Daily Current Affairs Updates: 24 February 2015

1) 14th Finance commission report tabled in Lok Sabha:

--> Government has tabled the 14th Finance Commission report for the period 1st April 2015, to 31st March, 2020 in the Lok Sabha on 24 February 2015.

--> Keeping its promise to give more financial autonomy to states, the Centre accepted the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, paving way for a record 10 per cent increase in their share in the Union taxes.

--> The commission recommended increase in the share of states in the centre's tax revenue from the current 32% to 42%-the single largest increase ever recommended.

--> The finance commission is a body set up under Article 280 of the Constitution, primarily to recommend measures and methods on how revenues, need to be distributed the Centre and states. 

2) Chris Gayle hit the first double century in World Cup history:

--> West Indies opener batsman Chris Gayle created history by becoming the first batsman to score a double century in the World Cup.

--> He made this record by scoring 215 runs off just 138 balls in a Pool-B match against Zimbabwe held at Manuka Oval stadium in Canberra, Australia.

--> It was also only the fifth double century in all ODI cricket and the first by a non-Indian, with Rohit Sharma (two), Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag the only other batsmen to achieve the feat.

3) Delhi Govt. launched mobile app on sale of liquor:

--> The Delhi Government on 24 February 2015 announced that it had developed a mobile application “mLiquorSaleCheck” for end consumers of liquor, which will provide detailed information about the liquor being sold in the city.

4) R. K. Pachauri resigned as Chief of UN panel on climate change:

--> After facing allegations of Sexual Harassment by a junior colleague, TERI Director General, Dr. R K Pachauri has resigned as the chief of UN environment body IPCC.

--> Dr Pachauri, a leading voice on the dangers of climate change, has denied the allegations and has claimed that he is a victim of computer hacking.

5) 27 Indian satellites currently operational: Govt:

--> As many as 27 satellites, including 11 which facilitate the communication network in the country, are currently operational and one more is to be launched next month, the Lok Sabha was informed on 25 February 2015.

--> One more satellite would be launched next month while three more are in the pipeline, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh said during Question Hour.

6) BJP-PDP coalation to form govt. in J&K:

--> After nearly two months of talks on formulating a common minimum programme of governance, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Peoples Democratic Party on 24 February 2015 announced their alliance for forming a “popular’’ government in Jammu and Kashmir.

--> This is the first time that the BJP will participate in governance in Jammu and Kashmir.