1. Chris
Gayle hit fastest double century, creates World Cup history

i.  West Indies cricketer, Chris Gayle  today creates a history in World Cup by
smashing fastest double century against Zimbabwe at Manuka Oval, Canberra.

ii. He became the first
batsman to hit double century in the history of Cricket World Cup.

iii. This is the fastest
double century in any ODIs. He scored 200 runs in 138 balls, breaks the previous
record of Indian batsmen Virender Sehwag of 200 runs in 140 balls.

iii. It was also the fifth
double century in all ODI cricket and the first by a non-Indian. Rohit Sharma
has hit two double centuries whereas Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag has
hit one each.

iv. The left-hand batsman
smashed 16 sixes and 10 fours to reach the milestone. He scored 215 runs in 147
balls.

v. He also equalled the
record of most sixes in an ODI innings held jointly by South Africa’s AB de
Villiers and India’s Rohit Sharma.

v. Gayle and Marlon
Samuels, who scored 133 not out himself, also set a new partnership record for
any ODI wicket.

vi. With the help of Gayle’s
and Marlon Samuels ton, West Indies set the total of 373 runs against West
Indies.

vii. In reply Zimbabwe were
bundled out for 289 in 44.3 overs and West Indies won the match by 73 runs.

Note: Chris Gayle is the only player to have a
triple century in Tests, double century in ODIs, and a ton in T-20s.

2. BJP-PDP agree
to form coalition govt. in J&K, Mufti Mohammad will be new CM

i. BJP and PDP agree to form coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir
today.

ii. After meeting in New Delhi,
BJP President Amit Shah and  PDP leader
Mehbooba Mufti made an announcement in this regard.

iii. Jammu & Kashmir Chief
Minister post will be headed by PDP and BJP will get post of Deputy Chief
Minister.

iv. According to the sources, People’s
Democratic Party leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will be sworn in as the Chief
Minister of Jammu and Kashmir March 1.

3. Govt accepts 14th Finance Commission recommendations

i. 14th Finance Commission, which was headed by former
RBI Governor Y.V. Reddy, recommended that the share of states in the centre’s
tax revenue be increased from 32 percent to 42 percent.

ii. The
recommendations of the commission has accepted by the centre.

iii. The
recommendation is for the five-year period 2015-16 to 2019-20.
iv. As per the
increased devolution suggested in the report, the states will get Rs 3.48 lakh
crore in 2014-15 and Rs 5.26 lakh crore in 2015-16.

Note: The 13th Finance Commission, headed by Vijay Kelkar,
had recommended that 32% of Central taxes be devolved to states, which
was an increase from the 31.5 per cent suggested by its predecessor.

4. ADB signs
$400 m loan pacts with India

i. India and Asian Development signed an agreement, to improve district roads in Madhya
Pradesh and to support improvements to power transmission and distribution
systems in Assam.

ii. The Asian
Development Bank will provide $400 million loan to India, to complete the
projects in both the states.

iii. ADB will
provide $350 million loan to upgrade district roads in the state of Madhya
Pradesh and $ 50.2 million loan to Assam.

iv. The project is expected to be completed by December
31, 2018.

5. SBI inked an
agreement with Indian Army on Defence Salary Package

i. The State Bank of India and Indian Army deal
an agreement on Defence Salary
Package.

ii. The agreement is tailor-made to suit the
requirements of serving soldiers, pensioners and families.

iii. Earlier SBi has signed an agreement with
Indian Army in 2011, which was valid for a three years.

iv. The basic features of the MoU include a
number of free / concessional services like free drafts, free cheque books,
free funds transfers to any bank in India through RTGS / NEFT, free ATM cards
etc.

v. The provision also includes the Nepal Express
Remittance Scheme which enables instant fund transfers to Nepal for the benefit
of the Nepali Domicile Gorkha Soldiers serving in the Indian Army

6. R.K. Pachauri resign from his post

i. Chairman of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri has resigned from
his post, after facing allegations of sexual harassment.

ii. A
spokesperson for Dr. Pachauri issued a statement that he has informed the IPCC
that he has resigned from his position effective from Tuesday.

iii. A 29-year-old researcher of “The Energy and
Resources Institute (TERI)” has made the allegations against Mr Pachauri that
he began harassing her soon after she joined the TERI in September 2013. Dr
Pachauri has denied the charges.

7. RC Sakthi, Veteran
Tamil director passed away

i. Veteran Tamil
director R.C. Sakthi passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu following a brief
illness. He was 76 and is survived by two daughters and a son.

ii. In 1972,
Sakthi launched Kamal Haasan in his directorial debut Unarchigal which was
released in 1976.

8. Ram Niwas
Goel elected as Speaker of Delhi Legislative Assembly

i. Ram Niwas
Goel, MLA of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today unanimously elected as the Speaker of
the Delhi Legislative Assembly. While AAP legislator Bandana Kumari was elected
as the Deputy Speaker of the House.

ii. Ram Niwas
Goel won the seat of Shahdara constituency in Delhi Assembly election. He
defeated Bhartiya Janta Party’s Jitender Singh Shunty.

9. Industrialist
Shyam Kothari passes away

i. Bhadrashyam
Kothari, Chairman and Managing Director of Kothari Sugars and Chemicals, died
at Houston, US on Sunday, after a brief illness. He was 53.

10. First Hindu
Chief Justice of Pakistan, Rana Bhagwandas passed away

i. First Hindu
Chief Justice of Pakistan, Rana
Bhagwandas passed away in Karachi, Pakistan. He was 72.

ii. He was first Hindu
and second non-Muslim to head the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

11. Ranchi Rays lifted
Hero Hockey India League trophy 2015

i. Ranchi Rays
emerged the Champions of Hero Hockey India League 2015.

ii. Ranchi Rays
defeated Jaypee Punjab Warriors by 3-2 in the final at Major Dhyan Chand
National Stadium, New Delhi.

iii. Ranchi Rays,
which was earlier called Ranchi Rhinos was also lifted the inaugural title in
2013.