Current Affairs - 13th Feb 2014

Award of honor of rotary international

Indian President Dr. Pranab Mukherjee was given the award of honour by president of rotary club Ron Burton. This award was given to him for his leadership under which India became a polio free nation.

World press freedom index

India ranks 140th out of 180 in the press freedom index as per the survey of a Paris based institution. In 2012, India has the rank of 131st in the list. Finland was the number one ranked country in this index; USA was at 46 while China was at 175th rank. The U.K. was at 33rd position in the index.

Rail budget 2014

The rail budget for the year 2014-15 was presented by railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge in the parliament. The highlights of the budget are:-

1. No fare was revised.

2. Railways to create funds for green curtains along tracks under the CSR (corporate social responsibility).

3. Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh will be added in the railway map this year.

4. 17 premium trains will be run across the country with full AC facility and the ticket price of it will depend on first come first serve basis. The name of these trains is “Jai Hind” and the
fare pricing would be like that of airplanes.

5. Rs.19, 805 crore budgetary support needed for the fiscal year 2014-15.

6. 38 new express trains, 10 passenger trains, 4MEMU, 3DEMU to be started this year.

7. Total annual rail plan: - 64305 crore.

8. Induction cooking will replace LPG in pantries to escape fire accidents.

National Crop Insurance programme

This is the new scheme launched after merging Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS) AND Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) and Coconut Plan Insurance Scheme (CPIS) for the rabi year 2013-14.

Agreement between India and Mozambique

A MOU was signed between India and Mozambique for mutual co-operation in the field of mining sector. Both the nations would promote mineral exploration and small scale mining and also promotion of public privete partnership in the field of mining.