1. Sarkaari Persons in news (SPIN)
  2. Foreign countries in News (FCIN)
  3. Disasters in News
  4. Civilian awards
  5. People in news
  6. Places in news
    1. Uttar-Pradesh
    2. Andhra Pradesh
    3. Karnataka
    4. Rajasthan

Missiles, Defense exercises compilation soon in a separate article. Hence ignored in PIN series for November.

Sarkaari Persons in news (SPIN)

Modi’s ministry expansion:
Cabinet Ministry Old minister New minister
Defence Finance minister Arun Jaitley held extra charge Manohar Parrikar
Rural development, Panchayati Raj Vacant after Gopinath Munde’s death(Transport minister Nitin gadkari held extra charge) Chaudhary Birendra singh
Health Dr. Harshwardhan Jagat Prakash Nadda(preferably JP Nadda)
Railways Sadanand Gowda Suresh Prabhu

Modi also changed a few ministers of state, but that’s not important for MCQs.

Google doodle for Children's Day (14th November)

Google doodle for Children’s Day (14th November)

Other sarkaari people in news (SPIN)
BHAVINI ltd.
  • Rajni Sankaran became the New chief ofĀ  Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (BHAVINI).
  • She belongs to IAAS service.
Bihar’s new governor
  • West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath TripathiĀ  took additional charge of Bihar.
  • Swearing ceremony by Patna High Chief Justice Rekha Doshit.
CBI
  • Court ordered CBI chief Ranjit Sinha to stay away from 2G case investigation.
  • Later, Anil Kumar Sinha- a Bihar cadre IPS appointed as CBI chief.
CIC Chief information commissioner Rajiv Mathur retired in August. No person appointed, hence lot case pending.
Coast Guard
  • Director General: Vice Admiral Anurag G. Thapliyal
Col.Leena Gaurav
  • First woman to reach Colonel rank in a non-medical branch of Army.
  • She became Colonel in JAG: Judge advocate General’s branch.
DRDO Chief Avinash Chander. Contract extended till 2016.
Goa CM changed
  • Laxmikant Parsekar replaced Manohar Parrikar as Goa CM, after Parrikar became Defense minister.
Intelligence Bureau Boss Syed Asif Ibrahim says North East India’s security situation is fragile.
Modi Ministers Rail minister Suresh Prabhu and Panchayati Raj minister Birender Singh to get Rajya Sabha seat from Haryana.
National Advisor (Drugs Control)
  • BR Jagashetty, Under Health ministry
NSA National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval appointed as “Special Representative” for Sino-India border issue.
PCI Justice CK Prasad replaced Justice Markanday Katju as the chairman of press council of india.
Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha.
  • Lok Sabha’s Secretary general has same rank and status like Cabinet Secretary.
  • IAS Anoop Mishra appointed till 2016.
  • Earlier he was Chief Secretary of UP.

Foreign countries in News (FCIN)

Afghanistan Parliament approved US-NATO to station troops even after end of 2014.
Australia Brisbane: G20 summit held and Modi unveiled Gandhi’s statue
Bhutan
  • King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
  • Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay
  • Capital Thimpu.
  • Pranab Mukharjee is the first Indian president to visit Bhutan in last 26 years.
Burkina Faso New President Col. Isaac Yacouba Zida
Gaza 2010: Pro-Palestine activists tried to reach Gaza on a boat named “Mavi Marmara”. Israel commandos Attacked this boat. ICC Verdict 2014- says case doesn’t merit prosecution.
Iraq
  • Ā Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Approved more troops against ISIS
  • Their airforce Claims to have injured ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
ISIS
  • Terrorist organisation introduced its own currency.
  • Name: Dinar (4.25 gm gold coin)
  • Motif: 7 wheat stalks.
Italy
  • 2012: L’Aquila earthquake. Scientists were jailed for not warning about it in advance.
  • 2014, Nov: higher court released them.
Japan
  • Increased sales tax=> less investment =>recession followed.
  • PM Shinzo Abe dissolved lower house of Japanese parliament (diet), hoping new election will get him large majority to implement big economic reforms..
Mauritius
  • 2nd November 1834: Indian indentured labourers arrived.
  • President Rajkeswur Purryag
  • Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam
Mormon church Admitted that its founder Joseph Smith was not monogamous.
Myanmar
  • A law prevents Myanmar citizen from contesting presidential election IF his/her childnen hold foreign citizenship.
  • Suu Kyi can’t contest because her children have Biritsh passport.
  • Obama asked Prez. Thein Sein to repeal this law.
Nepal India Nepal finalized agreement for 900MW Arun-III to supply electricity to Nepal.
Nigeria
  • Candidates need to pay huge cash to get ticket for parliamentary election
  • President Goodluck Jonathan himself needed to shell out over 1.2 lakh $$
Nigeria
  • It is the largest oil producing country of Africa.
  • Boko Haram captured Chibok region- hometown of those 200 kidnapped schoolgirls.
North Korea
  • Kim Yo Jong: she is Kim Jong Unā€™s younger sister,gven senior position in the party.
  • Sony’s movie “The interview” making parody of Kim Jong.
  • Experts believe North Korean hackers attacked Sony because of this.
Pakistan Tested Shaheenā€”II (=Hatf VI) missile, with range of 1500 kms.
Russia
  • Will build 2 nuke reactors in Iran
  • Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin visited India in November
  • President Putin visiting India in December
Saudi Arabia
  • Government launched portal for women and disabled to “work at home”
  • Example jobs: telecom, travel, IT, marketing, public relations and journalism.
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa asks SC- can I contest election for third term? Court says YES you can!
Tunisia Presidential election.Beji Caid Essebsi defeatedĀ  Moncef Marzouki (Dec 2014)
Turkey
  • Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims Muslims reached Americas 300 years before Columbus did.
  • Although Scholars say no evidence.
UK Poppy festival to mark the centenary of World War I.
UN high commisioner Ā Ā  Zeid Raā€™ad Al Hussein chosen as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
USA
  • Obama to nominate Lotretta Lynch- as first black attorney general in US justice Department
  • South Carolinaā€™s governor Nikki Haley visited India, to get investors for her state.
  • President Obama will be the chief guest of India’s republic day parade.
  • Ferguson riots, Missouri after a white police officer killed a blackman and grand jury exonerated him.

Disasters in News

Peru Capital Lima: earthquake of 5.6 scale
New-Zealand Earthquake near Gisborne city.
Japan Volcano erupts at Mt.Aso
Philippines Typhoon Hagupit

Civilian awards

Indira Peace prize
  • Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2014.
  • Given to ISRO for 40 years of service to India.
  • Vice president led jury decids the award.
Ex-PM ManMohan Singh
  • Japan’s top national award.
  • The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers
  • For promoting Indo-Japan friendship.
Erach Bharuch Won Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) ‘Earth Hero’ award for this year. He is a noted Environment educationist and director of a deemed univ. in Pune.
Doodle Pune girl Vaidehi Reddy’s won google-doogle for Childrenā€™s Day (November 14).

  • Title “Natural and cultural paradise Assam”
  • Images drawn- oneĀ­horned rhinoceros, tiger, bamboo trees, flower, tea, bihu dance, a japi (traditional hat)

Other People in news

Dr Fawzia Pee South African Indian-origin radiographer became President of International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists (ISRRT).
Indian American law markers
  • Niraj Atnani: Won American Lok Sabha seat (House of representatives) from Ohio.
  • Ami Bera- Indian American Congressman re-elected to American Lok Sabha (House of representatives) from California.
Irom Sharmila
  • Iron Lady of Manipur.
  • 2000: started fast in imphal for repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.
  • 15 years completed. Hence in news.
Julian Assange
  • He is an Australian publisher & Journalist known for his website Wikileaks
  • 2010: Rape case in Sweden. Court rejected his petition.
  • Since 2012, he is hiding in Ecuador’s London Embassy. So that he can’t be extradited to Sweden. Because he fears, Sweden will hand him over to USA.
Leila Seth
  • Ā was the first woman judge of Delhi High Court and the first woman Chief Justice of a State High Court (Himachal Pradesh).
  • Mother of famous author Vikram Seth
Mamta Kulkarni
  • Controversial Bollywood actress.
  • Her husband arrested in Kenya for drug-trafficing and she too got detained.
Nita Mukesh Ambani
  • Donated 11 crore rupees to the Seemandhra chief minister Chandrababu Naidu for the relief from Hudhud cyclone.
  • Launched #grassroot football movement in December.
Pratima Dharma First Hindu and inter-faith chaplin in US army
QUT Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia. Apologised for showing a wrong map of India, during Modi’s visit.
Rob O’Neill Former navy SEAL operative claims to have shot Osama Bin Laden in 2011.
Sangita Awhale
  • Housewife from Saikheda village, Washim dist. In Maharashtra.
  • She sold her mangalsutra to build a toilet.

 

Forbes most powerful list
15 Modi
36 Mukesh Ambani
57 Lakshmi Mittal
64 Satya Nadella, Microsoft

Dead in News (DIN)

DIN: Most important
John Lang Australiaā€™s first native novelist. He was legal counsel of Rani Laxmibai, in case against East India company.
Murli Deora
  • Indiaā€™s longest serving Petroleum Minister, served in UPA government
  • Congress MP from Maharashtra.
Phillip Hughes(1988-2014)
  • Left handed, 25 year old Australia Test batsman.
  • was playing for South Australia against New South Wales during a Sheffield Shield match at Sydney Cricket Ground.
  • Died after bouncer attack of New South Wales bowler Sean Abbott.
  • Masuri (European helmet company) said he used old light-weight model.
Sitara devi Kathak Dancer, Padma-Shri winner. Died in Mumbai.
Walter Burley Griffin designed Australian capital Canberra and was buried in Lucknow. In news because Modi recalled him during Australia visit.

 

DIN: less important
Alexander Grothendieck Noted German mathematician. Fields medal in late 60s.
Dwivedula Visalakshi(1929-2014) Telugu Writer
John Lang
  • Australian Novelist and lawyer
  • Had fought Laxmibai’s case against East India company
M.S.S.Pandian(1961-2014)
  • Social scientist, wrong on Dravidian Movement, south Indian politics etc.
Miss Honduras 2014 Maria Jose Alvarado and her sister, were murdered by jeolous boyfriend
Mubarak Hussain Commander of Nizam’s Razakar army. Later participated against Bangladesh liberation. Awarded Death sentence by International crime tribunal.
Prabhakaran
  • Leader of LTTE
  • Killed in 2009.
  • Some Tamil parties celebrated his b’day in November 2014
Sadashiv Amrapurkar(1950-2014) Played villain and comic roles in Bollywood & Marathi films.
Squadron Leader Mahinder Singh Pujji
  • Served British Royal Air force during WW2
  • Statue unveiled in UK
Veenapani Chawla
  • Puducherry, theatre personality
  • GotĀ  Sangeet Natak Akademi Puruskar
  • Pioneered experimental theatre movement.

Places in news

Uttar-Pradesh

  • Varansi:Modi cleaned Assi ghat under Swachchha Bharat abhiyan
  • Modi Nominated 9 brand-ambassadors from UP: CM Akhilesh Yadav, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Raju Srivastava, Manoj Tiwari, Kailash Kher, Manu Sharma, Padma Shri Devi Parsad Dwivedi & Swami Rambhadracharya.
  • Sansd Adarsh gram Yojana adoptions: Modi: Jayapur village (Varanasi), Rajnath Beti village, which is not a part of his Lucknow constituency but under the scheme,Urban area MPs can adopt such villages outside their Constituency.
  • Government to open English medium schools, to attract parents to sarkaari schools.
  • Chandaya site in Baghpat district: ASI excavating Harappa remains.
  • Baghpat district- too many cancer cases due to polluted Krishna river. NGT sends notice to state government.
  • Vrindavan: ISKON to build Chandrodaya Mandir – 3 times taller than Qutub Minar.

Andhra Pradesh

  • Tendulkar adopts PuttamrajuvariKandrika village underĀ  Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana.
  • Jiyo Parsi campaign in Hyderabad with support of minority affairs ministry- to increase birthrate of Parsis.
  • Tummalapalli village in Kadapa district. Massive Uranium reserves found.

Machilipatnam/ Masulipatnam/Masula @Andhra Pradesh

  • British,French & Dutch East India company had opened their factory in the city.
  • district headquarter of Krishna district in AP.
  • A deep sea-port is proposed here.
Karnataka
Kukkarahalli Lake Fish dead thanks to Algae bloom.
Tribal dictionary For Hakki Pikki and Dungri Garasia tribal langauges.
Kambala Buffalo race. Government contemplating ban based on SC order which banned TN’s Jallikattu.
Gomateshwara mastakabhisheka
  • At Mysuru. 800 y.o. statue from Vijaya Nagar empire, Mastak-abhishek every year
  • Shravanbelagoa @Hassan district= Mastak-abhishek every 12 years.
Bengaluru The 24-hour helpline service ā€“ 9741476476 for psychological problems
Ritual Controversy surrounding Made Snana.
PWD contractors Biometric cards for contractors to ensure transparency.
Bangluru
  • National Aerolympics-2014 organized.
  • Mekedatu reservoir across Cauvery river proposed- to provide drinking water to Banglore public.

 

Rajasthan
Silicosis
  • Karauli-Dholpur-Bharatpur mining belt in eastern Rajasthan
  • Famous for red-stones
  • Too many people dying because of silicosis.
Intercaste marriages
  • Congress Government was giving 5 lakh rupees to couples. Hence lot of fake marriages and quick divorces to get money
  • New reform: fixed deposit, entire amount only after 8 years of marriage.
Documents Government permitted Self-attestation for document from 1st Jan. 2015

 

Other states in news
Delhi From December owners with pollution certificates cannot buy petrol/diesel.
Gujrat
  • Gujarat has become the first State to make voting compulsory in local bodies
  • Name of the bill: Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2009
  • Governor O.P. Kohli signed it
Karnataka
  • Planning to create as separate Panchayat Administrative Service (PAS)
  • New Bill to regular BT Cotton seed prices.
Manglore
  • Will be renamed to Mangluru.
  • Australia too has a town in South-East, named Manglore- it is not a port city though.
Guwahati
  • Annual conference of DGPs of India with PM Modi.
  • First time this event held outside Delhi
Kutch
  • Suzlon Energy worldā€™s tallest hybrid wind generator turbine
  • Tulsi Tanti is CMD of Suzlon
Tamilandu
  • First state police to create a Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Wing for security.
  • Avudaiyar Koil:Ā  temple built by Prime minister of a Pandya King
  • Pulicat bird sanctuary: Indian Jackals also found.
Telangana
  • “Mission KAKATIYA” to restore irrigation tanks.
  • KAKATIYA dynasty rulers also done the same in 1083-1323 CE.
  • ePDS given best G2C award at eIndia 2014 summit.
  • TS-iPASS: Telangana State Industrial Project Approval and Self Certification System or ease of doing business.
Chhattisgarh
  • Bilaspur district: 11 women dead after faulty serialization operation.
Bihar
  • Sonepur Cattle fair.
  • Controversial due to sale of wild animals.
Delhi
  • Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung approved Barapullah elevated corridor and bridge across Yamuna to reduce traffic congestion.
Maharashtra
  • Sewri port cleanup project.
  • To protect the migratory flamingos.
West Bengal
  • India’s tallest Twin towers (236 meters) across Hoogly river, at Haldia and Raichak. Setup by Haldia Energy ltd.
  • 2nd tallest tower at Rihand Lake,UP (185 meters).
  • Kolkata’s Eden garden cricket stadium completed 150th years.
  • Bengal cricket board to release New stamp on its President Jagmohan Dalmiya.

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