Current Affairs 30th August 2014

Current Affairs 30th August 2014 - Important Points

• India Signed Loan Agreement with World Bank for financial assistance in MSRP-II project

• National sports awards presented to eminent sportsperson by President Pranab Mukherjee

• Harry Belafonte, US actor to receive honorary Jean Hersholt humanitarian Oscar Award

• Noted Historian Bipan Chandra passed away at 86

• Enhancing the social security cover limit under EPFO notified by Union Government

Current Affairs 30th August 2014 - Details

India Signed Loan Agreement with World Bank for financial assistance in MSRP-II project

On 29th August 2014, India signed loan agreement with World Bank. This agreement was inked for financial assistance in Mizoram State Roads Project (MSRP II). 

The assistance will be of huge sum of 107 million US dollars for the Project.

The objective of this project is to enhance transport connectivity along regional trade corridors in Mizoram which will help building a trade infrastructure.

National sports awards presented to eminent sportsperson by President Pranab Mukherjee

On 29th August 2014, National Sports Awards to eminent sportsperson were presented by the President of India Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. As we are already aware that on 29th August National Sports Day falls.

Following is the complied list of awardees : 

Arjuna awards 2014 : 

• Abhishek Verma in Archery, 
• Tintu Luka in Athletics, 
• H.N. Girisha in Para-athletics,
• V. Diju in Badminton,
• Geethu Anna Jose in basketball, 
• Jai Bhagwan in Boxing,
• R. Ashwin in Cricket,
• Anirban Lahiri in Golf,
• Mamta Pujari in Kabaddi,
• Saji Thomas in Rowing,
• Heena Sidhu in Shooting, 
• Anaka Alankamony in Squash),
• Tom Joseph in Volleyball,
• Renubala Chanu in Weightlifting,
• Sunil Kumar Rana in Wrestling.

Dronacharya awards 2014 : 

Dronacharya awards 2014 was presented to Mahabir Prasad in Wrestling 

Lifetime achievement award : 

Lifetime achievement award 2014 was presented to N. Lingappa in Athletics, G. Manoharan in Boxing, Gurcharan Singh Gogi in Judo and Jose Jacob in Rowing,

Dhyan Chand award: 

Gurmail Singh in Hockey, K.P. Thakkar in Swimming-diving and Zeeshan Ali in Tennis.

Tenzing Norgay Awards: 

• Land adventure: Subedar Jagat Singh, Passang Tenzing Sherpa. 
• Air adventure: MWO Surender Singh.
• Lifetime achievement: Wg. Cdr. (retd) Amit Chowdhury.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy :

Punjabi University, Patiala.

Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar : 

• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation for Employment of sports persons and sports welfare measures.
• Jindal Steel Works  for Community sports-identification and nurturing of budding/young talent.
• Guru Hanuman Akhara for Establishment and management of sports academies of excellence.
• Child Link Foundation of India - Magic Bus 

Important to Note: 

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2014 was given to no sportsperson.

Harry Belafonte, US actor to receive honorary Jean Hersholt humanitarian Oscar Award

On 29th August 2014, Harry Belafonte, who is an actor and singer from US has was named for honorary Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Oscar Award. 

Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences use to give this award for lifetime achievement and this is among the three Governor's Award.

He is supposed to receive this prestigious award in November 2014.

Noted Historian Bipan Chandra passed away at 86

On 30th August 2014, A noted Historian of India and a former professor of history, Bipan Chandra passed away. He was 86 years old. 

He was born 1928 in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. He studied at Forman Christian College, Lahore and then after Stanford University of United States. 

He was a noted author too. Among his various books, book named "The Rise and Growth of Economic Nationalism" is very popular. 

For a long span of time i.e. from 2004 to 2014 he was Chairman of the National Book Trust, New Delhi. 

He was also chairperson of the Centre for Historical Studies and was a member of University Grants Commission (UGC).

Enhancing the social security cover limit under EPFO notified by Union Government

On 28th August 2014, Union Government of India notified enhancing the social security cover limit under the social security schemes run by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation. 

This will ensure minimum monthly pension of Rs. 1.000 under a scheme of retirement fund that would benefit 28 lakh pensioners which also include 5 lakh widows. 

Amount of Approx. Rs.1,217 crore will be provided by Govt to ensure the minimum pension of Rs. 1,000 starting 2014-15.