Daily Current Affairs Updates: 01 August 2014

1) Muzaffar Ali to get Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award: Noted filmmaker Muzaffar Ali, who had directed the Bollywood classic “Umrao Jaan”, has been selected for Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award for his outstanding contribution towards the promotion of communal harmony, peace and goodwill. It carries a citation and cash award of Rs 5 lakh. The decision to honour the 69-year-old film maker, social worker and sufi poet was taken at a meeting of the Advisory Committee of the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award. This will be the 22nd edition of the Sadbhavana award, which will be presented at a special ceremony at Jawahar Bhavan on August 20, the birthday of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been presenting the award ever since it was constituted.

2) Dipa Karmakar wins historic bronze in gymnastics at 2014 Commonwealth Games: Young Dipa Karmarkar scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman gymnast to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games after she bagged a bronze in the vault event on 31 July 2014. The 20-year-old from Tripura collected 14.366 points to finish third in the women`s vault final at the SSE Hydro. The gold went to England`s Claudia Fragapane who got 14.633 points while Elsabeth Black was second with 14.433 points. In the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, Ashish Kumar became the first Indian gymnast to win a medal at the CWG by winning a silver in vault and bronze in floor events.

3) Book 'One Life is Not Enough' written by Natwar Singh released: One Life is Not Enough: An Autobiography written by Kunwar Natwar Singh was published on 1 August 2014. The book is an autobiography of the former External Affairs Minister and senior Congress Party leader Natwar Singh. This autobiography has been in news and debate since past few days because it reveals much information about Sonia Gandhi, the President of the Congress Party. The book has been published by Rupa. See details and buy from here. 

4) K V Chowdary appointed as new CBDT Chairman: Senior IRS officer K V Chowdary has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the top policy making body of the Income Tax department. Mr. Chowdary, a 1978-batch officer, on Friday took charge of his office in North block in the Finance Ministry. He will have tenure of three months. The officer was till now working as the Member (Investigations) of the direct taxes revenue collection board. Incumbent Chairman R K Tewari retired on Thursday after being at the helm for five months.