1. International Awareness
2. National Awareness
3. States News
4. Confrences
5. Sports and News
6. Awards and honors
7. Persons In News
8. Important dates
9. Books and Authors
10. Science and technology
11. Economy News

                                              PERSONS IN NEWS
a) APPOINTMENTS
Visually-challenged Indian-American in key US post : On 1 December Obama administration was appointed a visuallychallenged
Indian-American Sachin Dev Pavithran as a Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board member.
Ajit Pawar sworn-in as Maharashtra Deputy CM : Ajith Pawar sworn-in as Maharashtra deputy chief minister on 7 December.
After getting the clean chit from the government on corruption in irrigation projects.
Chautala Elected as IOA President : Abhay Singh Chautala was on December 2012 unanimously elected president of the Indian
Olympic Association (IOA) while Lalit Bhanot became the new secretary general.
Parthasarathy Shome Appointed Adviser to Finance Minister : The government of India appointed tax expert Parthasarthi
Shome as adviser to Finance Minister P Chidambaram with minister of state rank, sending a strong signal that tax reforms may top
its economic agenda in the remainder of the UPA government’s second term.
Malala’s Father Ziauddin Yousufzai Appointed UN Education Adviser : Ziauddin Yousufzai, the father of 15-year-old
Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, who was shot by the Taliban for advocating girls’ right to education, has been appointed as
Special UN Adviser on Global Education on 10 December.
Vijay Kumar appointed Senior Security Adviser in Home Ministry : The Union government had appointed the former
Director-General of the Central Reserve Police Force, K. Vijay Kumar, as Senior Security Adviser in the Home Ministry where he will
advise on security and development in the Naxal-affected States.
Vinod Rai Re-elected as Chair of UN Auditors Panel : Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India Vinod Rai was reelected
Chair of the (UN) auditors Panel for the year 2013, while the CAG of the United Kingdom, Amyas Morse, was re-elected theNaina Lal Kidwai Becomes First Woman President of FICCI : Country Head of HSBC India, Naina Lal Kidwai, took over as
President of FICCI on 15 December 2012. She become the first woman to head the leading industry body.
Rita Singh Elected Federation of Indian Associations President : Rita Singh, an Indian American businesswoman from Bihar
was elected the first woman president of Chicago-based Federation of Indian Associations (FIA).
Subhash Joshi Appointed As New BSF Chief : Subhash Joshi was appointed as the new chief of Border Security Force (BSF) on
18 December 2012. Chadha, Special Secretary was appointed as Director General of ITBP(Indo-Tibetan Border Police).
Obama Nominates John Kerry to be Secretary of State : The senior senator John Kerry was nominated as America’s Foreign
Minister by President Barack Obama on 21 December 2012.The John Kerry, who is the senior Senator from Massachusetts, now he
became the chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Smita Singh Appointed as member of Global Development Council : On 22 December The Obama administration has
appointed Indian-American Smita Singh as member of the president’s Global Development Council.
Virbhadra Singh Sworn in as Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister : On 25 December Former Union Minister Virbhadra Singh
was sworn-in as Himachal Pradesh’s chief minister for a record sixth term in Shimla. He was Chief Minister five times between 1983
and 1985; 1985 and 1990; 1993 and 1998 and 2003 and 2007.
Narendra Modi Sworn in Gujarat CM for 4th time : Narendra Modi sworn in as Gujarat chief minister for the fourth consecutive
time on 26 December 2012. He was sworn in along with seven ministers of Cabinet rank and nine ministers of state.
Cyrus Mistry took charge as Tata Group Chairman : Cyrus Mistry, the new chairman of the Tata Group, took charge of his
office on 31 December.Mistry is the sixth chairman of the Tata empire.
b) RESIGNS
Mali Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra Resigned : On 11 December Malian Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra resigned
and dissolved his government after he was arrested by the army in the West African nation.He was acting Prime Minister of Mali
from April 2012
Singapore Parliament Speaker Resigned : Singapore’s parliament speaker Michael Palmer announced his resignation on 12
December 2012 over an extramarital affair with a staff member of the People’s Association, a statutory body leading efforts to
reach out to members of the public.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Resigned “ Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman formally submitted his resignation on
16 December 2012 due to a pending indictment against him for fraud and breach of trust.
Japan Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda Resigned : On 16 December Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda resigned from his
post to take responsibility for his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) defeat in Lower House Election .He was formally appointed by the
Emperor on 2 September 2011.
c) DEATHS
Geophysicist Devendra Lal Died : Devendra Lal, geophysicist and visiting professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
(SIO) of the university of california, has died on 1 December in San Diego.He was conferred with Padma Shri in 1971. Devendra
Lal also won NASA Group Achievement Award.
World’s Oldest Woman and Tallest Woman Both Died : Besse Cooper, the woman listed as the world’s oldest person was died
on 4 December 2012 in Georgia at the age of 116. Meanwhile, a Chinese woman, Yao Defen, was certified as the tallest in the
world was also died. Mrs Cooper was declared the world’s oldest person in January 2011.Chinese woman Yao Defen was listed as
the world’s tallest woman by Guinness World Records in 2010.
Jazz Pianist & Composer Dave Brubeck Died : On 5 December Legendary Jazz composer and pianist Dave Brubeck died in
Norwalk. He had also won various awards during his career which spanned over six decades.The Library of Congress designated
him as the Living Legend.
British Astronomer Sir Patrick Moore Died : British astronomer and broadcaster Sir Patrick Moore on 9 December 2012 in
Selsey, West Sussex.Sir Patrick presented the BBC programme The Sky At Night for over 50 years, making him the longest-running
host of the same television show ever.

Ex-Bangladesh President Ahmed Died : Former Bangladeshi President and Bangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP) leader Iajuddin
Ahmed passed away on 10 December 2012. Iajuddin Ahmed was the 13th president of Bangladeshserving from Sept. 6, 2002 until
Feb. 12, 2009.
Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar Died : Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar, whose mastery over the sitar helped rejuvenate
the classical instrumental tradition in India and popularise Indian music in the West through concerts and collaborations with well
known artists, died in San Diego, U.S. on 11 December 2012.
Former Ranji Cricketer Nimbalkar Died : Former Ranji cricketer B B Nimbalkar was passes away on 11 December 2012. BB
Nimbalkar, who made an unbeaten 443 runs for Maharashtra against Kathiawar in a Ranji Trophy match in 1948-49. Yet this is the
India’s highest scorer in first-class cricket.
First CM of Uttarakhand Nityanand Swami Passed Away : The first Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Nityanand Swami died at
Dehra Dun on 12 December 2012.He worked as a first Chief Minister of Uttarakhand after dividing it from Uttar Pradesh in 2000.
Barcode Co-inventor Woodland Died : Norman Joseph Woodland, who co-created the barcode, was died on 9 December 2012
in New Jersey at the age of 91. Woodland was the co-inventor of bar code. He as well as his partner Bernard Silver (who died in
1963) patented this idea of bar code back in 1952.
Guinness World’s Oldest Person Dina Manfredini Died : Dina Manfredini (115 Years) the world’s oldest person and a
resident of Iowa, has died on 17 December in Johnston .Guinness World Records identified Manfredini as the world’s oldest person
on December 5, a day after the death of 116-year-old Besse Cooper of Georgia.
Former India Volleyball Captain Tilakam Gopal Died : Tilakam Gopal, former India captain died on 18 December 2012.
Mr.Gopal’s achievements was being member of the silver medal winning Indian squad in the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games and even
led India in the five-Test series against the visiting Russians in 1966 which later on helped him to continue be captain in the
Bangkok ASIAD in 1966 where India stood fourth.
Hockey Legend Leslie Claudius Died : Legendary hockey player and one of India’s greatest Olympians Leslie Claudius, passed
away in Kolkata on 20 December 2012. India won the silver medal in the Asian Games in 1978 in Bangkok, when he was the team
manager.He got the Padma Shree award in 1971.
Former England Cricket Team Captain Tony Greig Died : Tony Greig, the South Africa-born cricketer who became England
cricket team captain and later continued to make his mark on the game as a revered commentator in Australia, died on 29
December 2012.He played 58 tests for England and scored 3,599 runs at an average of 40.43 and took 141 wickets at 32.20.
d) VISITORS
Palestinian Hamas leader Meshaal Visited Gaza : The political leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal has visited Gaza on 6
December .He attended a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the founding of Hamas and a victory celebration .He visited
southern Gaza strip through Egypt’s Rafah border crossing over for the first time in 45 years.
Ukrainian President Yanukovych Visited India : Viktor Yanukovych the President of Ukrainian visited India from 9th to 12th
December. During this visit he signed 5 agreements .He met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan and the both nations discussed ways
to improve bilateral relations.
Pak Minister Rehman Malik Visited India : Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik visited India from 14th to 16th December
.During the visit he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and both nations signed on new visa agreement.
Russian President Putin Visited India : Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India on 24 December .During the visit he met
Manmohan Singh in New Delhi and signed a series of pacts on defense cooperation and reached consensus to develop economic
and trade relations.Putin last visited India as prime minister in 2010.
e) MISCELLANEOUS
China Launched First High Speed Train in Extremely Cold Areas : The world’s first high-speed train in areas with extremely
low temperature started operation in China 01 December 2012.This train move with a speed of 350 Kmph in the areas of minus 40
degrees temperature. This is the fastest train world in this areas.
Forbes 2012 Most Powerful Persons List : On 6 December 2012 Forbes Magazine released the most powerful persons list in
the world. In that list AICC President Sonia Gandhi got the 12th place and Prime Minister of India Man Mohan Singh got the 20th
place. As usually this year also American President Barack Obama got 1st place. German chancellor Angela Merkel got the 2nd
place. The list also includes Russian President Vladimir Putin at number three, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates (4), Richest Person in
India Mukesh Ambani (37).

Mumbai Among World’s ‘Dirtiest’ Cities : India’s commercial capital, Mumbai, was named among the world’s ‘dirtiest’ cities,
ranking last in the “cleanest streets” category, a global survey of 40 key tourist cities has found. According to TripAdvisor’s Cities
Survey, Tokyo grabbed the first place while Mumbai ranked last in the list of “cleanest streets”.
Jiroemon Kimura named ‘ World’s Oldest Person : On 18 December Jiroemon Kimura (115 years) has been named the
world’s oldest person after the death of his predecessor, an American woman named Dina Manfredini who died on 17 December
after receiving the title of oldest person of the world.Jiroemon Kimura was born on 19 April 1897 and is just 15 days younger than
the deceased Dina Manfredini.
Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo (USA) : Miss USA Olivia Culpo is crowned Miss Universe 2012 on 19 December 2012, on the
Las Vegas. Miss Philippines, Janine Tugonon, came in second, while Miss Venezuela, Irene Sofia Esser Quintero, placed third.
Obama is Time’s ‘Person of the Year’ : President Barack Obama had been named Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” for
2012 on 19 December 2012. Obama also received the honour in 2008.
8 Indians Among World’s Best Performed CEOs : Eight Indian CEOs have made it to the list of 100 best performing global
chief executives, compiled by Harvard Business Review (HBR). Deveshwar was first among the Indian CEOs featured in this list, and
cornered the seventh place overall.Former chairman and MD, ONGC Subir Raha (Rank 13).Chairman and CEO, Reliance Industries,
Mukesh Ambani (Rank 28).Chairman and Managing Director, Larsen & Toubro, AM Naik (Rank 32). Former CMD, Bharat Heavy
Electricals, AK Puri (Rank 38). Chairman, Bharti Airtel, Sunil Bharti Mittal (Rank 65). CEO, Jindal Steel & Power, Naveen Jindal
(Rank 87). Former Chairman, SAIL,VS Jain (Rank 89). Former Apple CEO, Steve Jobs (Rank 1). CEO, Amazon.com CEO, Jeff Bezos
(Rank 2).
China Launched World’s Longest High-Speed Rail : China launched service on the world’s longest high-speed railway on 26
December 2012 with trains scheduled to run 2,298 kilometres between Beijing and Guangzhou in about eight hours.Travelling at an
average speed of about 300 km per hour, the service would cut the journey time from more than 20 hours by conventional trains.
A) APPOINTMENTS
Asif Ibrahim appointed as chief Intelligence Bureau : Indian Police Service officer SA Ibrahim appointed as chief of the
Intelligence Bureau on 01 January 2013 and he becoming the first from the country’s main minority community(Muslim
Community) to hold the post. Ibrahim, an IPS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has taken over as from Nehchal Sandhu who
retired December 31. He will hold the post for two years.
Urjit Patel appointed as RBI deputy governor : On 02 January 2013 Urjit Patel, a consultant at Boston Consulting Group, had
been appointed a deputy governor at the Reserve Bank of India, succeeding Subir Gokarn who was aiding the governor in shaping
the monetary policy.
YV Reddy to head 14th Finance Commission : On 02 January 2013 former RBI governor YV Reddy was appointed chairman of
the 14th finance commission to suggest principles of sharing of revenues between the Centre and the states and insulate pricing of
public utilities like electricity, water and public transport from policy fluctuations.
Ami Bera and Tulsi Gabbard Sworn In As US Lawmakers : On 4 January Indian American physician from California, Ami Bera,
and the young Iraq war veteran from Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbard, created history after being sworn in as new members of the US House
of Representatives.Bera is only the third Indian American have ever been elected to the House of Representatives.Tulsi Gabbard is
the first Hindu ever to won the Congressional election.
Malala’s Father Appointed as Education Attache in Birmingham : On 3 January Malala’s father Ziauddin Yousafzai has been
appointed as the education attache at the Pakistan consulate in Birmingham, England.The job is believed to be for up to three
years.
Indian American Srinivasan re-nominated as Federal Judge : On 4 January Srikanth Srinivasan a brilliant Indian American
legal mind has been re-nominated by US President Barack Obama to serve as Federal Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit.In
June 2012 he was nominated by Obama to serve on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Justice D K Jain appointed new Law Commission chief : The Union Cabinet of India on 7 January 2013 appointed Justice D K
Jain as Chairman of 20th Law Commission of India. He gives advice to the government on complex legal issues. Justice Jain, 64,
will take over as the chief of the law panel on January 24 after retiring from the Supreme Court on the same day.
John Brennan as a CIA director : U.S. President Barack Obama announced on )7 January 2013 John Brennan wasnominated
as director of the American Intelligence Agency(CIA) and Chuck Hagel as a Defense secretary. John Brennan played a key role in
encounter the Osama Bin Laden.

Indian-origin politician to be Singapore’s first woman speaker : Indian-origin politician Halimah Yacob elected as the first
woman Speaker of Singapore’s Parliament on 08 Janauary 2013.She take charges from 14 January 2013.Halimah, a former labour
lawyer, is a member of Parliament from the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
Kulwant Singh Gill Took charge as new Commandant of NDA : On 8 January Air Marshal Kulwant Singh Gill took charge as
the new commandant of the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla, Pune.The NDA provides three-year training in
defence and academics to its cadets before they move on to their respective officers’ training academies for another one-year
course and get commissioned into the armed forces.
R.K. Dubey Took Charge as Canara Bank’s new CMD : On 11 January R.K. Dubey has assumed charge as the Chairman and
Managing Director of Canara Bank .Mr. Dubey was previously worked as a Punjab National Bank General Manager in 2008 and was
appointed as Executive Director of Central Bank of India in 2010.
Rajkumar Goyal Took Charge as Central Bank of India new ED : On 11 January Rajkumar Goyal has took charge as
Executive Director (ED) of Central Bank of India (CBI).He was previously with the bank of India as the General Manager of Human
Resources Department
Obama nominated Jack Lew as new Treasury Chief : On 11 January President Barack Obama nominated his chief of staff, Jack
Lew, to become the next Treasury secretary and succeed Timothy Geithner.Last year, Lew was named Obama’s chief of staff, and
before that he had served as the White House budget director.
First Gujarati in UK cabinet : Lord Dolar Popat has appointed a minister in the UK cabinet .He become the first Gujarati taking
his place in the UK cabinet .Popat was appointed minister for business, innovation & skills and transport.
Mohan Pieris assumes duties as 44th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka : On 15 January 2013 ,Sri Lankan President Mahinda
Rajapaksa appointed his cabinet’s legal advisor as the country’s new Chief Justice to succeed Shirani Bandaranayake. Rajapaksa
sworn in new Chief Justice Mohan Peiris to replace Sri Lanka’s first woman chief justice who was impeached by the parliament in a
controversial move.Peiris, a British qualified solicitor who retired in 2011 as the Attorney General was serving as the legal advisor to
the Cabinet.
Ved Prakash is UGC chairman : Ved Prakash, serving as acting chairman of the University Grants Commission, had been
appointed as its chairman on 18 January 2013.The chairman’s post remained vacant ever since S. Thorat retired in February 2011.
Since then Mr. Prakash had been the acting chairman.
Obama Sworn in as the US President for Second Term : On 20 January US President Barack Obama Barack Obama was sworn
in as the President of the country for a second four-year term.Obama as the 44th president of the United States and also he is the
third consecutive president to win two terms, after Bush and Clinton. Joe Biden sworn-in for second term as US vice-president.
Suchitra Ella, Founding Chairwoman of CII’s women wing : Suchitra K. Ella, Joint Managing Director, Bharat Biotech
International, had been nominated as the Founding Chairwoman of the Indian Women Network of CII. The network aims to provide
a platform for working women to come together and discuss issues and opportunities and share best practices. She is currently the
Chairperson of CII Andhra Pradesh State Council for 2012-13. She had earlier been elected to the CII Andhra Pradesh State
Council. She has been awarded the International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge award 2007 by the Chamber of Commerce of
Barcelona, the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and the FLO GR8 Women Achievers Award 2008 for entrepreneurial excellence.
B)RESIGNS
Jharkhand CM Arjun Munda resigned : Political uncertainty deepened in Jharkhand on 08 January 2013, with Chief Minister
Arjun Munda submitted his resignation to Governor Syed Ahmed. On 07 January 2013, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)
announced the withdrawal of its support to the BJP-led government.
Rajapaksa Dismissed First Woman Chief Justice of the Country : On 13 January Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of Sri
Lanka dismissed the first woman chief justice of the country, Shirani Bandarnayake after endorsing her impeachment by the
Parliament that caught her guilty on the corruption charges.She appointed as a chief Justice on May 2011.
C)DEATHS
Violin maestro MSG passes away : M.S. Gopalakrishnan — legendary violinist known for his mastery of both the Carnatic and
Hindustani systems of classical music — passed away on 03 January 2013 in Chennai.In his career spanning 75 years, he not only
broke new ground as an accompanist, but also rose to become one of the best solo violinists in the country, along with Lalgudi G.
Jayaraman and T.N. Krishnan. The three are considered the ‘violin trinity’ of south Indian classical music.Despite enviable success
and accolades that came in the form of national honours such as the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, and innumerable titles,
including the ‘Sangita Kalanidhi’ title awarded by The Music Academy, Chennai.