Indian Civil Service Notes

Atrocities], is the main force in the riots,

NATIONAL ISSUE INDIGENOUS

VACCINE

SOON

FOR

A(H1N1): ICMR CHIEF:

(ICMR) has initiated steps to produce an vaccine

has joined hands with the Maoists Head of Police Santrosh Birodhi Janashad-

The Indian Council of Medical Research

indigenous

there have been many reports that this force

for

the

A(H1N1)

haraner Committee- Chhatradhar Mahato Background of the movement:

influenza and it expects the vaccine to be

The entire chain of events started after the

available in four to six months at affordable

land mine explosion targeting the convoy of

rates.

West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and union steel and mines

About icmr:

minister Ram Vilas Paswan, as they were

The Indian Council of Medical Research

returning from the inauguration of the Jindal

(ICMR), New Delhi, the apex body in

Steel Works special economic zone (SEZ)

India for the formulation, coordination

in Salboni in West Midnapore district.

and promotion of biomedical research, is

Around 5000 acres of land have been

one of the oldest medical research bodies

acquired for this project, of which 4500

in the world.

acres have been handed over by the

The Governing Body of the Council is presided over by the Union Health

Government and 500 acres have been purchased

directly

by

Jindal

from

landowners.

Minister

Reportedly, a large portion of this land was Dr. V.M. Katoch is the present Director

vested with the government for distribution

General of Indian Council of Medical

amongst landless tribals as part of the land

Research.

reforms program and also included tracts of forests.

VIOLENCE SPREADS IN LALGARH :

Moreover, although the land was originally There were reports of violent incidents

acquired for a “usual” steel plant, last

happening at lalgarh, many CPI offices

September Jindal got SEZ status for the pro-

burnt, many leadersas been kidnapped and

ject, with active help from the State

killed.

Government, which dispensed with the

Police

Birodhi

requirement for following most regulations

Janashadharaner Committee (PSBJC)

for building and running the plant, including

[People’s

Santrosh

Committee

against

Police 1

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crucial requirements such as doing an

Pradesh through the activities of under-

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

ground groups like the Communist Party of

First,The government was, and is, not

India (Maoist).

bothered about the setting up of an SEZ

The term Naxalites comes from Naxalbari,

having a polluting steel plant in the mid-

a small village in West Bengal, where a

dle of a

section of Communist Party of India

forested area, dispossessing tri-

bals from their land and endangering

(Marxist)

their means of survival.

Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal led a violent

Secondly, The police

(CPI(M))

led

by

Charu

harass and arrest

uprising in 1967, trying to develop a

tribal villagers after every Maoist attack;

"revolutionary opposition" in opposition to

this time in order to hide their own failure

the CPI(M) leadership.

and in providing security to its political masters, and to save their skin from the wrath of the government, the police went on a rampage in the tribal villages.

of the land mine explosion, they started up

and

Centre bans CPI (Maoist): The

Having no clue about the real perpetrators

beating

Government stand toward naxalism:

arresting

people

indiscriminately.

Centre

on

Monday

banned

the

Communist Party of India (Maoist), terming it a terrorist organisation. It invoked Section 41 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the

All above causes resulted in outbreak

extremist outfit. The group is officially banned, by the State Governments of Orissa, Chattisgarh and

About naxalism: Naxalite or Naxalism is an informal name given to communist groups that were born out

of

the

Sino-Soviet

split

in

the

communist movement in India. Ideologically they belong to various trends of Maoism. Initially the movement had its centre in West Bengal. In recent years, they have spread into less developed areas of rural, central and eastern

Andhra Pradesh, among others. The party has protested these bans. They are regarded as a serious security threat and the Indian

government

is

taking

countermeasures, pulling the affected states together to coordinate their response The Government says it would combine improved policing with socio-economic measures to defuse grievances that fuel the Maoist cause to stop the origin of Naxals.

India, such as Chhattisgarh and Andhra 2 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

Salwa Judum is an anti-Naxalite movement in Chhattisgarh which started in 2005 as a " supposed

Operation Lalgarh:

civilian movement amongst the tribals of the

Operation Lalgarh is an ongoing opera-

region", and later evolved into a state-funded

tion in India against the Maoists who have

militia, used as a counter-insurgency strategy to

been active in organising a tribal movement

bring the area dominated by Naxalites (Indian

alongside a group called the People's

Maoists rebels) back under government control.

Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA).

SPOs or 'Special Police Officers':”

The operation is organised by the police

Chhattisgarh state has over the years trained a

and security forces in Lalgarh, Paschim

number of SPOs or 'Special Police Officers', from

Medinipur, West Bengal to restore law and

amongst the tribals, who are part of Salwa Judum in

order in the area and flush out the Maoists.

the state, also with its formation the state witnessed a marked rise in retaliatory Naxalite action, as a

ORIGIN OF CPI(MAOIST):

result in 2008, chhattisgarh along with neighboring

The Communist Party of India (Maoist) is

Jharkhand accounted for over 65% of the total

an underground, non-parliamentary Maoist

naxal violence in the country.

political party in India. It was founded on September 21, 2004,

The Greyhounds:

through the merger of the Communist

The Greyhounds were constituted in 1989 as

Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) People's

an elite anti-naxalite force equipped to

War and the Maoist Communist Centre

penetrate inaccessible and inhospitable areas

of India.

and stay in such places for long periods.

Leaderof the organisation is

Muppala While its beginnings were modest, the force

Lakshmana Rao Their ideology consists of

Communism,

has

grown

substantially

with

two

Anti - Revisionist Marxism - Leninism,

sub-headquarters, a regional training centre,

Maoism

and as many as 40 assault units.

COUNTER INSURGENCY MEASURES OF

Specialised training, modern weaponry, ad-

THE GOVERNMENT AGAINST NAXALS:

vanced communication systems, and a flexible operational strategy have given the

Salwa Judum:

group the qualities of speed, strength, and surprise. 3

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COBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute

Europe and the Middle East, and World War

Action):

II where they served mainly in Burma.

COBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) is a specialized unit of the CRPF created to counter the Naxalite problem in India.

In the post World War II period the Assam Rifles has expanded greatly as has its role. There are currently 46 battalions. of Assam Rifles under the control of the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs

This specialized CRPF unit is the only paramilitary force in the country that is specifically trained in guerilla warfare. This elite fighting unit has been trained to track, hunt and eliminate small Naxalite groups.

Director General OF Assam Rifles is Lt Gen Karan Singh Yadava The Border Security Force (BSF): The Border Security Force (BSF) is a border

THERE ARE NUMBER OF PARAMILITARY

patrol agency of the Government of India.

ORANISATIONS INVOLVED. IN FIGHTING

Established on December 1, 1965, it is a

NAXALS AND OTHER ISSUES SOME OF

component of the paramilitary forces of

THEM MAY BE LISTED BELOW AS FOL-

India (PMF) and its primary role is to guard

LOWS:

India's

international

borders

during

peacetime and also prevent transnational

The Assam Rifles:

crime.

The Assam Rifles are an Indian paramilitary

Like most paramilitary units of India, the

force. The unit can trace its lineage back to

BSF is under the administrative control

a paramilitary police force that was formed

of the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is one

under the British in 1835 called Cachar

of the many law enforcement agencies of

Levy.

India

Since

then

the

Assam

Rifles

have

undergone a number of name changes before the name Assam Rifles was finally adopted in 1917. Over the course of its history, the Assam Rifles and its predecessor units have served in a number of roles, conflicts and theatres including World War I where they served in

Director

General

of

BSF

is

M.L.Kumawat. The Central Industrial Security Force: It was set up under an act of Parliament on March 10, 1969 with a strength of 2,800. CISF was subsequently made an armed force of the Union of India by another act of Parliament passed on June 15, 1983. 4

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Its current strength is 105,000. It is directly

National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a

under the federal Ministry of Home Affairs

new federal agency approved by the Indian

and its headquarters are at New Delhi.

Government to combat terror in India.

The CISF provides security cover to 269

The agency will be empowered to deal with

industrial units located all over India.

terror related crimes across states without

Industrial Sectors like Atomic Power Plants,

special permission from the states.

Space Installations, Defence Production

The National Investigation Agency Bill

Units, Mints, Oil Fields and Refineries,

2008 to create the agency was moved in

Major Ports, Heavy Engineering, Steel

Parliament by Union Home Minister on 16

Plants, Barrages, Fertilizer units, Airports

December 2008

and Hydro electric/thermal power plants are

Radha Vinod Raju, Special Director

protected by CISF.

General of Police in Jammu and Kashmir, is

Most of these installations are located in

appointed as Director General of the newly

difficult terrains of the country with harsh

established National Investigation Agency

climatic conditions.

(NIA).

Director general of Cisf is N R DAS

The Bill for constitution of the National

The Rapid Action Force (RAF): The Rapid Action Force (RAF) is a specialised wing of the Indian CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force). It was established on 11 December 1991 and became fully operational in October 1992, to deal with riots & related unrest

National

Investigation

to whole of India, citizens of India outside India and persons on ships and aircraft registered in India. Officers of the NIA to have all powers, privileges and liabilities which the police have

in

connection

with

investigation of any offence. Agency

(NIA),was set up in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks has got its first two cases from Assam. The cases, registered by the Assam Police, pertain to recovery of cash, weapons and mobile phones.

Investigation Agency (NIA) to be applicable

officers

NIA GETS TWO CASES: The

Some of the salient features of NIA are-

The police officer in charge of a police station on receipt of the report of the offence shall forward it to the state government which in turn will send it to the Centre. If the Centre feels the offence is terror related,

it

shall

direct

the

NIA

for

investigation. 5

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Provision for transfer of investigation and

State governments empowered to constitute

trial of offences to state government with

one or more special courts.

Centre's prior approval is required.

No appeal shall be entertained after the

NIA

may

investigate

other

offences

connected with terror-related offences. A

state

government

shall

extend

expiry of 90 days. Highlights of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill,

all

2008.

assistance to NIA for investigation of

Use of bombs, dynamite, poisons or noxious

terror-related offences.

gases, biological radioactive nuclear sub-

Provisions of the Act with regard to

stances are terror act.

investigation shall not affect powers of the

Aiding, abetting or committing a terrorist

state

act shall be punishable with imprisonment

government

to

investigate

and

prosecute any terror crime or other offences.

up to ten years.

The Centre shall constitute special courts for

Funding terror activities, organising training

trial of terror-related offences.

camps

Special Courts may sit at any place for any

committing terror acts shall be punishable

of its proceedings.

with at least five years' imprisonment.

For speedy and fair trial, the Supreme Court

Detention of accused up to 180 days if

may transfer any case pending with the

investigation not completed.

special court to another special court in the

No bail shall be granted if accused is not an

same state or any other state, and the High

Indian citizen and has entered the country

Court may transfer such cases to any other

unauthorisedly.

special court within the state.

No accused, if in custody, to be released on

Offences punishable with imprisonment for

bail or on his own bond.

less

Court shall presume, unless contrary is

than

three

years

may

be

tried

summarily. Special court to have all powers of the court of sessions under CrPC for trial of any

and

recruiting

persons

for

shown, that accused has committed offence. National Security Guards:

offence under the Act.

The National Security Guards (NSG) is a

Proceedings to be held 'in camera' if special

commando unit originally created for

court deems it necessary.

counter-terrorism

Trial to be held on day-to-day basis on all

missions. Raised in 1986, it is popularly

working days and to have precedence over

known as the Black Cats for the uniform

the trial of other offences.

worn by its operators.

and

hostage

rescue

6 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

Like most military and elite security units in

To

India, it is rather media-shy and the general

unauthorized entry into or exit from territory

Indian public is largely unaware of its

of India

capabilities and operational details.

To prevent smuggling and any other illegal

The NSG draws its members from the

activities.

Indian Army and various central police units.

prevent

trans-border

crimes

and

NEW CENTER FOR LANDSLIDE STUDIES:

It is India's premier counter-terror outfit

The Government is planning to set up the National

and is typically deployed in situations that

Centre for Landslide Research, Studies and

would be beyond the capabilities of regular

Management in one of the landslide prone States to

police units.

deal

An NSG team with a dedicated transport

comprehensive manner.

aircraft is always stationed at Palam airport

with

landslide

management

in

a

Giving a new impetus to Project Tiger:

in New Delhi, ready to deploy in 30 minutes.

1. JIM

CORBETT

PARK(Uttarakhand)is

Seeking to re-define the prestigious “Project ABOUT SASTRA SEEMA BAL(SSB): SSB is a Border Guarding Force (BGF) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs. SSB was set up in early 1963 in the wake of the Indo-China conflict to inculcate feelings of national belonging in the border population and develop their capabilities for

Tiger” and to introduce the concept of shared responsibility for all stakeholders 2. The Union Ministry for Environment and Forests has circulated a draft Cabinet Note mooting

a

tripartite

memorandum

of

understanding (MoU) to be signed by the Centre, the States and Director Project Tiger.

resistance through a continuous process of motivation, training, development, welfare

3. It seeks to lay out roles and responsibilities

programmes and activities in the then

of all the stakeholders and also link the flow

NEFA, North Assam, North Bengal, hills of

of

Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and

Conservation Authority.

Ladakh. To promote a sense of security among the people living in the border areas

funds

from

the

National

Tiger

4. It seeks to put in place the concept of shared

responsibility

as

saving

and

preserving the tiger is a national cause, About project tiger: 7

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Project Tiger is a project initiated in India

provide financial and technical support to

in 1972 to protect the Bengal Tigers.

major elephant bearing States in the country

It was launched on April 1, 1973 and has become one of the most successful wildlife

The project aims at tiger conservation in constituted

and corridors. It also seeks to address the issues of

conservation ventures.

specially

for protection of elephants, their habitats

tiger

reserves

human-elephant conflict and welfare of domesticated elephants.

representative of various biogeographical

The Project is being implemented in 13

regions throughout India.

States / UTs, namely, Andhra Pradesh,

It strives to maintain a viable conservation of reliant tiger population in their natural environment.

Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttranchal, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal

In 2007, there were more than 40 Project Tiger wildlife reserves covering an area of 37,761 km².

Asia home to highest paid expats’: Asian countries are home to some of the

Project Tiger helped increase the popula-

wealthiest expatriates in the world and about

tion of these tigers from 1,200 in the 1970s

25 per cent of the highest paid foreign

to 3,500 in 1990s.

assignees prefer to live in India. According to the 2009 Expat Explorer

However,

a

2008

census

held

by

Government of India revealed that the tiger population had dropped to 1,411. Since then the

government

has

pledged

US$153

million to further fund the project, set-up a

Survey

by HSBC Bank International,

highest paid expats in the world prefer living in Asia, while their lowest paid counterparts usually chose Australia and Western Europe.

Tiger Protection Force to combat poachers, and fund the relocation of up to 200,000

Liberhan Commission submits report:

villagers to minimize human-tiger interaction.

The Justice Liberhan Commission, which probed the sequence of

Project elephant: Project Elephant (PE), a centrally sponsored

events that led to the Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya on Decem-

scheme, was launched in February 1992 to 8 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

ber 6, 1992, submitted its report to

and enabling the construction of

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

houses through access to subsidised

The Commission was asked to probe

credit.

the sequence of events leading to,

This plan would explore the possibility

and all the facts and circumstances

of partnership between the urban

relating to the occurrences in the

poor, municipalities, parastatal au-

Ram

Masjid

thorities, State and the Centre and

complex at Ayodhya on December

private developers to create afford-

6, 1992 involving the destruction of

able homes for the urban poor.

the structure; the role played by the

The Centre would extend support to

(then) Chief Minister, members of

States that were willing to assign

the Council of Ministers, officials of

property rights to people living in

the Uttar Pradesh government and

slum areas

by

Janmabhoomi-Babri

individuals,

organisations

and

agencies concerned or in connection with the destruction of the struc-

In this plan a model legal framework for consideration by States and Union Territories for according property rights to slum

ture and deficiencies in security

dwellers and urban poor will be developed

measures that might have contrib-

The model will draw on best practices both

uted to the events that took place

within and outside the country and circu-

on December 6, 1992.

lated to the States and UTs to enable them

New scheme for slum-free India: PROPOSED POINTS FOR THE PLAN ARE:

to establish their own legal-regulatory frameworks suiting local conditions . It will cover the provision of security of tenure to the urban poor and also making

The Centre will formulate a new scheme for slum dwellers and the

land available for affordable housing, basic amenities and informal sector activities of

urban poor in an effort to promote a

the poor through the process of urban plan-

slum-free India in the next five years.

ning.

The Rajiv Awas Yojana will focus on

an effort would also be made to include cit-

according property rights to slum

ies with a population of 5 lakh and above

dwellers and urban poor by the

under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban

States, providing basic amenities

Renewal Mission and projects implemented 9

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under it would be subject to social audit, a

over to the Ministry of Human Resource

manual for which would be circulated to the

Development

States and UTs.

adoption on June 22, a committee-member

Further a skill development programme for

told The Hindu.

employment promotion for the urban poor will be launched to enable them to access wage employment offered by the market or undertake self-employment.

MHRD

after

its

formal

3. The proposed autonomous statutory body will comprise six members and a chairman appointed by the President.

The target will be 10 lakh over the next 5

4. State Higher Education Councils, along the

years, starting with 2 lakh in 2009-2010.

lines of those existing in West Bengal,

The focus will be on imparting quality train-

Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, will form the

ing and skill certification through reputed

second tier of the system.

institutions or skills training providers so that the urban poor youth can enhance their income and improve their living conditions.

5. The

committee

recommends

that

all

research bodies connect with universities in their vicinity, and all universities combine teaching and research. About yaspal committee:

YASHPAL COMMITTEE SUGGESTS NEW

A National Advisory Committee was set up

APEX BODY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

by the Government in March 1992 under the chairmanship of Prof. Yash Pal, former

1. The creation of a National Commission

Chairman of the UGC to suggest ways and

for Higher Education and Research that

means to reduce academic burden on school

will subsume as many as 13 existing

students

professional

councils

and

regulatory

agencies, including the University Grants

. The Committee popularly known as Yash

Commission, the Medical Council of India

Pal Committee, submitted its report in July

and the AICTE, is a key recommendation of

1993 (Annexe - I). On receipt of the

a

Committee's report, a Group was set up on

committee

headed

by

well-known

educationist Yashpal.

25.8.1993 under the chairmanship of Shri Y.N. Chaturvedi, Additional Secretary,

2. The 43-page final report by the “committee to advise on renovation and rejuvenation of

Department of Education to examine the feasibility

of

implementing

the

higher education in India,” will be handed 10 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

recommendations made in the report of

She was elected unopposed as the first

Yash Pal Committee.

woman Speaker of Lok Sabha on 3 June

It is also known as

the Committee to

Advise on Renovation and Rejuvenation of Higher Education headed by professor yashpal

2009. List of Speakers Balram Jakhar of the Congress is till date the longest serving speaker, who served for 9 years, 10 months, and 27 days

SHOPIAN TRAGEDY: Nilofar Ahanger and her teenage sister-in-

NAMES OF SPEAKERS ARE LISTED AS

law, Asiya Jan was raped and killed in

FOLLOWS:

shopian, a place which is in jammu and Number

kashmir

Name

1

G.V. Mavlankar

escalating clashes between mobs and police

2

M. A. Ayyangar

in which more than 100 people have been

3

Sardar Hukam Singh

4

N. Sanjiva Reddy

5

G. S. Dhillon

6

Bali Ram Bhagat

raped and then murdered by police or troops

7

N. Sanjiva Reddy

stationed in the area.

8

K.S. Hegde

Secessionist political groups as well as the

9

Balram Jakhar

People’s Democratic Party agreed.

10

Rabi Ray

MEIRA KUMAR SET TO BECOME

11

Shivraj Patil

SPEAKER:

12

P.A. Sangma

12

G.M.C. Balayogi

13

Manohar Joshi

14

Somnath Chatterjee

15

Meira Kumar

Since then, Jammu and Kashmir has seen

injured. Incompetence

and

opportunism

have

combined forces to generate the crisis. Local residents insist that the women were

Meira Kumar is an Indian politician and a five time Member of Parliament who was elected as Speaker.

11 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

How to Sing’ (1996) are some of the poems written by her

Articles relating to office of speaker: Article 93- The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of the People The House of the People shall, as soon as may be, choose two members of the House to be respectively Speaker and Deputy Speaker thereof and, so often as the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker becomes vacant, the House shall choose another member to be Speaker or Deputy Speaker, as the case may be.

NPCIL SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH WESTINGHOUSE: Nuclear

Power

Limited

Corporation

(NPCIL)

and

of

India

U.S.-based

Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) have

signed

a

memorandum

of

understanding recently for commencing discussions on techno-commercial aspects of

AP1000

pressurised

water

nuclear

reactors in India.

Article 95 -Power of the Deputy Speaker or other

The agreement was signed by Chairman

person to perform the duties of the office of, or to

and Managing Director, NPCIL, Shrey-

act as Speaker

ans Kumar Jain and President and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Aris S. Candris in

An iconoclast who courted controversies:

the presence of chairman of Atomic Energy Kamala Das is

an eminent author who

Commission Anil

Kakodkar.

enjoyed the status of being one of the first

About 50 per cent of the world’s 440

poets writing in English from Kerala

nuclear plants are based on Westinghouse

whom

technology.

to be recognised nationally and

internationally. An iconoclast of her generation who unabashedly

spoke

about

the

Indian

RANGANATH MISHRA COMMISSION: Ranganath Mishra Commission is an

woman’s sexual desires and a maverick who

enquiry

courted controversies, she was decorated

Government of India to study and find

with prizes such as the Kent Award and

solution for the minority status of India.

nominated for the Nobel Prize for

The report was conducted by National

Literature.

Commission for Religious and Linguistic

Summer

in

Calcutta’

(1965),

‘The

Descendants’ (1970), ‘The Old Playhouse And Other Poems’ (1973), ’The Anamalai

commission

assigned

by

Minorities.. LIBERHAN COMMISSION-:

Poems (1985), and ‘Only the Soul Knows 12 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

Liberhan Commission headed by the retired

January 29, 1953 under the chairmanship of

judge of Supreme Court M S Liberhan was

Kaka Kalelkar.

constituted on December 16, 1992 by an order of the Indian union home ministry is

Its terms of references were to:

constituted to investigate the demolition of

Determine the criteria to be adopted in

the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.

considering whether any sections of the people in the territory of India in addition to

THE MUKHERJEE COMMISSION:

the

It is constituted to inquire about the death

SC

and

ST

as

socially

and

educationally backward classes,

of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Using such criteria it was to prepare a list

The Mukherjee Commission is also not the first commission created to ascertain the death of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

of such classes setting out also their

The two previous commissions were the

.Investigate the conditions of all such

Shah Newaz Commission (appointed by

socially and educationally backward classes

Jawaharlal

and the differences under which they labour

Nehru)

and

The

Khosla

Commission respectively.

approximate members and their territorial distribution.

and make recommendations

The Khosla Commission, created by the

SARKARIA COMMISSION:

government of Indira Gandhi (daughter of Jawaharlal

Nehru),

reported

that

all

Sarkaria Commission was set up in June

documents relating to Prime Minister Nehru

1983 by the central government of India.

and the reports of Netaji Subhas Chandra

The Sarkaria Commission's charter was to

Bose were either missing or destroyed.

examine the relationship and balance of

KALELKAR COMMISSION

power

between

state

and

central

governments in the country and suggest First Backward Classes Commission,

changes

The Kaka Kalelkar Commission was set up

Constitution of India.

to take account of Article 340 of the

The Commission was so named as it was

Constitution of India,

headed by Justice Rajinder Singh Sarkaria, a

The First Backward Classes Commission

retired judge of the Supreme Court of India.

was set up by a presidential order on

PAKISTAN COURT ORDERS REALSE OF

within

the

framework

of

HAFIZ: 13 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

A Full Bench of the Lahore High Court on

The programme seeks to open new schools

Tuesday ordered the release of Hafiz Saeed, the

in those habitations which do not have

chief of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, known as a front

schooling facilities and strengthen existing

organisation of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. The LeT has

school infrastructure through provision of

been blamed for the November 2008 Mumbai

additional class rooms, toilets, drinking

attacks, among other strikes.

water,

maintenance

grant

and

school

improvement grants.

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan:

Existing schools with inadequate teacher

The 'Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan' is a flagship

strength

programme of the Government of India

teachers, while the capacity of existing

pioneered by Atal Bihari Vajpayee for

teachers is being strengthened by extensive

achievement

of

training, grants for developing teaching-

elementary education in a time bound

learning materials and strengthening of the

manner, as mandated by the 86th

academic support structure at a cluster,

amendment to the Constitution of India

block and district level.

making free and compulsory education to

SSA seeks to provide quality elementary

children of ages 6-14 (estimated to be 205

education including life skills.

million in number in 2001) a fundamental

SSA has a special focus on girl's education

right.

and children with special needs.

The programme aims to achieve the goal of

SSA also seeks to provide computer

universalization of elementary education of

education to bridge the digital divide.

of

universalization

satisfactory quality by 2010. Goals of SSA: 1) All in school by 2005. 2) Complete 5 years of primary education by 2005 and 8 years of schooling by 2010.

are

provided

with

additional

BSNL GEARING UP FOR 3G LAUNCH: With 3G services to be shortly rolled out on its

CellOne

network,

BSNL

Chennai

Telephones will have a portfolio that can boast of virtually every available technology –Wi-fi, BlackBerry and Internet Protocol

3) Satisfactory Quality with emphasis on

Television (IPTV).

education for life. Chennai Telephones officials are focused on 4) Bridge all gender and social gaps at primary

rolling out 3G services at least by July-end

level by 2007 and elementary level by 2010.

with Union Communications Minister A.

5) Universal retention by 2010. 14 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

Raja declaring nation-wide coverage as high

By allowing to authenticate the network it

priority.

is attaching to, the user can be sure the network is the intended one and not an impersonator.

WHAT IS 3G:

3G networks use the KASUMI block

3G or 3rd Generation a family of standards for wireless communications defined by the International Telecommunication Union, which includes EDGE, CDMA2000, the

crypto instead of the older A5/1 stream cipher. However, a number of serious weaknesses in the KASUMI cipher have been identified.

UMTS family as well as DECT and CHERN MEDAL AWARD

WiMAX. Services include wide-area wireless voice telephone, video calls, and wireless data,

Compared to 2G and 2.5G services, 3G allows simultaneous use of speech and data services and higher data rates (up to 14.4 Mbit/s on the downlink and 5.8 Mbit/s on

networks

of

Mathematicians

to

an

individual whose accomplishments warrant the

highest

level

of

recognition

for

outstanding achievements in the field of mathematics. All living, natural persons, regardless of age

the uplink with HSPA+). 3G

years on the occasion of the International Congress

all in a mobile environment.

Thus,

The Chern Medal is awarded every four

enable

network

operators to offer users a wider range of more advanced services while achieving greater network The first pre-commercial 3G network was launched by NTT DoCoMo in Japan branded FOMA, in May 2001 on a pre-release of W-CDMA technology. The first commercial launch of 3G was also by NTT DoCoMo in Japan on October 1, 2001, 3G networks offer a greater degree of security than 2G predecessors.

or vocation, shall be eligible for the Medal. The Medal will be awarded for the first time at ICM 2010 in Hyderabad, India This prize is jointly awarded by IMU and the Chern Medal Foundation (CMF). CMF funds

the

Chern

Medal

Award. The

Medalist receives a cash prize of US$ 250,000. In addition, each Medalist may nominate one or more organizations to receive funding totaling US$ 250,000, for the support of research, education, or other outreach

programs

in

the

field

of

mathematics (the “Organization Awards”). 15 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

The details of the Chern Medal Award, the nomination process, and the selection criteria can be found in the Chern Medal Program Guidelines. The Chern Medal Award is established in memory of the outstanding mathematician Shiing-Shen Chern (1911, Jiaxing, China 2004, Tianjin, China). SLUMDOG’

MAY

Key Recommendations 1) Central Regulatory bodies to take ragging situation

as

an

important

factor

in

accreditation of educational institution. 2) Set up anti-ragging cells at central, state and college level 3) Setup of toll-free helpline for ragging

BECOME

ENGLISH’S

MILLIONTH WORD:

victims 4) Strong

law

against

ragging

with

The frontrunner is ‘Hinglish’ term ‘jai ho,’

responsibility to prove not-guilty that of

with the two other Indian entries of

perpetrator

‘slumdog’ and ‘cuddies.’

5) NCERT, SCERT school books to include

“The million-word milestone brings to

chapter on ragging

notice the coming of age of English as the first truly global language,” president and chief word analyst of Global Language Monitor Paul J J Payack said. ‘Jai

ho,’

a

song

6) Psychological counseling on anti-ragging and human rights at senior secondary level. 7) Colleges to organize interactive sessions

composed

by

A.R.Rahman, and ‘slumdog’ achieved

between juniors and seniors in presence of college staff.

popularity through the multiple Academy Award Winner film ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’ ‘Slumdog’ refers to those living in Indian slums, while ‘cuddies’ is used to refer to ladies’ underwear.

IN

IMPLEMENTING

colleges IMPORT OF MOBILES WITHOUT IMEI BANNED:

RAGHAVAN COMMITTEE REVIEWS PROGRESS

8) Staggered entry of fresher’s and seniors in

ANTI-

RAGGING MEASURES:

The Centre has banned the import of mobiles without IMEI number, extended the ban on the import of dairy products from

The Supreme Court-appointed Raghavan

China.

Committee entrusted to monitor the meas-

IMEI:

ures to prevent ragging in higher educa-

Equipment Identity or IMEI) is a number

tional institutions

unique to every GSM and WCDMA and

The

International

Mobile

16 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

iDEN mobile phone, as well as some

The Election Commission of India is an

satellite phones

autonomous, quasi-judiciary constitutional

. It is usually found printed inside the

body of India.

battery compartment of the phone. It can

Its mission is to conduct free and fair

also be displayed on the screen of the phone

elections in India.

by entering *#06# into the keypad

It

.The IMEI number is used by the GSM

1950under Article 324 of the Constitution

network to identify valid devices and

of India.

therefore can be used to stop a stolen phone

The Election Commission is one of the four

from accessing the network

pillars of the Indian Constitution, the other

For example, if a mobile phone is stolen,

three being the Supreme Court of India, the

the owner can call his or her network

Union Public Service Commission and the

provider and instruct them to "ban" the

Comptroller and Auditor General of India

phone using its IMEI number. This renders

The commission presently consists of a

the phone useless, whether or not the

Chief Election Commissioner and two

phone's SIM is changed

Election Commissioners,appointed by the

was

established

on

January

25,

president. As of now , the CEC is Navin Chawla. The two

Election

Commissioners

are

S.Y.Quraishi and former Power Secretary V.S. Sampath KARIA MUNDA IS DEPUTY SPEAKER: Chief Election Commissioners Seven-time member of Parliament Karia Munda was unanimously elected Deputy

The following have held the post of the Chief Election Commissioner of India

Speaker of the Lok Sabha

Sukumar Sen

21 March 1950 to 19 December 1958

K.V.K. Sundaram

20 December 1958 to 30 September 1967

S.P. Sen Verma

1 October 1967 to 30 September 1972

Nagendra Singh

1 October 1972 to 6 February 1973

T. Swaminathan

7 February 1973 to 17

His election, close on the heels of Meira Kumar being elected Speaker, was hailed by members as an articulation of the nation’s commitment to social justice. SOME FACTS ABOUT ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA:

17 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

June 1977 S.L. Shakdhar R.K. Trivedi R.V.S. Peri Sastri V.S. Ramadevi T.N. Seshan M.S. Gill J.M. Lyngdoh T.S. Krishnamurthy B.B. Tandon N. Gopalaswami Navin Chawla

18 June 1977 to 17 June 1982 18 June 1982 to 31 December 1985 1 January 1986 to 25 November 1990

Though the urban poor have better access to employment and income, these are irregular and are mostly in the informal sector. The other key determinants of urban poverty are the levels of access to facilities, such as housing, sanitation and drinking water, and services such as health care and

26 November 1990 to 11 December 1990

education.

12 December 1990 to 11 December 1996

of

12 December 1996 to 13 June 2001

security.

14 June 2001 to 7 February 2004

higher among workers in the informal

8 February 2004 to 15 May 2005

While the government’s proposal to extend

16 May 2005 to 28 June 2006

Scheme to urban areas, with modifications,

29 June 2006 to 20 April 2009

job opportunities and incomes to the urban

21 April 2009 to present

poverty are also required

ADDRESSING URBAN POVERTY:

Two economic factors aggravate the despair the

urban

poor:

the

nature

of

employment, and the absence of social

In urban areas, the incidence of poverty is

sector.

the National Rural Employment Guarantee

is welcome to the extent that it will provide

poor, measures that prevent a relapse into

A

social

security

system

for

all

unorganised workers, therefore, is a priThe country’s urban poor, according to

ority.

Planning Commission estimates, number 80

Improving the conditions of housing for the

million and constitute 25.70 per cent of the

urban poor is another area for urgent action.

urban population.

The larger aim of poverty reduction

The socio-economic dynamics of urban

programmes should be to ensure that the

poverty are very different and the problems

vulnerable are not impoverished because of

the urban poor face are different from that

the pressures of urban living.

faced by their rural counterparts who at 220 million form 28.3 per cent of rural population. 18 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

Operation Blue Star was an Indian military

AUTHORITY

operation ordered by Indira Gandhi, the then

The Centre has intensified efforts to set up a National Environment Protection Authority for ensuring the implementation of the Environment Protection Act 1986 in letter and in spirit. The Authority, which will be backed by legislation,

will

replace

the

Central

Pollution Control Board and will be an “independent, professional and sciencebased” body. It will monitor and ensure compliance of norms. Similar bodies will be constituted at the State level and they will replace the pollution control boards.

.The operation was launched in response to a deterioration of law and order in the Indian state of Punjab. The operation was carried out by Indian army troops with tanks and armoured vehicles. Militarily successful, the operation aroused immense controversy, and the government's justification for the timing and style of the attack are still under debate. Operation Bluestar was included in the Top 10 Political Disgraces by India Today magazine.

assaults on members of the Sikh community

level committee under the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary to review the measures taken for coastal security at regular intervals. The committee will be headed by the Cabinet Secretary. The other members of the committee will include the Chief of Naval Staff, Secretaries of all concerned as

the Golden Temple in Amritsar

aftermath and the increased tensions led to

The Government has decided to set up a high

such

separatists who were amassing weapons in

The impact of the military assault, its

COMITEE FOR COASTAL SECURITY:

Ministries

Prime Minister of India, to remove Sikh

Defence,

Home,

Petroleum and Chief Secretaries of Coastal

within India and uproar amongst Sikhs worldwide In India, many Sikhs resigned from armed and civil administrative office and returned their government awards. Revenge for the desecration of the Sikh shrine was pledged by some in the Sikh community,

and

Indira

Gandhi

was

assassinated by 2 of her Sikh bodyguards on 31 October 1984.

States. OPERATION POLO: OPERATION BLUESTAR: 19 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

The 1948 liberation of Hyderabad, also

by the Indian armed forces, was the attempt

termed as "Hyderabad Police Action" and

by a group of Maldivians led by Abdullah

code-named "Operation Polo" by the Indian

Luthufi and assisted by about 80 armed

military was the Indian armed forces action

mercenaries of a Sri Lankan secessionist

that ended the rule of the Nizam of

organisation,

Hyderabad and led to the incorporation of

Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), to

the princely state of Hyderabad in Southern

overthrow the government of the island

India, into the Indian Union.

republic of Maldives.

The military operation was carried out because the State of Hyderabad under Osman Ali Khan, Asif Jah VII, decided to remain independent after the partition of

The Invasion of Goa also known as the Liberation of Goa or Portuguese-Indian War, codenamed Operation Vijay by the Government of India, was the Indian armed forces action that ended Portuguese rule in its Indian enclaves in 1961. The armed action, involving air, sea and land strikes for over 36 hours, ended 451 years of Portuguese colonial rule in Goa. 34 Indians and 31 Portuguese were killed in the fighting. The brief war drew a mixture of worldwide praise and condemnation. In India, the action was seen as a liberation while Portugal viewed it as aggression. Operation Cactus: The 1988 Maldives Coup, whose rescue

Liberation

The coup was foiled after Indian forces were invited by the Maldivian government to intervene. INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

India. OPERATION VIJAY:

People's

Recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization

and

BRIC meeting were held Yekaterinburg(Russia). Out comes of the meeting : The

BRIC countries were committed to

advance the reform of international financial institutions so as to reflect changes in the world economy. Among the other goals flagged: opposition to

protectionism,

the

need

for

a

“comprehensive and balanced” outcome to the WTO’s Doha Development Round, cooperation in the energy field “including amongst producers and consumers of energy and transit states,” and food security They endorsed the creation of a BRIC Joint Business Forum which could cooperate in areas as diverse as agriculture, aviation, energy, pharmaceuticals and services.

efforts were code-named Operation Cactus 20 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

The leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation

Sri Lanka and Belarus will be granted dialogue

Organisation

partner status in the Shanghai Cooperation

(SCO)

vowed

to

jointly

combat the global crisis and build a more

Organisation (SCO) at the group’s summit.

fair international financial system. ABOUT SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION (SCO) :

ABOUT BRIC BRIC or BRICs is an acronym that refers to

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization

the fast-growing developing economies of

(SCO)

intergovernmental

Brazil, Russia, India, and China. The ac-

mutual-security organization which was

ronym was first coined and prominently

founded in 2001 by the leaders of China,

used by Goldman Sachs in 2001.

Kazakhstan,

The four countries, combined, currently ac-

is

an

Kyrgyzstan,

Russia,

Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

count for more than a quarter of the world's

Except for Uzbekistan, the other countries

land area and more then 40% of the world's

had been members of the Shanghai Five,

population

founded in 1996; after the inclusion of

On June 16, 2009, the leaders of the BRIC

Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed

countries held their first summit in Yekater-

the organization

inburg, and issued a declaration calling for

The Council of Heads of State is the top

the establishment of a multipolar world

decision-making body in the SCO. This

order

council meets at the SCO summits, which

The Goldman Sachs global economics team

are held each year in one of the member

released a follow-up report to its initial

states' capital cities.

BRIC study in 2004. The report states that

The official working languages of the

in BRIC nations, the number of people with

Shanghai Cooperation Organization are

an annual income over a threshold of

Chinese and Russian.

$3,000, will double in number within three

Secretary General is

Bolat Nurgaliyev

Its head quarters is in beijing, china

years and reach 800 million people within a decade .. In 2025, it is calculated that the number of

Current observers: India, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan currently holds observer status

people in BRIC nations earning over $15,000 may reach over 200 million. The core focus of the summit was related to improving the current global economic situation and discussing how the four 21

AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

countries can better work together in the

2.

They called upon all states and relevant

future, as well as a more general push to re-

international bodies to act vigorously to

form financial institutions.

implement the decisions adopted at the G20

In the aftermath of the summit the BRIC

Summit in London on 2 April, 2009.

nations suggested that there was a need for a new global reserve currency that is 'diver-

3. They

cooperate

closely

among

themselves and with other partners to ensure

sified, stable and predictable'. The statement

further progress of collective action at the next

that was released stopped short of making a

G20 Summit to be held in Pittsburgh in Septem-

direct attack on the perceived 'dominance' of

ber 2009.

the US dollar, something which the Russians have been critical of however, it still

should

4.

They looked forward to a successful outcome

led to a fall in the value of the dollar against

of the United Nations Conference on the World

other major currencies

Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development to be held in New York on 24-26

DECISSIONS IN BRIC:

June 2009. Joint Statement of the BRIC Countries’ Leaders 5. They ware committed to advance the reform of The leaders of the Federative Republic of Brazil,

international financial institutions, so as to

the Russian Federation, the Republic of India and

reflect changes in the world economy.

the People’s Republic of China, have discussed the current situation in global economy and other

6. The emerging and developing economies must have greater voice and representation in

pressing issues of global development, and also

international financial institutions, and their

prospects for further strengthening collaboration

heads and senior leadership should be appointed

within the BRIC, at our meeting in Yekaterinburg

through an open, transparent, and merit-based

on 16 June, 2009.

selection process.

They have arrived at the following conclusions: 1. They stress the central role played by the G20 Summits in dealing with the financial crisis. They

have

fostered

cooperation,

policy

7.

They also believed that there is a strong need for a stable, predictable and more diversified international monetary system.

8. They are convinced that a reformed financial

coordination and political dialogue regarding

and economic architecture should be based, inter

international economic and financial matters.

alia, on the following principles:

22 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

9. Democratic and transparent decision-making

for the Official Development Assistance and

and implementation process at the international

make further efforts in increasing assistance,

financial organizations;

debt relief, market access and technology transfer for developing countries.

10. Solid legal basis; 17. The 11. Compatibility of activities of effective national regulatory

institutions

and

international

standard-setting bodies; 12. Strengthening

of

of

the

concept

of

sustainable development, comprising, inter alia, the Rio Declaration, Agenda for the 21st Century and multilateral environmental agree-

risk

management

and

ments, should be a major vector in the change of paradigm of economic development.

supervisory practices. 13. They recognized the important role played by international

implementation

trade

and

foreign

direct

18. They stood for strengthening coordination and cooperation among states in the energy field, including amongst producers and consumers of

investments in the world economic recovery

energy and transit states, in an effort to 14. They called upon all parties to work together to improve the international trade and investment environment. They

urged

decreasing uncertainty and ensuring stability and sustainability.

the international

community to keep the multilateral trading

19. They

supported

diversification

of

energy

system stable, curb trade protectionism, and

resources and supply, including renewable en-

push for comprehensive and balanced results of

ergy, security of energy transit routes and crea-

the WTO’s Doha Development Agenda.

tion

of

new

energy

investments

and

infrastructure. 15. The poorest countries have been hit hardest by the financial crisis. The international community needs to step up efforts to provide liquidity for these countries. The international community should also strive to minimize the impact of the crisis

on

development

and

ensure

the

achievement of the Millennium Development Goals 16. Developed

20. They supported international cooperation in the field of energy efficiency. 21. They stood ready for a constructive dialogue on how to deal with climate change based on the principle

of

common

but

differentiated

responsibility, given the need to combine measures to protect the climate with steps to

countries

should

fulfill

their

fulfill our socio-economic development tasks.

commitment of 0.7% of Gross National Income 23 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

22. They

reaffirmed

to enhance cooperation

among our countries in socially vital areas and

General Assembly and call for its urgent adoption.

to strengthen the efforts for the provision of international humanitarian assistance and for the

29. They expressed

strong commitment to

multilateral diplomacy with the United Nations

reduction of natural disaster risks.

playing the central role in dealing with global 23. They took note of the statement on global food

challenges and threats. In this respect, they re-

security issued today as a major contribution of

affirm the need for a comprehensive reform of

the BRIC countries to the multilateral efforts to

the UN with a view to making it more efficient

set up the sustainable conditions for this goal.

so that it can deal with today’s global challenges more effectively.

24. They reaffirmed to advance cooperation among the countries in science and education with the

30. They reiterated the importance we attach to the

aim, inter alia, to engage in fundamental

status of India and Brazil in international affairs,

research

and understand and support their aspirations to

and

development

of

advanced

technologies. 25. They

underlined the

play a greater role in the United Nations. support for a more

31. They

have agreed upon steps to promote

democratic and just multi-polar world order

dialogue and cooperation among countries in an

based on the rule of international law, equality,

incremental, proactive, pragmatic, open and

mutual respect, cooperation, coordinated action

transparent way.

and collective decision-making of all states. 32. The dialogue and cooperation of the BRIC 26. They reiterated their support for political and

countries is conducive not only to serving com-

diplomatic efforts to peacefully resolve disputes

mon interests of emerging market economies

in international relations.

and developing countries, but also to building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common

27. The members strongly condemned terrorism in

prosperity.

all its forms and manifestations and reiterated that there can be no justification for any act of terrorism anywhere or for whatever reasons

33. Russia, India and China welcome the kind invitation of Brazil to host the next BRIC summit in 2010.

28. . They took note that the, draft Comprehensive Convention against International Terrorism is

BOTH BRIC AND SCO IMPORTANT TO IN-

currently under the consideration of the UN

DIA:

24 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

The four leaders can exchange views on the

d) Intellectual property rights in the agricultural

global financial and economic situation and

domain should strike a balance between the

can arrive at important decisions

common good of humankind and incentives

Some amount of preparation has to be made at academic level to flesh out a broader

to innovation; e) Upgrading

agricultural

infrastructure,

agenda for the group and that India hoped

including irrigation, transportation, supply,

some avenues for economic cooperation

storage

would emerge

promoting technical assistance, access to

There was a broad convergence of views between the BRIC countries on a number of political issues and there would be a discussion on these though not necessarily any policy decision.

distribution

systems

and

credit and crop insurance policies. In this context public-private partnerships could play a significant role; f) Improving the exchange of knowledge and commercialization of sustainable biofuels.

MORE REPORTS RELATING TO BRIC AND INDIA:

g) Ensuring wider access to food at the national and international level through appropriate

a) The BRIC countries support the adoption of a wide range of mid- to long-term measures in order to provide for a solution to the issue of food security. Such measures may include: b) Rendering additional resources and assistance to the agricultural sector through the channels of

and

respective

national

budgets

and

policies and well functioning distribution systems especially for the poor and most vulnerable people in developing countries; h) Sharing of best practices of operating successful public distribution programmes and i) Equipping

developing

countries

with

international development institutions, mainly

financial and technological means to fully

to household agriculture, which is the main

implement adaptation measures to minimize

source for food production;

the adverse impacts of climate change on

c) Joint

technological

international

innovations

cooperation

to

and

food security.

introduce

advanced technologies in the agricultural sector of developing countries to significantly

EU – PAKISTAN SUMMIT HELD

increase agricultural productivity 25 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

The meeting was held in Brussels,

development. A common currency, the euro,

which was the first EU-Pakistan sum-

has been adopted by sixteen member states

mit, was chaired by Vaclav Klaus, Pres-

constituting the Euro zone

ident of the Czech Republic, which cur-

Important institutions and bodies of the EU

rently holds the EU’s six-month rotating

include the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the

presidency.

European Council, the European Court During his discussions with EU leaders,

of Justice and the European Central

Mr. Zardari pushed for greater access to

Bank.

European markets, saying that trade

The European Parliament is elected every

rather than aid was his chief goal in this

five years by member states' citizens, to whom the citizenship of the European

landmark summit with the EU.

Union is guaranteed. The EU

wanted

Pakistan to take the

fight against terrorism very seriously.

The European Union is composed of 27 independent sovereign states which are known as member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,

FACTS ABOUT THE EUROPEAN UNION:

Denmark,

Estonia,

Finland,

France,

Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, The European Union (EU) is an economic

Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,

and political union of 27 member states,

Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,

located primarily in Europe.

Romania,

It was established by The Treaty of

Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Maastricht on 1 November 1993, upon the

The European Commission acts as the EU's

foundations of the pre-existing European

executive arm and is responsible for

Economic Community.

initiating legislation and the day-to-day

The EU has developed a single market

running of the EU. It is intended to act

through a standardized system of laws

solely in the interest of the EU as a whole,

which apply in all member states, ensuring

as opposed to the Council which consists of

the freedom of movement of people, goods,

leaders of member states who reflect

services and capital.

national interests. The commission is also

It maintains common policies on trade, ag-

seen as the motor of European integration

riculture,

fisheries,

and

Slovakia,

Slovenia,

Spain,

regional China amends filtering software programme : 26

AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

The Chinese government

appeared to relent to

Irans president , Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

public criticism over its decision to introduce

Opposition leader-Mr. Mousavi

Internet “filtering software” on computers,

Iran’s supreme leader - Ayatollah Ali

clarifying that installing the software will now not

Khomeini

be made mandatory.

Iranian authorities have ruled out the annulment of the disputed presidential

Green Dam Youth Escort:

elections held recently and announced fresh This is the name of the software which

measures

would identify and block

movement seeking a re-poll.

“porno-

to

suppress

the

opposition

graphic images, erotic texts, and unde-

Iran’s Guardian Council, which supervises

sirable websites

the conduct of elections, said that there was no basis to order a re-election.

GREEN DAM , A RESTRICTION: ABOUT IRAN: Green Dam is being viewed by many Internet users here as a move by the

The political system of the Islamic Republic

government

is based on the 1979 Constitution. The

to

tighten

restrictions

on

information at a time when the rapid growth

system

comprises

several

intricately

in the number of Internet users in China —

connected governing bodies.

298 million at the last count — has made it

The Supreme Leader of Iran is responsible

increasingly difficult for the government to

for delineation and supervision of the

monitor Internet forums and blogs.

general policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Iran’s council to conduct partial vote recount: Iran’s embattled government has taken one

The Legislature of Iran is known as the Majlis which is a unicameral body.

more step to defuse tensions in Tehran by agreeing to a partial recount of the votes

India, Malaysia to study of degrees mutual

polled in Friday’s disputed presidential

recognition:

election.

India and Malaysia on Tuesday agreed to sign a

The council told that they are ready to recount

those

boxes

that

presidential

memorandum of understanding on cooperation in education.

candidates claim to have been cheated, they did not rule out the possibility of cancelling the results, acknowledging that the council was empowered to do so. 27 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

To offset the decline, the two countries

RIGHTS PROBES LEFT UNFINISHED A Commission of Enquiry appointed by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2007 to investigate 16 cases of alleged violations of human rights ended without completing its goal

agreed by undertaking big investment projects in machine building, power

gen-

eration, construction, consumer

in-

dustries, agriculture, transport,

com-

munications, high-tech and mining.

The eight-member commission was headed by the former Supreme Court Judge,

AGREEMENT WITH UKRAINE TO UP-

Nissanka Udalagama,

GRADE AN - 32

HILLARY PLEDGES TO EXPAND TIES

India has signed a $ 400 million agreement with

WITH INDIA

Ukraine to upgrade its fleet of transport aircraft AN-32 aimed at extending its life and improving

Secretary

of

State

Hillary

Clinton

on

avionics.

Wednesday said she would visit India next AN-32:

month and pledged to work for a “dramatic expansion” of India-U.S. ties giving New Delhi

It is a medium range transport aircraft that

a greater role in solving global challenges.

used to ferry both men and material across

RUSSIA, CHINA TO TRADE IN NATIONAL CURRENCIES: Russia and China agreed to switch part of bilateral trade to their national currencies as the oil deals between the two countries amounted to $100 billion dollars. Greater use of the national currencies by Russia and China could affect the value of the dollar considering that their trade stood at $56 billion last year. China has emerged as Russia’s biggest trade partner, overtaking Germany and the Netherlands even as bilateral trade declined by 50 per cent in January-April.

the country has been in the service of the Air Force for over two decades. INDIA–UKRAINE RELATIONS: Diplomatic relations between India and Ukraine were established in January 1992. Indian Embassy in Kiev was opened in May 1992 and Ukraine opened its Mission in New Delhi in February 1993. More than 17 bilateral agreements have been signed between India and Ukraine, including agreements on Cooperation in Science and Technology, Foreign Office Consultation,

Cooperation

in

Space

Research, Avoidance of Double Taxation 28

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and

Promotion

and

Protection

of

Investments.

and Technology were held in New Delhi in December2004.

The India Ukraine trade relation and economic cooperation has developed on the basis the long-standing friendship between the two countries. In March, 1992 the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation was signed

between

India

and

Ukraine,

providing a major boost to India-Ukraine trade relations.

India Ukraine trade during 2003-2005 and it has exceeded US$ 1 billion. The total turnover in India Ukraine trade during 2005-2006 has exceeded US$ 1.2 billion. The main items being imported by Ukraine India

The U.S. and U.K. have sought observer status in the fledging Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), an initiative of the Indian Navy to bring together littoral states in the region to arrive at a common understanding

There has been a three-fold increase in the

from

U.S., U.K. SEEKS OBSERVER STATUS

are

drugs,

pharmaceutical

production, Ores and minerals, tobacco

of

regional

maritime

environment. The move shows the growing recognition of the Indian Navy and its engagement with navies of the countries in the Indian Ocean region. The inaugural session of regional maritime security initiative IONS was held in February 2008, which was attended by Chiefs of Navy of 26 littoral states.

products, tea, coffee, spices, silk and jute. The main items imported by India from Ukraine

are

chemicals,

equipment,

machines

WHAT IS IONS: It is meant to be a regional forum through which the chiefs can periodically meet to

After Russia, Ukraine is India's second largest trading partner in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

constructively engage one another through creation

and

promotion

of

regionally

relevant mechanism, events and activities.

Under the Agreement signed between India and Ukraine in May 1992, the Joint S&T Committee

meets

annually

AIR FRANCE PLANE DISAPPEARS:

to discuss

Air France flight 447, which was flying

implementation of projects, holding of

from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil to Paris with

exhibitions and cooperation in scientific

216 passengers and 12 crew on board, is

research.

believed to have crashed into the Atlantic

The Committee last met in Kiev in October

Ocean.

2007 and approved 11 S&T projects for implementation. Days of Ukrainian Science 29 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

The Brazilian Army on Tuesday discovered

Hezbollah

“small debris” from a plane in the Atlantic

political and paramilitary organization based

Ocean about 650 km. northeast of the

in Lebanon

Fernando de Noronha Island, in the region

Hamas,

where Air France flight 447 emitted its last

Movement"

desperate signals.

socio-political organization

However, officials are unable to confirm whether the debris comes from the aircraft,

literally

meaning is

is a Shi'a Islamist

"Islamic a

Resistance

Palestinian

Islamic

UNMIN TERM TO BE EXTENDED:

which was plying the Rio-Paris route and

The United Nations Mission in Nepal

which disappeared without a trace on early

(UNMIN), which has been assisting in Ne-

Monday morning.

pal’s peace process since 2007, is likely to get a new mandate. A Cabinet meeting on

TACKLE JUNDULLAH, IRAN TELLS PAKI-

Wednesday has agreed to extend its term

STAN

one more time. Jundullah is a Pakistan-based anti-Shia

UNMIN has been looking after Maoists’

group

weapons and Maoist combatants sheltered

Pakistan is scrambling to clear the air with

in 28 different cantonments.

Iran following last week’s bomb blast in a

INDIAN-ORIGIN WOMAN IN RACE FOR

mosque in the Iranian town of Zahedan for

GOVERNOR :

which Tehran has blamed Jundullah, known to be a Pakistan-based anti-Shia militant

The daughter of a Punjabi Sikh immigrant

outfit.

from Amritsar

in

the

United

States,

Namrata “Nikki” Randhawa Haley has Kaspersky antivirus is a product of -Germany LEBANON SET FOR CRUCIAL ELECTUIONS

announced her candidacy for the Republican Party nomination for the Governor of South Carolina, which will go to polls next year.

Lebanon is set for crucial elections on Sunday

At present, Nikki (37), as she is popularly

which could see an alliance led by Hezbollah and

known here, is a member of the South

former Prime Minister Michel Aaron’s Free

Carolina House of Representatives.

Patriotic Movement (FPM) edge out the country’s

If elected, Nikki would be the second

ruling pro-western combination.

Indian-American — and first women from the community — to be the Governor of a 30

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State, after Bobby Jindal, who is the Governor of Louisiana All-party committee for reconciliation in Sri Water Leaders Summit-held at Singapore

Lanka:

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION FOR

APC is a comitee formed to discuss in

REGIONAL COOPERATION

depth issues and priorities in development

The Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), initially known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative, is an

international

organization

with

18

member states. It was first established in Mauritius on March 1995 and formally launched on 6-7 March 1997. The Association disseminates information on trade and investment regimes, with a

and emerging political trends in the postPrabakaran era. The committee, which would meet once every month under the chairmanship of Mr. Rajapaksa, would function “especially in the context of the new development needs following the defeat of the LTTE, and the need for national reconciliation in the new era of peace”. Abu Dhabi becomes world’s clean energy hub:

view to helping the region's business community

better

understand

the

Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab

impediments to trade and investment within

Emirates (UAE), is set to become the inter-

the region. These information exchanges

national hub for dissemination of clean en-

have been intended to serve as a base to

ergy technology after the city was elected as

expand intra-regional trade

headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a grouping of 129

FOUNDING MEMBERS: Australia, India, Kenya, Mauritius, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia,

countries. IRENA’s headquarters will be located at Masdar, a zero-carbon-emission mini-city

Madagascar, Mozambique, Srilanka, Tanzania,

which is being built at a cost of $22 billion.

Yemen, Bangladesh, Iran, Thailand, United Arab

The city will house 50,000 people and is

Emirates.

expected to become fully functional by 2015.

DIALOGUE PARTNERS: China, Egypt, France, Japan, United Kingdom.

IRENA’s “innovation centre” will be based in Bonn and a liaison office will be located in Vienna. 31

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The International Renewable Energy Agency

therefore, is not expected to change

(IRENA):

dramatically.

The International Renewable Energy

The new government under Manmohan

Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental

Singh however, will want Colombo to

organization for promoting the adoption of

address two key issues on a priority basis.

renewable energy worldwide. It aims to

India requires Sri Lanka to take up

provide concrete policy advice and facilitate

humanitarian relief for those affected and

capacity building and technology transfer.

displaced by the conflict. Several thousands

IRENA was formed on January 26, 2009, by

are wounded and hundreds of thousands

75 countries signing the charter of IRENA

displaced.

Mandated by governments worldwide, IRENA aims to become the main driving

In this regard, India has already announced

force in promoting a rapid transition to-

a grant of more than Rs.1 billion which

wards the widespread and sustainable use of

included dispatching over 100,000 packs

renewable energy on a global scale:

containing rations and shelter material for a

Acting as the global voice for renewable en-

family sufficient for three weeks.

ergies, IRENA will provide practical advice

Separately the Tamil Nadu government has

and support for both industrialised and de-

announced a package of Rs.250 million as

veloping countries, help them improve their

humanitarian relief.

regulatory frameworks and build capacity. The agency will facilitate access to all rele-

India is also considering the expansion of

vant information including reliable data on

its 50-bed hospital in Trincomalee manned

the potential of renewable energy, best prac-

by a 62-member medical team from the

tices, effective financial mechanisms and

Indian armed forces

state-of-the-art technological expertise

India is considering an additional Rs.5 billion aid package exclusively for the displaced civilians. The next step is

Post-LTTE: India’s Policy Options on

resettlement of the displaced at their place

SriLanka’s Ethnic Issue:

of origin. India can cooperate with other

The fall of the LTTE coincided with the re-election of UPA government in India and India’s overall policy towards Sri Lanka,

countries and aid agencies involved in the relief

and

resettlement

to

evolve

a

coordinated approach. 32

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India

believes

that

the

Sri

Lankan

nations to the extent that no permanent

government should seriously work on a

solution can be achieved without taking

political solution that “includes devolution

India into consideration.

of power, participation in the election and

Recent times have witnessed a significant

full rights for Tamils as citizens of

shift in India’s stance, from that of a neutral

SriLanka.”

bystander to an anti-LTTE stand, as

India’s consistent position on the island’s ethnic issue has been in favor of “a politically negotiated settlement acceptable to all sections of the Sri Lankan society within the framework of an undivided Sri Lanka and consistent with democracy, pluralism and respect for human rights.” In this regard, India wants the Sri Lankan government “to put forward a credible devolution package at the earliest.”

reflected in the strong statement issued by the government stating that it has no sympathy for the LTTE This is probably the strongest statement that the Indian government has ever made against

the

acceptance

insurgent of

the

group.

APRC

All

India Party

Representative Committee (APRC) report and its diluted recommendations is another sign of retreat. India’s increasing cooperation with Sri

India should make every effort to pressurize

Lankan government in economic and

Sri Lanka to begin a process of healing and

non-lethal military matters has also raised

national appropriate

reconciliation. reconciliation

Without

an

several questions on Indian neutrality in

process,

the

minds of the Tamil population.

wedge between the two communities –

Indian interests are best served in an united

majority Sinhala and minority Tamil –

Sri Lanka under a federated structure, with

cannot be bridged. A sustainable peace can

adequate safeguards for the interests of all

only be realised with such a process. It is

sections of the population. But it cannot put

indeed a long-drawn process that requires

much faith on the current Sri Lankan

Indian help on a sustained basis.

government to bring this about. In political considerations the domestic Tamil sentiments in India restricts it from

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN SRI LANKA:

using force. The Sri Lankan government

IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIA:

must be apprised of the fact that it cannot

India continues to be an important factor in

deal with the Tamil problem with total

Sri Lanka owing to the shared cultural,

impunity.

linguistic and strategic interests of the two 33 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

India has red lines and were those red lines

from 0.13 per cent in the week ended May

to be crossed India will take some action.

30, 2009.

There are two such red lines. One is internal

This implies that the average wholesale

and the other external. Huge atrocities,

price level was lower during the week

genocides would unify Tamil Nadu against

ending June 6, 2009, than it was a year ago.

the centre, forcing the government in turn

The decline in the inflation rate is due to

to intervene in Sri Lanka.

primarily to decline in the inflation rate

This pressure is slowly mounting up, but it

of fuel and power, which in turn declined

is not apparent that India is proactively

primarily because of the base effect. The

trying to avoid that. Then there is India’s

economy last recorded negative inflation

international red line, which would be

over 30 years back in 1978-79.

impinged if Sri Lanka were to pose a threat to India’s geo-strategic interests.

INFLATION:

India would certainly like to help Sri Lanka

In economics, inflation is a rise in the

increase its involvement in the SAARC and

general level of prices of goods and

other regional processes like the BIMSTEC

services in an economy over a period of

and

time.

through

cooperation

that

with

its

develop

greater

neighbours

and

economic development for itself. It would like to see a more egalitarian Sri Lankan society and politics. It can also be a significant help on the economic front. For example, the FTA between India and Sri Lanka has been working very well for both

When the general price level rises, each unit of the functional currency buys fewer goods and services; consequently, inflation is a decline in the real value of money-a loss of purchasing power in the internal medium of exchange which is also the monetary unit of account in an economy

countries and should be strengthened. .A chief measure of general price-level inflation is the general inflation rate, which is the percentage change in a general price index (normally the Consumer Price Index) over time. ECONOMY INFLATION IN NEGATIVE: Annual year-on-year rate of inflation turned

Inflation is usually measured by calculating the inflation rate of a price index, usually the Consumer Price Index.

negative in the week ended June 6, 2009, 34 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

The Consumer Price Index measures prices

OTHER FACTORS CAUSING RISE IN

of a selection of goods and services

INFLATION

purchased by a "typical consumer. The inflation rate is the percentage rate of

Prices of individual goods can keep rising or falling due to several factors affecting their

change of a price index over time.

demand and supply. Stagflation: But price level as a whole is determined Stagflation is an economic situation in which inflation and economic stagnation occur simultaneously and remain unchecked for a period of time.

primarily by the quantum of goods and services available in the country and the total amount of money chasing them. Increase in the prices of some goods is

The portmanteau stagflation is generally

bound to lead to fall in the prices of some

attributed to British politician Iain Macleod,

other goods, unless the quantity of money is

who coined the term in a speech to

increased.

Parliament in 1965.

Price level as a whole goes up only when more money is injected into the system or

The concept is notable partly because, in postwar macroeconomic theory, inflation and recession were regarded as mutually exclusive, and also because stagflation has generally proven to be difficult and costly to eradicate once it gets started.

its velocity of circulation goes up due to changes in habits and practices. Currency and total money supply both have to remain under strict control to ensure a reasonably stable price level. In India, in the course of last 34 years, the price level has gone up 16 times with the

INFLATION- CAUSES AND REMEDIES:

result that value of money is reduced by The main cause of today’s inflation is

94%.

because of global oil price rise. Since import of crude oil is a must, the

VICTIMS OF INFLATION

prices of petrol, diesel and domestic gas has By printing money and promoting inflation

gone up. All

sectors

of

business

depend

on

transportation for their transport of goods, which has automatically transformed the increase in prices.

Government also causes immense damage to the poorest of the poor and the labour classes, because wages are sticky and do not keep pace with fall in the value of money, particularly in the short run. 35

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Large scale printing of money provides the

•

India uses the Wholesale Price Index

most subtle way of taxing the poor and the

(WPI) to calculate and then decide the in-

lower middle class people. They are forced

flation rate in the economy.

to part with a major part of their hard earned income.

•

Most developed countries use the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to calculate inflation.

Fast rising prices and fall in the value of money adversely affect the household budget of everybody. Fixed income earners are the worst hit. Employees of public and private sectors all have to keep fighting continuously for increase in salary and wages rather than concentrate on productive work. In the interest of justice, fairness and welfare of the common man, stability of the price level is very essential. The most ideal course would be to increase money supply only to the extent of increase in GDP so that the price level does not go up at all. But in order to facilitate rapid growth of the economy, some excess of money supply may be unavoidable. Moreover, it is not possible to match the two exactly. This excess should, however, be so small that the price level does not go up by more than around one percent per year, as has happened in countries like Singapore or in India during the period of British rule

Wholesale Price Index (WPI): WPI was first published in 1902, and was one of the more economic indicators available to policy makers until it was replaced by most developed countries by the Consumer Price Index in the 1970s. WPI is the index that is used to measure the change in the average price level of goods traded in wholesale market. In India, a total of 435 commodities data on price level is tracked through WPI which is an indicator of movement in prices of commodities in all trade and transactions. It is also the price index which is available on a weekly basis with the shortest possible time lag only two weeks. The Indian government has taken WPI as an indicator of the rate of inflation in the economy. The base year for the present WPI index, which is computed by the ministry of commerce and industry, is 1993-94. The 100-point index is subdivided into three groups. The primary articles, which include food and non-food agriculture products,

How does India calculate inflation? And how is

have a weight of 22.02% in the index.

it calculated in developed countries? 36 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

Manufactured goods have the highest

factor in changes in consumption pattern,"

weight of 63.75%. Fuel and power account

says their research paper.

for 14.23%. The government is now ready with a revised index with a new base year.

PROBLEMS OF WPI: It pointed out that WPI does not properly measure

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

the

exact

price

rise

an

end-consumer will experience because, as CPI is a statistical time-series measure of

the same suggests, it is at the wholesale

a weighted average of prices of a specified

level.

set of goods and services purchased by

The main problem with WPI calculation is

consumers.

that more than 100 out of the 435

It is a price index that tracks the prices of a

commodities included in the Index have

specified basket of consumer goods and

ceased

services, providing a measure of inflation.

consumption point of view.

CPI is a fixed quantity price index and

India constituted the last WPI series of

considered by some a cost of living index.

commodities in 1993-94; but has not

Under CPI, an index is scaled so that it is

updated it till now that economists argue

equal to 100 at a chosen point in time, so

the Index has lost relevance and can not

that all other values of the index are a

be the barometer to calculate inflation.

to

be

important

from

the

percentage relative to this one. India is the only major country that uses a wholesale index to measure inflation. Most countries use the CPI as a measure of inflation, as this actually measures the increase in price that a consumer will ultimately have to pay for.

many countries such as the United States, United

Kingdom,

Japan,

France,

Canada, Singapore and China. The

governments

method of calculating inflation? Finance ministry officials point out that there are many intricate problems from shifting from WPI to CPI model. First of all, they say, in India, there are four

"CPI is the official barometer of inflation in

the

why is India not switching over to the CPI

there

different types of CPI indices, and that makes switching over to the Index from WPI fairly 'risky and unwieldy.' The four CPI series are: CPI Industrial

review

the

commodity basket of CPI every 4-5 years to

Workers;

CPI

Urban

Non-Manual

Employees; CPI Agricultural labourers; and CPI Rural labour. 37

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Officials say the CPI cannot be used in

Carnation Auto, is a one stop enterprise solu-

India because there is too much of a lag

tion of all auto shop components headed by

in reporting CPI numbers. In fact, as of

by former Maruti Suzuki CEO Jagdish Khattar

May 21, the latest CPI number reported

Exports dip by 29 per cent in May:

is for March 2006. The WPI is published on a weekly basis and

Exports continued to fall for the eight

the CPI, on a monthly basis.

consecutive month with shipments dipping by 29.2 per cent in May.

Venu Srinivasan to lead CEOs team to U.S.: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) President

and

TVS

Motor

Company

Chairman Venu Srinivasan is leading a team of CEOs to the U.S. to strengthen economic ties, explore new avenues of collaboration and focus on issues of global concern and economic slowdown.

According to official data released by the Government on Wednesday, exports declined to $11.01 billion in May from $15.55 billion in the same month in the previous year. This shows that there is no change in the declining demand for Indian goods in major markets like the U.S. and Europe which

LifeStage Assure Pension (LSAP): It is A pension plan of ICICI Prudential

have been badly impacted by recession and poor economic growth.

Life enabling consumers to save systematically and ensure financially secured retirement life. The new plan has several features, including guaranteed additions of up to 200 per cent of first year premium, liquidity in the form of partial withdrawal after five years and death benefit of sum assured plus fund value. It envisages regular income (pension) postretirement and consumers can increase investments by investing surplus money over and above the premium as topups.

Karnataka Bank to split post of Chairman, CEO Karnataka Bank said it would split the post of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as per the Reserve Bank of India directive . The bank has received the approval from the RBI for splitting the post of Chairman and CEO . Accordingly, Ananthakrishna would be the

non-executive

Chairman

and

P.Jayarama Bhat would be the Managing Director of the bank

Carnation Auto: 38 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

The

Indian

Banks

(IBA)

Boosted by the strength of India and China,

appointed union bank of India chairman and

developing nations would grow 1.2 per cent

managing director M.V.NAIR as its new

this year, but without the two, these

chairman. It has also named Bank of Baroda

economies would shrink 1.6 per cent, says

chairman

the World Bank.

and

Association

managing

director

M.D.MALLYA as the deputy chairman ANTI-DUMPING

DUTY

ON

Warning that the world is entering an era of

VITAMIN-C

“slower growth”, the multilateral lending agency has projected the global economy to

FROM CHINA: Continuing with its move against cheap

shrink 2.9 per cent this year.

imports,

The World Bank in its latest report titled

the

Central

Government

has

imposed an anti-dumping duty of $3.99 a kg

‘Global

on import of Vitamin-C from China for five

Charting a global recovery’ has said that

years as it was found that the domestic

excluding India and China, the developing

industry was suffering material injury.

economies would shrink 1.6 per cent this

The

year.

Finance

Ministry

has

imposed

Development

Finance

2009:

provisional anti-dumping duty of $3.99 a kg

“Developing countries are expected to grow

on imports of Vitamin-C from China,

by only 1.2 per cent this year, after 8.1 per

according to a notification issued by the

cent growth in 2007 and 5.9 per cent growth

Central Board of Excise and Customs

in 2008.

(CBEC). BSNL joins hands with Microsoft: Dumping: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has Dumping occurs when the export price of goods imported into India is less than the Normal Value of ‘

articles’ sold in the

domestic market of the exporter. .Imports at cheap or low prices do not per se indicate dumping. The price at which articles are sold in the domestic market of the exporter is referred to as the “Normal Value” of those articles.

Global Economy to shrink 2.9%

joined hands with Microsoft to launch ‘BSNL Managed SAAS’ (Software as a Service) in India This partnership will enable BSNL to offer hosted solutions on core productivity, collaboration

and

line

of

business

applications to business customers. BSNL Chairman and Managing Director - Kuldeep Goyal. DOCOMO-name of the GSM service launched by Tata. 39

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powers to be conferred to these Maha Tata to make copter cabins :

Navratnas.

The Tata Group and Sikorsky Aircraft

with 18 companies having the Navratna

Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies

status a need has been felt that some PSUs

Corporation, have completed an agreement

should be moved into a higher league with

for manufacture of Sikorsky S-92 helicopter

greater autonomy on both financial and

cabins in India.

management decisions

S-92 is the first helicopter in its class certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to the most rigorous standards.

NAVARATNA:

Nearly 100 S-92 helicopters have been

Navratnas was the title given originally to

produced to date and the worldwide

nine Public Sector Enterprises or PSE,

operating fleet has accumulated more than

identified by the Government of India in

1.50 lakh flight hours.

1997 as its crown jewels or the most prestigious PSEs, which allowed them

Centre weighs maha navratna tag for top PSUs:

greater autonomy to compete in the global

Blue chip public sector companies such as

market

Gail, NTPC, ONGC, BHEL, SAIL and In-

The number of PSEs having Navratna

dian Oil may get a super status.

status has now been raised to 18 the most

. With the slot of Navratnas getting

recent addition being Coal India Limited.

crowded, the government is considering to

Navratna

classify some of them as `Maha Navratna’

Department of Public Enterprises.

status

is

conferred

by

companies based on their performance To be qualified as a Navratna, the company The new classification would give more fi-

must obtain a score of 60 (of the total

nancial powers and functional autonomy to

100).The score is based on six parameters

Maha Navratnas.

which include net profit to net worth, total manpower cost to total cost of production or

The department of public enterprises (DPE) has been asked to prepare a report in this regard. It will also make a list of additional

cost of services, PBDIT (Profit Before Depreciation, Interest and Taxes) to capital employed,

PBDIT

to

turnover,

EPS 40

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(Earning Per Share) and inter-sectoral

government approval up to Rs. 300 crores or

performance.

up to 50% of their net worth whichever is

Additionally, a company must first be a

lower.

Miniratna and must have four independent

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Com-

directors on its board before it can be made

merce and Industry

a Navaratna (FICCI) is an association of business MINIRATNA:

organizations in India, headquartered in the

In addition, the Government created another

national capital New Delhi.

category called Miniratna. Miniratnas can

FICCI is one of the main organizations to

also enter into joint ventures, set subsidiary

fund and support many governmental and

companies and overseas offices but with

non-governmental educational institutes

certain conditions.

It

In 2002, there were 41 government enter-

Purushottam Takkur in 1927, on the advice

prises that were awarded Miniratna status.

of Mahatma Gandhi.

This designation applies to PSEs that

The current president of FICCI is Mr. Harsh

have made profits continuously for the

Pati Singhania, who belongs to the JK

last three years or earned a net profit of

Group of Companies.

Rs 30 crores or more in one of the three

It has a nationwide membership of over

years.

1500 corporates and over 500 chambers of

These Miniratnas granted certain autonomy

commerce and business associations.

like incurring capital expenditure without

was

founded

by

GD

Birla

and

Crisil-type agency to rate higher education:

government approval up to Rs. 500 crores or equal to their net worth, whichever is lower.

HRD

ministry’s

proposed

independent

regulatory authority for assessment and accreditation

of

higher

educational

institutions, will not only make it mandatory This category include those PSEs which have made profits for the last three years continuously and should have a positive net worth. Category II Miniratnas have autonomy to

for all bodies to undergo accreditation but will give out licences to various private agencies to carry out the accreditation work To be modelled on the lines of credit rating agencies like Crisil and ICRA, these bodies

incurring the capital expenditure without 41 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

will rate institutions, departments and even specific courses offered by universities. The independent regulatory assessment and accreditation authority will be set up on the

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Resistance to malaria drug growing:

lines of SEBI giving out licences to private bodies as well as settle disputes arising out

effective drug treatment for malaria in

of them. Every accredited institute can display the name of the body that rated it as well as the

Cambodia is a development that could threaten the lives of millions of people, scientists have warned.

rating. However,

Growing resistance to the world’s most

the

independent

regulatory

Malaria experts said the problem in

authority will not have the power to fix

Cambodia must be contained as there were

norms on which institutions will be assessed

no other effective drug treatments available.

and accredited . The norms that institutions should follow will be the job of the proposed National Commission for Higher Education and Research.

The drugs are now taken up to four or five days to clear all malaria parasites from the blood rather than two or three days, according to the U.K. study by the Mahidol-Oxford

Tropical

Medicine

Research Unit. What is FPO Cambodian pharmacies were supplying A follow-on public offer (FPO) is also

patients with artemisnin alone, or flawed

called further public offer.

courses of the drug were sold that did not

When a listed company comes out with a fresh issue of shares or makes an offer for sale to the public to raise funds it is known as FPO

contain enough active ingredients to kill the malaria parasite.

A(H1N1): HYDERABAD AIRPORT FORTIFIED:

In other words, FPO is the consequent issue

Seven positive influenza A (H1N1) flu virus

to the public after initial public offering

cases, including an indigenous flu positive

(IPO). The word FPO came into news after

case, the largest number in the country, has

the YES Bank announcement to raise Rs

prompted authorities to take measures to

2,000 crore through FPO and debt.

convert Hyderabad into a veritable fortress. 42

AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

of H1N1 are endemic in pigs (swine

(RGIA) has been fortified with doctors and

influenza) and in birds (avian influenza).

a coordination centre, on the lines of a

In June 2009, WHO declared that flu due to

command centre, has been set up at ground

a new strain of swine-origin H1N1 was

zero, i.e. at the Government General and

responsible for the 2009 flu pandemic. This

Chest Hospital, Erragadda.

strain is commonly called "swine flu".

World Health Organization has reported

First detected in Mexico in April, 2009, it

39620

has spread to manycountries in the World.

laboratory

confirmed

cases

of

influenza A/H1N1 infection from 89 coun-

Swine flu is basically a misnomer.

tries as on 17th June 2009.

This was originally to as “swine flu”

There have been 167 deaths. Thailand has

because laboratory testing showed that

reported

many of the genes in this new virus were

community

spread

with

310

laboratory confirmed cases.

very similar to those found in pigs in North

Health screening of passengers coming from

America.

affected countries is continuing in 21

Further on, it has been found that this new

International airports

virus has gene segments from the swine,

Among the 31 school children in Jalandhar,

avian and human flu virus genes.

that returned from USA, 14 children

The scientists calls this a ‘quadruple

continues to be under medication.

reassortant” virus and hence this new (novel) virus is christened “influenza-A

FACTS ABOUT SWINE FLU:

Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, also

(H1N1) virus.” SYMPTOMS OF SWINE FLU:

known as A(H1N1), is a subtype of

The symptoms of swine flu in people are

influenza virus A and the most common

similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal

cause of influenza (flu) in humans.

flu and include fever, cough, sore throat,

Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in

body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

humans and cause a small fraction of all

Some people have reported diarrhea and

influenza-like illness and a large fraction of

vomiting

all seasonal influenza.

(H1N1)

associated

with

influenza-A

H1N1 strains were prevalent roughly as human flu infections in 2006. Other strains

CLONING OF BUFFALO

43 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

:Indian scientists had cloned a second buffalo-

Rising carbon dioxide levels would also

garima.

have effects, both detrimental and benefi-

The calf was born at national dairy research institute(NDRI), Karnal.

cial, on crop yields. The overall effect of climate change on agriculture will depend on the balance of these effects. Assessment of the effects of global climate changes on

CLIMATE CHANGE AND INDIAN AGRICUL-

agriculture might help to properly anticipate and adapt farming to maximize agricultural

TURE:

production. WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?

at the same time, agriculture has been shown to produce significant effects on cli-

Climate change is any long-term change in the statistics of weather over durations ranging from decades to millions of years. It can be manifest in changes to averages, extremes, or other statistical measures, and may occur in a specific region or for the Earth as a whole. In recent usage, especially in the context of environmental policy, climate change usually refers to changes in modern climate Climate change and agriculture:

mate change, primarily through the production and release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, but also by altering the earth's land cover, which can change its ability to absorb or reflect heat and light, thus contributing to radioactive forcing. Land use change such as deforestation and desertification, together with use of fossil fuels, are the major anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide; agriculture itself is the major contributor to increasing methane and

Climate change and agriculture are interre-

nitrous oxide concentrations in earth's at-

lated processes, both of which take place on

mosphere

a global scale. Global warming is projected to have signifi-

HOW DOES IT AFFECT INDIA:

cant impacts on conditions affecting agricul-

The summer monsoon, which accounts for

ture, including temperature, precipitation

nearly 75 per cent of India’s rainfall, is

and glacial run-off. These conditions deter-

critical for agriculture. Climate change is

mine the carrying capacity of the biosphere

likely to intensify the variability of summer

to produce enough food for the human

monsoon dynamics, leading to a rise in ex-

population and domesticated animals.

treme events such as increased precipitation 44

AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

and heightened flood risks in some parts of

income through non-farm activities such as

the country and reduced rainfall and pro-

aquaculture

longed drought in other areas. A World Bank report on climate change im-

CLOUD COMPUTING:

pact based on case studies in India has focussed on drought-prone regions of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, and flood-prone districts in Orissa on the edge of climate tolerance limits. It highlights the possibility of the yields of major dry land crops declining in Andhra Pradesh. Sugarcane farmers of Maharashtra may see yields go down by as much as 30 per cent. Rice production in Orissa will face a similar fate with yields in the flood-prone coastal regions dropping by12 per cent. Few measures to be taken: risk assessment better water management developing varieties that can do well in stressful conditions, and bringing about certain changes in agricultural practices Many organisations are already working to develop drought-resistant and salineresistant crop varieties for the arid regions, and rainfall-tolerant and short-duration varieties for flood-prone regions. But greater and sustained government support for agricultural research will be vital. At the same time, the government must persuade farmers to take better advantage of the dry rabi season in the flood-prone regions, and also help them supplement their

Cloud computing is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet. Users need not have knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure in the "cloud" that supports them. Cloud computing customers do not generally own the physical infrastructure serving as host to the software platform in question. Instead, they avoid capital expenditure by renting usage from a third-party provider. They consume resources as a service and pay only for resources that they use. Many cloud-computing offerings employ the utility computing model, which is analogous to how traditional utility services (such as electricity) are consumed, while others bill on a subscription basis . Sharing "perishable and intangible" computing power among multiple tenants can 45

AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

improve utilization rates, as servers are not unnecessarily left idle (which can reduce costs significantly while increasing the

BLACKBOX:

speed of application development)

A black box preserves the records of

. A side effect of this approach is that over-

what happened in the event of a disaster.

all computer usage rises dramatically, as customers do not have to engineer for peak load limits. Additionally, "increased highspeed bandwidth" makes it possible to re-

The box is made of a nearly indestructible material so that even if the plane is destroyed, the box can be found and retrieved.

ceive the same response times from centralized infrastructure at other sites.

The box contains recordings of the status of the plane, including measurements of

Advantages of cloud computing: Cloud computing users can avoid capital expenditure (CapEx) on hardware, software, and services when they pay a provider only for what they use. Consumption is billed on a utility (e.g. resources consumed, like electricity) or subscription (e.g. time based, like a newspaper)

altitude, air pressure, as well as mechanical status. Recently in news: The "black boxes" may contain vital information that could help explain what happened when the Airbus A330 aircraft crashed into the sea en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris on June 1.

basis with little or no upfront cost. Other benefits of this time sharing style ap-

Locator beacons, known as "pingers", on the

proach are low barriers to entry, shared in-

flight recorders send an electronic impulse

frastructure and costs, low management

every second for at least 30 days. The signal

overhead, and immediate access to a broad

can be heard up to 2 km (1.2 miles) away.

range of applications.

A SEARCH ENGINE THAT RANKS PEO-

Users can generally terminate the contract

PLE’S INFLUENCE”

at any time (thereby avoiding return on investment risk and uncertainty) and the ser-

The Topsy-a new search engine developed

vices are often covered by service level

Topsy Labs.

agreements (SLAs) with financial penalties The Electronic Voting Machine: 46 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) retains

number of vote cast till now, and one button

all the characteristics of voting by ballot

to close the election process

papers, while making polling a lot more

. The result button is hidden and sealed, It

expedient.

cannot be pressed unless the Close button is

Being

fast

and

absolutely

reliable, the EVM saves considerable time,

already pressed

money and manpower.

The EVM is designed to be totally tamper

In 2004, India had adopted Electronic

proof.

Voting Machines (EVM) for its elections to

Each EVM comes with a sophisticated

the Parliament with 380 million voters had

programme in assembly language : a soft-

cast their ballots using more than a million

ware fully seated against outside influence.

voting machines

And the programme is itself fused on to a

. The Indian EVMs are designed and

customised micro processor chip at the

developed by two Government Owned

manufacturer’s end. This ensures that the

Defense Equipment Manufacturing Units,

program is rendered tamper proof and

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and

inaccessible.

Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL).

OCEANSAT 2 TO BE READY BY AUGUST:

Both systems are identical, and are

The Indian Space Research Organisation’s

developed to the specifications of Election

ocean observation mission, Oceansat 2, will

Commission of India.

be ready according to Polar Satellite Launch

The System is a set of two devices running

Vehicle project director George Koshy.

on 6V batteries. One device, the Voting

“Oceansat 2 will have a device to study

Unit is used by the Voter, and another

surface level winds that will help in

device called the Control Unit is operated

predicting the sea conditions. Its ocean

by the Electoral Officer. Both units are

colour monitor is useful in identifying

connected by a 5 meter cable

potential areas for fishery,”

The Voting unit has a Blue Button for every

Earth observation satellite Cartosat 2B,

candidate, the unit can hold 16 candidates,

would be ready for launch this year.

but up to 4 units can be chained, to

Data from the satellite would be used for

accommodate 64 candidates.

mapping and other cartographic applications

The Control Units has Three buttons on the surface, namely, one button to release a

ABOUT INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH OR-

single vote, one button to see the total

GANISATION: 47

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The Indian Space Research Organisation is

(US$ 90 million). The mission includes a

the primary body for space research under

lunar orbiter as well as a lander/rover. The

the control of the government of India

wheeled rover will move on the lunar

It was established in its modern form in

surface and pick up soil or rock samples for

1969 as a result of coordinated efforts

on-site chemical analysis. The data will be

initiated earlier.

sent to Earth via the orbiter.

Under the guidance of a number of scientists, ISRO has conducted a variety of operations-supported by its launch vehicle

ISRO plans to carry out an unmanned mission to Mars in this decade. According to ISRO, the Mars mission remains at a

fleet-for both Indian and foreign clients. The prime objective of ISRO is to develop space technology and its application to

conceptual stage but is expected to be finalised shortly The

various national tasks. The Indian space program was driven by the vision of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, considered as the father of Indian Space Programme.

current

version

of

India's

geo-synchronous satellite launch vehicle will be used to loft the new craft into space. ISRO is designing a solar probe named

According to the Space Commission which has passed the budget, an unmanned flight will be launched in 2013-2014 and manned

Aditya. This is a mini-satellite designed to study the coupling between the sun and the earth. It is planned to be launched in 2012.

mission likely to launch by 2014-2015. If realized in the stated time-frame, India

ISRO IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA:

will become only the fourth nation, after the

USSR,

USA

and

China,

to

successfully carry out manned missions

Establishment of TERLS, conduct of SITE & STEP, launches of Aryabhata, Bhaskara, APPLE, IRS-IA and IRS-IB/ satellites,

indigenously.

manned space mission, etc.and involvement Following the success of Chandrayaan-1,

in international cooperation.

the country's first moon mission, ISRO is

ISRO

planning a series of further lunar missions in

international

the next decade, including a manned

Programme for Search and Rescue.

mission which is stated to take place in 2020

India has established a Center for Space

Chandrayaan-2

Science and Technology Education in Asia

is the second unmanned

operates

LUT/MCC

under

COSPAS/SARSAT

lunar exploration mission proposed by

and

ISRO at a projected cost of Rs. 425 crore

sponsored by the United Nations.

the

the

Pacific (CSSTE-AP)

that is

48 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

India

hosted

Ministerial

the

Second

Conference

UN-ESCAP on

built guided missile frigates fitted with a modern

Space

missile systems. She and her two sister ships, INS

Applications for Sustainable Development

Betwa and INS Beas, were built at the Garden

in Asia and the Pacific in November 1999.

Reach

India is a member of the United Nations

Kolkatta.

Shipbuilders

and

Engineers

(GRSE),

Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space,

Cospas-Sarsat,

International

Astronautical Federation, Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), Inter-Agency Space

Debris

Coordination

Committee

(IADC), International Space University, and the

Committee

on

Earth

Observation

Satellite (CEOS). Chandrayaan-1 carried scientific payloads from NASA, ESA and the Bulgarian Space Agency. The Russian Space Agency is cooperating with India in developing the rover for Chandrayaan-2 and also in the Indian manned mission. INS Vikramaditya : is the new name for the former Soviet aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which has been procured by India, and is estimated to enter service in the Indian Navy after 2012.

INDIA MOVES AN AMENDMENT TO KYOTO PROTOCOL: On June 12, 2009 at Bonn, India joined together with 36 other developing countries from Asia, Africa and Latin America, to move an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol which

would

ensure

that

developed

countries commit themselves to GHG emission reduction targets which are the considered the minimum required in view of the enormity of the challenge that the world confronts from climate change. The target set is for at least a 40% aggregate reduction for 2020 with 1990 as a base year.

INS Viraat (R22): is a Centaur-class aircraft

In addition, the amendment sets out

carrier currently in service with the Indian Navy.

indicative targets for individual developed

INS Viraat is the flagship of the Indian Navy, the

countries based on the principle of historical

oldest carrier afloat, and one of the two aircraft

responsibility.

carriers in the Indian Ocean Region.

This takes into account the total contribution

INS Brahmaputra (F31):is the lead ship of her class of guided missile frigates of the Indian Navy.

of individual developed countries to the accumulated

GHG

emissions

in

the

She is one of the recently inducted, indigenously 49 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

planetary atmosphere since the industrial

Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan

revolution began in 1850 till 2005.

Space Centre

The objective of this initiative, which is supported by China, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania and several other Asian, African and Latin American countries, is to

The

spacecraft

was

built

by

Israeli

Aerospace Industries, and is thought to be based on the Israeli TecSAR satellite which was launched in 2008.

hasten the pace of negotiations on this key

Israel had previously offered to provide

element in the Bali Road Map.

radar imaging technology to India after

Indication of what developed countries are

India provided launch services for TecSAR.

prepared to undertake in fulfillment of their

Its primary instrument is a synthetic

obligations under the Kyoto Protocol has

erture radar system to allow it to return im-

been grossly inadequate despite the fact that

ages at any time of day, and in any weather

only 6 months are left till the Copenhagen

conditions.

Conference of Parties on Climate Change in December 2009. This initiative is being seen as a major landmark in the ongoing negotiations on climate change under the UNFCCC and a strong rebuff to countries which have been

ap-

It was built as part of an acceleration of Indian reconnaissance satellite procurement after 2008 Mumbai attacks, and due to delays with the indigenously developed RISAT-1, it will be India's first radar imaging satellite.

attempting to abandon the Kyoto Protocol. The proposal will now be a key agenda item

It will be used to monitor India's borders

when negotiations resume in Bonn in

and

August this year in the run up to the

anti-terrorist operations.

as

part

of

anti-infiltration

and

Copenhagen Conference. RISAT-2: ANUSAT: RISAT-2, or Radar Imaging Satellite 2 is an Indian radar reconnaissance satellite

The Anna University Microsatellite, or ANUSAT is

that has been successfully launched as

an Indian student research microsatellite. It carries

part of India's RISAT programme.

an amateur radio and technology demonstration experiments. It was successfully launched aboard a

It was launched aboard a PSLV-CA at

PSLV-CA designated PSLV-C12, along with

01:15 GMT on 20 April 2009, from the 50 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

RISAT-2, from the Second Launch Pad at the

Virtualization is one of the most effective

Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

tools

for

more

cost-effective,

greener

computing. By dividing each server into multiple virtual GREEN COMPUTING:

machines that run different applications,

Green computing is the study and practice of using computing resources

companies

can

increase

their

server

utilization rates and shrink their sprawling farms.

efficiently.

Use of more-efficient processors and Modern

IT

systems

rely

upon

a

servers

complicated mix of people, networks and

Set the Power Options on your computer to

hardware, as such, a green computing

switch to sleep mode when it’s not active.

initiative must be systemic in nature, and

Flat panel monitors use less energy than

address increasingly sophisticated problems.

traditional CRT monitors.

Elements of such as solution may be comprised of items such as end user satisfaction,

manangement

regulatory

compliance,

electronic

waste,

restructuring, disposal

of

telecommuting,

virtualization of server resources, energy use, thin client solutions.

Print only what you need and use recycled content paper whenever possible. Most printers today have a two-sided printing option which can dramatically reduce your paper consumption. Be sure to recycle used ink and toner cartridges. Recycle or donate your used technology. China and India are expected to adopt

The United Nations estimates that 20

versions of ROHS within the next year.

million to 50 million tons of computer gear

The EU has two other significant green-

and cell phones worldwide are dumped into

tech

landfills each year, and it’s the fastest

Electronic Equipment regulations, which

growing segment of waste, .At most, 12% of

require sellers to take back any product they

PCs and cell phones are recycled,, putting

sell

chemicals such as mercury and PVC into

Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals,

the environment.

which aims to improve the management and

rules,

for

the

Waste

recycling;

Electrical

and

and

Registration,

risk assessment of dangerous chemicals. SOME TIPS FOR GREEN COMPUTING:

The United States has no federal computer recycling

mandate,

but

California’s

Electronic Waste Recycling Act is a “cradle 51 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

to grave” program aimed at reducing

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is

hazardous substances in electronic products

a robotic spacecraft launched by NASA,

sold in that state.

currently orbiting the Moon.

It includes a recycling fee of $6 to $10 paid

The

by the buyer of PCs and monitors. Other

unmanned

launch

of

the

Lunar

Precursor Robotic Program occurred on

states are likely to follow. ROHS standards

June 18, 2009, the first United States

are slowly becoming de facto requirements,

mission to the moon in over ten years.

as the United States makes them part of the EPEAT standards and vendors look to

LRO is the first mission of the United

standardize products worldwide.

States's

Wipro Infotech becomes first Indian

program.

company to launch Eco-friendly range of desktops

Vision for

Space Exploration

SPORTS AND PERSONALITIES Surya shekhar ganguly-chess

Wipro Infotech, the India, Middle East and

Fernando gonzalez(tennis)-chile

Asia Pacific IT business unit of Wipro Ltd, announced that it is the first Indian company to launch environment-friendly range of

Federer completes career Grand Slam: Roger Federer won his maiden French Open

desktops. This new range of products named

title, defeating Sweden’s Robin Soderling

Wipro GreenWare which includes desktops

Not only did Federer equal Pete Sampras’

and laptops are compliant with RoHS (Restriction directive,

of

Hazardous

thereby

reducing

record of 14 major championships less than

substances)

seven years after the great American set it,

substantial

he also became only the sixth man to

e-waste to the environment.

complete the Career Grand Slam.

Wipro has been at the forefront in addressing the issue of increasing e-waste in the environment. Wipro has set up its e

TOP FIVE GRANDSLAM WINNERS

waste management process called Wipro

NO OF

Green Computing, which spans across its

SLAMS

product

lifecycle

-

from

NAME

COUNTRY

designing,

manufacturing, right up to the final

14

disposal. THE LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER

12

PETE SAMPRAS &

US

ROGER FEDERER

SWISS

ROY EMERSON

AUSTRALIA

(LRO): 52 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

11

BJORN BORG &

SWEDEN

ROD LAVER

AUSTRALIA

10

BILL TILDEN

US

8

ANDRE AGASSI

US

performance in the elite event in Zhuhai, China Santosh Trophy-Goa registered a 4-2 win over Bengal via tie- break in the final and lifted the Santosh Trophy in the 63rd edition of the National football championship at the floodlit Nehru stadium. This is the fifth

India’s Rehan Poncha bagged a bronze in the 400m individual medley event at the Singapore Open swimming championship

time the trophy is going to Goa. Rehan Poncha ended his campaign in the Singapore Open swimming championship on a high note, claiming a silver in the 200 m butterfly race

Bolt wins Laureus World Sportsman award: Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award on Wednesday for his record-breaking performance in the Beijing Olympics.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has granted formal recognition to Hockey India. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has

Vijender Singh and Jitender Kumar WON bronze medals after semifinal defeats in the Asian Boxing Championships in Zhuhai, China Indian swimmer Rehan Poncha struck it rich in the Singapore Open swimming championship. He won gold in the 400m freestyle event and silver in the 200m individual medley race. Suranjoy Singh gave India its first Asian championship gold in 15 years while Thokchom Nanao Singh and Jai Bhagwan settled for silver medals as the country’s boxers

Hockey India gets FIH recognition:

rounded

off

a

27-year

best

also confirmed that Hockey India has been accepted as a member of the IOA and has been registered by the IOA as the sole governing body for hockey, men and women, in India. The IOA has also advised FIH that the previous men’s and women’s associations are no longer members of the IOA Force India- formula one team of Vijay Mallya The Sports Ministry on Thursday withdrew the Arjuna Award from wrestler Jagdish Singh.

ICC World Twenty 20 – Pakistan won by defeating Srilanka 53

AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

Shahid Afridi-Man of the Final

GURNANI NAMED NEW CEO OF MAHINDRA

Tillakaratne Dilshan was adjudged the

SATYAM

Player of the tournament.

Mahindra Satyam, the new identity of the erstwhile Satyam Computer Services, has a new

Sania Nehwal claims Indonesian Open

chief executive Officer (CEO) in C. P. Gurnani,

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal on

while Tech Mahindra will be headed by Sanjay

Sunday scripted history by becoming the

Kalra.

first

Indian

tournament

to after

win

a

she

Super

Series

clinched

Kamala Das – is an eminent poet from kerla dead

the

Indonesian Open title with a stunning victory over the higher ranked Chinese Lin

Charles Donald Albury - co-pilot of the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, died after years of congestive heart failure. He was 88.

Wang in Jakarta. Olympian Sandeep Sejwal set a new

Vice-Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma - will be

national record in the 50m breaststroke

the country’s next Chief of Naval Staff. He will

event with a time of 28.77 secs at the Paris

take charge from Admiral Suresh Mehta, who

Open Swimming Championships.

retires from service on August 31 Padamsinh Patil- MP, who involved

PERSONANILTIES IN NEWS:

in the

murder of his cousin and Congress leader Mr. Abbasi – A person who was detained by

Pawanraje Nimbalkar.

the airport authorities as his name figured in a “red corner notice” issued by Interpol. Pinarayi Vijayan-former Electricity Minister, accused in the SNC-Lavalin corruption case. In

KEMBHAVI TO HEAD ASTRONOMY, ASTRO-

the state of Kerala

PHYSICS CENTRE IN PUNE:

SWRAJ

PAUL

APPOINTED

PRIVY

COUN-

CILOR: Lord Swraj Paul, Labour peer and leading U.K. industrialist, has become the first India-born

Ajit Keshav Kembhavi has been named the next director of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune.

Briton to be appointed a Privy Councilor, a rare

The IUCAA is one of the five inter-university

honour for any British citizen.

research centres of the University Grants

The appointment, which is for life, was approved by the Queen on Tuesday

Commission (UGC). Rajeev

Motwani

-

the

47-year-old

Indian-American computer science professor at 54 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

Stanford University who mentored Google’s

B.K.DAS

co-founders when they were graduate students,

range(ITR),chandipur

has died in a freak drowning accident at his

LAXMIPAT

Atherton, California home.

MISSILE SCIENTIST

EU’s security chief -

Javier Solana

European Commission President - José Manuel Barroso Bollywood actor

,joint director. Integrated test was

SINGANIA

awarded

AWARD

FOR

HARISH KHARE TO BE MANMOHAN’S MEDIA ADVISER: Senior journalist Harish Khare will be the

Shiney Ahuja- recently

new Media Adviser to Prime Minister

convicted in rape case

Manmohan Singh.

Pradeep Vasant Naik is the current Chief of

A

the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. He took

Mr. Khare (62) is Senior Associate Editor

office on May 31, 2009, becoming the

and chief of the National Bureau of Hindu

well-known

political

columnist,

nineteenth Chief of Air Staff following the retirement of Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi

SAROD MAESTRO USTAD ALI AKBAR

Major.

KHAN PASSES AWAY:

Vinod Kumar Saxena

will take over as

Sarod maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan died

Director General Medical Services (Navy)

in San Francisco, U.S., on Friday after a

MILLVINA DEAN-last remaining survivor of

prolonged kidney ailment, according to a

titanic died

family friend here.

Protem Speaker --Manikrao Gavit

The Ustad was also the first Indian musician to receive the MacArthur Foundation

Fritz Henderson-general motors president and

Fellowship in 1991. He was nominated for

CEO.

Grammy Awards five times between 1970

Hafiz Saeed,- the chief of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa,

and 1998.

a banned terrorist organization responsible for Mumbai blasts

Karia Munda, BJP's tribal leader from Jharkhand, was named by the BJP as its

Mridangam maestro -Palghat Raghu dead

candidate for the post of Deputy Speaker of

Jacqui Smith-mp from British parliament who

Lok Sabha.

quit relating to corruption case

The Chairman and Managing director of the Central Bank of India,- S. Sridhar

Canara HSBC Life Insurance- CEO Harpal Karlcut

WHO chief - Dr. Margaret Chan 55

AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

The former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has

Tanvir was also a member of the Rajya

been awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by

Sabha from 1972 to 1978. His play

Queen’s University, Belfast, for distinction in

Charandas Chor that was first produced

public service.

in 1975 got him the Fringe Firsts Award

Surgeon Vice Admiral Vinod Kumar Saxena,

at the Edinburgh International Drama

will take over as Director General Medical

Festival in 1982.

Services (Navy)

In 1959, he founded the Naya Theatre in

GOPAL SUBRAMANIAM, NEW SOLICITOR-

Bhopal and it is set to complete 50 years this year.

GENERAL: Senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam was on

Sheetal Mafatlal -Businesswoman Sheetal

Monday appointed Solicitor-General. He had

Mafatlal was on Monday remanded to judicial

articulated the previous UPA government’s

custody till June 12 after she was arrested for

views in several crucial legal battles.

allegedly trying to evade duty by not declaring Rs.51 lakh-worth jewellery

VAHANVATI APPOINTED ATTORNEY - GENLakshmi Krishnamurti -, social activist,

ERAL:

freedom-fighter, publisher and bookseller, died

Goolam E. Vahanvati, till recently the Solicitor-General,

was

on

here on Friday after a brief illness.

Monday

appointed the next Attorney-General for a

Harsh Pati Singhania -President, FICCI

period of three years.

PREMJI CONFERRED DOCTOR OF HUMANE

Mr. Vahanvati, who will succeed Milon K.

LETTERS

Banerjee, is the first Muslim to occupy the

Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro and founder,

top law officer’s post in the country in the

Azim Premji Foundation, has been conferred

last six decades

Doctor of Humane Letters by Wesleyan University, Connecticut, U.S. The honour was

HABIB TANVIR PASSES AWAY: Habib Tanvir, one of the greatest stalwarts of Indian theatre, died in a hospital after a brief illness.

bestowed on Mr. Premji for his achievements as a “renowned entrepreneur, global business leader and extraordinary humanitarian who has demonstrated a commitment to education and the well being of fellow citizens

The playwright won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1969, Padma Shri in 1983, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship

Nuclear Power Corporation India - Chairman R. S. Sharma

in 1996 and the Padma Bhushan in 2002. 56 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435

Nobel Prize-winning economist Clive W.J. Granger (74), a native of England, died in San Diego on Wednesday, according to a release from the University of California, San Diego, where he was a Professor Emeritus. Mysore S. Rajaram, Carnatic musician and composer,

who

served

the

Kalakshetra,

Chennai, for nearly two decades died here on Monday. He was 85. Mysore S. Rajaram, Carnatic musician and composer,

who

served

the

Kalakshetra,

Chennai, for nearly two decades died here on Monday. He was 85

.

57 AP 2241, II FLOOR, 12th MAIN ROAD, ANNANAGAR, CHENNAI – 40, PHONE : 044-26216435, 9444166435