1) 35th National Games mascot `Ammu the Great Hornbil` In Limca Book of Records.
- 35th National Games mascot Ammu- the Great Hornbill, has made into the Limca Book of Records.
- It made into the record books owing to a play Kalikkunna Kuttikalkkayi Bharatham Kathirikkunnu (India Awaits Children Who Play) in which Ammu is featured as lead role.
- According to the Limca Book’s 2015 Special Literature Edition, this play is about a mascot, which had been staged in most number of schools. By 9 April 2014, the play had been staged in 147 schools across seven districts of Kerala.
- Kalikkunna Kuttikalkkayi Bharatham Kathirikkunnu is scripted and directed by theatre artist Anil Karetee and enacted by a team of police officers. It was envisaged to promote sports among children and persuade them to take up sports along with academics.
About Ammu- the Great Hornbill mascot:
- Ammu- the Great Hornbill is official mascot 35th National Games held in Kerala. Designed by Rakesh.
- The Great Hornbill is the State bird of Kerala and was selected as the Games Mascot to reflect state’s concern for conservation of this species which is facing extinction.
- It is also expresses Kerala’s concern to preserve its rain forests and regenerate the lost habitat of this precious bird.
- The feminine name Ammu was chosen for the mascot as a tribute to the women of Kerala and is a reminder that Kerala is proud to have a gender ratio which is tilted in favour of women – the only State in India.
2) Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports revises Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar Scheme.
- The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has revised the Scheme of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar.
- This scheme was introduced by government in 2009 to encourage involvement of corporates and sports promotion boards in the development of sports in the country.
- Revised Scheme of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar.
- According to the revised plan, this scheme will be given in following four categories. They are
- Identification and nurturing of budding/young talent.
- Encouragement of sports through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
- Employment of sportspersons and sports welfare measures.
- Sports for Development.
- The revised Scheme, prescribes the eligibility criteria for all four categories.
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Corporates now can spend and provide funds for promotion and development of sports from the funds earmarked for CSR.
- In this regard, training to promote rural sports, nationally recognized sports, Paralympic sports and Olympic sports have been included in the Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs):
- In case of NGOs, who are working in promotion and development of sports, a separate category, Sports for Development has been provided for the NGOs in order to recognize their contributions.
3) India Cements Limited transferred IPL team Chennai Super Kings franchise to CSKC Limited.
- The India Cements Limited transferred the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Chennai Super Kings Cricket (CSK) franchise to its new subsidiary Chennai Super Kings Cricket (CSKC) Limited.
- The decision was taken by India Cements Vice-Chairman and Managing Director (MD) N. Srinivasan led Board of Directors meeting held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. With this, the company targets to get into a pure-play cement company.
- Background
- Earlier in September 2014, the Board of Directors of India Cements approved the proposal to demerge Chennai Super Kings (CSK) into a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company by transferring its net assets at cost.
- Under the ownership of India Cements, CSK led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni had won IPL tournament twice in IPL Season 3 (2011) and in IPL Season 4 (2012).
4) Tintu Luka won gold in 800m in 35th National Games
- Middle-distance runner Tintu Luka won gold in 800m in 35th National Games.
- Gomathi Marimuthu of Tamil Nadu finished second with 2:05.09 sec to win silver and Kerala Markose won bronze with a timing of 2:06.37 sec.
- Tintu is a Silver Medal winner in the 800m at the Asian Games 2014. A Gold medal winner in 4 X 400 m relay in the 2014 Incheon Asiad.
About 35th National Games:
- The 2015 National Games of India, also known as the 35th National Games of India, is being held from 31st January 2015 to 14th February 2015 across seven districts in Kerala, India. It is the second time that Kerala is hosting the National Games after it hosted the 27th National Games in 1987.
5) India won against long-time rival Pakistan by 76 runs, in their opening match in the cricket world cup at the Adelaide Oval.
- Pakistan scored 224 chasing India’s 300.
- Virat Kohli hit a century in 119 balls and adjudged Man of the Match.
- This was India’s Sixth straight World Cup win over Pakistan.
India vs Pakistan in World Cups:
- 1992: India won by 43 runs.
- 1996: India won by 39 runs.
- 1999: India won by 47 runs.
- 2003: India won by 6 runs.
- 2011: India won by 29 runs.
- 2015: India won by 76 runs.