India scraps VVIP chopper deal with AgustaWestland

India  terminated the Rs. 3,726-crore, scam-ridden VVIP chopper deal with AgustaWestland International Limited (AWIL) on the grounds of breach of pre-contract integrity pact (PCIP). The deal for supply of 12 choppers, of which three have already been delivered, came under the scanner following allegations of kickbacks to senior Indian Air Force officers and others to the tune of nearly Rs. 360 crore.

Current Affairs test

Muriel “Mickie” Siebert, the first woman member of NYSK

The first woman member of the New York Stock Exchange, Muriel “Mickie” Siebert  died at the age of 80.She became the first woman member of the New York Stock Exchange in 1967.

Zubin Mehta’s concert in Kashmir on September 7, 2013

The German embassy in collaboration with the State and the Central governments will conduct classical maestro Zubin Mehta’s Bavarian State Orchestra. The event titled Ehsaas-e-Kashmir, will be perform at the historic Mughal garden of Shalimar Bagh near Srinagar.  The senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have opposed the event.

Lok Sabha passes Food Security Bill

The Lok Sabha on 26-Aug-2013  passed the National Food Security Bill, 2013 that seeks to provide highly subsidised food grains to nearly 70 per cent of the population of the country.

It will legally entitle 67 per cent of the population (including 75 per cent rural and 50 per cent urban) to get subsidised grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

A beneficiary will be entitled to 5 kg of rice, wheat or coarse cereals at Rs. 3, Rs. 2 and Re. 1 per kg a month, respectively.

The beneficiaries will be identified by the States based on parameters prescribed by the Union government.
 

India lifts ACC Emerging Trophy

The Indian under-23 team on 25-Aug-2013  lifted the ACC Emerging Trophy tournament by beating arch-rivals Pakistan by nine wickets in the final.

Neelkanth A. Kalyani, founder of Kayani Group died

Babasaheb Neelkanth Kalyani,87,  was a great Indian businessman who serves as the chairman and managing director of Bharat Forge

Pakistan blames India for killing 2 women in shelling

Pakistani authorities on Sunday claimed that two women were killed and seven others injured in an “unprovoked” shelling by the Indian Army on the LoC.