1.MS Swaminathan Selected for Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the Year 2012 2.

Eleanor Catton, 28, Became Youngest Ever Winner of the Man Booker Prize 2013 3.Malala Yousafzai Won European Union's Sakharov Human Rights Prize 2013

4.The Nobel Prize winners of 2013 in the different categories were as follows:
Category Name of the Person James Rothman Physiology or Medicine Randy Schekman Thomas Suedhof Peter Higgs Physics Francois Englert Michael Levitt Chemistry Martin Karplus Arieh Warshel Contribution for their groundbreaking work on how the cell organises its transport system for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles. for the development of multi scale models for complex chemical systems

Peace

The Organisation for the Prohibition for its extensive efforts to of Chemical eliminate chemical weapons Weapons (OPCW) Alice Munro Eugene Fama master of the contemporary short story for their work on creating a deeper knowledge of how market prices move

Literature

Economics

Lars Peter Hansen Robert Shiller

Ministry of Science and Technology Launched EManagement of INSPIRE Award Scheme S. R. Bansal Took the Charge as the Chairman and Managing Director of Corporation Bank Indira Gandhi International and Birmingham Airports Signed MoU to Become Sister Airports First Mega Food Park in Uttar Pradesh Established at Jagdishpur Arundhati Bhattacharya Took Charge as the First Woman Chairperson of SBI
India Successfully Test-Fired Nuclear Capable Prithvi-II Missile from Odisha
Prithvi-II Missile Specifications Inducted into India's Strategic Forces Command in 2003, the Prithvi II missile is the first missile to be developed by DRDO under India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. It is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads and thrusted by liquid propulsion twine engines, uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory. The Prithvi-II missile is equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system and guided by an innovative guidance scheme. The improved Circular Error Probability (CEP) achieved by the missile is a testimony to specify the efficacy of this missile system. Prithvi uses an advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring capabilities and comes within metres of its target.

Novak Djokovic Clinched his 4th China Open Title; Defeated Rafael Nadal

Novak Djokovic clinched his fourth China Open title in five years on 6 October 2013against Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-4 in the final. The 26-year-old Djokovic clinched the title with the 3-0 lead in the first set and taking it forward to his victory. Novak Djokovic won the same tournament earlier in 2009, 2010 and 2012. He did not participate in 2011 tournament because of injury. About the China Open The China Open was earlier known as the Beijing Salem Open. It is the annual professional tennis tournament held in Beijing, China. The first men's singles and doubles events took place in the year 1993. In the year 1998, China Open was dropped from the ATP tour calendar. However, in the year 2004, it was reinstated in the ATP tournament. In the year 2006, the China Open became the first tournament outside the US to make use of the Hawk-Eye system in match play. Novak Djokovic is the only player who won the China Open tournament four times. Michael Chang has the record of consecutive wins with three titles. In the doubles, the Bryan Brothers are the only doubles pair who won the title consecutively. The winner of the China Open wins 557100 US Dollar as the prize money along with 500 ATP points.

Bihar to get double food subsidy and foodgrain allocation under National Food Security Act
The Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on 6 October 2013 announced that the food subsidy and foodgrain allocation would be doubled for the state of Bihar under the National Food Security Act. Jairam Ramesh announced that Bihar's food subsidy will increase from 5500 crore Rupees to 11500 crore Rupees, under the National Food Security Act. This means that the allocation of foodgrain will increase from 28 lakh tonnes to 56 lakh tonnes. Under the National Food Security Act, Bihar will benefit the most. This was done in order to improve the public distribution system (PDS) in the state, which was in a bad shape. Jairam Ramesh explained that the population of Bihar was more than Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, but the PDS shops were comparatively less than these two states. This indicated the level

of poverty in Bihar. For this reason, changes in the PDS network in Bihar were brought out to implement the National Food Security Act in a right way. Apart from Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh would be other three major beneficiaries under the new Act. Uttar Pradesh will get 96 lakh tones of foodgrains per annum under the National Food Security Act in comparison to the current allotment of 65 lakh tonnes. Gujarat, in the meanwhile, will get 24 lakh tonnes from the current allocation of 13.5 lakh tonnes per annum at present.

Sania Mirza-Cara Black won China Open 2013

Indian Railways on 4 October 2013 adopted first ever unique modern technology for maintenance of its passenger coaches, wagons and locomotives in its continuous endeavour to enhance safety in Railway operations. The new maintenance technique which uses acoustic method of diagnostics is known as Acoustic Bearing Detectors (ABD) & Wheel Impact Load Detectors (WILD).

India developed Surface-to-Surface Missile Pragati

India developed a new tactical surface-to-surface missile Pragati which has a range between 60-170 km. The missile is on offer to Indias friendly countries. The Pragati missile is based on the Prahaar missile and it has been developed by the DRDO for the Army. It was put on display at a defence exhibition at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (ADEX 2013). Besides 'Pragati' tactical missile, DRDO showcased, 'Akash' missile system and 'Tejas' LCA and its variants. The LCA is a DRDO project which remains to be completed and the aircraft has not been inducted by the IAF so far. ADEX 2013 hosted more than 300 companies from 33 nations. DRDO's participation in ADX 2013 commemorates the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and South Korea.

Indias GDP Grew at 4.7 % in 2013-14: Asian Development Bank

>>> LIST OF IMPORTANT AWARDS <<<

********************************* 1. Man Booker Prize 2013 - Eleanor Catton (for The Luminaries) 2. Man Booker International Prize - Lydia Davis 3. Asia Pacific International Award - Dr. Mujeeb Athar 4. Cecil B Demile Award - Woody Allen 5. Champion for Global Change Award 2013 - Malala Yousafzai 6. First Mahathir Award for Global Peace - Nelson Mandela 7. German Whistleblower Prize 2013 - Edward Snowden 8. Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival - Sacro GRA (Italy) 9. Grand Prize at Cuba's International Radio and Telivision Festival - Baraksat (Lebanese Documentary) 10. IMPAC Dublin Literary Award - Kevin Barry 11. INDEX Design Award - Kavitha Shukla 12. ISRO Young Scientist Award - Jenita Mary 13. Jnanpith Award 2012 - Ravuri Bharadhwaja 14. Knighthood, which is the highest honour of Britain - Anish Kapoor (sculptor) 15. Lata Mangeshkar Samman Alankaran - Hariharan 16. 'Legend of Planet' award - Bindeshwar Pathak (Sulabh movement founder) 17. Library of Congress Gershwin Award - Carole King (first woman) 18. National Literacy Award - Chattisgarh 19. NSS Wernher von Braun Memorial Award - Abdul Kalam 20. NTR National Literary Award - Manoj Das 21. Sree Narayan Guru Global Secular & Peace Award 2013 - Shashi Tharoor 22. Presidential medal of freedom - Dr. Sally Ride 23. Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2013 - Adam Johnson (for the novel The Orphan Masters son) 24. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna - Ranjan Sodhi 25. Saraswati Samman (2013) Sugathakumari 26. Skoch Group Award - Jharkhand

27. Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony - Zubin Mehta 28. Tagore Peace Prize - Shihab Ghanem (first Arab) 29. The Simn Bolvar National Award of Journalism 2013 - Hugo Chavez (late Venezuelan President ) 30. U. N. Champions of the Earth Award - V. Ramanathan 31. UEFA Best Player in Europe Award- Franck Ribry 32. UNs Public Service Award - Omen Chandi (Kerala CM) 33. Unique Female Leader Award - Madeleine Albrite (former US Secratary) 34. United Nation's Public Service Award - Oommen Chandy (Chief Minister of Kerala) 35. US "woman of courage" award - Nirbhaya (Dehli gang rape victim) 36. Vyas Samman (2012) Narendra Kohli 37. Whitley award (Green Oscar) - Dr. Aparajita Datta 38. Womens Prize for Fiction AM Homes (for her book, May We Be Forgiven) 39. Youngest Indian to scale the Mount Everest - Raghav Joneja 40. ParliamentarianAwards - 2012 - Sharad Yadav

IMPORTANT SUMMITS HELD ON 2012-13

BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summits 4th BRICS Summit 2012 New Delhi, India 5th BRICS Summit 2013 Durban, South Africa 6th BRICS summit 2014 _ brazil G-8 Annual Summits Group of Eight (G8) Countries France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada,Russia. 37th G8 Meeting 2011 Deauville, France 38th G8 Meeting 2012 David camp, USA 39th G8 Summit 2013 County Fermanagh, UK 40th G8 Summit 2014 Russia G-20 Summits 7th G 20 Meeting 2012 Los Cabos, Mexico 8th G 20 Meeting 2013 Saint Petersburg, Russia 9th G 20 Meeting 2014 Brisbane, Australia SAARC Summits SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation 17th SAARC Summit 2011 Addu, Maldives 18th SAARC Summit 2013 Kathmandu,Nepal ASEAN Summits ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nation 19th ASEAN Summit 2011 (November) Bali, Indonesia 20th ASEAN Summit 2012 (April) Phnom penh, Cambodia 21th ASEAN Summit 2012 (November) Phnom penh, Cambodia

ASEAN-India Summit 9th ASEAN-India Summit 2011 Bali, Indonesia 10th ASEAN-India Summit 2012 Phnom penh, Cambodia East Asia Summit (EAS) EAS meetings are held after annual ASEAN leaders meetings. 6th East Asia Summit 2011 Bali, Indonesia 7th East Asia Summit 2012 Phnom penh, Cambodia IBSA Summits IBSA Dialogue Forum - India, Brazil, South Africa. 5th IBSA Summit 2011 Pretoria, South Africa 6th IBSA Summit 2013 India APEC Summits APEC Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation 23rd APEC summit 2011 Honolulu, USA 24th APEC Summit 2012 Vladivostok,Russia 25th APEC Summit 2013 Medan/Jakarta, Indonesia 26th APEC Summit 2014 China 27th APEC Summit 2015 Philippines 28th APEC Summit 2016 Lima, Peru OPEC Seminars OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries 4th OPEC International Seminar 2009 Vienna, Austria 5th OPEC International Seminar 2012 Vienna, Austria NAM Summits NAM Non-aligned Movement 16th NAM Summit 2012 Tehran, Iran 17th NAM Summit 2015 Caracas,Venezuela SCO Meetings SCO Shanghai Cooperation Organization SCO Meeting 2011 Astana, Kazakhstan SCO Meeting 2012 Beijing, China SCO Meeting 2013 Kyrgyzstan NATO (North Atlantic treaty organization) international conference on Afghanistan will be held in Chicago (USA) Asian Development Bank (ADB) Annual Meetings Annual meeting of the board of governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) held every year. ADB Annual Meeting 2012 Manila, Philippines ADB Annual Meeting 2013 New Delhi, India WTO Ministerial Conferences 8th WTO Ministerial Conferences2011 Geneva, Switzerland 9th WTO Ministerial Conferences2013(Expected) -Bali, Indonesia

Pakistan approved the Deal which Handed over Gwadar Port to China
Pakistan in the last week of January 2013 approved the deal which transferred operational control of Gwadar port from Singapores PSA International to Chinese Overseas Port Holdings Ltd. Gwadar port is situated at a strategic location of the Arabian Sea and the mouth of the Persian Gulf. It is only 400 kilometres away from the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil supply route. Pakistan de cision to hand over Gwadar port to China is a serious concern for India. It can be an attempt by China to encircle India. In addition to funding ports in Sri Lanka, China has also plans to build a port in Bangladesh.

First Complete Bionic Man of the World Unveiled at London's Science Museum
First bionic man of the world called Rex was unveiled on 7 February 2013 at London's Science Museum. The bionic man was created using 1 million US dollar limbs as well as organs. Prosthetic legs and ankle came from MIT, synthetic blood from Sheffield University, spleens, pancreas and artificial kidneys from University College London, retinas from Oxford University and artificial lungs came from Swansea. Rex has a human face with brown eyes and a height of 6.5 feet. It was designed jointly with assistance from 18 universities and companies. Rex gave a hope that it was possible to replace the body parts with the artificial alternatives, for the very first time. The internal organs of Rex such as artificial lungs, bladder and pancreas were in line of development. It is important to note that it is not possible for certain technology to function without the help of human input. For example bionic hands require signals from brain and muscles to work properly. Other parts however, such as pancreas and heart can be designed to work automatically. Rex would remain in display at London's Science Museum from 7 February 201 to 11 March 2013.

BHEL and GAIL Granted Maharatna Status by the Union Government of India
The Union Government of India gave the Maharatna status to two PSUs- BHEL and GAIL on 1 February 2013. Granting Maharatna status to BHEL and GAIL will provide them with better functional and financial freedom and will also guarantee them with better valuation of the shares. Ideally any Maharatna firm has a capacity to take investment decision of around 5000 crore Rupees without taking assistance from the government. On the other hand, forms with Navratna status have the capability of 1000 crore Rupees. However, both BHEL and GAIL do not have enough non-official directors on the board, which is why they cannot exercise their Maharatna powers. Even though all other conditions of Maharatna status were met by both these PSUs but their boards do not have requisite number of board members. While GAIL is short of 4 independent directors, BHEL, on the other hand is short of 6 non-official directors. In terms of turnover, networth as well as net profit, both these companies meet all the eligibility criterions.

Eligibility of a company to get a Maharatna status For any company to qualify for Maharatna status, the annual turnover should be over 25000 crore Rupees in past three years, as per the guidelines issued by Department of Public Enterprises. The net worth of the PSU should be more than 15000 crore Rupees in past three years. The net profit should be over 5000 crore Rupees during past three years. At present, there are seven Maharatna companies, after inclusion of BHEL and GAIL and these companies are - ONGC, Indian Oil, SAIL, NTPC and CIL. Also, there are 14 Navratna companies, including Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited and NMDC.