Current Affairs For SSC CGL Exam - 21 March, 2014

Current Affairs For SSC CGL Exam

Thailand’s Constitutional Court annulled the February 2 general election for failing to hold nationwide voting in every constituency on the same day.
The court’s judges voted 6 to 3 to void the election, which was boycotted by the opposition Democrat Party and could not be held in 28 of 375 constituencies nationwide.
No balloting was held in 28 constituencies, all of them in southern provinces that are the traditional power base of the Democrat Party, because no candidates had been registered amid anti—government protests.
The ruling Pheu Thai party effectively ran unchallenged for the other seats because of a boycott by the opposition, which accused the government of corruption and vote-buying.

India and Singapore won the 2014 edition of the UN-Water “Water for Life” Best Practices Award for their sustainable practices of water resources .
The award was announced by the United Nations Office during an official ceremony to mark World Water Day 2014 .
The prize is awarded yearly for “best water management practices” and “best participatory, communication, awareness-raising and education practices”.
This year’s “best water management practices” went to the International Water Management Institute (IWMI)-Tata Water Policy Programme, a project based on water scarce across India.
Singapore-based “NEWater programme”, which can meet 30 per cent of Singapore’s daily water needs, won the “best participatory, communication, awareness-raising and education practices” for its strong social component and enduring partnerships in its manifold and remarkable water management practices.

India`s Parupalli Kashyap arrested his slide in the latest Badminton World Federation rankings, by rising a place to No.24 in men`s singles.
Kashyap, who reached a career high of World No.6 last year, had been out of form for quite some time until his semifinal performance last week at the Swiss Open which helped him gain vital points.
Meanwhile, first round exits at both All England Open and Swiss Open have led Kidambi Srikanth to drop two places to 22nd.
Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu, however, have retained 8th and 9th positions in the women’s singles rankings.
No Indian figures in the top-25 of men`s, women`s and mixed doubles rankings.

The common sparrow has not remained so common these days, with the bird attaining the fourth rank in the list of rare birds. This is what prompted NGO WARD (Wild life Conservation and Agro-Rural Development) Foundation to declare the current year as the 'year of the sparrow'.
On World Sparrow Day on 20th of March , the NGO pledged to take efforts to conserve and protect sparrows along with increasing awareness about it.