FDI inflows into the Service Sector declined by 47.5 Percent

As per the data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) on 4 November 2013, Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the service sector declined by 47.5 percent to 1.19 billion US dollars during the April-August 2013 period. The service sector, which includes banking, insurance, outsourcing, R&D, courier and technology testing, had received FDI (foreign direct investment) worth 2.28 billion US dollars in April-August 2012 period. The services sector contributes over 60 percent to India’s GDP. In 2012-13, foreign investment in the segment declined to 4.83 billion US dollars from 5.21 billion US dollars in 2011-12.The other sectors where foreign inflows declined during the first five months of this fiscal as compared to the previous year include construction development (township and housing), power and metallurgical industries. On the whole, during the April-August 2013 period, FDI has increased by only 4 per cent to 8.46 billion US dollars, from 8.16 billion US dollars in the same period last fiscal. Foreign investments are considered crucial for India, which needs around 1 trillion US dollars in the next five years to overhaul its infrastructure sector such as ports, airports and highways to boost growth. 

Abraham K Techi Appointed International Weightlifting Referee

Indian Weightlifting Federation Joint Secretary Abraham K Techi on 4 November 2013 appointed as an international Weightlifting referee. Budapest–based International Weightlifting Federation issued the honour to Abraham, making him the fourth international referee from North East India. Abraham K Techi, President of the Arunachal Weightlifting Association (AWA), is the first international referee from Arunachal Pradesh and fourth from the North East. The other three referees from the region include Sunil Elangbam of Manipur, Birendra Prasad Baishya (IWF president and Rajya Sabha member) and Bhabajyoti Goswami both from Assam. Besides being the Eastern Indian Body Building Association vice president, Abraham was member of the organising committee, in charge of sports presentation and medal ceremony (weightlifting) during the 2010 Commonwealth Games and manager of the Indian weightlifting teams that went to Cyprus, Uzbekistan and Mala

Yuki Bhambri won the Traralgon title

Yuki Bhambri on 4 November 2013 won the ATP men’s singles title of Traralgon event in Australia. He defeated Bradely Klahn of America in the summit clash that was hit by rain. This is the second win of his career.

Yuki, the 21 years old Indian defeated higher ranking Bradely by 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 in the finals in a match played on two days due to rain. This is the third straight win of Yuki over a higher ranked opponent in this tournament. The 277 ranked Yuki earlier defeated, Tatsuma of Japan ranked 191 and the James Duckworth of Australia ranked 147 in the tournament to reach the finals. - See more at: http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/yuki-bhambri-won-the-traralgon-title-1383629713-1#sthash.Zrr9AIqq.dpuf

Government decided to extend the sale of 5 kg LPG cylinders at petrol pumps

The Government of India on 4 November 2013 decided to extend the sale of the non-subsidized 5 kg cooking gas (LPG) cylinders at petrol pumps across the country. The proposal to extend the scope of the scheme was approved by M. Veerappa Moily, the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas. 

Earlier, the scheme was in operation in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru. The scheme was launched on 5 October 2013 by Moily in Bangalore for sale in selected company owned and company operated petrol pumps in the four cities. The cylinders will be sold at market rates.

The scheme will be delayed in poll bounding states like Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The scheme has allowed to sale the 5 kg LPG cylinders with just proof of Identity through Petrol Stations to students, IT professional, BPO employees and people with odd duty timings. As per the decision, the sale of the cylinders would be done with or without regulator for the first time. 

The cylinders will be charged 1000 rupees and the regulator will be available at 250 rupees. Whereas, the cost of refills of the LPG will be as per to the non-domestic rates applicable in the market. A 5 kg is sold at about 340 to 350 rupees. - See more at: http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/government-decided-to-extend-the-sale-of-5-kg-lpg-cylinders-at-petrol-pumps-1383624808-1#sthash.umYfqrMd.dpuf

Virat Kohli became Number 1 ranked ODI Batsman

Virat Kohli on 3 November 2013 became the number 1 batsman in one day International cricket rankings after scoring 344 runs in the series against Australia, that India won by 3-2. In the series Kohli scored 61 in Pune, 100 in Naipur, 68 in Mohali, 115 in Nagpur and 0 in Bengaluru at an average of 114.66. 

The 344 runs in the series gave 38 rating points to him, which helped him to jump three points to top in the ICC ranking tables. He achieved the top position on the ODI rankings for the first time. He also became the third Indian to hold number 1 position after Sachin Tendulkar in 1996 and MS Dhoni in 2006. 

Tendulkar claimed the number 1 position for the first time from Brain Lara in February 1996 and for the last time he achieved the position in March 2008. Dhoni reached the number 1 position for the first time from Ricky Pointing in April 2006 and for the last time in July 2010. 

In the latest list released by the ICC, the other players who changed their rankings were George Bailey, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. The captain of Australia during the series against India skipped six places and claimed third position in rankings released. This was the first time for Bailey in the career to achieve the third position.  

Shikhar Dhawan broke into the top 20 list for the first time by jumping 12 places to stand at 11th ranking in the list. Rohit Sharma achieved 15th position in the rankings list after scoring 491 runs at an average of 122.75, which includes the score of 209 runs in the final. Rohit Sharma became