Highlights of Union Budget 2014
The highlights of Union Budget 2014 tabled by finance minister Arun Jaitley-
* Tax proposals on indirect tax front would yield Rs 7,525 crore.
* Indian Custom Single Window Project to be taken up for facilitating trade.
Clean energy cess increased from Rs 50/ tonne to Rs 100/tonne.
* Additional 5% excise tax to be levied on aerated drinks with added sugar (cold drinks). Tobacco products also to get costly as excise duty hiked to 72%
* Government announces reduction in excise duty for specified food package industry from 10% to 6%.
* Excise duty on footwear reduced from 12% to 6%
* Government announces measures to encourage manufacture of LCD/LED panels of TVs.
* Housing loan rebate to raised from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
* Net effect of direct tax proposals is revenue loss of Rs 22,200 crore.
* Government proposes to increase investment limit under Section 80C from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.
* Tax exemption limit for small and marginal, and senior tax payers changed from Rs 2.0 to Rs 2.5 lakh. For senior citizens, no tax for income up to Rs 3 lakh per annum.
* No changes in tax rate.
* PPF limit to be raised to Rs 1.5 lakh: Jaitley
* Rs 100 crore for training of sportspersons for upcoming Asian Games. (Read story here)
* Government announces Rs 150 crore for communication needs of Andaman and Nicobar islands.
* Government announces Arun Prabha channel for northeastern region; will be 24/7 channel.
* Rs 1000 crore provided for rail connectivity in northeastern region.
* Programme for displaced Kashmiri migrants with Rs 500 crore to be started.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for project to link rivers.
* Government announces Rs 100 crore for development of Archaeological sites. Gaya to be developed as world class tourism spot.
* Rs 5000 crore set aside for defence outlay over and above amount provided under interim budget.
* National Police Memorial to be set up. Rs 50 crore set aside for this purpose.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for development of Technology Development Fund.
* Rs 100 crore War Memorial at Princess Park, India Gate.
* Policy of One Rank One Pension to be adopted for defence personnel.
* RBI will create framework for licenses of small banks.
* Government aims to provide all households with banking facilities to empower the weaker sections; there should be atleast 2 bank accounts in each household.
* Rs 37, 800 crore allotted for National Highways.
* Revision of rate of royalty on minerals to be taken up on request from the states.
* In order to complete gas grid, 15000 km of additional pipeline to be developed through PPP mode.
* New and renewable energy deserves high priority; ultra modern power projects to be taken up in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Ladakh with Rs 500 crore.
* Rs 4200 crore set aside for Jal Marg Vikas project on river Ganga connecting Allahabad to Haldia , over 1620 km.
* Scheme for development of new airports at tier II and III cities through PPP mode.
* Rs 200 crore set aside for 6 more textile clusters in Rae Bareily, Lucknow, Surat, Bhagalpur. Rs 50 crore set aside for Pashmina Production program in J&K.
* MSMEs are the backbone of the economy; to be revived through a Committee to examine and report in three months.
* 6 more textile clusters to be set up.
* Industrial Smart Cities to come up at 7 cities.
* All govt departments and ministries to be integrated through E-platform by 31 December this year.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for Kisan Television to provide real time information on various farming and agriculture issues. (Read story here)
* National Industrial Corridor to be set up. Rs 1000 crore set aside for this.
* Rs 5000 crore short time rural credit refinance fund for 2014-15.
* Rs 50 core set aside for indigenous cattle breed and blue revolution for inland fisheries.
* Propose to provide finance to 5 lakh landless farmers through NABARD.
* Govt will initiate scheme to provide a soil health card; Rs 100 crore set aside. Rs 56 crore for soil testing labs across the country.
* Agriculture University in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, and Horticulture University in Haryana, Telangana; Rs. 200 cr set aside by the government.
* Slum development to be included in Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
* Govt announces Rs 100 crore for modernization of madrassas.
* Govt announces development of Metro rails in PPP mode; Rs 100 crore set aside for metro scheme in Ahmedabad and Lucknow.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for Community Radio Centres; 600 new and existing ones will be supported.
* National Rural Internet and Technology Mission; Rs 500 crore set aside. (Read story here)
* Govt proposes to set up Center of Excellence in MP named after Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan.
* 5 more IITs and 5 IIMs to be set up .
* Propose to set up four more AIIMS; Rs. 500 crore set aside for this. Six new AIIMS started recently have become functional. Four new AIIMS will be set up in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Vidarbha and Purvanchal.
* Govt proposes National Housing Banking programme; sets aside Rs 8000 crore for this program.
* Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has a massive impact on rural development; Govt sets aside Rs 14,389 crore for this scheme.
* Crisis Management Center for women at Delhi; money to be provided from Nirbhaya fund.
* Govt announces Beti Padhao, Beti Badhao Yojana; sets aside Rs 100 crore for this.
* Safety of women of prime importance.
* EPFO will launch a unified account scheme for portability of Provident Fund accounts.
* Schemes for disabled persons in the country. 15 new Brail presses to be established and revival of 10 existing.
* Rs 50,548 crore proposed for Schedule Caste development.
* Govt committed to providing 24/7 power supply to all homes. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojna for electricity supply to rural areas.
* Rs 200 crore for 'Statue of Unity' of Sardar Vallabh Patel.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayin Yojana to be started for irrigation.
* E-visas to be introduced at nine airports in India in phased manner.
* FDI in insurance to be increased to 49%
* FM announces FDI in defence up from 26 to 49 % with Indian management and control
* I propose to strengthen authority for advance ruling in tax
* Aim to achieve 7-8 per cent economic growth rate in next 3-4 years.
* This govt will not ordinarily change policies retrospectively which creates a fresh liability.
* GST will streamline tax administration and result in higher tax collection for center and states.
* A new urea policy would be formulated.
* Considering that we had two years of low GDP growth, a large subsidy burden, target of 4.1% fiscal burden is daunting
Railway Budget
Union minister Sadananda Gowda is presenting his first Rail Budget in the Lok Sabha. Here are the highlights :
* Indian railways to become the largest freight carrier in the world.
* Social obligation of Railways in 2013-14 was Rs 20,000 crore.
* Gross traffic receipts in 2013-14 was Rs 12,35,558 crore; operating ratio was 94 per cent.
* Focus in past has been on sanctioning projects rather than completing them, Railway minister says.
* Indian Railways spent Rs 41,000 crore on laying of 3,700 km of new lines in last 10 years.
* Fare revision will bring in Rs.8,000 crore; need another Rs.9,000 crore for golden quadrilateral project.
* Railways also proposes to set up Food Courts at major stations.
* Need to explore alternative sources of resource mobilisation and not depend on fare hike alone, Railway minister says.
* Spend 94 paisa of every rupee earned, leaving a surplus of only 6 paisa.
* With 12,500 trains, railways move 23 million passengers every day; equivalent to moving Australia's population.
* Separate housekeeping wing at 50 major stations.
* CCTV to monitor cleanliness activities.
* Mechanized laundry will be introduced.
* Dedicated freight corridor on Eastern and Western corridors.
* 5400 unmanned level crossing removed.
* Tourist trains to be introduced to link all major places of tourist interests across the country.
* 4,000 women constables to be recruited to ensure safety of women. 17,000 RPF constables to provide safety to passengers.
* Setting up of Railway University for technical and non-technical study.
* Ultrasonic system to detect problem in track.
* Proposal to start Bullet trains on Mumbai—Ahmedabad route. Speed of important trains will be also raised.
* Diamond Quadrilateral project of high speed trains to connect all major metros.
* E-ticketing system to be improved. Future e-ticketing to support 7200 tickets per minute & to allow 120,000 simultaneous users
* Wifi in A1 and A category stations and in select trains. Internet-based platform and unreserved tickets.
* GIS mapping and digitization of Railway Land. Extension of logistics support to various e-Commerce Companies.
* Bulk of future projects will be financed through PPP mode.
* Facilitate transport of milk through rail. Special milk transportation trains in association with Amul and National Dairy Association Board.
* One ticket to reach from Delhi to Srinagar. Uddhampur to Banihal by bus and Banihal to Srinagar by train.
* Mumbai local to get 860 new, state-of-the art coaches. 64 new EMUs to be introduced.
* Train connectivity to Char Dham.
* Paperless office of Indian railways in 5 years. Digital reservation charts at stations.
* Ready-to-eat meals to be introduced in phased manners.
* 27 Express trains to be introduced.
* 5 Jansadharan , 5 Premium AC trains to be introduced.
Padma Vibhushan
1. Dr Raghunath A Mashelkar: Science and Engineering, Maharashtra
2. B K S Iyengar: Yoga, Maharashtra
Padma Bhushan
Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, Art‐Painting, Gujarat
Begum Parveen Sultana, Art‐Classical Singing, Maharashtra
T.H. Vinayakram, Art‐Ghatam Artist, Tamil Nadu
Kamal Haasan, Art‐Cinema, Tamil Nadu
Justice Dalveer Bhandari, Public Affairs, Delhi
Ruskin Bond, Literature and Education, Uttarakhand
Pullela Gopichand, Sports‐Badminton, Andhra Pradesh
Leander Paes, Sports‐Tennis, Maharashtra
Prof Lloyd I Rudolph, Literature and Education, USA
Padma Shri
Mohammad Ali Baig, Art‐Theatre, Andhra Pradesh
Nayana Apte Joshi, Art, Maharashtra
Vidya Balan, Art‐Cinema, Maharashtra
Anjum Chopra, Sports‐Cricket, Delhi
Sunil Dabas, Sports‐Kabbadi, Haryana
Love Raj Singh Dharmshaktu, Sports‐Mountaineering, Delhi
Dipika Rebecca Pallikal, Sports‐Squash, Tamil Nadu
H Boniface Prabhu, Sports‐Wheelchair Tennis, Karnataka
Yuvraj Singh, Sports‐Cricket, Haryana
Mamta Sodha Sports‐Mountaineering, Haryana
Ramon Magsaysay Award
The 2014 Awardees are:
• Hu Shuli: She is a Chinese investigative journalist whose work has led to the ouster of corrupt officials. She is the founder and former editor of Caijing a business magazine famed for its groundbreaking investigative reporting that has had a profound impact on China.
• Saur Marlina Manurung: She is being recognized for her ennobling passion to protect and improve the lives of Indonesia’s forest people, and her energizing leadership of volunteers in SOKOLA’s customized education program. She put up a Jungle School program for children of Indonesia’s Orang Rimba, or forest people.
• Omara Khan Masoudi from Afghanistan: He is being recognized for his courage, labor, and leadership in protecting Afghan cultural heritage. Masoudi was awarded for his courage in protecting Afghan cultural heritage. At great risk to his life, the deputy director of the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul led his colleagues in moving some of the museum’s most precious objects to safety during the Taliban’s assault on his country’s cultural treasures in the 1990s.
• The Citizens Foundation from Pakistan: It is a non-profit organisation (NGO) in Pakistan founded by six business leaders. It was recognized for building 1000 schools over hundreds of cities and towns in the country with the world’s second highest number of children who are out of school.
• Wang Canfa from China: Wang Canfa founded the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims, which has offered free legal services to thousands of people and provided environmental law training to lawyers and others.
• Randy Halasan for Emergent Leadership from the Philippines: He was chosen for the award for serving the indigenous Matigsalug tribe. He put in huge efforts in teaching the children of the Matigsalug tribe in one of the remotest mountain villages in Mindanao.
Wang Canfa: He is a Chinese Professor who founded the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims, which has provided free legal services to thousands of people and imparted environmental law training to lawyers and others.
National Sports Awards 2014
Oscar Award 2014:
Best Film ‐ 12 Years a Slave – Directed by Steve McQueen
Best Actor ‐ Matthew McConaughey for: Dallas Buyers Club
Best Actress ‐ Cate Blanchett for: Blue Jasmine
Best Director ‐ Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actor in a Supporting Role ‐ Jared Leto for: Dallas Buyers Club
Best Actress in a Supporting Role ‐ Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave
Best Foreign Language Film ‐ The Great Beauty (Italy)
Note: "Gravity" pulled in 7 Oscars, including best director, at the 86th Academy Awards on March 2, 2014.
61st National Film Awards:
Best Film: 'Ship of Theseus' – Director – Anand Gandhi
Best Actor: Rajkumar Rao for 'Shahid' and Suraj Venjaramudu and Venajaramoodu for Malayalam movie 'Perariyathavar'
Best Actress: Geetanjali Thapa for Liars Dice
Best Director Award: Pranjal Dua for 'Chidiya Ud' (Hindi)
Best Popular Film providing Wholesome Entertainment: 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'
Best Film on Social Issues: 'Tojia Dharm Kauncha'
Best Non Feature Film: 'Rangbhoomi'
Best Supporting Actor: Saurabh Shukla, 'Jolly LLB'
Note: 'Cinema Ka Cinema' got the Best Book on Cinema, while the Best
Film Critic award went to Alka Sahania
Director of Film 'Shahid' – Hansal Mehta
Director of Film 'Jolly LLB'– Subhash Kapoor
Director of Film Liars Dice – Geetu Mohandas
The IIFA 2014 Awards Winners’ List
Best Actor (Male): Farhan Akhtar for Bhaag Milka Bhaag
Best Actress (Female): Deepika Padukone for Chennai Express
Lifetime Achievement Award 2014: Shatrughan Sinha
Best Entertainer of the Year: Deepika Padukone
Best Film: Bhaag Milka Bhaag
Best Director: Rakeysh Om Mehra for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
Best Debutant Award map: Dhanush for Raanjhanaa
Best Story Award: Prashoon Joshi for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Best Lyric Writer: Mithoon for Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2
Best Male Playback Singer Award: Arijit Singh for ‘Tum Hi Ho’
from Aashiqui 2
Best Female Playback Singer Award: Shreya Goshal for ‘ Sun Raha Hai Na
Tu’ from Aashiqui 2
John Travolta honoured the Most Popular All Time International Star in
India at IIFA awards
59th Filmfare Awards 2014:
1. Best Actress: Deepika Padukone ‐ Goliyon Ki Rasleela RamLeela
2. Best Actor: Farhan Akhtar ‐ Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
3. Best Film : Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
4. Best Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra – Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
5. Best Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi – Zinda (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)
6. Best Debut (Director): Ritesh Batra ‐ The Lunchbox
7. Best Debut (Male): Dhanush – Raanjhanaa
8. Best Debut (Female): Vaani Kapoor ‐ Shuddh Desi Romance
9. Best Story: Subhash Kapoor ‐ Jolly LLB
10. Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Nawazuddin Siddiqui ‐ The Lunchbox
11. Best Actress in a Suporting Role: Supriya Pathak ‐ Ram‐Leela
12. Lifetime Achievement Award: Tanuja
The highlights of Union Budget 2014 tabled by finance minister Arun Jaitley-
* Tax proposals on indirect tax front would yield Rs 7,525 crore.
* Indian Custom Single Window Project to be taken up for facilitating trade.
Clean energy cess increased from Rs 50/ tonne to Rs 100/tonne.
* Additional 5% excise tax to be levied on aerated drinks with added sugar (cold drinks). Tobacco products also to get costly as excise duty hiked to 72%
* Government announces reduction in excise duty for specified food package industry from 10% to 6%.
* Excise duty on footwear reduced from 12% to 6%
* Government announces measures to encourage manufacture of LCD/LED panels of TVs.
* Housing loan rebate to raised from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
* Net effect of direct tax proposals is revenue loss of Rs 22,200 crore.
* Government proposes to increase investment limit under Section 80C from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.
* Tax exemption limit for small and marginal, and senior tax payers changed from Rs 2.0 to Rs 2.5 lakh. For senior citizens, no tax for income up to Rs 3 lakh per annum.
* No changes in tax rate.
* PPF limit to be raised to Rs 1.5 lakh: Jaitley
* Rs 100 crore for training of sportspersons for upcoming Asian Games. (Read story here)
* Government announces Rs 150 crore for communication needs of Andaman and Nicobar islands.
* Government announces Arun Prabha channel for northeastern region; will be 24/7 channel.
* Rs 1000 crore provided for rail connectivity in northeastern region.
* Programme for displaced Kashmiri migrants with Rs 500 crore to be started.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for project to link rivers.
* Government announces Rs 100 crore for development of Archaeological sites. Gaya to be developed as world class tourism spot.
* Rs 5000 crore set aside for defence outlay over and above amount provided under interim budget.
* National Police Memorial to be set up. Rs 50 crore set aside for this purpose.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for development of Technology Development Fund.
* Rs 100 crore War Memorial at Princess Park, India Gate.
* Policy of One Rank One Pension to be adopted for defence personnel.
* RBI will create framework for licenses of small banks.
* Government aims to provide all households with banking facilities to empower the weaker sections; there should be atleast 2 bank accounts in each household.
* Rs 37, 800 crore allotted for National Highways.
* Revision of rate of royalty on minerals to be taken up on request from the states.
* In order to complete gas grid, 15000 km of additional pipeline to be developed through PPP mode.
* New and renewable energy deserves high priority; ultra modern power projects to be taken up in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Ladakh with Rs 500 crore.
* Rs 4200 crore set aside for Jal Marg Vikas project on river Ganga connecting Allahabad to Haldia , over 1620 km.
* Scheme for development of new airports at tier II and III cities through PPP mode.
* Rs 200 crore set aside for 6 more textile clusters in Rae Bareily, Lucknow, Surat, Bhagalpur. Rs 50 crore set aside for Pashmina Production program in J&K.
* MSMEs are the backbone of the economy; to be revived through a Committee to examine and report in three months.
* 6 more textile clusters to be set up.
* Industrial Smart Cities to come up at 7 cities.
* All govt departments and ministries to be integrated through E-platform by 31 December this year.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for Kisan Television to provide real time information on various farming and agriculture issues. (Read story here)
* National Industrial Corridor to be set up. Rs 1000 crore set aside for this.
* Rs 5000 crore short time rural credit refinance fund for 2014-15.
* Rs 50 core set aside for indigenous cattle breed and blue revolution for inland fisheries.
* Propose to provide finance to 5 lakh landless farmers through NABARD.
* Govt will initiate scheme to provide a soil health card; Rs 100 crore set aside. Rs 56 crore for soil testing labs across the country.
* Agriculture University in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, and Horticulture University in Haryana, Telangana; Rs. 200 cr set aside by the government.
* Slum development to be included in Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
* Govt announces Rs 100 crore for modernization of madrassas.
* Govt announces development of Metro rails in PPP mode; Rs 100 crore set aside for metro scheme in Ahmedabad and Lucknow.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for Community Radio Centres; 600 new and existing ones will be supported.
* National Rural Internet and Technology Mission; Rs 500 crore set aside. (Read story here)
* Govt proposes to set up Center of Excellence in MP named after Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan.
* 5 more IITs and 5 IIMs to be set up .
* Propose to set up four more AIIMS; Rs. 500 crore set aside for this. Six new AIIMS started recently have become functional. Four new AIIMS will be set up in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Vidarbha and Purvanchal.
* Govt proposes National Housing Banking programme; sets aside Rs 8000 crore for this program.
* Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has a massive impact on rural development; Govt sets aside Rs 14,389 crore for this scheme.
* Crisis Management Center for women at Delhi; money to be provided from Nirbhaya fund.
* Govt announces Beti Padhao, Beti Badhao Yojana; sets aside Rs 100 crore for this.
* Safety of women of prime importance.
* EPFO will launch a unified account scheme for portability of Provident Fund accounts.
* Schemes for disabled persons in the country. 15 new Brail presses to be established and revival of 10 existing.
* Rs 50,548 crore proposed for Schedule Caste development.
* Govt committed to providing 24/7 power supply to all homes. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojna for electricity supply to rural areas.
* Rs 200 crore for 'Statue of Unity' of Sardar Vallabh Patel.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayin Yojana to be started for irrigation.
* E-visas to be introduced at nine airports in India in phased manner.
* FDI in insurance to be increased to 49%
* FM announces FDI in defence up from 26 to 49 % with Indian management and control
* I propose to strengthen authority for advance ruling in tax
* Aim to achieve 7-8 per cent economic growth rate in next 3-4 years.
* This govt will not ordinarily change policies retrospectively which creates a fresh liability.
* GST will streamline tax administration and result in higher tax collection for center and states.
* A new urea policy would be formulated.
* Considering that we had two years of low GDP growth, a large subsidy burden, target of 4.1% fiscal burden is daunting
Railway Budget
Union minister Sadananda Gowda is presenting his first Rail Budget in the Lok Sabha. Here are the highlights :
* Indian railways to become the largest freight carrier in the world.
* Social obligation of Railways in 2013-14 was Rs 20,000 crore.
* Gross traffic receipts in 2013-14 was Rs 12,35,558 crore; operating ratio was 94 per cent.
* Focus in past has been on sanctioning projects rather than completing them, Railway minister says.
* Indian Railways spent Rs 41,000 crore on laying of 3,700 km of new lines in last 10 years.
* Fare revision will bring in Rs.8,000 crore; need another Rs.9,000 crore for golden quadrilateral project.
* Railways also proposes to set up Food Courts at major stations.
* Need to explore alternative sources of resource mobilisation and not depend on fare hike alone, Railway minister says.
* Spend 94 paisa of every rupee earned, leaving a surplus of only 6 paisa.
* With 12,500 trains, railways move 23 million passengers every day; equivalent to moving Australia's population.
* Separate housekeeping wing at 50 major stations.
* CCTV to monitor cleanliness activities.
* Mechanized laundry will be introduced.
* Dedicated freight corridor on Eastern and Western corridors.
* 5400 unmanned level crossing removed.
* Tourist trains to be introduced to link all major places of tourist interests across the country.
* 4,000 women constables to be recruited to ensure safety of women. 17,000 RPF constables to provide safety to passengers.
* Setting up of Railway University for technical and non-technical study.
* Ultrasonic system to detect problem in track.
* Proposal to start Bullet trains on Mumbai—Ahmedabad route. Speed of important trains will be also raised.
* Diamond Quadrilateral project of high speed trains to connect all major metros.
* E-ticketing system to be improved. Future e-ticketing to support 7200 tickets per minute & to allow 120,000 simultaneous users
* Wifi in A1 and A category stations and in select trains. Internet-based platform and unreserved tickets.
* GIS mapping and digitization of Railway Land. Extension of logistics support to various e-Commerce Companies.
* Bulk of future projects will be financed through PPP mode.
* Facilitate transport of milk through rail. Special milk transportation trains in association with Amul and National Dairy Association Board.
* One ticket to reach from Delhi to Srinagar. Uddhampur to Banihal by bus and Banihal to Srinagar by train.
* Mumbai local to get 860 new, state-of-the art coaches. 64 new EMUs to be introduced.
* Train connectivity to Char Dham.
* Paperless office of Indian railways in 5 years. Digital reservation charts at stations.
* Ready-to-eat meals to be introduced in phased manners.
* 27 Express trains to be introduced.
* 5 Jansadharan , 5 Premium AC trains to be introduced.
Padma Awards 2014
Padma Vibhushan
1. Dr Raghunath A Mashelkar: Science and Engineering, Maharashtra
2. B K S Iyengar: Yoga, Maharashtra
Padma Bhushan
Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, Art‐Painting, Gujarat
Begum Parveen Sultana, Art‐Classical Singing, Maharashtra
T.H. Vinayakram, Art‐Ghatam Artist, Tamil Nadu
Kamal Haasan, Art‐Cinema, Tamil Nadu
Justice Dalveer Bhandari, Public Affairs, Delhi
Ruskin Bond, Literature and Education, Uttarakhand
Pullela Gopichand, Sports‐Badminton, Andhra Pradesh
Leander Paes, Sports‐Tennis, Maharashtra
Prof Lloyd I Rudolph, Literature and Education, USA
Padma Shri
Mohammad Ali Baig, Art‐Theatre, Andhra Pradesh
Nayana Apte Joshi, Art, Maharashtra
Vidya Balan, Art‐Cinema, Maharashtra
Anjum Chopra, Sports‐Cricket, Delhi
Sunil Dabas, Sports‐Kabbadi, Haryana
Love Raj Singh Dharmshaktu, Sports‐Mountaineering, Delhi
Dipika Rebecca Pallikal, Sports‐Squash, Tamil Nadu
H Boniface Prabhu, Sports‐Wheelchair Tennis, Karnataka
Yuvraj Singh, Sports‐Cricket, Haryana
Mamta Sodha Sports‐Mountaineering, Haryana
Ramon Magsaysay Award
The 2014 Awardees are:
• Hu Shuli: She is a Chinese investigative journalist whose work has led to the ouster of corrupt officials. She is the founder and former editor of Caijing a business magazine famed for its groundbreaking investigative reporting that has had a profound impact on China.
• Saur Marlina Manurung: She is being recognized for her ennobling passion to protect and improve the lives of Indonesia’s forest people, and her energizing leadership of volunteers in SOKOLA’s customized education program. She put up a Jungle School program for children of Indonesia’s Orang Rimba, or forest people.
• Omara Khan Masoudi from Afghanistan: He is being recognized for his courage, labor, and leadership in protecting Afghan cultural heritage. Masoudi was awarded for his courage in protecting Afghan cultural heritage. At great risk to his life, the deputy director of the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul led his colleagues in moving some of the museum’s most precious objects to safety during the Taliban’s assault on his country’s cultural treasures in the 1990s.
• The Citizens Foundation from Pakistan: It is a non-profit organisation (NGO) in Pakistan founded by six business leaders. It was recognized for building 1000 schools over hundreds of cities and towns in the country with the world’s second highest number of children who are out of school.
• Wang Canfa from China: Wang Canfa founded the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims, which has offered free legal services to thousands of people and provided environmental law training to lawyers and others.
• Randy Halasan for Emergent Leadership from the Philippines: He was chosen for the award for serving the indigenous Matigsalug tribe. He put in huge efforts in teaching the children of the Matigsalug tribe in one of the remotest mountain villages in Mindanao.
Wang Canfa: He is a Chinese Professor who founded the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims, which has provided free legal services to thousands of people and imparted environmental law training to lawyers and others.
National Sports Awards 2014
The awardees:
Arjuna award:
1. Abhishek Verma (archery)
2. Tintu Luka (athletics),
3. H.N. Girisha
(para-athletics),
4. V. Diju (badminton)
5. Geethu Anna Jose (basketball)
6. Jai Bhagwan (boxing),
7.R. Ashwin (cricket),
8. Anirban Lahiri (golf),
9. Mamta
Pujari (kabaddi),
10. Saji Thomas (rowing)
11. Heena Sidhu (shooting),
12. Anaka
Alankamony (squash),
13. Tom Joseph (volleyball),
14. Renubala Chanu
(weightlifting)
15.Sunil Kumar Rana (wrestling).
Dronacharya award:
Mahabir Prasad (wrestling)
Lifetime achievement: N. Lingappa
(athletics)
G. Manoharan (boxing)
Gurcharan Singh Gogi (judo)
Jose
Jacob (rowing).
Dhyan Chand award:
1. Gurmail Singh (hockey)
2. K.P. Thakkar (swimming-diving)
3.Zeeshan Ali (tennis).
Tenzing Norgay Awards:
1.Land adventure: Subedar Jagat Singh, Passang Tenzing Sherpa
2. Air adventure: MWO Surender Singh
2. Air adventure: MWO Surender Singh
3. Lifetime achievement: Wg. Cdr. (retd) Amit Chowdhury.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy: Punjabi University, Patiala.
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar: Oil
and Natural Gas Corporation (employment of sports persons and sports
welfare measures)
Jindal Steel Works (community sports–identification
and nurturing of budding/young talent); Guru Hanuman akhara
(establishment and management of sports academies of excellence); Child
Link Foundation of India–Magic Bus (other forms of sports activities not
covered in the categories mentioned in the schemes).
Awards Related with Films
Oscar Award 2014:
Best Film ‐ 12 Years a Slave – Directed by Steve McQueenBest Actor ‐ Matthew McConaughey for: Dallas Buyers Club
Best Actress ‐ Cate Blanchett for: Blue Jasmine
Best Director ‐ Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actor in a Supporting Role ‐ Jared Leto for: Dallas Buyers Club
Best Actress in a Supporting Role ‐ Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave
Best Foreign Language Film ‐ The Great Beauty (Italy)
Note: "Gravity" pulled in 7 Oscars, including best director, at the 86th Academy Awards on March 2, 2014.
61st National Film Awards:
Best Film: 'Ship of Theseus' – Director – Anand Gandhi
Best Actor: Rajkumar Rao for 'Shahid' and Suraj Venjaramudu and Venajaramoodu for Malayalam movie 'Perariyathavar'
Best Actress: Geetanjali Thapa for Liars Dice
Best Director Award: Pranjal Dua for 'Chidiya Ud' (Hindi)
Best Popular Film providing Wholesome Entertainment: 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'
Best Film on Social Issues: 'Tojia Dharm Kauncha'
Best Non Feature Film: 'Rangbhoomi'
Best Supporting Actor: Saurabh Shukla, 'Jolly LLB'
Note: 'Cinema Ka Cinema' got the Best Book on Cinema, while the Best
Film Critic award went to Alka Sahania
Director of Film 'Shahid' – Hansal Mehta
Director of Film 'Jolly LLB'– Subhash Kapoor
Director of Film Liars Dice – Geetu Mohandas
The IIFA 2014 Awards Winners’ ListBest Actor (Male): Farhan Akhtar for Bhaag Milka Bhaag
Best Actress (Female): Deepika Padukone for Chennai Express
Lifetime Achievement Award 2014: Shatrughan Sinha
Best Entertainer of the Year: Deepika Padukone
Best Film: Bhaag Milka Bhaag
Best Director: Rakeysh Om Mehra for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
Best Debutant Award map: Dhanush for Raanjhanaa
Best Story Award: Prashoon Joshi for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Best Lyric Writer: Mithoon for Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2
Best Male Playback Singer Award: Arijit Singh for ‘Tum Hi Ho’
from Aashiqui 2
Best Female Playback Singer Award: Shreya Goshal for ‘ Sun Raha Hai Na
Tu’ from Aashiqui 2
John Travolta honoured the Most Popular All Time International Star in
India at IIFA awards
59th Filmfare Awards 2014:
1. Best Actress: Deepika Padukone ‐ Goliyon Ki Rasleela RamLeela
2. Best Actor: Farhan Akhtar ‐ Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
3. Best Film : Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
4. Best Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra – Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
5. Best Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi – Zinda (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)
6. Best Debut (Director): Ritesh Batra ‐ The Lunchbox
7. Best Debut (Male): Dhanush – Raanjhanaa
8. Best Debut (Female): Vaani Kapoor ‐ Shuddh Desi Romance
9. Best Story: Subhash Kapoor ‐ Jolly LLB
10. Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Nawazuddin Siddiqui ‐ The Lunchbox
11. Best Actress in a Suporting Role: Supriya Pathak ‐ Ram‐Leela
12. Lifetime Achievement Award: Tanuja
Awards Notes -
1. Sahitya Akademi Awards 2013 :Javed Akhtar has been chosen for "Lava", his compilation of 55 Urdu poems
2. C.K. Nayudu award: Former India captain Kapil Dev received the Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for 2013
3. Cyrus Mistry wins DSC Prize 2014 for South Asian literature for his book “Chronicles of a Corpse Bearer”.
4. FIFA named Portuguese attacker Cristiano Ronaldo world's best soccer player for the 2012/2013 season.
5. Indian Writer Pankaj Mishra won Windham Campbell Literature Prize 2014.. Vyas Samman 2013: 6.Vishwanath Tripathi been selected for the prestigious Vyas Samman for the year 2013.
Note: Tripathi has been chosen for the coveted annual literary award instituted in 1991 by the K K Birla Foundation for his memoir 'Vyomkesh Darvesh', a biolgraphy of noted Hindi scholar Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi.
7. Saraswati Samman 2013: Govind Mishra selected for for his book Dhool Paudho Par.
8. Gandhi Peace Prize for 2013: Eminent Gandhian and environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhat selected for the award.
9.Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2013: Veteran poet and film lyricist Gulzar has been chosen for the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke
Award for 2013. He is the 45th winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
10. Pulitzer Prize 2014: India‐born poet Vijay Seshadri has won the prestigious 2014 Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category for his
work '3 Sections'.
11. Goldman Prize for environmental activist Ramesh Agrawal.
12. Bharat Ratna Award: Sachin Tendulkar and CN Rao conferred Bharat Ratna Award 2013.
13. Caparo Group founded by leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul has won the International Business of the Year award 2014.
2. C.K. Nayudu award: Former India captain Kapil Dev received the Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for 2013
3. Cyrus Mistry wins DSC Prize 2014 for South Asian literature for his book “Chronicles of a Corpse Bearer”.
4. FIFA named Portuguese attacker Cristiano Ronaldo world's best soccer player for the 2012/2013 season.
5. Indian Writer Pankaj Mishra won Windham Campbell Literature Prize 2014.. Vyas Samman 2013: 6.Vishwanath Tripathi been selected for the prestigious Vyas Samman for the year 2013.
Note: Tripathi has been chosen for the coveted annual literary award instituted in 1991 by the K K Birla Foundation for his memoir 'Vyomkesh Darvesh', a biolgraphy of noted Hindi scholar Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi.
7. Saraswati Samman 2013: Govind Mishra selected for for his book Dhool Paudho Par.
8. Gandhi Peace Prize for 2013: Eminent Gandhian and environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhat selected for the award.
9.Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2013: Veteran poet and film lyricist Gulzar has been chosen for the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke
Award for 2013. He is the 45th winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
10. Pulitzer Prize 2014: India‐born poet Vijay Seshadri has won the prestigious 2014 Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category for his
work '3 Sections'.
11. Goldman Prize for environmental activist Ramesh Agrawal.
12. Bharat Ratna Award: Sachin Tendulkar and CN Rao conferred Bharat Ratna Award 2013.
13. Caparo Group founded by leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul has won the International Business of the Year award 2014.
Highlights of Union Budget 2014
The highlights of Union Budget 2014 tabled by finance minister Arun Jaitley-
* Tax proposals on indirect tax front would yield Rs 7,525 crore.
* Indian Custom Single Window Project to be taken up for facilitating trade.
Clean energy cess increased from Rs 50/ tonne to Rs 100/tonne.
* Additional 5% excise tax to be levied on aerated drinks with added sugar (cold drinks). Tobacco products also to get costly as excise duty hiked to 72%
* Government announces reduction in excise duty for specified food package industry from 10% to 6%.
* Excise duty on footwear reduced from 12% to 6%
* Government announces measures to encourage manufacture of LCD/LED panels of TVs.
* Housing loan rebate to raised from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
* Net effect of direct tax proposals is revenue loss of Rs 22,200 crore.
* Government proposes to increase investment limit under Section 80C from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.
* Tax exemption limit for small and marginal, and senior tax payers changed from Rs 2.0 to Rs 2.5 lakh. For senior citizens, no tax for income up to Rs 3 lakh per annum.
* No changes in tax rate.
* PPF limit to be raised to Rs 1.5 lakh: Jaitley
* Rs 100 crore for training of sportspersons for upcoming Asian Games. (Read story here)
* Government announces Rs 150 crore for communication needs of Andaman and Nicobar islands.
* Government announces Arun Prabha channel for northeastern region; will be 24/7 channel.
* Rs 1000 crore provided for rail connectivity in northeastern region.
* Programme for displaced Kashmiri migrants with Rs 500 crore to be started.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for project to link rivers.
* Government announces Rs 100 crore for development of Archaeological sites. Gaya to be developed as world class tourism spot.
* Rs 5000 crore set aside for defence outlay over and above amount provided under interim budget.
* National Police Memorial to be set up. Rs 50 crore set aside for this purpose.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for development of Technology Development Fund.
* Rs 100 crore War Memorial at Princess Park, India Gate.
* Policy of One Rank One Pension to be adopted for defence personnel.
* RBI will create framework for licenses of small banks.
* Government aims to provide all households with banking facilities to empower the weaker sections; there should be atleast 2 bank accounts in each household.
* Rs 37, 800 crore allotted for National Highways.
* Revision of rate of royalty on minerals to be taken up on request from the states.
* In order to complete gas grid, 15000 km of additional pipeline to be developed through PPP mode.
* New and renewable energy deserves high priority; ultra modern power projects to be taken up in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Ladakh with Rs 500 crore.
* Rs 4200 crore set aside for Jal Marg Vikas project on river Ganga connecting Allahabad to Haldia , over 1620 km.
* Scheme for development of new airports at tier II and III cities through PPP mode.
* Rs 200 crore set aside for 6 more textile clusters in Rae Bareily, Lucknow, Surat, Bhagalpur. Rs 50 crore set aside for Pashmina Production program in J&K.
* MSMEs are the backbone of the economy; to be revived through a Committee to examine and report in three months.
* 6 more textile clusters to be set up.
* Industrial Smart Cities to come up at 7 cities.
* All govt departments and ministries to be integrated through E-platform by 31 December this year.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for Kisan Television to provide real time information on various farming and agriculture issues. (Read story here)
* National Industrial Corridor to be set up. Rs 1000 crore set aside for this.
* Rs 5000 crore short time rural credit refinance fund for 2014-15.
* Rs 50 core set aside for indigenous cattle breed and blue revolution for inland fisheries.
* Propose to provide finance to 5 lakh landless farmers through NABARD.
* Govt will initiate scheme to provide a soil health card; Rs 100 crore set aside. Rs 56 crore for soil testing labs across the country.
* Agriculture University in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, and Horticulture University in Haryana, Telangana; Rs. 200 cr set aside by the government.
* Slum development to be included in Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
* Govt announces Rs 100 crore for modernization of madrassas.
* Govt announces development of Metro rails in PPP mode; Rs 100 crore set aside for metro scheme in Ahmedabad and Lucknow.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for Community Radio Centres; 600 new and existing ones will be supported.
* National Rural Internet and Technology Mission; Rs 500 crore set aside. (Read story here)
* Govt proposes to set up Center of Excellence in MP named after Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan.
* 5 more IITs and 5 IIMs to be set up .
* Propose to set up four more AIIMS; Rs. 500 crore set aside for this. Six new AIIMS started recently have become functional. Four new AIIMS will be set up in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Vidarbha and Purvanchal.
* Govt proposes National Housing Banking programme; sets aside Rs 8000 crore for this program.
* Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has a massive impact on rural development; Govt sets aside Rs 14,389 crore for this scheme.
* Crisis Management Center for women at Delhi; money to be provided from Nirbhaya fund.
* Govt announces Beti Padhao, Beti Badhao Yojana; sets aside Rs 100 crore for this.
* Safety of women of prime importance.
* EPFO will launch a unified account scheme for portability of Provident Fund accounts.
* Schemes for disabled persons in the country. 15 new Brail presses to be established and revival of 10 existing.
* Rs 50,548 crore proposed for Schedule Caste development.
* Govt committed to providing 24/7 power supply to all homes. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojna for electricity supply to rural areas.
* Rs 200 crore for 'Statue of Unity' of Sardar Vallabh Patel.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayin Yojana to be started for irrigation.
* E-visas to be introduced at nine airports in India in phased manner.
* FDI in insurance to be increased to 49%
* FM announces FDI in defence up from 26 to 49 % with Indian management and control
* I propose to strengthen authority for advance ruling in tax
* Aim to achieve 7-8 per cent economic growth rate in next 3-4 years.
* This govt will not ordinarily change policies retrospectively which creates a fresh liability.
* GST will streamline tax administration and result in higher tax collection for center and states.
* A new urea policy would be formulated.
* Considering that we had two years of low GDP growth, a large subsidy burden, target of 4.1% fiscal burden is daunting
Railway Budget
Union minister Sadananda Gowda is presenting his first Rail Budget in the Lok Sabha. Here are the highlights :
* Indian railways to become the largest freight carrier in the world.
* Social obligation of Railways in 2013-14 was Rs 20,000 crore.
* Gross traffic receipts in 2013-14 was Rs 12,35,558 crore; operating ratio was 94 per cent.
* Focus in past has been on sanctioning projects rather than completing them, Railway minister says.
* Indian Railways spent Rs 41,000 crore on laying of 3,700 km of new lines in last 10 years.
* Fare revision will bring in Rs.8,000 crore; need another Rs.9,000 crore for golden quadrilateral project.
* Railways also proposes to set up Food Courts at major stations.
* Need to explore alternative sources of resource mobilisation and not depend on fare hike alone, Railway minister says.
* Spend 94 paisa of every rupee earned, leaving a surplus of only 6 paisa.
* With 12,500 trains, railways move 23 million passengers every day; equivalent to moving Australia's population.
* Separate housekeeping wing at 50 major stations.
* CCTV to monitor cleanliness activities.
* Mechanized laundry will be introduced.
* Dedicated freight corridor on Eastern and Western corridors.
* 5400 unmanned level crossing removed.
* Tourist trains to be introduced to link all major places of tourist interests across the country.
* 4,000 women constables to be recruited to ensure safety of women. 17,000 RPF constables to provide safety to passengers.
* Setting up of Railway University for technical and non-technical study.
* Ultrasonic system to detect problem in track.
* Proposal to start Bullet trains on Mumbai—Ahmedabad route. Speed of important trains will be also raised.
* Diamond Quadrilateral project of high speed trains to connect all major metros.
* E-ticketing system to be improved. Future e-ticketing to support 7200 tickets per minute & to allow 120,000 simultaneous users
* Wifi in A1 and A category stations and in select trains. Internet-based platform and unreserved tickets.
* GIS mapping and digitization of Railway Land. Extension of logistics support to various e-Commerce Companies.
* Bulk of future projects will be financed through PPP mode.
* Facilitate transport of milk through rail. Special milk transportation trains in association with Amul and National Dairy Association Board.
* One ticket to reach from Delhi to Srinagar. Uddhampur to Banihal by bus and Banihal to Srinagar by train.
* Mumbai local to get 860 new, state-of-the art coaches. 64 new EMUs to be introduced.
* Train connectivity to Char Dham.
* Paperless office of Indian railways in 5 years. Digital reservation charts at stations.
* Ready-to-eat meals to be introduced in phased manners.
* 27 Express trains to be introduced.
* 5 Jansadharan , 5 Premium AC trains to be introduced.
Padma Vibhushan
1. Dr Raghunath A Mashelkar: Science and Engineering, Maharashtra
2. B K S Iyengar: Yoga, Maharashtra
Padma Bhushan
Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, Art‐Painting, Gujarat
Begum Parveen Sultana, Art‐Classical Singing, Maharashtra
T.H. Vinayakram, Art‐Ghatam Artist, Tamil Nadu
Kamal Haasan, Art‐Cinema, Tamil Nadu
Justice Dalveer Bhandari, Public Affairs, Delhi
Ruskin Bond, Literature and Education, Uttarakhand
Pullela Gopichand, Sports‐Badminton, Andhra Pradesh
Leander Paes, Sports‐Tennis, Maharashtra
Prof Lloyd I Rudolph, Literature and Education, USA
Padma Shri
Mohammad Ali Baig, Art‐Theatre, Andhra Pradesh
Nayana Apte Joshi, Art, Maharashtra
Vidya Balan, Art‐Cinema, Maharashtra
Anjum Chopra, Sports‐Cricket, Delhi
Sunil Dabas, Sports‐Kabbadi, Haryana
Love Raj Singh Dharmshaktu, Sports‐Mountaineering, Delhi
Dipika Rebecca Pallikal, Sports‐Squash, Tamil Nadu
H Boniface Prabhu, Sports‐Wheelchair Tennis, Karnataka
Yuvraj Singh, Sports‐Cricket, Haryana
Mamta Sodha Sports‐Mountaineering, Haryana
Ramon Magsaysay Award
The 2014 Awardees are:
• Hu Shuli: She is a Chinese investigative journalist whose work has led to the ouster of corrupt officials. She is the founder and former editor of Caijing a business magazine famed for its groundbreaking investigative reporting that has had a profound impact on China.
• Saur Marlina Manurung: She is being recognized for her ennobling passion to protect and improve the lives of Indonesia’s forest people, and her energizing leadership of volunteers in SOKOLA’s customized education program. She put up a Jungle School program for children of Indonesia’s Orang Rimba, or forest people.
• Omara Khan Masoudi from Afghanistan: He is being recognized for his courage, labor, and leadership in protecting Afghan cultural heritage. Masoudi was awarded for his courage in protecting Afghan cultural heritage. At great risk to his life, the deputy director of the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul led his colleagues in moving some of the museum’s most precious objects to safety during the Taliban’s assault on his country’s cultural treasures in the 1990s.
• The Citizens Foundation from Pakistan: It is a non-profit organisation (NGO) in Pakistan founded by six business leaders. It was recognized for building 1000 schools over hundreds of cities and towns in the country with the world’s second highest number of children who are out of school.
• Wang Canfa from China: Wang Canfa founded the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims, which has offered free legal services to thousands of people and provided environmental law training to lawyers and others.
• Randy Halasan for Emergent Leadership from the Philippines: He was chosen for the award for serving the indigenous Matigsalug tribe. He put in huge efforts in teaching the children of the Matigsalug tribe in one of the remotest mountain villages in Mindanao.
Wang Canfa: He is a Chinese Professor who founded the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims, which has provided free legal services to thousands of people and imparted environmental law training to lawyers and others.
National Sports Awards 2014
Oscar Award 2014:
Best Film ‐ 12 Years a Slave – Directed by Steve McQueen
Best Actor ‐ Matthew McConaughey for: Dallas Buyers Club
Best Actress ‐ Cate Blanchett for: Blue Jasmine
Best Director ‐ Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actor in a Supporting Role ‐ Jared Leto for: Dallas Buyers Club
Best Actress in a Supporting Role ‐ Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave
Best Foreign Language Film ‐ The Great Beauty (Italy)
Note: "Gravity" pulled in 7 Oscars, including best director, at the 86th Academy Awards on March 2, 2014.
61st National Film Awards:
Best Film: 'Ship of Theseus' – Director – Anand Gandhi
Best Actor: Rajkumar Rao for 'Shahid' and Suraj Venjaramudu and Venajaramoodu for Malayalam movie 'Perariyathavar'
Best Actress: Geetanjali Thapa for Liars Dice
Best Director Award: Pranjal Dua for 'Chidiya Ud' (Hindi)
Best Popular Film providing Wholesome Entertainment: 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'
Best Film on Social Issues: 'Tojia Dharm Kauncha'
Best Non Feature Film: 'Rangbhoomi'
Best Supporting Actor: Saurabh Shukla, 'Jolly LLB'
Note: 'Cinema Ka Cinema' got the Best Book on Cinema, while the Best
Film Critic award went to Alka Sahania
Director of Film 'Shahid' – Hansal Mehta
Director of Film 'Jolly LLB'– Subhash Kapoor
Director of Film Liars Dice – Geetu Mohandas
The IIFA 2014 Awards Winners’ List
Best Actor (Male): Farhan Akhtar for Bhaag Milka Bhaag
Best Actress (Female): Deepika Padukone for Chennai Express
Lifetime Achievement Award 2014: Shatrughan Sinha
Best Entertainer of the Year: Deepika Padukone
Best Film: Bhaag Milka Bhaag
Best Director: Rakeysh Om Mehra for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
Best Debutant Award map: Dhanush for Raanjhanaa
Best Story Award: Prashoon Joshi for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Best Lyric Writer: Mithoon for Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2
Best Male Playback Singer Award: Arijit Singh for ‘Tum Hi Ho’
from Aashiqui 2
Best Female Playback Singer Award: Shreya Goshal for ‘ Sun Raha Hai Na
Tu’ from Aashiqui 2
John Travolta honoured the Most Popular All Time International Star in
India at IIFA awards
59th Filmfare Awards 2014:
1. Best Actress: Deepika Padukone ‐ Goliyon Ki Rasleela RamLeela
2. Best Actor: Farhan Akhtar ‐ Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
3. Best Film : Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
4. Best Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra – Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
5. Best Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi – Zinda (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)
6. Best Debut (Director): Ritesh Batra ‐ The Lunchbox
7. Best Debut (Male): Dhanush – Raanjhanaa
8. Best Debut (Female): Vaani Kapoor ‐ Shuddh Desi Romance
9. Best Story: Subhash Kapoor ‐ Jolly LLB
10. Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Nawazuddin Siddiqui ‐ The Lunchbox
11. Best Actress in a Suporting Role: Supriya Pathak ‐ Ram‐Leela
12. Lifetime Achievement Award: Tanuja
The highlights of Union Budget 2014 tabled by finance minister Arun Jaitley-
* Tax proposals on indirect tax front would yield Rs 7,525 crore.
* Indian Custom Single Window Project to be taken up for facilitating trade.
Clean energy cess increased from Rs 50/ tonne to Rs 100/tonne.
* Additional 5% excise tax to be levied on aerated drinks with added sugar (cold drinks). Tobacco products also to get costly as excise duty hiked to 72%
* Government announces reduction in excise duty for specified food package industry from 10% to 6%.
* Excise duty on footwear reduced from 12% to 6%
* Government announces measures to encourage manufacture of LCD/LED panels of TVs.
* Housing loan rebate to raised from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
* Net effect of direct tax proposals is revenue loss of Rs 22,200 crore.
* Government proposes to increase investment limit under Section 80C from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.
* Tax exemption limit for small and marginal, and senior tax payers changed from Rs 2.0 to Rs 2.5 lakh. For senior citizens, no tax for income up to Rs 3 lakh per annum.
* No changes in tax rate.
* PPF limit to be raised to Rs 1.5 lakh: Jaitley
* Rs 100 crore for training of sportspersons for upcoming Asian Games. (Read story here)
* Government announces Rs 150 crore for communication needs of Andaman and Nicobar islands.
* Government announces Arun Prabha channel for northeastern region; will be 24/7 channel.
* Rs 1000 crore provided for rail connectivity in northeastern region.
* Programme for displaced Kashmiri migrants with Rs 500 crore to be started.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for project to link rivers.
* Government announces Rs 100 crore for development of Archaeological sites. Gaya to be developed as world class tourism spot.
* Rs 5000 crore set aside for defence outlay over and above amount provided under interim budget.
* National Police Memorial to be set up. Rs 50 crore set aside for this purpose.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for development of Technology Development Fund.
* Rs 100 crore War Memorial at Princess Park, India Gate.
* Policy of One Rank One Pension to be adopted for defence personnel.
* RBI will create framework for licenses of small banks.
* Government aims to provide all households with banking facilities to empower the weaker sections; there should be atleast 2 bank accounts in each household.
* Rs 37, 800 crore allotted for National Highways.
* Revision of rate of royalty on minerals to be taken up on request from the states.
* In order to complete gas grid, 15000 km of additional pipeline to be developed through PPP mode.
* New and renewable energy deserves high priority; ultra modern power projects to be taken up in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Ladakh with Rs 500 crore.
* Rs 4200 crore set aside for Jal Marg Vikas project on river Ganga connecting Allahabad to Haldia , over 1620 km.
* Scheme for development of new airports at tier II and III cities through PPP mode.
* Rs 200 crore set aside for 6 more textile clusters in Rae Bareily, Lucknow, Surat, Bhagalpur. Rs 50 crore set aside for Pashmina Production program in J&K.
* MSMEs are the backbone of the economy; to be revived through a Committee to examine and report in three months.
* 6 more textile clusters to be set up.
* Industrial Smart Cities to come up at 7 cities.
* All govt departments and ministries to be integrated through E-platform by 31 December this year.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for Kisan Television to provide real time information on various farming and agriculture issues. (Read story here)
* National Industrial Corridor to be set up. Rs 1000 crore set aside for this.
* Rs 5000 crore short time rural credit refinance fund for 2014-15.
* Rs 50 core set aside for indigenous cattle breed and blue revolution for inland fisheries.
* Propose to provide finance to 5 lakh landless farmers through NABARD.
* Govt will initiate scheme to provide a soil health card; Rs 100 crore set aside. Rs 56 crore for soil testing labs across the country.
* Agriculture University in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, and Horticulture University in Haryana, Telangana; Rs. 200 cr set aside by the government.
* Slum development to be included in Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
* Govt announces Rs 100 crore for modernization of madrassas.
* Govt announces development of Metro rails in PPP mode; Rs 100 crore set aside for metro scheme in Ahmedabad and Lucknow.
* Rs 100 crore set aside for Community Radio Centres; 600 new and existing ones will be supported.
* National Rural Internet and Technology Mission; Rs 500 crore set aside. (Read story here)
* Govt proposes to set up Center of Excellence in MP named after Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan.
* 5 more IITs and 5 IIMs to be set up .
* Propose to set up four more AIIMS; Rs. 500 crore set aside for this. Six new AIIMS started recently have become functional. Four new AIIMS will be set up in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Vidarbha and Purvanchal.
* Govt proposes National Housing Banking programme; sets aside Rs 8000 crore for this program.
* Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has a massive impact on rural development; Govt sets aside Rs 14,389 crore for this scheme.
* Crisis Management Center for women at Delhi; money to be provided from Nirbhaya fund.
* Govt announces Beti Padhao, Beti Badhao Yojana; sets aside Rs 100 crore for this.
* Safety of women of prime importance.
* EPFO will launch a unified account scheme for portability of Provident Fund accounts.
* Schemes for disabled persons in the country. 15 new Brail presses to be established and revival of 10 existing.
* Rs 50,548 crore proposed for Schedule Caste development.
* Govt committed to providing 24/7 power supply to all homes. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojna for electricity supply to rural areas.
* Rs 200 crore for 'Statue of Unity' of Sardar Vallabh Patel.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayin Yojana to be started for irrigation.
* E-visas to be introduced at nine airports in India in phased manner.
* FDI in insurance to be increased to 49%
* FM announces FDI in defence up from 26 to 49 % with Indian management and control
* I propose to strengthen authority for advance ruling in tax
* Aim to achieve 7-8 per cent economic growth rate in next 3-4 years.
* This govt will not ordinarily change policies retrospectively which creates a fresh liability.
* GST will streamline tax administration and result in higher tax collection for center and states.
* A new urea policy would be formulated.
* Considering that we had two years of low GDP growth, a large subsidy burden, target of 4.1% fiscal burden is daunting
Railway Budget
Union minister Sadananda Gowda is presenting his first Rail Budget in the Lok Sabha. Here are the highlights :
* Indian railways to become the largest freight carrier in the world.
* Social obligation of Railways in 2013-14 was Rs 20,000 crore.
* Gross traffic receipts in 2013-14 was Rs 12,35,558 crore; operating ratio was 94 per cent.
* Focus in past has been on sanctioning projects rather than completing them, Railway minister says.
* Indian Railways spent Rs 41,000 crore on laying of 3,700 km of new lines in last 10 years.
* Fare revision will bring in Rs.8,000 crore; need another Rs.9,000 crore for golden quadrilateral project.
* Railways also proposes to set up Food Courts at major stations.
* Need to explore alternative sources of resource mobilisation and not depend on fare hike alone, Railway minister says.
* Spend 94 paisa of every rupee earned, leaving a surplus of only 6 paisa.
* With 12,500 trains, railways move 23 million passengers every day; equivalent to moving Australia's population.
* Separate housekeeping wing at 50 major stations.
* CCTV to monitor cleanliness activities.
* Mechanized laundry will be introduced.
* Dedicated freight corridor on Eastern and Western corridors.
* 5400 unmanned level crossing removed.
* Tourist trains to be introduced to link all major places of tourist interests across the country.
* 4,000 women constables to be recruited to ensure safety of women. 17,000 RPF constables to provide safety to passengers.
* Setting up of Railway University for technical and non-technical study.
* Ultrasonic system to detect problem in track.
* Proposal to start Bullet trains on Mumbai—Ahmedabad route. Speed of important trains will be also raised.
* Diamond Quadrilateral project of high speed trains to connect all major metros.
* E-ticketing system to be improved. Future e-ticketing to support 7200 tickets per minute & to allow 120,000 simultaneous users
* Wifi in A1 and A category stations and in select trains. Internet-based platform and unreserved tickets.
* GIS mapping and digitization of Railway Land. Extension of logistics support to various e-Commerce Companies.
* Bulk of future projects will be financed through PPP mode.
* Facilitate transport of milk through rail. Special milk transportation trains in association with Amul and National Dairy Association Board.
* One ticket to reach from Delhi to Srinagar. Uddhampur to Banihal by bus and Banihal to Srinagar by train.
* Mumbai local to get 860 new, state-of-the art coaches. 64 new EMUs to be introduced.
* Train connectivity to Char Dham.
* Paperless office of Indian railways in 5 years. Digital reservation charts at stations.
* Ready-to-eat meals to be introduced in phased manners.
* 27 Express trains to be introduced.
* 5 Jansadharan , 5 Premium AC trains to be introduced.
Padma Awards 2014
Padma Vibhushan
1. Dr Raghunath A Mashelkar: Science and Engineering, Maharashtra
2. B K S Iyengar: Yoga, Maharashtra
Padma Bhushan
Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, Art‐Painting, Gujarat
Begum Parveen Sultana, Art‐Classical Singing, Maharashtra
T.H. Vinayakram, Art‐Ghatam Artist, Tamil Nadu
Kamal Haasan, Art‐Cinema, Tamil Nadu
Justice Dalveer Bhandari, Public Affairs, Delhi
Ruskin Bond, Literature and Education, Uttarakhand
Pullela Gopichand, Sports‐Badminton, Andhra Pradesh
Leander Paes, Sports‐Tennis, Maharashtra
Prof Lloyd I Rudolph, Literature and Education, USA
Padma Shri
Mohammad Ali Baig, Art‐Theatre, Andhra Pradesh
Nayana Apte Joshi, Art, Maharashtra
Vidya Balan, Art‐Cinema, Maharashtra
Anjum Chopra, Sports‐Cricket, Delhi
Sunil Dabas, Sports‐Kabbadi, Haryana
Love Raj Singh Dharmshaktu, Sports‐Mountaineering, Delhi
Dipika Rebecca Pallikal, Sports‐Squash, Tamil Nadu
H Boniface Prabhu, Sports‐Wheelchair Tennis, Karnataka
Yuvraj Singh, Sports‐Cricket, Haryana
Mamta Sodha Sports‐Mountaineering, Haryana
Ramon Magsaysay Award
The 2014 Awardees are:
• Hu Shuli: She is a Chinese investigative journalist whose work has led to the ouster of corrupt officials. She is the founder and former editor of Caijing a business magazine famed for its groundbreaking investigative reporting that has had a profound impact on China.
• Saur Marlina Manurung: She is being recognized for her ennobling passion to protect and improve the lives of Indonesia’s forest people, and her energizing leadership of volunteers in SOKOLA’s customized education program. She put up a Jungle School program for children of Indonesia’s Orang Rimba, or forest people.
• Omara Khan Masoudi from Afghanistan: He is being recognized for his courage, labor, and leadership in protecting Afghan cultural heritage. Masoudi was awarded for his courage in protecting Afghan cultural heritage. At great risk to his life, the deputy director of the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul led his colleagues in moving some of the museum’s most precious objects to safety during the Taliban’s assault on his country’s cultural treasures in the 1990s.
• The Citizens Foundation from Pakistan: It is a non-profit organisation (NGO) in Pakistan founded by six business leaders. It was recognized for building 1000 schools over hundreds of cities and towns in the country with the world’s second highest number of children who are out of school.
• Wang Canfa from China: Wang Canfa founded the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims, which has offered free legal services to thousands of people and provided environmental law training to lawyers and others.
• Randy Halasan for Emergent Leadership from the Philippines: He was chosen for the award for serving the indigenous Matigsalug tribe. He put in huge efforts in teaching the children of the Matigsalug tribe in one of the remotest mountain villages in Mindanao.
Wang Canfa: He is a Chinese Professor who founded the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims, which has provided free legal services to thousands of people and imparted environmental law training to lawyers and others.
National Sports Awards 2014
The awardees:
Arjuna award:
1. Abhishek Verma (archery)
2. Tintu Luka (athletics),
3. H.N. Girisha
(para-athletics),
4. V. Diju (badminton)
5. Geethu Anna Jose (basketball)
6. Jai Bhagwan (boxing),
7.R. Ashwin (cricket),
8. Anirban Lahiri (golf),
9. Mamta
Pujari (kabaddi),
10. Saji Thomas (rowing)
11. Heena Sidhu (shooting),
12. Anaka
Alankamony (squash),
13. Tom Joseph (volleyball),
14. Renubala Chanu
(weightlifting)
15.Sunil Kumar Rana (wrestling).
Dronacharya award:
Mahabir Prasad (wrestling)
Lifetime achievement: N. Lingappa
(athletics)
G. Manoharan (boxing)
Gurcharan Singh Gogi (judo)
Jose
Jacob (rowing).
Dhyan Chand award:
1. Gurmail Singh (hockey)
2. K.P. Thakkar (swimming-diving)
3.Zeeshan Ali (tennis).
Tenzing Norgay Awards:
1.Land adventure: Subedar Jagat Singh, Passang Tenzing Sherpa
2. Air adventure: MWO Surender Singh
2. Air adventure: MWO Surender Singh
3. Lifetime achievement: Wg. Cdr. (retd) Amit Chowdhury.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy: Punjabi University, Patiala.
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar: Oil
and Natural Gas Corporation (employment of sports persons and sports
welfare measures)
Jindal Steel Works (community sports–identification
and nurturing of budding/young talent); Guru Hanuman akhara
(establishment and management of sports academies of excellence); Child
Link Foundation of India–Magic Bus (other forms of sports activities not
covered in the categories mentioned in the schemes).
Awards Related with Films
Oscar Award 2014:
Best Film ‐ 12 Years a Slave – Directed by Steve McQueenBest Actor ‐ Matthew McConaughey for: Dallas Buyers Club
Best Actress ‐ Cate Blanchett for: Blue Jasmine
Best Director ‐ Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Best Actor in a Supporting Role ‐ Jared Leto for: Dallas Buyers Club
Best Actress in a Supporting Role ‐ Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave
Best Foreign Language Film ‐ The Great Beauty (Italy)
Note: "Gravity" pulled in 7 Oscars, including best director, at the 86th Academy Awards on March 2, 2014.
61st National Film Awards:
Best Film: 'Ship of Theseus' – Director – Anand Gandhi
Best Actor: Rajkumar Rao for 'Shahid' and Suraj Venjaramudu and Venajaramoodu for Malayalam movie 'Perariyathavar'
Best Actress: Geetanjali Thapa for Liars Dice
Best Director Award: Pranjal Dua for 'Chidiya Ud' (Hindi)
Best Popular Film providing Wholesome Entertainment: 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'
Best Film on Social Issues: 'Tojia Dharm Kauncha'
Best Non Feature Film: 'Rangbhoomi'
Best Supporting Actor: Saurabh Shukla, 'Jolly LLB'
Note: 'Cinema Ka Cinema' got the Best Book on Cinema, while the Best
Film Critic award went to Alka Sahania
Director of Film 'Shahid' – Hansal Mehta
Director of Film 'Jolly LLB'– Subhash Kapoor
Director of Film Liars Dice – Geetu Mohandas
The IIFA 2014 Awards Winners’ ListBest Actor (Male): Farhan Akhtar for Bhaag Milka Bhaag
Best Actress (Female): Deepika Padukone for Chennai Express
Lifetime Achievement Award 2014: Shatrughan Sinha
Best Entertainer of the Year: Deepika Padukone
Best Film: Bhaag Milka Bhaag
Best Director: Rakeysh Om Mehra for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
Best Debutant Award map: Dhanush for Raanjhanaa
Best Story Award: Prashoon Joshi for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Best Lyric Writer: Mithoon for Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2
Best Male Playback Singer Award: Arijit Singh for ‘Tum Hi Ho’
from Aashiqui 2
Best Female Playback Singer Award: Shreya Goshal for ‘ Sun Raha Hai Na
Tu’ from Aashiqui 2
John Travolta honoured the Most Popular All Time International Star in
India at IIFA awards
59th Filmfare Awards 2014:
1. Best Actress: Deepika Padukone ‐ Goliyon Ki Rasleela RamLeela
2. Best Actor: Farhan Akhtar ‐ Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
3. Best Film : Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
4. Best Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra – Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
5. Best Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi – Zinda (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)
6. Best Debut (Director): Ritesh Batra ‐ The Lunchbox
7. Best Debut (Male): Dhanush – Raanjhanaa
8. Best Debut (Female): Vaani Kapoor ‐ Shuddh Desi Romance
9. Best Story: Subhash Kapoor ‐ Jolly LLB
10. Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Nawazuddin Siddiqui ‐ The Lunchbox
11. Best Actress in a Suporting Role: Supriya Pathak ‐ Ram‐Leela
12. Lifetime Achievement Award: Tanuja
Awards Notes -
1. Sahitya Akademi Awards 2013 :Javed Akhtar has been chosen for "Lava", his compilation of 55 Urdu poems
2. C.K. Nayudu award: Former India captain Kapil Dev received the Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for 2013
3. Cyrus Mistry wins DSC Prize 2014 for South Asian literature for his book “Chronicles of a Corpse Bearer”.
4. FIFA named Portuguese attacker Cristiano Ronaldo world's best soccer player for the 2012/2013 season.
5. Indian Writer Pankaj Mishra won Windham Campbell Literature Prize 2014.. Vyas Samman 2013: 6.Vishwanath Tripathi been selected for the prestigious Vyas Samman for the year 2013.
Note: Tripathi has been chosen for the coveted annual literary award instituted in 1991 by the K K Birla Foundation for his memoir 'Vyomkesh Darvesh', a biolgraphy of noted Hindi scholar Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi.
7. Saraswati Samman 2013: Govind Mishra selected for for his book Dhool Paudho Par.
8. Gandhi Peace Prize for 2013: Eminent Gandhian and environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhat selected for the award.
9.Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2013: Veteran poet and film lyricist Gulzar has been chosen for the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke
Award for 2013. He is the 45th winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
10. Pulitzer Prize 2014: India‐born poet Vijay Seshadri has won the prestigious 2014 Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category for his
work '3 Sections'.
11. Goldman Prize for environmental activist Ramesh Agrawal.
12. Bharat Ratna Award: Sachin Tendulkar and CN Rao conferred Bharat Ratna Award 2013.
13. Caparo Group founded by leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul has won the International Business of the Year award 2014.
2. C.K. Nayudu award: Former India captain Kapil Dev received the Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award for 2013
3. Cyrus Mistry wins DSC Prize 2014 for South Asian literature for his book “Chronicles of a Corpse Bearer”.
4. FIFA named Portuguese attacker Cristiano Ronaldo world's best soccer player for the 2012/2013 season.
5. Indian Writer Pankaj Mishra won Windham Campbell Literature Prize 2014.. Vyas Samman 2013: 6.Vishwanath Tripathi been selected for the prestigious Vyas Samman for the year 2013.
Note: Tripathi has been chosen for the coveted annual literary award instituted in 1991 by the K K Birla Foundation for his memoir 'Vyomkesh Darvesh', a biolgraphy of noted Hindi scholar Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi.
7. Saraswati Samman 2013: Govind Mishra selected for for his book Dhool Paudho Par.
8. Gandhi Peace Prize for 2013: Eminent Gandhian and environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhat selected for the award.
9.Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2013: Veteran poet and film lyricist Gulzar has been chosen for the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke
Award for 2013. He is the 45th winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
10. Pulitzer Prize 2014: India‐born poet Vijay Seshadri has won the prestigious 2014 Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category for his
work '3 Sections'.
11. Goldman Prize for environmental activist Ramesh Agrawal.
12. Bharat Ratna Award: Sachin Tendulkar and CN Rao conferred Bharat Ratna Award 2013.
13. Caparo Group founded by leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul has won the International Business of the Year award 2014.
very useful for po exam
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