September Current Affairs

1)Cairn Energy sold 8 percent stake in Cairn India

The British oil and gas exploration and production company Cairn Energy plc on 25 September 2012 sold 8 per cent stake in Cairn India for a net realization of about US Dollar 910 million.

2)Waheeda Rehman to receive Lifetime Achievement Award during 14th Mumbai Film Festival

Waheeda Rehman, the veteran actress of Bollywood has been nominated to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be presented to the actress during the forthcoming 14th Mumbai Film Festival going to start from 18 October 2012 and end on 25 October 2012.

3) R Lakshmipathy elected as chairman of the Press Trust of India

 R Lakshmipathy, the publisher of Tamil daily Dinamalar, was elected as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Press Trust of India (PTI) on 24 September 2012 after the company's Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Lakshmipathy, has served as PTI Chairman twice earlier and is also a member of press council. He is succeeding M P Veerendrakumar, Chairman and Managing Director of Mathrubhoomi group of newspapers.

CCEA approved 1.90 crore lakh package on debt restructuring for the SEBs

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 24 September 2012 approved a 1.90 lakh crore package on debt restructuring for the state-electricity boards. The taken step will allow the state- distribution companies (DISCOMS) to facilitate their turnaround. The committee met under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and gave its nod to the package forcing the red marked distribution companies to start the fresh round of tariff increase.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Resigned 

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar resigned on 25 September 2012 after the alleged corruption charges on him in awarding irrigation projects when he was state's water resource minister. It was alleged that there were discrepancy committed in granting administrative approvals to projects involving several crore of rupees during his tenure as an Irrigation Minister between 1999 and 2009.

Alleagation claim that Ajit Pawar had approved 38 projects worth Rs 20,000 crore in 2009 without clearance of governing council of Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC).

Pakistani-origin women appointed as Norwegian Cultural Minister

Hadia Tajik, a 29 year old women of Pakistani origin was appointed as Norwegian Cultural Minister on 24 September 2012. Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg appointed her to this post during the cabinet reshuffle activity. She is the youngest minister and first Muslim in the Norwegian Political history.

Double Trap Shooter, Ronjan Sodhi won Silver at ISSF World Cup 

Mary com became the brand ambassador of Super Fight League (SPL) 

The Super Fight League is promoted by IPL team Rajasthan Royals' co-owner Raj Kundra and Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt.

Ramesh Abhishek appointed as FMC chairman

An IAS Officer of 1982 Batch Bihar Cadre, Ramesh Abhishek on 24 September 2012 was appointed to be the Chairman of Forward Markets Commission (FMC). His pay-scale and rank has been elevated to that of the additional secretary and FMC Chief respectively.

Forward Markets Commission (FMC)

With its headquarters at Mumbai, Forward Markets Commission (FMC) is a regulatory authority established under the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act 1952. The body is responsible for taking care of forward and future markets of India and is a part of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

Dearness Allowance (DA) hiked for Union Government Employees

The Union government on 24 September 2012,  hiked Dearness Allowance (DA) by 7%, benefiting its 80 lakh employees and pensioners and costing the exchequer an additional Rs7408 crore annually

Aishwarya Rai appointed as International Goodwill Ambassador

The United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has appointed Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as its International Goodwill Ambassador.

Her job will be now is to raise global awareness on protecting children from HIV infection and to increase access to antiretroviral treatment.

The appointment came a day before the start of the annual debate at the UN General Assembly. Aishwarya has been involved in humanitarian issues for many years and will now have a special focus on HIV/AIDS.

John Terry, the former England Captain announced his retirement from International Football 

John Terry, the captain of Chelsea in the premier league announced his retirement from International Football on 24 September 2012. The central defender came up with this decision one day before the Football Association was supposed to hear the claim of using racial abusive language in the notorious Anton Ferdinand incident.

International day of Peace observed worldwide

International day of peace also called as World peace day was celebrated worldwide on 21 September 2012. The day is dedicated to peace, providing opportunities to different organizations, individuals and nations to create a practical act of peace.

In 1981, The United Nations General Assembly declared, in a resolution sponsored by the United Kingdom and Costa Rica as the International Day of Peace devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace.
It was 21 September 1982 when the first international peace day was celebrated.
Later, In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.

C.P. Joshi appointed as the new Railway Minister

C.P. Joshi, the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister on 24 September 2012 took an additional charge of the Railway Ministry after the exit of Mukul Roy. 

With this responsibility in the hands of C.P. joshi, the railway ministry has landed down in the hands of Congress after 17 years. The last railway minister from congress was C.K. Jaffer Sharief (1991-95). Joshi is a congress MP from Bhilwara in Rajasthan. His primary and secondary education was completed from his place of birth in Nathdwara, Rajasthan. He graduated from M.B. College Udaipur with a B.A. degree in Law. He completed his masters’ degree in Physics and holds a Ph.D in Psychology.

Mukul Roy, leader of Trinamool Congress and a member of Rajya Sabha resigned from the position on 21 September 2012 after his party withdrew support from the government. Mukul Roy replaced Dinesh Trivedi as railway minister on 14 March 2012. 

Process of allocating the ministry/appointment of a minister:

Under article 75 (1) - Prime Minister of India is selected by the President and the ministers are appointed by the president on advice of the Prime Minister. The portfolio allocation to different ministers is also done by him.

Some of the railway ministers of the Indian Union before Mukul Roy:

1. Dinesh Trivedi- 12 July 2011- 14 March 2012
2. Mamata Banerjee- 2009–2011, she resigned from the ministry on 19 May 2011
3. Laloo Prasad Yadav- 2004–2009
4. Nitish Kumar- 2001–2004

The Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh managed the railway portfolio for a period of about two months after Mamata Banerjee resigned from the position.

 

Caroline Wozniacki won the WTA Title at Korean Open 

Danish Caroline Wozniacki, the former world number one player won the Korean Open WTA Title on 23 September 2012. She defeated, the third seeded Estonian Kaia Kanepi in the finals by 6-1, 6-0.

The Malayalam film actor, Surendranatha Thilakan died

Abhishek Matoria elected as the President of Indian Boxing Federation

Abhishek Matoria, a BJP MLA from Rajasthan was elected as the President of Indian Boxing Federation on 23 September 2012. Abhay Singh Chautala, the outgoing President was elected to be the Chairman of the Federation. Chautala has served the president as its President for three terms.

Deepika Kumari won Silver at Recurve World Cup 

 

Aung San Suu Kyi received US Congress Highest Honour

The Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi received, the US Congress highest Civilian Honour at a ceremony organized in the Capitol Rotunda on 19 September 2012, before her meet with the US president Barack Obama. Before her, the recipient of this award includes George Washington, Pope John Paul II and Dalai Lama-the Tibetan Buddhist Leader. During her 15 year long house arrest against the military rule in Myanmar, she received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2008.

India and Nepal signed MoU for constructing School Building

Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and Nepalese authorities signed an MoU on 19 September 2012 for granting the amount to Shri Mahendra Higher Secondary School in Achham district

Foreign Investment cap hiked to 74 percent for Broadcasting Services

 

The Government of India on 20 September 2012 hiked the foreign investment cap for the broadcasting service providers to 74 percent. The registered hike in foreign investment cap is for service providers of Direct to Home (DTH), modernized cable network and mobile television. This move of the government will allow the global players in acquiring major stakes in the broadcasting companies. Before his decision was passed, the eligibility of DTH and multi-system cable operators to make foreign investment was limited to 49 percent only. In its decision last week, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared its stand on the companies of broadcast content that the TV news Channels and FM radio channels can have a foreign investment cap of 26 percent. This decision was made to make sure that majority of control remains back in the hands of Indian Partner