Current Affairs: November 2014 Month Current Affairs Free Pdf Download

November 2014 Month Current Affairs

National Affairs:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) eased gold imports and scrapped 20:80 scheme. The decision to withdraw the 20:80 scheme will cut smuggling of gold and raise legal shipments into India.

• Wipro chairman Azim Premji  launched a new initiative Ajim Premji Philanthropic Initiative to fund non-profit organizations.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi adopted Jayapur village in Varanasi under Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY). Varanasi is the Lok Sabha constituency of PM Narendra Modi.

• The Andhra Pradesh (AP) government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) to promote Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Andhra Pradesh. The MoU was signed during AP chief minister, Chandrababu Naidu visit to Japan.

• The Reserve Bank of India issued final guidelines for the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS). The system will help consumers pay multiple bills like electricity, telephone and school fees at a single point of transaction.

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released guidelines for Licensing of Payments Banks.  These guidelines will allow mobile firms and supermarket chains, among others, to enter the banking arena to cater to individuals and small businesses.

• Namsai on 25 November 2014 officially became the 18th district of Arunachal Pradesh. The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Nabam Tuki made the declaration.

• The Supreme Court of India observed that Indian Premier League (IPL) team Chennai Super Kings (CSK) should be disqualified without any further enquiry. The observation of the SC came while hearing the Mudgal report Committee probe on IPL spot-fixing.

• Biography titled My Name is Abu Salem was released. Biography on underworld gangster Abu Salem has been written by S Hussain Zaidi and published by Penguin.  

• Haryana government on 25 November 2014 reversed the retirement age of government employees from 60 to 58 years. It also reversed the retirement age of Class IV, visually impaired and handicapped employees from 62 to 60 years.

• Giriraj Singh  assumed charge as the Minister of State for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME).

• Akash surface-to-air missile was test fired by the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Integrated Test Range at Chandipur near Balasore, Odisha on 17 November 2014.  It was test fired as part of user trial by the Air Force.

International Affairs:

• Many people were killed in a bomb attack on a mosque at Kano in Nigeria. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up and gunmen opened fire on a Muslim congregation at Friday prayers in the central mosque in northern Nigeria's largest city of Kano.

• World Trade Organisation adopted the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). The agreement was approved during the General Council meeting of 160-member WTO in Geneva, Switzerland.

• NASA celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first mission to Mars, Mariner 4 mission on 28 November 2014. Mariner 4 mission launched on 28 November 1964 was the NASA’s first successful journey to Mars.

• 18th South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit was held at Rastriya Sabha Griha Sanandan Raj in Kathmandu, Nepal from 26 November 2014 to 27 November 2014.  

• India offered polio vaccine for SAARC countries which would mean Pakistan and Afghanistan. The offer was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 18th SAARC summit in Kathmandu.

Business Deals:

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to sell worth 2000 crore rupees government bonds through Open Market Operations (OMOs) to squeeze the liquidity in the market.

• Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) announced to de-recognise Delhi Stock Exchange (DSE) on the allegations of serious irregularities in its functioning. 

• China and Australia signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The agreement was witnessed by the President of China Xi Jinping and Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott.  

• Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on 19 November 2014 raised India growth forecast to 6.6percent for the financial year 2015-2016.

• India and Mozambique signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in Oil and Gas sector for a period of five years. The MoU was signed during Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mozambique Oldemiro Julio Marques Baloi visit to India.

• The Reserve Bank of India  issued Guidelines for Licensing of Small Finance Banks in the Private Sector. As per the issued guidelines, the minimum paid-up equity capital for small finance banks shall be 100 crore rupees.

• State Bank of India (SBI) Mutual Fund (MF) announced  that it will launch Shariah Equity Fund on 1 December 2014. The fund is aimed at attracting investments from Muslim populations of India.

• Bharti Airtel on 26 November 2014 launched 4G service in Seychelles.  This is the first commercial LTE (Long Term Evolution) network of Airtel in Africa.

• Japan based Nippon Life Insurance announced to hike its stake in Anil Ambani-led Reliance Capital Asset Management (RCAM) from 26 percent to 49 percent. As part of it, Nippon will invest 675 crore rupees for the first tranche of 9 percent stake in RCAM.

• World Gold Council (WGC) and Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) collaborated to set up India Gold Policy Centre to conduct research on all aspects of the domestic gold industry. The decision was announced by WGC and IIMA.

• Kotak Mahindra Bank became first bank in India to fully own an insurance business after Reserve Bank of India (RBI) gave permission to set up a wholly-owned non-life insurance company called Kotak General Insurance.

• Adani Power signed a binding agreement with Gautam Thapar-led Avantha Group to buy its Korba West Power Co Ltd (KWPCL) unit. Adani will buy the 600 MW coal based power plant unit of Avantha group in at 4200 crore rupees.  The 600-MW’s coal based power plant is at Korba in Chhattisgarh.
  

• Adani Welspun Exploration (AWEL) announced to invest 1.5 billion US dollar in US shale and Canadian oil sands assets. AWEL is the joint venture between Gautam Adani led Adani Group and towel-to-pipe conglomerate Welspun led by B K Goenka.

• Three global organisations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end open defecation in India. The agreement is for three years.

• Cipla Europe NV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cipla Ltd on 20 November 2014 tied up with Serum Institute of India Ltd (SII) to distribute vaccines in Europe.

• India and Australia on 18 November 2014 signed five pacts on social security, transfer of sentenced prisoners, combating narcotics trade, tourism, and Arts and Culture.

Sports:

• Indian cricket team  won 5-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, 5-0. In the fifth and final match of the series played at JSCA Stadium Complex in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India defeated Sri Lanka by 3 wickets. 

• Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth  clinched women’s and men’s singles title of the 700000 US dollar China Open Super Series Premier of Badminton respectively, in Fuzhou, China. 

• Two-time World Badminton Championship bronze medallist PV Sindhu won 2014 Macau Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton Title on 30 November 2014. She successfully defended the 120000 US dollar Macau Grand Prix Gold trophy.

• Guye Adola of Ethiopia won Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM) in men’s category on 23 November 2014. Adola finished the race in 59.06 minutes and broke the 2013 record of 59.12 minutes set by Atsedu Tsegay of Kenya.  He received prize money of 27000 US dollars plus the additional course record bonus of 7500 US dollars.

• Indian Cyclist Deborah won four gold medals at the Track Asia Cup Cycling Championship 2014. The Track Asia Cup Cycling Championship was held from 21 to 23 November 2014 at Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi.

• Switzerland led by Roger Federer defeated France to win their first-ever Davis Cup of Tennis. Swiss tennis team defeated French team by 3-1 in the finals played at Lille Stade Pierre Mauroy, France.

• Indian Women Boxers Sarjubala Devi and Saweety on 24 November 2014 won Silver medals at the 8th World Women's Boxing Championships, in Jeju, South Korea.

• Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain on 23 November 2014 won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (GP) of Formula One (F1) racing at Yas Marina circuit in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

• India won the 2014 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women's Championship at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad. Indian team won 6-0 over Nepal to register their first series win on Pakistan soil.  

Awards:

• The Darjeeling Zoo or the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park was on 1 November 2014 selected for the prestigious International Award The Earth Heroes Award 2014.

• Hanumappa Sudarshan of Karuna Trust on 4 Novenber 2014 named the 10th India Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 award.

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)  was chosen for the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2014. The award will be given to ISRO for its contribution in strengthening international cooperation in peaceful use of outer space.

• The 37th Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation Awards for the year 2014 were presented during a ceremony held at Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA in Mumbai. In the year 2014, the Foundation is commemorating the 125th Birth Anniversary of Jamnalal Bajaj.

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth was on 20 November 2014 honoured with the centenary award for Indian Film Personality of the year 2014 at the 45th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

• Two Indians authors namely Jhumpa Lahiri and Writer critic Shamsur Rahman Faruqi were among the list of five authors short-listed for DSC Prize for the year 2015. The shortlist for 2015 was announced on 27 November 2014.

• Boxer Manoj Kumar received the prestigious Arjuna Award. The 2010 Commonwealth Games gold-medalist was given the award by Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at a function in New Delhi.

• Michael Phelps was crowned Male Athlete of the Year at the 2014 USA Swimming Golden Goggle Awards on 24 November 2014. He was crowned with the title for a fifth time.

• Aaranyak, an Assam-based NGO working for the conservation of nature and a Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) won United Nations Lighthouse Activities award for the year 2014.

• Lahore-based author Bilal Tanweer on 24 November 2014 won the 2014 Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize for his novel The Scatter Here Is Too Great (Random House India).

• Former Indian cricket captain Dilip Vengsarkar  received the prestigious BCCI-instituted Colonel C K Nayudu Lifetime achievement award. He was conferred with the award for his contribution to Indian cricket.

• Deutsche Bank on 15 November 2014 won Custodian of the Year 2014 award.  The bank was awarded the ‘Channel Islands Custodian of the Year 2014’ title, with the award being presented to Lisa Haggarty, Head of Custody and Fund Solutions for Deutsche Bank Channel Islands.

• Neel Mukherjee was in news because his book Lives of Others was shortlisted for Costa Book Awards on 19 November 2014.

• Veteran classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj was on 17 November 2014 conferred with the Sumitra Charat Ram Award 2014 for Lifetime Achievement.

• Steel Authority of India (SAIL) Chairman CS Verma  was on 14 November 2014 conferred with the IIM- JRD Tata Award for Excellence in Corporate leadership in Metallurgical Industries for the year 2014.

Days:

7 November: National Cancer Awareness Day : 

National Cancer Awareness Day was observed on 7 November 2014 across the nation. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in September 2014 had announced that 7 November will be observed as National Cancer Awareness Day every year.

11 November: National Education Day:

National Education Day (NED) was observed on 11 November 2014 to mark of the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. This NED was 125th birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

12 November:World Pneumonia Day:

World Pneumonia Day was observed across world on 12 November 2014 with theme: Universal access to pneumonia prevention and care. The day was observed to create awareness about pneumonia.

12 November: Public Service Broadcasting Day:

Public Service Broadcasting Day was observed across India on 12 November 2014. The day is observed in remembrance of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to All India Radio studio in Delhi for the first and last time.


14 November: Children’s Day :

Children’s Day (known as Bal Diwas in Hindi). The day is observed to increase the awareness of people towards the rights, care and education of children.

 21 November: World Fisheries Day:

World Fisheries day was observed across the world by the fisher folk communities. The day will remind the world to ensure sustainable stocks of fisheries and healthy oceans ecosystems.

26 November : National Milk Day:

Indian dairy sector majors decided to celebrate 26 November as National Milk Day to mark the 93rd birth anniversary of Father of White Revolution, Dr. Verghese Kurien.

Appointments:

• Deepak Gupta  was appointed as chairman of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). He was appointed as Chairperson of UPSC by the President Pranab Mukherjee in accordance with the Article 316 (1) of the Constitution.

• Major General Gadi Eizenkot on 29 November 2014 was appointed as the 21st Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

• Union Government  nominated Rajiv Mehrishi as a Director on the Central Board of Directors of Reserve Bank of India.

• Former Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Anoop Mishra was on 26 November 2014 appointed as new Secretary General of the Lok Sabha. He was appointed by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

• Delhi & District Cricket Association  re-appointed Yashpal Sharma as Chairman. Yashpal Sharma had resigned from his post in the second week of November 2014 due to some personal issues.

• Uninor on 19 November 2014 announced the appointment of Vivek Sood as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The appointment will come into effect from 1 December 2014. Uninor is the local arm of Norwegian telecom operator Telenor.

• United Nations (UN) Women announced the appointment of Indian tennis superstar and youth icon, Sania Mirza, as its Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia. The organisation is dedicated to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

• IAS officer Kiran Gurrala was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) on 24 November 2014.

• West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi was appointed as Governor of Bihar by the President Pranab Mukherjee on 23 November 2014. He will discharge the functions of the Governor of Bihar in addition to his own duties as Governor of West Bengal.

• Housing finance company DHFL on 20 November 2014 announced to name Shah Rukh Khan as its brand ambassador. DHFL is the second largest housing finance company of India.

• Eminent lawyer Advocate Sunil Manohar was on 18 November 2014 appointed as the Advocate General (AG) of Maharashtra. His appointment was approved by State Cabinet.

Deaths:

Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes on 27 November 2014 died after being into induced coma. He went into induced coma on 25 November 2014 after a bouncer ball of Sean Abbott hit back of his head during a Sheffield Game at Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia. 

• Oscar award winner Mike Nichols died on 19 November 2014. He was 83.  He was an US director, pioneering comedian and an outstanding theater director.

• Roberto Gomez Bolanos, the iconic Mexican comedian also known as Chespirito died on 28 November 2014. He was 85.

• Crime novelist Phyllis Dorothy James on 27 November 2014 died at the age of 94 in Oxford, UK. She was best known for her series of detective novels starring the policeman and poet Adam Dalgliesh.

• Tapan Raychaudhuri, a distinguished historian of modern India’s economic and social history, died on 26 November 2014 at his home in Oxford, England. He was 88. 

Legendary Kathak danseuse Sitara Devi died on 25 November 2014 at Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai. She was 94.

• Senior Marathi actor-director Raghuvir Nevrekar died in Mumbai on 23 November 2014 following a brief illness. He was 85.

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For Current Affairs of Last 3 Months Check Below Links:

• October 2014 Month Current Affairs
• September 2014 Month Current Affairs
• August 2014 Month Current Affairs