Current Affairs Updates 14 To 16 Feb 2015

1. Arvind Kejriwal sworn in as Delhi Chief Minister

1. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal took oath as the eighth Chief Minister of Delhi, promising to make Delhi the first corruption-free state and act against communal elements.
2. Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung administered the oath of office and secrecy to Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and five other ministers at the historic Ramlila Ground.
3. Asim Ahmed Khan, Sandeep Kumar, Satyendra Jain, Gopal Rai and Jitender Singh Tomar also took oath of office and secrecy at the ceremony.
4. The AAP had won 67 of the 70 seats in Delhi decimating Congress and leaving only three seats for the BJP.

2. Modi’s ‘Make in India’ gets GE boost

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated American multinational General Electric's (GE) first manufacturing plant in India.
2. The plant will manufacture a range of diversified products for sectors such as energy, aviation, oil & gas transportation.
3. To support Mr. Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, GE Vice-Chairman John Rice announced the second phase expansion of this unit by saying that it was a testimony of GE's commitment for the Indian market.
4. In the first phase of the operation, the facility is focused on products and solutions for the power generation, oil & gas and transportation industries. 
5. In the phase II, the site will include manufacturing capability for new generation aviation engine components and sub assembly for the latest rail locomotives and diesel engines.

3. India successfully test-fires BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

1. India on Saturday successfully test-fired the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile from INS Kolkata, the navy's most powerful and newest warship, in Arabian sea.
2. The Indian Navy commissioned INS Kolkata on August 16, 2014. This is the first ship of this class, with two more in the pipeline. 
3. The Universal Vertical Launcher Module (UVLM) being used in these has a unique design, developed and patented by BrahMos Aerospace. 
4. iv. The BrahMos has a range of 290km and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 300 kg. It has a top speed of Mach 2.8, which is about three times faster than the US subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile.

4. New Zealand beats Sri Lanka in the world cup opener

1. New Zealand recorded an authoritative 98-run win over Sri Lanka in the World Cup’s opening game Saturday.
2. Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson producing the destructive batting the co—hosts hope will carry them to the title.
3. While Australia beat England by 111 runs in the second match of the day.
4. Aaron Finch scored a brilliant ton and was ably supported with a quick fire half century by Glen Maxwell at the end. 

5. Modi, Sirisena hold joint press conference

1. With a promise for a “new beginning” in India-Sri Lanka ties, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena arrived in New Delhi.
2. While investment will be a key theme, it is learnt that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which New Delhi has been pushing for, did not figure in the round of discussions.

Agreements between Both countries

1. Agreement between Sri Lanka and India on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. 
2. Programme of Cultural Cooperation between Sri Lanka and India for the years 2015 - 18. 
3. MoU on the Establishment of Nalanda University. The MoU would enable Sri Lanka to participate in the Nalanda University Project.
4. Work-Plan 2014-2015 under the MoU on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture between India and Sri Lanka.

6. January WPI inflation dips to - 0.39%

1. Inflation dropped to a five and a half year low of - 0.39 per cent in January on falling prices of manufactured and fuel items.
2. Inflation measured on wholesale price index (WPI) was at 0.11 per cent in December. The data for November was revised downwards to a negative - 0.17 per cent, from the provisional estimate of zero.
3. Inflation in ‘fuel and power segment’ was negative at -10.69 per cent, while in manufactured products it was 1.05 per cent.
4. RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, in the monetary policy review earlier this month, kept key interest rate unchanged saying the apex bank wanted more comfort on inflation front as it awaited cues from Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s first full year Budget.

7. ED slaps Rs 425 crore FEMA notice on BCCI, IPL

1. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has slapped a Rs 425 crore show cause notice against BCCI, IPL, their officials and private multimedia firms for alleged contravention of forex laws in awarding a media rights contract in 2009.
2. The notices have been issued to close to ten individuals and entities, which include former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief N. Srinivasan, the then-IPL chairman Lalit Modi, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sunder Raman.
3. The ED stepped in this case in 2009 and began a probe under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to investigate allegations that payment of Rs 425 crore facilitation fees by MSM Singapore to WSG Mauritius was made in an alleged unauthorised manner.

8. BS Ispat wins coal mine in Maharashtra

1. On the third day of the coal auction, BS Ispat won a mine in Maharashtra. BS Ispat gets Marki Mangli 3 at (Rs.) 918 (per tonne).
2. Three mines on the offer in Monday’s auction are Mandla North (MP), Marki Mangli III (Maharashtra) and Trans Damodar (West Bengal).
3. After the Supreme Court cancelled allocation of 204 mines in September, the government decided to auction the blocks. It is putting up 19 blocks on sale in the first tranche.

9. 293 firms commit to generate 266 GW renewable energy in 5 years

1. As many as 293 companies have committed to generate 266 GW of renewable energy in the next five years under the government’s ambitious RE-Invest programme unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
2. Country’s largest power producer NTPC has also said it would generate 10,000 mw of power through green sources in the next five years.
3. Renewable energy companies including Suzlon and Gamesa have committed to manufacture equipment to help generate 11,000 mw and 7,500 mw of power respectively to be used in the non conventional energy side.
4. Among others are Welspun Energy with a target to generate 11,000 mw renewable energy, followed by ReNew Power 11,500 mw capacity, Reliance Power 6,000 mw, Hindustan Powerprojects 10,000 mw and Sun Edison 15,000 mw.
5. Country’s biggest lender SBI has said it will finance 15,000 mw renewable energy over the next five years.

10. IPL-8 player auction

• Some of the notable Purchases were -