8, 2011 gave its approval to a safeguards agreement for two new reactors that Pakistan said China was building for it at Chashma. The type agreement for the two reactors approved by the IAEAS 35 nation Board of Governors was identical to similar agreement already in place for Chashma-l and Chashma-2 UN Women South Asia announced on International Women Day March 8, 2011 a new regional programme to address the needs of widows in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The three years programme funded jointly by UN Women Swiss National Committee and Standard Chartered Bank, will be implemented in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka to reduce social ostracism faced by widows. West Indies Clive Lloyd was recently chosen as the best World Cup (Cricket) winning captain out of the four namely loran Khan, Kapil Dev and Allan Border and himself. These three unanimously chose Clive Lloyd as best world cup winning captain who won world first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979. A ferocious tsunami caused by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded hit Japans eastern coast on March 11, 2011 killing hundred of people as it swept away boats, cars and homes while widespread fire burned out of control. Japans nuclear reactors were also damaged in the quake triggering widespread panic across the globe particularly in eastern Asia. World Champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany registered a dominating victory over his rival McLarens 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton by more than 22 seconds to emerge winner in Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne an March 27, 2011 Vettel became the youngest Champion at the age of 23 in 2010. Pakistan on March 11, 2011 successfully tested its short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf-2 (Abdali) as part of the ongoing process of validation and technical improvements kittle nations Land Based Ballistic Missile System. France recognised the National Transition Council (NTC) as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people. NTC is opposition rebellion group in Libya. France became the first western country to fully legitimism the rebellion in Libya and decided to send an ambassador to Benghazi.-Libyas second largest city and the seat of the rebellion in Libya. Dilma Rousseff sworn in as Brazils first woman President. Pak government reduced to minority as MQM pulled out. US President Obama signed 9/11 health aid bill. Iran offered nuclear sites visit. China rolled out its first stealth fighter aircraft. Southern Sudan decided to vote on separation from biggest Africa nation.

 Paks MQM decided to return to ruling coalition without joining the cabinet. Seoul banned Germen pork import. Spain rejected ETAS permanent ceasefire. China tested first stealth jet. Lebanons unity government collapsed. Nepal set up panel to amend PM poll rules. Russian Duma cleared US N-arms pact terms. UN ended Nepal Peace mission. Nepal parties agreed on national flag. 68th annual Golden Globe awards presented. China US signed deals worth $45bn. South agreed to low-level talks with North Korea. Talks related to nuclear programmes started between Iran and the World Powers in Islambul. Maoists gave up control of Nepal ex-guerillas. 5.1 magnitude quakes struck off Japans Bonin Island. Najib Mikati nominated as Lebanon PM. Afghan Prez Hamid Karzai opened new parliament. Yemenis called on Prez Saleh to quit. Russian Prez Medvedev signed the ratification of New START N-treaty with the US. North proposed parliamentary talks with South Korea. International Current Affairs January, 2011 : Descriptive Points Full preliminary results from a number of the South Sudans 10 states showed landslides secession as high as 99% from mainland sudan. The week-long referendum was conducted in January 2011 to determine whether the impoverished war-ravaged region (South Sudan) is to be recognised as Worlds newest state in July 2011. In the single largest aircraft deal in the global aviation history, no-frill carrier lndiGo will acquire 180 A-32 aircraft worth an estimated $ 15.6 billion from the European manufacturer Airbus. China on January 11, 2011 conducted its first test-flight of a stealth fighter jet the Chengdu J-20 which could most technically advanced warplane and thus narrowed Chinas rival the US F-22 Raptor-one of the worlds military gap with United States. The 23 year old dictatorship of the former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali collapsed on January 14, 2011 after Parliament of Tunisia was dissolved and the government was dismissed. The president Zine El Abidine was removed from his position. Mr. Ben Ali has been in power for 23 years. The Social Network which is a film about Harvard-graduate Mark Zuckerbezgs ultra popular Facebook website swept up four awards at the Golden Globe Awards 2011 including awards for Best Motion Picture Drama Best Director (Motion Picture), Best Screenplay (Motion Picture) and Best original score (Motion Picture) in January 2011. Argentinas Lionel Messi has been declared World Football Federations Best Male Football Player for 2010 while Brazils Marta has been declared World Football Federation. Best female Football Player for 2010. The first DSC Prize for South Asian Literature has gone to H. N. Naqvis Home Boy-a novel which captures complex loyalties of generation that belongs to everywhere and nowhere. The award carries 50,000 US dollars as prize money. Serbias Novak Djokovic beat Britains Andy Murray to clinch Australian Open 2011 Mens single title on January 30, 2011 in Melbourne. Belgiums Kim Clijisters beat Li Na of China to clinch the Australian Open (Womens single) Tennis Championship title on January 29, 2011 in Melbourne. It was her first Australian Open title.

Japan beat Australia 1-0 to clinch the Asia Cup of Football in the final match held in Doha in last week of January 2011. With this victory Japan became the most successful team in the history of the competition.

Indias current affairs

Delhi CM Sheila Dixit received the first Mercy Ravi Award for Woman of Substance from Defence Minister A.K. Antony. Centre set 2012 deadline to seal Bangladesh border. Pradeep Kumar elected as the new CVC. TN chief minister reshuffled her cabinet. RBI allowed fresh loans to finance FCCBs. MPs and MLAs quit en masse in Andhra Pradesh. 25 more Telangana legislators resigned. Noted filmmaker Mani Kaul passed away. Mayookha Johny won 1st Gold for India at the Asian Athletics Championship. Cho-Lhamu lake in Sikkim declared highest lake in the country. VS Hegde appointed Antrix Corporation Chief. More than 30 dead and more 240 hurt as Kalak Mail derailed. Rs1543 crore deficit budget presented for Assam for 2011-12. Bharti, IBM inked 10 year deal for Africa. Serial blasts in Mumbai left 21 dead. Pradeep Kumar sworn in new CVC. PSLV-C17 put GSAT-12 inot orbit. Government lifted wheat export ban. Ambika Pande became the first Indian to win the Canadian U-18 ITF Jr world ranking championship. Pacts singed for Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. RS Gujral Appointed as the new finance secretary. Himachal inked $95.16 mn loan agreement with ADB. Prahaar missile flight-tested successfully. Cabinet cleared $7.2 bn RIL-BP deal. India, Bangladesh revived border haat. President Patil began her two-nation tour to Korea and Mongolia. SC approved national-level medical exam. India inked tax treaty with Lithuania. Neelima Mishra and Harish Hande won Ramon Megsaysay Award 2011. Union Cabinet approved draft of Lokpal Bill. Dinesh Trivedi and Salman Khursheed are the new Union Railway Minister and Law Minister respectively. The insurgent organization which recently declared unilateral, indefinite ceasefire is ULFA. India is setting up a special facility known as Gamma Ray Telescope in Hanle (Leh) which will help in unraveling the mysteries of normal and dark matter in the universe.

Indias Chetan Anand defeated Chiang Jiann of Malaysia to clinch the Mauritius Open Badminton Championship in Hyderabad recently. The provision of free and compulsory education will be extended upto class X. A proposal to this effect was approved at a meeting of tile Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) The new mother-child health care scheme launched on June 1, 2011 is a The Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram Indian American Sukanya Roy won the crown at the prestigious Spelling Bee Championship in Maryland U.S. on June 2, 2011 for correctly spelling the tongue twister Cymotrichous Revenue Secretary Sunil Mitra on June 1, 2011 took charge as the Finance Secretary in place of Sushama Nath.b Mr. Sunil Mitra is a 1975 batch IAS officer (West Bengal Cadre). Lieutenant General H.L. Kakria in last week of May 2011 appointed took over as DirectorGeneral of the Armed Forces Medical Services. Hyderabad has been chosen for hosting the prestigious 11th conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in October 2012. The Committee on Comprehensive Review of National Small Savings Fund has suggested 4% interest on -Post Office Savings Deposits The Central Government on June 7, 2011 approved 16 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) proposals worth Rs. 92355 crore. Punjab defeated Mumbai in the final of Junior National Hockey Championship for undergo The winner of the inaugural edition of indian Volley League (Volleyball) is a- Chennai Spikers Water-jet-propelled Fast Attack Craft (FAC) INS Kabra-eight in a series of 10 Car Nicobar Class FACS designed and built by the Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and engineers (GRSE) for the Navy, was commissioned at the naval base in Kochi. The Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by the PM Dr. Manmohan Singh cleared the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) that will facilitate robust information sharing among law enforcement agencies to combat terror threats at home and abroad. An Iron Age megalithic burial site dotted with cairn-circles has been discovered near Veeranam village at the foot of a chain of hills inTamil Nadus Tiruvannamalai district. Jharkands Premlata Agarwal, 45, became the oldest Indian to scale Mount Everest on May 20, A2011. Ms. Agrawal, supported by that Steel is also the first person form Jharkhand to go on an expedition to Mt. Everest Air Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne has been appointed the next chief of Air Staff of India. He will assume office on retirement of Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik on July 31, 2011. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on his visit to Madhya Pradesh dedicated the world class 6 Million tones per annum Bina Refining to the nation in Bina (Madhya Pradesh) on may 20.2011. He said that the country would increase its refining capacity to 23-80 million by 2012. Professor Subhasis Chaudhuri of Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai has been selected for the prestigious G.D. Birla Award for Scientific Research. Under the 58th National Film Awards adaminte Makan Abu- a Malayalm movie has been chosen as the best feature film. The Movie shows humanist values freeing matters of faith from the constrictions of narrow parochialism. Salim Kumar for his role in Adaminte Makan Abu and Dhanush for his brilliant Performance in Aadukula have been selected best Actors under the 58th National Film Awards this year. During his African visit to Africa in May 2011, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said India would off $5 billion for next three years under lines of credit to help Africa to achieve its development goals. The $ 5 billion line of credit represents an increase of $1.6 billion over the billion that remains unspent.

On 21, 2011 the 800- tonne Ariane 5 launcher carrying two communication satellites weighing over 9,000 kg in its nose fairing blasted off into space. Indias GSAT-8 the largest and heaviest satellite built by Indian Space Research Organisation and its partners was one of the two copassengers on the flight. India on May 21, 2011 twice successfully test-fired the indigenously developed air-to-air Astra interceptor missile from Chandipur in Orissa. The Missile is envisaged to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds. A Successful flight-test of Russia I UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle ) was conducted by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) a lab of Defiance Research and Development Organisation near Hosur (Karnataka) on May 21,2011 Aditya Sudarshan has been declared the winner of the Metro Plus Playwright Awards 2011 for his entry The Green Room This prestigious award is instituted by the Hindu newspaper and is given for the best original unpublished and unperformed playscript in English. Mamta Benerjee took over as the first woman Chief minister of West Bengal in May 2011 after her party Trinamool Congress in alliance with Indian National Congress secured absolute majority and ended the 34 year rule of mighty Left Front reducing them to a double them to double digit figure of 62 seats in the newly constituted Assembly. Human Right Activist Binayak Sen has been made member of the Planning Commissions Steering Committee on Health which will advise the panel on The Twelfth Five Year Plan (20122017). He will represent the Bilaspur based healthcare organization Jan Swasthya Shayog. Famous Bollywood singer Shaan was on May 10, 2011 announced as the Tobacco Control Ambassador of India by the Union Ministry of Health And Family Welfare given his popularity and fan following among young age group people. In order to build a capability based approach the Armys Western Command Embarked on a simulated war game in the deserts of northern Rajasthan in May 2011. The exercise named Vijayee Bhava (Blessed to win) is the first in series of Annual summer exercise that got underway at Suratgarh in Rajasthan with Indian Air Force supporting the drill Rabobank got RBI nod for India operations. Team India won the Cricket World Cup after 28 years. World Cup celebration continue bio-fuel flight leader Safar named all over nation. Delhi cabinet gave its nod to ban on plastic bags. India suspended food imports from Japan for 3 months. Union Cabinet approved Consulate General of India in Perth. The government decided that blanket ban on food Imports from Japan was not required as items tested so far were not found contaminated from radiation leak. Indian Premier League (IPL-4) got off in Chennai. Anirban Lahiri won the inaugural Panasonlc Open Golf title. SFI founder C Bhaskaran died. 44-deemed univs facing derecognition got reprive from Supreme Court. PM Singh reached China for BRICS summit. India, China agreed to resume defence exchanges. Kanishtha Dhankhar crowned Femina Miss India World 2011. Alok Kumar won Asian Billiards Championship title. India,Kazakhstan Inked nuke,oil pacts. Jaipurs last titular Maharaja Bhawanl Singh died. Orissa became first state to launch rural livelihood mission. Abhijit Gupta won the Dubai International Open Chess title.

India, Japan signed pact on digital library- PSLV-CI6 placed 3 satellites in orbit. Congress won first civic polls in Gandhi nagar RBI granted relief of banks on NPAS. India-Pak panel okayed repatriation of prisoners. Spiritual leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba died. Ex-chief of CWG Suresh Kalmadi arrested on charges of forgery. A special CBI Court sent Kalmadi and two others to 8-day custody. Indo-pak trade talks resumed after two years. 2G: PM Singh got clean chit from Public Accounts Committee. The winner of Dubai Open Chess Championship is Abhijeet Gupta Recently PSLV-C16 put into space orbit Three Setellites The Indian who recently won prestigious Indu Sharma Katha Samman is Vikas Kumar As per Time Manazine list, the most influential Indian is Mahendra singh Dhoni Saraswati Samman has been conferred on S.L. Bhyrappa The person who has been appointed as Chairperson of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Leela samson As per the provisional data of 2011 Census, Indias population stands at 1,210,193,422 The percentage growth of Indias population in 2001-11 was recorded at 17.6% The overall sex ratio nationwide has been recorded during 2001-11 Census at 940 females per 1000 males Kerela The state which registered highest sex ratio during 2001-11 Census is- Kerala The literacy rate during census 2001-11 has been registered at 74-04% The Indian state which has achieved first rank in harnessing solar energy is Rajasthan The Indian who has been chosen for South Korean Gwangju Award for human rights for 2011 is Binayak Sen As per recent data Planning Commission, Poverty rate in India has declined-32% As per 2001-2011 census, the density of population in India is 382 Persons per square km The percentage of female literates in India as per 2011 Census provisional data is 65.46% to total population of women As per the 2011 census provisional data the four states with highest population (in descending order) are U.P.Maharashtra, Bihar and. West Bengal Wisdens Leading Cricketer for is Sachin Tendulkar 11 got death penalty, 20 life term for Godhra carnage. India, ASEAN set $70 bn trade target. Banking Laws Amendment Bill got cabinet nod. Lanco acquired Aussie coal mines, Griffin, for $760 million. India agreed to finance Ethiopian sugar sector revamp. Interceptor missile test fired successfully. Monaco became the first public sector firm to Introduce ESOPs. SC approved single MBBS entrance test across nation. India, Brazil inked air services agreement. Star Indian Post office announced launch of online portal a-post office. Essar, Inked $750m agreement to revive Zimbabwe Iran & Steel C0. N-capable missiles Dhanush and Prithvi-II successfully tested. India, Bangladesh decided to hold Wagah-style retreat at border. Foundation for Judicial Academy laid in Jodhpur. Prez Patiy cancelled appointment of PJ Thomas as CVC.

Union cabinet approved GST Bill. Indias tallest (80 feet) statue of Lo rd Buddha unveiled in Sarnath. Government approved 9.5% interest on PF deposits. India abstained from UNSC vote on Libya no fly zone. Bollywood actor Navin Nischol passed away. Security forces seized armed from Maoist hide out in Midnapur. Saina Nehwal won Swiss Open Singles final tennis trophy. Delhi Anti-sealing Bill passed In Rajya Sabha. SBI announced new code of conduct. Shimla declared environmentally sustainable city. Orissa (the alteration of named Bill and Constitution (113th) Amendment Bill passed in Rajya Martha. Lok Sabha passed the Coinage Amendments Bill. Cash-strapped Air India got a breather. Navy nabbed 16 pirates off Lakshadweep. India invited to make huge investments in Africa. India breaks into the top 10 nations in Scientific Research Output. Gujarat banned the sale distribution and reprinting of Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and his struggle with India. Results of Census 2011 released: Puts Indias population at 1.21 billion. India Current Affairs January, 2011 : Descriptive Points Noted Hindi writer Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari has been chosen for the prestigious Vyas Samman for his collection of poems Phir Bhi Kuch Rah Jayega. The Award is instituted by K. K. Birla Foundation. The Government of India has proposed to nominate the name of Assams river island Majuli for inclusion in the cultural landscape category of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage list. A Tamil Brahmi script on a pot rim reading a mana meaning a Jaina has been found at Pattanam in Earnakulam district Kerala establishing that Jainism was prevalent on the West Coast at least from second century CE (Common Era). Kiradech Aphibarnrat pipped Mohammad Siddikur Rahman to bag SAIL open title on March 25, 2011 in New Delhi. A. S. Suresh Krishna of Andhra Pradesh defeated Ashutosh Singh of Delhi to take the title in National Jute Board-National grass-court Tennis tournament on March 5, 2011 in Kolkata while in womens section Kyra Shroff beat Aishwazya Agrawal to take the crown. India on March 6, 2011 fired an interceptor missile which intercepted an incoming enemy ballistic missile at an attitude of 16 km and pulverized it in a direct kill. While the hostile missile was launched at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Orissa, the Interceptor blasted off from Wheeler Island off the Orissa Coast. North Zone beat West Zone to clinch Deodhar Trophy of Cricket on March 9, 2011 in Jaipur by five wickets. Shahina K. K. the Thiruvananthapuram correspondent of Open magazine has been chosen for the Chameli Devi Jain Award 2010 for being outstanding woman media person. India will test-fire the submarine launched version of of BrahMos Underwater test-firing the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile by year end as on March 12, 2011. Underwater weapon-delivery countries defence strength. The Human Resource Development Ministry has appointed Mahashweta Devi as National Research Professor for a second term of five years from February 2011. She has been appointed to this post in recognition of her contribution as a writer and a social activist.

India

V. Kalidas-The Hindus consultant has been honoured with the Hall of Fame Award for 2011 for his contribution to the media industry. He was honoured by Punjab Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan in Chandigarh on March 17, 2011. Indias exports breached the $ 200 billion mark in the first 11 months of the 2010-11. Exports jumped by 49.8% year-on-year during February to $ 23.6 billion taking the April-January 2010-11 figure to $ 208.2 billion-an increase of 31.4% over the year-ago period and past the yearly target of $ 200 billion. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was honoured with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and lndusirys top honour. The Decade of Global Achievement Honour for her accomplishments in Hindi cinema on March 25, 2011 in Mumbai. According to the 2010 tiger census whose results were declared on March 28, 2011 there are approximately 1,706 of the big cats in the country which includes about 70 in the marches of the Sundarbans. The Central Government on March 24, 2011 constituted the Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) under the chairmanship of former justice B. N. Krishna to rewrite and harmonize financial sector legislations, rules and regulations so that the requirements of the countrys fast growing financial sector may be fulfilled. The Government recently in March 2011 approved 14 proposals of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) including that of Mauritius based Ghir Investments totalling Rs. 1,289.85 crone. Curb on foreign tourists visiting North-East scrapped. India joined the UN Security council as non-permanent member. ADAG firm bought 26% stake in ICEX. India extended ban on milk products from China for a year. Gujjars signed pact with Rajasthan government. UGC cleared ban on animal dissections. India Lanka sign MOU to start ferry service. PM Manmohan Singh announced merging of OCI, PIO cards. India clinched T-20 against S. Africa in Durban. 1st edition of S. Asian winter games began in Dehradun. Govt. agreed to re-examine its decision to close 44 deemed to-be blacklisted units. IndiGo signed $15.6bn aircraft deal to buy 180 Airbus A320s. Gujarat signed Mous worth One Lakh Crore for shipping industry. Over 55 reported killed in Sabrimala tragedy in Idukki. Rajasthan clinched maiden Ranji Trophy. Golfer Gaqanjeet Bhullar became the first Indian to win on the Challenge Tour. RBI tightened provisioning norms for non-banking financial companies. Major fire In Navi Mumbai IOC depot destroyed 50,000 litres of lubricant oil. PM Manmohan Singh reshuffled his cabinet. Nationwide mobile number portability launched. Naval warship INS Deepak Joined Navys western fleet. Criminal suit lodged against Karnatakas CM B. S. Yeddyurappa. Music icon Pandit Bhimsen Joshi passed away. India Indonesia signed pacts worth $15 lbn. Nation celebrated 62nd Republic Day. India won Asian Juniors Golf Team title. Four more ministers inducted in Hooda Cabinet, Haryana. Current Affairs January, 2011 : Descriptive Points

Kapila Vatsyayan, Homi Vyarwalla, A. Nageshwar Rao (all the three, Art), parsaran Kesava Iyengar, L. C.Jain Akhlaq-ur-Rehman Kidwai, Vijay Kelkar, Montek Singh Ahluwalia (al1 Public Affairs), O. N. V. Kurup, Sitakant Mahapatra (both Literature and Education), Brajesh Mishra (Civil Services), Azim Premji (trade and industry and Palle Rama Rao (Science and Engineering) are the thirteen eminent personalities who have been honoured with Padma Vibhushan (Indias second highest civilian award) this year. The Indian musical (music director) who has been nominated for Oscar Awards this year is A. R. Rahman Indian music maestro A. R. Rahman has been nominated for his music in Dannny Boys film 127 Hours in the categories of Best Song and Best Original Score trophy for Oscar Awards this year. Petroleums A. Sharath Kamal beat R. Abhishek to clinch mens title and K. Shamini beat Madhurika Palkar (PSPB) to clinch the womens title in the Keventer 72nd senior National and inter-state table tennis tournament in Kolkata on January 23, 2011. IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Director-General Yukiya Amano honoured Anil Kakodkar (the former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission of India) with the Indian Nuclear Societys Homi Bhabha lifetime. Achievement Award for the year 2009 on the occasion of the 21st Annual Conference of Indian Nuclear Society on Impact of Radiation Technology on human health and environment at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre irk Mumbai on January 17, 2011. Rajasthan created history for the first time in 77 years when they defeated Baroda in the final of the Ranji Trophy cricket tournament on the basis of first innings lead in Vadodara on January 15, 2011. Prime Minuter Dr. Manmohan Singh recently launched * Mobile Number Portabillty Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on January 20, 2011 launched nation-wide Mobile Number Portability (MNP) that allows users to swish operators/service providers without losing or changing their phone numbers. The general council of the Sangeet Natak Akademi elected two eminent personalities from the field of performing arts-Girija Devi and Nataraj Ramakrishna-Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellows (Akademi Ratna) at its meeting held on January 19, 2011 in New Delhi. Indian Meteorological Department has declared that 2010 was the warmest year since 1901. According to the department, the annual mean temperature averaged over the country as a whole was 25.8023 degrees Celsius in 2010. Ethiopias Girima Assefa beat Botor Segaye Wolde (Ethiopia) in mens section to emerge winner at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon while Koren Yal of Ethiopia clinched women title by defeating Merima Mohammed of Ethiopia on January 16, 2011 in Mumbai. In a step to alleviate plight of millions of people affected by the 2008 Kosi flood, the Bihar government on January 12, 2011 signed a $ 220 million agreement with the World Bank. The government will chip in with $ 39 million for the $ 259 million Bihar Kosi Flood Recovery Project aimed at supporting states recovery efforts. Justice B. Srikrishna Committee recently submitted its report on Telangana issue suggesting six options to resolve the Telangana statehood issue saying united Andhra Pradesh is most workable solution. The Indian team won the Asian Junior Golf team Championship of Golf on January 27, 2011 in Kuala Lumper India won the tournament and the gold medal on countback. Indonesias President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was the chief guest on this years Republic Day. During his visit to India, a number of agreements/MoUs were signed between India and Indonesia on combating terror, curbing money launderings and exchange of information on criminal activity.